AN: I'm finally finished with school until August, so these things should be coming quicker. Maybe. Sorry it's been awhile. I was stressing over my AP Latin Exam but now that nightmare is over... so yeah. Hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling does. (People are always so snarky in these things. I don't really know if that's my style though. Sorry if you enjoy that.)

Diagon Alley

Selena woke to the sound of a fist pounding on the door. The events of the past night rushed into her head. She and Harry had been visited by a giant called Hagrid and delivered the news that they had magical abilities. He had said something about

Selena picked up her glasses that had been discarded on the dusty ground and pushed them up her nose. The world appeared clearly once again. The hut was lit by the morning and the sky was no longer bleak and wet.

Harry roused beside her. "All right," Harry mumbled, "I'm getting up." The duster that was draped over the both of them fell to the ground. Selena nearly fell off of the sofa with it. Hagrid's owl from the flew in through the window and began scratching at his overcoat.

Harry leapt over her and tried to wave the owl away. "Don't do that." The owl paid no mind. "Hagrid," he called flustered. "There's an owl."

"Pay him," Hagrid grunted into the couch.

"What?"

"He wants payin' fer deliverin' the paper. Look in the pockets." Selena rolled off of the sofa and helped Harry look through the giant, black coat.

She felt through the pockets, fingertips searching for something metallic or paper. Selena pulled out a handful of little coins.

"Give him five knuts," Hagrid said drowsily.

She counted out five coins and placed them in a little pouch attached to its leg. Then hastily the bird flew back out the window.

"Best be off, you two, lots ter do today, gotta get up ter London an' buy all yer stuff fer school." Hagrid announced stretching his large arms toward the roof.

"Um - Hagrid?" Harry began.

"Mm?" said Hagrid, pulling on his huge boots.

"We haven't got any money - and you heard Uncle Vernon last night... he won't pay for us to go and learn magic."

"Don't worry about that," Hagrid said standing up. "D'yeh think yer parents didn't leave yeh anything?"

"But if their house was destroyed-" He argued.

"They didn' keep their gold in the house, boy! Nah, first stop fer us is Gringotts. Wizards' bank. Have a sausage, they're not bad cold - an' I wouldn' say no teh a bit o' yer birthday cake, neither."

"Wizards have banks?"

"Just the one. Gringotts. Run by goblins."

"Goblins?" Selena's eyes felt like they were going to pop out of her head. Harry dropped the bit of sausage he was holding.

"Yeah - so yeh'd be mad ter try an' rob it, I'll tell yeh that. Never mess with goblins. Gringotts is the safest place in the world fer anything yeh want ter keep safe - 'cept maybe Hogwarts. As a matter o' fact, I gotta visit Gringotts anyway. Fer Dumbledore. Hogwarts business. He usually gets me ter do important stuff fer him. Fetchin' you - gettin' things from Gringotts - knows he can trust me, see."

Moments later, he asked slipping his coat back, "Got everythin'? Come on, then."

The twins followed Hagrid out onto the rock. The boat they came in was bobbing back and forth, rain water sloshing around in the bottom.

"How did you get here?" Harry asked. Selena looked around for a second boat.

"Flew," said Hagrid.

"Flew?"

"Yeah - but we'll go back in this. Not s'pposed ter use magic now I've got yeh."

As they settled into the boat the image of Hagrid floating through the air popped in her hair. She bit down on her tongue to keep from laughing. "Seems a shame ter row, though," said Hagrid, giving them a nervous look. "If I was ter - er - speed things up a bit, would yeh mind not mentionin' it at Hogwarts?" Harry and Selena looked at each other, turned back around, and nodded quickly.

Hagrid pulled out his pink umbrella and tapped the bow twice and they began speeding towards the shore. "Why would you be mad to try and rob Gringotts?" Harry asked. Selena had completely forgotten about that conversation.

"Spells - enchantments," said Hagrid, unfolding the newspaper. "They say there's dragons guardin' the high security vaults. And then yeh gotta find yer way - Gringotts is hundreds of miles under London, see. Deep under the Underground. Yeh'd die of hunger tryin' ter get out, even if yeh did manage ter get yer hands on summat."

