School Days
By Moony
All characters you recognize are the property of JK Rowling. All the ones you don't are mine, unless otherwise said so.
Yay! Another chapter!!!!! –Moony
Chapter 2
James awoke happy the next day. Today was Diagon Alley day. And Diagon Alley was the third bestest place on earth, next to Hogwarts and Hogsmeade. James had never been to Hogsmeade, but his mum had pictures of it and all the sweets and everything and he couldn't wait to go when he was in third year. He scrambled into his clothes and hopped down the hallway into the kitchen.
"Hello dear, what would you like for breakfast?" Mrs. Potter asked.
"Toast," James replied.
Mrs. Potter passed a plate of buttered toast down to James, who gobbled it down quickly.
"Can we go to Diagon Alley now?" he asked.
"What? I haven't even eaten my breakfast James dear," Mr. Potter exclaimed.
"Neither I," Mrs. Potter said.
James tapped his foot and drummed his fingers and shifted restlessly. It seemed to take forever for them to finish! When at finally they were done, James jumped up and grabbed the Floo Powder jar.
"Let's GO!!!"
Mrs. Potter laughed.
"Eager, aren't you?"
"Of course!"
"Then you can go first," Mr. Potter said.
"Remember to speak clearly dear!" Mrs. Potter said, "And if you get in the wrong fireplace, just stay there until either us come! Here, take some extra so you can get out of the place when you leave!"
"Mum! It's ok! I've done this before!"
"But what if you do get lost?"
"Oh come on..."
"It's ok, son, just get in the fireplace and go!" Mr. Potter said.
James smiled. Dad understood. He threw the powder in the place and stepped in.
"DIAGON ALLEY," he said very clearly.
Whoosh. There was a rushing in James' ears as he felt the flames swooshed around him and the ash flew. He held his breath. He had once breathed in the ash before, and it wasn't pleasant. Just when he felt he couldn't hold any longer, he fell into the fireplace of Diagon Alley. He was dusty and covered with ash, but he was happy, as he looked at the tall white building of Gringotts and all the shops and wizards strolling about. He got up and his parents appeared behind him.
"Good dear, you made it," Mrs. Potter said, dusting off the ash off her son and herself.
"Can we go to Quality Quidditch Supplies?" James asked.
"Now, now James. They don't allow first years to have brooms."
"I know, but..."
"No buts, you won't get one until you are old enough to get one. We're getting your school supplies today."
"How about after? Just to look?"
"All right, but only if you behave!"
"I will!"
"Now on to Gringotts!"
The three of them headed to the tall white building. James stopped before the door. He loved the poem there and always said it to himself.
'Enter, stranger, but take heed
For what awaits the sin of greed,
For those who take, but do not earn,
Must pay most dearly in their turn.
So if you seek beneath our floors
A treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have been warned, beware
Of finding more than treasure there.'
James smiled, as he read it. It was a nice poem. He knew he wasn't ever going to steal anything, but he always wondered what else would they find if someone stole.
"Hurry up dear!" Mrs. Potter said, and James quickly followed her in. They walked down long rows of goblins down to the head one.
"We'd like to see the Potters' Vault," Mr. Potter said firmly.
The goblin looked up, his eyes darting down to James who tried to measure his long nose, but he sat back and James couldn't see his face again.
"Key please?"
Mr. Potter placed a small key on his desk and soon they were on a cart whizzing toward the vault. James screamed like he was on a roller coaster and the goblin sitting with them stared, irritated, at him. James just smiled. Annoying people was fun!
The goblin opened the vault and Mrs. Potter took some to buy just the school supplies.
The cart ride back was even more fun than the one there, and James yelled louder, annoying the goblin even more.
At last they left the big doors of Gringotts.
"Where are we going first?" James asked.
"Let's get your robes," Mrs. Potter said.
"But I want – "
"I don't care what you want. We're going to get your uniforms."
James entered the shop with his mother and father. Madame Malkin seemed very flustered. There were a number of students there.
"Wait here, wait here, please!" she exclaimed quickly.
Mr. and Mrs. Potter smiled.
"We'll be next door at Flourish and Botts dearie," Mrs. Potter said, "Come meet us there. And don't talk to strange looking wizards and behave!"
