All too soon we were leaving for school. All too soon we were saying goodbye to Louis and my mother. All too soon we were going to the car to leave. Or so I thought.
Aunt Minnie brought my stuff to the living room. I turned to her, "I thought we were leaving for school."
"Oh, we are, but first we must buy your school supplies," Minnie explained.
"That still doesn't explain what we're doing in the living room."
"Ah, now that is a little trickier to explain. You see in the world of magic, or the wizarding world as we magic folk call it, we don't travel by car, we travel by the Floo network. It is a series of fireplaces in which you throw Floo powder into the fireplace and loudly say your desired location," like that explains any of it. Minnie could tell I was confused so she explained, "The location you wish to go to is called Diagon Alley. Just yell that perfectly and clearly when you stand in the fire and you should arrive there. I'll be right behind you."
She held out a pot of white powder. "So," I looked at her, "I take the powder in my hand like this," I took a handful of powder and stepped into the fireplace, "then I throw the handful down." The fireplace roared with green fire. My brain screamed to get out of the fire because it should've killed me but somehow I didn't feel a thing. I yelled, "Diagon Alley!"
And the fire consumed me. Just when I thought I had to be dead by now, I stepped out of the fireplace only to find myself standing in a different place. A busy place. Filled with people of all ages and backgrounds. Most wore something similar to McGonagall, but some wore regular clothes like me.
"Muggles," my aunt remarked as she stepped out of the fireplace after me.
"Excuse me?" I asked.
"Muggles are what we call non-magic people," she explained.
"Oh," I said blankly as I took in the full extent of Diagon Alley. The narrow streets were lined with busy shops with people going in and out of them. The main area of the Alley was what looked like a bank. It was taller than all the other buildings with columns on the outside.
Aunt Minnie saw me staring at the building and said, "Gringotts Bank. In my opinion, the best place in Diagon Alley. Now," she said, breaking me out of my daze. "Let's go get some supplies."
"Where to first?" I asked.
"First we need to get you a wand and a few other things," Minnie said as we walked through the narrow streets.
We arrived at the wand shop. The sign said, "Olivanders."
"Ok, I'll leave you to it," McGonagall said. She opened the door for me and watched me walk in. Then her phone started ringing. "This will just take a second," she said as I took in my surroundings.
I was standing in the main part of the store. It looked like a run down hotel lobby and had bookshelves along the walls. In the shelves instead of books were narrow rectangular shaped boxes.
I rang the bell on the desk in front of me. As soon as I did, an old man rolled in on a ladder. His eyes lit up when he saw me like he had been expecting me.
"Ah," he said. His voice was wispy like his hair. He wore badge pants and a patchy shirt with a brown vest. He climbed down from the ladder and examined me. "You," he said, "I don't think I know of you. You're new. A new face."
"Perhaps," I replied, "perhaps that's a good thing."
"Wise, you remind me of someone. I just can't put my finger on it. I remember every wand I ever sold. Who are your parents, child?"
"My mom's name is Isla Davison and my dad's name was Scott Davison."
"I've never heard of them. Do you have any aunts or uncles?" He asked. I wasn't sure why he was so interested but I thought I would play along.
"Yes, do you know the name Minerva McGonagall?"
"Why yes. She's the headmistress of Hogwarts. Don't tell me you're related to her. That would be astronomical," he said astonished. I supposed my aunt was a big deal.
"She is my aunt. She brought me here to get a wand. I am glad you have heard of her. My mother is her sister and both my parents are muggles. That is most likely why you have never heard of me. Now about the wand," I explained then looked at him expectantly.
"Right! Yes, yes of course. Now," he pulled one from a shelf, "try this one."
I pointed it at the flower on his desk. As soon as I did it withered up and died. I handed the wand back to him.
"Powerful," he whispered. "Perhaps this one." He handed me another one. As soon as I touched it I was encased with golden light. I pointed the wand at the same flower. This time the flower was enriched with life and grew into a beautiful bouquet of flowers. "Very powerful," he said in a trance. "Perfect. This is the one for you. Use it well." He didn't say that in a trance.
I handed him the coins McGonaoll had given me and bid him farewell. When I walked out the door Aunt Minnie was still on the phone and said, "Um, go get fitted for your robes, I'll be there in a few minutes." She directed me to the store and I went in then went back to talking.
Around the store platforms were set up and students were standing on them getting measured and fitted. A storekeeper saw me walk in and directed me to a platform. I started to examine the student next to me as the girl measured and fitted me.
He looked around my age with shoulder length brown hair and sea blue eyes. He looked bored and annoyed as he was talking to the boy beside him.
The boy standing beside him had short, curly blond hair and brown eyes. They looked as if they could be twins if you ignore the eyes and hair. I was sure they were siblings but they talked like best friends.
I think I stared at them for too long because eventually they stopped talking and watched me. They shared a few looks before the brown haired boy said something.
"Hi," he said, "I'm Alex and this," he gestured to his what looked like brother, "is my friend Harris." They both smiled at me. Suddenly I had the urge to make sure my wig was straight.
When I was about four I got diagnosed with stage three cancer. I fought hard and miraculously survived. It cost me my hair. Now I'm wearing a wig. Nobody except my mom, brother, and aunt knows and hopefully I can keep it that way.
I rolled my eyes. I zoned out. Again. "Have we annoyed you somehow?" Alex asked.
"No, no," I said, "I'm sorry I zoned out then got annoyed at myself for zoning out. Sorry," I explained.
"No problem," Alex said.
Harris butted in, "You are beautiful. Has anyone ever told you that?"
"Oh, no," I said. "No one has really ever said that to me but thank you."
Just then Aunt Minnie walked in. "Logan?" She asked. "Are you done yet we need to go pick up your brother."
"I thought he didn't want to leave his girlfriend," I said, then rolled my eyes.
"Excuse me but are you Professor McGonagoll from Hogwarts?" Alex butted in.
"Why yes! Yes I am," she replied.
"Aunt Minnie, I think we're done here. We can go," I told McGonagall.
"Wait wait wait this is your aunt?" Alex was astonished.
"Yes, now we should go your brother is waiting." McGonagoll rushed me.
As she left the store I told her, "I'll be right there." Then I turned to ALex and Harris and told them, "You can not under any circumstances tell anyone that I am related to her. They'll treat me differently and I don't want that."
I turned and started to walk out the door when Harris said, "Beautiful and selfless. I like her."
To which Alex replied, "She is not an object and by the way I claim her."
I smiled and left Diagon Alley to go get my brother.