Chapter 3 – Diagon Alley and Changes
Dust swirled out of the door and Lily took a deep breath and swallowed a small amount of it. She choked and felt the fluttering of panic as she entered the dimly lit pub. Lily's eyes adjusted to the dim light and she realised how small it was. The area had small wooden stools littered around the place with rickety tables placed haphazardly between these. At the bar were a weird selection of drinks and above it; a poster exclaimed, "Try the new butterbeer". It seemed that the people in the place were dressed very much like her aunt, all had on cloaks and a few had on hats. One woman was hidden behind a veil. A few called out to her aunt and she greeted them pleasantly. They looked enquiringly at Lily yet asked no questions. Jo ushered Lily out of the back door and she shut it. Lily looked around there was nothing remarkable about this place either. It was a dirty alley with a couple of dustbins leaning against a brick wall. It was a dead-end. Lily watched as her aunt counted bricks in the wall above the dustbin. She then tapped a brick three times with a strip of wood, which Lily recognised as a wand. The brick that was touched quivered all of a sudden and in the middle a small hole had appeared. It grew wider and wider until Lily, her mum and aunt could all step through the newly made archway.
They stepped onto the cobbled street as Lily felt her mouth open in amazement. A snapping noise behind her made her look round. The archway had disappeared and all that was left was a brick wall. The first sight that beheld Lily's eyes was a stack of cauldrons, which caught the suns light. Walking down the cobbled street Lily found it hard to contain her amazement. When they went past Eeylops Owl Emporium she stopped and looked at all the beautiful birds on display. An eagle owl caught her eye as it hooted softly and gazed at her, the sunlight shone on its golden feathers and Lily knew she had to have him.
Ahead she heard Jo talking to her mum "we'll need to go to Gringotts first of course to change your money so we can buy Lily all that she needs"
"I just can't wait to explore last time I was here with you I was only fifteen I can't believe it hasn't changed at all" Hope exclaimed.
Lily ran to catch up with them and excitedly asked if she could have the handsome owl she saw. Hope turned and nodded and returned to gazing around Diagon Alley.
In the distance Lily could see a snow white building clearly as it towered over all of the other shops. As they neared the building Lily looked in shock, besides the bronze doors of the entrance was a small goblin with a pointed beard he nodded to them as they entered. A vast marble hall stretched before them and behind a long counter many more goblins sat serving people, scribbling down notes, examining precious gems and counting money. Lily noticed that the money was strangely different. As they reached the counter a free goblin enquired what they wanted. "We want to exchange this muggle money please," Jo answered. Hope handed over the money with a look of trepidation on her face the goblin counted it out and handed them a large pouch that jingled. Jo then handed this to Lily as they walked back outside to the bright sunlight. Inside were large golden coins, smaller silver coins and even smaller than that there were bronze coins.
"I think we're best going for your wand first," Jo said.
They walked down the street until they came to a small shop, which had a proud sign over it exclaiming Ollivanders; makers of fine wands. Lily entered the shop and a small bell jingled merrily. Inside dust swirled much like it did in the Leaky Cauldron. There was a tingling in the air, there seemed to be a powerful energy within this small shop. Lily approached the small chair within the shop and sat down and waited. Eventually a small man appeared in front of the thousands of boxes stacked in the shop.
"Good morning" he said in a soft voice, "ah Jo Crawford I believe beechwood and dragon heartstring, 10 and a half inches".
Jo smiled and nodded and the small old man fixed his silvery eyes on Lily instead.
"Right then Ms Evans hold out your wand arm" Lily was surprised he knew her name but didn't say anything.
He then measured her arm with a tape measure and began pulling boxes down. He handed her a wand "ten and a quarter inches long, swishy made of willow single unicorn hair as the core".
Lily took the wand and an instant warmth filled her hand she swished the wand and golden sparks erupted from it.
"Well then, that has never happened before I like a challenge to find a wand but never mind" he exclaimed rather disappointed.
