2038, 7 August: 148 Kenmure Avenue, Bishopbriggs, Glasgow
"Are ye ready, lad?" Uncle Stew asked.
"Yes. I think so."
"Alright then, come here." He said. I saw a bag in his right hand, and a suitcase in his left. "Say goodbye, tae yer mother."
"Take care, Dear," Mum said, hugging me. "And listen to what your Uncle says."
"Ach, he'll be fine." He said.
She let go, and I stepped beside my uncle, facing the fireplace.
"Now, take yer hand, and grab a handful of this dust." He shook the bag, "And ye need tae speak very clearly. We're goin tae Diagon Alley."
I did as told, and stood there with a handful of this weird dust.
"Now, stand in the fireplace, say the words, and throw it at yer feet."
"This works?"
"Of Course." My mum said.
I felt incredibly stupid doing it, but I stepped into the fireplace.
"Diagon Alley!" I yelled and threw the powder at my feet.
Green flames engulfed my body and I was so scared I screamed. I wasn't proud, but at that moment I thought I would die.
I started running away, not even realizing there was no burning sensation. I collided with something that yelped in fright.
Opening my eyes, I found myself in a place I wasn't familiar with. On the floor was a girl, my age, carrying a basket of books that were, thanks to me, now strewn on the floor.
"Oh... Ummm sorry." I said, helping her up, before kneeling down to help collect her books.
"It's okay I guess." She muttered, brushing herself off, "You were screaming like a little girl. Was that your first time using Floo powder?"
"Umm... yes," I muttered sheepishly.
She laughed.
"My name is Sarah Williams. Starting my first year at Hogwarts this year."
"Nice to meet you?" I stuttered, handing her the books, "I mean... Nice to meet you. I'm Arthur Graham. I'm starting there too."
Her eyes widened as she realized we'd be going to the same school.
"That's amazing! I hope we can speak more in-"
At that point, my Uncle exited the fireplace behind me, in a much more dignified way then I probably had.
"Lad yer already makin friends, I see."
"Uh, yes. A Bit of an accident really."
Sarah's eyes widened to the size of a two-pound coin.
"You're- You're-"
"Aye, Aye. I'm Stewart Graham..."
"I have your Chocolate Frog Card. Oh my God. Can I get an autograph?" She exclaimed, holding up a piece of paper.
My uncle conjured a pen seemingly out of thin air and gave her an autograph.
"Uncle, you're famous?" I asked.
"Wait, you don't know who you're Uncle is? How can that be? He's one of the most famous Aurors after Harry Potter himself."
"Auror? What's-"
"Enough questions, boy. We'll be here all day at this pace. Twas nice meetin ye." My Uncle nodded to the girl and pulled me away.
I waved to her, and she waved back.
"So You're Famous?" I asked again as we walked away.
"Ye could say."
"Why didn't you say?"
"Yer've only known 'bout wizards for less than a day, why would that've been on me tae-do list tea tell ye?"
"I don't-"
"Now Can ye walk normally, or do I have tae drag ye through the whole street?"
We stopped for a bit, he let go of my arm and we continued down the street side-by-side. The entire place looked amazing. Shops of all kind, with such interesting stuff in each window that I could be here all day and still not be ready to leave.
"First stop, Ollivander's."
"Who's that?"
"A Wandmaker. Ye'll be gettin yer first wand."
I felt my heart beat quicker at the thought. A wand!
We reached a shop that had the Words Ollivander's Written above the door. It looked nice, with the slight gold outlines of the grooves, and the well-worked wooden planks.
As we entered, a bell rang above the door.
"Welcome to- Oh, Stewart. Welcome back!" An old man behind the counter started.
"Garrick! Been a long time!"
"Ah yes, but we're both busy men. Well, what brings you here today?"
"We need a wand for this lad. Startin his first year in Hogwarts this year."
"Ah, a First Year. Interesting. Do you know who I am?"
"Och, he only knows about Wizard stuff since yesterday. He knows little tae nothin."
"Damn, well never mind then. My name is Garrick Ollivander, and this is my shop." He smiled, "I've sold wands for many generations, including your Uncle here. I still remember his wand. Blackthorn, Phoenix Feather Core, Twelve and Three-Quarter Inches long, Supple Rigidity."
"Very Good, Garrick." My Uncle chuckled.
"The wand still work for you?"
"Well, twas hard tae work with, in school at least, but we've gotten along well enough since then. It held up in quite a lot of fights."
"Good... Good. Alright so, Mister Graham, Come closer." I did as told and stepped closer, "Choosing a wand is not as simple a task as at first it may seem. You see, it is the wand that chooses the owner. It might sound strange, but it's true. Come around back, and choose the one you feel connected to."
