Disclaimer: Harry Potter characters, places, and ideas belong to J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers, not me.
by Auror5
"A shilling for your thoughts." Wesley startled Lily from her reverie.
"You have been awfully quiet, sweetheart, since we boarded the train," remarked Zinnia with a trace of concern. "Are you looking forward to shopping for your school things?"
"Yes!" Lily replied a little too forcefully. "I was just thinking of the lessons I'll need my books for. D'you think they'll really teach us how to fly brooms?"
"I imagine so," Wesley said, thoughtfully.
"Wes, I wonder if they allow parents to visit Hogwarts. They do seem somewhat secretive of its location. Does it mean that parents can't visit sometime? I would like to check on my girl to see how she is doing." Zinnia fondly gazed at Lily, and gave her a quick embrace.
"Well, I do hope so, Zin. This 'in the north, on the banks of a lake' nonsense isn't acceptable to me. You know.…"
Lily allowed her parents' chatter to wash over her, and blend into the background as she watched the land, a kaleidoscope of colours, blur by. Turmoil was brewing inside her. She felt bad about being dishonest with her parents.
I'm glad they haven't asked me the real reason I decided to go to Hogwarts, she thought. They'll probably become upset if I tell them that I really don't want to go. I'm only going because of Petunia. Maybe everything will be better for her if I were gone for a while. I hope so! I wonder why Petunia dislikes me so much? She has been horrid this month! Not one word to me since the day I received that letter from Hogwarts, and that was almost a month ago! Lily thought sadly.
I hope, one day, we end up really close like Brianna and Lauren. Maybe when I return home next summer everything will be great between us! Petunia will like me because, for ten months, everyone will only pay attention to her. She won't have to compete with me like Mum said. Then I won't have to go back to Hogwarts next September. Everything will be great! With this thought, Lily began to feel slightly more optimistic, although there was a thread of disquiet running deep inside her, so deep she did not even notice.
About an hour later, the train slowed as it approached Knights' Way Train Station. The Evanses marvelled at the immensity, and hustle and bustle of London. A moment later they were walking outside the train station, and looking for Cheshire Way.
"Hmm," Wesley said, frowning at a street map of London. "I believe that if we head to our left on the street that we are on, we will run into Meadview Lane, which runs right into Cheshire Way. From there, we can turn right, for a start." He folded the map, and placed it into his pocket. "All right, my beautiful ladies, adventures await us!"
Nearly fifteen minutes later, they were strolling down Cheshire Way searching for a record shop and a bookshop.
Zinnia pointed across the street. "Look! There is the record shop and the bookshop across the way, but I don't see any Leaky Cauldron."
"Come. Let's cross over," Wesley suggested while grabbing his wife and daughter's hands.
The number of people on the street, the noise, and the seemingly endless blaring of automobile horns overwhelmed Lily. She was also trying not to get squashed by the adults brushing past her. Keswick seemed like an extremely tiny hamlet compared to London.
They managed to cross over safely without being run down by a bus.
"Where is this Leaky Cauldron? It should be right here," exclaimed Wesley confused, while standing in front of the space that should have been the Leaky Cauldron.
"Dad, Mum, it's right here!" gestured Lily.
"Oh!" gasped Zinnia. "How could we have missed it? It's indeed right in front of us!"
"Did it just appear? I could have sworn there wasn't anything here a moment ago!" remarked Wesley in confusion.
"Let's go in, shall we?" suggested Zinnia.
They entered into what appeared to be a shabby pub. There was an odd assortment of people inside, most of them dressed quite peculiar. In fact, some looked downright frightening. Lily thought to herself that some of the grownups appeared remarkably similar to characters in fairy tales. Is this what witches and wizards look like? she wondered while staring at an old woman with a very prominent, beak-like nose; yellow teeth; waist-length, white hair, and orange eyes. The folks in the Leaky Cauldron gazed at them just as avidly as the Evanses looked at them.
One odd man, who seemed as though he could actually be a vampire, suddenly exclaimed in a rich baritone voice, "Muggles! Oy, Tom! There are Muggles here."
A bald, old man approached the Evanses from behind the counter. "May I help you? Are you lost by any chance?"
"Er, no," Wesley replied, uncomfortably. "Are you Tom?"
"Yes, I am, sir. You are a Muggle, aren't you?" Tom peered intently at Wesley, Zinnia, and Lily.
"Er, I guess so, if 'Muggle' means I am not, erm, a wizard." Wesley then quickly added, "We were told by a Mr. Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, to ask you to show us the way to Diagon Alley."
