Chapter Two: Diagon Alley

A month before she was due to go to Hogwarts, Senda went to Diagon Alley by herself to get her school supplies. She knew her way around and got to Diagon Alley with no trouble. She got everything with her money. Well, almost everything. She still hadn't gotten her robes or wand. So, her next stop was Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. And what a nasty sunrise she got there.

She walked in and said, "Hello? Anyone here?"

A worker came up to her and said, "Hogwarts, dear?"

Senda: "Yes, please."

Senda was taken to the back, where she saw Madam Malkin's fitting a boy with black, unruly hair, and another boy beside him, who was pale and blonde, who was also being fitted. He looked vaugely familiar, but Senda couldn't quite place him. A robe was slipped over her head and the worker began pinning it to the right length. She couldn't help noticing that the black-haired boy seemed to have only just come on.

Blonde-haired boy: "Hello. Hogwarts?"

Senda knew he was talking to both of them, but she waited for the other boy to reply first, not wanting to talk.

Black-haired boy: "Yes,"

Senda: "Yes. This year's my first year."

Blonde-haired boy: "My father's next door buying my books and my mother's up the street looking at wands. Then I'm going to

drag them off to look at racing brooms. I don't see why first years can't have their own. I think I'll bully father into

getting me one and I'll smuggle it in somehow."

Senda was sort of outraged at the boy for talking like that, but said nothing. If she ever tried to do something like that...

Blonde-haired boy: "Have you got your own broom?"

Senda: "No...father won't let me near one." She sighed.

Black-haired boy: "No,"

Blonde-haired boy: "Play Quidditch at all?"

Senda: "I want to play it next year. I'm looking forward to it."

Black-haired boy: "No,"

Blonde-haired boy: "I do -- Father says it's a crime if I'm not picked to play for my house, and I must say, I agree. Know

what house you'll be in yet?"

Senda: laughs "No, of course not. My father hopes it's Slytherin, but I don't know."

Black-haired boy: "No,"

Blonde-haired boy: "Well, no one really knows until they get there, do they, but I know I'll be in Slytherin, all out family have been -- Imagine being in Hufflepuff, I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?"

Senda was again surprised at the blonde-haired boy's attitude, but kept her mouth shut. She noticed the look of approval on

the blonde-haired boy's face when she said she expected to be in Slytherin, or at least, her father wanted her to be.

Black-haired boy: "Mmm,"

Senda: "I might...I doubt it, but who knows."

Blonde-haired boy: "I say, look at that man!"

Senda looked towards where the blonde-haired boy was nodding, which was at the front windows. A very tall man with wild black hair and an even wilder beard was standing there, grinning at the black-haired boy, pointing at two ice-creams.

Black-haired boy: "That's Hagrid. He works at Hogwarts."

Blonde-haired boy: "Oh, I've heard of him. He's sort of a servant, isn't he?"

Black-haired boy: "He's the gamekeeper."

Senda: "Ah. That's who he is." Nods

Blonde-haired boy: "Yes, exactly. I heard he's a sort of savage -- lives in a hut on the school grounds and every now and

then he gets drunk, tries to do magic, and ends up setting fire to his bed."

Senda couldn't help laughing a little. Was it true? The boy didn't seem like one to tell the truth, but who knew? She wanted to leave, but couldn't. Oh, well. She'd just have to bear it until she could go.

Black-haired boy: "I think he's brilliant."

Senda: "Really?" was confused

Blonde-haired boy: "Do you?" sneer "Why is he with you? Where are you parents?" looked at Senda and black-haired boy while talking and asking questions

Senda: "My father's at home, and my mother is dead."

Black-haired boy: looks at Senda, then blonde-haired boy "They're dead."

Blonde-haired boy: "Oh, sorry. But they were our kind, weren't they?"

Senda couldn't help noticing that the blonde-haired boy didn't sound very sorry at all. The look she got from the

black-haired boy was one of understanding, and she gave him one, too. She sighed before answering.

Senda: "Yes. My mother was a witch."

Black-haired boy: "They were a witch and wizard, if that's what you mean."

Blonde-haired boy: "I really don't think they should let the other sort in, do you? They're just not the same, they've never been brought up to know our ways. Some of them have never even heard of Hogwarts until they get their letters, I imagine. I think they should keep it in the wizarding families. What's your surname, anyways?"

Senda was about to answer when Madam Malkin's said Harry was done and he left, looking happy to be going. She was almost done.

Blonde-haired boy: "Well, I'll see you at Hogwarts, I suppose." turned to Senda, looking for an answer.

Senda:looks embarrassed "I don't know...and what does it matter? It's not your right to know, and don't bother talking."

Senda replied coldly, no longer able to stand him. She got off the footstool and left, leaving the blonde-haired boy mad.

Senda went to get her wand after leaving Madam Malkin's, and as she entered, she smiled at Mr. Ollivander, who owned the shop. Ollivanders was the name of the shop, and Senda was happy to be getting her wand.

Mr. Ollivanders: "Hello."

Senda: "Hi. I'm looking for a wand to use at Hogwarts."

Mr. Ollivander: "Yes, yes. Victoria Snape. Here at last, eh?" goes to look for wand

Senda: "Please, call me Senda. And yes, I'm here. I've waited a while to get my first wand."

Mr. Ollivander: "Where's your father?"still looking for wand

Senda: "At home. I'm by myself."

Mr. Ollivander: "Ah. Here it is...try it out."

Senda:looks at the wand, which is a mahogany, 11 inch "Okay."

Mr. Ollivander: "Yes...got it right on the first try. Happy?"

Senda was too busy testing out her new wand to answer, but stopped and replied.

Senda: "Oh, yes. Thank you." pays him and leaves

On her way out, she passed Harry, but didn't seem to notice. After that, she went home and waited the four weeks until she could go to Hogwarts.