I awake to the sound of a door closing. Mom's home. Yay! I can give her the good news!

I sit up on the couch and yawn, stretching my arms above my head.

She walks into the living room and notices me. "Oh, sorry honey! I thought you'd be in bed by now."

"I was asleep, just not in bed," I quip.

"You didn't have to wait up for me to get home, Zach." She goes to the kitchen counter and sets her stuff down.

"I know, but I wanted to give you the good news myself," I say hopefully.

"Can it wait till morning? I'm really tired," she asks.

"I don't want to wait till morning," I answer her. "Plus, you'll love it and go to bed happy," I add.

She sighs. "Alright, Zach. But be quick."

I reach under the pillow I was on and take out my envelope. "Look what came in the mail!" I say showing it off to her.

She rushes over to me. "What's it say?"

I open the letter inside as she kneels down in front of me. "Dear Zachary Thomas, congratulations! You've been accepted into- "

She pulls me into a tight hug and squeals in glee. "Oh, sweetie, that's wonderful news, indeed! I'm so proud of you!" She kisses my forehead then lets go of me. "You're going to have to go to Diagon Alley by yourself," she tells me. "I won't be able to get out of work before the shops close."

"Ok, mum. I'll go tomorrow afternoon."

"Great, honey. Now get to bed."

The bricks part on Diagon Alley and I enter in awe. So many shops. I notice a girl coming up to me.

"Hi! I'm Rowan Khanna!" She holds out her hand for a handshake and I oblige. "Are you getting ready to start at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry too?" She asks.

We unclasp as I reply, "Yeah, but I haven't been here in years. I don't even remember where to start."

She perks up. "I can help! I've been reading Hogwarts: A History in anticipation of my first year, so I'm a bit of an expert on Hogwarts." She points down the alley. "You should start by finding all the books you need at Flourish and Blotts. Come one! I'll take you there!" She mentions to follow her.

Better to have help than be all alone.

"Great!" I reply. "Lead the way!" We head toward the store.

"So, what's your name?" Rowan asks me.

"Zachary Thomas. Zach for short." I answer.

"You said that you haven't been here in years." She starts.

"I came with my family when my older brother was accepted eight years ago." I answer before she even asks. "I was too young to remember anything about this place."

"Oh, well, you're here now!" she chuckles. "Here we are," we stop in front of the store. "Flourish and Blotts. Home for all your magic textbook needs." She walks ahead of me. "Come on! I already know where everything is. Just follow me!"

I follow her to the door. She opens it for me, and I give her my thanks as I walk into the biggest bookstore I've ever seen. I stare in awe as the rows of books, stack upon stack of books fill the store.

"It's amazing, isn't it?" Rowan asks. "This is my heaven." She takes my arm. "This way!"

After we exit the shop with our books, we head to another shop.

"My parents gave me enough to buy a little accessory for the winter months," Rowan tells me. "What do you think I should get?" she asks.

"Hmm…Get a scarf," I answer. "That way, you can keep your face warm."

"That's a good idea! I'm going to get that. You, meanwhile, should go to Ollivander's to get your wand!" she points to the store.

"Alright, Rowan. See you later!" I head off to the store.

I enter the store and walk up to the counter where a man is waiting.

"Hello," he says. "I'm Garrick Ollivander. Here to receive your first wand, yes?"

I nod.

"I have just the thing." He pulls out a wand from under the counter. "Applewood wand, dragon heartstring core, nine inches, rigid." Handing it to me he says, "Go on. Give it a twirl!"

I take the wand and give it a twirl. Papers that were on the counter beside him begin to twirl around me. That did not go as planned. The papers cease twirling and reside on the door.

I look up apologetically, "Sorry!" I say handing the wand back.

He muses, "That's ok. It's not your fault." He takes it back. "The wand chooses the witch, and that is clearly not the wand for you." He returns it under the counter. "I recall your brother exploded my favorite inkpot when we tried his first wand," he reminisces with a slight chuckle.

I gasp. "You knew Jacob?"

"I remember every wand I've sold. His was maple wood, dragon heartstring core, ten inches," he answers with a slight smile. He's answered that one before. "A fine wand." His smile fades as he continues, "Shame it was snapped it in half when he got expelled." He looks at me sympathetically, "I understand he ran away from home after being expelled and has been missing ever since. That must have a profound impact on you."

I look down. "Yeah… We would have such a smashing time together when he was home. Told me stories about the wonders of Hogwarts and magic. Mum and I are worried for him. I just hope he's ok."

"Hmm…" Ollivander ponders on my statement. He heads to the back storeroom. "I may have just the wand for you." He rummages through the different drawers all around him. "Ah! Here we go!" He takes a wand out of a drawer, closes it, and walks back to me. "Acacia wand, unicorn hair, twelve inches, pliable." He hands it to me. "Try it out."

I take the wand, step back, and give it a twirl. Glittery sparkles spin around me, giving me a slight tickle to giggle from.

He perks up. "Splendid! That wand is yours!"

I step up to the counter still smiling and check out. "Thank you very much!"

"My pleasure, Zachary. I'll look forward to seeing what path you choose."

With that, I exit the shop. Just in time too. I see Rowan walking towards me with a brand-new colorful scarf.

"Hey, Zach, what do you think of my new scarf?" she asks.

"It suits you well," I answer. "I like the colorful pattern."

"Thanks!" she smiles. "I just might have to go to you for all my fashion advice."

I shake my head. "That won't be necessary, Rowan. I'm sure there will be more fashionable students there." I hold up my new wand. "Look what I got!"

"Is that an Acacia wand?" she gasps.

I bring it back hesitantly. "Yes… How did you know?"

"My family's tree farm supplies wood for wands and brooms," she replies smiling. I relax as she continues, "I didn't want to go outside and farm, so I stayed inside reading all the time. Love reading." Her smile fades and focuses her gaze on the ground behind me. "Even though that's why I have no friends."

Aww… I don't have friends either.

"We can be friends," I tell her.

She looks at me questioning. "You don't think I'm too weird?" she asks. "People think I'm too weird staying inside all day."

I return the questioning stare. "Why would anyone call you weird?" I ask. "Reading is fun. That's how I put up with the comments about me."

"Wait, what comments?" she asks.

Oh, great. Here we go. "My older brother is Jacob Thomas." I tell her.

"The same Jacob Thomas from that massive story in the Daily Prophet?" she gasps.

"Yep," I nod.

"It said he got expelled for breaking school rules trying to find the cursed vaults."

"Yeah, he got expelled."

"What's he doing now?" she asks.

"I don't know," I reply. "He ran away. Mum and I haven't seen him since."

"Everyone is going to know about that."

Great, Rowan. Keep kicking me while I'm down. "I know! That's why they will call me weird!"

"Well…" she pauses. "We can be weird together!"

I perk up, "Really?"

"Yeah!" she replies. "We are going to be friends after all, right?"

"Of course!" I answer.

"Then let's be weird friends together!" she smiles.

"Great!" I return the smile. "Thanks, Rowan."

"No problem, new friend!" she says. "I should get going."

"Ok, Rowan." I wave. "See you on the express!"

She waves back, "See you soon!"