Author Chronicles: The Magic Link - Philosopher's Stone
a magical fanfic by charity236
Disclaimer: I didn't create Zelda or Harry Potter. Flames will be given to Rauru to melt his chocolate coins.
Chapter 1: Confusion Arises
As Link spun around in the fireplace, he felt terribly sick. He tried to open his mouth, but more soot and smoke fell in.
And then, as suddenly as it had started, it stopped.
Link fell to the wooden floor of a small hut. He threw up his breakfast (the contents of which I won't say), then looked around him.
A bed, table and chairs were in the room, but they were - gigantic. And so was the door. Numerous hams and birds hung from the ceiling, and a large crossbow was hung up near the window. A dog sat on one chair.
'Where am I?' Link said to no-one, though he supposed this was "Hagrid's Cabin". The dog lifted an ear, saw Link, walked over to him, and started licking his arm.
'Stop that! Heeheehee! That tickles!' Link yelled.
Booom. A huge foot got out of the bed. Booom. Another foot. Creeak. A giant bearded man had risen from the bed. Link didn't know why he hadn't seen him there before.
The giant man yawned loudly, then, on his way to the fireplace, tripped on his dog and fell face-first where Link had spewed.
'Augh! Yuck! What be this, eh?' the big man said. Then he saw Link.
'An' who migh' you be, young 'un?' said the giant.
'L-Link.' Link was terrified, even though he had much courage.
'Tha's an odd name if'n I ever 'eard one,' the giant almost laughed. 'I'm Hagrid, Rubeus Hagrid. Keeper of keys and grounds at Hogwarts.'
'Well, I call that an odd name, and I - I've heard many names.' Link felt a bit happier.
'So, how come yer in me cabin? Without permission?' Hagrid asked.
'I-I came through the fireplace.'
'The fireplace? But I ain't gotten it hooked to the Floo Network! I havn't bought Floo Powder for...' Hagrid thinks a moment, '... abou' three years!'
'Well,' said Link, 'maybe someone hooked it up to this Floo Network thing for you... perhaps...' Link had a sudden thought of Zelda.
'Perhaps what?' Hagrid asked curiously.
'Perhaps... Zelda... did...' Link stuttered.
'Zelda? Professor Dumbledore told me somethin' about 'er. Can't remember it though, musta wrote it down somewhere.' Hagrid started searching through some junk on his table for something. Maybe a letter?
'Yeah, here it is.' Hagrid pulled a large piece of parchment from a stack of books, read it slowly, then said, 'This be it.' He held it out for Link to see.
Dear Hagrid,
I have news from a distant country, news from a little girl named Zelda. She says that a boy named Link will come to you, presumably by Floo Powder. He is to study at Hogwarts. Do not ask many questions of him when he arrives, for he may want to keep his true identity safe. His secrets are safe with me.
Help Link to get along with the other students, he may need help adjusting, for he doesn't know much magic, but is a... let's just say skilled fighter.
Please keep this a secret from people.
Sincerely, Albus Dumbledore
'Well, tha's an interesting letter about you, isn' it?' Hagrid asked.
'Yes,' Link said. He had many questions, but most of all he wanted to meet this "Dumbledore" person.
'So, yeh ready to go to Diagon Alley? I s'pose the fireplace is still hooked up.' Hagrid started rummaging around his pile of books on the table, and relished a paper bag, which must have held some "Floo Powder".
'Yeh can go first, Link,' Hagrid said. He held the bag out.
Link grabbed some more powder and threw it in the flames. He just didn't hope he would puke again. Link glanced at the dog, which was now licking up Link's breakfast.
'Like Fang, do yeh?' Hagrid looked at the dog as well. Then he saw the spew on the floor. 'He'll lick that up pretty quick, mind.'
Link hopped into the fire and said, 'Diagon Alley!' But what he really wanted to say was Hyrule Castle.
Link didn't puke this time, but he felt something break in his bag, probably a Bottle. He got out of the way of the fireplace so Hagrid wouldn't step on him.
'(cough) I hate fireplaces! Too sooty!' Hagrid pulled a big duster from inside his coat (which Link thought was made of pockets) and started to brush the soot off of Link.
'Okay, here we are, the Leaky Cauldron. The local pub for magic people.'
There were indeed many magic people in the room. Almost anyone from hags to warlocks were there, some gossiping in small groups, others sitting alone by the fire.
'Hagrid!' yelled the barman. 'Isn't like you to come by Floo Powder! Want your usual?'
'Can't Tom, I'm on Hogwarts business,' Hagrid exclaimed, patting Link on the shoulder heavily (Link almost fell over from the force of it).
