Erin yawned borely once the surprise and glamour of Diagon Alley wore off shopping could even be boring. She had been trailing her aunt for half an hour going through three different cauldron shops while her aunt complained about quality and haggled over prize. "I'll give you ten Galleons for it and not a Knut more it looks like third rate pewter to me," declared her aunt. "Aunt Megan can we please just get this one, it looks the same as all the others," groaned Erin. "Oh don't worry dear when you've been in the wizard world for a while you realize that while everything looks the same quality differs greatly, why don't you go and get your books from Flourish & Blotts I'll meet you there," Erin nodded wandering across the street trying not to bump any of the many other robed shoppers. As she wandered down Diagon Alley she caught snatches of conversation from groups of witches and wizards of all ages and descriptions. "No man Magical Manchesters haven't a chance if I were you I'd put all my money on the Birmingham Banshees, there've not been beaten since Wood became captain." "It applauding the cost of magical rats in my day you could get five for a Sickle." "Have you heard the Lighting Strikes out it's meant to be the fastest broom in the country it even to outclasses the Firebolt 12 completely," this commit came from a close knit group of children all packed around a window of a shop called Quality Quidditch Supplies. Curiosity drew Erin closer the shop window was full of models in heroic positions wearing close fitting silk robes and shiny leather pads, Erin shrugged pushing her way through the crowd of children and continuing further down the street. A few stores down from Quality Quidditch Supplies was Flourish & Blotts it's window was full interesting looking books some of which seemed alive. A bell rang when she enter the bell then announced her name and what she was intending to buy, Erin shook her head and started at the bell cautiously. "It's annoying isn't it, those kind of magical things always leaving wondering if magic can really be used to read people minds," this comment came from a cheerful looking girl about Erin's age. "You're kidding right?" Erin asked the girl while slowly back away from the bell. "Nah, my older brother works on experimental magic for one of those enchantment companies, you should see the stuff he comes up with some it real spooky," the girl told her, Erin turned to study her she was about head shorter then Erin with a head of thick head hair which had been close cropped and a freckled face. She had bright blue eyes and wide shoulders her mouth was a bit to large for her face and was permanently fixed in a cheeky grin. She was the first person Erin hadn't seen wearing wizard robes. "My names Dylan Brooks," announced the red head sticking out her hand. Erin took the hand and shook it, she never really meant many people who genuinely wanted to meet her. "My name's Erin," she told Dylan. "So you're for your first year at Hogwarts too," asked Dylan casually as she led Erin through the book store. "Um yeah so do you know anything about the school," asked Erin trying to sound as if she wasn't fishing for information. "Oh yeah heaps I got three older brothers two have finished at Hogwarts and one's in his last year, your from a Muggle family then," Dylan asked pulling a book down from a shelve and dumping it haphazardly into her caldron. "Not really, you mean you can come from Muggle parents on both sides and have magic," asked Erin curiously. "Yeah, I didn't mean coming from Muggle parents is a bad thing I was just curious I'd love to come from Muggle parents, Muggle are cool," declared Dylan. "Why do you think Muggles are cool if you come from a wizarding family?" queried Erin. "Because Muggles do without magic, I mean most wizards and witches can't go a day without using magic. There depend on it, Muggles have been adapting and developing for years so they can live comfortable and happily without magic," Dylan told her. "I suppose," answered Erin doubtfully. "Hey do you have the list of everything we need, I kind of bet my brother he could turn it into a hornet and well I lost," Erin had both the letter and list in her pocket.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

Uniform First year students will require: Three sets of plain work robes (black) One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar) One winter cloak (black, silver or bone fastenings) Please take care to label all of your clothes clearly

Set Books All students should have a copy of each of the following: The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk The History of Magic the Revised Version by Bathilda Bagshot Magical Theory for Dummies by Seamus Finnigan Matchstick to Needle (Beginning Transfiguration) by Minerva McGonagall One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore The Complete Guild to Potions by Eric Spellbound The Dictionary of Magical Bugs and Beasts by Tomas Scamander Guardian (Dark Forces Protection) by Sirius Black

Other Equipment 1 wand (No Veela hairs) 1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2) 1 set of 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 ONLY FIRST YEAR STUDENTS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE TEAM OR IT LOWER TEAMS ARE ALLOWED BROOMSTICKS

Once Erin produced she and Dylan wander around the shop while Erin bombarded Dylan with question about the wizarding world. Dylan answered questions about employment, transport and mail Dylan seemed to know everything about the wizarding world. "So how do they know to send you a Hogwarts acceptance letter if you don't amply to Hogwarts?" asked Erin wondering if her mother had died so after her birth how Hogwarts had even known she existed. "There's a magic quill which writes all the students who have magic and want to attend down it's been around since the beginning of the school, it's real ancient magic my father reckons the quill itself is thousands of years old," explained Dylan as she pulled a copy of The Complete Guild to Potions by Eric Spellbound out of the shelve. "So if your not Muggle born how come you know so little about the Wizarding world, I mean there really nothing wrong with being Muggle you know I mean some of the best wizards and witches in the world came from Muggle family," Dylan questioned she was nervous she kept shifting her weight, Erin wondered if she was more worried about offending her and embarrassing her. "My father's a Muggle but my mother died when I was really young and I only found out about this whole magic deal a few days ago," explained Erin she didn't make eye contact with Dylan she knew right now an expression of pity was spreading across Dylan's face. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to." "It's alright it's not your fault I just don't like to talk about it," interrupted Erin "we've got all our books now do you want to go and get wands," Erin offered. "Oh god I forgot the time I got to go my father's going to kill me," muttered Dylan she gave Erin a guilty look and ran off. Erin signed she got that a lot when she explained about her Mother to other children the ones who cared they either felt really sorry for her and tried to maintain a forced friendship out of sympathy (which never worked) or they would become really uncomfortable and stay away from her. Erin shrugged to herself she hadn't really imagined that things would be any different in the wizarding world magic or not children were children.