"I will, see you Mum."
Mr. and Mrs. Potter walked out the shop into the bookshop. As James was waiting, he heard a loud yelling from an ugly looking woman with a handsome boy and another younger boy.
Finally, the yelling woman left and the boy stood grouchily behind James.
"Hello, I'm James Potter. Who're you?"
"Sirius Black."
Sirius's day had not started well.
He woke again to the screaming of his mother and the bothering of Regulus.
"Come on, Sirius."
Sirius pretended to be asleep.
"Sirius, we're going to Diagon Alley today."
Sirius grunted. He could've cared less.
"Come on. Mom's gonna get mad."
And so he cared? Sirius just pulled the covers over him. But Regulus snatched them away.
"Sirius, wake up. If you make Mum mad, we might not go to Diagon Alley, and I'm getting a present today, remember? If we don't go, I'm not going to get my present."
Sirius finally sat up.
"And you think I care if ickle mummy's perfect angel gets his present?"
Before Regulus had made a sound, he snapped, "Sorry I don't. Now get lost stupid git."
"You can't boss me, Sirius."
"You wanna bet?"
He lunged at him and gave him a good kick.
"Now get downstairs, unless you want another one."
Regulus scowled in pain and scampered downstairs.
Sirius sighed and tried to get back to sleep, but it was impossible because Mrs. Black was shrieking again. Sirius groaned and changed and trudged downstairs.
He sat down and Mrs. Black yelled.
"WHY DID YOU KICK YOUR BROTHER? ANSWER ME NOW SIRIUS BLACK!!!!"
"Because he's a git."
Mrs. Black threw a plate of burnt, plain toast in front of him and left the kitchen. Sirius pushed the plate away and stole some of Regulus's.
Regulus looked at Sirius angrily.
"I'm going to tell on you!"
"Ahhh... and I care because? Anyway, that just means Mum gets more mad, and we don't go Diagon Alley, and ickle mummy's angel doesn't get his present."
Sirius smirked as he watched Regulus keep quiet and eat his burnt toast.
"I'll get you sometime," he said nastily.
"And just how will you do that? I'm lots older than you."
"I'm smarter."
"No you're not. You're a git."
Mrs. Black came in, shrieking again. Ever since Sirius was born, he had never heard his mum say anything to him in a regular voice.
"HURRY UP SIRIUS!!!!!"
"I'm done you old hag!"
"DON'T YOU TALK TO ME THAT WAY!"
"Why not?"
Sirius gave Regulus a wink and a smirk. It was a plan. If he carried on, there was likely no Diagon Alley, and Regulus wouldn't receive his precious present. But then again, Sirius remembered he needed the school supplies needed. He sighed. Getting out of the noble house of Black was better than torturing Regulus. He could do that over the summer.
"BECAUSE I AM YOUR MOTHER!!!!!"
Mrs. Black turned to Regulus and smiled.
"All right dear, ready to go to Diagon Alley?"
"Yes Mum!" Regulus cried, happily.
"You can go first honey, speak clearly now! And if you get in the wrong fireplace, Mummy will find you. You don't worry!"
"Yes Mum," Regulus said and tossed some Floo Powder into the fireplace, "Diagon Alley!" he said, and was gone.
Mrs. Black threw Sirius a nasty look and shrieked, "YOU GO LAST FOR YOUR BAD BEHAVIOR THIS MORNING!"
"I hope you get in the wrong fireplace and can't get back," Sirius muttered as his mother disappeared.
Sighing, he took Floo Powder and jumped in the flames and called Diagon Alley. Unfortunately for him, his mother had come out the right fireplace. She grabbed Sirius's wrist and yanked on him before he had a chance to dust off the ash.
"HURRY UP!!!!"
He was half-dragged to Madame Malkin's Robe Shop. Mrs. Black shoved him through the door.
"What about money?" Sirius asked.
"I'LL GET IT LATER YOU DUNCE! I'LL COME BACK AND GIVE IT TO YOU! YOU STAY PUT! AND IF YOU RUN... I WILL PUNISH YOU!"
Mrs. Black huffed out through the door, "Come along Regulus, let's see about that present now."