"Ministry o' Magic messin' things up as usual," Hagrid muttered, turning the page.

"There's a Ministry of Magic?" Harry asked.

"'Course," said Hagrid. "They wanted Dumbledore fer Minister, o' course, but he'd never leave Hogwarts, so old Cornelius Fudge got the job. Bungler if ever there was one. So he pelts Dumbledore with owls every morning, askin' fer advice."

"But what does a Ministry of Magic do?"

"Well, their main job is to keep it from the Muggles that there's still witches an' wizards up an' down the country."

"Why?"

"Why? Blimey, Harry, everyone'd be wantin' magic solutions to their problems. Nah, we're best left alone."

As they walked down the crowded streets, citizens stared at Hagrid. Not only was much larger than any human she had come across, but he was also pointing to everyday objects and marveling at them, "The things these muggles dream up."

When they reached the London train station, Hagrid asked them to pull out their letters. Selena read it aloud. She always found that the best way to remember things. It would be easier to not have to pull out the map constantly.

"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, silver fastenings)

Please note that all pupils' 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 Beginners' Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fun gi 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 of glass or crystal phials

1 telescope set

1 brass scales

Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad

Parents are reminded that first years are not allowed their own broomsticks."

Selena wondered if there were chores at Hogwarts. Why else would they need a broom?

"Can we buy all this in London?" Harry asked.

"If yeh know where to go," said Hagrid.

Neither Selena or Harry had ever been to London. Hagrid seemed to know his way around but complained at near every turn. The trains were too slow. The seats were too small. Everything was too small. Even though the city was crowded they made their way simply. People parted like the Red Sea to let him pass by. Harry and Selena followed closely behind him.

"This is it," said Hagrid, stopping, "the Leaky Cauldron. It's a famous place." It was a small, inconsequential pub. Selena most likely wouldn't have paid it any mind if Hagrid didn't point it out. None of the people around them seemed to notice either.

The inside of it looked more like it was infamous than famous. It was dimly lit and women sat in corners sipping daiquiris and smoking pipes. The rugged bar tender was serving a little man in a top hat. All of the customers appeared to know Hagrid. They all waved and smiled. The bartender grabbed a fresh glass, "The usual, Hagrid?"

"Not today, Tom. I'm on official Hogwart's business." He replied.

"Good Lord," said Tom, staring at Harry, "is this - can this be -?"

A hush came over the Leaky Cauldron.

"Bless my soul," whispered the old bartender, "Harry Potter... what an honor." He shook Harry's hand excitedly. "Oh, and Selena…" He trailed off shaking her hand. His eyes seemed to be brimming with tears. "Welcome back. Welcome back." He shook Harry's hand again.

Suddenly people amassed on them and they were shaking everyone's hands.

Finally, a young twitchy eyed man stepped forward.

"Professor Quirrell!" said Hagrid. "Harry, Selena, Professor Quirrell will be one of your teachers at Hogwarts."

"P-P-Potter," stuttered Professor Quirrell, grabbing Harry's hand, "c-can't t-tell you how p-pleased I am to meet you." He shook Selena's next.

"What sort of magic do you teach, Professor Quirrell?" Selena asked.

"D-Defense Against the D-D-Dark Arts," muttered Professor Quirrell, as though the though caused him pain. "N-not that you n-need it, eh, P-P-Potter?" He laughed nervously. "You'll be g-getting all your equipment, I suppose? I've g-got to p-pick up a new b-book on vampires, m-myself." He shuddered.

"Must get on - lots ter buy. Come on." Hagrid parted the sea of fans. "Told yeh, didn't I? Told yeh you was famous. Even Professor Quirrell was tremblin' ter meet yeh - mind you, he's usually tremblin'."

"Is he always that nervous?" Harry question

"Oh, yeah. Poor bloke. Brilliant mind. He was fine while he was studyin' outta books but then he took a year off ter get some firsthand experience... They say he met vampires in the Black Forest, and there was a nasty bit o' trouble with a hag - never been the same since. Scared of the students, scared of his own subject - now, where's me umbrella?"

