Chapter 3: Diagon Alley

Eric woke early the next morning. Although he could tell it was daylight, he kept his eyes shut tight. "It was a dream, he told himself firmly. "I dreamed a giant called Hagrid came to tell me I was going to a school for wizards. When I open my eyes I'll be at home in my cupboard."

There was suddenly a loud tapping noise. And there's Aunt Petunia knocking on the door, Eric thought, his heart sinking. But he still didn't open his eyes. It had been such a good dream. He heard the tapping noise again and groaned in frustration.

"All right," Eric mumbled, "I'm getting up." However the room he was in was not the cupboard under the stairs and it was then that he remembered Hagrid taking him to an Inn on the mainland. So it hadn't been a dream.

Suddenly he heard that noise again. A faint tapping sound. It was coming from the room next door. Eric opened the door to see Hagrid sprawled out on the bed his loud snore echoing off the walls. He heard the faint tapping sound and saw an owl on the other side of the glass window.

He opened the window and the owl landed on the small table near the window dropping a newspaper front of him before looking at him inquisitively. "H-Hagrid!" said Eric rather loudly. "There's an owl — "Pay him," Hagrid grunted into the pillows.

"W-What?" the boy asked confused. "He wants payin' fer deliverin' the paper." W-What do I-Look in my Jacket, there should be a pouch in their somewhere. The boy walked over to the ginormous jacket and dug through the pockets until he found a bag filled with strange coins.

"Give him five Knuts," said Hagrid sleepily. "Knuts? Hagrid sighed. "The little bronze ones. Eric counted out five little bronze coins, and the owl held out his leg so Eric could put the money into a small leather pouch tied to it. Then he flew off through the open window.

Hagrid yawned loudly, sat up, and stretched. "Best be off, Eric lots ter do today, gotta get up ter London an' buy all yer stuff fer school." Eric was turning over the wizard coins and looking at them. His happiness changed to worry.

"Um — Hagrid? "Mm? said Hagrid, who was pulling on his huge boots. "I-I don't have any money — and you heard Uncle Vernon last night…he won't pay for me to go and learn magic." The boy said looking somewhat crestfallen.

"Don't worry about that," said Hagrid, standing up and scratching his head. "D'yeh think yer parents didn't leave yeh anything? "B-B-But- Where? Yul' see first stop fer us is Gringotts. Wizards' bank. Have some of yer birthday cake. I managed to save some of it from last night.

"W-W-Wizards have banks?" The boy asked in disbelief. "Just the one. Gringotts. Run by goblins." Erics jaw dropped. "G-Goblins?" The boy said giving a nervous gulp. "Yeah — so yeh'd be mad ter try an' rob it, I'll tell yeh that."

"Never mess with goblins, Eric. 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." Hagrid drew himself up proudly. "He usually gets me ter do important stuff fer him. Fetchin' you — gettin' things from Gringotts — knows he can trust me, see."

"Got everythin'? Come on, then." Eric followed Hagrid outside. The sky was quite clear now and the sea gleamed in the sunlight. "How did you get to that island in the first place?" Eric asked. "Flew," said Hagrid. "Flew?" Eric repeated staring at him in disbelief.

You know what save that cake fer' later I know somewhere were we can get a hot meal, ya look like yer could use it, though we probably wont get there until around noon still would be nice. Eric followed after him as Hagrid headed for a bus stop.

" So why would you be mad to try and rob Gringotts?" Eric asked. "Spells — enchantments," said Hagrid, unfolding his newspaper as he spoke. "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."

Eric sat on the bench and thought about this while Hagrid read his newspaper, the Daily Prophet as it read. Eric had learned from Uncle Vernon that people liked to be left alone while they did this, but it was very difficult, he'd never had so many questions in his life.

"Ministry o' Magic messin' things up as usual," Hagrid muttered, turning the page. "There's a Ministry of Magic?" Eric asked, before he could stop himself. "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?" The deformed child asked curiously wanting to know more about the world he was from. "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, Eric, everyone'd be wantin' magic solutions to their problems. Nah, we're best left alone." Hagrid? said Eric. "Did you say there are dragons at Gringotts? "Well, so they say, said Hagrid. "Crikey, I'd like a dragon." You'd like one? The boy asked shocked.

"Oh here's our ride." Hagrid said quickly changing the subject as he handed muggle money to the bus driver before sitting down in the back. Eric sat across from him using the hood of his Olive-green jacket to hide his face.

