Marak and Hagrid walked into the pub. It took a few seconds for Marak's eyes to adjust to the darkness, but as it did he had to look around. It was quiet, except for the low murmur, but as Hagrid came in a few hands went up in greeting.
"Hello Raru…" Hagrid said. Behind the bar came a man with messy black hair and blue eyes which seemed… weird. They seemed to be able to look past your eyes and read your thoughts. He had a scar on his right cheek, and he had a piercing in his ear. It was strange because Raru wasn't wearing robes, but Muggle clothing. Marak could see muscles under the shirt, he must weight train.
"Hello Hagrid!" Raru said, a grin lighting his face and he went up to Hagrid. Raru was 6 feet tall, and looked around 20ish, "Who's this that's following you?" Raru asked, casting his strange eyes on Marak.
"That there's Marak Barker." Hagrid said, "He's going to be a firs' year." Hagrid said. Raru nodded, "Wow, I remember my days at Hogwarts…" He began.
"Oooooh no! We're not goin' ter be listening to any rambling about you and your hooligan friends up at Hogwarts…" Hagrid said, a large grin on his face.
"Aww… well, nice meeting you Barker." Raru said, motioning with his wrist to a couple of tankards which were on the shelves. They floated over to a tap and began filling up. "I have some work to do, but if we run into each other again I can tell you about those…" Raru paused to cast a dark look at Hagrid, "stories." He gave a small wink to Marak and snapped his fingers, the now full tankards floating to his hands. Marak was quite keen on hearing Raru's stories.
Marak watched Raru walk down to some tables where some shadowy people in cloaks were waiting. He put the tankards in front of them and chatted a little bit before continuing onto the next table.
He seems like a pretty nice guy… Marak thought, before getting elbowed by Hagrid,
"Ready to go?" He asked, "We have a lot to get, and check your other sheet you got in the mail… the one which tells you what you need to buy." He said. Marak took another look at his letter, and found another sheet in the back of the envelope. He hadn't read it because he really didn't have time to read it all. Since he met up with Hagrid everything seemed to be zooming by. Marak's enthusiasm just hit a speed bump.
"Uhh.. Hagrid… I don't have any money… and I don't think the Orphanage can pay for my supplies…" He said, cautiously. Hagrid stopped,
"Hmm… that's right… well.." Hagrid said, pondering, "I'll just have to give you some money and you'll owe me. Alright?" He said. Marak nodded. First he'd have to find a way to get a job and pay Hagrid off. Hagrid started walking out a back door while explaining to Marak how many Sickles were in a Galleon and how many Knuts were in a Sickle. Marak nodded mutely and followed Hagrid outside, where they stood facing a dead end. Marak looked around to try and see if there was anything else, but besides a couple of pieces of garbage, there was just the back door and the wall. Hagrid, meanwhile, was busy shuffling through his pockets again.
"no.. that isn't it… I could've sworn I left it here…" Hagrid murmered, but then with a little grunt he pulled out a battered umbrella. "Ah here it is." Hagrid said. Marak looked at Hagrid strange… maybe some of Jones had rubbed off on him since Hagrid now was tapping the wall with the tip of the umbrella.
"Hagrid… what are you doing?" Marak began to ask, but before he could finish Hagrid tapped a final time, and the brick he had tapped quivered for a bit, then it wriggled, and a hole appeared. Within seconds it started to grow wider and wider and as the archway grew Marak could also hear the sounds of people talking and walking on the cobblestone clearly now, as if someone had turned volume from 0 to normal. He wondered faintly why he couldn't hear them before.
"Aha." Hagrid said, stuffing the umbrella back into his pocket, "Marak, welcome to Diagon Alley." He said and shuffled inside. Marak walked through the entryway and had to look in all different directions. There were shops here and there, some sold cauldrons, some sold moldy potions, and some sold the oddest things,
"Buy this clock-stopper! It will freeze all clocks in a wide radius! Confuse your friends!"
Marak had to hold himself to make sure he didn't run off towards the nearest shop. It was because of this that he rammed into another body, knocking both of them over.
"Ow!" Marak yelped, falling to the stone way. He heard a clatter and another 'Ow!' from the person he had bumped into. Marak got up and brushed himself off, looking at the person he had knocked over. The boy in front of him got up, a small cut on his arm from the fall. He stood about 2 inches or so taller than Marak, and had messy brown hair which looked like it hadn't been combed in weeks. As he looked up at his assailant his eyes landed on Marak, who was reminded of Raru. The boy had blue eyes which had the same quality as Raru's, and in fact, the hair, if not brown but black, would look exactly like Raru's. The only difference was some of the facial features.
"Hey, watch where you're going!" The boy yelled as he got up, brushing off his robes. As Marak had looked around he could see many people in robes, it must be the normal wizard-wear, Marak thought.