I followed Mr Ollivander behind the desk and looked at the wall of boxes stacked there.
"Close your eyes, relax, whatever you feel best you'd do in this situation."
I did as told once more, and relaxed, holding my hand up in front of me.
"What're ye doing boy?" Uncle asked.
"Shush, let him. If it helps, then let him."
"That one," I said, pointing at a random direction I thought I'd felt something from.
"Huh, interesting choice." He took it from the wall and opened the box before pulling out a wand that looked like it had been carved from bone.
He spun it around a bit.
"I like how it looks."
"Aspen, Unicorn hair core, Eleven and a half inches, unyielding. Hmmm. Try it out."
He handed it to me on his open palms, and I took it.
"Just a few little move-"
I moved it a bit, and the entire top part of the stack of wands flew into the air, and the wand sprang out of my hand. Wand boxes crashed to the ground, and each time one landed, I flinched.
"I'm so sorry!" I muttered. I could see my Uncle frown, but he said nothing.
"This was to be expected, my dear boy. It's rare you choose your wand on the first try. Please help me pick these up though."
I nodded, and started grabbing boxes. There were hundreds.
Boredom slowly overcame me, and I started to whistle a tune I had heard on my Mother's Radio. It always played old songs from the past.
How did it go?
"Almost Heaven... West Virginia." I whispered to myself, and without realising it, I was singing it in the end. Its tune was so good, it had been in my head for the past few days.
I felt a buzz of sorts come from the pile. I couldn't explain it, but I picked up a wand box that was a tad bit larger than the rest.
"I may have felt something in this Sir. Can we try it out?"
"Huh." He pulled out an incredibly elegant looking wand.
"Red Oak, Unyielding..." Mr Ollivander stated, before gasping.
"What is it, Garrick?" My Uncle asked
"I haven't sold one of these in..." He thought for a second, "To be frank with you, I think I've never sold one with this core. Though I've got a few of them done and tested."
"Well, what's the core then?" Uncle Stew asked impatiently.
"Thestral Tail Hair..." He looked at it. "Fourteen and a Quarter Inches long."
"Wait, yer tellin me that the wand has the same core as the Elder Wand?"
"That is correct." He paused for a moment, thinking, "Here you go, Mister Graham. Your wand." Mr Ollivander handed me the wand, and I took the hilt. Pretty big, I had to admit.
"Try swinging it a few times. Like you're casting a spell."
I tried practising the moves that I had seen Uncle Stew do when he showed me that wolf.
"That's the Patronus Charm's Movements, am I correct?" He asked.
"Aye..." My Uncle replied.
I couldn't tell why, but I really liked it. The shape and movement of it, even the colour.
"I love it," I said, looking at my Uncle.
"Alright, I guess we'll take it. But don't blame me if somethin goes wrong. Seven is it Garrick?"
"Four's enough. I'm curious about how it'll work. If it turns out to not be the correct choice, just bring it back."
"Thanks for that then, here." Uncle handed him four gold coins, and Mr Ollivander smiled.
"Come along now Arthur, we've still got much tae do. Goodbye, me friend."
"Bye Stewart, and Goodbye to you too Arthur." He smiled once more. We walked back outside, and the door closed behind us.
"Wand's off of our list. Books are next." Uncle said, looking for the next shop. "Flourish and Blotts..." He muttered.
I looked around my surroundings a bit and noticed that most people walked around in clothes that were too stereotypical to be true. I would've laughed at anyone that said wizards and witches actually dressed like that if it wasn't for the fact that actual evidence was in front of me. Pointy hats, Long robes. One carried a Cauldron, another carried a Chicken that burped fire.
"Ach, there it is!" Uncle Stew exclaimed and started walking towards the shop he had spotted.
As I followed, my gaze inadvertently wandered to his limp, and before I thought about it, the question came out of my mouth.
"What happened to your leg, Uncle?"
"Och, that. Aye... A dangerous job, being an Auror, not gonna lie. This is a reminder of that." I heard him knock on the leg and it clanged, "A rather nasty Dark Wizard caught me off guard durin me first years at work."
"That sucks."
"Ye could say that aye. I'd love tae have me leg back, but this way it serves as a constant reminder..." He trailed off.
"Of what?"
"Of- Of... Ach forget it. Ye ask too many questions yer too young for."
I pouted and didn't say another thing right until we entered the book shop. The sheer number of people packed inside was scary.
"Woah."
"Och, God damn it." My Uncle cursed.
"Stewart?" A Blonde man with slightly wrinkly skin walked up to us. "What on earth are you doing here?"
