A/N: The face-claim to Morag MacDougal is Ellie Bamber.
The face-claim to Elspeth MacDougal is Zoé De Grand Maison.
Chapter 4: A Day in Diagon Alley
"Get up, May," said Harry shaking May awake.
May groaned, rolled over, and kept her eyes closed. "Go away, Harry. I just dreamt about us having the best birthday ever and I don't want reality to punch me in the face just yet."
"That's the thing," said Harry. "It wasn't a dream."
May opened her eyes and looked at Harry. "Don't joke like that Harry. I thought I was the joker round these here parts." The hut was full of light inside, so the storm must've blown over without incident or deaths.
"Oh, please," started Harry, "You're not that funny."
May sat up and gently punched Harry's shoulder. "You're right. I'm bloody hilarious."
"Get ready, we're going to Diagon Alley," said Harry.
May got up and put on her combat boots. "So, what's for breakfast?"
Hagrid held out a plate of sausages to her. "They're okay cold." May took a sausage and ate it. "You can have another one."
May took it and ate it. She cringed, "I just realized that we don't have any money."
"And Uncle Vernon said that he won't pay for us to go and learn magic," said Harry.
May nodded.
"Don't worry about that," said Hagrid, grabbing his overcoat. "D'yeh think yer parents didn't leave yeh two anything?"
"If they gave us something, the Dursleys would've taken it away from us," May pointed out.
"They didn't give you anything, because they kept their gold in Gringotts," said Hagrid.
"Come again?" said May, once again confused by the strange words.
"Gringotts, wizards' bank," said Hagrid.
"Wizards have banks?" questioned Harry.
"Just the one. Gringotts," said Hagrid. "Run by goblins."
"Goblins?" repeated Harry in disbelief.
May groaned, "Catch up, Harry." It did make sense for wizards to have banks. They can't just stuff their money in their mattresses or in piggy banks. Goblins, however, were a different story.
"Yeh'd be made ter try an' rob it, I'll tell yeh that. Never mess with goblins, yeh two. Gringotts is the safest place in the world fer anything yeh want ter keep safe – 'cept maybe Hogwarts," said Hagrid. "As a matter o' fact, I gotta visit Gringotts anyway. Fer Dumbledore. Hogwarts business." He drew himself up in a proud way. "He usually gets me ter do important stuff fer him. Fetchin' you two – gettin' things from Gringotts – knows he can trust me, see." He looked at them, "Got everything'?"
May grabbed her messenger bag from the coffee table that she was using as a pillow. She looked into it and found eight beaded bracelets. She pulled them on her right wrist and held up her bag, "Got it."
"Come on, then." Hagrid went to the door and opened it, "We're a bit behind schedule, best get a move on."
Harry followed, but May stayed frowning. He had said something about being famous, right? How everyone knew their names?
"Unless you'd rather stay of course," Hagrid said jokingly to May.
May looked at the bedroom that the Dursleys were hiding in and followed after Harry and Hagrid.
The ocean looked a lot calmer than it had the previous day and she saw that there was only one boat.
"How did you get here?" asked Harry, apparently noticing the one boat, too.
"Flew," said Hagrid casually.
"Flew?" questioned Harry in disbelief. May was in disbelief too. She couldn't picture Hagrid flying or even riding a broomstick, that was, if the wizarding world had broomsticks. It was a strange image to picture.
"Yeah – but we'll go back in this. Not s'pposed ter use magic now I've got yeh two," stated Hagrid.
May got in the boat with Hagrid following.
Harry stared at Hagrid, as if trying to imagine him flying.
"Seems a shame ter row, though," said Hagrid giving the twins a sideways look. "If I was ter – er – speed things up a bit, would yeh mind not mentionin' it at Hogwarts."
"Of course not," said Harry at once.
Hagrid looked at May and she shook her head. Hagrid took out his pink umbrella and tapped the side of the boat twice. At once, they sped off towards land.
"Why do you have to be mad to try and rob Gringotts?" asked Harry.
"Spells – enchantments," said Hagrid. "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."
"Actually you'll die of thirst before you die of hungry," May said. "You said something about us being famous."
"Okay, yeh two can't go off ter Hogwarts not knowin'," said Hagrid. "Well, it's best yeh know as much as I can tell yeh - mind, I can't tell yeh two everything', it's a great myst'ry, parts of it…"
Hagrid looked at them, "It begins, I suppose, with – with a person called – but it's incredible yeh don't know his name, everyone in our world knows – "
"Who?" asked Harry.
"Well – I don't like sayin' the name if I can help it. No one does," said Hagrid.
"Was he really that bad?" asked May.
Hagrid nodded, "People are still scared. Blimey, this is difficult. See, there was this wizard who went…bad. As bad as you could go. Worse. Worse than worse. His name was…"
"Hitler?" asked May. That was the worst person she can think of.
Hagrid shook his head, but he gulped. He didn't say anything.
"Could you write it down?" suggested Harry.
"Nah – can't spell it. All right – Voldemort." Hagrid shuddered and May shivered. It sounded terrible. "Don' make me say it again. Anyway, this – this wizard, about twenty years ago now, started lookin' fer followers. Got 'em, too – some were afraid, some just wanted a bit o' his power, 'cause he was gettin' himself power, all right. Dark days, yeh two. Didn't know who ter trust, didn't dare get friendly with strange wizards or witches…Terrible things happened. He was takin' over."
"Did anyone try to stand up to him?" asked May. Harry glared at her for interrupting. May almost winced at asking a question.
"'Course," said Hagrid. "He killed 'em. Horribly."
May cringed, "Oh. No surprise there."
"One of the only safe places left was Hogwarts. Reckon Dumbledore's the only one You-Know-Who was afraid of. Didn't dare try takin' the school, not jus' then anyway," explained Hagrid. "Now, yer mum an' dad were as good a witch an' wizard as I ever knew. Head Boy an' Girl at Hogwarts in their day! Suppose the myst'ry is why You-Know-Who never tried to get 'em on his side before…probably knew they were too close ter Dumbledore ter want anythin' ter do with the Dark Side."
"That's good to hear," said May. She was glad that they weren't offered to go to the Dark Side. "But why though?"
"Maybe he thought he could persuade 'em," said Hagrid, "or…maybe he just wanted 'em outta the way. All anyone knows is, he turned up in the village where you was all living, on Hallowe'en ten years ago. You two was just a year old. He came ter yer house an' – an' – " He took out a very dirty, spotted handkerchief and blew his nose, which sounded like foghorn. It startled May and she looked around, hoping that no one heard that.