Sirius stood grouchily, behind a boy with messy black hair and hazel eyes. When he turned around and said,
"Hello, I'm James Potter, who're you?"
James and Sirius made friends quickly. They both loved troublemaking and pranks.
"Do you like Quidditch?" James asked.
"Love it, I just wish I could play."
"Your mum doesn't let you?"
"Well, judging by her behavior back there, do you really think she would?"
"I guess not. I get to play. It's great! I wish first years could have a broom at school."
"I wish I could have a broom anytime."
"Don't worry, when we get to Hogwarts, everything will be great. Your mum won't be there and you get to be with friends every day."
"I hope summer doesn't come too fast."
"Neither I, now that I met you. We'll be great friends. What house do you want to be in?"
"Gryffindor. My whole family's in Slytherin. Except for Andromeda, she's a Ravenclaw. I want to be in Gryffindor. That'll kill my dear old mother."
"Wow! So do I! Do you think we both will?"
"I hope so..." Sirius said nervously.
Just then, Madame Malkins came and pushed James into a fitting room.
"Come you! We'll see your fitting clothes!" she chirped.
"Bye Sirius!" James called as he was steered away, "See you on the train!"
"Bye!"
Both boys were happy thinking of all the fun they would probably have together.
Meanwhile, Remus sat on his bed, reading. Later in the afternoon, his mother would take him to Diagon Alley. He looked forward to it. It meant that he was closer to going to Hogwarts and getting magic supplies. After what seemed like hours, his mother finally came in, smiling.
"Ready to go dear?"
"Of course!" Remus said excitedly.
He took his mother's hand and they went out the door.
"How're we getting there?"
"Subway," his mother replied.
"Really?" Remus asked, his eyes wide. He loved the subway. How fast it moved through the dark tunnels.
"Yes, would I lie to you?" Mrs. Lupin teased.
They climbed into a taxi and were on their way! Remus squirmed with excitement. He was going to Hogwarts! He was going to Diagon Alley! He would be a wizard! But then suddenly, a thought struck him. The people there probably didn't want to be friends with him. Because of what he was. He would probably be the most hated, and the teachers too. He would be an outcast. The gloom of it put Remus in a bad mood, but he tried not to let it spoil this day as they arrived in London. Mrs. Lupin led him down an alley and into the Leaky Cauldron. Remus was suddenly scared. Would the wizards there know what he was? Did they have record of all the werewolves? His palms became sweaty and he clutched his mother's hand as they walked in. Nobody seemed to notice who he was. Mrs. Lupin got a few hellos and such and then they were in an alley in front of a brick wall.
"Oh dear, I can never remember the pattern to tap these bricks... I think it goes like this..."
She drew a wand from her pocket and tapped some bricks.
"I hope that was right..."
Indeed it was. Remus watched as the bricks disappeared and the Diagon Alley appeared in front of his eyes.
"Wow!" Remus cried. For a moment, he forgot who he was, what he was. He was just a happy little boy in Diagon Alley, about to become a wizard.
Mrs. Lupin smiled and walked him down to the tall white building, Gringotts, he recognized. The bank. He skipped ahead, and happily scampered up the steps and waited for his mother, who caught up soon.
Together, they were led onto a cart and taken to their vault, where Mrs. Lupin scooped up some money.
"What do you say we go to the sweet shop first?" Mrs. Lupin asked.
"That sounds wonderful!" Remus said, delighted. He had many wizard candies before, and each one tasted better. He bought three boxes of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, Chocolate Frogs, Cauldron Cakes, Licorice Wands and much more. He left the shop eating beans. Remus couldn't remember being this happy before. He raced ahead and Mrs. Lupin took him into Ollivanders.
"What's this shop?" Remus asked.
"Wand. You'll need a wand of course dear. I wonder what wand you will get?"
"I want one like yours!" Remus said, "Yours is really pretty, and it does good magic!"
"Oh no dear, you don't get to pick."
"You don't?"
"No. The wand does. Mr. Ollivander knows when a wand picks you. You'll see. Come along now!"
Into the shop they entered. It was quite small, but cozy and a bit dark. Mr. Ollivanders smiled down upon him.
"Ahh! Remus Lupin, are you?"
Remus nodded.