VAMPIRES!

Hagrid was pointing at the bricks muttering, "Three up… two across." He tapped it with the tip of his frilly, pink umbrella. "Stand back." The middle of the brick he had pressed began to grow a hole. This hole expanded, bricks dissolving before her eyes, and formed an archway. It revealed a little cobblestone street that ended in shadows.

"Welcome," Hagrid announced, gesturing to the mysterious doorway, "to Diagon Alley."

The second they stepped beyond the bricks reappeared.

Cauldrons of all different makes—copper, brass, pewter, silver, self-stirring- glimmered in the sunlight.

"Yeah, you'll be needin' one," said Hagrid, "but we gotta get yer money first."

There were so many things to look at. Colorful people surrounded colorful shops. There was an Apothecary and an Owl Emporium and a robe shop. Outside a shop with a broom on display many boys around the twin's age were marveling animatedly, ""Look the new Nimbus Two Thousand - fastest ever - "

Then they came upon it. An enormous white building. Standing next to its bronze doors was a little man in a red and gold uniform. "Yeah, that's a goblin," Hagrid whispered as they walked the marble steps. He had a leathery, angular face, and a pointed, cropped beard. At a second glance, she could see that he had unusually long fingers with dark nails reminiscent of claws. He bowed to them.

When they entered, they came upon a second set of doors, this time silver. Above them was engraved:

Enter, stranger, but take heed

Of what awaits the sin of greed,

For those who take, but do not earn,

Must pay most dearly in their turn.

So if you seek beneath our floors

A treasure that was never yours,

Thief, you have been warned, beware

Of finding more than treasure there.

"Like I said, Yeh'd be mad ter try an' rob it," said Hagrid.

A pair of goblins greeted them with a bow and they reached a marbled hall. It was vast and held about a hundred or so goblins going about their work. Hagrid lead them to the proper counter.

"Morning," said Hagrid to an available goblin. "We've come ter take some money outta the Potter's safe."

"You have this key, sir?"

"Got it here somewhere," Hagrid said rummaging through his coat pockets. He emptied its contents on the countertop in front of the goblin. "Got it," said Hagrid at last, holding up a little golden key.

"That seems to be in order." Replied the goblin.

"An' I've also got a letter here from Professor Dumbledore," said Hagrid puffing his chest with importance. "It's about the You-Know-What in vault seven hundred and thirteen."

The goblin read the letter carefully.

"Very well," he said, handing it back to Hagrid, "I will have someone take you down to both vaults. Griphook!"

Another goblin appeared. He looked to be younger than many of the others with dark slicked back hair. Once Hagrid recollected all of his coat pocket items, they headed off with Griphook.

"What's the You-Know-What in vault seven hundred and thirteen?" Harry asked.

"Can't tell yeh that," answered Hagrid. "Very secret. Hogwarts business. Dumbledore's trusted me. More'n my job's worth ter tell yeh that."

The next room was a complete change of scenery. Gone were the delicate marble and glittering diamond chandeliers. In their place, was a dimly lit narrow passage way. In front of them were train tracks that went on a short distance before dropping. Griphook whistled and a small cart came trailing down the track to them. They climbed in and took off.

It reminded Selena of the rides that Liza talked about after coming home from an amusement park. It swerved and curved and dropped and rose. The cart appeared to be moving on its own because Griphook wasn't doing anything. Selena's eyes stung from the rushing wind. They passed over an underground lake surround by rock formations.

"I never know," Harry called out, but it was difficult to hear over the shuttering cart, "what's the difference between a stalagmite and a stalactite?"

"Stalagmite's got an 'm' in it," said Hagrid. "An' don' ask me questions just now, I think I'm gonna be sick."

Selena cleared her throat and yelled, "A stalactite hangs from a cave. A stalagmite grows upwards from the ground." Harry smiled at her.

