They went all over Diagon Alley, getting their remaining items. Finally,
"An' the last thin' that we need ta' get are yer robes." Hagrid informed them. They went into Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.
They walked into the shop when Hagrid turned to them, "Hey listen', ah'm goin' o'er to the Leaky Cauldron fer a bit. Ah'll be back by the time yer done." he left the shop for the Leaky Cauldron.
They set their things down on a table near a waiting chair. A woman, Madam Malkin, dressed in mauve colored robes went over to them, "Hogwarts?" she asked. They both said yes, "I expected as much," she said, smiling, "That's been the lot of our customers lately. I'm fitting up another first year student just right now, in fact."
She led them to a row of stools. On one of the stools, already there, was a boy that looked to be about the twins' age. He was pale boy, as though he didn't go out into the sun much, he had a pointed face, and cold silver gray eyes. His platinum blond hair was slicked back neatly. His clothing suggested that he came from wealth. He had a superior air that was reflected on his face.
Harry and Iris stepped onto the two stools next to the boy. Harry, earlier, in order to avoid all of the attention, had made sure that his hair covered his scar. The boys eyes lazily scanned both of them.
"Hello," the boy said in a droning voice. "Hogwarts, too, I expect."
They both nodded uncertainly.
The boy continued, "My father and mother are getting my books. After this, I think I'm going to look at brooms. I can't believe that first years can't have their own. Though, I'll probably be able to bully father into buying me one." Iris could see his excitement under his cold, hard mask. Harry, on the other hand, was getting the impression that this boy was just another brat like Dudley.
"So," he went on, "Do you have your own brooms?"
"No," Harry answered. Iris was busy studying the boy, intently.
"Do you even play Quidditch at all?" he asked.
"No," they answered in unison.
"You both are twins, I bet," though it wasn't a question, they both nodded. He was starting to get uncomfortable under the girl's gaze. He looked straight at her, and, immediately, she looked away. "Anyway," he continued, "I bet I'll be in Slytherin. My whole family has been, you know. What house do you think you'll be in?"
Both of the twins didn't really know what to say. Slytherin?
The boy kept on going, "Well, I suppose no one knows until they get there. I'd probably just leave if I was in Hufflepuff." the boy's eyes wandered to the window, "I say! Look at that man out there!" he exclaimed, lowering his emotional mask temporarily again.
Harry and Iris looked to the window as well. They saw Hagrid out there, holding up three ice-cream cones.
"Oh, that's Hagrid," Iris said warmly.
"Yes, I've heard of him. He's gamekeeper of Hogwarts. My father says he's practically an animal himself. He lives in a hut near the forest and gets drunk a lot."
Harry couldn't hide his anger, "I think he's brilliant," he shot coldly.
The boy shifted his stance and shrugged, he glanced at the giant man outside again. "Why's he with you both anyway? Where are you parents?" he asked them.
"They're both dead," Harry snapped before Iris could say anything.
The boy's expression faltered slightly, "Oh, I'm sorry," he regained composure momentarily, "they were like us, weren't they?"
"What do you mean?" Iris asked.
"Were they magical?" he clarified.
"Yes, I think so," Iris said uncertainly.
"Why do you want to know?" Harry asked rudely.
"Magical people born from muggle families shouldn't be allowed in the wizarding world. They know nothing about us. Most of them don't even know about Hogwarts until they get their letters," the boy explained. Iris thought he sounded as though he was saying a well-rehearsed line.
Harry and Iris glanced at each other; that sounded a lot like them.
Harry was immensely relieved when Madam Malkin walked over to them and said, "You both are done."
They paid for their new robes. Before she left, Iris turned to the boy. She figured that she should give him the benefit of the doubt. She gave him a small smile and then turned and left.
The boy was stunned- or at least surprised- by the girl. Though, he quickly forgot about her as his parents walked in.
Harry, Iris, and Hagrid walked through the crowd, licking their ice-cream (peanut butter and raspberry). Harry told Hagrid about the boy in Madam Malkin's.