"Draco Malfoy... A- Pleasure?"
"Why'd that have to be a question, my good man?" Mr Malfoy laughed, but I felt little friendliness in it.
"So how's yer... father?"
Instantly his eyes darkened.
"You know bloody well, my father is free of all charges and has been ever since the fall of the Dark Lord."
"Bah, Death Eaters remain Death Eaters. 'Tis somethin I'm fairly certain of." My Uncle growled, I saw his finger twitch towards his wand, and Mr Malfoy's hand also jerked towards his belt.
"My Good Sirs, if you have a problem with each other, please take it outside." An Older man said from the crowd of wizards.
Mr Malfoy seemed to realize the situation he was in, "Goodbye, Stewart." He strode outside briskly, followed by a much smaller and younger copy of Mr Malfoy, carrying a large bag of books.
"Not a word tae yer mother." Uncle Stewart told me, before turning to the Old Man.
"Thank ye, Adam." He nodded.
"No problem Stewart, always happy to stop you from whipping someones hide."
Uncle Stew Chuckled before we found the back of the line. There we waited for around an hour before it was finally our turn. Without me saying a word, Uncle Stew bought the books, handed them to me, and we were walking outside.
"Books... Check." He muttered, "We need a Cauldron and yer Gear. I don't want tae spend all day here, so if ye want we can split up and meet outside Madam Malkin's. That'll allow ye tae explore a bit for yerself."
"Where's that?"
"Och, damn it. Ye don't know much about all this yet. Keep forgettin. It's a clothes shop. Ask for a Hogwarts Uniform and ye'll be good tae go. Here, that'll be enough."
He handed me around fifty gold coins, which I promptly pocketed.
"Come. I'll show ye to the shop."
We walked a short distance down Diagon Alley, reaching Madam Malkin's Shop.
"Good luck." My Uncle said, before limping off.
I took a deep breath and entered the shop. Surprisingly, it was mostly empty.
"Good Day, how may I help you?" An older woman asked.
"Good day, Ma'am. Umm... I wish to buy a Uniform for Hogwarts."
"Ah, a First year. Come this way, I'll get you sorted."
I followed the woman, and she made me stand on a stool.
"I guess you want all bits and bobs like everyone else?"
"Uh... Yes."
"Just stay still and relax, and we'll get this done quickly." She told me. A Box of needles and multiple rolls of cloth levitated over to us.
"What's your name?" She asked while starting with measuring my waist, chest and shoulders.
"Arthur Graham."
A hint of surprise entered her voice, though her face remained the same. "Oh, you're the son of Stewart Graham?"
"No... Nephew."
"Ah, that explains it then."
"Why is it that my Uncle's so famous here?"
"You don't know?" She questioned.
"I'm pretty new to this whole wizarding story."
"Interesting... Well to explain it shortly he's a- puff your stomach out a bit, please," She told me, poking it a bit. I did as told and she continued. "He's an Auror. Dark Wizard Catcher. There's been no sign of any dark wizards for the last decade or so, give or take a few years. Your Uncle, among many others, played a key role in reaching that level of peace. A Smaller Celebrity in the Wizarding world. Last I heard more than half the Prisoners in Azkaban were taken there by him."
"Azkaban?"
"Wizard Prison, my dear. Terrible place, though not as bad as it was in the past."
She was silent for a few moments, carefully putting a pin in some pinched-together cloth. "Arms up." She muttered, and I followed her orders.
"And, you looking forward to starting your first year?"
"I'm really interested in seeing what this means. Though like everything else, I've literally got no clue what to expect."
"Don't worry about it dear, there are people worse off than you. Muggle Born Wizards are probably more on your level. They're only told about everything once they become eleven years old."
"Muggle?"
"Non-Wizarding Folk."
"Ah! So I won't be alone?"
"Definitely not. You'll find a lot of people that'll become good friends to you. Your Uncle's fame will help quite a bit, that's my guess. Look up now." I stared at the ceiling.
"And what will I find in Hogwarts?"
"Ah, now that, that I'll leave for you to discover. Did you ever go to a Muggle school?"
"Yes. Got a few friends there."
"Forget about everything you learned and experienced there. Hogwarts and the world of wizarding. It will be something lifechanging."
"Thank you, Ma'am."
"Call me Madam Malkin." She smiled.
"You own the shop?"
"I do. Owned it for the last fifty years or so."
"Excuse me?" I asked before I could stop myself. She looked only slightly older than my uncle.
"Oh, my age? You know it's rude to ask a lady her age, but let's just say I was fairly old when Harry Potter Came here for his robes."
"But how? A Person hardly lives for Eighty years, maybe ninety."
