I don't own.
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As I stumbled along, trying to keep up with Hagrid's long legged pace. I had no idea where we were. We had ridden our brooms to a strange house, where Hagrid had knocked, entered and pushed me into a fireplace. Suddenly, I had found myself in a pub, where no one even looked up at the sight of a strange girl appearing out of fireplace.
However, I was nearly running behind him, trying to understand his babble of unending words explaining the odd shops along the streets.
Suddenly, he stopped, and I nearly toppled into him.
"Ah, here we are. Gringotts! This is where you can withdraw and save your money. We'll just make a quick stop in here and then we'll be on our way." He motioned towards the large, snowy white building, which towered over all of the other buildings in its vicinity. I took a small step towards it, and he pushed me in.
"Don't be dawdling now, we need to be hurrying." I nodded and continued moving in a daze. We moved through a series of bronze and silver doors. The main floor was paved with marble and had long counters stretching along its length. It was far nicer than any other bank I had ever seen.
"Afternoon, Griphook. This here is Isabella Swan. She be withdrawing from her parents account today."
The ugly little thing standing before me nodded and turned, opening a turnstile and pulled me through, pushing me into a small cart that reminded me of a mine car. I screamed as we took off down the track until Hagrid clamped his meaty paw around my mouth. All of a sudden, we stopped.
"Vault number 122473. Exit please." Hagrid hauled me out of the cart and took the key from Griphook. He unlocked the door and gently nudged me inside. I gasped at the sight.
The vault was filled with masses of different coins. Gold and silver and bronze. There were so many!
"I-is this mine?" I asked, stuttering.
Hagrid merely beamed.
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"Alright, next we go to Ollivander's!" Hagrid exclaimed. I now carried a small bag simply stuffed with the assortment of coins.
"What's that, sir?" I asked.
"It's just Hagrid." He replied, "And Ollivander's is the finest wand shop there is in all of England."
We walked for a bit, passing several stalls selling fantastic items such as sweets and amulets that would protect you against werewolves. Finally, we stopped in front of a shop, narrow and shabby, with a sign that read Ollivander's: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC in peeling gold letters over the door. The only display in the window overlooking Diagon Alley was a single, long stick that I guessed was a wand laying on a faded purple cushion in the dusty window. Within, there were countless narrow boxes. We entered quickly.
Inside, there was man, standing with his back to us, rustling some papers conspicuously. "That's him," Hagrid whispered in my ear.
"Mr. Ollivander," the pale-eyed, white-haired shopkeeper turned, finally looking at us, "This here, is Bella, she needs a wand."
"Hello Hagrid," he replied timidly. I smiled at him and he looked at me. He walked over to me slowly.
"I am Mr. Ollivander, I make and sell wands for witches and wizards as they enter school or break their old wands. I remember every wand I have ever sold. To determine the best wand for a witch or wizard, I must measure you." He whipped a tape measure from his back pocket and had me stand in various odd positions as he measured my height, my hair, finger, nose, arm, leg, foot and eyelash length. I stood still as he measured my waist and elbow. After a long time, he finally stopped; then scurried back to the innermost parts of the store. He came back momentarily with boxes piled high in his arms.
"A wizard does not choose his wand, a wand chooses her wizard." He said matter of factly. I nodded as he handed me a long wand.
"Holly and unicorn hair. Fourteen inches. Very good. Go one, wave it around!" the shopkeeper anxiously motioned what he wanted me to do.
I complied and watched in horror as Hagrid flew backward through the door.
The next wand had similar tendencies, excepting that it threw me, not Hagrid. Several wands later, Mr. Ollivander produced another wand that he pronounced was "Twelve inches, ebony and dragon heartstring." I waved it and boxes that were strewn on the floor flew up and were arranged on the counter. I straightened in surprise as I realized I had not caused an act of destruction.
I paid him with a few gold coins and we set off for the next shop, heading now to a place called Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. Inside, was a compilation of many black robes in all shapes and sizes. The old lady within helped me to quickly pick out several robes, two dress sets and four for everyday, as well as a pointed hat.
We continued on to Flourish and Blotts, buying all of the books on my required reading and school list, as well as a few others which Hagrid had recommended. I smiled, realizing I was having more fun shopping with a gigantic, strange man for things I had never heard of than I had ever had with Renee shopping for things I needed. We followed up at Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop, a stationery shop that sold fulfillments for my writing needs like quills, ink, parchments, envelopes, and seals.