"Your mother has a fine wand, oak, sixteen inches, unicorn hair, wasn't it?"
"Yes, it's rather helped me in Transfiguration," Mrs. Lupin said cheerfully.
"Ah yes, yes. Now let's see which wand will choose Mr. Lupin here. Wand arm please?"
Remus obediently held out his right arm, while Mr. Ollivander let a measuring tape measure his arm by itself.
"Well, let's see this one, birch, twenty inches, phoenix feather..."
Remus took the wand and waved it, like he had seen his mother do.
"No, no!" Mr. Ollivander said, snatching the wand, and taking another, "How about this one? Redwood, dragon heartstring... thirteen inches."
Before Remus had even waved it, Mr. Ollivander took it from his hand again.
"Clearly no. How about this one? Eucalyptus, unicorn hair."
Remus picked it up, and once again Mr. Ollivander took it from him.
"I'm sure this one shall!" he said, handing him a handsome wand, "Ebony, phoenix feather."
Remus gave it a wave and the wand turned very warm. It seemed his arm raised itself and swished it down, and pretty sparks flew out.
"Oh congratulations Remus!" Mrs. Lupin called.
That was his wand, he knew. Mr. Ollivander smiled. Mrs. Lupin handed him seven galleons and they left the shop. The rest of the day they spent buying all sorts of supplies, and meeting new people. Remus sighed at the end of the day as they sat on the subway back home. It had been a lovely day, full of magic.
Peter Pettigrew was springy as he waited beside the fireplace. His mother smiled at him and disappeared from the fire. Peter grinned and tossed some powder into the place and was just about to step in, when his father stopped him.
"Wait Peter. Take some extra, in case you land in the wrong fireplace."
Embarrassed, he put some in his pocket. The last time, he had ended up in Surrey. Far away from where they were going. He stepped into the green flames and spoke, hoping he would say it clearly,
"D-d..." he coughed as ashes entered his throat, "Diagon Alley!"
He saw the worried look on his father's face, and hoped he hadn't said it too badly. He knew he hadn't spoke clearly. The fires whooshed and ash flew all around him. At last they stopped, and he knew for certain he had not said it clearly. He was in a dark alley. Obviously Knockturn Alley. He had once accidentally sauntered here and was fascinated by what it held, before his mother dragged him away, giving him a loud scolding. Perhaps... perhaps he could see it one more time? Before he had to go back with the Floo Powder he had taken with him? Yes... he thought. He climbed from the fireplace and strolled around the shop. There were so many creepy things, but he rather liked it. Then he remembered where he was supposed to be, and how worried his mother must've been. Guiltily he threw the powder in the fireplace and said Diagon Alley – clearly this time. And whoosh! He was in the gleaming place he knew. His mother saw him and hugged him.
"Oh good dear! My smart boy! You came!"
Peter gave a smile. His father smiled too.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Yes!" Peter said excitedly.
"Now, I already got some money while you were gone, your father insisted that you would eventually come, so let us go, to Flourish and Botts!"
"Sounds good to me," Peter said, though he would much have rather visited the sweet shop.
They entered, and he knew immediately why his mother had recommended it first. Alpheus Atipore was there, and he knew his mother thought he was quite handsome and cute and his books were 'fantastic'.
"You go along and get your books Peter, I'd like a few autographs."
Peter and his father exchanged looks and they both rolled their eyes as they went up to Mr. Botts.
"Hogwarts books? First year? I have all the books you need son, here you go, ten galleons please."
Peter took his books, but soon dropped them the moment they were in his hands.
"Oh Peter!" his father said, exasperatedly. Peter turned red. Why was he always such a klutz?
As soon as his mother had got her precious autographs, they left to get ice cream. Peter was too scared to try other flavors, and in the end got the same as he always got – mint. His father chuckled and had decided to try blood.
"That's disgusting!" his mother, who settled for cookie flavored, said.
Peter smiled. It was a happy family day. He hoped they would shop in Diagon Alley until the end of the day.
Suddenly, he turned around and his hand whipped the bowl of ice cream off the table. It flew in the air and ended in an elderly witch's face.
"Peter!" his mother cried, rushing to help the witch, "Scourigfy!"