Soon after the cart came to a halt. Hagrid who looked very green and sick got out of the cart first and leaned against the nearest wall. Griphook began jingling the key in Vault 687. When it opened a misty, green smoke escaped. It mingled with the fresh air and revealed mounds upon mounds of coins. The gold ones were the most common, then silver, then bronze. "All yours," Announced Hagrid.

Harry and Selena looked at each other smiling wider than either of them had in a long time. All the times the Dursley's had complained about how much they cost, were now obsolete. A small fortune belonged to them. They began to gather up coins and place them in a bag Hagrid was holding. "The gold ones are Galleons," he explained. "Seventeen silver Sickles to a Galleon and twenty-nine Knuts to a Sickle, it's easy enough. Right, that should be enough fer a couple o' terms, we'll keep the rest safe for yeh." He turned to Griphook. "Vault seven hundred and thirteen now, please, and can we go more slowly?"

"One speed only," said Griphook the ghost of a smirk on his lip. They plunged even deeper into the cavern. They air grew gradually colder. When they reached a ravine, Harry tried to look down only to be pulled away by Hagrid.

There was no key for Vault 713. Griphook simply tapped it with his long finger and it disappeared before their eyes. "Stand back," ordered Griphook. "If anyone but a Gringotts goblin tried that, they'd be sucked through the door and trapped in there," Griphook informed them.

"How often do you check to see if anyone's inside?" Harry asked.

"About once every ten years," said Griphook with a sly smile.

Inside of the Vault was nearly empty save for a small, brown paper box in the center of it. Selena didn't know what she had expected but it has certainly been more important looking than the little package. The goblin handed it to Hagrid who in turn stuffed in inside of one of his coat pockets. "Come on, back in this infernal cart, and don't talk to me on the way back, it's best if I keep me mouth shut," said Hagrid.

Outside of the bank she and her brother stood gawking at all the stores. Harry held in his hands more money than either of them had ever had the luxury of looking at. She reckoned that it was more than Dudley had. They had, inside their vault, thirty Uncle Vernon's worth of golden galleons.

"Might as well get yer uniform," said Hagrid, gesturing toward Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. "Listen, you kids, would yeh mind if I slipped off fer a pick-me-up in the Leaky Cauldron? I hate them Gringotts carts." He did still look sickly, so the twins entered Madam Malkin's shop alone. Selena felt horribly nervous.

Madam Malkin was a petite, kind looking woman dressed in mauve robes. "Hogwarts, dear?" she said, before either of them could speak. "Got the lot here - another young man being fitted up just now, in fact."

An angular faced boy with slicked platinum hair was being tended to in the back of the store. A second woman was pinning his black robes. Madam Malkin stood Harry on a stool next to him. And Selena on the stool next to Harry.

A third woman came and slipped a black robe over her head and began the pinning process. "Hello," said the boy, "Hogwarts, too?"

"Yes," said Harry and Selena at the same time.

"My father's next door buying my books and mother's up the street looking at wands," said the boy. He spoke with a very bored tone. "Then I'm going to drag them off to look at racing brooms. I don't see why first years can't have their own. I think I'll bully father into getting me one and I'll smuggle it in somehow."

Selena got the impression that this boy was rather proud of himself.

"Have either of you got your own broom?" the boy went on.

"No," said Harry. Selena didn't bother to answer.

"Play Quidditch at all?"

"No," Selena answered this time wondering what in the world quidditch could be.

"I do - Father says it's a crime if I'm not picked to play for my house, and I must say, I agree. Know what house you'll be in yet?"

"No," said Harry. She could tell he was beginning to feel stupid. She shared the feeling. For whatever reason, she didn't want to be under the harsh judgement of another magical child.

"Well, no one really knows until they get there, do they, but I know I'll be in Slytherin, all our family have been - imagine being in Hufflepuff, I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?"

"Oh absolutely," Selena agreed not at all knowing what he was talking about. Harry flashed her a surprised look.

"I say, look at that man!" said the boy jumping in his stool and nodding toward the front window. Hagrid was standing there, grinning at the children, pointing at three large ice creams to indicate he could not enter the shop.

"That's Hagrid," said Harry.

"He works at Hogwarts." Selena finished smiling brightly and waving out the window.