"-and then he was saying something about how muggle-raised people shouldn't be here." Harry finished. Iris just listened, licking her ice-cream as she glanced at the shop signs.
"Sounds like a Malfoy," Hagrid explained gruffly, "Don' listen to those type o' people. See, some rich and pompous people like the Malfoys are under tha' impression that people from all wizard families are superior to those from muggle ones. Most of You-Know-Who's followers were firm believers of that; it was one of the reasons fer tha' war. Well, that an' world domination." He shook his head.
Iris felt her eyebrow lift slightly. It sounded like World War II, in a way. She shook her head as though shaking off the thought.
"But," Harry said, "He also said something about- I think it was Quidditch and Slithering?"
"Quidditch and Slytherin," Hagrid corrected, "Quidditch is a popular wizard sport 'round here usin' flying broomsticks. An' Slytherin is a school house at Hogwarts. There are four- Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin." He added with distaste, "Slytherin's tha' worst house of them. All o' the dark wizards were in Slytherin- You Know Who was."
"Which house were you in?"
"Well," Hagrid told them, "Ah was only at Hogwarts fer three years, 'cause ah was expelled, see. But," he puffed his chest out proudly, "I was in Gryffindor. Most noble house there is- Dumbledore was in it, too."
Harry and Iris tried to ask a question at the same time. They quibbled over who should ask their question first. Finally, Harry asked, "Why were you expelled?"
Hagrid became uncomfortable again. "Jus'... a misunderstandin'."
Iris asked her question, "How do they determine which house you go into?"
Hagrid was glad for the change of subject, "The house they sort you into would match your characteristic. Gryffindor is for the brave," he said proudly, "Ravenclaw is for the smarter ones, Slytherin is for the slyer, meaner folk, and Hufflepuff for those that are loyal. Some people say that the Hufflepuffs are the leftovers and a bunch of dudders, but it's better than Slytherin."
They went around Diagon Alley some more, browsing shops and getting a few knick-knacks.
Eventually, as the sky began to darken, Hagrid told them, "Wow, it's gettin' late. Ah should prob'ly get yeh both back to the Dursleys."
They both followed Hagrid, past the shops, through the brick wall, through the Leaky Cauldron, across the street, past the buildings, and all the way through town. They stopped at a burger restaurant and Hagrid bought them both hamburgers.
All the while, Harry was oddly silent.
"Somethin' botherin' yeh, Harry?" Hagrid asked as they all sat in the plastic chairs.
Harry didn't answer at first. Ever since Hagrid had explained why he was so famous, there was something nagging at him in the back of his mind. Now that he excitement was toning down, he found himself focusing on it.
He was famous for something that happened to him as a baby. Something he barely remembered, much less understood. Still, everyone found him to be this great, admirable person. They all expected him to be something special, something great. But he didn't feel special. He barely knew anything about magic. What if he couldn't learn?
He voiced this to them both.
"I know I'm not one to say much but," Iris told him, "I'm sure you'll learn. We'll both learn."
"Hogwarts is an amazin' place, Harry, yeh'll definitely learn. And yeh'll have the time of yer life there. Most people do, ah certainly did. Still do, actually," said Hagrid.
They took the train again, and before they knew it, they were all standing in front of the run-down shack on the rock out in the sea. The weather was calm, and the night air was salty. The water along the edge of the rock made a jump, spraying them all with salty mist.
"All righ'," Hagrid said, getting something out of his pockets, "Ah hate ta' leave yeh both with these folks but it's Dumbledore's orders." he handed them two pieces of papers that appeared to be train tickets, "These are for the Hogwart's Express. It leaves for Hogwarts on September 1st, 11:00 am exactly. It's on yer ticket if yeh forget. Tell yeh what, if yeh have any problems with the Dursleys, jus' send yer owl- she'll know where to find me- and," he glanced back and forth for humor, "ah'll give em all eh... 'what-for' or somethin'."
That made identical smiles creep onto their faces. He smiled, too, under his tangled beard and patted them both on the shoulders.
They turned to the battered, old door and went inside the run-down shack. They both darted to the dusty window to watch Hagrid leave, only to see that he was already gone.