'...Alrighty then,' Tom replied, staring at Link curiously. Some of the other people in the bar glanced at the Hylian out of the corner of their eyes.
'Let's go out the back,' Hagrid said briskly, before anyone could ask questions. Link follwed him into a small beer garden, with a bunch of barrels, hedges and a seat, but Hagrid started counting bricks on the wall with a pink umbrella, in which Link had no idea what it was (umbrellas hadn't been invented in Hyrule yet).
When Link asked Hagrid about the umbrella, he said, 'This? It's an umbrella. You use it to stop from getting wet in the rain.' Hagrid had no idea why Link didn't know what an umbrella was, but thought that Link came from a country that didn't have them. Yes, that's probably it, he thought.
Hagrid tapped one of the bricks on the wall and an archway appeared in front of them.
Link was amazed to see a long, twisting street filled with people.
'Welcome, Link, to Diagon Alley. We'll be needin' some money first, so let's head for Gringotts, the wizard bank.'
Link looked around curiously at all the different shops, while passers-by stared at Link's strange clothes, sword and shield.
At the entrance to Gringotts, they stopped. Link gaped at the large silver and bronze doors. Goblins bowed the two people inside.
'I don't think yer have any wizard money, so we'll have to get a vault for you,' Hagrid started, but Link had an idea.
'Hagrid, does this bank exchange foreign money?' Link asked.
'Yeah, they do. Why? Do yeh have some Muggle money?' Hagrid queried.
'Muggle? What's that?'
'Yeh don' know what a Muggle is?' Hagrid looked outraged. 'Well, they're people who don' have magic blood, tha's all.' Hagrid said, then thought to himself, Link must be one weird Muggle-born. He does magic, but he don' know much 'bout it.
Or so Hagrid thought.
Hagrid led Link up to one of the many goblins (Link figured out what they were, but he originally thought they were very short, green and wrinkly ReDeads with clothes). Link asked, 'Can I exchange some money?'
The goblin looked at Link closely. 'Sure you can,' said the goblin in a sly voice. 'What type of money do you want to exchange?'
'Rupees,' said Link. At this, both the goblin AND Hagrid thought Link had come from India. Link got out his wallet and put on the counter a bunch of differently coloured Rupees - green, red, purple and gold.
'I thought Rupees were just coins and notes,' said the goblin slowly.
'Not where I come from,' Link grinned. The goblin looked at the purple Rupee with a magnifying glass, while Hagrid gave Link a strange look. Link, however, didn't notice.
'If you wanted to know, the green is worth one, the red is 20, the purple is 50 and gold is 200. There's blue and silver too but I didn't have any,' Link said.
'Do you come from India, Link?' Hagrid asked.
'What's India?' Link replied.
Hagrid was flabbergasted. They mustn't have taught him much at school, he assumed, if there was a school in his country at all.
'Well, I can give you some wizard money for these - ah - Rupees,' the goblin said. 'This bank also collects precious jewels; these Rupees will be a valuable addition.' He pushed some gold, silver and bronze coins over the counter.
'I suppose I must explain what these coins are,' said the goblin to Link. 'The little bronze ones are called Knuts. They are worth one. The silver coins are Sickles, worth 29 Knuts. And these giant gold coins are called Galleons, worth seventeen Sickles. Easy to remember.'
'Thanks,' said Link, scooping up the wizard money and putting it in a compartment of his wallet (it was magical, so it could fit an elephant in there if Link wanted).
'We'll put some more money into your vault, if you want. Here is the key for it.' The goblin handed Link a key.
'Thanks. We must be going, then,' Link said.
'Come again!' said the goblin, and bowed them out of the bank.
'Next stop, Madam Maulkin's, best place for robes,' Hagrid said. Link had a startling thought - himself dressed in Rauru's orange and red robes. He chuckled.
'What are yeh laughing 'bout, Link?' Hagrid asked.
'Nothing, I just thought of something from back... home.'
The odd pair (people were still looking at them) walked into Madam Maulkin's shop. A squat witch dressed in mauve robes invited Link to come out the back to get him measured up (she had guessed he was going to Hogwarts).
'Link, I'll get some of yer supplies, OK?' Hagrid called and left the shop.
'We've got someone else being measured right now, in fact,' Madam Maulkin informed Link.
In the back of the shop, a bushy-haired girl was standing on a stool while another witch was cutting the robes so they fit her properly.
'Up you get then, deary,' Madam Maulkin pulled a chair up. Link was about to step up, when Madam Maulkin noticed his shield and sword.
'Can't have them hanging there while I measure you,' she said. Link, feeling embarassed, untied the shield and sword sheath and put them beside the chair while Madam Maulkin went off to find a robe and measuring tape.