"Oh," said the boy sneering, "I've heard of him. He's a sort of servant, isn't he?"

Suddenly Selena didn't like this boy very much. "He's the gamekeeper," said Harry distaste apparent in his voice.

"Yes, exactly. I heard he's a sort of savage - lives in a hut on the school grounds and every now and then he gets drunk, tries to do magic, and ends up setting fire to his bed."

"I think he's brilliant," said Harry coldly.

"Do you?" said the boy. "Why is he with you? Where are your parents?"

"They're dead," Harry said shortly. Selena was shocked by how easily the words slipped from her brother's mouth. She could tell he was getting very annoyed with this boy. She felt the same.

"Oh, sorry," said the blonde, not sounding sorry at all. "But they were our kind, weren't they?"

"They were a witch and wizard, if that's what you mean." Harry answer.

"I really don't think they should let the other sort in, do you? They're just not the same, they've never been brought up to know our ways. Some of them have never even heard of Hogwarts until they get the letter, imagine. I think they should keep it in the old wizarding families. What's your surname, anyway?"

Selena and Harry looked at each other. She mouthed to him, what? He simply shrugged face contorted like he'd smelled something funny. Before either of them could reply the seamstress informed them that they were finished.

"Well, I'll see you at Hogwarts, I suppose," said the drawling boy.

"I hope not," Selena hissed under her breath. Harry had caught the words and nodded at her in agreement.

Both of the children were silent as they ate their chocolatey treats. Selena was still shell-shocked from the encounter with the robe fitting boy.

"What's up?" asked Hagrid.

Before Selena could answer Harry did, ""Nothing," Harry lied. They stopped to buy parchment and quills. Both of the children felt leagues better after playing around with the magical writing supplies of the store. When they had left the shop, Harry turned to the giant, "Hagrid, what's Quidditch?"

"Blimey, I keep forgettin' how little yeh know - not knowin' about Quidditch!"

"Don't make me feel worse," said Harry bitterly. Selena informed Hagrid about the pale boy they had met in Madam Malkin's. She left out his insults toward Hagrid.

"- and he said people from Muggle families shouldn't even be allowed in-"

"Yer not from a Muggle family. If he'd known who yeh were - he's grown up knowin' yer name if his parents are wizardin' folk. You saw what everyone in the Leaky Cauldron was like when they saw yeh. Anyway, what does he know about it, some o' the best I ever saw were the only ones with magic in 'em in a long line o' Muggles - look at yer mum! Look what she had fer a sister!"

"So, what is Quidditch?" Selena asked.

"It's our sport. Wizard sport. It's like - like soccer in the Muggle world - everyone follows Quidditch - played up in the air on broomsticks and there's four balls - sorta hard ter explain the rules."

"And what are Slytherin and Hufflepuff?" Harry questioned.

"School houses. There's four. Everyone says Hufflepuff are a lot o' duffers, but-"

"I bet I'm in Hufflepuff," said Harry looking down.

"Better Hufflepuff than Slytherin," said Hagrid darkly. "There's not a single witch or wizard who went bad who wasn't in Slytherin. You-Know-Who was one."

"Vol-, sorry - You-Know-Who was at Hogwarts?"

"Years an' years ago," said Hagrid.

They went to buy their books at a shop called Flourish and Blotts. The inside was one of the most glorious sights she'd ever seen. There were shelves upon shelves of leather bound books. It put her primary school library to shame. She could only begin the fathom the content they contained. Hagrid walked over to Selena, who was looking for a school required book, with Harry in toe. "There ye are!" Hagrid exclaimed. "Found yer brother in the Curses and Counter Curses section."

"I was trying to find out how to curse Dudley." Harry explained. Selena held out her right-hand fingers forming an okay sign.

"I'm not sayin' that's not a good idea, but yer not ter use magic in the Muggle world except in very special circumstances," said Hagrid. "An' anyway, yeh couldn' work any of them curses yet, yeh'll need a lot more study before yeh get ter that level."