"Sorry," said Hagrid. "But it's that sad – knew yer mum an' dad, an' nicer people yeh couldn't find – anyway – You-Know-Who killed 'em. An' then – an' this is the real myst'ry of the thing – he tried to kill you two, too. Wanted ter make a clean job of it, I suppose, or maybe he just liked killin' by then. But he couldn't do it. Never wondered how you got that mark on yer forehead? That was no ordinary cut."
May looked over at Harry's scar, which was hidden by his fringe. "The Dursleys said that he got that scar in the car accident." She rubbed at the scars on her knee, which gave an unpleasant tingle for some reason.
"'Course they did," said Hagrid darkly. "That's what yeh get when a powerful, evil curse touches yeh – took care of yer mum an' an yer house, even – but it didn't work on you both, an' that's why yeh two are famous. No one ever lived after he decided ter kill 'em, no one except you two, an he'd killed some o' the best witches an' wizards of the age – the McKinnons, the Bones, the Prewitts – an' you two was only babies, an' you lived."
May pictured the flash of green light, which seemed to be a lot more clearer than ever before.
"Took yeh both from the ruined house myself, on Dumbledore's orders. Brought yeh ter that lot…" Hagrid said and motioned to the shack on the rock.
They sat back and watched Hagrid read a newspaper that was called the Daily Prophet. Harry and May had learnt that people liked being left alone while they read the newspaper. Uncle Vernon was very thorough on teaching them that lesson. May was sure that her hearing had dulled a little from Uncle Vernon's yelling.
"Ministry o' Magic messin' things up as usual," muttered Hagrid as he turned the page.
"There's a Ministry of Magic?" Harry asked quickly.
"'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."
"What a terrible Minister," muttered May.
"But what does a Ministry of Magic do?" asked Harry.
"Well, their main job is to keep it from the Muggles that there's still witches an' wizards up an' down the country," explained Hagrid.
"Why?" asked Harry.
"Why?" repeated Hagrid.
"Don't you pay to history, Harry?" asked May. "Remember how people were burnt at the stake for being thought of as witches? You know people get bullied for being the least bit different. Remember Kayleigh Stokes?" May remembered Kayleigh Stokes all right. Kayleigh was the third most bullied girl in school for being a bit mentally slow. May was sure that Kayleigh was pulled out of school for being bullied though. "That's why magic is hidden."
Hagrid nodded, "That an' people'll be wanting magic solutions to their problems. Nah, we're best left alone."
"And they'll most likely kill us for having magic and they don't. Or they want to know how to do magic and get angry when they can't do it. And then kill us," May said.
"You read a lot of horror novels," said Harry.
"More like murder mysteries," said May.
"Same thing," said Harry.
At that moment, the boat bumped gently into the harbour wall. They got out of the boat and May looked at the water and pointed, "did you see that?"
Harry looked confused, "see what?"
"That," said May pointing more firmly.
"What is it?" said Harry. "What are you looking at?"
"You," said May. She jokingly tried to push him into the water.
"Stop it," said Harry not amused.
May rolled her eyes, "It was just a joke."
"Come on, yeh two," said Hagrid. "We're running a bit behind schedule."
They followed Hagrid up the stone steps onto the street.
Passers-by stared at Hagrid a lot as they walked through the little town to the station. May didn't blame them since it must've been a sight to behold. Two kids following after a giant of a man. It didn't help that Hagrid kept pointing at what were ordinary things like, parking meters and saying things like, "See that, Harry and May? Things these Muggles dream up, eh?"
Since Hagrid was taller, the twins practically had to run to keep up with him.
"Hagrid, did you say that there are dragons at Gringotts?" asked Harry.
"Well, so they say," said Hagrid.
"That's unhelpful," muttered May. "They always say that with every lie or rumour, there's always a bit of truth in it."
"Crikey, I'd like a dragon," said Hagrid, almost to himself.
"You actually want a dragon?" asked May in disbelief.
"Wanted one ever since I was a kid," said Hagrid. "Here we go."
They had reached the station. Luckily there was a train to London in about five minutes. Hagrid apparently didn't understand 'Muggle money' gave the notes to Harry, who passed them to May to buy the tickets.
When she got the tickets, they hurried onto the train.
Harry and May sat down next to each other on one side of the train, while Hagrid sat on the other. He pulled out a giant canary-yellow cloth and some knitting needles, which attracted even more attention.
"Still got yer letters, Harry and May?" asked Hagrid as he counted stitches.
Harry took the parchment envelope out of his pocket and May took hers out of her messenger bag. They both held them up.
"Good," said Hagrid. "There's a list there of everything yeh need."
The twins unfolded a second piece of paper that they hadn't noticed the previous night.
May looked at the supplies list:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF 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
Set 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
A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Adalbert Waffling
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Emeric Switch
Magical Drafts and Potions by Phyllida Spore
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 glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass
Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST-YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS
"We can buy all of this stuff in London?" asked May in disbelief.
"If yeh know where to go," said Hagrid.
May and Harry looked at each other.
"This ought to be interesting," said May. "We've never been to London before."
"Just where exactly are we supposed to get this stuff?" asked Harry looking at his list. "I doubt we can find a place that sells cauldrons or wands."
"What type of wands, though?" asked May. "Like the wands that magicians uses?"
"Look at that," said Harry pointing at his list. "Protective gloves. Dragon hide or similar."
"How are we going to pay for all of this?" asked May. "This lot can't be cheap. Unless we get them from a secondhand shop."
"That might be the only way we can afford all of this," said Harry.
May looked at the list again. They can bring a cat, a toad, or an owl.
They finally got to the London station and they exited through it, although Hagrid got stuck in the ticket barrier, though he managed to release him. After that, he complained about how the seats were small and the train wasn't fast enough.
"I don't know how the Muggles mange without magic," Hagrid said as they climbed a broken-down escalators which led up to a bustling road lined with shops.
"We get used to it," said May.
It was a good thing that Hagrid was so huge since he easily parted the crowd. All Harry and May had to do was stand close to Hagrid so they don't get lost in the crowd.
It wasn't an easy journey for Harry since May kept getting sidetracked by all the book shops. She kept looking in the window at all the books she wanted to read but knew that the Dursleys wouldn't buy for her.
Harry had to drag her away from one bookstore since she tried to walk in. "That place doesn't look like a shop that can sell anything on our list," Harry joked.
After that, they kept walking.