They paid and left the shop back into the warm sunlight. Next they went to Madam Malkins Robes for all occasions. It was a small bustling woman that measured Lily and then with a flick of her wand the robes began to form. The small black robes fitted onto Lily and brought out the extraordinary green in her eyes. A cloak was then made to fit Lily, which had small intricate silver fastenings attached. Lily paid for these along with a pair of dragon hide gloves. After that they visited the apothecary's for the potion ingredients that Lily would need. There was a rancid smell inside, which made Lily feel sick to her stomach once outside again she gulped the clean fresh air down.
Lily's school books were then purchased from a bookshop named Flourish and Blotts, Lily felt like she needed ten eyes when she entered this shop, from the floor to the ceiling books were stacked high from Common Household Pests and What to Do With Them, to Predicting Your Future and Cursing Your Enemies, Lily was enchanted. Next they purchased a pewter cauldron, a nice set of scales for weighing potions ingredients and a small golden and silver telescope. Lily was beginning to get tired but she still had her owl to buy.
"Nearly time to go home Lils" moaned her mum, but Lily shook her head and said "no I need to get my owl".
Her mum sighed. She knew she shouldn't have come here today all the old memories and feelings of jealously erupted inside her. Why couldn't she be a part of this world? She wouldn't spoil this for Lily though, she nodded and said of course and gave Lily a wide smile. Her and Jo went and sat outside an ice cream shop while Lily proceeded to the owl emporium on her own. She passed a shop titled Quality Quidditch Supplies and Lily giggled to herself, a boy turned when he heard her laugh and gazed at her. He had dark messy hair and deep brown eyes, he was taller than Lily and he smiled a small smile at her. She smiled back and turned away not before noticing the broomstick held on a podium in the window claiming the brand new Shooting Star 5. "Wow" Lily said quietly to herself he looked to be her ideal boy but why would he be interested in me I'm young and I don't even know a bit of magic. As she carried down the street she didn't notice the boys eyes on her.
She finally reached the hooting noise that signalled the emporium. She pushed open the small curtain that hung above the door and walked straight into someone. They both screamed and the girl that Lily knocked over sat on the floor. Embarrassed Lily offered her hand to the girl and picked her up
"I'm so sorry about that I didn't mean to knock you over"
the other girls face cracked into a grin "that's alright I'm quite clumsy I'm always falling over" she laughed "Grace Barton"
Lily smiled and replied "Lily Evans".
Grace had dark brown straight hair that trailed down her back. She tossed her head as she said "nice to meet you" and her hair sparkled in the light. "Are you going to be a first year at Hogwarts?" she enquired of Lily and without waiting for an answer she said "I am I can't wait ever since my older brother Dave made it there I've been so excited about going" Lily laughed and said that it was also going to be her first year at Hogwarts. "Ooooh we might be in the same house, I hope I'm in Gryffindor" Grace added and Lily shared her enthusiasm "so do I my aunt was in that house and I really don't know much else about the other houses!".
"Grace" a small tinkling voice shouted through the doorway "have you gotten your owl yet we need to get home, all those gnomes in the garden won't degnome themselves".
"I'm so sorry I've got to go but I'll meet you on the Hogwarts Express and we can talk then" Grace stated before saying a quick goodbye with Lily and running out of the shop with a cage containing a screech owl.
Lily went up to the counter and enquired about the handsome eagle owl she saw. The owner went outside and brought him in he placed him within another cage and gave Lily care instructions. Lily excited the shops and smiled. All worries and fears had left her mind as she went to the ice cream parlour. She had met a new person who might possibly end up being a good friend. She continued smiling until she reached her mum and aunty Jo.
"Come on Sirius move out of the way I want to look at the Shooting Star 5".
The boy with dark hair and dark eyes shoved his friend away from the display window in Quality Quidditch Supplies. Sirius his friend gave a bark like laugh,
"Come on James be patient for once I'm sure your daddy will buy it for you soon enough and then you can look at it all you want"
James rolled his eyes at his best friend they shared many similar traits both dark haired, dark eyed and extremely handsome. Both also loved a good prank. Starting their first year at Hogwarts was going to be a blast they would have a much wider scope for causing mayhem. James heard a small giggle and turned around his breath caught in his throat a slim girl about his age stood before him she had red curly hair, which cascaded down her back. Her small perfectly formed lips were turned in a smile he smiled at her and she noticed him. Her green eyes connected with his brown eyes and James felt a small lurch in his stomach as if he was falling down the stairs. She walked away and James carried on looking.