Harry tried to convince Hagrid to get them each golden cauldron but he refused because the list specifically requested pewter. However, the rest of their potions making supplies was of the highest quality. Next they visited the Apothecary, which had a rather peculiar sent. While Hagrid bought their stuff, Harry and Selena touched random items and looked around the store at all the different, strange items they had for sale. Little silver unicorn horns were 21 galleons. She worried to herself, what if that hurts the unicorns?

"Just yer wand left - A yeah, an' I still haven't got yeh a birthday present."

Selena felt herself flush. "You don't have to-"

"I know I don't have to. Tell yeh what, I'll get yer animal. Not a toad, toads went outta fashion years ago, yeh'd be laughed at - an' I don' like cats, they make me sneeze. I'll get yer an owl. All the kids want owls, they're dead useful, carry yer mail an' everythin'."

They remained inside Eeylops Owl Emporium for well on twenty minutes before Selena worked up the courage to ask Hagrid a question. Harry had chosen a beautiful, snowy owl. He kept thanking Hagrid every minute. Selena tugged on Hagrid's sleeve. He was still looking at owls for her. "Hagrid?" She asked shyly. "Could I- Could… um well, I really would like to have a cat."

Hagrid's face soured for a moment. Then it perked up again. "Oh, alright, if that's what yeh want." Her face light up like a christmas tree.

They paid for Harry's owl and headed down to Magical Menagerie. Inside were walls decorated with cages holding animals. They walked to the section that indicated cats. She looked around at all of the cats. Some were older but Selena felt herself drawn to the kittens. There was a little white cradle holding sleeping and playing kittens. Then she spotted her cat. It was small enough for her to hold in both hands with tan fur that darkened around the eyes and round blue eyes underneath copious lashes.

She picked it up and cradled it in her arms. The little animal was so adorable that her eyes felt glassy with tears. They went off to the counter and purchased her. When they left the shop, Selena couldn't stop mumbling her thanks. "Don' mention it," said Hagrid gruffly. "Don' expect either of you've had a lotta presents from them Dursleys. Just Ollivanders left now - only place fer wands, Ollivanders, and yeh gotta have the best wand."

A wand… Selena had been waiting rather patiently for this part. The shop was small and shabby in appearance. The letters that read: Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C. The window had a single impressive looking wand resting on a cushion.

The air inside had a different feeling than any other placed she'd been. Her skin rose with goose prickles and her hair stood on end. Hagrid sat down in the one chair in the tiny shop. "Good afternoon," A soft voice called from the back corner of the room. An elderly man walked until he was in front of them. His pale eyes pierced through the dim light. He must have been Ollivander.

"Hello," said Selena and Harry.

"Ah yes," said the man. "Yes, yes. I thought I'd be seeing you soon. Harry Potter." He stated. "You have your mother's eyes. It seems only yesterday she was in here herself, buying her first wand. Ten and a quarter inches long, swishy, made of willow. Nice wand for charm work."

"And you," He turned to her, "Selena Potter. You're just the opposite. You have your father's eyes. He on the other hand, favored a mahogany wand. Eleven inches. Pliable. A little more power and excellent for transfiguration. Well, I say your father favored it - it's really the wand that chooses the wizard, of course."

"And that's where..." He then touched Harry's scar with a spindly, pale finger. "I'm sorry to say I sold the wand that did it," he said softly. "Thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Powerful wand, very powerful, and in the wrong hands... well, if I'd known what that wand was going out into the world to do..."

Then his eyes focused on elsewhere. He had spotted Hagrid. "Rubeus! Rubeus Hagrid! How nice to see you again... Oak, sixteen inches, rather bendy, wasn't it?"

"It was, sir, yes," said Hagrid.

"Good wand, that one. But I suppose they snapped it in half when you got expelled?" said Mr. Ollivander, suddenly stern.

"Er - yes, they did, yes," said Hagrid, shuffling his feet. "I've still got the pieces, though," he added brightly.

"But you don't use them?"

"Oh, no, sir," said Hagrid quickly. He clutched at his pink umbrella and gave Selena a brief, nervous glance.