"This is it," said Hagrid coming to a halt, "The Leaky Cauldron. It's a famous place."
May almost walked into Hagrid and she stopped to look at the Leaky Cauldron. It was a tiny, grubbing-looking pub. She knew that if Hagrid hadn't pointed it out, she and Harry wouldn't have noticed it was even there.
The people hurrying by didn't even glance at it. May was sure that she, Harry, and Hagrid can see it. Hagrid steered May and Harry inside.
Inside was dark and shabby. There were a few old women sitting in a corner drinking tiny glasses of what must've been sherry. One of the women was smoking a long pipe. A little man in a top hat was talking to the old barman who was quite bald. The chatter stopped immediately when they walked in and the patrons waved and smiled at Hagrid.
The barman was already reaching for a glass, "The usual, Hagrid?"
"Can't, Tom, I'm on Hogwarts business," said Hagrid, clapping his hands on Harry's and May's shoulders. May almost fell to the ground and Harry looked like his knees buckled.
"Good Lord," said the barman, apparently named Tom. He was peering at Harry. "Is this – can this be–?"
That was when everything in the Leaky Cauldron seemed to go completely still and quiet.
"Bless my soul," whispered Tom. "Harry Potter…what an honour." With tears in his eyes, Tom hurried out from behind the bar, rushed towards Harry and shook his hand. "Welcome back, Mr Potter, welcome back."
Harry looked at a loss for words and May felt strangely left out. She and Harry were always treated equally after all, and here, Tom, was ignoring her presence.
Everyone was now looking at Harry. The old woman was puffing on a pipe, not noticing that it had gone out.
There was a great scraping of chairs and everyone was rushing at Harry.
"Doris Crockford, Mr Potter, can't believe I'm meeting you at last."
"So proud, Mr Potter, I'm just so proud," said a wizard.
"Delighted, Mr Potter, just can't tell you. Diggle's the name, Dedalus Diggle," said the man with the top hat.
"May and I've seen you before!" said Harry as Dedalus's top hat fell off in his excitement. "You bowed to us once in a shop!"
May remembered getting in trouble for that, despite the fact that she didn't know Dedalus's name or why he did that, but it was strange, so therefore she and Harry got punished.
"He remembers!" cried Dedalus, looking around at everyone. "Did you hear that? He remembers me!"
Doris Crockford kept going back for more handshakes for Harry.
Dedalus turned to May and happily said, "Mayflower Potter!"
He shook her hand rather enthusiastically, but the handshake was more one-sided because May was called 'Mayflower'.
"Oh, Mayflower, you look so adorable, I can just eat you up," said one of the elderly women, holding both of May's cheeks.
"Please don't," May said, "And I prefer May."
A pale young man made his way forward, in a nervous manner. He looked so nervous, that one of his eyes was twitching.
"Professor Quirrell!" called Hagrid. "Harry, May, Professor Quirrell will be one of your teachers at Hogwarts."
"P-P-Potters," stammered Professor Quirrell. "C-can't t-tell you how p-pleased I am to meet you."
"What subject do you teach?" asked May. She stuck out her hand for a handshake.
Professor Quirrell shook his head, "I-I'm n-not big on shaking strangers' hands. S-sorry."
May lowered her hand, almost confused. "It's all right."
"I-I teach D-Defence Against the D-D-Dark Arts," said Professor Quirrell. "F-Fearfully fascinating subject. N-not that you need it, e-eh, Potters?" He seemed to chuckle nervously. "You'll be g-getting all your equipment, I suppose? I've g-got to p-pick up a new b-book on vampires, m-myself." He looked terrified at the thought.
May wasn't sure if he was scared of the book on vampires or the thought of getting a new book. Granted, she was always scared of checking out a library book and it not turning out as good as she expected it to be.
"Well, we better get going. Lots to buy," said Hagrid.
"Goodbye," said Harry.
"Yeah, bye," said May. "See you at Hogwarts, Professor Quirrell."
Doris ran over shaking Harry's hand one more time and surprisingly hugged May. It was probably the only hug she had ever received. She didn't count that over the shoulder squeeze that Aunt Petunia had awkwardly given her in the A&E room, while Aunt Petunia 'tearfully' explained how May got glass in her knee.
They went to the back of the pub and exited through the back door into a courtyard where there was nothing but a dustbin and a few weeds.
Hagrid grinned at Harry and May. He said, "Told yeh, didn't I? Told yeh you was famous. Even Professor Quirrell was tremblin' ter meet yeh – mind you, he's usually tremblin'."
"Why? Is he okay?" asked May. "He was shaking and stuttering really badly."
"Don't mind her," said Harry to Hagrid. "She's a huge teacher's pet. Except for Mrs Westerfield"
"Don't say her name," said May darkly. "She kept calling me Mayflower, even though I told her that I preferred May."
With that incident, it had gotten to the point that she stopped answering questions that was directed at her, because Mrs Westerfield kept referring to her as Mayflower instead of May. She had gotten in trouble many times for that and ended up telling the headmaster about it, and Mrs Westerfield refused to look at her or even speak to her for the rest of the school year.
"Anyway, is Professor Quirrell okay?" asked May.
"Oh, yeah," said Hagrid, "Poor bloke. He had a brilliant mind. He was fine while he was studyin' outta books but then he took a year off ter get some first-hand experience…They say he met vampires in the Black Forest and there was a nasty bit o' trouble with a hag – never been the same since. Scared of the students, scared of his own subject."
"That's rough," May said as Hagrid looked for his umbrella and found it. He tapped the brick wall with it. "Do wands come in different things, like Hagrid's umbrella?"
Harry shrugged, "Maybe."
"Three up…two across…" Hagrid muttered, "Right, stand back."
The brick that Hagrid tapped with his umbrella wriggled. A small hole appeared and grew wider and wider until they were facing and archway the led onto a cobbled street. They stepped through the archway and May was momentarily blinded by the sun bouncing off of a stack of cauldrons. A sign hung over the cauldrons, which read:
Cauldrons – All Sizes – Copper, Brass, Pewter, Silver – Self-Stirring – Collapsible.
May looked at the silver and bronze cauldrons at the shop.
"Yeah, you'll be needin' one," said Hagrid. "First stop is Gringotts."
There was a snow-white building that was right in the middle of Diagon Alley. It towered over the other shops and it would've looked out of place, if it hadn't looked so crooked, like the other shops.
There was a shop called Eeylops' Owl Emporium that sold tawny, screech, barn, brown, and snowy owls. There was a crowd of boys pressing their noses against a window that sold broomsticks.