The girl looked at Link, then his sword and shield.
'Aren't you a bit young to have a sword?' the girl asked.
'No,' Link replied. 'Where I come from, it's necessary.'
The girl goggled at him uneasily. 'And is that a fairy following you?'
'Yeah.'
'Why does it follow you?' said the girl.
'It's... hard to explain.'
'Who are you anyway?'
'My name's Link... uh... Kokiri. I come from... a far-off country, and was sent here to go to this Hogwarts place.'
'Muggle-born, are you?'
'I, er... suppose so. My mum's dead, and I never knew my father.'
'I'm Muggle-born too. I was so surprised when I got my letter, Mum and Dad wanted me to become a dentist - but here I am - oh, I'm Hermione Granger.'
They both stood there for a moment.
'If you don't mind me asking, are you from Japan by any chance? Your surname just sounds...' Hermione trailed off.
'No,' Link shook his head, wondering what the hell Japan could be.
~You should know,~ came a really annoying voice from nowhere.
Hermione looked all around the room, trying to figure out where the voice came from. 'Who said that?'
'That's just a really annoying invisible person who likes to follow me around everywhere,' Link replied. 'Go away Author!'
'o_o Aha...'
~What? Just checking up on you,~ Author replied.
'Go away,' Link repeated.
~Fine, fine... never knew a guy who was so stubborn...~ There was a small pop and then Author had gone.
There was a small silence.
'So, do you know much about... sword-fighting?' asked Hermione eventually.
'Yeah, heaps. Long story, though. I might tell you later, since we're both going to this Hogwarts place.'
'We might be in the same house,' Hermione nodded.
'House?' Link looked confused.
'School houses. There's four - Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Gryffindor sounds by far the best, I heard Dumbledore himself was one. I don't really like Slytherin though.'
'What's so bad about Slytherin?'
'It's just - almost everyone who was in Slytherin turned out to Dark wizards.' Hermione seemed scared.
'You mean - evil?'
'Yes, You-Know-Who was one.'
'Who's You-Know-Who?'
'You've never heard of You-Know-Who?'
'No, remember, I'm "supposedly" Muggle-born!' Link felt a bit upset.
'You-Know-Who was one of the most evil wizards who ever lived. Before I was born there were heaps of Muggle and wizard killings because of him. He had lots of followers. Everyone they had their sights on killing were killed.'
'Whoa, sounds bad.' Link had a sudden thought of Ganondorf.
'...And then, one night, eleven years ago, You-Know-Who tried to kill the Potters. From what I read, the Potters were really kind. You-Know-Who killed James first, then Lily. But then he used his curse on Harry Potter - it backfired and almost killed him, so he ran away. The only damage the curse did to Harry was a lightning-shaped scar on his forehead. And now Harry Potter's famous. I heard he's coming to Hogwarts this year too.'
'So, um, do you know magic?' Link asked Hermione.
'I only bought my school books today, but I'm going to study up really well.'
'I know a bit of magic,' Link said.
'Really? Do you need a wand?'
'Wand? No, of course not. I might show you at Hogwarts, too risky here. Someone could get hurt.' Link wondered why Hermione asked about wands.
As the two kids had been talking, Madam Maulkin measured Link up. 'You're done now, dear,' she said to Link.
Link hopped off the chair, hitched his sword and shield to his back again and said goodbye to Hermione before noticing Hagrid at the shop window, waiting for him. At least he had made a friend, but he missed Saria and Zelda.
'I got yer supplies,' said Hagrid. 'Tell yer what, why don' I get yer an owl?'
'Okay, Hagrid.' Link cheered up a bit.
They walked into Eeylop's Owl Emporium. Link studied the rows of owls, hooting at him.
'Psst, Link! Hoo,' said a familiar voice.
'Kaepora! Is that you?' Link asked.
The voice fell silent. Then Link felt a tap on his shoulder.
He turned around to see an owl that looked exactly like Kaepora. Link held his arm out and the owl hopped on it. It hooted softly, but Link knew otherwise. It sounded more like, 'Hello Link. It's me.'
'Hagrid, I'll take this one!' Link said to Hagrid.
'Why that one? Looks queer, that one does.' But then again, Hagrid thought Link was queer.
Link walked with difficulty down the street to Ollivander's. The big owl was perched on Link's shoulder - the shop owner had said that the owl didn't like cages.
'Okay, in yer go,' said Hagrid when they reached the door to Ollivander's.
Inside, Hagrid sat on the spindly chair against the wall, leaving Link to lean on the desk in front of him. Kaepora (for that was what Link had named it, against Hagrid's wishes) flapped onto Hagrid's bushy-haired head.
