Chapter 3

Lyra groaned as she pushed herself off the ground. Her stomach was churning and she wanted to throw up, but that was all forgotten as she saw Diagon Alley. They were standing on a cobblestone street lined with small shops. As McGonagall began to walk briskly along the length of the alley, Lyra trotted after her, spinning around every so often to take more of the magical place in.

Seeing a large marble building at the end of the street, her jaw dropped as she noticed small, human-like creatures at either side of the large doors. "Goblins," an elderly wizard walking near her said nonchalantly, seeing her astonishment. "And that building they're standing outside of is Gringotts, the wizard bank. Nodding in thanks, she hurried back to McGonagall's side, but was easily distracted by the other stores.

Lyra spotted a bunch of boys crowded around a storefront, their faces close to the glass. Craning her neck to see what they were looking at, she caught a glimpse of a broomstick and overheard one boy say to the other, "It's a Firebolt, the fastest broom ever!" She kept walking, not interested in the so-called Firebolt. What did interest her was a shop called Eeylops Owl Emporium, which, from the looks of it, was a pet store that sold owls. Lyra looked into the store through the glass window and one owl in the window display immediately caught her eye. It was a small barn owl with dark, curious eyes and auburn tinged feathers. Its breast was made up of snowy white down. She pressed her fingertips against the glass and the owl fluttered its wings, clever thing, but she reluctantly turned away from the creature after noticing how far ahead McGonagall had gotten.

Running to catch up, Lyra stopped again when she saw Florean Fortescue's Ice-Cream Parlour. Her mouth watering, she stared at the frozen confections, desperately wanting one, but remembered McGonagall and turned away. The older witch was nearing a store called Potage's Cauldron Shop. Lyra hurried to the witch's side. "There you are!" McGonagall said, giving Lyra a stern look. "It is quite easy to get distracted, here, but we need to buy your supplies before you go running off." Lyra blushed and nodded in assent. McGonagall seemed satisfied with her response, and they entered the store together.

Lyra looked around, seeing stacks of cauldrons in every corner of the shop. A pure silver one caught her eye, but McGonagall shook her head sharply when she saw where Lyra's gaze traveled. Lyra quickly picked up a pewter cauldron after looking at her supply list, as that was the cauldron listed, as well as a collapsible brass telescope and a set of scales, then carried it all over to the counter, where a short woman with a warm smile waited.

Lyra smiled in return at the woman, but her smile slipped away as she realized with a jolt that she had no money to pay for her supplies. Turning to McGonagall, she asked in a feeble voice, "How am I going to pay for everything?"

"Well, your fath- I mean, you have a vault at Gringotts, the wizard bank, but for now, the school will fund your purchases. Now, let's pay for this and then we can purchase your books. " The witch pulled a leather pouch from her pocket and handed it to Lyra, its contents jingling. "This is yours now. It has enough to purchase your supplies, as well as buy a pet if you want." Lyra opened it to find an assortment of coins: large gold ones, smaller silver ones, and still smaller bronze ones.

"The gold ones are Galleons, the silver are Sickles, and the bronze are Knuts," McGonagall explained. "Seventeen Sickles make a Galleon, and twenty-nine Knuts make a Sickle." Lyra nodded, and took a moment to make a calculation in her head.

"So, four hundred and thirty-nine Knuts make a Galleon?" she asked, hoping her arithmetic had been correct.

"Yes," McGonagall responded, and Lyra thought she saw pride flash across the woman's face for a second, but it may have been imagined. Lyra turned back to the woman at the counter and asked, "How much will this be?"

"Fifteen Galleons, dearie," the woman told her, and Lyra piled 15 of the gold coins from her pouch on the counter. After thanking the woman, she and McGonagall left the shop and crossed the street to Flourish and Blotts, which from their window display, Lyra could tell it was a bookstore. Eager to buy her school books, she hurried to the door and pulled it open, McGonagall a few steps behind her.