There were shops that sold robes, shops that sold telescopes and strange silver instruments that May never saw before. There was a window that had barrels of bat spleens and eels' eyes. There were shops that had tottering piles of spells book, and shops that had quills and rolls of parchment in the window, there were shops that had potion bottles, and shops that had globes of the moon…There was even a shop that sold sweets.
They walked up the white stone steps of Gringotts to come across burnished bronze door and a creature that was wearing a uniform of scarlet and gold.
"Yeah, that's a goblin," said Hagrid quietly as they walked to the goblin. The goblin was about a head shorter than May, who was about an inch taller than Harry.
The goblin had a swarthy, clever looking face, a pointed beard, and had very long fingers and feet. He bowed to them as they walked inside, only to cross across a second pair of doors, but this time silver.
"They have two sets of doors?" asked May stunned.
The doors were engraved with what looked like a poem. It was actually a warning, telling them not to be greedy by stealing something that wasn't theirs, because they'll come across something more than treasure beneath Gringotts's floor.
"Yeah, yeh'd be mad ter try an' rob it," said Hagrid.
A pair of goblins bowed them through the silver doors and they entered into a vast marble hall. There were about a hundred goblins sitting behind a long counter, writing in large ledgers, weighing coins of brass scales, or examining precious stones through eyeglasses. There were too many doors leading off the hall, with more goblins showing people in and out of the doors.
Hagrid went up the counter, with the twins following him. To a free goblin, Hagrid said, "Morning. We've come ter take some money outta Mr Harry and Miss May Potter's safe."
"And do Mr Harry or Miss May have their key, sir?" asked the goblin.
May looked at Harry, panicking a little. She whispered to Harry, "We don't have a key. I don't recall ever getting one. Do you have one?"
"Don' worry, May, I got it here somewhere," said Hagrid, emptying his pockets of a handful of mouldy dog-biscuits on the counter.
May realized that the floor was very interesting as she felt anxious. Harry nudged May, who looked up. Harry pointed to the largest rubies that May had ever seen. Her eyes widened at the sight.
"Got it," said Hagrid.
"That seems to be in order," responded the goblin after examining the key..
"An' I've also got a letter here from Professor Dumbledore," said Hagrid.
May looked over to see the Hagrid handing the goblin a letter and Hagrid was sticking his chest out. The goblin took the letter and looked it over.
Hagrid said, "It's about the You-Know-What in vault seven hundred and thirteen."
The goblin looked at the letter, "Very well." He handed it back to Hagrid. "I will have someone take you down to both vaults. Griphook!"
Another goblin came up to them. Hagrid stuck the dog-biscuits in his pockets and they followed Griphook towards one of the doors.
"What's the You-Know-What in vault seven hundred and thirteen?" asked Harry.
"Does it have something to do with You-Know-Who since it's apparently You-Know-What?" asked May.
"What gave you that idea?" asked Harry.
May shrugged in response, "It was just a thought."
"Can't tell yeh that," said Hagrid, "Very secret. It's Hogwarts business. Dumbledore's trusted me. More'n my job's worth ter tell yeh that."
They stepped in a narrow stone passageway that was lit by flaming torches. It sloped steeply downwards and there was little railway tracks on the floor. Griphook whistled and a small cart hurtled up the track to them. They climbed in the cart and they took off.
They rushed through many tunnels and May could've sworn that she saw an underground lake.
"Ah, yes," said May. "Let's have a nice lunch by the underground lake while our guard dragons are in the middle of possibly roasting someone alive for trying to steal."
"I don't think that lake is there for lunch breaks," said Harry, looking over the edge of the cart.
"I know, just let me have this moment," said May.
Harry looked at Hagrid, "I never knew what the difference is between stalagmite and stalactite."
"Stalagmite's got an 'm' in it, now don't me ask questions just now, I think I'm gonna be sick," said Hagrid.
May looked back to see that Hagrid did look sick. May looked at Harry, "Stalagmites grow on the ground while stalactites grow from the ceiling. Think 'g' for ground and 'c' for ceiling."
"Thanks for that information," said Harry sounding sarcastic.
"You wanted information now you got it," May retorted.
The cart stopped at a small door in the passage wall. Hagrid got out and leaned against the wall and Griphook unlocked the door.
May was surprised that a lot of green smoke came billowing out and she waved her hand to clear it.
Harry gasped and May frowned, "What is it?" She saw what made Harry gasp and her jaw dropped open. Inside were mounds of gold coins, columns of silver, and heaps of little bronze knuts.
"All yours," said Hagrid with a smile.
And it was all for them. May wondered what the exchange rate was from wizard money to Muggle money. But would the silver and gold be really different?
"The Dursleys' heads would explode if they saw this," said May scooping some gold coins into a leather pouch.
"The gold ones are Galleons," Hagrid explained as he put some coins in Harry's leather pouch. "Seventeen silver Sickles to a Galleon and twenty-nine Knuts to a Sickle, its easy enough."
May put some Sickles into the leather pouch and got some Knuts, unsure when she might need some.
Hagrid put some more coins into May's leather pouch. "Right, that should be enough fer a couple o' terms; we'll keep the rest safe fer yeh." He turned to the goblin, "Vault seven hundred and thirteen now, please, and can we go more slowly?"
"One speed only," replied Griphook with a nasty smile.
They got back on the cart and then they went hurtling through more tunnels. May could tell that they were getting deeper, since the air was becoming colder as they went around tight corners. They went rattling over an underground ravine and May nearly strangled the life out of her messenger bag's strap as Harry looked over the edge. Hagrid groaned and pulled Harry back by his shirt collar.
They finally stopped and May noticed that the door to the vault had no keyhole.
"Stand back," said Griphook in an important manner. He stroked the door gently with one of his fingers and the door simply melted. "If anyone but a Gringotts goblin tried that, they'd be sucked through the door and trapped in there."
"How often do you check to see if anyone's inside?" asked Harry.
"About once every ten years," said Griphook with a very nasty grin.
May's eyes widened at that and she said, "That sounds…highly reasonable." She stood closer to Harry.
There just had to be something very extraordinary in this very top-security vault, except all they saw was a grubby little package that was wrapped in boring brown paper lying on the floor. Hagrid picked it up and stuck it deep inside his coat.
"Come on, back in this infernal cart, and don't talk to me on the way back," ordered Hagrid. "It's best if I keep me mouth shut."
May nodded since Hagrid looked like he was losing colour in his face once again.
