AN: It is July, so am I on time? I expected to finish this faster, but no one tells you how hard it is to write a good Diagon Alley scene. I did my best, so, yeah. Enjoy. Also, I just discovered from research (read as I did math on the HP Wiki) that I actually put Tonks at the exact right age. She graduates the year that Harry joins Hogwarts, so, I did good there, yay.

Chapter 4: Magic, Money, and Mischief

After their satisfying lunch, Tonks led Harry out back to a dead end with some trash cans

"Umm, Tonks, I thought we were going shopping, so why did we come back here?" Harry asked. He might not have gone shopping a lot, but he knew stores were a requirement for shopping.

"Well, you see, there is a secret doorway back here to the magical shopping area for Great Britain. You can't just leave something like that out in the open where any Muggle can find it," she explained.

At that, Harry got confused, "Why not just disguise the Leaky Cauldron?"

"Because it… You see… Well, the reason is… uhh… hmm," Tonks articulated. "Tradition?" she finally queried with a shrug. "Anyway, Harry, we need to get going. We need to get some money from the bank."

Harry shrugged, "Okay then, Tonks, but what are we buying? Are we going to be able to get what I need in this Diagon Alley?"

Tonks nearly started slamming her head against the gateway, which was currently a brick wall. She pulled a letter out of her cloak, "I was supposed to give you this, but, after all that has gone on, I, kinda sorta, forgot," she said with a small shrug as she handed him the letter.

Harry, having seen this kind of letter before, and finally getting to read it, ripped into it and pulled it out.

The letter read:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,

Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Mr. Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

"I am guessing that the owl requirement has been dropped." Harry said, and seeing Tonks nod, moved on to the next page.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

UNIFORM

First-year students will require:

1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)

2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear

3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)

4. One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)

Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.

COURSE BOOKS

All students should have a copy of each of the following:

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

OTHER EQUIPMENT

1 wand

1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)

1 set glass or crystal phials

1 telescope

1 set brass scales

3 lbs of parchment

1 bag lemon drops (to be given to the Headmaster upon first meeting said person)

Students may also bring, if they desire, a pet that does not endanger the rest of the populace of Hogwarts, common examples are an owl, cat, or toad.

requirements for being considered "not endangering"

Does not breath fire, poison, ice, etc.

Does not eat humans without provocation

Does not eat lemon drops

Any venom it may have must have an antidote

It may not eat homework, test papers, books, or other pets

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS

ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICK

Yours sincerely,

Lucinda Thomsonicle-Pocus

Chief Attendant of Witchcraft Provisions

"Well, it is definitely more exact than I expected, and, if you don't mind, what is up with the lemon drops?" Harry asked.

"Well, I'll be damned, he actually did it…" Tonks said in awed surprise.

"Umm… Who did what, exactly?" Harry asked, confused.

"Dumbledore. He has been crazy over these muggle sweets for years, and has always been running low, as he gives them out like candy…" Tonks paused to consider her last statement, "...Never mind that. He gives them out a lot. For years now, he has been trying to get McGonagall to put them on the Supplies List. He finally managed it."

Harry was unsure how to react to this, to he just let it go.

"Well, anyway," Tonks said, "Tapping specific bricks in a counter-clockwise order, "Welcome, Harry, to Diagon Alley."

As she said this, the bricks started to curl in on themselves, leaving an opening to, in Harry's opinion, the most fantastic alley in the world.

Diagon Alley was one of Wizarding Britain's most famous places, officially ranked at number eight, right before Hogsmeade and after Godric's Hollow, and Harry was stunned upon first seeing the magical shopping district. There were so many colorful stores and stands that he was overwhelmed and turned slightly green, literally, not figuratively.

Tonks, seeing this, nudged him, "You're looking a little green there, Harry. Are you okay?" Seeing Harry nod, she continued to lead them into the alley, heading towards a large, official-looking white building near the end of the street.

"This, Harry, is Gringott's. It is the bank the majority of the Wizarding World uses. It is also run by Goblins, so you need to know a few things. Goblins are a warrior race, meaning they value strength and wealth more than prestige or politeness. So, you need to walk up to the counter as if you already got what you want, talk to them as if they are either your equal or lower, slightly, and, most importantly, do not break eye contact if they initiate it. That shows weakness. Also, don't be nervous. Nervousness is also a sign of weakness. And, most importantly, do not refer to them as Sir or Madam. Goblins are very similar between male and female, and people have been beheaded for calling a goblin the wrong gender, just refer to them as banker and then their given name."

As Tonks finished her warning, Harry started to turn green once again. He, also began to shrink. However, as Tonks grabbed his hand, Harry mustered up enough courage to at least not seem as afraid. He returned to his "normal" appearance.

"Well then, Harry, here we go." Tonks said as she opened the door and went to the nearest open Teller.

"Greetings Banker Shatterhelm," she said to the teller, who had his name on the sign in front of his work station, "I am here today on official Hogwarts business and wish to be escorted to this young man's vault. His vault number is 687, which, as your records will show, is a trust vault under the name of a rather famous individual. I do not wish to broadcast my charge's identity, but can assure you he is who the vault is owned by, and he does have his key." she stated in a very authoritative tone, unusual for the bright, cheerful person she normally is.

The goblin, Shatterhelm, nodded and held out his hand for the key.

"Very well, please follow me to the cart." stated the goblin as he hopped down from his very tall stool. And no, they aren't compensating for something, they just cost less and were on sale when they were buying teller stools, at least that is the official Gringott's statement.

Shatterhelm led them to another goblin, this one named Rattleclaw, who took them down to the vaults in, what was later described as, the most epic minecart ever.

"Vault 687, get out." said the goblin in a very irritated voice. 'The damnable wizards aren't supposed to enjoy the ride down to the vault.'

Rattleclaw took out the vault key and opened the door for Harry and Tonks. Inside said vault was a small mountain of coins. Harry, having never seen so much money, in any form, did what any reasonable eleven year-old would do, he ran in and started filling his pockets to the brim with every coin he could grab.

Ten minutes, four unnoticeable expansion charms, countless laughs, and a disgruntled, and slightly lighter-pocketed, goblin later they were back in the cart.

"... and that, my dear goblin, is why you never bet against a Potter." Tonks said as they exited the cart.

"Yeah, yeah. All I'm hearing is that you cheated based off of an unknown variable." Rattleclaw replied with a smirk, "It was very goblin-like. Good day Ms. Tonks. And Mr. Potter, if you play any sports in the future, please tell me. I wish to recoup my losses by betting on you in the future."

And with that, their goblin acquaintance? left them for whatever job he had to do besides transporting clients to vaults.

"You know what, Harry, I think I was wrong about goblins. Instead of being stuck up around them, you might just want to treat them the way they treat you. In other words, squeeze them for every knut you can, and expect no less from them."

Harry nodded, and the two went towards the exit of the bank. As they left, Harry overheard a large man with a beard, who seemed oddly familiar to Harry.

"Tha's righ'. I need to go to Vault 713. Gots ta get the 'you-know-what' fer Dumbledore."

AN:And that is chapter 4. Sorry again for the wait, but I got busy with school. Also, Dumbledore, no matter how common it is now, will not be dark in this fic. More of a manipulative gray. He will be how I percieve his actual character, from the books.