'Don't make a nest up there,' Link said. Hagrid sword he heard the owl say, 'Of course I won't, you silly duffer!'
Link looked around the shop. Thousands of small boxes lined one enormous wall.
Sudddenly there was a small bang. An old, grey-haired man walked up to Link.
'Ah, Link. I am Mr Ollivander. I suppose you are here for your wand?'
'How do you know my name?' Link stammered.
'Oh, Dumbledore sent me a brief letter about you and what wand you'd like. I think I have one...' Mr Ollivander pulled something out of a drawer in the desk. 'Here we are.' He opened the box, and pulled out a wand.
'This wand is custom-made. Dumbledore found it long ago, but didn't know what to do with it. Now he thinks you should be the one to use it.' Mr Ollivander pulled out his own wand. 'Here is a normal wand.'
'It looks like a stick,' Link said.
'It's not just a stick. Look - Orchideous.' Mr Ollivander had said something truly strange that to Link had no meaning whatsoever.
A bunch of flowers had burst from the tip of the wand.
'See? Not just your average stick now, is it?'
'Uh, no Mr Ollivander.'
Mr Ollivander held out the custom-made wand, which, instead of looking like a stick, was more like a sword. It was silver-coloured. Large square jewels (emeralds, rubies and sapphires) were sticking out of the hilt. On the end of the wand was a pyramid-shaped golden Triforce. Link grabbed the sword-wand eagerly.
'It's twenty inches long, inflexible, made of steel. The core is made of one single phoenix feather. More than just a wand, I think. Just the right kind for you. Dumbledore sure was lucky to find this, I tell you.'
Link grasped the sword-wand like he would a normal sword.
'Well, swing it about then.'
Link swung it, and swung it he did. As well as have numerous orange sparks come out of it, it accidentally hit Hagrid in the leg, which gave him a nasty cut.
'Tha's no ordinary wand, Link,' Hagrid said, looking at his cut.
'Let me fix that for you,' Mr Ollivander said. He walked over to Hagrid, pushed the end of his wand onto the cut, and it healed instantly.
'Madam Pomfrey taught me a few tricks,' he informed Hagrid. 'Now, I suppose you want that wand, Link?'
'Yes,' he said, and paid up.
Back at the Leaky Cauldron, Hagrid paid for a room for the night.
'We'll stay here, and then go to King's Cross train station in the morning. It's 31st July today, so you're going to Hogwarts tomorrow,' said Hagrid.
After dinner (in which Link insisted on having some Lon Lon Milk while Hagrid kept asking what the bottle label said), they tramped up the stairs to their room. Hagrid got in bed and fell asleep immediately, but Link couldn't sleep. He was homesick already and it was only his first day in the world of "normal Humans". How lonely he felt.
Link crept downstairs to the fire (Kaepora on his shoulder), which had almost gone out (everyone had left), and got out the Ocarina of Time. He played Zelda's Lullaby for a long time, then thought of Saria's Song. He wanted someone to talk to.
A merry tune echoed through the Leaky Cauldron. It almost woke Hagrid, who wiggled his foot to the song in his sleep.
'Saria, are you there?' Link said in the darkness.
~Link! It's you!~ Saria said.
'Well of course it's me.'
~Where are you?~ Saria asked.
'I'm... I'm in the world of "normal Humans",' he admitted.
~But why are you THERE?~
'I don't know. Zelda just warped me here through a fireplace.' He told her about everything that had happened that day.
'...So everyone thinks I'm a weirdo, except that Hermione girl and my owl. By the way, has Kaepora dropped in to see you?' Kaepora usually visited Saria at night. They had become good friends while Link was in Holodrum.
~No, he hasn't.~
'Well, hoo, that's because I'm here,' said a voice.
'Kaepora! I thought it was you, and it really is!' Link whispered.
'Yes. Zelda sent me to that owl shop to keep an eye on you - she didn't think you'd get a cat or toad. Hoot.'
'Aha! So you're part of this too!' said Link.
'Well... Zelda just wanted me here to help you out, that's all. I've been to the Human world before, so I know a lot about it.'
'Saria, no matter what happens, I... I'll always be your friend. Goodbye, Saria.' Link said.
~Goodbye, Link...~ Saria waved goodbye, even though Link couldn't see it.
Link got up and slowly walked up the stairs to his room, Kaepora gliding behind him. At least he had someone reliable to talk to now.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Super Fun Happy Feature!
Random Quotes Of The Chapter (yes I have two because I couldn't decide):
"The giant man yawned loudly, then, on his way to the fireplace, tripped on his dog and fell face-first where Link had spewed." - the narrator
"What's India?" - Link
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next Chapter: Sword-Tricks And Scabbers
Link's going to cause some trouble on the Hogwarts Express...