"Albus Dumbledore recommended me?" Tom smiled brightly. "Then, of course, I will show you to Diagon Alley. So, your daughter, here, will attend Hogwarts? She's a witch, is she not?" Tom then bent down. "Hello, and how are you, lass?"
"Fine, sir," replied Lily shyly.
"May I ask the young witch's name?"
"Lily Evans, sir."
Beaming, Tom straightened up. "Ay, what a pretty young lass she is!"
Lily blushed furiously.
"May I ask your names, too?"
"I am Wesley, and this is my wife, Zinnia."
"Ah, very pleased to make your acquaintances Wesley, Zinnia, and Lily. Come. Follow me."
The Evanses followed Tom to the back of the tavern or pub, with many of the patrons watching and whispering amongst themselves. They very soon found themselves in a courtyard. Wesley's discomfort grew. He was not sure about all of this. Tom tapped on a brick a few times with his wand, and the wall dissolved. It was replaced with an archway that presented a view of an entirely new street with cobbled stones.
"Wow!" exclaimed Lily. "How did you do that?"
Tom smiled indulgently at Lily. "I will have to show you one day, dear. This is Diagon Alley. I must return to the pub." Tom quickly retreated.
"Quite remarkable!" Wesley said.
"This is magic, isn't it?" stated Zinnia.
They marvelled at the odd shops on either side of the Alley: Eeylops Owl Emporium, Ollivanders, Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, Towson and Towson Best Brooms, and more.
"Let's see," said Zinnia, pulling out Lily's school supply list. "We need books. Let's go over to this Flourish and Blotts."
The Evanses walked into Flourish and Blotts, and the first thing they noticed, aside from the numerous books with titles such as The Beauty of Fwooper Song by Uric the Oddball and Why Manticores Enjoy Human Flesh, were the cost of the books. Instead of British pounds, the books reflected prices in a strange, foreign currency using Galleons and Sickles.
Frowning, Wesley said, "What are Galleons and Sickles?"
A very skinny man with large hazel eyes behind thick glasses materialized next to them, and asked if they needed any help.
"Yes," Wesley replied. "We are, erm, new here. What are Galleons and Sickles?"
"You're Muggles, aren't ye?" The man peered closely at them.
"Er, yes, we are, except my daughter," answered Wesley.
Lily blushed and tried to hide behind her mother.
"The young lady will be attending Hogwarts in September, eh?"
"That's correct."
"Well, sir, to buy anything in Diagon Alley, you must have the proper money. Muggle money simply will not do. Go to Gringotts. They will exchange your Muggle money for Wizard money. Gringotts is just down the way, the white building."
The Evanses strolled in the direction in which the man pointed, and eventually found themselves facing an impressive structure. They climbed the stone steps leading up to bronze double doors. At the door, they spotted two very strange beings that did not appear to be quite human. The beings bowed, and opened the doors for them. As they passed, Lily whispered, "Mum, are they goblins?" They encountered another pair of double doors, this time silver. They read the writing engraved upon it.
"So, what would happen if someone tried to rob this place?" Wesley lightly inquired of the goblin-like beings standing on either side of the door.
"That person would never leave here alive," growled the goblin to his left.
The goblins allowed them inside while bowing.
They entered an immense, marble lobby where gold, diamonds, and other precious gems were being weighed on brass scales. Goblins, behind impressively long counters, were serving customers.
"Amazing! Truly amazing!" exclaimed Wesley with an idiotic expression on his face.
"Honey, please stop. You look quite silly, and you are attracting attention," said Zinnia embarrassed.
They walked up to an empty counter.
"Yes? How may I help you, sir?" inquired the goblin while scowling slightly.
"Er, yes, we need to exchange, erm, some Muggle money for Galleons and Sickles, I believe."
"How much do you wish to exchange, sir? By the way, I am Grinnook. Pleased to make your acquaintance."
"How do you do? I am Wesley Evans. This is my wife, Zinnia, and my daughter, Lily. May I inquire what exactly is the exchange rate, sir?"
"Seven pounds per Galleon. There are seventeen Sickles to a Galleon, and twenty-nine Knuts to a Sickle."
"Erm, all right, let's see..." Wesley pulled out his billfold and counted the notes. "Why don't I exchange two hundred and ten pounds for thirty Galleons?"
The goblin handed over a bag full of pure gold coins, and said, "Thank you, sir, and have a good day."
"Honey, I can't believe we are walking around with a bag full of gold," Zinnia whispered excitedly as they left Gringotts.
They returned to Flourish and Blotts.
The strange, skinny man spotted them immediately. "Sir, are you ready to purchase books for the lass?"
"Yes. Come, Lily, don't be bashful. Let's see which books you need."
