New chapter is up!
We'll be going down Diagon Alley now and Lyanna will meet new people...
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Chapter 4: Like a rollercoaster ride, holding on white knuckles like whoa, whoa
Wow. That pretty much summed up the scene before Lyanna. After looking at the stores, shopping had never seemed so fun.
"Shall we?" suggested McGonagall and Lyanna managed a sound that McGonagall interpreted as a yes.
They moved towards the arch and beyond. Lyanna wished she could have at least four pair of eyes more. Diagon Alley was extraordinary. The shops were unique and witches and wizards were walking everywhere, like ants. It was as busy here as it was in muggle London.
"It's always a lot of people here", informed McGonagall and Lyanna noticed she wore a fondly smile. "Especially now before school starts."
True, there was a lot of children around in every ages. Small children tagging along with their parents, children in her age who could not hide their excitement and older children who looked important and stressed. Lyanna couldn't help but wonder if some of the children here today would be her friends at Hogwarts.
"We'll be visiting Gringotts first. It's the only wizarding bank and you'll be needing money. Remember, stay close to me."
They walked past a lot of funny shops on their way: A shop that sold robe looking clothes in every color, an apothecary that you could smell weird scents by just passing, a shop that sold owls in all sizes and colors, a mysterious looking store that sold magical objects that Lyanna had never heard of and even a shop that sold broomsticks! She became a bit dizzy with taking it all in.
'This is my world now', she thought and it didn't made her feel as sad as before.
They arrived at a big, white building with big doors that was guarded by a short creature in a scarlet and gold uniform.
"Gringotts", said McGonagall, "is run by goblins."
Together they walked up the stone steps towards the goblin. He looked deviously clever and bowed to them when they passed him. Lyanna gave him a hesitated smile. The goblin's face remained impassive.
Inside was another pair of doors. On them were words engraved. A poem that warned the customers of trying to steal something. What Lyanna had seen of the goblins so far, she wouldn't be surprised if they turned a bit nasty should someone try to rob the bank. She didn't say it out loud and followed McGonagall beyond the doors, two goblins bowing to them. Lyanna thought it must be a very boring job, bowing all day.
After these doors they entered a vast hall. Over hundreds of goblins sat on high chairs behind a long counter. They were counting coins, weighing jewels or taking some form of notes. There was plenty of doors leading out of the hall, all guarded by goblins who showed people in and out of these doors. Lyanna found it very fascinating.
McGonagall lead the way to a free goblin by the counter.
"I would like to do an extract from the Hogwarts vault, number 1004", McGonagall said to the goblin in her usual brisk voice. "I would also appreciate if I could exchange 75 pounds to galleons."
Lyanna's head snapped up at this. She hadn't got any muggle money. The goblin watched them with his clever black eyes and told them it would be alright. He then called on a goblin named Broddsvall to take them to the vault while he fixed with the muggle money. McGonagall said a short 'thank you' and they followed Broddsvall through one of the doors.
The place behind the door wasn't grand and well looking. It was dark, except for torches on the wall, and it looked almost cave liked. They were riding on a rail in a small cart deep under London. Lyanna had never had this fun. It was exciting, feeling the wind in the face and holding on for dear life. It felt like going on a rollercoaster which she had only done once before. She could only laugh while McGonagall looked as though she'd rather been anywhere else. That made Lyanna laugh even harder for some reason.
. . . .
After visiting Gringotts, they started with the shopping. McGonagall had Lyanna responsible for the money so she would learn to use them. It was easy, really: the gold ones were called galleons, the silver ones were sickles and the little bronze ones were called knuts. Piece of cake.
The 75 pounds were from Samuel, Lyanna found out. He had said to McGonagall to give them to Lyanna so she could buy herself an early birthday present. He knew that she wouldn't take the money from him and even Lyanna didn't want to try McGonagall's patience yet, so she accepted the money, though grudgingly so.
Walking in Diagon Alley was like riding a rollercoaster too. The street was crowed and the crowd was like an obstacle they had to pass and every store was like an exciting loop or an adventure. Lyanna didn't think she could ever be tired of this world.
