The Shopping Expedition
"Ughh," I muttered to myself early the next morning, as I sat up wearily in the guest bed. "Jet lag finally kicks in."
I clutched my stomach as the five cups of hot cocoa swished around inside of me. Aunt Kella and I had stayed up until midnight, swapping stories. I had told her all about my adventures with Jennifer, my best friend back in the States, and she had shared tales about her family and friends when she was a girl my age.
Now it was 8:00 A.M., on the morning of August 29, and I had three days to get all my shopping done. I assumed I had a school supplies list, but I had yet to see it. Aunt Kella said she had to arrange everything with the Hogwarts School Board Staff to make sure my transaction from one country to another went smoothly. There would be no bumpy roads from here on out! I was soon to be an official resident and student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Hogwarts. What kind of name was that? It sounded horrible. Like some species of frog or pig or something. I shuddered at what the school must look like. Located deep in a marshy, humid swamp, it was probably haunted and falling apart.
I shuffled to the bathroom connected to my room in my pajama bottoms, an old T-shirt, and leopard print slippers. As I lifted up my face to the intricately carved mirror above the porcelain sink, I groaned again. I had fallen asleep after changing quickly, throwing my hair into a messy ponytail, and running a toothbrush around my mouth. I had been too tired to wash my face, and now mascara smudged my cheeks, lip liner was smeared across my chin, and my skin was dry and scratchy.
As fast as I could, I thoroughly scrubbed at my face with a gentle cream cleanser and applied fresh mascara and pink lip gloss. Then I raced to one of my suitcases, threw it open, and rummaged around. Finally, I extracted a seven and three quarters inch, ebony and phoenix feather, stiff and powerful wand. It felt warm in my left hand, my wand hand, just like it should. It fit perfectly, the surface smooth from so much use. I waved it in front of me, pointing to my face, and mumbled a Disappearance Charm under my breath. Then I smiled eagerly, skipped to the bathroom, and glanced in the mirror again. Yes! The bags under my eyes were gone!
More awake now, I hummed a merry little tune as I quickly threw on a pair of low-rider jeans, a blue, long-sleeve, boat neck top, and brushed my hair out before I put it back up into a sloppy bun. I picked up my purse and my windbreaker and rushed out of the room, after making the bed and tidying up a bit.
I happily entered the warm kitchen a minute later. The smell of bacon and pancakes wafted through the air. I breathed in deeply and slipped quietly onto a stool at the island which stood in the middle of the kitchen.
"Why Aunt Kella, I didn't no you knew how to cook!" I said loudly, over the sizzling and popping of grease in the frying pan.
She glanced over her shoulder with a broad smile on her face. "My dear, I'm a witch. What witch doesn't know how to make a good, healthy breakfast?"
I laughed as she turned off the stove and brought two plates stacked with bacon and pancakes over to where I was sitting. She slid across from me and placed them down in front of us. With a flip of her wand, two steaming dishes and two tall glasses appeared in front of where we each were sitting. My plate had six pieces of crisp bacon and three pancakes piled on it. The pancakes were dripping with syrup and butter. My glass was filled to the brim with cold milk. I noticed that the plates sitting in front of us were ten pieces of bacon and five pancakes less than they were a second ago.
"You're so good!" I praised, shooting Aunt Kella an admiring look in between bites. "You even knew how hungry I was!"
She chuckled. "It takes years of practice. And trust me, I've had a bit of time on my hands lately."
"So where are we off to today?" I said, wiping off my mouth with a paper napkin that appeared by my side.
"Diagon Alley," my aunt said. "There we shall get you what you need, and tour a bit. I believe Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor is a remarkable mid-afternoon treat stop. And I've heard tell that they have wonderful little restaurants along Fortress Avenue."
"What do we need to be getting for school?" I inquired, shoveling more soggy bites of pancake in my mouth.
She cleared her throat, set down her fork, and tapped her wand beside her plate. Instantly, a roll of parchment floated in from the entry hallway and settled gently onto the table. "Unroll yourself," Aunt Kella commanded, her twinkling eyes staring unwavering at the yellowed paper.
And it did. On it were uniform requirements, books that I needed, and other equipment.