Wesley took the list and handed it to the bookshop owner.
"The items you will need can be found on the wall to your back, sir."
"Thank you," Wesley said, turning around.
After obtaining the books on the list, they joined a queue in front of the counter. While waiting to reach it, they observed a number of customers, most wearing cloaks or robes of various colours, eyeing them and whispering. The Evanses began to feel uncomfortable.
Zinnia quietly said, "I feel like a specimen under one of your microscopes, Wes."
One awkward appearing young girl of about twelve, immediately in front of them, turned and stared at Lily. The girl then said, "Are you Muggles? How did you get here? Are you going to Hogwarts?"
"Bertha!" admonished the girl's mother. "Mind your own business!"
"But, Mum, they are Muggles! Look at their clothes."
The woman turned to face the Evanses. "I apologise for my daughter's rudeness. She is quite the inquisitive one. By the way, I am Mavis Jorkins, and this is my daughter, Bertha. How do you do?"
"Hello, and pleased to meet you. I'm Zinnia. This is my husband, Wesley, and our daughter, Lily. Lily will be attending Hogwarts this year."
Just then, the lady behind the counter caught Mrs. Jorkins' attention, and she moved forward to pay for her purchases. Bertha continued to peer intently at Lily, who looked at her feet.
"Hullo. So you're a witch, but your parents are Muggles, right?"
"Erm, I guess so," Lily quietly replied while staring at her feet.
"You're very pretty. I hope the Sorting Hat puts you in Hufflepuff. I'm a Hufflepuff. I hope we become close friends at Hogwarts so that you can share all of your secrets with me."
"Thank you," said Lily shyly, still gazing at her feet.
"Bertha! Come along, now. It was nice meeting you," Mrs. Jorkins called as she walked past.
The Evanses paid for their items, and then headed to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. "I wish they wouldn't stare so!" exclaimed Wesley annoyed.
"Honey, they will hear you!"
"So? And staring, pointing, and whispering aren't rude?"
"Wesley, please. I think they heard you," Zinnia said in a hushed voice.
They entered Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, and discovered, to their relief, that they were the only customers present.
"How may I help you?" inquired a slightly bizarre appearing woman.
"My daughter needs robes and a hat for school," replied Zinnia.
"Come, dear. Step up here so I can get your measurements."
As soon as Lily stepped up onto the stool, the woman threw a black robe over her. They waited in silence as she measured and fit the garment. About five minutes later, they were out searching for the shop that sold wands.
"Mum, Dad, can we stop? I would like some ice cream. Please?"
"Sure, pumpkin! We have been doing a lot of walking today. Your feet must be tired. What do you say, Zin? A nice sundae?"
They walked into Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour amid stares and whispers, and bought two large sundaes and a cone. They sat outside to enjoy their treat. Quite a number of people strolled by staring at them and whispering. A few even paused a bit.
"I do wish they would stop this staring and whispering nonsense!"
"Shhh, Wes! I think they heard you."
"So?" He then stood up, and loudly exclaimed, "May I have your attention, please?"
"Daaaad!" wailed Lily, face turning beet red.
A number of people stopped and gazed at Wesley.
"Now that I have your attention. I would like to make an announcement. We are what you call Muggles. Yes, we are Muggles!"
Lily, at this point, slid underneath the table.
Zinnia covered her face with her hands.
One man shouted, "I thought so. Didn't I tell you, Clem? They are Muggles."
"You were right, Mister," yelled Wesley. "We discovered quite recently that my daughter here, hiding under the table, is a witch. My wife and I are Muggles. We are here today buying school supplies for our daughter. She will start the term at Hogwarts, this September. Are there any questions?"
"Yes!" A lady with bright orange hair and purple eyes responded. "What is your surname?"
"Evans!"
"What is your daughter's name, sir?" said a girl who was about fifteen years old.
"Lily."
The entire crowd then shouted, in near unison, "Hello, Lily. How do you do?"
"Lily, dear, please come out from underneath the table and show proper manners."
Lily, face crimson, reluctantly crawled out from under the table. Wesley then lifted Lily and placed her on top of it.
"This is my daughter!"
"Ahhh, quite pretty, she is," murmured the crowd.
Lily looked down at her feet and wished she could disappear or, at least, become invisible.
"Are there any more questions?"
"Yes!" said a man with blonde hair flying all over his head, a long shaggy beard, and a nose that resembled a pear. "Do Muggles really travel from one place to another in a cart?"
"That's car, not cart. Yes! Next question!"
"How do Muggles survive without magic?"
"That would take hours or perhaps days to explain! Next question!"
A boy, about seven-years-old, eating a piece of chocolate candy in the shape of a frog, piped up, "Do Muggles know how to cook?"