"Sorry about that." Marak said, "I'm not quite used to this wizard world..." He admitted. The boy looked at him inquiringly,
"My name's Tobias." He said, extending his hand, Marak accepted it. Now that they had gotten up the other boy seemed to have forgotten Marak had ever pushed him down. Tobias had a mischievous look in his eye,
"You're Muggle-born?" Tobias asked, Marak nodded.
"You have wizard parents?" Marak asked him back, Tobias nodded,
"They are pretty nice, although they'd like to see me focus more on schoolwork. They reckon that I've been too adventurous, and I've gotten into a bit of trouble." He said.
"So you aren't a first year?" Marak asked, Tobias looked at him and laughed,
"Of course I am. By schoolwork I mean the work that my uncle gave me to prepare for Hogwarts. He's a teacher in a different school, but reckons I can get a good education here." He finished looking around through the crowds.
"Marak!" A voice boomed over the ruckus of the crowd around him. Marak spun around to face Hagrid, "Don' get lost like that." He said, "I'm supposed to watch over ya." He said then looked at Tobias,
"Hello. Who are you?" He asked.
"Tobias." The boy answered. He then started to turn away, "Hey Marak, I'm staying at the Leaky Cauldron, so if you happen to come by, visit me." He said, then disappeared into the crowd, apparently looking for school supplies, although he had already gotten a robe.
"Hey, let's get going. We have some shopping to do for your supplies." Hagrid said, walking through the crowd and Marak followed. After walking through the twisty pathways of Diagon Alley they found themselves in front of a shop called 'Madam Milkin's Robes for All Occasions'.
"Go in and get your robes. I've got to get some more money out of Grongotts." Hagrid said, and when Marak looked at him strangely he added on, "It's the wizard bank. Only one, but it is very well protected." Marak nodded and continued into the shop.
A small bell sounded from within the shop when Marak entered. He took a look around. Multicolored Robes and fabric of all kind hung from the walls. Marak could spot some cloaks over in the corner, some looked very expensive and shiny. A rustle of robes signaled Madam Milkin's arrival. She was a bit small, but she did her job with efficiency, as Marak soon found out.
"Hogwarts dear?" She asked. Marak nodded and she nodded towards a stool, "Sit there." She said, taking a long string of measuring tape from a table. Marak stood on the stool, and immediately Madam Milkin started her work. She started measuring Marak all over, and soon came back with a long sheet of robe material.
"Black like requirements," She murmured, "I'd like to see purple." Marak smiled,
"You know what's funny; I haven't had any Hogwarts students in here all day, except for a lad with brown hair." She said, starting a conversation.
"Tobias?" Marak asked, before realizing that a seamstress might not know all the names of the people who come through here. But when he said that name she nodded,
"Yep, that was his name. He was a talkative person, he kept on talking about how many spells he was going to learn, and how he was going to sneak off into the forbidden forest…" Madam Milkin continued, "I'd say that Hogwarts had better keep an eye on that kid. He's just looking for a grand adventure."
"The Forbidden Forest?" Marak asked. Madam Milkin looked him in the eye.
"Yea, I suppose you're Muggle born, otherwise you'd know about the forest." She said. Marak nodded. "It seems to be the one most known thing about Hogwarts. I'd personally be scared if my son or daughter knew about that forest. It isn't a friendly place."
Marak gulped. There was so much he didn't know about the wizard world. The Forbidden Forrest!?
"It's even more nerve wrecking that it is right next to the grounds of Hogwarts itself." Madam Milkin continued while pinning and sewing. She was sewing frighteningly fast, the needle seemed to be flying through the robes, tying stitches and slowly the robe began to form.
"Mmm" Marak said, that was pretty much all he could think to say. It wasn't long before Madam Milkin pulled away and admired her work.
"Well, I'm all done. I suppose I will be making you two pairs?" She asked.
"Yes, he'll need them." Hagrid said as he came through the door. He reached into his pocket and brought out some golden coins. Madam Milkin smiled and nodded,
"Well, since I've now got your exact size…" She said, whipping out her wand. "Ropandario" She murmured. Light flashed from the end of her wand, and as if the wand were some sort of container, black material came out the end. Once all out the black material floated in the air, Marak could see that it wasn't just material, but an exact copy of the robes Marak now wore.
"Thank you." Madam Milkin said cheerily as she took one of the gold coins and gave back some Silver Sickles. Hagrid nodded and left the store with Marak, the second pair of robes in a bag.
"Where to now?" Marak asked. Hagrid looked around the crowded street. It didn't' take him long before he spotted the next place, the potions shop. The two of them waked down the busy street over to the large sign of 'Apothecary'. Marak timidly followed Hagrid inside, hearing the less cheery, but quieter bell of this shop.
