Dudley had one of the best days of his life as he dragged his father around Diagon Alley. First they went to Eeylops Owl Emporium. It was full of owls of all shapes and sizes and colors. Dudley eventually settled on the largest owl that they had—a Great Grey Owl with beaming, curious eyes. Next up was Potage's Cauldron Shop and then to Twinkle's Telescopes, where Dudley had a lot of fun trying all different sorts. He, of course, got one of the most expensive in the store—a handsome, long telescope made out of gleaming brass that came with a velvet-lined case. At Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment he bought a set of brass scales and some crystal phials—one he dropped immediately upon taking it out of the box to examine, so Vernon bought him an extra set, just in case. Dudley also persuaded his father (with little effort) to buy him a cool star chart which he intended to stick on his wall and a crystal ball.

Dudley expected Flourish & Blotts book shop to be boring, but, while an increasingly harassed-looking Vernon hurried among the store finding the books on the list, Dudley explored the rest of the store, finding a book called "Curses and Countercurses" which he planned to use immediately as soon as he got home—he had a few people in mind to curse, including his maths teacher. He also found a book called "Magical Monsters: An Illustrated Guide to the Beasts of Wizarding World." It had a moving picture of a howling werewolf on the cover, so he took that too.

Dudley also dragged his father on a detour to a wizarding toy shop called "Twycross's" where he left as the proud owner of a wizarding chess set, a pack of exploding playing cards, a started set of something called "gobstones" and a fanged Frisbee.

"Only one store to go," Vernon said, struggling to glance at the shopping list as his arms were full of bags. The owl in its cage was the only thing that Dudley carried.

"Two," Dudley corrected. "We need to get a broom, too."

Vernon growned, but as always, didn't argue as Dudley led the way inside Quality Quidditch Supplies. It was a busy shop, full with older teens who were admiring and talking over various bits of equipment—leather gloves, strange black balls that vibrated menacingly which were strapped tightly into boxes, glittering gold balls with wings kept in glass display cases, wooden bats and, at the back, a row of broomsticks.

Dudley looked at them, his mouth gaping slightly. There was one called a Cleansweep Seven (which a burly teen was carefully admiring) a Comet 260 and, the most expensive of all, one called a Nimbus 2000.

"This one," Dudley decided, selecting the most expensive Nimbus. Vernon spluttered upon seeing the pricetag.

"Dudders, it's a lot of money …" he trailed off as Dudley narrowed his eyes.

"It's the one I want," he said through gritted teeth.

Vernon, sensing a tantrum gave a nod. "Of course, of course. It's of course an early Christmas present."

Dudley smirked. He KNEW he would still get the same amount of Christmas presents. Vernon was just trying to act like he was in control of the situation.

Now the proud owner of a Nimbus 2000, Dudley led the way to the final shop "Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions."

"Starting Hogwarts?" a witch said as they entered.

Vernon sat down on a sofa with a satisfied sigh of relief. Dudley put his owl and broom next to him and followed the witch who led him into the backroom. There was another boy in there already getting fitted with robes.

"Hullo, Hogwarts too?" he asked.

Dudley stared at him for a second or two, weighing him up. The boy was tall, perhaps even a few centimeters taller than Dudley himself who was big for his age but was quite slim. He had dark skin, a broad smile and short curly hair.

It suddenly dawned on Dudley that Piers, Gordon and the rest weren't going to Hogwarts. He would need to make new friends, and most importantly, a new gang to hang around with while he was there. He looked appraisingly at Dean. He was tall and looked quite cool. Given his smile, he also seemed easy going.

"Yes," Dudley said, standing next to him as a witch starting measuring him. "I've spent all day buying my supplies."

"Me too," the boy said. "I'm Dean, Dean Thomas."

"Dudley Dursley. Are your parents wizards too?"

Dean shook his head. "No, well, I don't think so. I haven't seen my dad in years. But my mum isn't. She was shocked when I got my letter."

Dudley nodded, thinking of something to say to impress Dean. "Me too," he said. "Do you know what house you will be in?" he asked suddenly, remembering what Diggle had said.

"House?" Dean's brow furrowed.

"Yeah, this man Diggle said we get sorted into four houses. There was … let me think, Griffinmore, Slithers, Ravennscroft and Huffing Puff. Or something like that."

"Cool," Dean said. To Dudley's delight he looked impressed.

"Have you got a wand yet?" Dudley said, eager to show his off and impress Dean even more.

"Yeah," Dean said, pulling it out. "It has a dragon's heartstring."

"MINE has a troll whisker. It's rare that is," Dudley replied immediately. " The old man in the shop said so. It's the only one he's ever sold."

"Wow," Dean looked even more impressed.

"I have a broom too," Dudley announced, and an owl. "My dad bought them for me."

"You can fly?" Dean asked, his eyes wide.

Dudley hesitated. He had learnt through growing up not to tell outright lies when impressing someone, or you'd soon get found out and end up looking foolish. It was better to tell half truths.

"Not yet," he admitted," but I'm going to learn. "How hard could it be?"

"Yeah," Dean said, nodding. "I heard another boy saying there's a sport played on brooms. Hope I can play it."

"Me too," Dudley said.

The two fell into silence for a minute or so as Dudley tried to think of something else to say—preferably something that would impress Dean.

Before he could the witch tending to Dean stood up. "All finished," she said brightly.

"I suppose I better go, my mum is waiting outside—she finds these shops too stuffy," Dean said with a shrug.

"I'll see you on the first day," Dudley said. "We go on a train, I think?"

"Yeah." Dean grinned. "Platform Nine and Three Quarters. Weird."

Dudley nodded in agreement. It was weird. The wizarding world so far had been extremely weird, but he was so excited to be a part of it.