UNIFORM
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One set of dress robes (any color) for night wear
4. One pointed hat to match dress robes for night wear
5. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)
6. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
7. Clothing to wear under robes
BOOKS
1. The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 4)
by Miranda Goshawk
2. A History of Magic
by Bathilda Bagshot
3. Lunar Ecstasy
by Dominic Starbourne
4. Intermediate Transfiguration
by Emeric Switch
5. One Thousand More Magical Herbs and Fungi
by Phyllida Spore
6. Unearthing Magical Memories by Hilda Goshmosh
7. Magical Drafts and Potions
by Arsenius Jigger
8. The Monster Book of Monsters
Ed. Dean Hickelpunk
9. Muggle Breakthroughs: Past and Present
by Martha Cameron Badies
10. The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection
by Quentin Trimble
OTHER EQUIPMENT
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 cauldron (copper, group size 4)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
1 large plastic gardening tray
ink
parchment
quills
I faked a look of complete awe. "How many classes am I taking this year?!" I squeaked.
She smiled slyly. "No need to worry. I have a feeling that you won't be taking these all on the same day."
Slightly confused, I shrugged. I guess Hogwarts was a pretty weird school. I hopped off the bar stool and, with the help of my trusty wand, carefully maneuvered our plates, glasses, and utensils to the sink.
My aunt nodded curtly. "Not bad." Throwing me a wink, she stood up, grabbed her purse and the shopping list, and quickly walked from the room. Only when I heard the front door open did a hastily pursue. I grabbed my shoes from the hall and raced out the door to my aunt's old-fashioned, bright yellow Beetle.
(*)
My eyes widened as Aunt Kella pulled up in front of a shabby bar tucked in between The Shop Around the Corner and CD's and Things. A crooked sign with peeling paint hung above the door. In faded words it read The Leaky Cauldron. "This is what us in England like to call a pub. A might grubby-looking, but it is famous, nonetheless."
She pushed open the door and I followed. It was dimly lit inside, and the old bartender waved happily at my aunt. "MeKelleine! Why, I haven't seen you in ages! Sit yourself down right here and let me treat you to an iced pumpkin juice."
She lifted her hand in greeting. "Not now, Tom. I'm on business." She jerked her thumb at me.
I nodded hello.
"Why, another student for Hogwarts, is it?" Tom asked jovially. "A niece?"
"Yes," Aunt Kella answered tersely, making her way through the obstacle course of tables and chairs.
She pulled open the back door and sunlight flooded the room. I quietly followed, slipping outside and softly closing the door behind me. Through it, I could hear Tom call out cheerfully, "Good-bye! See you later, friends!"
"What are we doing out here?" I asked, glancing around. We were in the middle of a back alley. A tall brick wall stretched from one end of the yard to the other. A gray metal trashcan stood in the exact center of the wall. My aunt's eyes slid up and over, then, apparently finding the right brick, tapped it three times with her wand. At first nothing happened. Then, a tiny hole appeared. It grew larger and larger until an archway seven feet tall opened onto a cobblestone path that twisted out of sight.
My mouth dropped open and my eyes widened. "Wha--, how?" I stuttered.
My Aunt's smile stretched from ear to ear. "I'm always nervous when I do that. I'm always thinking I'm going to tap the wrong brick. Diagon Alley, love. Follow me?" And she strolled through the entrance way. I followed, tagging along on her heels. Glancing over my shoulder, I caught a glimpse of the entrance shrinking very fast.
"Where are we off to first?" I asked. I was not so awed by this street. It looked almost exactly like Pinewood Boulevard, one of the many hidden wizarding streets, back in New York. The stores here were bigger and nicer looking, I suppose. And they were called different things. But they all sold about the same equipment. There was Kettles Express, an overseas corporation. It sold bewitched pots and pans for witches that wanted to make only the best food for celebrations. I nudged Aunt Kella. "Do you shop there?" I asked with a smile, pointing to the store.
She hit me playfully on the shoulder. "Of course not! I'm a natural cook!" she protested, her eyes twinkling with laughter.
I wasn't sure if I should believe her, but I walked on silently, reading the store signs as I went. Flourish and Blotts, apparently a popular bookstore, Quality Quidditch Supplies, a sporting good store, Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, obviously the robes store, and many more. All places I would probably have to stop by to get the things I needed for school.
"First we're off to Gringotts, the only wizarding bank in London, to get some money out of your account. Then we'll head over to Madam Malkin's for your robes, than on to Professor Peterbott's Protective Wear, and all the other stores. We'll be doing a lot of walking, you can be sure," she explained everything to me hurriedly while glancing down the shopping list and making notes in the margins with an electric blue, peacock feather quill that had suddenly appeared in her left hand.