A funny smell seemed to hang in the air, and smelt like many different things combined into one smell…. It was disgusting really. Hagrid walked up to the shopkeeper and asked for a standard potions set for a first year while Marak went exploring.
The shop's contents made up for the smell. There was essence of boggart, which was kept in an opaque vial, so Marak couldn't see inside, not to mention the unicorn horns and serpent fangs. Marak also spotted some interesting cauldrons as well. Some were self-stirring, some were gold and some were even self making potions, (Just tell it what to do and it makes the potion for you!), but it was horribly overpriced. Marak wouldn't see money like that for a while.
What entranced Marak the most was a small basket which said 'Phoenix Feathers'. The feathers were a deep orange-red, which seemed to change in the sunlight as if it couldn't keep the same color for more than a few seconds. Before he could take a closer look Hagrid called to him from the entrance, and reluctantly Marak came.
Hagrid had bought Marak a supply of potions ingredients as well as a pewter cauldron. He also had bought a collapsible brass telescope for his astronomy lessons. It was strange that it'd be in a potions shop, but when Marak asked Hagrid he said that it belonged to the owner, but he didn't want it anymore and sold it to him at a bargain.
"Our next stop," Began Hagrid, "is to Flourish and Blotts. It's the place you'll be getting your books at."
Marak felt excited, maybe there would be books with powerful magic. As they neared the store Marak saw that the store was very large, easily three stories high. It made sense though, since it was bound to hold many different books on magic. Hagrid led them in.
"Go get yourself your books. I'm going to go get some supplies next door for my garden up at the castle." Hagrid said, handing Marak his list. Marak read the list over and then went to the shop employee.
"Excuse me, I'm a first year, I need to get some of these books." He said, offering the list to the employee, but he didn't take it.
"What books are you looking for?" He asked, heading strait over to the section with a large floating sign over it which read 'Spellwork'. Marak looked down at his list,
"It says here that I need 'Intro into Spells: Grade 1' by Merridock Griffin" Marak said, and the employee stacked the book onto a shelf next to them. The book was a basic blue color and wasn't very thick, which disappointed Marak since he was hoping to get more spells. I should have known, they wouldn't give advanced books to first years… Marak thought, the employee was waiting for Marak's answer.
"Oh! Umm, my next book is 'Morphing and shifts of Magic: Transfiguration 1' by Grace Boodgack." Marak continued. The employee paused,
"What? That's an advanced book, I'd say it's not fitting for a first year, but I suppose your teachers know what's best…" he sighed, walking off into another section while Marak followed. The shelf he had put Marak's book on magically floated next to the employee following him to the other section. With a quick look through the section he found what he wanted, and pulled it off the rack, putting it on the shelf with Marak's other book. This book was thicker, as well as being black except for the binding which was dark blue.
The next book they got was 'Studying the Stars' By Martha Maddock, which was pure black, but had silver stars all over the cover. The next book was titled, 'Darkness: A study of the dark arts.' At this the employee raised his eyebrows again,
"Really?" he asked, and wouldn't be persuaded it was on Marak's list until he took it from Marak.
"What's so special about it?" Marak asked, really interested now, the man looked up, "That's a really advanced book, I've seen fourth and fifth years get it. I wonder why you would have it. Whoever the teacher is must be really pushing it." He said, then mumbled some more before heading to the section and pulling a large leather-bound book from the shelves. It was all black, including the leather, and on the front was some sort of symbol. After that they went to the last book, which was the 'One-hundred magical herbs and fungi'
It was then that Hagrid came back from his business and paid for the books. Marak could see a lot of gold paid in that transaction. After that they had gotten all of Marak's books, and now started heading back up the street back towards the Leaky Cauldron. Marak was now feeling pretty excited, but then Hagrid stopped him and pointed him towards a dusty shop which was titled, 'Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C'
As Marak and Hagrid walked inside a very quiet bell sounded. When they were inside Marak found it deadly silent; Hagrid's heavy footsteps disturbing the sanctity of the place. Marak looked around the place. In the corner of the store was a spindly chair which was covered in a light film of dust.
Marak paused to wonder how a shop so essential to a wizard could be so dusty. Marak resumed his study and noticed that in front of him, behind the counter, lay rows of racks which extended to the back of the store. Lined up in these racks were rows upon rows of long boxes, which could only contain one thing. Wands…
"Good afternoon." A voice said, Marak gasped and turned suddenly to face a old man with wide pare eyes shining like the light of the moon. Marak tried to avoid looking directly into his eyes, for they seemed to have the power to trap you there if you looked into them too much.
Marak nodded in a greeting. Mr. Ollivander looked him up and down and then with a flick of his own wand, which seemed to pop into his hand from nowhere, a measuring tape flew to his hand. Immediately Mr. Ollivander began measuring Marak, from toe to toe, arm to knee, pretty much everything which made no sense at all to Marak.
