Chapter 11 – Diagon Alley
It was still really early in the morning when they landed outside of London and drove on ground streets into the city. Lizzie hopped off the motorbike and wasn't minding the soreness she still felt. She felt free for the first time ever and could probably skip through the rest of the day.
She wasn't sure what to say to Hagrid, and stayed pretty quiet, but he could tell her eyes were bright with anticipation.
"We'll get yer school things, Lizzie. Read through the rest of that, it will list out everything. Are you hungry?" He asked.
She nodded and skimmed the parchment. The supplies sounded foreign to her. This was another world completely.
"Coffee, I could use coffee," she said. He grunted a little and pointed down the alley. He pushed open the door of a pub and she was shocked by the old world charm of it, but more so by the patrons who were dressed oddly.
"Tom, could I get a couple of coffees please?" He asked the bar keep.
"I don't have coffee," Tom laughed. "Who you got here?" He asked fondly and looked down at Lizzie.
"Any place nearby you know of? Taking Azalea to buy stuff for school," he said.
Tom dropped his glass. "Bless my soul," he whispered. "Azalea Potter," he said. The room went deafeningly quiet.
Cute, she thought, thinking it must be a charade to make new students feel special or something.
"Welcome back, Miss Potter, welcome back," a man said next to her and grabbed her hand.
"Doris Crockford, Azalea, can I call you that? I can't believe I'm meeting you," she said with a wide smile.
Lizzie was speechless. "Azalea P-Potter, is it really?" A man with a turban near the bar asked.
"Oh hello, professor," Hagrid said enthusiastically.
"Lizzie, this is Professor Quirrell. He's the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, you'll see a lot of him this year," Hagrid introduced.
"Pleasure to meet you," Lizzie said politely.
"I'm sure everyone will be thrilled to have you back," Quirrell said timidly.
"I'll go get her a coffee," Tom said and left briefly.
When he returned, Lizzie warmed her hands on the cup and drank it quickly. "You ready fer a little shoppin?" Hagrid asked, and got up to gesture her over to the back room. Lizzie was confused but went with him. He tapped on the bricks of the back wall and they moved open in an impossible fashion to expose a crooked alley lined with shops and people.
"This is Diagon Alley," Hagrid said, and pushed lightly on her shoulders for her to walk ahead of him. She was absolutely speechless and certain she was dreaming.
They walked past several shops; Hagrid seemed to recognize a great deal of people but stopped introducing her when he could tell the gaping reactions to meeting her weren't sitting very well.
"First year's must be equipped with - one standard size two pewter cauldron, three sets of uniforms, white collared dress shirts, pleated black skirts or trousers, knee high stockings or black full-length stockings for girls, black shoes, neck ties and sweater vests or cardigans, and black standard robes..."
She skimmed through a supply list that included parchment, quills, ink, odd ingredients, and the like. Then like a lightning bolt through the forehead she stopped abruptly.
"Hagrid, I don't have any money," she said stupidly.
"Well, no kiddin'..." he said laughing. "That's why we're headed to the bank. Your parent's vault was left to you," he said. Lizzie suddenly wondered what they did... they were twenty-one when they died, she'd done the math. She doubted her dad was an executive like Vernon. But anything was better than nothing.
They entered a crooked building at the end of the alley with a large engraved sign that said 'Gringotts.'
There was a sign that warned thrives of impending death and Lizzie physically pinched herself when she saw tiny man-like creatures lined the teller stands.
"What are they?" She whispered to Hagrid.
"Goblins..." Hagrid said.
"Goblins?" She asked incredulously. She now thought her pill overdose was definitely successful, just unsure if in heaven or hell. Purgatory...no... she thought. He's right about the mental illness though that's for damn sure, she reasoned.
"They're clever little creatures but not friendly. Stay close..." he encouraged.
They came up to a teller stand and Hagrid cleared his throat. "Miss Azalea Potter would like to make a withdrawal," he said curtly. The goblin looked shocked for a moment and leaned over to look at her.
"Does she have her key?" He asked.
Hagrid fumbled in his pockets and pulled out a small gold key. He also handed the Goblin a note. "That's from Albus Dumbledore. It's about you know what in 713," Hagrid whispered. Lizzie was suddenly incorrigibly curious.