"Why you doing that fer?" Hagrid asked giving the nervous boy a puzzled look. "T-T-Their staring." Ah let them stare, sides their probably staring more at me then they are at you. "S-Still. "Ah just ignore them Eric, thay don't know how special yer really are."

He turned to look at the stranger on the bus giving them a cold glare which made them turn around. H-Hagrid? Yes? T-Thanks. Yer welcome Eric. They soon left the bus and headed into the city.

"Still got yer letter, Eric?" Eric took the parchment envelope out of his pocket. "Good," said Hagrid. "There's a list there of everything yeh need." Eric unfolded a second piece of paper he hadn't noticed the night before and read it silently to himself.

Hogwarts School o f 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, 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 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 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

"Can we buy all this in London?" Eric wondered aloud. "If yeh know where to go," said Hagrid. Eric had never been to London before. Although Hagrid seemed to know where he was going, he was obviously not used to getting there in an ordinary way. He got stuck in the ticket barrier on the Underground and complained loudly that the seats were too small and the trains too slow.

"I don't know how the Muggles manage without magic," he said as they climbed a broken-down escalator that led up to a bustling road lined with shops. "Hagrid was so huge that he parted the crowd easily; all Eric had to do was keep close behind him.

They passed book shops and music stores, hamburger restaurants and cinemas, but nowhere that looked as if it could sell you a magic wand. This was just an ordinary street full of ordinary people. Could there really be piles of wizard gold buried miles beneath them?

Were there really shops that sold spell books and broomsticks? Might this not all be some huge joke that the Dursleys had cooked up? If Eric hadn't known that the Dursleys had no sense of humor, he might have thought so; yet somehow, even though everything Hagrid had told him so far was unbelievable, Eric couldn't help trusting him.

"This is it," said Hagrid, coming to a halt, "The Leaky Cauldron. It's a famous place." It was a tiny, grubby-looking pub. If Hagrid hadn't pointed it out, Eric wouldn't have noticed it was there.

The people hurrying by didn't glance at it. Their eyes slid from the big book shop on one side to the record shop on the other as if they couldn't see the Leaky Cauldron at all. In fact, Eric had the most peculiar feeling that only he and Hagrid could see it. Before he could mention this, Hagrid had steered him inside.

"For a famous place, it was very dark and shabby." A few people stood around glasses in hand everyone seemed to know Hagrid; they waved and smiled at him, and the bartender reached for a glass, saying, "The usual, Hagrid?"

The deformed boy cowered trying to hide behind Hagrid's giant form, however Hagrid patted him on the back nudging him forward slightly so everyone could see his face much to his dismay.

"No thanks, Tom I'm on official Hogwarts business today. Just helping young Eric here buy his school supplies." As soon as he heard his name the bartenders eyes locked on the strange boy. "Bless my soul. It's Eric Potter."

No sooner had the words left him the entire pub became quite as they all turned to look at him. The boy backed away trying to hide behind Hagrid who pushed him forward. "Relax, boy your among yer own kind now."

"It is him." I definitely looks like him. Eric relaxed somewhat realizing somehow that people already knew what he looked like before even meeting him. How, he wasn't entirely sure. An old wizard approached him.

"Welcome back, Mr. Potter, welcome back." A witch approached him next shaking his hand much to his surprise. "Doris Crockford, Mr. Potter. I can't believe I'm meeting you at last." The boy smiled nodding wordlessly.

Suddenly a man in rich purple robes and a matching turban approached them, his stuttering worse than his own. "Eric P-potter. C-can't tell you how pleased I am to meet you." Hello, Professor. I didn't see you there.

Eric this is Professor Quirrell. He'll be your Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts. O-O-Oh, nice to meet you He said holding out his hand nervously for the man to shake. However the man just stares at it instead.

"F-fearfully fascinating subject. N-not that you need it, e-eh, Potter? Heheh." Eric lowered his hand staring at him confused. "Yes, well, must be going now. Lots to buy. Heh. G-G-Goodbye." Eric called out as he was dragged away out into the alleyway.

"See, Eric, yer famous!" But why am I famous, Hagrid? All those people back there, h-how is it they know who I am?" I'm not exactly sure I'm the right person to tell you that, Eric. H-Hagrid...What really happened to my parents, and my brother.