"Terribly sorry miss. My son, he's always been sort of a klutz. Terribly sorry. He didn't mean it. Here's two galleons in apology."
The old witch merely smiled.
"No, no, that's quite all right. I don't mind. Children tend to be silly sometimes. Hogwarts is he? I hope you like it dear. I loved Hogwarts when I was young!"
With that, the witch left the shop.
Peter smiled sheepishly.
"I'm sorry Mum."
"That's ok, I don't mind. Your father was somewhat of a klutz too, when he was young. You outgrow it."
"I don't think I ever will," Peter muttered.
Lily Evans sat nervously on the couch in the living room. In just a few minutes, her representative would come and she would go to buy the magic school supplies. She still couldn't believe what had happened. Just a day ago, she had been normal, teasing her sister, watching TV, reading, and then, in a matter of minutes she was a witch. It was like those stories of ordinary people suddenly being called upon to fulfill a noble quest. Only Lily wasn't fulfilling a quest. She was just going to go to a school.
But she didn't know anything about magic! She would surely be the dumbest there!
"I'll just have to study harder," she said to herself, "And I'll be top of the class and just as good as any witch or wizard!"
Petunia came in and sneered at her.
"Freak's gonna go to Freak Shops huh?"
"Who are you calling a freak? When I come back for the summer, you call me freak, I'll turn you into a frog!"
"How do you know? You don't know a thing about magic! All the other freaks will be smarter than you, I suppose."
"I'll study harder then!" Lily said indignantly.
"Hah... then you'll be a nerd and make no friends."
"Shut up Petunia! What do you know?"
Petunia went off laughing to herself.
"I'll study hard, I'll study hard," Lily said to herself, squeezing her fists. Her mother came in.
"Lily dear, do you need anything to take with you when you go with the representative?"
"No thanks, Mamma."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, of course."
Lily looked at her mother's face. She seemed worried. Lily didn't blame her. If you always thought magic wasn't real, and suddenly this weird letter came up saying you got to go to a school that taught magic and that you were a witch and some weird representative from the school that was magic and a stranger was taking you to the 'magic' place then you would be pretty worried.
"I'll be ok, Mamma. Really. Don't worry about me."
"I'm not..." her mother said at once.
She opened her mouth to say more, but the door rang.
Lily felt a surge of excitement. Ooh! A magic place! Magic shops! This person was a wizard or a witch. She couldn't contain her excitement as her mother walked nervously to the door and opened it slowly, as though expecting something to happen. Indeed something did. Flowers fell from the ceiling out of thin air. A nice looking woman smiled and put down her wand.
I think I've seen her somewhere, Lily thought. And suddenly she remembered."Mrs. Cailmen?" she cried.
"Goodness! This is a surprise," Lily's mother explained.
"Yes, it's me Mrs. Evans."
"But you – but you..."
"Yes, I am Lily dear. Of course non-magic folk aren't supposed to know, so I kept quiet and acted normal. But then Dumbledore, the headmaster at Hogwarts, told me a new non-magic girl was going to be going along to school, and her name was Lily Evans. He was looking for a witch who knew such a person. I contacted him at once. He smiled and told me the address, and I was sure it was you. So here I am! Ready to take you to Diagon Alley."
Lily saw her mother give a sigh of relief. At least it was someone they trusted. Mrs. Cailmen had been a good friend of Lily's mother. And she came by quite often during the holidays. Lily was quite fond of her.
"All right. Catherine, can you see her back before seven?" Mrs. Evans asked.
"Will do," Mrs. Cailmen said, smiling.
"Off you go then," Mrs. Evans said finally relaxed.
Lily hopped along with Mrs. Cailmen.
"How're we going to get there Mrs. Cailmen? With magic?"
Mrs. Cailmen smiled.
"No, no. There is no need. We're already in London anyway, there is no point in trying to get to where we are already magic. We'll just be walking."
"Oh," Lily said, disappointed.
"Now don't be so disappointed now! You'll get plenty of magic once you're off to Hogwarts!"
They kept walking down the sidewalk, on and on and on. To places of London Lily had never seen before. Soon it started to get quieter, and there were less people and cars. They turned, and Lily saw a little shop. A sign on it had a bubbling cauldron, and in fancy letters it said 'The Leaky Cauldron'. Lily noticed many others went right past it without noticing. They didn't even look.