"I see… well Mr. Barker…" He began, Marak's head snapped around,
"How'd you know my name?" Marak asked. Mr. Ollivander looked at him with his bright orbs of eyes,
"No need to fear Mr. Barker…" he said and continued his sentence, although Marak had a suspicion it had something to do with his eye.
"I think you're more suited towards maybe the oak and phoenix." He said, gliding over to one of the rows and carefully taking off a box from the top. He set the box in front of Marak, opening the lid as if the contents were worth a king's ransom. Inside was a brownish wand. Urged by Ollivander's waiting Marak carefully reached into the slender box and took out the wand.
"Umm… what do I do with it?" Marak asked, hoping he wouldn't have to do some sort of spell.
"Just take it and give it a wave." He said. Marak waived it around, but before he managed to swing it properly it was snatched from his hand and another slender box was put in front of him. The old wand lay in a newly started pile.
"Maple, 11 inches, Phoenix…" Mr. Ollivander said, "I just know you're a phoenix…" he said. What he meant by that Marak didn't know, but waived it around just like the last time, but before he finished swinging it upwards it was taken, thrown into the pile and another wand would be in front of Marak.
Finally, after the pile of dud wands had grown quite high, Mr. Ollivander paused, which was the first time he had ever paused at all since Marak started testing out wands. Mr. Ollivander was looking into the far back of a shelf. Marak could just hear what Mr. Ollivander was saying to himself,
"Hmm… I had forgotten I had this wand. I haven't had enough time to properly inspect it," He murmured, "It was imported to me from a different shop, so the contents are unkown. The outer casing seems Redwood though," He said in his calm enchanting voice, "But maybe… it wouldn't hurt to try…" He said and reached far back into the shelf. When he pulled his hand out again he had in his hands a box which was covered in black and red velvet. He placed it in front of Marak, and then seemed to study Marak.
Cautiously Marak opened the box, looking at the wand inside. It was a black colored wand.
"Redwood, or so it seems, the contents are not apparent, and I haven't had the time to inspect it properly." He said, but as he was talking he looked over the wand carefully, "Hmm... it isn't Unicorn, or Phoenix..." he murmered, before realizing he was holding back Marak from grabbing it with his comments. It looked like a normal wand. Marak picked up the 11 inch wand and held it in his hand. Marak could feel a low burning sensation, almost as if it dared Marak to try and use it. When Marak picked it up he could feel a mysterious force holding back the wand's power. As Marak raised it above his head he could feel a pounding as the force was unleashed.
A bright light lit up the room as fire erupted from the wand and circled around Marak, dancing though the air. The fire flew around Marak to hover in the air and then as if his wand was some sort of vacuum all the fire swept back into it. When all the fire was gone Marak could make out Mr. Ollivander clapping excitedly.
"Good, good!" He said, and then looked at Marak with those strange eyes, "You take care of that wand Mr. Barker… it is your best ally and the key to your strength, it will be with you for a long time, so keep good care of it." He said, and Marak nodded, breathlessly and shuffled out the door, Hagrid finishing paying for Marak's wand.
As they walked down the pathway they could see that the sun was beginning to decline behind the protection of the mountains in the distance.
"We must have been looking at stuff for a while…" Marak commented, to which Hagrid nodded, "Well, you'll find everything you really need here, not like your muggles' super mar-kit" He said, mispronouncing it a little. Marak just smiled and then eyed the Eeylops Owl Emporium and remembered on the Hogwarts list it said he could bring an owl, but he wasn't going to bug Hagrid about getting him one. Otherwise he may never get out of debt…
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Author's Note:
Disclaimer: (See Chapter 1) Any of the recognisable places and people in this chapter are not mine.
Well, sorry about it being a day late, also I must apologize for getting it in late today (Which was the day I was supposed to have it up). I had so much trouble with this today; my computer kept on restarting at random moments, making me lose some of what I wrote, or making it really hard to upload it here, and also to top it off my internet is being screwy with me as well. I'm just very glad I got the chapter up.
I can only hope to have another chapter by monday, since this was soo long and took so much work. I want all my chapters to be this length, because then they are like real chapters, not just little 'paragraph chapters'. I have to get working on the next chapter.
Belive it or not I had origionally planned on this chapter being a little longer, just a tad, but with all the troubles I have decided to keep the rest of this chapter for monday's. Thank you all who read, I couldn't write all this without your support. Any comments, questions, or suggestions can be e-mailed to me, please do. It's always good to have new ideas, plus it's good to get all the questions handled. Thank you all
Revision: I Changed the Ollivander thing to get away from Harry's Phoenix wand.
Blackotter