Sirius who suddenly noticed that James attention wasn't on him any longer turned to see who he was staring at. His face cracked into a wide evil grin and he grabbed a nearby lamppost
"oh red come here and give me a big wet slobbery kiss" he then began to make wet kissing noises and pretended to kiss the lamppost. James ran at him and they began a small playful fight. James twisted Sirius arm behind his back until Sirius roared in pain
" let me go you win"
"not until you say I'm the greatest god who ever walked this earth" James laughed.
"Never" Sirius cried and he struggled to break free.
"James put down Sirius this instant! What do you think your doing rolling around on the ground getting dirty?" They both received slaps on the back of the head and James looked into the angry looking face of his mother.
"I'm so sorry dear mummy" James tried to say charmingly
"Aren't you looking beautiful today" Sirius exclaimed and her lips turned into a small smile.
"You boys go on get out of here we still have lots to buy".
All thoughts of the pretty girl left James mind as he and Sirius trailed after his mum giving occasional playful digs to one another.
Lily shut the book, Hogwarts: A History, with a snap. She sighed contentedly as she felt the excitement bubble up within her, tomorrow she would be going to Hogwarts. She would be able to see for herself what the great many turreted castle looked like. She would be able to explore the old corridors and meet all the teachers and learn all about different magical things within the lessons. She was most looking forward to charms. Imagine being able to make a boring old piece of fruit tap dance and sing to you. She smiled to herself and gazed around her room. The lilac bedspread rumpled beneath her feet as she looked into her mirror her hair had been cut so that it wasn't nearly as long as it used to be, but was still long enough for Lily to like it. She had developed a golden tan over the summer month and small freckles had appeared on her nose. A whooshing noise through the window signalled that Achilles had arrived back from hunting. She had decided to name her handsome eagle owl this, as she loved Greek mythology. The story of Troy and the great warrior that went to war against Troy fascinated her. He gazed at her as if asking why she was still up at this late hour. In truth she was slightly nervous about going to Hogwarts. There was a sorting process, which she couldn't find out what it was. Maybe she had to do magic or recite something. Whatever it entailed, she was dreading it.
When she had gotten back from Diagon Alley that beautiful summers day she had rushed straight round to Kate's to tell her about a scholarship to a school in Scotland which she had been awarded. Kate wasn't happy and her and Lily ended up having a big argument and falling out. That night Lily had cried about it. She couldn't believe her best friend would turn against her for something so trivial. Kate had called Lily many hurtful things along with calling her "as thick as two short planks how the hell did you get a scholarship?" Her mum had tried to comfort her but it didn't work. Since that day Lily had not spoken to Kate and she had not seen her.
As expected Lily's father was excited about her going to Hogwarts and he revealed how proud he was of Lily. He brought her back a gift the next day, which turned out to be a white gold charm bracelet. When Petunia first heard the news that Lily would be going to Hogwarts she to was happy for Lily. However when her dad presented Lily with the charm bracelet Lily caught a reproachful look flicker across her face and when Lily looked at her she replaced this with a false smile. Her sister had never behaved like that before. Lily wondered how everything would change, would Petunia begin acting like this more? She hoped not, her and Petunia were extremely close and she didn't want to drift apart from her. Lily looked around at her surroundings she wouldn't be back sleeping on this bed until the Christmas holidays, which was over three months away. At the base of her bed there was a small trunk, which contained all of her school equipment and the robes and clothes she would need for school. In there she had also lovingly placed her new wand. She couldn't wait to start using it. Lily stretched and got up she shut Achilles into his cage and flicked the light off. Moonlight played across her face as she scrambled into bed and fell into a dreamless sleep.