Lyanna got her robes at a shop called 'Madam Malkin's robes for all occasions'. Madam Malkin was a nice witch, dressed in purple which was the color of the year, who greeted them with a wide smile. Lyanna met older Hogwarts students who were polite to her and asked a few questions. Lyanna guessed it was because the presence of the professor. McGonagall stood strict besides Lyanna and only helped her if there was something she really needed help with. Lyanna was glad that she did that. It was good so she would learn by herself and it made her feel more grown up.
They got her potions supplies at the Apothecary. It smelled bad, but it was amazing what stuff they had here. Lyanna couldn't stop looking, though the smell was stuck in her nose a while after the left. McGonagall hadn't liked it at all.
Lyanna got a cauldron in the cauldron shop. There was a diamond cauldron that cost a fortune that caught her eye, but it stood pewter on her list.
"Money wasters", muttered McGonagall before they left the shop, casting a non-impressed look on the diamond cauldron.
In the bookstore, Flourish & Blott's, Lyanna could have stayed a while longer. She didn't usually read much, but she wanted to buy every book in here. Her eyes drifted between the shelves and McGonagall had to hold her in a tight grip. Partly because she wouldn't run off and partly because of how much people it was in here.
Lyanna didn't know yet what to buy as a birthday gift, but McGonagall said that she could decide later when they had been in most of the stores in the alley. She agreed to that and they preceded to the last store to buy the most important thing for a wizard or a witch. A wand. Lyanna couldn't contain her goofy smile as they entered a plain looking shop with only one wand at the window. It was called 'Ollivander's'.
A bell rang when they entered. There was already a family there. The man had dark, messy hair and glasses and seemed to be in his late forties. He was talking to the older man who was wrapping in a package. Lyanna guessed that the older man was Mr Ollivander, because he was the only one who didn't fit in with the others. The woman had black hair and a motherly way about her. Lyanna had often seen it on women on the street with children. She guessed that was how a mother would look. She did look about the same age as the man. The woman noticed them and came forward with a smile.
"Minerva, how good to see you", she said and she seemed genuinely happy to see her. "It has been a long time."
"A very long time indeed Dorea", agreed McGonagall and smiled swiftly. "I have a lot of things to do."
"I understand that. Teaching must take up a lot of your time." She noticed Lyanna. "You're starting Hogwarts this year?"
"Yes, ma'am", answered Lyanna and smiled. "It will be fantastic."
"I know what you mean. I was excited when I began my first year too."
She seemed lost in memories for a while. Then she continued:
"My name is Dorea Potter and you'll be starting the same year as my James."
As on cue, the boy who had stood beside the man who must be his father came towards them. He had the same messy, dark hair as the man, and round glasses.
"You called mum?"
"James, this is Minerva McGonagall and she will be one of your teachers", Dorea explained and James gave a polite nod that seemed a bit overdone.
McGonagall's smile was still there, but not much visible.
"And this young lady will also start her first year. I'm sorry, but I didn't get your name?"
"Lyanna Riddle, Mrs Potter."
"Are you a muggleborn?" wondered James and his face became curious.
"You could say that", was Lyanna's answer.
She really didn't feel to tell her life story for a boy she just had met.
"That's cool."
McGonagall talked a bit more with Dorea and her husband, who presented himself as Charlus Potter. James tried to strike a conversation with Lyanna and he seemed a bit awkward.
"What house do you think you'll be in?" he asked and peered at her behind his glasses.
Lyanna shrugged. McGonagall had told her about the four houses of Hogwarts, but she hadn't really thought of it much.
"I don't know. I'm just glad to be learning magic."
"Well, I want to be in Gryffindor", James told her proudly. "My dad was there too and his dad. It seems like the best house really. . . ."
"The house of the brave, huh? A lion as a symbol?" Lyanna checked just to see if she remembered right.
She thought she did, but she really didn't want to embarrass herself in front of the first kid in her own age that she would probably have some lessons with in seven years.
"Yeah", James answered. "Though I think you'll be in Hufflepuff."
His hazel eyes looked her up and down.