Hagrid looked at the brick wall in front of them avoiding his gaze. "H-Hagrid, did someone...Did someone kill them?!" Hagrid did not respond. Answer me! Please. I-I have to know. Hagrid sighed. Yes. "I'm so sorry Eric." Tears streamed down the boys face as he fell to his knees.

Hagrid kneeled down to help the boy up. "Now none of that lad, I promise to answer all of your questions after we get yer supplies alrigh'?" The boy nodded. Alright then lets be off then. B-But Hagrid, t-there's nothing but a brick wall here.

"Looks can be deceiving." Hagrid tapped on a few of the bricks with his pink umbrella and to Erics surprise they moved away to reveal streets filled with shops where dozens of witches and wizards milled about.

"Welcome, Eric, to Diagon Ally." He grinned at Eric's amazement. They stepped through the archway. Eric looked quickly over his shoulder and saw the archway shrink instantly back into solid wall.

The sun shone brightly on a stack of cauldrons outside the nearest shop. Cauldrons — All Sizes — Copper, Brass, Pewter, Silver — Self-Stirring — Collapsible, said a sign hanging over them. "Yeah, you'll be needin' one," said Hagrid, "but we gotta get yer money first."

Eric wished he had about eight more eyes. He turned his head in every direction as they walked up the street, trying to look at everything at once: the shops, the things outside them, the people doing their shopping.

A plump woman outside an Apothecary was shaking her head as they passed, saying, "Dragon liver, seventeen Sickles an ounce, they're mad.…"A low, soft hooting came from a dark shop with a sign saying Eeylops Owl Emporium — Tawny, Screech, Barn, Brown, and Snowy.

Several boys of about Eric's age had their noses pressed against a window with broomsticks in it. "Look," Eric heard one of them say, "the new Nimbus Two Thousand — fastest ever —" The boys stared at the strange boy in awe as he passed. However Eric no longer cared.

There were shops selling robes, shops selling telescopes and strange silver instruments Eric had never seen before, windows stacked with barrels of bat spleens and eels' eyes, tottering piles of spell books, quills, and rolls of parchment, potion bottles, globes of the moon...Gringotts," said Hagrid.

He pointed at a snowy white building that towered over the other little shops. Standing beside its burnished bronze doors, wearing a uniform of scarlet and gold, was —"Yeah, that's a goblin," said Hagrid quietly as they walked up the white stone steps toward him.

The goblin was about a head shorter than Eric. He had a swarthy, clever face, a pointed beard and, Eric noticed, very long fingers and feet. He bowed as they walked inside, giving the deformed boy an odd look. Now they were facing a second pair of doors, silver this time, with words engraved upon them:

"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. Eric gave a nervous gulp as they walked through the second pair of doors. They were in a vast marble hall. About a hundred more goblins were sitting on high stools behind a long counter, scribbling in large ledgers, weighing coins in brass scales and examining precious stones through eyeglasses.

"There were too many doors for Eric to count leading off the hall, and yet more goblins were showing people in and out of these. Hagrid and Eric made for the counter. "Morning," said Hagrid to a free goblin. "We've come ter take some money Outta Mr. Eric Potter's safe."

"You have his key, sir?" Hagrid searched through his many pockets. "Got it here somewhere,". The goblin wrinkled his nose. Glancing down at the deformed young wizard in front of him with a raised eyebrow. Eric turned away watching the goblin on their right weighing a pile of rubies as big as glowing coals.

"Got it," said Hagrid at last, holding up a tiny golden key. The goblin looked at it closely."That seems to be in order." An' I've also got a letter here from Professor Dumbledore," said Hagrid importantly, throwing out his chest. "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!" Griphook was yet another goblin. and Eric and Hagrid followed Griphook toward one of the doors leading off the hall.

"What's the You-Know-What in vault seven hundred and thirteen?" Eric asked curiously. "Can't tell yeh that," said Hagrid mysteriously. "Very secret. Hogwarts business. Dumbledore's trusted me. More'n my job's worth ter tell yeh that."

Griphook held the door open for them. Eric, who had expected more marble, was surprised. They were in a narrow stone passageway lit with flaming torches. It sloped steeply downward and there were little railway tracks on the floor.

Griphook whistled and a small cart came hurtling up the tracks toward them. They climbed in — Hagrid with some difficulty — and were off. At first they just hurtled through a maze of twisting passages.

Eric tried to remember, left, right, right, left, middle fork, right, left, but it was impossible. The rattling cart seemed to know its own way, because Griphook wasn't steering. Eric's eyes stung as the cold air rushed past them, but he kept them wide open.

