Chapter 3- The Leaky Cauldron
AN:I had some problems with this chapter, so that's why it's so short, but I think it's better than the second. Whatever, just read.
"Transfiguration," repeated the professor, and seeing my blank stare, added, "Don't worry about it. You'll understand when you get to Hogwarts."
Breaking free of my mother's arms, I backed up and sat on the bottom step. It had to be some sort of joke. But no one laughed. No one yelled "Gotcha!" or "April Fool!" It wasn't. It wasn't a joke.
The rest of summer passed as slowly as ever, but I kept myself occupied by dreaming about my new school. The Hogwarts letter and supply list were my only source of information, so I just kept reading them over and over, making up stories about Hogwarts, even though I had no idea what it would be like.
On the twenty-ninth of August, my mum, dad, and I drove to London and stayed in a hotel for the night. We were to meet Professor McGonagall the next day in the Leaky Cauldron, a small pub, to go buy my school supplies. We ended up having to walk six blocks to get there, because the cab driver simply could not find it. When we finally got there, I understood why. It was a tiny place, squeezed between two currently unused buildings, and I could have sworn that it wasn't there just twenty minutes before.
Once inside, I felt a bit out of place. Everyone in the pub was dressed in robes, cloaks, and pointy hats. They all stared at us as we entered, but I soon realized that we weren't the only people feeling uneasy. Another couple and their young daughter were standing in a corner, glancing around uncertainly. The girl looked about my age, with blonde hair that fell just to her shoulders and bangs. She was kind of skinny, but pretty all the same, and looked approachable. I walked over to her, my parents following closely behind.
"Hi."
"Hi."
"I'm...Lily. Lily Evans.
"Gretchen Williams."
"Are you going to Hogwarts?" I asked her.
"Yes," she replied, "I'm starting first year. I know a little bit, because my sister goes there, but not much, since I'm muggle-born. You are too, aren't you?"
I was puzzled. "Muggle-born?"
"Oh, it means that your parents are muggles. You know, non-magical people?"
"Oh... Yeah."
An awkward silence followed, until a familiar face appeared next to Gretchen's.
"Hello Gretchen. Are you ready?" It was Professor McGonagall.
"Yes."
"Good." She turned to Gretchen's parents. "Since you've already been through this once before, with Hilary, I'll just get you in and you can find your own way around."
Gretchen and I quickly waved goodbye, and her family then followed the professor through a door across the room.
"It must be our turn next," I told my parents. Looking around, I didn't see any other people that appeared to be "muggles".
A few minutes later, Professor McGonagall returned. "Are you ready to go, Lily?"
"Of course!" I responded quickly. "...Wait...Where are we going?"
She smiled. "Diagon Alley. Follow me, you'll see."
Professor McGonagall led us across the room to the same door through which she had led Gretchen's family. Past the door was a small courtyard with brick walls. We followed her still to the other end, where she stopped, facing the wall. Taking out a long, skinny piece of wood, her wand, she counted to a certain brick, and tapped it three times.
I jumped back quickly, amazed at what I saw before me. Magic! The wall folded away by itself, opening a passage.
"Well, step in, Lily. We can't stand here all day."
I took a step forward.
"Welcome to Diagon Alley," said Professor McGonagall.
