Chapter 4

"So, Al, What'd ya think?" boasted Hagrid. I was spinning around just taking everything in. Buildings of every shape and size surrounded me.

"This is so awesome!" I finally exclaimed. "What do we need to get again Hagrid?" I questioned.

"Well, you'll be needin' a wand, yer school robes, a pet, but that's optional, and books, and….then I think we'll be done, unless you wanna shop 'round a bit." He said as if there was a little list in his head.

"Okay, let's go get a pet first." I have had many pets, they've just either ran away, or died. Poor little hamster.

So we were walking down the cobblestone road, well I was behind Hagrid since everybody had to bypass him, so everybody kind of stayed out of my way.

We finally came to a stop at a grungy-looking store with bird poop splattered on the floor. The owner didn't too much better. Hair sticking up at odd angles, with an old and dirty-looking apron on.

She looked as if she rather be any where but here.

"Can I 'elp you?" she said loudly over the squawking..owls? Yes. Owls. Loud, squawking owls.

"Er..No thank you. I'm fine." I answered, while having a staring contest with a huge brown owl. It hooted and twisted its neck around all the way. I jumped and started my way down the isle with Hagrid tailing behind me.

"Uh Hagrid what purpose do the creepy owls serve?" I felt so stupid and out of place. Like a caveman in a Best Buy.

"The owls deliver the mail. Bloody useful they are." He informed me. I'd get one if only they weren't so scary. I had a little visual in my head of a giant owl pecking me to death. It wasn't pretty.

I decided to search some more.

I came to the end of the isle when I suddenly stubbed my foot on something. I looked down abruptly to see a cage with a tiny owl.

Wait. That was not an owl. I looked closer to see it was pigeon.

"Neat! Look Hagrid! A pigeon." I said holding the cage containing the pigeon proudly.

"Er..a pigeon. Well would ya look at tha'. But I don't think it could carry mail Al." he said unsurely.

"Of course it could! Ever heard of carrier pigeon? Ha! I win. But how am I going to pay?" I asked.

"Oh! I almost forgot. Dumbledore gave me some money tha' should cover all the expenses." He said while holding up a leather pouch full of coins.

We went over to the counter where the lady was slumped on a stool. "Miss, I would like to buy this." I stated while placing the cage on the counter.

"Y-you want to buy this?" She said, clearly astounded.

"Uh yeah. Why?" I drawled. Why won't she ring it up like normal cashiers do? "Is there something wrong with him? Does he not fly or something?"

"You could say something like that. He flees fine, but sometimes he…er..Tries to act like a frog. That's why no one buys him, that and they'd rather have an owl." She answered while looking at the pigeon with distain.

"Okay then. I do think I can deal with that. I shall name him Frog." The pigeon cooed in what seemed to be agreement.

"Okay. It's your money, not mine." She mumbled as she took the coins Hagrid was offering her. We then left the store with Frog, who seemed glad to be out of the pet store place.

After dropping off Frog at a dinky little pub the..was it the Dripping Cauldron? No wait. It was the Leaky Cauldron, eh, they're all the same. Anyway, we were going to get my books now. I'll sum the book store trip up.

The place was huge. Books were heavy, yet interesting. And now my back hurts. I did find a few that weren't on the list that were for light reading. Well, for the time I have between classes and art. Yes, I like to draw. Like some of the books were on stuff like werewolves, dragons, and merpeople. I tried to find some on Erian people, but didn't find any.

We got my robes too. The robe store was right next to the book store. I have to say, I do like the robes better than I thought I would. They do the swishy sound when I turn. The lady who was measuring me hates me now. I kept saying "OW!" every time she would start to put a needle in the material. It was amusing.

Now we were at the wand shop. One word: yay! I have been waiting for this forever. I could finally do magic! Magic! Whoo hoo!

Anyway, we walked into a tiny shop with a name plate above the door that read: Ollivander's.

"Hello, Miss Ignysia. I have been waiting." Whispered a hoarse voice from beside me. I nearly wet myself, I was so scared. I yelped and jumped behind Hagrid, who stood there and laughed. He just laughed!

"Please excuse Al, Mr. Ollivander, she's a bit paranoid and jumpy." He said still chuckling.

Finally not so scared anymore, I stood up for myself. "I am not! Well, maybe a little."

"Well, like I said, I have been waiting for you Alexsis. I know you're wondering how I know your name, right?" he inquired, while turning his head towards me. I shut my open mouth. "You look just like her you know."

"Like who?"

"Your mother. She came to me, like most, to get her first wand. Now enough chit chat. Let's get you a wand." Mr. Ollivander disappeared into one of the isles.

"Hagrid, how old.." I started, but Hagrid shushed me while pointing over to a returning Mr. Ollivander.

"Here, this is the one, been saving it for a while especially for you. Cherry wood, a single hair from an Erian, and a ring of scales from a Red Dragon encrusted above the handle; unbreakable, and will be good in charms. Now give it a wave."

I was listening intently, soaking in everything while examining it very closely. The dragon scales were a deep, enchanting ruby red and shimmered in the candle light by the counter. But upon hearing his command, I did as I was told and flicked it in the air.

Two streams of light ejected from within of sky blue and a light pink. The two streams then formed into figures. I looked closer. The two figures were of a man and woman both of which were dancing together, to no music at all. It was beautiful.

Hagrid, Mr.Ollivander, and I were so entranced with the dancing figures that none of us were speaking. After a time, the wisps of color dissolved and we were left speechless. Mr. Ollivander was the first to speak.

"Well I do believe that this wand works for you."

I was astounded. Finally I replied, "How much do I owe you?"

"No my dear, this is on the house. That was quite a spectacle, one I have never had the fortune to see." He warmly answered.

"Are you sure?" He was going to let you have it for free?

"Yes of course, now you better go before I change my mind." He replied playfully.

I thanked him deeply and we left.

"So Al, do you want to shop around a bit? It's almost six o'clock, and ya got yer' meetin' with Dumbledore." Hagrid said as we walked aimlessly on the street.

"Yeah, how about.." I gazed around, "that one." I pointed over to a shop that looked kind of new store with a hippie look to it.

"Okay go on, I'll just wait out here." He replied while going to a ice cream parlor next door.

I walked in and was amazed. The people did not look like the people I had seen on the street. Ragged robes, sandals were the attire worn by these people. But I didn't care what they wore, I just looked around at all the items.

I found an isle with little buttons with sayings like: Werewolves Rights, and Muggleborns are people too on them. Muggleborns, Hagrid had told me what that meant earlier, it was sort of what I was, even though both of my parents were not muggles. But I had grown up like one.

I grabbed that button, and that said Werewolves rights, because once you thought about it; they were, and deserved to be treated the same. But as I was about to grab it to buy, so was some one else.

I looked beside me to see a guy who looked about my age with sandy brown hair and chocolate colored eyes, of which were right now looking down a bit at me, since he was taller.

"Hello."