"Griphook!" The goblin yelled, and another came around gesturing for them both to follow. They got in what looked like a roller coaster cart and sped off quickly down to what must be an underground vault system. Lizzie loved the rush but Hagrid looked ill.
"Vault 687" Griphook announced. "Key please," he said, and unlocked the large iron door. Lizzie's jaw hit the cold rock floor with how much gold was stacked from floor to ceiling. It was astonishing.
"Hagrid what did they do? Rob an Egyptian tomb?" She whispered.
"Yer dad's family was the Potter's of course. Wealthy bunch. Developed a line of popular Potions. Not a sacred 28, but just as well off," he explained. It sounded like gobble gook to Lizzie but he made her a pouch to afford her school things.
"What are these?" She asked, examining the money.
"Money, not muggle money though," he laughed.
"Muggle money?" She asked.
"Non-magic folk... we call them muggles," he explained. "It's going to take me awhile to get used to what you don't know," he said.
They left the vault and headed further underground. "Vault 713" Griphook announced, and raised his hand to unlock the door. Lizzie expected mountains of treasure, but only saw a small wrapped package. Hagrid took it and pocketed it. "Don't mention this, very secret," Hagrid whispered. Lizzie nodded but burned with curiosity.
Lizzie left the bank with Hagrid, and rounded the alley back toward the main shopping corridor as she scanned through the list and looked up at shop windows to see what could be purchased from where.
"Should start with yer uniform, Madame Malkins is right there to the left. If ya don't mind, I'm gonna head back to Tom's to see if he has a pick-me-up after that er ride back there," Hagrid said, Lizzie agreed.
She pushed open the door of the shop and noticed a flutter of butterflies sprang into the air as the soft bell chimed to announce a patron. A small woman with black hair and cat eye glasses moved toward her quickly and gestured to a small stand for her to stand on for fitting.
"First set?" She asked hurriedly. Lizzie nodded and peeled off her over-sized flannel self-consciously as the woman gestured for her to strip down slightly so she could eyeball her size.
"Heavens honey, I don't know if have ones small enough for you, they'll need to be hemmed and taken in," she said as she looked over Lizzie with a reproving expression. Lizzie had been wearing a simple black cotton short sleeved dress under the flannel that was coming up on the seams in a few places.
Lizzie rolled her eyes slightly because this was always a problem and irritated Petunia to high heaven when buying her clothes. She looked over and saw a platinum blonde, pointed faced boy next to her tugging on the uniform he was being fitted into.
"Hogwarts?" He asked simply.
"Erm. Yes," Lizzie said in a small voice.
"First year?" He asked. Lizzie nodded.
"Me too, my mother is next door buying some books and my father is a broom shop. I think it's a shame they won't let first years have them. My father said it would be a crime if I don't play for a house team," he said. Lizzie didn't inquire because he reminded her of Dudley.
"I'm Draco, Draco Malfoy," he said. He was staring hard at her face as she looked into the mirror at herself. She rarely caught a full body glimpse and was hating how small she looked. She looked up at him and his eyes flickered back at the sight of hers.
After a pause she said, "Sorry, hi.. I'm Lizzie."
"Let me just get her measurements and I'll finish up your sets," the woman said to Draco. He nodded curtly in response. He looked her over subtly, intrigued by what she was wearing.
Lizzie felt a tug on the hem of her dress and a measurement line run up her leg. She winced when it scraped a bruise. The woman frowned at a glimpse of her leg and Lizzie clenched her jaw. "Your parents around, honey?" She asked. Lizzie picked up on the underbelly of that question immediately.
"No... though maybe in spirit... they're um dead," she said awkwardly. The boy glanced over at her sharply with curiosity. The woman looked at her for some indication of what happened, and Lizzie resorted to the only way she knew how to explain away a belt stroke. "It's fine. I ticked off a lay teacher is all," she said dismissively to the woman who got up to measure her arms.
"What is a lay teacher?" She asked, frowning at Lizzie.
"Well... you know.. the ones that aren't nuns," Lizzie said but the woman still looked confused. "Never mind," Lizzie muttered.
