1Disclaimer: If Harry Potter was mine why would I be writing fanfiction?
A/N I know I haven't updated in months and I'm really sorry. I'm not going to give you a bunch of excuses but I will update as often as I can. I will update my profile every once in a while to tell you when to expect an update. Junior year is crazy but I'll try to update asap! Please review!
Note: From this part of ch. 5 and on I will be using quotes from the book. This is to ensure that Hermione's and Harry's stories basically stay the same, just in different perspectives.
Ch. 5 part 2
The Wizarding World
Hermione was amazed. She looked around, trying to memorize everything she laid her eyes on. The road they were standing on was barely crowded. There were a few crowds of people, very few of them appearing to be students. She assumed that most of the students must have bought their supplies already. However, before she could get a good look at all of the shops, Ember interrupted her thoughts.
"I know this must be a lot to take in at the moment, but don't worry. We will have ice cream now, and then we will exchange your money."
Hermione smiled, and followed Ember to a small but cheery looking building called Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor.
Florean Fortescue, the owner of the parlor, was a plump man around 60 years old. He was a kind and cheerful individual. He had bright blue eyes, long, curly brown hair, and a smile that would light up a room. He was well known for his delicious ice cream, but also for treating his customers with kindness and respect.
Ember walked up to the counter and placed their orders, since Hermione wasn't familiar with the different flavors. Ember introduced Hermione to Florean who, once he heard she was from a non-magic family said, " I'm very happy Dumbledore isn't against muggleborns attending Hogwarts. I think it adds to the Hogwarts community to have children from different backgrounds."
Ember and Florean talked for a while longer, but since he had customers waiting, Florean said a quick goodbye and ran off. Ember and Hermione walked over to a white picnic table and sat down to eat their ice cream. Once they finished, Ember took Hermione to a very large building made of stone.
Hermione thought she recognized this building, but she couldn't remember where exactly she had read about it. She thought for a minute, and then it hit her. "Isn't this Gringotts Bank?"
"Yes," Ember said slowly, a bit puzzled. "How do you know about it?"
"I've read all about it. Is it really run by goblins?"
"Yes, it is." They walked up the stone steps, and through the first set of doors. The second set of doors were silver, and had words engraved on them:
Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of 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.
After Hermione read the last line, she realized why Gringotts was one of the safest places to keep valuables. She turned to Ember and asked, "Has anyone actually managed to steal something out of Gringotts before?"
"Not in this century, but there have been a few successful robbings in the past."
"That's fascinating"
Ember led Hermione over to one of the goblins. "Excuse me, sir."
The goblin, who had been jotting down some figures on a piece of paper looked up. "May I help you?"
"Miss Hermione Granger would like to convert some money and start her own account, please."
"I see, and how old is Miss Granger?"
Hermione spoke up. "I will turn eleven on September 10th."
"Miss Granger, I need you to fill out this form. You can leave questions fourteen and fifteen blank for now." He handed her an information sheet. "Wait, have you bought your wand yet?"
"No, sir."
"Leave question thirteen blank as well then."
Ember turned to Hermione. "Give me your money. I will exchange it for you while you fill that out."
Hermione walked over to a small bench and sat down. She began her survey.
Gringotts Bank Account Application
1. Last Name: Granger
2. First Name: Hermione
3. Date of Birth (year need not be included): September 10
4. Address: 34 Pine Crest Drive, London
5. Occupation: Student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
6. (Students only) year at school: First Year
7. Hair color: Brown
8. Eye Color: Brown
9. Do you wear glasses: No
10. Height: 4'10"
11.Weight: 85lbs
12. (Students only) House? (if applicable): n/a
13. What is your wand made of:
14. Vault number:
15. How much money is in the account:
Any questions will be automatically updated when the need arises. Thank you for your business.
Hermione walked back up to the goblin and handed him the application. "Very good. Please hold on a moment while I go get the key for your vault."
The goblin began rummaging through a cabinet to his right. Moments later, he pulled out a small object, looked at it, and wrote something down on Hermione's application. "Here you are, miss Granger. Do not loose this key, for if you do it is extremely hard to get a replacement. Your vault number is 689. I will call a goblin here to take you to your vault. Have a good day." He looked around a moment, before spotting a goblin who was doing nothing but causing mischief. "Tamblin How many times must I tell you not to throw water bombs at people? Get over here"
The young goblin walked over slowly, as if he didn't care about getting into trouble. "What do you need, you most royal highness? Do you need help being decent to these people?" He said sarcastically.
