Chapter 3- Diagon Alley

Warm sunlight flowed through Alyssa's open window. The rays played across her face making it impossible for her to sleep any longer. She rolled out of her bed with a sleepy groan, and started to walk towards her door, when she remembered everything that had happened.

She ran down the stairs, and didn't stop until she had reached the kitchen. Alyssa found her mother sitting at the table, drinking a cup of tea and reading the newspaper. Apparently, she hadn't realized that Alyssa had come downstairs, because she made no gesture as to inform Alyssa that she had recognized her presence.

"Good morning, Mum," said Alyssa. "How are you feeling today?"

"Much better, my little witch," she said. "I was thinking we could go to Diagon Alley to get your school things today."

"Awesome! When can we leave?"

"Now, if you would like." Alyssa's mother took from a shelf a jar containing a blue colored powder. "This is floo powder. It allows you to travel from one place to another by using a fireplace. To use it, throw a bit of the powder into the fire, step into the flames, and shout very clearly, your destination. Be careful not to swallow the ashes, and once you begin to spin, I suggest you close your eyes and keep your elbows very close to your body. Now, you go first." She handed the jar to her daughter.

Alyssa took a pinch of the powder, and threw it into the flames of the kitchen fireplace. The blaze instantly turned emerald green. Alyssa stepped in slowly, as if she were afraid of being burned. To her surprise, the flames felt very pleasant. Tucking her elbows to the side and closing her eyes tightly, she shouted, "Diagon Alley!"

As soon as she said those words, she started spinning, slowly at first, then faster, and faster…She thought she was going to be sick, she was so dizzy, and then, all of the sudden, it stopped. She opened her eyes and took in everything around her. Staring up at the snowy white building ahead of her, she thought, "I wish the mall was this big!"

"Hi, honey, how was the trip?" Mrs. Johansen walked up behind Alyssa and put her hands on her shoulders.

"It was dizzying. What's that building?"

"That is our first stop, Gringotts.

They walked towards the marble building and soon were walking up to the entrance. Pulling the large doors open, Alyssa was soon greeted with a sight she had only imagined at most.

Marble columns towered toward the barley visible ceiling. The floor was covered in what seemed to be a thin sheet of gold, and all around her were windows, like she had seen at banks. Everywhere she looked were funny creatures with pointed ears and sly grins on their slightly green-tinged faces.

Alyssa and her mother walked across the highly polished mahogany floor to one of the windows. While they waited for one of the creatures, Alyssa peered around. She had read many books about odd creatures and beasts, and if what she read was correct, these had to be goblins. One of the goblins to her right was counting an enormous pile of gold coins. It made a note on a piece of parchment, then walked over to where Alyssa and her mother were standing.

"Good morning, vault 1215 please," Alyssa's mother said to the goblin.

"Do you have the key?" Alyssa's mother drew a small golden key from her purse and set it on the counter in front of the goblin.

"That seems to be in order, Zitan will take you down to the vaults." The creature whistled and immediately, another goblin appeared.

"Right this way madams," The goblin walked toward a train track and what looked like the carts that gold miners had used in the mines. Alyssa and her mother climbed into the cart and sat. Then, Zitan jumped in, and as soon as he was seated, the cart began to move. It started out slow, and as it moved along the straight path, it began to gain speed, reminding Alyssa of a roller coaster she had once ridden at an amusement park. The straight track soon gave way to a maze of twists and turns. As they plummeted downhill, Alyssa attempted to make out the numbers on the vaults, but failed due to the speed. After on last stomach-jolting turn, the cart suddenly stopped, and Alyssa was thrown forward out of her seat.

"There we are, vault 1215." Zitan hopped out of the cart with lightning speed. Alyssa climbed out of the cart and watched as Zitan opened the heavy, iron door. He moved aside, revealing the contents of the vault. Alyssa's eyes widened at the fantastic sight. Mounds of gleaming gold coins were piled from floor to ceiling next to heaps of silver and a mountain of shimmering bronze coins. Her mother handed her a velvet sack and as if in a dream, Alyssa slowly filled the bag with the coins.

They climbed back into the cart and started on the roller-coaster ride back to the main building. As they got out of the cart Alyssa had to shield her eyes against the light, which was not strong, but her eyes had become accustomed to the darkness of the passages.

Thanking Zitan for taking them to the vault, Alyssa and her mother walked across the slick white marble floor of the bank. Alyssa slipped and tripped over someone who was walking in front of her. In an attempt to keep from falling, she grabbed the person's shirt, but instead pulled them down with her.

"Owwww," Alyssa moaned as she looked up into the face of the person she had fallen over.

A/N: I'm just gonna give up on begging for reviews. Thank you Johanna May for being the first, and currently only reviewer. I know that I borrowed lotsa stuff from the book, but I wanted this story to seem accurate. Next chapter coming soon (it's a long one 2)