"Were your parents our kind?" Draco asked a few moments later.
"Our kind? They were a witch and wizard... apparently, yes," she said incredulously.
"I don't think they should let people raised by muggles in, don't you?" he asked pompously.
Lizzie glared at him as he stared at himself in the mirror.
"Well can't say I do... I was raised by muggles," Lizzie admitted, deciding she outright disliked this boy. He looked at her more intently.
"Really? When did your parents die then? No Wizarding family to adopt?" He asked shrewdly. Lizzie buttoned the blouse over her dress as the woman pinned the back for fitting while she thought about whether or not she'd answer.
"Nine years ago, and no... never adopted," she said bitterly.
He narrowed his eyes at her again and seemed to be considering something. "What's your surname?" He asked.
Lizzie opened her mouth, but Draco's mother had called for him and he retreated toward the front of the store.
"Madam Malkin," Lizzie said meekly. "Do you sell or know somewhere here that sells casual clothes? Most of mine are falling apart and I don't have muggle money," Lizzie asked.
"I have some casual skirts in the back. Small cardigan selection. There's an attire shop four doors down that might have some other things. Afraid that would best for a muggle store destination," she explained. Lizzie purchased a couple of black and gray pull over cardigans and couple plain black non-pleated skirts along with her uniforms. Hagrid was waiting outside with an ice cream and Lizzie giggled a little. "You already made me cake, really not necessary," she smiled.
"Nonsense, we didn't have breakfast you just had coffee," Hagrid said and handed it to her. She refrained from admitting she rarely ever had breakfast.
"That reminds me, need ta get you a birthday gift," Hagrid said. Before Lizzie opened her mouth to protest, Hagrid put up a hand for her to stop and ushered her into a pet emporium.
When the witch at the emporium handed her a gorgeous snowy owl, Lizzie stroked it fondly. "Nice one, isn't she? I thought maybe a cat, but an owl is more practical for sending mail," Hagrid said and beamed happily. Lizzie was abruptly struck with an impossible amount of sadness. Her eyes welled around a desperate frown to make them stop.
"Ya alright, Lizzie?" Hagrid asked.
"First birthday gift I can remember," she said with a hoarse voice and smiled as the bird nibbled her finger. Hagrid put an oversized hand on her head.
They proceeded down the alley to pick up the rest of the books and supplies she needed. It hadn't dawned on her yet where their adventure would end.
The last thing she needed was a wand and Hagrid shuffled her forward to proceed without him. He seemed to catch sight of someone he didn't want her to meet.
Lizzie watched from the window as a sandy blonde-haired man chatted with him fondly. She didn't see his face because she looked away when he glanced sharply in her direction.
"What brings you this way, Hagrid? First year school supplies...?" He chuckled. "You're not here with - it's her birthday, isn't it?" the man asked him with suddenly wide eyes and looked toward Olivanders Wand Shop at the red headed girl in the window.
Hagrid nodded subtly. "Look... she didn't know anything about anything until hours ago. Nothin' at all. Ruddy muggles insisted she wasn't a witch, that she wouldn't attend, told er James and Lily died in a car accident. I can't tell how the truth is sitting. Not the day... I'm sorry..." Hagrid said apologetically. The man looked sad and exhaled, but nodded in understanding.
"Well, she's in safe hands with you. Take care, Hagrid," he said, and started to stride off with obvious hesitation.
"Remus - if you have pictures, could you send 'em?" Hagrid asked. The man nodded and smiled weakly.
Lizzie looked around the room stacked from floor to ceiling with long narrow boxes. "Hello?" She asked. A strange looking man walked up to the front, and stared at her with wide, unblinking, silver eyes.
"I wondered when I would be meeting Azalea Potter," he said with a smirk. Lizzie's hands went to her bangs but he shook his head. "You are absolutely identical to your mother," he laughed.
Lizzie tried a series of wands he offered and each made her increasingly convinced she shouldn't be a witch.
The first one she waved shattered several bits of glass behind him. He waved his hands at her horrified expression to indicate it was fine. The second one she waved knocked several boxes of wands into a pile on the ground. The third set a gas lamp ablaze, and she quickly put the wand down on the desk and stepped back nervously.