~~~
a magical fanfic by charity236
Disclaimer: I didn't create Zelda or Harry Potter. Flames will be given to Rauru to melt his chocolate coins.
Chapter 1: Confusion Arises
As Link spun around in the fireplace, he felt terribly sick. He tried to open his mouth, but more soot and smoke fell in.
And then, as suddenly as it had started, it stopped.
Link fell to the wooden floor of a small hut. He threw up his breakfast (the contents of which I won't say), then looked around him.
A bed, table and chairs were in the room, but they were - gigantic. And so was the door. Numerous hams and birds hung from the ceiling, and a large crossbow was hung up near the window. A dog sat on one chair.
'Where am I?' Link said to no-one, though he supposed this was "Hagrid's Cabin". The dog lifted an ear, saw Link, walked over to him, and started licking his arm.
'Stop that! Heeheehee! That tickles!' Link yelled.
Booom. A huge foot got out of the bed. Booom. Another foot. Creeak. A giant bearded man had risen from the bed. Link didn't know why he hadn't seen him there before.
The giant man yawned loudly, then, on his way to the fireplace, tripped on his dog and fell face-first where Link had spewed.
'Augh! Yuck! What be this, eh?' the big man said. Then he saw Link.
'An' who migh' you be, young 'un?' said the giant.
'L-Link.' Link was terrified, even though he had much courage.
'Tha's an odd name if'n I ever 'eard one,' the giant almost laughed. 'I'm Hagrid, Rubeus Hagrid. Keeper of keys and grounds at Hogwarts.'
'Well, I call that an odd name, and I - I've heard many names.' Link felt a bit happier.
'So, how come yer in me cabin? Without permission?' Hagrid asked.
'I-I came through the fireplace.'
'The fireplace? But I ain't gotten it hooked to the Floo Network! I havn't bought Floo Powder for...' Hagrid thinks a moment, '... abou' three years!'
'Well,' said Link, 'maybe someone hooked it up to this Floo Network thing for you... perhaps...' Link had a sudden thought of Zelda.
'Perhaps what?' Hagrid asked curiously.
'Perhaps... Zelda... did...' Link stuttered.
'Zelda? Professor Dumbledore told me somethin' about 'er. Can't remember it though, musta wrote it down somewhere.' Hagrid started searching through some junk on his table for something. Maybe a letter?
'Yeah, here it is.' Hagrid pulled a large piece of parchment from a stack of books, read it slowly, then said, 'This be it.' He held it out for Link to see.
Dear Hagrid,
I have news from a distant country, news from a little girl named Zelda. She says that a boy named Link will come to you, presumably by Floo Powder. He is to study at Hogwarts. Do not ask many questions of him when he arrives, for he may want to keep his true identity safe. His secrets are safe with me.
Help Link to get along with the other students, he may need help adjusting, for he doesn't know much magic, but is a... let's just say skilled fighter.
Please keep this a secret from people.
Sincerely, Albus Dumbledore
'Well, tha's an interesting letter about you, isn' it?' Hagrid asked.
'Yes,' Link said. He had many questions, but most of all he wanted to meet this "Dumbledore" person.
'So, yeh ready to go to Diagon Alley? I s'pose the fireplace is still hooked up.' Hagrid started rummaging around his pile of books on the table, and relished a paper bag, which must have held some "Floo Powder".
'Yeh can go first, Link,' Hagrid said. He held the bag out.
Link grabbed some more powder and threw it in the flames. He just didn't hope he would puke again. Link glanced at the dog, which was now licking up Link's breakfast.
'Like Fang, do yeh?' Hagrid looked at the dog as well. Then he saw the spew on the floor. 'He'll lick that up pretty quick, mind.'
Link hopped into the fire and said, 'Diagon Alley!' But what he really wanted to say was Hyrule Castle.
Link didn't puke this time, but he felt something break in his bag, probably a Bottle. He got out of the way of the fireplace so Hagrid wouldn't step on him.
'(cough) I hate fireplaces! Too sooty!' Hagrid pulled a big duster from inside his coat (which Link thought was made of pockets) and started to brush the soot off of Link.
'Okay, here we are, the Leaky Cauldron. The local pub for magic people.'
There were indeed many magic people in the room. Almost anyone from hags to warlocks were there, some gossiping in small groups, others sitting alone by the fire.
'Hagrid!' yelled the barman. 'Isn't like you to come by Floo Powder! Want your usual?'
'Can't Tom, I'm on Hogwarts business,' Hagrid exclaimed, patting Link on the shoulder heavily (Link almost fell over from the force of it).
'...Alrighty then,' Tom replied, staring at Link curiously. Some of the other people in the bar glanced at the Hylian out of the corner of their eyes.