"Well now, let's do Mr. Potter first." He pulled a long tape ticked with silver from his pocket. "Which is your wand arm?"

"Er - well, I'm right-handed," said Harry.

"Hold out your arm. That's it." He began to measure her brother. "Every Ollivander wand has a core of a powerful magical substance. We use unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers, and the heartstrings of dragons. No two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons, or phoenixes are quite the same. And of course, you will never get such good results with another wizard's wand."

Mr. Ollivander went to the shelves. Whilst he did so the tape measure began taking Harry's information all by itself. "That will do. Right then, Mr. Potter. Try this one. Beechwood and dragon heartstring. Nine inches. Nice and flexible. just take it and give it a wave."

He did. Seconds later, Ollivander snatched it from him.

"Maple and phoenix feather. Seven inches. Quite whippy. Try-" Harry had hardly lifted his wrist when the man had ripped it out of his hand.

Harry tried several wands. They began to pile up.

"Tricky customer, eh? Not to worry, we'll find the perfect match here somewhere - I wonder, now - yes, why not - unusual combination - holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple."

Harry raised the wand above his head and it emitted red sparks. They popped like a firework in the air. Mr. Ollivander shrilly cried in response, "Oh, bravo! Yes, indeed, oh, very good. Well, well, well... how curious... how very curious..."

Harry narrowed his eyes, "Sorry, but why curious?"

"I remember every wand I've ever sold, Mr. Potter. Every single wand. It so happens that the phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand, gave another feather - just one other. It is very curious indeed that you should be destined for this wand when its brother - why, its brother gave you that scar. Yes, thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Curious indeed how these things happen. The wand chooses the wizard, remember... I think we must expect great things from you, Mr. Potter... After all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things - terrible, yes, but great."

Mr. Ollivander put Harry's wand back in the box. "Now, Miss Potter," He gestured for her to come with a spindly finger. He followed the same procedure he had with Harry. The magical tape took her measurements and Mr. Ollivander headed to the back of the store. "Hmm… birch, phoenix feather, eight and a half inches, good for charm work. Give it a wave."

The stick felt strange in her palm. She waved it. Boxes fell from the shelves. Ollivander yanked it from her grasp, "No, no, definitely not."

He went up to the shelf again. "Ah… yes," He muttered pulling a box from the scratched, wooden shelf. "This should be much better."

"Kukui, dragon heartstring, seven inches, very flexible." He finished.

From the moment that it touched her hand she felt a warmth that the other wand had not greeted her with. When she waved it something similar to what happened with Harry's happened with hers. Little blue sparks exploded in the air with a muted pop. Ollivader clapped his hands. "That's it!"

He gifted wrapped both their wands and they paid him fourteen galleons.

When they got back to the Leaky Cauldron it was near empty. Hagrid ordered them hamburgers for dinner. "You two alright? You're very silent." Selena hadn't even noticed that she hadn't been speaking.

She was going to let Harry answer first, but he remained silent for a while. "It's been such a great day. I don't really know what to say."

"Everyone thinks I'm special," Harry finally said. It was true. Everyone thought that Harry was special. "All those people in the Leaky Cauldron, Professor Quirrell, Mr. Ollivander... but I don't know anything about magic at all. How can they expect great things? I'm famous and I can't even remember what I'm famous for. I don't know what happened when Vol-, sorry - I mean, the night our parents died."

Hagrid smiled kindly, ""Don' you worry, Harry. You neither Selena. You'll learn fast enough. Everyone starts at the beginning at Hogwarts, you'll be just fine. Just be yerself. I know it's hard. Yeh've been singled out, an' that's always hard. But yeh'll have a great time at Hogwarts - I did - still do, 'smatter of fact."

After the meal, it was time to get back to home with the Dursleys. Hagrid helped them find the train and said goodbye. "Yer ticket fer Hogwarts, " he said. "First o' September - King's Cross - it's all on yer ticket. Any problems with the Dursleys, send me a letter with yer owl, she'll know where to find me... See yeh soon."

Selena watched out the window sadly. It was back to life with the Dursleys.