One wild cart-ride later, they were standing outside Gringotts. May wasn't sure where to run first. She wanted to see what books they had at the book shops and she wanted to see what the sweets shop had to offer.
"Might as well get yer uniform," said Hagrid, nodding at Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. "Listen, yeh two, would yeh mind if I slipped off fer a pick-me-up in the Leaky Cauldron? I hate them Gringotts carts."
May thought that it was strange to just leave two eleven-year-olds to wander Diagon Alley by themselves, especially since it was their first time actually being in Diagon Alley. However, it looked like Hagrid really needed that drink, so May nodded.
Harry nodded as well and Hagrid walked off, while May and Harry headed to Madam Malkin's.
May really wanted to go to the book shop, but since Hagrid was the chaperone, she figured hat it would be wise to follow Harry, and she didn't want Hagrid to panic either if she went somewhere else.
When they entered the shop, a squat, smiling witch dressed in mauve robes came up to them.
Harry opened his mouth, but the witch said, "Hogwarts, dears?"
"Yes," said May quickly.
Before May could ask how the witch knew that, the witch said, "Got the lot here – another young man being fitted up just now, in fact."
The witch led them to the back of the shop, where a boy with a pale, pointed face was standing on a footstool. A second witch was pinning up his long black robes and Madam Malkin had Harry get on the stool next to the blond boy. Madam Malkin slipped a long robe over Harry's head and began pining it to the right length.
May started playing with the bracelets on her right wrist.
"Hullo," said the boy with a bored, drawling tone of voice, "Hogwarts too?"
"Yes," said Harry and May in unison.
"My father's next door buying my books and mother's up the street looking at wands," said the boy. "Then I'm going to drag them off to look at racing brooms. I don't see why first-years can't have their own. I think I'll bully father into getting me one and I'll smuggle it in somehow."
May grimaced. This boy was just the skinny version of Dudley. Always demanding and getting what he wanted. And he just said that he'll bully his feather into getting him one. It was sickening to hear.
"Have you got your own brooms?" the boy asked.
"No," said Harry.
"Play Quidditch at all?" questioned the boy.
"No," said Harry.
May frowned at the strange word. What on earth was Quidditch?
"I do," said the boy. "Father says it's a crime if I'm not picked to play for my house, and I must say, I agree. Know what house you'll be in yet?"
"No, but I hope that my sister would be in it with me," said Harry, motioning at May.
"Sister?" asked the boy confused. "What sister?"
May held up her right hand, although she was still holding her bracelets with her left hand. She did, what Harry called, her obnoxious wave, which was her moving her hand up and down repeatedly three times. "Me, I'm the sister."
The boy examined May and then Harry. He was probably picking out the differences between them, which wasn't a lot to be honest, besides the different coloured eyes.
The boy seemed to focus more on Harry, "Well, no one really knows until they get there, do they, but I know I'll be in Slytherin, all our family have been – imagine being in Hufflepuff, I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?"
"Hufflepuff? It sounds kind of cuddly, in a way," said May.
The boy looked at her, "You want to be in Hufflepuff?"
May shrugged, "Maybe. It sounds better than Slytherin. It sounds kind of slimy, or at least it sounds a terrible pick-up line."
"Don't mind her," said Harry. "She's weird."
May looked at Harry, "I say it like it is."
"And she's rude," added Harry.
"You two are related," muttered the boy. "I say, look at that man!" He was nodding at the front window.
May turned to see what had shocked the boy, but it was just Hagrid. He was holding three large ice creams, and he shrugged, like he was saying that he couldn't come in.
"That's Hagrid," said Harry, obviously pleased to know that. "He works at Hogwarts."
"Oh," said the boy. "I've heard of him. He's a sort of servant, isn't he?"
"He's the gamekeeper," said Harry flatly.
"Yes, exactly," said the boy. "I heard he's a sort of savage – lives in a hut in the school grounds and every now and then he gets drunk, tries to do magic and ends up setting fire to his bed."
"I think he's brilliant," said Harry in a cold tone.
May glared at that boy, "Go suck an egg, you little snot. He's friendly and nice."
"Do you?" asked the boy with a slight sneer, ignoring May. "Why is he with you two? Where are your parents?"
"They're dead," said Harry shortly and glanced at May. He knew how touchy she was with the subject.
"Oh, sorry," said the boy sounding very uncaring. "But they were our kind, weren't they?"
"What is that supposed to mean?" asked May, "'Our' kind? There's more than one kind?"
"Our parents were a witch and wizard if that's what you mean," snapped Harry, speaking over May, trying to diffuse an argument.
"I really don't think they should let the other sort in, do you?" questioned the boy. "They're just not the same; they've never been brought up to know our ways. Some of them have never even heard of Hogwarts until they get the letter, imagine. I think they should keep it in the old wizarding families. What's your surname, anyway?"
"That's you done, my dear," said Madam Malkin. She turned to May. "You're next, dear."
"Sorry, some other time," said May, grabbing Harry's arm and hauled him to the front to pay for his robes.
She didn't want to be around that horrible boy any longer than necessary. She had felt sickened at what he was saying about the 'other sort'. He was most likely talking about the ones who never heard of Hogwarts until they got their letter. And then saying that they should just keep it in old wizarding families? It was horrible to hear that.
"May, what about your robes?" asked Harry.
May's hands shook as she dropped the coins on the counter as Harry took his robes after the witch bagged them. "I'll get them later." The witch behind the counter gave May her change, which she took, and dragged Harry outside.
"Where's your robes, May?" asked Hagrid, handing May the bowl of ice cream that he had with him.
"I'll get them later," said May taking the bowl.
May was surprised to find out that they had raspberry flavoured ice cream as she took a bite out of her ice cream. It was chocolate and raspberry with chopped nuts.
She looked into the window of Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour to see what other flavours of ice cream that they had. She was surprised to see that they had strawberry and peanut-butter, earl grey and lavender, clotted cream, strawberries and cream, apple crumble, chocolate chili…and many more.
"Harry, next year, we should come and try all those flavours," said May.
"I think you just want to try the clotted cream one," said Harry. "Or the apple crumble or the strawberries and cream."
"There's nothing wrong with liking clotted cream," said May.
"If you like sour tastes," countered Harry.
They fell silent again as they kept eating their ice cream.
"What's wrong?" asked Hagrid.
"Nothing," said May.
After a few seconds, Harry said, "What's Quidditch?"
"Blimey, Harry, May, I keep forgettin' how little yeh know – not knowin' about Quidditch," said Hagrid.