'Let's go out the back,' Hagrid said briskly, before anyone could ask questions. Link follwed him into a small beer garden, with a bunch of barrels, hedges and a seat, but Hagrid started counting bricks on the wall with a pink umbrella, in which Link had no idea what it was (umbrellas hadn't been invented in Hyrule yet).
When Link asked Hagrid about the umbrella, he said, 'This? It's an umbrella. You use it to stop from getting wet in the rain.' Hagrid had no idea why Link didn't know what an umbrella was, but thought that Link came from a country that didn't have them. Yes, that's probably it, he thought.
Hagrid tapped one of the bricks on the wall and an archway appeared in front of them.
Link was amazed to see a long, twisting street filled with people.
'Welcome, Link, to Diagon Alley. We'll be needin' some money first, so let's head for Gringotts, the wizard bank.'
Link looked around curiously at all the different shops, while passers-by stared at Link's strange clothes, sword and shield.
At the entrance to Gringotts, they stopped. Link gaped at the large silver and bronze doors. Goblins bowed the two people inside.
'I don't think yer have any wizard money, so we'll have to get a vault for you,' Hagrid started, but Link had an idea.
'Hagrid, does this bank exchange foreign money?' Link asked.
'Yeah, they do. Why? Do yeh have some Muggle money?' Hagrid queried.
'Muggle? What's that?'
'Yeh don' know what a Muggle is?' Hagrid looked outraged. 'Well, they're people who don' have magic blood, tha's all.' Hagrid said, then thought to himself, Link must be one weird Muggle-born. He does magic, but he don' know much 'bout it.
Or so Hagrid thought.
Hagrid led Link up to one of the many goblins (Link figured out what they were, but he originally thought they were very short, green and wrinkly ReDeads with clothes). Link asked, 'Can I exchange some money?'
The goblin looked at Link closely. 'Sure you can,' said the goblin in a sly voice. 'What type of money do you want to exchange?'
'Rupees,' said Link. At this, both the goblin AND Hagrid thought Link had come from India. Link got out his wallet and put on the counter a bunch of differently coloured Rupees - green, red, purple and gold.
'I thought Rupees were just coins and notes,' said the goblin slowly.
'Not where I come from,' Link grinned. The goblin looked at the purple Rupee with a magnifying glass, while Hagrid gave Link a strange look. Link, however, didn't notice.
'If you wanted to know, the green is worth one, the red is 20, the purple is 50 and gold is 200. There's blue and silver too but I didn't have any,' Link said.
'Do you come from India, Link?' Hagrid asked.
'What's India?' Link replied.
Hagrid was flabbergasted. They mustn't have taught him much at school, he assumed, if there was a school in his country at all.
'Well, I can give you some wizard money for these - ah - Rupees,' the goblin said. 'This bank also collects precious jewels; these Rupees will be a valuable addition.' He pushed some gold, silver and bronze coins over the counter.
'I suppose I must explain what these coins are,' said the goblin to Link. 'The little bronze ones are called Knuts. They are worth one. The silver coins are Sickles, worth 29 Knuts. And these giant gold coins are called Galleons, worth seventeen Sickles. Easy to remember.'
'Thanks,' said Link, scooping up the wizard money and putting it in a compartment of his wallet (it was magical, so it could fit an elephant in there if Link wanted).
'We'll put some more money into your vault, if you want. Here is the key for it.' The goblin handed Link a key.
'Thanks. We must be going, then,' Link said.
'Come again!' said the goblin, and bowed them out of the bank.
'Next stop, Madam Maulkin's, best place for robes,' Hagrid said. Link had a startling thought - himself dressed in Rauru's orange and red robes. He chuckled.
'What are yeh laughing 'bout, Link?' Hagrid asked.
'Nothing, I just thought of something from back... home.'
The odd pair (people were still looking at them) walked into Madam Maulkin's shop. A squat witch dressed in mauve robes invited Link to come out the back to get him measured up (she had guessed he was going to Hogwarts).
'Link, I'll get some of yer supplies, OK?' Hagrid called and left the shop.
'We've got someone else being measured right now, in fact,' Madam Maulkin informed Link.
In the back of the shop, a bushy-haired girl was standing on a stool while another witch was cutting the robes so they fit her properly.
'Up you get then, deary,' Madam Maulkin pulled a chair up. Link was about to step up, when Madam Maulkin noticed his shield and sword.
'Can't have them hanging there while I measure you,' she said. Link, feeling embarassed, untied the shield and sword sheath and put them beside the chair while Madam Maulkin went off to find a robe and measuring tape.
The girl looked at Link, then his sword and shield.
