Chapter 2

"Here we are!" Their mother exclaimed as she parked the car. They had never been to London before and Julia was amazed. She loved the city so much. All the cars, and the people, and the shops!

"The Leaky Cauldron?" Alice whined. "I thought you said we were going to Diagon Alley."

"Is this where we're getting our books?" Julia tittered, looking up at the rickety bar. It looked dark and shabby. Nobody paid any mind to it.

"No, no, dears. We're almost to Diagon Alley. Come on now!" Their mother said getting out of the car. They followed her into The Leaky Cauldron. But they didn't stay inside for long but, instead, went out the back door into a small courtyard. Its was as filthy as the rutty shop they'd just left. The walls were moldy and the trashcans were full of smelly junk. But their mother didn't seem to mind as she took out her wand and tapped one of the bricks above it. Just as she did so the bricks started moving. They parted into a large, wide arch. All three of them stepped through into the loud alleyway of shops ahead.

"This is Diagon Alley?" Julia exclaimed. "It's amazing! Completely wonderful!" Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped as she skipped off to a nearby shop and looked in the window.

"I must admit," Alice said looking around, "I am impressed." She followed Julia over to the window and looked in as well.

"Alright, girls. We'd better head over to Gringotts and get some money to spend. Come along now." They both followed their mother through the long alleyway starting at the different shops along the way. There were pet shops and books shops and potion shops. Julia was in heaven. She loved looking in each and every window as the strolled along.

Finally, they reached a tall white building that made the Leaky Cauldron look like a spec of dirt. It's marble walls shone bright in the sun.

"That there's Gringotts," their mother explained. She led them inside and walked up to one of the counters.

"Whad'ya need?" A small an ugly man-like thing asked. Their mother told them he was a goblin and answered him.

"Rose Steffond, vault 45093"

"Do you have the key?" He said, holing out his hand. Their mother handed him a small gold key and he led them through the counter to a small cart on a track.

Once they all were in, the cart took off down the track going into a dark tunnel. It spiraled and sped, taking all kinds of sharp turns and bumping them all around. Finally, the cart stopped and the all unboarded, Alice looking a little sick, and watched the goblin used the small gold key to unlock vault 45093. The doors swung open to reveal piles of shiney coins. There were gold ones, galleons their mother explained, and silver ones, sickles, and bronze ones, knuts. Their mother scooped some into two small leather bags and they were off, once again, through the dark, curving tunnels back up to the entrance of the large, white wizard bank.

"That was amazing!" Julia yelled as her mother handed her and her sister a small bag each full of coins. "Just fantastic. Like a rollercoaster!"

But Alice didn't look as happy as Julia as she clutched the railing to keep herself from falling down.

"Those bags there, that's your money for school supplies. Now, you get no more than that so get what you need first. Then you may buy something extra if you have any left." Both of them nodded before Julia took off down the alley, Alice wobbling, unbalanced, behind her.

They visited many stores to get supplies but Julia's favorite was Olivander's; the wand shop. It was dark and dusty and the walls were lined with box after box. After a few minutes of waiting an old man walked out and introduced himself. He gave them both a wand to try. He told them to wave it, but instead a sharp light shot out of it and hit the wall causing a small hole. He shook his head. One after another he gave them different wands but each one ended in disaster. Finally, a wand Julia tried, thirteen inches, oak, and two unicorn hairs, finally gave off small fireworks as she wove it. Olivander nodded and she got out of the way while he searched for one for Alice.

At long last they found hers too and left the shop, paying handsomely for the new wands. They still had money left to visit the pet shop and buy something.

Julia took one step in and fell in love with a beautiful pink-feathered owl. She bought it instantly and named her Valentine. Alice, however, bought a simple black rat. It's fur was sleek and shiney. She named it Widow.

It was finally time to leave as Julia and Alice exited the shop to look for their mother. But on their way, Julia ran into a boy about her age and was knocked down.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," she apologized as he helped her up. As she was brushing the dirt off herself, she couldn't help notice the scar on his head. She recognized it almost instantly with it's familiar lightening bolt shape. "My god, Alice! It's Harry Potter!" She exclaimed calling her sister over. "Look!"

He went red in the face and frowned, obviously not liking the attention. Julia picked up on this and apologized again. Then she noticed the badge on the cloak he was carrying. It said "Hogwarts".

"You go to Howarts?" She asked excitedly. He nodded. "We're going to be starting there this year!"

"You look a little old for first years," said a girl behind Harry. "By the way, I'm Hermione."

"We used to live in Antarctica so we couldn't go. But we're going to join the third years! What year are you two?"

"We're third years. And did you really? That's amazing," Hermione replied.

"Yes. And my name's Julia and this is Alice. We're twins." Julia pointed to Alice. "But I'm sorry, we've got to get going. We'll see you at Hogwarts, though!"

"Bye!" Hermione said, smiling. Julia and Alice took off down the street as a redheaded boy walked up behind Harry.

"Who's that?" He asked, looking at Julia. "She has lovely hair."

Hermione laughed. "You don't like her do you? Her name's Julia. She's going to be a new student at Hogwarts. She joining the third years with her sister."

"Blimey, you know everything don't you?" The redhead asked spitefully.

"She just told us, Ron. And yes I do," Hermione answered, her mouth turning up at the corners.