"Don't insult my lack of knowledge on the wizarding world," said May darkly.
"Don't make me feel worse," added Harry. He told Hagrid about the boy in Madam Malkin's. " – and he said people from Muggle families shouldn't even be allowed in—"
"It was really disgusting how he talked like that," May interrupted. "I think I need a shower after being in that boy's presence for far too long."
"Yer not from a Muggle family," said Hagrid. "If he'd known who yeh two were – he's grown up knowin' yer names if his parents are wizardin' folk – you saw 'em in the Leaky Cauldron. What does he know about it, some o' the best I ever saw were the only ones with magic in 'em in a long line o' Muggles – look at yer mum! Look what she had fer a sister!"
"Look at what I have for a brother," said May smirking as she looked at Harry. "He ruins my pranks on the Dursleys or Dudley's gang."
"I don't ruin them, I just rather not get grounded," said Harry. "Besides, you prank them anyway."
"Anyway, what's Quidditch? It sounds like some sort of illness," said May.
"It's our sport," said Hagrid, "wizard sport."
"I'm terrible at sports. I can't run properly since I had glass in my knee," May grumbled. She rubbed her scarred knee.
"It's like – like football in the Muggle world – everyone follows Quidditch – played up in the air on broomsticks and there's four balls – sorta hard ter explain the rules," explained Hargrid.
"What's Slytherin and Hufflepuff?" asked Harry.
"School houses," said Hagrid. "There are four. Everyone says Hufflepuff are a lot o' duffers, but—"
"I bet May's going to be in Hufflepuff," said Harry jokingly.
May rolled her eyes, "Most likely it'll be you."
"Better Hufflepuff than Slytherin fer the both of yeh," said Hagrid.
"Why's that?" asked May.
"There's not a single witch or wizard who went bad who wasn't in Slytherin. You-Know-Who was one," said Hagrid.
May asked, "How bad was he?"
"Vol – sorry – You-Know-Who was at Hogwarts?" asked Harry at the same time as May spoke.
"Years an' years ago," said Hagrid.
They finished eating and they went to get their supplies from Scribbulus. May bought some blue velvet cake coloured ink and got some lime-green Fwooper quills, some peacock quills, and a lot of parchment. She wasn't sure what a Fwooper was, but she couldn't wait to find out. Harry got some colour-changing ink and a pheasant feather quill.
After that, they went to Flourish and Blotts. The shelves seemed to be stacked to the ceiling with paving stone sized books, there were books that were postage stamp sized with silk covers, books full of peculiar symbols, and there were a few books with nothing in them. May was sure that even Dudley would've loved to his hands on some of those books, even though she was sure that he didn't know how to read.
May got the books she needed, but she looked at some of the other books they had. She got Hogwarts: A History and she saw a book called The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts. Before she can stand on the tips of her toes to get it, another hand reached up and grabbed it.
"Hey, I was going to get that," said May.
She noticed it was a boy with shaggy black hair and a kind of narrow face. He turned to look at her and she almost gasped. He was the cutest boy she ever saw. He grabbed another book and handed it to her, before turning to walk away.
"Hey, I'm May," said May.
The boy looked at her and nodded, "Michael." That was when he turned to leave.
"See you at Hogwarts," called May in a breathless tone. She winced at how she sounded like she had never seen a boy before. She realised her face was warm and she knew she was blushing.
"I was trying to figure out how to curse Dudley," Harry said.
May went to see what Harry was talking about, but Hagrid was leading Harry away.
"I'm not saying that's not a good idea, but yer not to use magic in the Muggle world except in very special circumstances," said Hagrid. "An' anyway, yeh couldn' work out any of them curses yet, yeh'll need a lot more study before yeh even get to that level."
May went to the counter to pay for her books when Harry walked up with his. He looked at May's books.
"Got enough books for the summer or do you need to go buy the whole store first?" asked Harry.
"It's just two extra books," said May. Harry paid for the books before May could. "Hey!"
"Just paying you back for the robes," said Harry.
May nodded, "Okay."
They left the bookshop and May looked at her list. "Hey, I'll grab my robes now, while you get my potions supplies and cauldron, is that okay?"
"Sure," said Hagrid.
"Get me a silver cauldron," whispered May to Harry.
Harry nodded, "We'll meet you outside Madam Malkin's."
"Sure thing," said May and she rushed over to Madam Malkin's.
When she entered, Madam Malkin walked up, "I thought you might be back. Come on, there's another young lady getting fitted right now."
May followed the witch to the back of the room where a red-haired girl was getting fitted. She had her arms out as another witch pinned her robes. The girl's hair looked to be wavy.
"Hello," said the girl in a Scottish accent.
"Hi," said May as she got a robe placed over her head. She noticed another red-haired girl was looking at some robes on a rack.
"That's my older sister, Elspeth," said the girl. "It's going to be her second year at Hogwarts."
"I have an older brother," said May. "Actually he's older than me by five hours. Or so we were told anyway."
"Sometimes I wonder what it'll be like to have a brother," said the girl in a thoughtful tone. "You know; have you actually thought about what it would be like if we were boys?"
May shook her head, "No. I think my life would be worse if I was." She was sure that it would be, considering that Dudley would not take to kindly to her pranks if she was a boy.
"I suppose," said the girl, "By the way, I'm Morag."
"May," said May.
"I'm not sure what Elspeth would do if I was a boy," said Morag.
May said, "I wonder what my boy name would be, though."
"I think my parents would've called me Maddox or something. I asked my parents and they said that they hadn't thought about that. They were more focused on having a girl," said Morag. "They had my name picked out and all."
May asked, "Hey, do you know which house you will be in?"
"Ravenclaw," said Morag at once. "My parents were in Ravenclaw and Elspeth's in Ravenclaw. So, I know that I'll definitely end up there. Which house do you think you'll end up in?"
"I…don't know," admitted May.
"Which house were you parents in?" asked Morag. "There's like a legacy thing sometimes, Gryffindor parents have Gryffindor kids. Sometimes you don't end up in your parents' former house though. I think I heard about a Slytherin family having a boy go to Gryffindor."
"What happened to him?" asked May.
"He got disowned and he killed thirteen Muggles," said Morag.
May really didn't want to hear that story. She wondered if Morag knew May and Harry's story. "Hey, what do you know about the Potter Twins?"