'Aren't you a bit young to have a sword?' the girl asked.
'No,' Link replied. 'Where I come from, it's necessary.'
The girl goggled at him uneasily. 'And is that a fairy following you?'
'Yeah.'
'Why does it follow you?' said the girl.
'It's... hard to explain.'
'Who are you anyway?'
'My name's Link... uh... Kokiri. I come from... a far-off country, and was sent here to go to this Hogwarts place.'
'Muggle-born, are you?'
'I, er... suppose so. My mum's dead, and I never knew my father.'
'I'm Muggle-born too. I was so surprised when I got my letter, Mum and Dad wanted me to become a dentist - but here I am - oh, I'm Hermione Granger.'
They both stood there for a moment.
'If you don't mind me asking, are you from Japan by any chance? Your surname just sounds...' Hermione trailed off.
'No,' Link shook his head, wondering what the hell Japan could be.
~You should know,~ came a really annoying voice from nowhere.
Hermione looked all around the room, trying to figure out where the voice came from. 'Who said that?'
'That's just a really annoying invisible person who likes to follow me around everywhere,' Link replied. 'Go away Author!'
'o_o Aha...'
~What? Just checking up on you,~ Author replied.
'Go away,' Link repeated.
~Fine, fine... never knew a guy who was so stubborn...~ There was a small pop and then Author had gone.
There was a small silence.
'So, do you know much about... sword-fighting?' asked Hermione eventually.
'Yeah, heaps. Long story, though. I might tell you later, since we're both going to this Hogwarts place.'
'We might be in the same house,' Hermione nodded.
'House?' Link looked confused.
'School houses. There's four - Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Gryffindor sounds by far the best, I heard Dumbledore himself was one. I don't really like Slytherin though.'
'What's so bad about Slytherin?'
'It's just - almost everyone who was in Slytherin turned out to Dark wizards.' Hermione seemed scared.
'You mean - evil?'
'Yes, You-Know-Who was one.'
'Who's You-Know-Who?'
'You've never heard of You-Know-Who?'
'No, remember, I'm "supposedly" Muggle-born!' Link felt a bit upset.
'You-Know-Who was one of the most evil wizards who ever lived. Before I was born there were heaps of Muggle and wizard killings because of him. He had lots of followers. Everyone they had their sights on killing were killed.'
'Whoa, sounds bad.' Link had a sudden thought of Ganondorf.
'...And then, one night, eleven years ago, You-Know-Who tried to kill the Potters. From what I read, the Potters were really kind. You-Know-Who killed James first, then Lily. But then he used his curse on Harry Potter - it backfired and almost killed him, so he ran away. The only damage the curse did to Harry was a lightning-shaped scar on his forehead. And now Harry Potter's famous. I heard he's coming to Hogwarts this year too.'
'So, um, do you know magic?' Link asked Hermione.
'I only bought my school books today, but I'm going to study up really well.'
'I know a bit of magic,' Link said.
'Really? Do you need a wand?'
'Wand? No, of course not. I might show you at Hogwarts, too risky here. Someone could get hurt.' Link wondered why Hermione asked about wands.
As the two kids had been talking, Madam Maulkin measured Link up. 'You're done now, dear,' she said to Link.
Link hopped off the chair, hitched his sword and shield to his back again and said goodbye to Hermione before noticing Hagrid at the shop window, waiting for him. At least he had made a friend, but he missed Saria and Zelda.
'I got yer supplies,' said Hagrid. 'Tell yer what, why don' I get yer an owl?'
'Okay, Hagrid.' Link cheered up a bit.
They walked into Eeylop's Owl Emporium. Link studied the rows of owls, hooting at him.
'Psst, Link! Hoo,' said a familiar voice.
'Kaepora! Is that you?' Link asked.
The voice fell silent. Then Link felt a tap on his shoulder.
He turned around to see an owl that looked exactly like Kaepora. Link held his arm out and the owl hopped on it. It hooted softly, but Link knew otherwise. It sounded more like, 'Hello Link. It's me.'
'Hagrid, I'll take this one!' Link said to Hagrid.
'Why that one? Looks queer, that one does.' But then again, Hagrid thought Link was queer.
Link walked with difficulty down the street to Ollivander's. The big owl was perched on Link's shoulder - the shop owner had said that the owl didn't like cages.
'Okay, in yer go,' said Hagrid when they reached the door to Ollivander's.
Inside, Hagrid sat on the spindly chair against the wall, leaving Link to lean on the desk in front of him. Kaepora (for that was what Link had named it, against Hagrid's wishes) flapped onto Hagrid's bushy-haired head.
'Don't make a nest up there,' Link said. Hagrid sword he heard the owl say, 'Of course I won't, you silly duffer!'
