Chapter 2

The next few hours passed in a blur. Hagrid have convinced Kiara to come with him to 'Diagon Alley', wherever that was, to buy her school supplies.

"Yer going to love Hogwarts" the friendly man was rambling on. "You'll be taught by the greatest headmaster that Hogwarts has ever seen; Albus Dumbledore."

Kiara just nodded along, since she had no idea who this Dumbledore man was but thought it polite to agree. Though the way Hagrid praised him so highly made her look forward to meeting him.

Kiara thought back in happiness to how she had got here from the dingy shack.

Mr and Mrs Dursley had not been impressed to say the least. They hated everything and everyone associated with magic and Mr Dursley had the unfortunate habit of speaking his mind.

Hagrid has stood up a little taller, his face darkening in distaste at the insult. Mr Dursley seemed to take this as a threat and shrank back from the man muttering.

"I suppose it would be better for us" He said swallowing deeply. "Not having to look after that ungrateful girl for a few months."

So that was that, and Kiara was quite overjoyed; to be free from the tiresome company of the Dursleys felt liberating. She must be asleep and dreaming these strange events.

They were currently walking towards a large brick wall, seemingly a dead end. Slightly bewildered Kiara looked up at the large kind face smiling down at her.

"We're nearly at Diagon Alley" said Hagrid walking up to the old wall. He lifted a giant hand and tapped one of the dusty bricks 3 times. Kiara looked at the wall confused and then amazed as the bricks started to shift themselves back, creating a passageway.

"This is a secret entrance" smiled the huge fellow, you could tell he enjoyed sharing the secret. "To stop muggles finding out about this place".

"Muggles?" said Kiara clearly baffled. "What are muggles?"

"Oh of course yeh wouldn't know" said Hagrid remembering "Muggles are what witches and wizards describe none magical beings as."

"Oh okay" said Kiara now understanding.

Hagrid gestured an arm to Kiara to enter the magic passageway. She stepped through the gap and gasped in wonder. It was like she had stepped through a portal to another world. There was an assortment of shops lined up along the cobbled road, advertising cauldrons and all sorts of potions. People were walking from shop to shop wearing brightly coloured robes of reds, greens and blues. She saw a young boy with dark hair running out of a shop, he was carrying a large toad above his head as in triumph, towards an older woman.

"I was at Gringotts Wizarding bank earlier" shouted Hagrid at her side over the large racket of shoppers. "I've got sum galleons from yer vault for yeh while I were there".

"My vault?" asked Kiara "Wait…what are galleons?"

Hagrid looked at her surprised for a second, his bushy eyebrows raised, before realising again she didn't know anything about the wizarding world.

"Well galleons are a form of wizarding money" replied Hagrid. "There are also sickles and knuts. There are 17 sickles in a galleon and 29 knuts in a sickle. Do you think yer got that?"

"Yeah… I think so" Kiara concurred "Though it might be a bit confusing for a while until I get my head around it" She said with a smile on her pale face.

"Alright then" chuckled Hagrid "First stop Flourish and Blotts to get yer school books, I have yer list here."

Hagrid passed Kiara a crumpled piece of parchment. The young girl opened it up and read aloud:

The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk

A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot

Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling

A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore

Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander

The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble

"There's a quite lot of books" murmured Kiara feeling slightly overwhelmed yet excited at all the interesting titles.

"Don't worry" said Hagrid reassuringly "Lets be on our way."