Morag seemed to stand up straighter. "Oh, I know bits and pieces about them. I know that You-Know-Who tried to kill them on Hallowe'en and that You-Know-Who was killed. I know that Harry has a lightning bolt shaped scar on his forehead. Wait. You said your name is May, you have a twin brother, and I don't remember ever seeing you before. So, you're Mayflower Potter!" She looked at the dark-haired girl in awe.
"You're all set," said Madam Malkin to May.
May jumped down from the footstool and said to Morag, "See you at Hogwarts."
"You too," said Morag, still looking awed.
May paid for her robes and walked out of the shop. She was just in time too, because Harry and Hagrid walked up with their parcels.
"Okay, I got your stuff," said Harry.
"Thanks," said May.
Hagrid was holding Harry's list, "Just yer wands left - oh yeah, an' I still haven't got yeh birthday presents."
Harry's face went red. "You don't have to—"
"Yeah," added May. "The birthday cake and taking us here is more than enough."
"I want to," said Hagrid. "Tell yeh what, I'll get yer animals. Not a toad, toads went outta fashion years ago, yeh'd be laughed at – an' I don't like cats, they make me sneeze. I'll get yer an owl. All the kids want owls, they're dead useful, carry yer post and everything."
They went to Eeylops Owl Emporium, where Harry ended up getting a snowy white owl, who had her head under her wing, and was fast asleep. Harry kept stammering his thanks.
"Don't mention it," said Hagrid. "Don' expect you've had a lotta presents from them Dursleys. Just May's present and Ollivanders. Yeh both gotta have the best wands."
They went to the Magical Menagerie, which was a shop for magical creatures. It was loud inside and there seemed to be cages lining the walls.
May looked at the animals lining the shelves. She found a long haired light brown guinea pig. It had white and black markings around its face. She smiled at the guinea pig, who made a whistling sound. May went to look at the cat in the cage next to the guinea pig. She felt a weight on her shoulder and she almost jumped up at the random pressure. She reached up and grabbed at it. She felt fur and she picked it up.
Did I somehow pick up a cat? May thought confused and looked at the animal. It was the guinea pig. She looked at the cage, to see that it was empty. May was confused. She heard giggling and she looked to see the witch behind the counter was grinning.
"It seems that she likes you," the witch said. "You're the only person that she actually likes. When people come up to her cage, she squeals at them because she doesn't like them. So, it seems like you're the only one she likes."
May noticed that the guinea pig was making a strange bubbling noise. "She's making this weird bubbling noise."
"She's purring," said the witch. "She must really love you."
May picked up the guinea pig and looked at her. In her opinion, it looked like the guinea pig was smiling at her. She thought that it would be horrible to leave the guinea pig behind and get a different animal, especially one that apparently wanted her and no one else. She bit her lip and stroked the guinea pig, who made the bubbling sound. Aunt Petunia wouldn't appreciate having a 'rodent' in the house. The guinea pig was perfect.
May went to the witch and said, "I'll take her. How much is she?"
"Five Galleons," said the witch.
"May, hurry it up," said Harry.
"It's a very thorough process, Harry!" shouted May. She looked at the witch and rolled her eyes. "Sorry, my twin brother is very impatient."
The witch looked over at Harry and then at May. "You're Mayflower Potter."
May nodded and said, "So, five Galleons?"
"Two Galleons. One Galleon for the guinea pig liking you and one for a celebrity walking in here," said the witch.
May felt uncomfortable, but paid for the guinea pig. The witch explained that the guinea pig can Apparate, although May wasn't sure what that was, but figured it may have something to do with the guinea pig somehow appearing on her shoulder. The witch told May that she should get aspen hardwood bedding for the guinea pig, got her travel cage, and gave May a list of food for the guinea pig. May was confused when she noticed that bugs was listed on the list. "Bugs? Mostly spiders?"
The witch shrugged, "she loves eating bugs."
"Okay," said May as the witch hooked up a water bottle and got some food in a dish. The witch put a package of bedding, two small bags of guinea pig food, a transparent ball in a bag, and a catalog in two bags.
"You can order more bedding and food through your owl," said the witch.
May nodded and took the bags. "Thank you." She left the shop.
Harry looked at May, "Of course you get an animal that's not on the list."
"Leave Pepperjack alone," said May.
"Of course you give your guinea pig the weirdest name," said Harry.
"It's called being creative," said May.
"Let's go get yer wands," said Hagrid.
They headed to the last building, which looked narrow and shabby. In peeling golds letters it read:
Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC
When Harry walked in, a tinkling bell rang out from somewhere in the shop. There was no one in there besides the twins and Hagrid. Hagrid sat on the single spindly chair.
May felt like she walked in a very strict library. Her arms prickled, like the air and silence seemed to tingle with some secret magic. She looked at the shelves of wands.
"Good afternoon," said a soft voice.
May and Harry jumped up. Harry knocked into May, nearly knocking her to the ground.
"Sorry, May," said Harry.
There was a crunching sound and May turned to see Hagrid standing up. She turned to see an old man with wide, pale eyes.
"Hello," said Harry in an awkward tone.
"Yeah, hello," said May.
The man looked at the twins, "Ah yes. Yes, yes. I thought I'd be seeing you two soon. Harry and Mayflower Potter." The man looked at Harry, "You have your mother's eyes. It seems only yesterday she was in here herself, buying her first wand. Ten and a quarter inches long, swishy, made of willow. Nice wand for charm work." He looked at May. "And you have your father's eyes. Your father, on the other hand, favoured a mahogany wand. Eleven inches. Pliable. A little more power and excellent for transfiguration. Well, I say your father favoured it - it's really the wands that chooses the wizard or witch, of course."
Mr Ollivander had stepped closer to Harry. "And that's where…" Mr Ollivander touched the lightning scar on Harry's forehead. "I'm sorry to say I sold the wand that did it. Thirteen and a half inches. Yew. Powerful wand, very powerful, and in the wrong hands…Well, if I'd known that wand was going out into the world to do…"
May swallowed.
Mr Ollivander shook his head and spotted Hagrid. "Rubeus! Rubeus Hagrid! How nice to see you again…Oak, sixteen inches, rather bendy, wasn't it?"
"It was, sir, yes," said Hagrid.
"Good wand, that one. But I suppose they snapped it in half when you got expelled?" said Mr Ollivander speaking in a stern manner.
"Er – yes, they did, yes," said Hagrid. He was shuffling his feet. "I've still got the pieces, though."
"But you don't use them?" questioned Mr Ollivander.
"Oh, no, sir," said Hagrid in a quick tone.