Next on the list were Slug and Jiggers Apothecary, buying the necessities for potions, and a set of brass scales, Pottidge's Cauldron Shop, picking up a small but sturdy black iron cauldron. Finally, we stopped for a little something sweet to eat at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour. We quickly ate our sundaes and continued on to the final place on our list: Magical Menagerie.
"This is where you will buy your animal. You can have a cat, an owl, or a toad."
"I want an owl." I said decisively. Despite the fear of our initial meeting, I had realized that the owl I had seen was one of the most beautiful animals I had ever seen.
"Then we had better go to Eeylops."
"Eeylops?" I questioned.
"Yes, Eeylops is a store that sells and specializes in owls."
We soon arrived, and stepped inside the large building. The inside was dark and full of a low, soft hooting, rustling and the flickering of jewel-bright eyes. A small woman who reminded me of an owl stepped out of the counter and approached us.
"Hello, how may I help you?" she asked.
"Bella is here to purchase an owl, and all of the amenities."
"What kind of owl would you like?" She asked, "Among the types of owls sold here are Tawny, Screech, Barn, Brown, or Snowy."
Hagrid looked toward me.
"Snowy." I said with certainty. I wanted to replicate the owl that was sent to me to relieve me from my horribly dull life as a 'Muggle' in Phoenix. It was important to me in my own special way.
The woman nodded, and turned, motioning for me to follow her. She led me to the back, were many owls sat on a perch, softly cooing at the movement of the two women who came to visit them.
"Hold your arm out; let us see if an owl comes to you."
I followed her example, and after a moment, a beautiful owl, white, with a few small stripes of black and brown nestled deep within the soft plumage of her feathers. She snuggled closer into my chest, tucking her head underneath my chin. I gently stroked her head.
"That is Siobhan. She seems to like you."
"I'll take her." I murmured, already in love with my owl.
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"Are you sure about this, Hagrid, what if they don't like me?"
"Bella, you'll be just fine. The Weasleys like everyone and everyone likes the Weasleys. Well, except for the Malfoys, but that's a different story for a different time." He nodded at me, pushing my forward. He lugged my three trunks behind him, full of my carious items for school. He pulled me forward and knocked on the door.
A woman with flaming red hair appeared at the door, welcoming me with a large hug and great, "Hello, dear! My name is Molly Weasley. Come in, come in."
I entered, feeling dazed. I saw eight other people, all of them having similar hair to the woman who opened the door.
"Hello Hagrid, would you like to stay for dinner?"
"Thank you, Molly, but I can't. I've got to get back."
"Alright, be careful!"
With a nod, and to my alarm, Hagrid was gone.
I looked over at them, all of the smiling at me. I looked back to Mrs. Weasley. "Come in. You will be sharing Ginny's room with her. Fred, George, Bill, take her bags up to the room."
Three of them left the room with my bags, playfully joking and teasing each other. The dull roar of talking in the room was overwhelming. I sank into a chair.
"Oh, dear. Everyone give Bella room to breath. Ron, get her something to drink." Mrs. Weasley seemed to not know what to do with her hands, trying to aid me and direct her large brood at the same time.
"No, please, I'm fine. I just need a moment to collect myself."
"Alright, everyone into the kitchen! Go!"
"A few moments later, I was fine. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to excite everyone. I've just had a long day."
"It's quite alright dear." She assured me. "Come on, I'll take you to the kitchen. We're about to start dinner, and you can meet the family there."
Just then, the three boys came back down, racing through the three rooms, trying to catch each other.
"Oi! Boys, knock it off." She shouted after them.
She took my hand and led me to the kitchen, we everyone was seated.
"Alright, wave when you hear your name." She directed toward everyone.
"This is my husband Arthur, Bill, Percy, Fred, George, Charlie, Ron and Ginny." Each of them nodded or waved in turn.
"I'm Bella, thank you for having me, I don't mean to intrude-"
"It's quite alright dear. Think nothing of it!" Mr. Weasley called to me.
"Oi, sit down so we can eat!" One of them called.
"Fred!" Both of his parents reprimanded him.
I smiled; I knew I would love the time I spent here.
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Today's recommendation is Getting the Girl by x-NewGirlInTown-x. It's not finished yet, but so far it's really good. It's about how James and Lily meet and fall in love.
BTW: If you can tell me what the number 122473 means, you will get mentioned in the next chapter!
Next chapter will be spending a little time with the Weasleys then going to Hogwarts, where she meets Draco for the first time.