Olivander narrowed his eyes at her, "I wonder," he said ominously.
"Try this," he said, nervously handing her a wand from a box, he did not seem to want to touch the wand. Lizzie took it apprehensively and the moment her hand gripped the handle of it she felt something strange course through her veins. It felt as though something inside of her exhaled with great relief, like she found an old, lost, and trusted friend.
Olivander noticed the affinity and looked around curiously. His eyes met Lizzie's and she felt his anticipation as though he had given her a tremendous shove.
"I remember every wand I've ever sold, Miss Potter... I use unicorn hair and dragon heart string along with variously pliable woods to fashion these. No wand is the same. It so happens that a rare occurrence happened with this one... I used a Phoenix feather... the Phoenix who gave a feather for this wand gave another feather, just one other. It's curious that this wand has chosen you when it's brother gave you your scar," he explained.
"They owned the only other made of a Phoenix feather? The same Phoenix?" Lizzie asked. Olivander nodded.
"It was a rare set of materials. This is a Holly wand. Rare but wonderful at curbing impulses and anger, is also always yielded by those who are extremely protective. It's brother, however, was made of Yew, which also extremely rare and yielded by those who are fiercely protective, but accentuates impulsivity and desire... I think it is safe to say your combination is both peculiar and indicative of great triumphs to come as a witch. I do think, the more I consider it, that this will suit you extremely well," he said, nodding warily.
Lizzie almost didn't feel comfortable holding it, but packed it with the other things she was carrying, paid Olivander, and bid him Farewell. He stared at her intently as she retreated back into the alley.
Hagrid stood up awkwardly when Lizzie came out of the shop reading through the letter. "Just dawned on me, Hagrid, you're not taking me back are you?" She asked when she noticed school didn't start until September 1st.
"Well, er yes, have ta, month until school starts," he said. Lizzie looked up sharply.
"O...kay... well this was fun. Nice knowing you. Hold onto this stuff? They'll use it as kindling for my pyre," she said sarcastically.
"Nonsense, you've got summer reading," he said, thinking she was joking.
"That's unfortunate," Lizzie frowned.
"Also, the owl won't live, I think my cousin and his friends kill small animals..." she added.
"Lizzie, yer uncle and aunt are being talked to as we speak. It will be fine," he said.
"No that's um... anything but fine. I'm supposed to go off to St. Catherine's on the 1st... hell will freeze over before he takes me anywhere but... it's a bloody prison school," Lizzie said.
"Lizzie, what yer gotta understand is there's a special protection on your house in Little Whinging. I don't understand the intricacies but it's the only place you can't be touched by -" Hagrid said.
"Who killed them, Hagrid? Is he still alive?" She asked curtly. He ushered her into a small bake shop with nobody around.
"The man who killed your parents was named Vol- V -" Hagrid tried to say.
"Do you need to write it down?" Lizzie asked.
"Nah. Voldemort... but don't go repeating the name. It's feared like taboo," he said quickly.
"It's unclear if he died, but he disappeared the night he tried to kill you. That's why yer famous, Lizzie. Yer the girl who lived. The girl who ended the war," he explained.
Lizzie had no words for a while.
"Hagrid, seriously, I can't bring this stuff back home... I might be safe from Vol - but my uncle is a special kind of mean. They're extremely adverse to all of this. Please, if I'm going to have any chance of making it to this school, I can't show up with a trunk full of heretic merchandise. I will be lynched," she said.
"Alright...I will talk to the headmaster about it and you can go home empty handed. But take your ticket, Lizzie. Stick to that ticket. I can't wait to see you there. Any trouble... well... they've been warned," he assured.
Hagrid dropped her off at Number 4 and she was nearly ready to spill every horrible thing to make him take her with him instead. Then she thought about Voldemort. No face to the name, but he seemed to somehow embody every other thing she was scared of, and she ultimately said nothing. When Petunia answered the door to Lizzie, Hagrid suddenly nowhere in sight, she looked as mean spirited as ever.
"Don't leave your room," she said, and Lizzie gladly didn't. Nobody visited her either and she thought that was telling. Maybe she was destined for Hogwarts after all.