"Muggles Maybe, Wizards are different. Living over a hundred and twenty is not that common, yes, but in such peaceful times, it is something that can be done."
"Woah..." I gasped.
"Move your arm a bit, please. See if it's comfortable to be in your robes."
It was, and I nodded.
"Alright, now don't move, I'll let the needles go to work."
The box opened, and Tens of Needles flew out of them and started buzzing around me. I only felt the slight rush of air as they zipped past my body. It was a frightening experience, but there was not even the feeling of a needle pricking me. In Ten minutes the robes were done.
Madame Malkin walked back into the room at the exact moment the box closed.
"Great. Thank you. This was the most important part." She was carrying something.
"Is there anything else?" I asked.
She handed me a whole stack of clothes "Cap is for ceremonial events. You'll be getting a crest and tie when you get selected into your house, but that's beyond me. There's a Winter Cloak for winter, though you'll also be getting a scarf and hat in the colour of your House. Trousers, Shirt, Jumper. Three Pairs of Each. Gloves for Herbology. The Robes, leave it here for a while. I'll make your two more copies, as that's the minimum you need. Do you want more than that?"
"I think I'd take a third one as well."
"Sure. Here's a Slip with a number on it. You can come back for them by, let's say... the tenth! By then they'll definitely be done. If you pay for the ones you have now, though I'll throw in an extra trouser, shirt and jumper if you don't mind, then you can pay for the cloaks when you come back."
"Yeah, sure. How much'll it be?"
"Thirty Galleons. And another Sixteen for the Four Cloaks, but that can wait."
I fished out the money from my pocket and handed it to her.
"Thank you, Ma'am!" I said, walking out of the door, only to walk into the chest of my Uncle.
"Lad, watch where yer going." He muttered, "Hello Diana!" He said, waving inside.
She smiled back.
"Alright, come on, give me yer clothes. I'll put them away. When do we need tae come back?"
"August Ten."
"Ach, that's plenty of time. There's one last thing, though yer mother doesn't know about it. Not yet."
"What is it?"
"Ye'll be gettin a pet. Ye may choose one."
My eyes widened. I had always wanted one, but Mum had never let me.
"Thank you! Thankyouthankyouthank-"
"Och, shut it already. Please." He begged.
I did, though my heart was still doing jumping jacks.
We found ourselves in front of a shop with multiple animals of all kind sitting in the windows. Magical Menagerie was the name of the store.
Stepping inside, an even larger variety of creatures came into view.
The first thing that caught my eye was a custard coloured little ball of fluff, licking the air with a long tongue.
"Och Nay, I suggest ye don't. That thing's a Puffskein. It's for Little Girls and Idiots." Uncle Stew said as I started walking towards it.
"Oh, then maybe not."
I looked around a bit more. There were rats, Oversized cats, brightly coloured toads and snails. A ferret or two were also on display.
Then I reached the animal, that upon seeing it, I instantly knew it was the one for me.
A Tiny black blob of fur, though it's snout looked like a beak. It reminded me of a Platypus, though I had never seen one from up close.
"What's that?" I asked.
"Och, that's a Niffler."
"This is what you called me yesterday? By accident, that is."
"I did, didnae I?" He laughed, "Bit weird, how fate works."
"So what are they?"
A Man popped up beside me, making me jump.
"You're looking at the baby Nifflers, I see. Thinking of Buying one?"
"I want to know if there's something special about them."
"What can I say..." He hummed a bit, "Well they like sparkly things, and can easily destroy furniture to get that stuff. Maybe not the best house pet, though at such a young age, they can be trained better."
"And what-"
"I'm not a bloody book. You can find it in Fantastic Beasts and Where to find them. Mister Salamander had a whole family of them after all. Please consult that if you have any more questions."
"Thank you. Uncle, can this be my pet?"
"I mean, yer mother might not be happy, but if ye promise tae train it well."
"Of course!" I said.
"How much'll it be?" Uncle Stew asked, turning to the man.
"Let's say, two galleons."
"For this bag of meat?" He asked, pointing at the tiny niffler.
The Man raised an eyebrow and waited silently.
"Fine, take yer stinkin money." He slapped two gold coins into the man's hand.
"Thank you for buying a pet here. Have a nice day." The Man smiled, before walking back to the counter.
"The little critter needs a cage," Uncle said, grabbing an apple from his pocket as well as his wand. A Flick later, and a cage now sat in his palm, slightly larger than the apple, and perfect for the niffler.
We started walking back to where we had arrived from, me carrying my new pet as well as my wand, while my Uncle only had that black suitcase. He had carried it around with him all day. The Books, Clothes and even a cauldron were somehow all gone.