As soon as she entered the shop, Lyra knew it was her favourite place in Diagon Alley. Dark wooden shelves lined the walls, going all the way up to the ceiling, and every inch was packed with books. She walked slowly towards one of them, but yelped in fear when she noticed her close proximity to an iron cage full of books that seemed alive. The books were covered in a fur-like material and when she looked closer, Lyra noticed small, beady eyes embedded in their covers. She bent down to read the label, making sure to be cautious, as the some of the books were shredding the others.

"The Monster Book of Monsters," she read aloud. Seems fitting, Lyra thought. She stood up and after taking note that McGonagall was talking to the shopkeeper, set off to find her books, looking every so often at her supply list.

After collecting all eight books, Lyra made her way back to the front of the store, struggling slightly with the large stack. Placing the books on the counter, she waited patiently for McGonagall to finish her conversation. While she waited, Lyra noticed a book titled Easy Spells to Fool Muggles. Picking it up to read, she suppressed a giggle as she looked at the first spell. She would have loved to use it on the girls who teased her at the orphanage. Almost as if McGonagall had read her mind, the older witch wrapped up her conversation and made her way over to Lyra, gently taking the book out of her hands.

"You can't use magic outside of school, you know," McGonagall warned, her lips pursed, and Lyra nodded.

"I was just looking," she said hastily, and gestured to her school books. "I've finished getting my books." McGonagall nodded and looked towards the shopkeeper, who rang them up.

"That will be thirteen Galleons, please, miss." Lyra paid him the amount, piled the books into her cauldron with her other supplies, and McGonagall ushered her out of the store.

"We'll get you your robes next, I think," McGonagall told her, pointing to a shop a few doors down, Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. Lyra nodded and began to walk towards the building, when she noticed a poster behind McGonagall.

'Have you seen this wizard?' the poster read. It showed a moving picture of a gaunt man with a crazed look in his eye. "Who's that man?" Lyra asked McGonagall quietly. McGonagall followed her gaze and upon seeing the poster, immediately paled and pulled Lyra away.

"H-he's nobody of importance. Don't trouble yourself over it," she told the girl, stammering, and Lyra saw agitation and fear in her eyes. Lyra nodded, but her mind whirled with questions. Who was the man, and why did he scare McGonagall so much?

McGonagall opened the door to Madam Malkin's store and the bell jingled, tearing Lyra from her thoughts. A squat woman bustled toward them with a smile on her face and asked, "Hogwarts, dear?" Lyra nodded, and the woman gestured to the back of the store. "Go on back there, dear, and someone will be with you soon." Lyra moved towards where she had gestured and saw a row of footstools, presumably where her robes would be fitted. Another witch came up behind Lyra and had her stand on one of the stools, slipping a long black robe over her head. The witch began to pin Lyra's robe to fit her, and as the process went on, Lyra grew bored and was thankful when her robes were finally fitted. She paid for her newly fitted robes, as well as the black cloak, gloves, and hat first years were required to have.

After leaving Madam Malkin's, they stopped in the Apothecary to pick up basic potion ingredients for Lyra, and then Lyra realized that all that she needed was a wand. Her heart hammering, she hurried towards a shabby, narrow shop with a sign that read Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C. She opened the door and McGonagall followed her inside, sitting on the one chair by the door. Lyra looked around in awe, gazing at the tall shelves lined with long, thin boxes. She realized suddenly, that she and McGonagall were not alone.

An old man stood before them and he greeted her by saying, "Lyra Black. I was wondering when you'd be visiting." Lyra wondered how he knew her name, but her thoughts were turned in a different direction when he made another comment. "I remember selling your father his wand. Eleven and a half inches, fir, with phoenix tail feather. Good for transfiguration." He looked towards McGonagall. "You were his teacher, if I am correct?" McGonagall nodded, a slight smile on her lips.

"One of my best students, if not rowdy and disruptive."

"You sold my father his wand?" Lyra questioned Mr. Ollivander, her interest piqued. "What about my mother?"

"Ah yes, her wand was of alder wood, with a unicorn hair. ten inches, and quite pliable." Mr. Ollivander pulled a tape measure out of his pocket, saying, "Now then, Miss. Black. Which arm do you prefer to use with wandwork?"

