We're now in Diagon Alley. There's lots of stores in here.
'Where's the list of the required items??' asked my father.
'Here it is,' I said, handing it to him.
It read:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Uniform
First-year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags
Set Books
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginners' Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungus by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble
Other Equipment
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST-YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS
'What things should we search for first?' I asked.
'Well, I think the most important thing is your wand. After all, you can't do magic without a wand. But I don't think we have enough money for all those things. We'll have to go to Gringotts first. It's a bank, like the Muggle ones, but this is for wizards and it's run by goblins,' said my father.
'Well, okay. What's that you say? Muggies?? What's that mean?' I asked.
'Muggles. They're non-magical beings. Like those ordinary people. You know, those people at school,' explained my father.
When we arrived at Gringotts, I saw goblins in there. Once we walked inside, I saw a second pair of doors, silver in colour. Engraved on them, were the words:
Enter, stranger, but take heedOf what awaits the sin of greed,
For those who take, but do not earn,
Must pay most dearly in their turn,
So if you seek beneath our floors
A treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have been warned, beware
Of finding more than treasure there.
'That is scary,' I said.
'Yeah, you'd be mad if you tried to rob Gringotts,' said my father. 'They say there are dragons in here.'
'Wow!!! Could I have a dragon as a pet to bring to Hogwarts?' I asked.
'No, my son. Dragon-breeding was outlawed by the Warlock's Convention of 1709. Dragons are dangerous and hard to tame, too,' said my father. 'Well, now let's just get some money out of our vault.'
'This place is gigantic,' I said, finally noticing how large the place is. I also noticed a goblin standing behind a long counter.
'We want to take some money out of vault 534,' my father said to the goblin.
'You've got the key, sir?' said the goblin.
'Yes, it's here somewhere. Here it is,' said my father, handing him the key.
'Very well. I will have someone take you down to your vault,' said the goblin. 'Griphook! Take them to vault 534!'
Griphook, another goblin, took us to the vault. He led us through one of the doors leading out of the hall. Once we're there, Griphook whistled and a small cart came, then we rode on it until the cart stopped beside a small door. Then Griphook opened the door and lots of green smoke billowed out. Inside, were heaps of gold coins, mounds of silver coins and columns of bronze ones. We weren't that rich, but it was more than we had in our house. I didn't really expect this much money. My father took some and put them into a large bag.
'What are those coins?' I asked my father.
'The gold ones are Galleons, the silver ones are Sickles and the bronze ones are Knuts. Seventeen Sickles to a Galleon and twenty-nine Knuts to a Sickle,' explained my father.
'Now can we get out here? I'm feeling a bit sick,' I complained.
'Hold your horses. We'll be out as soon as we've got enough for this term at Hogwarts,' snapped my father.
'Well, okay,' I said, feeling nauseated.
'I think this is enough. Take us out now, Griphook. And this time, go a bit slower. My son's feeling a bit sick!' my father said.
'Sorry, but one speed only,' said Griphook.
'Oh, no,' I said, barfing as soon as the cart started to move.
'The sooner we get out, the better,' said my father.
As soon as we got out, we're heading to Ollivanders, the place where wands are sold. I'd been waiting for a magic wand since I knew I'm a wizard.
When we got there, its not as I expected. It was narrow and shabby. On the door, there were peeling gold letters which read Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC. I also noticed there was a wand lying on a faded purple cushion behind a window.
We went inside and waited. I'm getting impatient, when suddenly, someone said in a soft voice, 'Why, hello there.' I was startled and I jumped about 3 inches from the ground. 'Well, well, who is this?' he asked. 'Remus J. Lupin,' I said uneasily. 'Lupin… Lupin, ah yes. Your father has a willow wand, flexible. Fifteen inches. Works nice for Transfiguration. You mother, on the other hand prefers a holly, pliable. Thirteen and a half inches long. Very good for Charms.
'Which is your wand arm, Mr Lupin?' he asked, as he pulled out a long tape measure out of his pocket.
'My right,' I replied.
He measured my arm and then he let the tape measure measure my arm on its own. He went taking down boxes from the shelves, and said, 'Every Ollivander wand has a core of a powerful magical substance, Mr Lupin. We use unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers and the heartstrings of dragons. No two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons or phoenixes are quite the same. And of course, you will never get such good results with another wizard's wand.'
'Right then, Mr Lupin. Let's try this one. Ebony and unicorn hair, eight and a half inches, springy. Just take it and give it a wave,' said Mr Ollivander.
I, feeling like a weirdo, waved the wand foolishly around, but Mr Ollivander snatched it away.
'Beechwood and dragon heartstring. Nine inches. Nice and flexible,' he said, giving me another wand.
I tried to swish it, but the second I raised the wand, he snatched it away.
'No, no, let's try this one. Maple and phoenix feather. Seven inches. Quite whippy,' he said, giving me yet another wand.
He snatched it away again and he gave me almost every wand in the shop to try, but none of them satisfied Mr Ollivander.
'You're a pretty tricky customer. Not to worry, though, we'll soon find out which wand suits you,' said Mr Ollivander. 'Here, try this. Mahagony and werewolf fur. Twelve and a quarter inches long. Pliable.'
When I took the wand, I felt a sudden warmth. I swished it and red and gold sparks came shooting out.
'Great. This wand is just right, just right for you,' Mr Ollivander said, as he packed the wand back into its original box and wrapping the box with brown paper.
'Here you go. That will be seven Galleons please,' said Mr Ollivander, handing the box to me. I paid him seven Galleons, and I ran out.
'That freak's giving me the creeps! It looks like he remembered all the wands he had sold, too!' I said to my father.
'Now, now, son. He is no freak. He's just too old and lonely. And about his good remembrance, he's just… good at remembering things,' said my father. 'We'll go to Madam Malkin's Robes for all Occasions to get your uniform first, then we'll go to the apothecary to buy the potion ingredients you need, we'll go to Flourish and Blotts to get your school books next, and after that, we'll get a pet for you.'
Madam Malkin turned out to be a squat and smiling witch dressed all in mauve. 'Hogwarts, my dear?' she asked. 'Yeah,' I said, but just as I finished saying that, she said 'In fact, another boy's trying on Hogwarts' robes right now.'
I went over to see James there. 'James? I didn't know you are a wizard.' I said. 'I didn't know you are one, either,' he replied. 'Boy, am I glad you're going to Hogwarts too. I don't want to leave my best friend,' I said. 'Yeah, me too,' was his reply.
Madam Malkin came over to me and said, 'That's enough talking, dear. Let's try on these robes.' 'Well, see ya at Hogwarts, I guess,' James said. 'Yeah, see ya.' I replied.
When I came out of the shop, James had already left. We went to the apothecary and bought several scoops of black beetle eyes (5 Knuts per scoop).
Next, we went to Flourish and Blotts. It looks like a giant library from the inside. We've bought all the books I need and also a packet of five quills and two ink bottles. Then we went to Magical Menagerie.
'Not to worry, maybe you'll like an owl. They're useful for sending letters to people,' said my father.
But it looks like none of the pets there impress me, so we went to Eyelops Owl Emporium. I chose a male tawny owl. It looks great.
Then we bought a pewter cauldron, a set of gold scales and a collapsible gold telescope.
'We've got everything you need. Now we have to get back home and get ready for Hogwarts. We'll have to go to Platform Nine and Three Quarters at King's Cross Station on the first of September, that is, tomorrow.'
We went back at home and I packed up everything we've bought into a backpack. Everything's changed since I knew I'm a wizard. Now I'm too excited to even eat. All I'm waiting for now is tomorrow, the first of September.
*** UNFINISHED ***