The boy had a greasy black hair, hooked nose and sallow skin. At first, he had an unpleasant look on his face, but as soon as he saw Lily, who was sitting on the ground, his face changed. He looked at her nervously and began to turn slightly pink as he offered her a hand.
"Sorry, I didn't see you," apologised the boy.
"That's alright," said Lily, struggling to keep her balance since she was still woozy.
"I'm Severus Snape and who might you be?"
"I'm Lily Evans, and these are my family…"
Lily pointed out her mum and dad, Severus Snape shook their hands, although he didn't feel comfortable shaking them. Petunia, who wasn't paying attention before, was now paying attention and staring at Snape.
"Oh and this is my sister, Petunia," said Lily with embarrassment in the tone of her voice.
He held out his hands again to shake Petunia's hands, but Petunia offered hers first, smiling and staring at Snape. Severus looked like he smiled back and then released Petunia's hand, while Petunia stared even more. Lily and her parents have already gone to the bar and asked the bar man where Diagon Alley was.
"Umm, excuse me sir-"
"Yes laddie?"
"Would you know where Diagon Alley would be?"
"You new student, are you?"
Lily nodded.
"'Ogwarts is it?"
Lily nodded again.
"Good on you laddie, it's the best school ever. I remembered my first time there-."
Lily didn't want to be rude, but she cut in said, "err, excuse me sir, I don't want to be rude or anything but would you mind telling me where the entrance to Diagon Alley, please?"
"Oh, sure, sorry laddie, o' course. Its right over-"
"Its behind the Leaky Cauldron, over there," interrupted Snape quickly, as he noticed he was alone with Petunia and pointed to the back door of Leaky Cauldron. He stood next to Lily trying, to what seemed to be a smile. Lily smiled back, thanked Snape and wheeled around to the door where Snape was pointing.
Lily and her family were almost at the door when Snape blocked their way. He stared at them, but mostly at Lily. Lily with puzzlement in her face said, "Yes, Snape?"
"May-Maybe, I-I could show your family around Diagon Alley? My friends and I know the place quite well," said Snape shyly.
"I wouldn't mind an extra escort, do you Hal?"
"O-Of course not Lynn", replied Mr Evans, sounding overwhelmed with everything he has seen. "Definitely! Where are these friends of yours?"
"Over there," he pointed to where he was sitting. "Malfoy and Karkaroff, come over here!"
The two boys stood up from their seats and walked towards the Evans family.
"This is Lucius Malfoy and Karlos Karkaroff". Malfoy a boy with silvery blonde hair and pale skin was beaming at the family as he held out his hands to shake Mr and Mrs Evans, then turned to Lily, kissed behind her hands and was about to do the same with Petunia when she tugged her hands away from him.
Malfoy gave a small smirk then stepped back. Karkaroff wearing a matted fur had a sleek, silver hair shook Mr and Mrs Evans, and when he came across to Petunia, he didn't bother.
"And who are these lovely family?" asked Karkaroff, he had a fruity creepy voice that gave chills down Lily's spine.
"These are the Evans", said Snape gesturing as if he was selling the family.
"My, My and who is this?" asked Karkaroff sleekly, staring at Lily. He took her hand and 'tried' to kiss it, but before he could, Lily pretended to reach something in her pocket.
Lily didn't want to be rude or anything. She just didn't feel comfortable with them and she sensed something is bad about them. "Well, nice to meet you all," responded Lily, trying to sound pleased. "But I actually wanted to explore the Diagon Alley with my family so I can familiarise it. I'm sorry boys, I hope you understand?"
The boys understood, apart from Snape, who was looking disappointed and hanged his head.
"O-oh alright, are you sure? Well, then...If you get lost just come back in here and I'll come and help you find your way-"
Lily had cut in "O.K. Good-bye and nice meeting you!" waving to the boys. She didn't mean to be rude, but she really wanted to get away from them and also explore Diagon Alley.
The Evans were just outside the door about to enter the Alley, when the barman had told them how to get in, "You have to tap on those bricks: three up...two across..."
Mr Evans who shook the barman's hand and said "Thanks a lot ol' chap"
Lily had tapped three up and two across. A small hole had appeared - it grew wider and wider - they were now facing an archway on to a cobbled street, which twisted and turned out of sight.
The Evans, oooed and ahhhed as they walked down the cobbled stone street, the nearest shop they saw was, Cauldrons - All different sizes - Copper, Brass, Pewter, Siler-self-stirring and many more. The shops were so close to each other that it was almost as if there wasn't any gap between them, as The Evans walked pass they saw: Madame Malkin's Robes For All Occasions, Eeylops Owl Emporium. Then, Ollivanders: Makers Of Fine Wands since 382 B.C. Apothecary, Florish and Blotts, Gringotts, Quality Quidditch Supplies, Gambol and Japes Wizarding Joke Shop, Florean Fortescue's Ice-Cream parlour and many more! Nevertheless, before they could go into any of the shops, they figured out that you can't use normal money and had to exchange it to a place called Gringotts.
The place was enormous, lots of goblins sitting on high stools behind a long counter, balancing coins, scribbling in large ledgers and all sorts of things, there were too many doors to count leading off the hall. The Evans, realising it was similar to a bank, acted as if this was normal.