Once, he thought he saw a burst of fire at the end of a passage and twisted around to see if it was a dragon, but it was too late and they plunged even deeper, passing an underground lake where huge stalactites and stalagmites grew from the ceiling and floor.

"I never know," Eric shouted to Hagrid over the noise of the 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."

Eric chuckled and he did look very green when the cart finally came to a stop beside a small door in the passage wall, Hagrid got out and had to lean against the wall to stop his knees from trembling.

Griphook unlocked the door. A lot of green smoke came billowing out, and as it cleared, Eric gasped stunned by what he saw. Inside were mounds of gold coins. Columns of silver. Heaps of little bronze Knuts. "All yours," smiled Hagrid.

All his? — It was incredible. The Dursleys couldn't have known about this or they'd take it from him faster than blinking. How often had they complained how much Eric cost them to keep? And all the time there had been a small fortune belonging to him, buried deep under London. Hagrid helped Eric pile some of it into a bag.

"The gold ones are Galleons," Hagrid 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. "B-But how? Oh you have some pretty famous and wealthy relatives why your grandfather quadrupled your families fortune when he got a hold of it. "Fer' now though we should get the rest of yer supplies."

Over the next few hours Hagrid helped Eric pick out some supplies including his uniform which, for the old witch named Madame Malkin at the nearby wizard robes shop, was a bit of a challenge but she managed in the end.

Eric looked through his supplies to make sure he had everything. "I still need...a wand." A wand? "Well, you'll want Ollivanders. No place better. Run along there but wait. I just got one more thing I got to do. Won't be long."

Hesitantly Eric walks into the store the small bell above the door ringing alerting anyone who heard it to his presence. For some reason, the back of his neck prickled. The very dust and silence in here seemed to tingle with some secret magic.

"H-H-Hello?" Hello? The boy called out nervously he's about to pull his hood up nervous of someone seeing his face when old mans voice called out from the back of the store. "That wont be necessary, come closer boy so I can get a good look at ya."

Hesitantly the boy walked towards the back of the store dozens of shelves lined the walls boxes filled with what Eric assumed where wands. An old man suddenly appeared from around the corner balancing on a ladder.

"The old mans wide, pale eyes twinkled in the dim light as he smiled down at him. "Ah, I wondered when I'd be seeing you, Mr. Potter." Y-You know who I am? The man nodded smiling. You look so much like your mother; you even have her eyes.

The old man sighed. "It seems only yesterday that your mother and father were in here buying their first wands. He picked up a wand and handed it to him. "Ah. Here we are."The boy stares at it not sure what to do.

"Well, give it a wave." Eric hesitantly waves the wand but to his horror this causes most of the boxes to come flying of the shelves . Eric Sets the wand on the counter his hands shaking. "I-I'm sorry. No, no its quite alright."

Ollivander hands him another wand. "Perhaps this one then." Eric looks nervously at the wand but picks it up waving it at a nearby vase, which shatters much to his dismay. "No, no, definitely not!" Ollivander shouts.

No matter...The boy is about to give up when Ollivander pulls out one last box staring at it thoughtfully. I wonder. Ollivander holds out the wand to Eric. "I-I don't know...Trust me, take it.

No sooner had his hand touched it the tip suddenly began to glow brighter and brighter a magic wind blowing his red hair back. Wow. Eric said speechlessly. As soon as he'd touched the wand he instantly felt different. Like he could...do anything!

Ollivander however looked somewhat surprised. "Curious, very curious." He said deep in thought. The boy shook his head coming out of his stupor. "S-Sorry, but what's curious?" He sighed giving him a pitiful look.

"I remember every wand I've ever sold, Mr. Potter." Every wand has a magical core from dragon heartstring to Unicorn hair to...Phoenix feathers. He said darkly. "It just so happens that the phoenix, whose tail feather resides in your wand gave one other feather, just one."

" It is curious that you should be destined for this wand when its brother gave you that scar." He said pointing at the lightning bold shaped scar on his forehead. Eric gulped so the wizard who had killed his parents and brother had given him the scar...But who?

"A-A-And...who owned that wand?" Eric croaked trying to stop himself from trebling. "Oh, we do not speak his name." Ollivander said with a repressed shudder. "The wand chooses the wizard, Mr. Potter. It's not always clear why, but I think it is clear that we can expect great things from you."