"Where are they?" I asked.
"Where are what?"
"The Stuff we bought?"
"Och, they're in here." He pointed at the suitcase.
I laughed thinking he was pulling my leg, but the look on his face was serious enough.
"An entire cauldron?"
"Why not? An Entire zoo can fit in here if yer spell is powerful enough. Just that I don't need one." He smiled.
"Cool..." I muttered.
I spotted a shop that I had not spotted beforehand. Strange, because it was hard to miss. Above the door was the Top half on an Automatronic Man, wearing a pinstriped orange-purple suit and lifting a hat slowly. First, there was a rabbit on his head, but after lifting it again, it had disappeared. The Entire place was decorated in the same way.
"What's this place?"
"Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. A place for all sorts of joke items and such. I've never had much interest in such things."
"Can we go in?"
Uncle Stew was silent for a moment.
"Ach, Screw it. Why not? It's yer first time here."
We turned back and went inside. A Firework whizzed past my head, quickly followed by an agitated boy.
"Welcome to-" A Pinstriped suit-wearing man started saying as we walked inside. "Stewart Graham?"
"Ronald Weasley!" Uncle smiled at the Ginger Man.
"What brings you here? I didn't know you needed Skiving Snackboxes for Auror Work."
Uncle laughed properly for the first time during our trip here.
"Nay, I brought me, Nephew. He's pretty new tae this wizardin business."
"Well, this is the best place to bring him. Come now..."
"Arthur."
"Arthur, Very well. I can show you around if you want."
He grabbed my arm and practically dragged me around the shop.
Most of the things he said were complete gibberish. Stinkbombs I understood. Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder and Love Potions, that was a bit harder to get my head around, though their names seemed straight forward. Then there were the things that I had no idea what they were.
I saw a girl cuddling a pink ball of fluff, similar to the one I had seen in the shop. An entire cage was filled with them, labelled as Pygmy Puffs.
"This is amazing," I said, wide-eyed.
The tour ended quickly, though I noticed we hadn't even touched half the shop. I guess I just had to explore this place on my own later. Uncle Stew was talking with a slightly older man. His hair was equal parts Ginger as was grey.
"Ah, so this is the Nephew you were talking about." He smiled as we returned, "I see Ronald's already taken him around the shop."
"Aye. Arthur, this here is George Weasley."
He stretched out a hand, and I grasped it.
"Your Uncle helped us out a while ago with a Major Zombie Problem. One of our Prototypes had gone wrong." He told me, whilst I thought about what prank item needed Zombies, "He was brilliant, and it's thanks to him that this place is still in one place."
"Yer greatly exaggeratin what I did. 'Twas nothin really."
"Still, I am grateful for your help, even after so many years. But you haven't changed your mind yet, have you?"
"Ye know me, George. I'm not one for extendable ears and the likes."
"What about you, Arthur? I offered your Uncle some free stuff, but he wasn't exactly willing to take them. Daft, right? We can give you that gift package if you want."
"I mean, sure..." I said, slightly surprised by the sudden attention I was getting.
"Accio," George said, pointing his wand upstairs. A box slowly floated down, straight into George's outstretched hands.
"Here you go, it's been sitting in storage ever since then."
"Thank ye, George."
"Ah, it's nothing. A Favour for a Favour. Just don't test them at home, otherwise, your mother might be unhappy with us. Also try to use them secretly in Hogwarts. They don't exactly like our stuff." He winked.
"What year are you in now?" Ronald asked.
"Year one."
"When you meet a Mister Neville Longbottom, say hello to him with a stinkbomb. He has good memories with them." He snickered.
"Ach, stop givin him bad ideas. He'll actually do it in the end."
I smirked.
"Thank you."
"No problem, we're happy you stepped in here. Do visit us sometime later."
"Bye," I said.
"Goodbye, boys," Uncle told them.
In perfect harmony, both men said goodbye to us.
Laughing, we walked back outside, finally on our way back home.
Uncle Stew was in a much better mood.
"Have ye got a name for the little rascal yet?"
He pointed at my niffler.
"Actually, I think I do."
"And what is it?"
"He likes gold right?"
"Aye, now spit it out already."
"Goldy..."
Uncle Stew snorted, "If ye like the name, fine by me."
Funny thing was, It'd be me getting the last laugh.
I did like the name.
With a smile, I looked at the cute little thing and wiggled my finger in front of it.
"Yer goin tae spoil it that way."
"It never hurts to give it some love."
"It's yer pet..." He muttered.
In front of us was the fireplace filled with green fire.
This new world was exciting, and I was liking it more and more.