Chapter II - Welcome to the World of Wizardry
Minerva McGonagall's presence intimidated the Grangers. So much so that they were all ready by ten thirty the next morning, just in case she arrived early. But true to her word, she appeared exactly at noon.
"Good afternoon. I see we are all ready. Good. We don't have a minute to spare." She took a largish hand-mirror from within her robe pocket. "In exactly thirty seconds this mirror will take us to Diagon Alley. Everyone, grab hold of it or else you'll be left behind. The three Grangers each held onto the rim, feeling a bit foolish. Then without warning the house seemed to fall away. Hermiony, feeling as though someone was trying to pull her by the stomach, thought she would be sick. By the time the ride stopped, the Grangers were all toppled over in a back alley. They quickly got up and followed McGonagall.
"We're in London. How did we get here? And where are we going? And how will we get back?" asked Hermiony's father.
"We were transported here by a portkey, a device used for that purpose," said McGonagall. "They can only be used at specified times. It would have been easier to use floo powder, but your house isn't connected to the floo network. You have to be ready to leave by three o'clock for the return trip or else you'll be stuck in London. As to where we're going...." She stopped, "Look ahead. Mr. Granger, what do you see ahead of you?"
"I see a books store and a record store" he replied.
"Now Hermiony, do you see anything in between those two stores?"
"I see a pub with a sign that says 'The Leaky Cauldron.'"
"Precisely," said McGonagall in a less harsh tone that seemed to indicate delight. "Powerful magic prevents muggles from seeing the Leaky Cauldron, because it is an entrance into Diagon Alley. But anyone with magic in his or her blood can see past that. And you all need to know the location because you will have to come here without me for the next six years. Next year, Hermiony will be able to take you to where you need to go."
They walked into the Leaky Cauldron. The bartender called out. "Evening, Professor McGonagall. New Hogwarts student?"
"Yes, Tom. This is Hermiony Granger, and her parents. No time to talk, we have to shop quickly."
"Just one question. I haven't seen Hagrid lately. Will he be around soon? If not, I may have shut down."
"Today is, what July 26th? He should be here in a few days."
"Thanks, Professor. Have a good time at Hogwarts, Hermiony."
"Thank you, Tom," said Hermiony politely. She was a little started though. The strangest people seemed to pop out of the woodwork in the Leaky Cauldron. They were all wearing costumes and brightly colored robes unlike any she had ever seen. Not one of them could pass for normal in the world she knew. Professor McGonagall went to the back of the pub, tapped a stone with her wand, and suddenly the wall opened up.
Diagon Alley was revealed. Hermiony's jaw dropped in disbelief. It was like a fairy tale come true. Never had she seen such a peculiar street and she stared at everything, trying to take it all in. There were shops selling, did she hear them say "dragon livers"? Professor McGonagall seemed to know exactly where she was going and she led them toward a white marble building that towered over the small shops.
"This is Gringotts. Here we will exchange your Muggle money. Any that you have left over, I suggest you give to your daughter so that she has some spending money at Hogwarts. Gringotts is run by goblins. Please don't stare at them. They don't like it. Some standard facts that you should know. The bank has branches all over the world, but this is the oldest building and the central location. The bank vaults extend several miles underneath London. Trying to steal anything is useless. Powerful magics protect Gringotts. And there are dragons guarding the most important vaults. This is the only place in the British Isles where dragons can kept legally."
Without staring at the goblins, Hermiony looked all around at this beautiful building in awe. It was filled with the most interesting people she had ever seen, and that included in movies or on the telly. And there were dragons.
After her parents exchanged their money, the group was ready to leave the bank. They went from shop to shop buying items on Hermiony's school list. She had bags filled with robes, a pointed hat, a cauldron, potion ingredients, a winter cloak, dragon hide gloves, a telescope, a crystal vial, brass scales, and all her schoolbooks.
"Professor McGonagall, I would like to read some more books as background. What would you suggest?" asked Hermiony just before leaving Flourish and Blotts.
And that was how Hermiony knew to buy Hogwarts, A History, The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts, Modern Magical History, and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century.
"Thank goodness, she's not allowed to a broom, and we have no pets. This school is quite expensive." whispered her father.
Professor McGonagall led them out of the bookstore. "We just need one final purchase, your wand. And then we should be close to the time when the portkey reactivates and you can go home. Come along, Ollivander's is this way."
It was a dusty shop filled with boxes of wands. The old man with gray eyes who owned it acted kindly towards Hermiony. "I understand how hard it can be for a Muggle-born wizard or witch going to Hogwarts. You don't know anything. I am at a slight disadvantage too. Usually the parents' wands help me to know which wand will choose the customer. The wand chooses you after all.
"I remember every wand I ever sold. Including Minerva's, so many years ago."
Professor McGonagall gave him a steely smile, but Mr. Ollivander didn't seem to notice.
Mr. Ollivander took some measurements and asked something about a wand arm. Then he asked her about her best attributes. Mr. Granger beamed. "She's quite brilliant."
"Ah, so she'll be a Ravenclaw."
"A what?" asked Hermiony
"It one of the four houses. Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. Each one has quite a proud legacy."
"Which house were you in Professor?" asked Hermiony.
"I, like the headmaster, Professor Dumbledore, was in Gryffindor and now I am the head of the house." Her tone made it clear that it was the end of that conversation.
For about ten minutes, Hermiony waved around different wands and nothing happened. Then Mr. Ollivander gave her a wand made of a reddish-brown wood. She waved it above her head and sparks shot out.
"A match!" cried Mr. Ollivander. "Ten and three quarter inches, maple, with a unicorn tail core. Minerva, you'll find this interesting. This wand and yours are sister wands. They were both made a century ago, but this one was never sold. Who knows," he said as he glanced at Hermiony with his gray eyes "She may well be a good disciple." He started to chuckle, but Professor McGonagall did not look amused.
Finally the time came to leave. Arms full of packages, holding the mirror took great skill for the Grangers. McGonagall spoke up. "I'm not coming with you. No. Keep the mirror. It has no magical properties and besides, I took your lamp." She reached into her robes and pulled out an envelope. "This is your ticket to the Hogwarts Express." She dropped it in one of the parcels. "Go to King's Crossing. Walk through the wall between Platforms Nine and Ten. It's a fake to keep Muggles out. On the other side you will see Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. Board the train. Don't let anyone see you. And Hermiony, I will see you in my transfiguration class. I'm telling you now that I'm a perfectionist. I expect nothing less than best from my students. The class is a lot of work and even more study. But you will learn how to perfectly transfigure anything by the end of your seven years. If you cannot be serious in my class then I suggest you not come to Hogwarts. Good day." She disappeared, or more accurately, she melted away as the Grangers were transported back to their living room. None of them wanted to move. And for the next half-hour, the three of them lay exhausted on the floor.