"After all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things...terrible, yes, but great." He handed the nervous young wizard his wand. Eric jumped startled by someone tapping on the storefronts glass window.

"Eric! Eric! Happy birthday!" Hagrid said holding up a large cage. Inside was a large snowy owl Wow! The young boy say rushing out of the store he stare at the beautiful bird in amazement. "He's b-beautiful Hagrid, t-thank you.

"It's a she actually, but don't mention it. It's the least I could do far ya, seeing as its yer birthday and all. " What ya going ter name her, Eric?" Eric looked the bird over for a moment. H- Hedwig he said smiling. Hedwig it is.

A few hours later Eric sat in the Leaky Cauldron at a table he stared down at the floor refusing to meet Hagrid's gaze. "You ok there, Eric?" You've been awfully quite. "H-H-He killed my parents, didn't he? The one who gave me this." He said pointing at his scar.

Hagrid avoided his gaze. "You know, Hagrid, I know you do." Hagrid sighed pushing his cold bowl of stew aside. "First, and understand this, Eric 'cause it's very important. Not all wizards are good. Some of them go bad." The boy gulped. "T-Tell me.

"A few years ago, there was one wizard who went as bad as you can go. And his name was V ..his name was V-... Maybe if you wrote it down?" Eric said searching through his supplies for ink and a quill.

"No, I can't spell it." Hagrid sighed looking around to make sure no one was listening. "All right. Voldemort." Voldemort? Eric repeated. Shh! H-Hagrid there's no one here-Still cant be to carful.

Hagrid sighed running his hands through his tangled beard. "It was dark times, Eric , dark times. "Voldemort started to gather some followers, brought 'em over to the dark side. Anyone that stood up to him ended up dead."

Your parents fought against him, but nobody lived once he decided to kill 'em. He set fire to the entire house by the time I found ya yer brother was already gone, H-He inhaled to much of the smoke. "I-Its ok i-its not your fault you tried. Eric said trying to stop the tears from flowing.

Hagrid coughed clearing his throat. Like I said nobody lived after trying to stand against him "Nobody...not one... 'Cept you." The boy stared at him in disbelief . "Me? Voldemort tried to kill...me?" W-Why? H-How come he couldn't kill me?

Hagrid shrugged "I don't know but, that ain't no ordinary cut on your forehead, Eric. "A mark like that only comes from being touched by a curse...and an evil curse at that." Eric gulped the pads of his fingertips listing over the scar, a shudder ran down his spine.

"And V-Volde- I mean You-Know-Who? What happened to him? "Well, some say he died. Codswallop in my opinion. Nope, I reckon he's out there, still, too tired to go on." But one thing's absolutely certain. "Something about you stumped him that night. That's why you're famous. That's why everybody knows your name. You're the boy who lived."

Eric shuddered the new title making him uneasy. Get some rest. "I'll drop you off back at your aunt and uncles ferst' thing tomorrow mornin'. Eric gave a tired sigh. "D-Do I have to go back?" "Don't worry it wont be fer long." Soon you'll be off ter Hogwarts.

'sides with that tale I gave yer cousin they'll probably have no choice but to take yer to the train station. Though not to worry I'll see ya off, though I probably wont be able to stay long, but I promise ter meet you at Hogwarts. K?

"O-Ok." Eric reluctantly agreed as he walked back to his room. Hedwig sat in her cage her yellow eyes followed him as he collapsed on his bed. She screeched trying to get his attention. "I-I know girl, I know.

He opened her cage and she hopped out perching diligently on his outstretched arm He walked over to the open window throwing it open. "C-Come back safely he said and she screeched back almost seeming to promise that she would return. She his ear an affectionate nip before spreading her wings and taking flight.

Eric smiled as he watched her disappear from sight. He knew she would return. He may have jus gotten her, but they already had a special connection. It was almost like...like he knew what she was thinking, and she him.

Eric sighed collapsing onto his bed as he stared up at the dark ceiling. He'd learned so much in the last few days, all of it a huge shock but he was starting to get used to it now...Because...Now he knew who he was.

Not Eric the ugly hunchback boy that every laughed at mocked...But Eric Potter son of Lily and James Potter, older brother of Harry Potter and he was...A wizard! He was a wizard! A laughed Echoed through the dark room as Eric Came to terms with his new Identity. A tear streaked down his face as he drifted off to sleep. "I'm Eric potter, "The Boy Who Lived."