I was silent as we walked to the bank. I had heard of Gringotts back in the State's at my private witches' junior high, though I hadn't known there was one on Diagon Alley. Completely run by goblins, the underground vaults could only be reached by carts on tracks. The labyrinth of tracks was so hard to follow that no attempted robbery was ever completed. Supposedly, there were awful things down there to make sure no robber ever escaped.
When we reached the tall, distinguished-looking bank, I opted for staying in the lobby. Aunt Kella shrugged and asked if I was sure.
"Yes," I answered. "My stomach's not in the mood for a roller coaster today."
Aunt Kella chuckled and kissed me good-bye. While she was down there, she was going to withdraw some money from her own account and check up on some valuables in yet another vault. She wouldn't be back soon.
When she had gone, I pulled out my wand from were it was hidden in the deep pockets of my cargos and tapped my hand twice, than drew a picture of a rectangle in the air. Closing my eyes, I pictured the title and cover vividly. Suddenly, I felt a weight in my palm.
I opened my eyes and smiled. The 10th Kingdom was resting in my hands. I eagerly opened it and began reading.
When my aunt came back, I tucked the book and wand in my back pocket and we were off. Shopping spree, here I come, I thought gleefully.
(*)
I grabbed the velvet bag that was hanging from Aunt Kella's wrist and opened it. Strange coins rolled into my hand. "Is this mine?" I asked.
"Yes. The gold ones are Galleons. Seventeen silver Sickles to a Galleon and twenty-nine bronze Knuts to a Sickle. It's the wizarding money most of our kind use. Similar to the metric system," she informed me.
I nodded understanding. "Yeah, I get it. Back in the State's, we used brass Pinkertons, copper Witts, and silver Selks. That was our wizarding form of money." I eyed the large lumps of Galleons and piles of Sickles and Knuts. "This is a lot!" I smiled. "Mother and Father must really think I need it!" Aunt Kella smiled, her eyes twinkling as we headed off down the street.
We were soon standing in Madam Malkin's robe store. "How may I help you?" Madam Malkin asked politely.
"We need robes. For Hogwarts," Aunt Kella explained.
"What year?" Madam Malkin questioned.
"Fourth," I spoke up from behind my aunt. "My robes from last year don't fit."
"Ahh! Three sets black, one set colored, one black hat, one colored hat, one black cloak, silver fastenings," she recited from memory. "Hop up on this stool."
I climbed onto the stool and Madam Malkin slid a silky black robe over my head. She started pinning it in the right places and soon she was measuring me in different spots. As she measured around my head, she asked, "What color robes do you want?"
"I was leaning towards a pale blue," I suggested. "None of the houses have that as one of their colors, do they?"
"No, I don't believe," Madam Malkin answered as she pulled a baby blue hat with a lacy fabric streaming from the point at the top from a shelf beneath the counter.
After getting measured for the robes, hats, and cloak, I hopped down from the stool. The whole process had taken less than thirty minutes. I opened my bag. "How much?"
As Madam Malkin wrapped up my new clothing items in tissue paper and slid them into a paper bag, she glanced over at a price chart hanging on the wall. "Eleven Galleons, thirteen Sickles, please," I counted out the money and gave it to her. I was pleased to see I still had quite a heavy bag.
The bell tinkled as we left the store and walked down Diagon Alley to Peterbott's. We were in and out of there quickly, seeing as how there was a metal bin full of dragon hide gloves as soon as we walked through the door.
We worked our way up Diagon Alley, stopping here and there to pick up things we needed, and to visit with friends of Aunt Kella. Soon, it was noon and we only had my books to get.
Aunt Kella had started to look tired a ways back. "How 'bout we stop for lunch now, dear?" she asked, slightly winded.
"That's fine with me. Where to?" I said, popping the chewing gum I had picked up at a streetside cart. The strawberry flavor never went away. I was finding that I liked Diagon Alley very much.
"How about a deli? I saw a great little shop a ways back. We could pick up sandwiches, fruit drinks, and potato salad. I believe they had a patio where we could eat," Aunt Kella suggested. The mention of lunch seemed to perk her up slightly.
"Terrific idea!" I praised, linking my arm through hers. We started back down the way we had come. The deli was on the corner of Fortress Avenue and Diagon Alley. Fortress Avenue was obviously the food district, as all I could see for blocks were restaurants and markets.
Inside the deli, we both ordered BLT's on toasted white bread, a side of potato salad, a helping of warm peach cobbler, and a tall glass of fruit punch. When our food arrived, we paid, my treat, and went outside to the tables with umbrellas. Aunt Kella chose a table near the street with a yellow striped umbrella and plopped down.