"You look quite tame."
Lyanna was speechless. She stared disbelieving back, her dark eyes narrowed. Who was he to judge her?
"Excuse me?" she asked with a deadly voice.
James ruffled up his hair with one hand, suddenly seeming more confident.
"Well, you're looking like a doll", he explained as though she was five years old. "I don't think you're adventurous enough for Gryffindor and you don't look evil enough for Slytherin. I suppose you could be a Ravenclaw, but somehow I can't picture you with your nose in a book."
Lyanna felt her face flush.
"Wow", she said sarcastically, "you've just called me boring, tame and stupid in about three sentences. But you know what, if badgers are threatened they bite and don't let go. They're loyal. So Hufflepuff wouldn't be so bad. Never underestimate people, Mr Lion, because that will make life hard for you."
Now James looked red and he was about to answer, when his parents announced that it was time for them to go, that Lyanna probably would like to try her wand out. She did. After exchanging pleasantries with James's parents, they left the shop.
"See you at Hogwarts, Riddle", James said nonchalantly before leaving.
"You bet, Potter", hissed Lyanna back, still angry.
McGonagall looked at her questioningly, but Lyanna ignored her. She turned her attention to Mr Ollivander. He smiled at her, a smile she didn't know if she should like it or not. He then turned to McGonagall.
"Ah, Minerva McGonagall", he greeted, bowing his head. "Fire and dragon heartstring, nine and a half inches, stiff."
"That is correct, Mr Ollivander", she answered.
"You remember that?" blurted Lyanna out. "But that must have been ages ago."
Then she thought of what she had said, blushed, and turned to face McGonagall.
"Sorry, professor, I didn't mean. . . ."
"It's alright, Miss Riddle", assured McGonagall, looking as stiff as the wand Ollivander had described.
"Riddle. . . .", muttered Ollivander thoughtfully and took a closer look at Lyanna.
She was uncomfortable by his pale eyes, like two distance moons.
"Yes, Miss Riddle", he suddenly said and straightened up. "I do remember every wand I ever sold. Once I sold a wand to a boy named Riddle. Thirteen and a half inches, yew with the core of a feather of a phoenix. A relative of yours perhaps?"
"I don't believe so, sir", Lyanna said with a half-smile. "I've named myself."
"Hm."
Ollivander seemed thoughtful again and mumbled a quiet 'curious', before asking what wand arm she had. Lyanna told him she was right handed and then a measuring tape started to size her up. It flew around her head, measured her arm and between odd places like between nostrils and from shoulder to spine. During this, Ollivander told her about wands and how the wand choses the witch or wizard. You could never get a better result with another wand than your own. After the measuring was done, Ollivander started to take out boxes from the narrow shelves.
She tried around sixteen wands and of those she would only remember the first wand she tried and the one that chose her.
"Try this first. Yew, a hair from a unicorn, twelve inches, supple. Go on, give it a wave."
She waved and nothing happened. Ollivander snatched it out of her hand immediately, muttering 'no, no, no'.
"Try this", he said and handed her a dark wand. "Oak, a feather from a phoenix, thirteen inches and strong."
Lyanna took it and she suddenly felt whole. She couldn't describe it. Her inside felt like it took a ride without any real destination. Flames erupted from the wand and it shaped itself to flowers. Ollivander clapped and Minerva looked impressed.
"Well done, Miss Riddle", she said proudly.
"Thanks professor", Lyanna said breathlessly, looking at her wand.
"Magnificent", praised Ollivander and started to wrap the wand in brown paper. "I think you will do wonderful magic with this wand."
After paying seven galleons for the wand, they left Ollivander. McGonagall gave him a curt nod as goodbye, but Lyanna was so glad over her wand that she hugged him. She didn't even mind his creepy eyes. He looked surprised and McGonagall scandalized.
"Thank you", Lyanna thanked him.
"Don't talk about it, Miss Riddle. The wand chose you and I think it will help you on your way of solving the riddle that is you."
With those cryptically words he disappeared among the shelves. The bell rang when Lyanna and McGonagall opened the door and left.