"Next!" The Goblin called behind the counter.
Only Mr and Mrs Evans walked up to the counter, while Lily and Petunia were watching the goblins go different directions and so on. After, a few minutes staring at the goblins, Mr and Mrs Evans came back with a heavy bag filled with coins and a small golden key.
"Now Lily, this is the key to your vault, we put enough money to last you a couple of years, but we'll still keep on adding until you find yourself a job. The vault is under your name: 'Lily Evans', and just give that key to the goblin and they will take you there," said Mr Evans.
They walked out of Gringotts, to find that it was already twelve in the afternoon. Mrs Evans suggested that they should eat into one of the cafés. Petunia being quiet for quite sometime, gave a revolting look at the place they were going to dine in.
"I am not eating in that place," spat Petunia.
"Aww, common Petunia, it'll be fun! Frogs, worms and toads yummmmm…" said Lily licking her lips.
However, before Petunia could open her mouth Mrs Evans gave both of them stern looks and that seemed to end their argument.
"Petunia, you're eating here whether you like it or not."
"But…mu-um!"
"No buts Petunia, we are all going to eat the food here. You never know it might taste nice."
They all sat outside on a round table looking at the menu, which by the way was not bad (even Petunia ate them), while they were eating Mr Evans have broken off the silence and started to explain how the money works.
"That'll be 10 Galleons, 8 Sickles and 2 Knuts please," said the waiter.
Mr Evans gave the person 10 gold coins, 8 silver and 2 bronze and they started to walk off. Lily wanted to go to the Flourish and Blotts first, Mr Evans wanted to go to Gambol and Japes Wizarding Joke Shop, while Mrs Evans wanted to visit Madame Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.
"I want to go to back to Leaky Cauldron, I promise I won't leave. I just don't want to walk any more and see anymore obnoxious things just want to sit down and relax," pleaded Petunia looking down at the cobbled stone street and playing with a rock using her foot.
'Yeah right, more like see Severus Snape again,' Lily thought to herself.
"It's all settled then, here's money for you, Lily, go and buy your things," Mr Evans had given her half of the moneybag worth. "Meet you all back in the Leaky Cauldron at two, that'd be enough wouldn't it Lily?"
Lily nodded.
Lily took out the letter, ran her fingers down the list and looking up to see where the shop is she set off. After a couple of minutes, Lily had only two more shops to go to: Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C. and Eeylops Owl Emporium. Lily headed out for the nearest shop, Ollivanders.
It was a small room, but filled with thousands of boxes in neat stacks. As Lily entered the shop no one was there, then suddenly, an old man was stood in front of the counter, his wide, pale eyes was shining like a moon.
"Good afternoon," said the man "I'm Mr Ollivander, I make the wands and I remember very well who I sell them to. Now which will be your wand hand?"
"Umm, I'm right-handed, so right!" said Lily with a smile.
Mr Ollivander then took measurements of Lily, shoulder to finger, and wrist to elbow, knee to armpit and so on. "Well, I'll just get a couple of wands that would probably interest you, but I must tell you that it is the wand who chooses us," he grinned and went behind the counter. Mr Ollivander had come back holding a couple of boxes. "Now try this one. I have a good feeling about this. Ten and a quarter inches long, swishy, made of willow. Nice wand for charm work." He handed the wand to Lily, "Give it a wave."
Lily, who was puzzled, held the wand tightly. She felt sudden warmth in her fingers. Then raised the wand just above her head and waved the wand, soon there were sparks of: red, gold, blue and bronze coming out of the wand.
"I think we found a winner," said Mr Ollivander happily.
Lily handed back the wand and Mr Ollivander started to wrap it. She had given him seven gold Galleons and left the shop. She only had to get a pet, but she wasn't quite sure which one. She thought an owl would be good although she didn't know what it was for.
Lily entered Eeylops Owl Emporium, it was filled with owls, different shapes, eyes, feathers and they were everywhere in their cages.
"Excuse me Miss, could you please tell me what does an owl does?" asked Lily politely to the woman at the counter.
She had explained that owl was in style and used for sending letters to other people. "You can send a letter to anyone, anywhere and the owl will get it there."
Lily then started to walk up and down the room looking at different kinds of owls. She stumbled on an owl at caught her eye; it seemed to be staring at her wherever she goes. Light-brown feathers, green eyes (just like Lily's) and a shape of what seemed like a star on its chest, the owl started to peck lightly on Lily's fingers to show affection.
Lily had walked outside of the shop heavy loaded, especially now that she had a pet "Leela" and its cage was rather big for her to carry. Trying to see what was beyond the big pile of her shopping, Lily started to walk towards Leaky Cauldron. She was almost there when-
"CRASH!"
All her shopping scattered all over the cobbled stone street and Leela hooting loudly as her cage was on its side. Lily, who was embarrassed and angry, was on the floor picking up the scattered things she had just bought and hoped nothing had been broken. Crawling on the floor, Lily reached to a point where there was pair of shoes just above her book.
"Who the-" asked Lily, while looking up at who owned the pair of shoes.
A boy around about her age, with rather shaggy hair, stared at Lily and picked up the book that was on the floor.