"Mrs. Cailmen, how come they just walk right past this shop without even seeing it?" she asked.
"Oh, non-magic folk can't see a lot of things witches and wizards made, like the Leaky Cauldron for instance. Come on, in we go."
Lily followed Mrs. Cailmen in, not sure what to expect. There were so many wizards there, all dressed in different colored robes. Lily guessed robes were the wizard world's clothes.
"Hello Cat!" a chorus greeted.
"Hello everyone."
"Hogwarts student?" a smiling witch asked.
"Yes she is. I'm her representative."
"Ah, Muggle then. You'll love Hogwarts my dear."
Smiling, Lily walked out of the backdoor of the pub with Mrs. Cailmen, wondering what in the world a Muggle was. She watched as they came in front of a brick wall. Had they gotten the wrong way? She watched Mrs. Cailmen nervously. Mrs. Cailmen merely smiled and pulled out her wand and tapped the bricks in a pattern. Lily watched in awe as the bricks came apart. A whole new world was opened to her.
The place was packed! Full of people with robes and shops of different things, it was a wonderful place.
"This is Diagon Alley my dear," Mrs. Cailmen said, smiling at the awed look on Lily's face, "Where do you suggest we go first?"
"First? I don't know... is there a pet shop here? On my letter, it said we can get a toad, an owl, a rat, or a cat."
"Very well, off we go then."
Mrs. Cailmen led Lily to the Magical Menargie. There were black rats and gray rats and brown rats sitting in cages according to their color. They were skipping and doing tricks. Lily watched them, fascinated. She then turned her attention away to an assortment of owls hanging in cages from the ceiling, all hooting softly and watching Lily with big, glowing eyes. Then there were cats in crates meowing and ordinary toads along with fancy, unusual ones. What was odd though, was that the price tags said '10 galleons' or '5 sickles' or '10 galleons and 1 knut'.
"Mrs. Cailmen, what are galleons, sickles, and knuts?" she asked.
Mrs. Cailmen looked up.
"Oh! I'm sorry, I forgot to tell you. Silly me. It's the wizard currency."
"But I haven't got any of those!"
"No fear, non-magic students are supplied with money from the Ministry."
Lily nodded and explored the animals again. She quite liked one chestnut brown owl. It stood regally on a perch and its eyes darted back and forth. But she also liked a small kitten, with orange and white stripes.
"Chosen yet Lily dear?" Mrs. Cailmen asked.
"No, I can't decide between that kitten over there, or that owl."
Mrs. Cailmen looked at them both.
"I say you get the owl. That kitten there isn't just a kitten, it's also a Kneazle. Kneazles are very hard to manage for non-magic starters. Owls are much easier. They hunt for themselves, and all you need to supply is water. Or you let it rest in the Owlery at Hogwarts."
Lily looked at the owl. Yes, it was quite appealing. Her eyes swiveled back to the kitten, or Kneazle or whatever it was. It was so adorable, and she wanted it badly. On the other hand, her mother was allergic and of course it would be hard to manage. She went and stroked its fluffy fur and said a little good bye. She would probably never see it again.
But she smiled at the prospect of the owl and took the cage from Mrs. Cailmen's hands. They walked to the counter, where a witch was talking to another wizard, wanting to buy an expensive newt.
"Hold on Archie," she said exasperatedly, and turned to them.
"Yes?" she asked.
"We'd like to buy this owl," Mrs. Cailmen said.
The witch's eyes scanned it.
"Royal? Ahh, very fine owl he is. Trustworthy and beautiful too, a very fine pick. He's 15 galleons."
Mrs. Cailmen retrieved 15 gold coins from her purse and set it on the counter. The lady smiled and put it in a self-opening cash register.
"All yours!" then she turned around to the man named Archie again.
Mrs. Cailmen and Lily left the shop, Lily happily holding Royal in his cage in her arms.
"How about I treat you to some magical ice cream?"
"Sure thing!" Lily said happily.
Together, they bought cones and sat outside on a table, with an umbrella overhead. Eating happily. Lily couldn't wait to get more of the magic.