"Tamblin, bring these two to vault 689. Go before I fire you." Tamblin gave him an exaggerated bow. "Tamblin, get out of my sight NOW!"
Tamblin the goblin gave a quick salute, grabbed Hermione and Ember by their hands, and ran off to the carts. Hermione was a bit nervous, but her curiosity was quickly overpowering any doubts she had, so she climbed into the cart, followed by Ember.
The cart lurched forward, and Hermione was reminded slightly of being on a roller coaster. The ride lasted for a few minutes before finally slowing down and suddenly stopping in front of an old looking steel door. Tamblin the goblin jumped out of the cart holding a small lantern. He placed it in front of the door, which read 689. He turned toward Hermione. "I need to see your key so I can open the door."
Ten minutes later Hermione walked out of Gringotts excited about shopping for her school supplies. The first place Ember pointed out was "Madam Malkin's Robes for all Occasions." They walked inside and a short, plump woman greeted them. She looked at Hermione, smiling. "Hogwarts, dear?"
Hermione nodded, and the woman led her over to a stool. "Stand here dear so I can pin up a robe for you." Hermione stood on the stool and the woman slipped a robe over her head. It was very long, and much too big. Hermione stood still as the robe was being pinned up. She was in deep thought when she was startled by the woman's voice telling her she was finished. Hermione paid for her robes and left the shop.
Since Hermione was fascinated by the wands, they went to a shop called "Ollivanders: Makers of fine wands since 382B.C." next. She entered the shop and rang the small bell on the counter. She looked around the shop while she waited for someone to help her.
"Good afternoon, may I help you?" Hermione spun around. The voice had been right behind her. She saw an old man standing before her. "Ah yes you must be Hermione Granger. I have been waiting for you."
"Nice to meet you, sir" Hermione looked at the man curiously. There was something strange about him, about this shop but she couldn't figure it out.
"Let's find you a wand then shall we?" He pulled out a lone tape measurer. "Which is your wand arm?"
"I'm right handed if that's what you mean."
"Hold out your arm, please." He began measuring her. While he was measuring her, he said "Every wand sold here is different. No two wands are the same. Each wand has a core of either unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers, or dragon heartstrings." When he was finished he handed her a wand. "Try this. Ten inches, Ash and unicorn hair. Give it a wave!"
She brought the wand up, but as soon as she started to swish it down he snatched it out of her hands. "No, that won't work. The wand chooses the wizard, you know, and this wand clearly isn't fit for you. Try this nine inches, vine wood and dragon heartstring."
Hermione again brought the wand up but this time she swished it down completely. Reddish gold sparks shot out of her wand and shown brightly in the dimly lit room.
"Excellent" He clapped his hands together. "We can expect great things from you Miss Granger."
The final stop they had to make was at a bookshop called Flourish and Blotts. Out of every shop Hermione had seen, this was her favorite. Books were stacked on shelves as high as the ceiling. There were books on every subject imaginable. She quickly found and paid for her schoolbooks. Ember dragged her out of the store, promising that the Hogwarts library was very extensive and that she would have plenty of books to read there.
The sun was now beginning to set, and Hermione knew that it was time to go home. She and Ember made their way back down Diagon Alley and through the Leaky Cauldron where Tom waved at them.
Ember turned to Hermione. "I hope you have a great school year. If you ever need anything, write me a note by owl post and give it to Minerva McGonagall. She will get it to me."
"Thank you so much for helping me today."
"It was my pleasure. Goodbye Hermione. We may very well meet again." With a wink and a smile, she disappeared into thin air.
Hermione stood their puzzled for a moment, wondering how Ember had simply disappeared. She promised herself she would read about it in the Hogwarts library. She took out her cell phone and called her mother, telling her she was done shopping. Her mother came to pick her up ten minutes, later, not saying a word to her daughter. Hermione spent the ride home wondering what would happen tomorrow. She fell asleep that night very excited and for the first time, truly happy.