Link looked around the shop. Thousands of small boxes lined one enormous wall.
Sudddenly there was a small bang. An old, grey-haired man walked up to Link.
'Ah, Link. I am Mr Ollivander. I suppose you are here for your wand?'
'How do you know my name?' Link stammered.
'Oh, Dumbledore sent me a brief letter about you and what wand you'd like. I think I have one...' Mr Ollivander pulled something out of a drawer in the desk. 'Here we are.' He opened the box, and pulled out a wand.
'This wand is custom-made. Dumbledore found it long ago, but didn't know what to do with it. Now he thinks you should be the one to use it.' Mr Ollivander pulled out his own wand. 'Here is a normal wand.'
'It looks like a stick,' Link said.
'It's not just a stick. Look - Orchideous.' Mr Ollivander had said something truly strange that to Link had no meaning whatsoever.
A bunch of flowers had burst from the tip of the wand.
'See? Not just your average stick now, is it?'
'Uh, no Mr Ollivander.'
Mr Ollivander held out the custom-made wand, which, instead of looking like a stick, was more like a sword. It was silver-coloured. Large square jewels (emeralds, rubies and sapphires) were sticking out of the hilt. On the end of the wand was a pyramid-shaped golden Triforce. Link grabbed the sword-wand eagerly.
'It's twenty inches long, inflexible, made of steel. The core is made of one single phoenix feather. More than just a wand, I think. Just the right kind for you. Dumbledore sure was lucky to find this, I tell you.'
Link grasped the sword-wand like he would a normal sword.
'Well, swing it about then.'
Link swung it, and swung it he did. As well as have numerous orange sparks come out of it, it accidentally hit Hagrid in the leg, which gave him a nasty cut.
'Tha's no ordinary wand, Link,' Hagrid said, looking at his cut.
'Let me fix that for you,' Mr Ollivander said. He walked over to Hagrid, pushed the end of his wand onto the cut, and it healed instantly.
'Madam Pomfrey taught me a few tricks,' he informed Hagrid. 'Now, I suppose you want that wand, Link?'
'Yes,' he said, and paid up.
Back at the Leaky Cauldron, Hagrid paid for a room for the night.
'We'll stay here, and then go to King's Cross train station in the morning. It's 31st July today, so you're going to Hogwarts tomorrow,' said Hagrid.
After dinner (in which Link insisted on having some Lon Lon Milk while Hagrid kept asking what the bottle label said), they tramped up the stairs to their room. Hagrid got in bed and fell asleep immediately, but Link couldn't sleep. He was homesick already and it was only his first day in the world of "normal Humans". How lonely he felt.
Link crept downstairs to the fire (Kaepora on his shoulder), which had almost gone out (everyone had left), and got out the Ocarina of Time. He played Zelda's Lullaby for a long time, then thought of Saria's Song. He wanted someone to talk to.
A merry tune echoed through the Leaky Cauldron. It almost woke Hagrid, who wiggled his foot to the song in his sleep.
'Saria, are you there?' Link said in the darkness.
~Link! It's you!~ Saria said.
'Well of course it's me.'
~Where are you?~ Saria asked.
'I'm... I'm in the world of "normal Humans",' he admitted.
~But why are you THERE?~
'I don't know. Zelda just warped me here through a fireplace.' He told her about everything that had happened that day.
'...So everyone thinks I'm a weirdo, except that Hermione girl and my owl. By the way, has Kaepora dropped in to see you?' Kaepora usually visited Saria at night. They had become good friends while Link was in Holodrum.
~No, he hasn't.~
'Well, hoo, that's because I'm here,' said a voice.
'Kaepora! I thought it was you, and it really is!' Link whispered.
'Yes. Zelda sent me to that owl shop to keep an eye on you - she didn't think you'd get a cat or toad. Hoot.'
'Aha! So you're part of this too!' said Link.
'Well... Zelda just wanted me here to help you out, that's all. I've been to the Human world before, so I know a lot about it.'
'Saria, no matter what happens, I... I'll always be your friend. Goodbye, Saria.' Link said.
~Goodbye, Link...~ Saria waved goodbye, even though Link couldn't see it.
Link got up and slowly walked up the stairs to his room, Kaepora gliding behind him. At least he had someone reliable to talk to now.
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Super Fun Happy Feature!
Random Quotes Of The Chapter (yes I have two because I couldn't decide):
"The giant man yawned loudly, then, on his way to the fireplace, tripped on his dog and fell face-first where Link had spewed." - the narrator
"What's India?" - Link
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Next Chapter: Sword-Tricks And Scabbers
Link's going to cause some trouble on the Hogwarts Express...
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