Chapter 2: Diagon Alley

Only a week later, Ron and Alexia were sitting at the kitch table at the Burrow. Lexi was a bit nervous and she wasn't even sure why. She had been at the Burrow before. She loved her grandparents. She thought maybe it was because she now knew the truth about them. They were wizards. Not that she minded, but it still made her uneasy.

Ron, himself, was uneasy. No, not uneasy. A bit guilty. Why hadn't he told Lexi and Liz that he was a wizard? Why had he kept it a secret? Did he think Liz wouldn't like him if she knew? Was he afraid that she would have thought he was a freak? He looked over at his daughter, who was very pale.

"So, when are you two going to Diagon Alley?" Mrs. Weasley asked. "Lexi needs her school supplies." She looked fondly at her granddaughter and smiled. Mrs. Weasley was thrilled that Lexi was going to Hogwarts, the third of her grandchildren to go. Bill's son Shane and Charlie's daughter Regina were starting their third and second years respectively. Percy's, Fred's, George's and Ginny's children were all still too young to go.

"Well, " Ron said, answering his mother. "Soon. How should we get there? Floo powder or through the Leaky Cauldron?"

Lexi's face, once again, bore that confused look. Leaky Cauldron? Floo Powder? What had she gotten herself into?

Mrs. Weasley thought for a moment. "Perhaps you should go through the Leaky Cauldron. Poor dear looks scared enough without trying something new, something she doesn't understand yet, like Floo Powder."

Ron nodded. "Right. You ready to go, Lex?"

Lexi nodded mutely. She had no idea what to say. So she just got up, gave her grandmother a hug and followed her father out of the house. They walked in silence for twenty minutes until they reached a pub with a sign saying "The Leaky Cauldron"

Ron held the door open for her. "Let's go"

"This is where we have to go?" She asked uncertainly.

"No," Ron shook his head. "But we have to pass through to get to Diagon Alley."

So, together they walked through the dark pub and exited throug the back door. Lexi just stared at the brick wall blocking their way. She started to ask her father something, but stopped when she saw him take out his wand, mutter something under his breath that sounded like "Now, what's the proper way to do this?", Lexi wasn't positive, he was talking to low. She had never seen him with a wand before. She remembered him going into the attic the morning after she announced that she wanted to go to Hogwarts and return thirty minutes later, holding a wand in his hand.

Lexi began to get scared and fear for her father's sanity when he began tapping the bricks with his wand. But then she began fearing for her own sanity when the bricks began to move apart on their own. She must have had a strange expression on her face because Ron burst out laughing and said "You'll get used to this, love". She stared in amazement as an alleyway, bright and cheerful and crowded with people, appeared before her.

Ron smiled. "This is Diagon Alley, Lexi" He said brightly..

Lexi couldn't help but smile as she stepped onto the stone path. "Pretty nice, isn't it?" Ron said. "Just like I remember it."

Ron began pointing out various stores. He pointed out Flourish and Blotts, Eyelops Owl Emporium, Madam Malkin's Robes for all Occassions, Ollivanders and Quality Quidditch Supplies. "What's Quidditch?" Lexi asked.

"Ahh, it's the best sport Lex!" Ron told her. He began to explain Quidditch, the gameplay, the equipment, thes rules. "Wait until you see your House play. I think you'll really enjoy it." But Lexi wasn't so sure. She wasn't a big sports fan.

"Well, let's start buying your stuff." Ron said. Mrs. Weasley had given Ron some money for Lexi's supplies despite Ron's protests. But he knew she was right. Ron doesn't have any money in Gringotts yet. His muggle money won't work in Diagon Alley.

"Let's start with your wand." Ron told her. "You definitely need a wand." So, they headed off to Ollivander's. No one seemed to be around as they entered. "Hello? Mr. Ollivander?" Ron called.

A few moments later, Mr. Ollivander appeared. He smiled, "Welcome back Mr. Weasley. Let's see...fourteen inches, willow, one unicorm tail-hair."

Ron smiled and held up his wand. "That's right. This is my daughter Alexia. She's starting Hogwarts and came for her first wand"

"Right then" Mr. Ollivander said. "Come here, dear."

Lexi walked slowly to Mr. Ollivander, looking back at her father. Ron nodded for her to continue on. Mr. Ollivander was already taking a box from the shelf when Lexi approached the counter. He took her measurements, then walked to the back of the store. He returned less than a minute later holding a thin box in his hands. He opened the box and pulled out a wand. "Ten inches, holly, phoenix feather. Take it and give it a wave"

Lexi took the wand from Mr. Ollivander and waved it around. "No", Mr. Ollivander snatched it away from her and walked back to the shelves and looked around. Lexi glanced back at her father, the confused expression back on her face. Ron was stiffling a laugh. He nodded at her encouragingly.

Mr. Ollivander returned with another box and took out the wand. He handed it to Lexi, saying "Nine inches, yew, unicorn hair"

Lexi waved that one as well and again it was snatched out of her hand by Mr. Ollivander. Once again, another wand was in her hands, "Seven and a half inches, maple, phoenix feather." And yet again, this one was snatched out of her hand. She was growing impatient. Was it really this hard to get a wand? She assumed she could just pick one out that she liked and buy it. Obviously not.

Mr. Ollivander returned again holding another wand. "Seven inches, ash, dragon heartstring." Lexi waved it, and Mr. Ollivander clapped his hands. "We've found her wand." He said happily.

"This is my wand? Dragon heartstring? It sounds gross." Lexi said. Ron chuckled. "Makes me happy that I've got a unicorn hair." He winked at Lexi. Ron paid for the wand, both of them thanked Mr. Ollivander and they left the store to finish their shopping. They bought robes, a cauldron and Lexi's school books.

As they walked past Eeylops, Ron had an idea. "Come in here, Lex. See if there's an owl you like." They went into the store and began looking around. Lexi spotted a beautiful brown Tawny Owl sitting on a perch. "Oh daddy! Look at this cute owl!" Ron walked over to the perch and nodded. "She is a beautiful owl, that's for sure". The Tawny hooted happily, like she knew she was being complimented. Both Ron and Lexi smiled.

"Would you like to have her?" Ron asked Lexi. This owl was a bit on the expensive side, but Ron was willing to buy her if Alexia really wanted her. He knew the owl would come in handy during school as well. In fact, he had every intention of buying her an owl, which was why he suggested coming into the store.

"Really?" Lexi asked. "You'll buy her for me?"

"I sure will...or rather, your grandmother will since it's her money" Ron hung his head in mock mebarrassment. Lexi giggled.

"Thanks Daddy" Lexi said, and for the first time since she arrived in England, she had a good feeling about all this

*Author's Notes*.....next chapter will come soon