"Yes! Except my mother-in-law!"
At which point, Zinnia removed one hand from her face and used it to hit her husband on the leg.
"Are there any more questions? No? Well then, my wife, daughter, and I will finish our refreshing ice cream here. When we are done, we will leave to buy a wand and a cauldron for my daughter in your intriguing Diagon Alley. We would appreciate it if you would not stare, point, and whisper as we pass. Thank you."
Wesley lifted Lily from the table, and then sat down to finish his sundae. The crowd rapidly dispersed.
"Finally! We can eat without feeling as though we are in a zoo."
"Wesley! I cannot believe you!" Zinnia exclaimed while choking back wild laughter.
"I've never been so embarrassed in my life," muttered Lily, face still red.
Wesley leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. "Mark my words, sweetheart, you will look back on this day, and say 'That was nothing!'"
After eating their ice cream, the next stop was Ollivanders. They observed, with pleasure, that no one was paying much attention to them anymore. The shop was dark, and appeared empty when they walked in.
"Is anyone here?" whispered Zinnia.
"The sign says that it is open," responded Wesley quietly while glancing around.
Suddenly, out of the gloom, a short man with large, pale eyes materialized in front of them. Wesley and Lily jumped. Zinnia let out a small scream, which resulted in a reproving stare from Wesley.
"Ah," said the strange man gazing at Lily. "You must be the one looking for a wand, yes?"
"Erm, yes sir," replied Lily, staring at her feet, again.
"Are you Ollivander?" inquired Wesley.
"Yes, indeed I am." Ollivander stared at Lily. Lily continued to gaze at her feet.
"Now then!" Mr. Ollivander pulled a tape measure from his pocket. "Let's find a wand for you, young lady. Which is your wand arm?"
"Huh? I'm, erm, left-handed, if that's what you mean, sir."
"Hold out your left arm then, dearie. That's a good girl."
Mr. Ollivander began to measure Lily. Lily could not understand why he measured her head and ears. She tried not to giggle. While Ollivander measured her, he told the Evanses that each wand's core was made of a powerful magical substance, and that no two wands were alike. He then began to remove boxes from the shelves.
"Here. Try this one, lass. Made of maple and phoenix tail feather, nine inches. Sturdy. Just wave it."
Feeling a little silly, Lily waved the wand. Also, she was still trying, with difficulty, not to giggle.
"No, that's not it." Mr. Ollivander snatched the wand from her. "Give this one a try. Flowering plum with unicorn hair, eight inches, and quite malleable."
He quickly grabbed it from her, even though she barely waved it. He made her try one wand after another, with Lily feeling increasingly foolish.
"Ah, try this one. Yesss, I do believe this will work. Go on. Try it, dearie."
Lily took the wand. She felt a slight vibration in her fingertips and warmth spreading up her arm. This is mine, she thought. She waved the wand in a grand arc, and cheerfully observed gold streamers and blue sparks shoot from its tip.
"Yes, yes, yes, I knew it! Made of willow and unicorn hair, swishy. Fine wand that one is."
"Mum, Dad, I like my wand!"
Zinnia and Wesley smiled.
"Yes, take good care of it, lass." Ollivander wrapped the wand in paper, placed it in its box, stood upright, and declared, "That will be six Galleons."
Wesley paid Ollivander, and they left the shop.
Their last stop, in Diagon Alley, was the shop that sold cauldrons, among other items.
"What kind of cauldron do you need, Lily?" said Zinnia.
"Erm, let me see. Pewter, standard size two, it says."
They purchased the cauldron, telescope, crystal phials, and a set of brass scales.
"Well then, it is time to say goodbye to Diagon Alley. Are you two starved? I can eat a horse right now!" exclaimed Wesley.
"Mmm, horses, quite tasty, are they not?" said a rather crazy appearing old man striding past them with pink and yellow puffballs on his head.
About twenty minutes later, they were sitting in a Muggle restaurant waiting for their meals.
"So, Lily, what did you think? Did you enjoy your experience today?" Zinnia said.
"I really liked getting my wand. It was fun. I didn't like those people staring at us, though, and Dad embarrassing me." Lily scowled at her father.
Wesley laughed heartily.
Nearly two hours later, they were heading back to Keswick. It was quite dark outside. Lily, trying to stay awake, thought about her day in London. She wondered whether most witches and wizards were as odd as the ones she met in Diagon Alley.
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Note: The exchange rate varies.
The Fwooper and Uric the Oddball's fancy for this type of bird can be found on page 18 of Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them by J.K. Rowling as Newt Scamander (Scholastic Inc, 2001).