"Well, I'm left handed, so-"

"Yes, that's it. Hold it out." He began his measurements: shoulder to finger, wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit, and around her head. "You should know, Miss. Black, that every wand made by Ollivander's contains a core made from either phoenix tail feathers, unicorn hairs, and dragon heartstrings. None of our wands are the same, and a wand owned by another wizard will never work as well for you."

He dropped the tape measure, and hurried to the shelves, pulling down box after box until there were about 20, all piled on the counter. "Try this one. Holly wood, unicorn hair, seven inches." He handed it to Lyra, who held it unsurely. "Go on, give it a wave!"

Lyra waved it weakly, but the old man seized it from her hand and it was quickly replaced in its box. "No, not the one for you. Black walnut, phoenix tail feather, swishy, nine and a quarter inches." Mr. Ollivander presented her with another wand, but the minute she touched it, he snatched it back.

"No, not at all. Maybe you'll do good with this one: laurel and dragon heartstring, eight inches."

Lyra tried multiple more wands, but none were what Mr. Ollivander seemed to be looking for.

"Don't worry, Miss. Black, we'll find the wand for you. Hmm, let's try this. Fir and dragon heartstring, eight and three-quarters inches." Lyra reached for it, and as she took it, felt a tingling in her fingers. She waved it above her head, and blue sparks shot from the end of it, cascading down to the floor. Ollivander gave a shout of glee, and McGonagall clapped lightly.

"Interesting. A wand of fir, like your father. Favors owners who are strong-minded and focused." Lyra grinned. She had something in common with her father, whomever he was.

After paying 7 Galleons and thanking Mr. Ollivander profusely, Lyra and Professor McGonagall left the wand shop as the sun was setting. McGonagall began to lead Lyra towards where the had Apparated from before, but they past Eeylops Owl Emporium again and Lyra saw the owl from before, fluttering its wings.

"Oh, professor, please can I get an owl?" she begged McGonagall, who reluctantly agreed. The professor waited outside as Lyra ran into the store to buy the barn owl. She emerging ten minutes later, carrying the owl in its cage, with a large smile on her face. "Isn't she beautiful?" she gushed to McGonagall. "I've already chosen her name: Echo." The owl hooted and McGonagall smiled at the excited girl.

"Yes, she is beautiful, and you picked a wonderful name. Now, are you ready to go back to the orphanage?" Lyra nodded. "Oh, and before I forget, here is your train ticket for Hogwarts." McGonagall handed Lyra another envelope. "The train leaves from Platform 9 ¾, Kings Cross Station in London on September 1st. Don't lose the ticket," she warned, and Lyra tucked the letter into her pocket, making sure it was secure. She didn't want to lose her only chance of escaping the orphanage.

"Alright, now that that's taken care of, we can take you home. Grab hold," McGonagall reminded, and Lyra prepared herself for the nauseating feeling Apparition caused her. Taking hold of the older woman's arm, she closed her eyes and they Apparated away from Diagon Alley, returning to the confines of the orphanage.

A/N: So we're off to Hogwarts next! I owe this all to WildernessGirl, this was her first solo chapter. I might include some links on my profile to the owl we imagine as Echo and maybe her wand… Next chapter, we'll meet the Golden Trio and the rest of the Hogwarts crew. Remember, this is '93, so Harry, Ron, and Hermione are in their third year. We would've had them in this chapter, but Harry comes to Diagon Alley around early August and Hermione comes right before the start of the school year. This takes place around mid-to-late July. Review if you know anybody in Lyra's year who we could include in the sorting! PM or review with questions and comments, though I do moderate flames.

~Cherry Mall

Responses to reviews:

Alicia: Yeah, Lyra definitely has a bookish side (she gets that from her mother), but she has a lot of qualities similar to Sirius, especially when it comes to pranks. Her mischievous side will come out later, and it may or not be because of the Weasley twins. ;)

~WildernessGirl