Chapter 3: Diagon Alley

Trinity stared, wide eyed, as the brick wall began to separate in the middle, revealing a street lined with what appeared to be shops with people wearing all assortments of color, some carrying armloads of stuff, and others chatting off to the side.

"Sadly we don't have time to go to Gringotts," Lynne sighed. "But this is Diagon Alley, where you can buy all your school supplies. Come along, I have plenty of money to get what you'll be needing."

She struggled to keep up. The first shop they went into was Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.

A squat, older woman peered at them from the back of the empty shop. "I close in ten minutes," she said in a disapproving tone. Her eyes were narrowed and her arms placed on her hips.

"Sorry we're so late," said Lynne quickly. "Had to use muggle means of transport." She pushed Trinity forward.

The squat witch took Trinity's measurements, flicking her wand every so often. "This your first year at Hogwarts?" she guessed.

"Erm—yes." She blushed, but before she could say anything else, the woman disappeared.

"I'm going to go get your other supplies. Wait for me here, and then we can go get your wand," Lynne instructed before she, too, left.

Trinity stood on the platform the short witch had led her too, finally allowed to take in her surroundings. She looked around and found that the shop was filled with robes of every color, size, style, and material. As she absorbed everything around her, the realization of being a witch was beginning to set in. She nearly jumped as the witch walked up to her, holding three black robes that looked like they would be able to fit her perfectly.

"Lynne already paid for you, dear," she said in a kinder voice than before.

Trinity thanked her, taking the robes, and going to stand outside. She watched as witches and wizards walked by her, wondering how many of them had been like her, knowing nothing of Hogwarts or magic, and then suddenly being swept away from the mundane world they had lived in for the first eleven years of their life. She looked up at the darkening sky, thinking about how much of her life had changed in the last day alone.

"You'll get used to it—eventually." Lynne had returned, holding a large armful of bags and boxes. "Next time you're here, you'll have more time to explore. Muggle transportation has always been so unreliable, and it's only gotten worse. Shall we go and get your wand?"

"Yes!" Trinity forced a smile as she followed Lynne down the street. She had an enthusiastic skip as she walked.

They stopped outside a darker looking shop: Ollivanders. Lynne had to practically shove Trinity inside. It was dark, dimly lit with candles and piled high with small rectangular boxes, most of them covered in layers of dust.

"I closed fifteen minutes ago!" growled a grumpy looking old man. He was skinny with wild, white hair. He squinted at Trinity and Lynne, though it appeared more of a scowl.

"My apologies, Mr. Ollivander," said Lynne quickly. "This is Trinity's first year at Hogwarts, and the last thing she needs is her wand."

"Pesky last minute shoppers," Mr. Ollivander muttered as he walked to the back of his shop.

Trinity looked back at Lynne with a worried expression that bordered on fear, but Lynne smiled encouragingly. They waited at the front of the shop for Mr. Ollivander to return with one of the many boxes. He opened it, and took out a long, thin, wooden wand, which he handed to Trinity gingerly.

"Give it a wave!" he barked impatiently.

She looked at him, confused for a moment, before flicking the wand. The desk caught fire, making her jump back and topple over Lynne.

"Nope! Wrong wand. Let's see here—how about this one?" He handed her a second one after she set the first down, using his own to extinguish the fire.

Trinity hesitated a minute before waving it, breaking a glass window. She quickly set the wand down and watched as Mr. Ollivander searched a pile toward the back. When she got the third wand, she felt an alien warmth in the pit of her stomach. A nearby candle floated in the air before being gently set back down.

"Ah, that there is the wand for you. 10 ½ inches, willow, with a thestral hair in the core." His expression darkened as he stared at her. "Where have I seen your face before? Who are your parents?"

"Mr. Ollivander!" Lynne barked.

"Right—that'll be seven Galleons."

Lynne gave him the money before taking Trinity and leaving. She let out a sigh of relief when they were out of the wand shop. "Well—we got all your school things. I suppose we should be getting back."

"Do I have to go back to the orphanage?" Trinity hated that she sounded so whiney, but she hated the orphanage even more, especially since knowing she was a witch.

"Heavens no!" laughed Lynne. "No, now we go to Drwgg llarien. Your train leaves in the morning, so it is best that you stay with me tonight. I have a couple daughters who go to Hogwarts as well."

Trinity felt better knowing that she would get to meet other students to the school she was going to before actually going.

A/N: Much sooner than I had anticipated, but I got a reprieve from school—at least for now. This is a lot shorter than normal, and I apologize, but the characters are also rushing through their actions. In the next chapter, Trinity will be going to Hogwarts after meeting Lynne's family. The Messenger family belongs to my former roommate; I am merely borrowing them. Harry Potter and all things related belong to the great J.K. Rowling. The only things I own, that have been introduced thus far, is the plot and the character of Trinity Jones.