May looked at the shelves of wands. How were they going to pick a wand? There were different types of wand woods apparently.
"Well, now Mr and Miss Potter. Let me see," said Mr Ollivander. "Which is your wand arm?"
"Er – well, we're right handed," said Harry, holding out his right arm.
Mr Ollivander took out a measuring tape and started measuring Harry's arm first from shoulder to finger, then wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit, and round his head. "Every Ollivander wand has a core of a powerful magical substance, Mr and Miss Potter. We use unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers, and the heartstrings of dragons. No two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons, or phoenixes are quite the same. And of course, you will never get such good results with another wizard or witch's wand."
May nodded as she watched Mr Ollivander pull boxes of wands off the shelf. She looked towards Harry and noticed that the measuring tape was measuring between Harry's nostrils before it went over to May, and started measuring May's arm.
"Right then, Mr Potter," said Mr Ollivander, holding some boxes. "Try this one. Beechwood and dragon heartstring. Nine inches. Nice and flexible. Just take it and give it a wave."
Harry took the wand and waved it around once, before Mr Ollivander took it from him.
May almost recoiled in surprise and noticed that the measuring tape was now measuring the distance between her eyes.
"That'll do," said Mr Ollivander. The measuring tape crumbled in a heap on the ground. He passed the wand to May. "Here, give this one a wave."
May took it and gave it a wave before it, too, was taken from her.
Mr Ollivander handed May a wand, "Maple and phoenix feather. Seven inches. Quite whippy. Try—"
Harry tried, but he seemed to hardly raise the wand when it was taken back. Mr Olliver handed it to May, who held it up, but it was taken from her too.
"No, no – here, ebony and unicorn hair, eight and a half inches, springy. Go on, go on, try it out," ugred Mr Ollivander.
Harry tried and then May tried. They both kept trying different wands. May was getting worried as the pile of wands kept getting higher and higher. May thought it was weird that Mr Ollivander was getting happier and happier.
"Tricky customers, eh? Not to worry, we'll find the perfect matches here somewhere – I wonder, now – yes, why not – unusual combinations – holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple," said Mr Ollivander, holding a wand to Harry.
Harry took and he raised the wand above his head and brought it swishing down. A stream of red and gold sparks shot from the end like a firework. It threw dancing spots of light on to the walls. Hagrid whooped and clapped.
"Oh, bravo!" cried Mr Ollivander. "Yes, indeed, oh, very good. Well, well, well…how curious…how very curious…" He put Harry's wand back into its box and wrapped it in brown paper, still muttering, "Curious…curious…"
"Sorry, but what's curious?" asked Harry.
Mr Ollivander gave Harry a look. "I remember every wand I've ever sold, Mr Potter. Every single wand. It so happens that the phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand, gave another feather – just one other. It is very curious indeed that you should be destined for this wand when its brother – why, its brother gave you that scar."
Harry swallowed and May grew very uneasy.
"Yes, thirteen and a half inches. Yew. Curious indeed how these things happen. The wand chooses the wizard, remember…I think we must expect great things from you, Mr Potter…After all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things – terrible, yes, but great."
Harry shivered and Mr Ollivander focused on May. "Now, your wand…" He took some more boxes down and opened one, "Apple – dragon heartstring, twelve inches, supple…"
May took it and waved it, but nothing happened. She tried cedar, fir, aspen, ash, and blackthorn, but none seemed to work.
"Pine, dragon heartstring, eleven and a quarter inches, non-bendable," said Mr Ollivander handing the wand to May.
When she took it, she felt warmth in her fingers and she swished it. A red and a blue spark shot out from it. The two sparks shot into the air and connected, making it rain down silver sparks on top of them.
Hagrid cheered at that.
Mr Ollivander was smiling as he boxed up the wand. "I see that you're an independent person."
"What does that mean?" asked Harry.
"The pine wand always chooses an independent, individual master or mistress who may be perceived as a loner, intriguing, or perhaps mysterious. Pine wands enjoy being used creatively, and unlike some others, will adapt unprotestingly to new methods and spells. Many wandmakers insist that pine wands are able to detect, and perform best for, owners who are destined for long lives. I had never personally known the master or mistress of a pine wand to die young. This wand is one of those that is most sensitive to non-verbal magic," Mr Ollivander said. "I expect to see creative things from you Miss Potter."
"What does the dragon heartstring mean?" asked May.
"The dragon heartstring core means that is has the most magic power and are capable of the most flamboyant of spells," said Mr Ollivander said. "They tend to learn more quickly than other types."
May nodded and opened her mouth to ask more questions, but Harry said, "We better get going, May."
May nodded and they left Ollivanders, May saying thanks as she walked away.
The late-afternoon sun hung low in the sky as they made their way back down Diagon Alley, back through the Leaky Cauldron, and down the sidewalk. Harry and May didn't say anything as they walked.
They took the Unground again to Paddington station. They went through the escalator, where Hagrid tapped them on their shoulders.
"Got time fer a bite to eat before yer train leaves," said Hagrid.
He bought them hamburgers and they sat down at plastic seats to eat.
"You all right, Harry and May? Yer both very quiet," said Hagrid.
"Everyone thinks we're special," said Harry after a moment of silence. "All those people in the Leaky Cauldron, Professor Quirrell, Mr Ollivander…but I don't know anything about magic at all. How can they expect great things? We're famous and I can't even remember what we're famous for. I don't know what happened when Vol – sorry – I mean, the night our parents died."
Hagrid leaned across the table. "Don' you worry, Harry. You'll learn fast enough. Everyone starts at the beginning at Hogwarts, you'll be fine. Just be yerself. I know it's hard. Yeh've been singled out, an' that's always hard. But yeh'll have a great time at Hogwarts – I did – still do, 'smatter of fact."
May wondered if Hagrid had experience in being singled out. She just couldn't help but wonder why Harry's and You-Know-Who's wands were connected though.
When the train arrived, Hagrid helped them get on the train that would take them back to the Dursleys, then handed them envelopes. "Yer tickets fer Hogwarts. First o' September – King's Cross – it's all on yer tickets. Any problems with Dursleys, send me a letter with yer owl, she'll know where to find me…See yeh soon, Harry and May."
The train pulled out of the station and May looked at her guinea pig, who was sleeping in her cage.
"If we end up in separate houses, promise me that we'll still be there for each other," said May.
"We're twins, we won't be separated," said Harry.
May nodded, "We're going to be okay."
"Obviously," said Harry. "How dangerous can Hogwarts be?"