After splitting up all the food equally and digging in for about five minutes, she asked, "So, how do you like it? Does it all seem too much for you?"
I licked off a bit of potato salad from my plastic fork and answered enthusiastically, "It's great! Fabulous! I'm having the time of my life today. And staying with you is a lot more fun than staying at that mansion back in New York where everybody is about a mile apart in separate rooms. The people are all nice and helpful, and the prices are great! So is the quality."
Aunt Kella laughed. "Well, I can tell you are enjoying yourself!"
"Definitely. So, where are we off to next? Are we going to that bookstore I saw earlier? Flourish and Blotts?" I asked.
"Yes. My, how observant you are! Then we shall pay a visit to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor. If we have any time left, we shall stop by the Magical Menagerie. That's a good magical pet store. Maybe we can pick you up and owl?" Aunt Kella finished her sandwich and raised her eyebrows.
I beamed. "That would be wonderful! I've wanted an owl for so long, but my parents had to go and get me some fancy, expensive bird. It was just so they can show off. The bird was named Miranda, and she was so stuck-up. An owl would be so great!" I stood up abruptly. "Well? Let's go!"
Aunt Kella laughed and gathered up the trash. Dumping it into the wire trash basket near the entrance to the store took longer than it should have. Finally, she wiped her hands on her jeans and beckoned for me to follow her.
I hurried after her, leading the way up the street. I spotted Flourish and Blotts and picked up my pace. When I entered, I was surprised with the stacks and stacks of books. I sighed contentedly. This was just the place for me. But the thought of a beautiful, fluttering owl quickly took over my mind. I ripped the book list from my aunt's hands and thrust it into those of a salesman nearby. "Please," I begged. "Quickly get these books for me and ring them up." I clasped my hands in front of my face and pouted.
He glanced over the list and then up at me. "Hogwarts, fourth year?" he questioned, arching an eyebrow.
I nodded vigorously and motioned for him to get a move one. He trotted away and began piling books on the counter. The stack kept getting taller as I waited impatiently, tapping my foot. Aunt Kella was leaning against the door frame, giggling. I really couldn't see the humor in all this, but I let her laugh her self silly as the salesman came back with the last book.
As he rang up my purchases, my eyes strayed to the Fiction section. A few interesting titles caught my eye. I peered closer at them. They were under the Teen category, so they must be okay. I quickly walked over to the racks and checked out some more. They were all something that had to do with fantasy or magic. I grabbed a complete set of the Chronicles of Narnia and two more books, A Day in the Life of a Teenage Wizard and 101 Ways to Use Your Wand and raced back to the counter. Now it was the cashier's turn to look annoyed.
"Why the rush?" he asked.
"We have to get to the Magical Menagerie to get me my new owl," I said. "Are you finished yet?"
He slid the plastic bag across the counter and told me the price. My mouth dropped. He shrugged. "The Chronicles of Narnia is a very expensive series. Especially in hardback." I set the handful of Galleons down, sighing. Then, with my aunt, we proceeded out of the store.
She smiled slyly. "I assume we'll skip Florean Fortescue's today?"
I laughed. "If you won't mind. I'd really appreciate it. We could go tomorrow."
She nodded. I thanked her and we set off down the street. Seeing as how the ice cream parlor was right across from the pet store, I knew it wouldn't have been too hard to make a detour, but I was both eager and tired. I really just wanted to get back to Aunt Kella's house and marvel over all my purchases at number five, Privet Drive.
(*)
As we entered the air-conditioned store, a cacophony of animal noises greeted my ears. Meows, bird calls, barks, hoots, and the gurgle of fish tanks were just a couple. I went up to the cash register, where a glass tank of sleek brown, white, and black gerbils talked animatedly about last night's Late Late Show. How they'd managed to watch it from their cage was beyond me, but gerbils are intelligent creatures. Shaking my head, I asked the witch behind the counter if they had any young, energetic barn owls.
She nodded and led me to a large cage where about ten barn owls were flapping and hooting loudly. I looked over all of them carefully, and about twenty minutes later, Aunt Kella and I exited the store with a cage, a brand-new, sleek black barn owl with goldish-brown specks, a kit that included wing clippers, pellets, food and water dishes, a bag of treats, some toys, and a packet of string to tie messages or packages to their feet, and a plain black box that fit into the palm of my hand and, with a tap of my wand, told me exactly where my owl was.
I was happy and content. My first day in the English wizarding world had gone exceptionally well. I had dozens of new things, a new pet, and the hope of a fun school year after all.