Chapter 2

Shopping Spree

At 8:30 the next morning, McGonagall picks Virginia up to go buy her school supplies.

"So," Virginia asks, "Where are we going to buy my supplies?"

"A wonderful street called 'Diagon Alley'" McGonagall says, "Of course, you're going to need to use some of your money to buy us tickets for the train. Technically, we'll need to take a bus first."

"Why?" Virginia asks.

"Because," McGonagall says, "I don't have any muggle money on me."

"Muggle?" Virginia asks, "What's that?"

"It's what we call a non-magical person," McGonagall says, "You, being a witch from a non-magical family, are muggle-born."

"That won't affect my success at school, will it?" Virginia asks.

"No," McGonagall says, "Every student has the same amount of magical instruction before attending Hogwarts whether or not they have magical parents."

"But I haven't had any," Virginia says.

"Precisely," McGonagall says, "In fact, Hogwarts has had some very exceptional muggle-born students."

"Why do we need the metro?" Virginia asks, "Isn't there some magical way of getting there?"

"Yes," McGonagall said, "but you won't be allowed to use magic outside of school next summer, and your family doesn't currently own floo powder."

"What's floo powder?" Virginia asks.

"It's a powder that witches and wizards use to travel through chimneys," McGonagall explains.

"Whoa," Virginia says, "The magical world sounds very different from how my life has been so far."

"Yes," McGonagall says, "It does take some getting used to. However, you're not the first muggle-born student to attend Hogwarts. You'll do just fine."

Before going to the bus stop, Virginia walked to her grandparent's house where she had McGonagall wait outside to get another $40 for travel. Then, McGonagall and Virginia walked to the bus stop where Virginia bought them two tickets. The bus came at 8:45 and they rode it for 56 minutes. At 9:41 they got off at a bus stop in Rhyl and walked four minutes to the train station. At the train station, Virginia bought them tickets for the Avanti West Coast train to Crewe.

The train left at 9:58 and they arrived in Crewe at 10:54. Then, they walked four minutes to get to another platform and bought tickets to go to the London Euston Station. The train left at 11:22 and they arrived at the London Euston Station at 1:00 pm. McGonagall took Virginia to a pub called "The Leaky Cauldron," for lunch. Virginia noticed a lot of Muggles were passing right by it.

"Why isn't anybody going in?" Virginia asked.

"Muggles can't see it," McGonagall said, "We in the magical community go to great lengths to make sure Muggles don't bother us. They're not the friendliest towards magic users."

They went in and had lunch. At 2:00, McGonagall led Virginia to a walled courtyard out back with a rubbish bin. McGonagall pulled out her wand and tapped the brick three up and two across from the rubbish bin. The wall opened up to an archway to a street lined with shops.

"This," McGonagall said, "is Diagon Alley."

"What happens if someone moves the rubbish bin?" Virginia asked.

"That's why it's very important not to move the rubbish bin," McGonagall said, "First, we need to go to Ollivander's to get you a wand."

They entered a wand shop where an old man was sorting slender boxes on shelves. Upon Virginia entering the shop, there was a greenish glow throughout the room, and one slender box levitated itself onto the counter.

"Why, Hello," the man said, stepping down from his ladder and coming forward to greet them, "Nice to see you again, Minerva. Who's your young friend?"

"Virginia Hughes," Virginia said, "And you are?"

"Garrick Ollivander," Ollivander said, shaking Virginia's hand, "It's a pleasure to meet someone new. I don't remember anyone in your family coming to buy a wand from me, and I never forget a sale. Am I correct in assuming you're muggle-born?"

"Yes," Virginia said, "And all of this is quite new to me."

"I know," Ollivander said, "I meet a few muggle-born Hogwarts students trying to find their feet in this strange new world every year. Let me assure you, purchasing your first wand will help with that."

"Splendid," Virginia said, "What sort of wands do you have?"

"Well," Ollivander said, tapping the box on the counter, "It would seem that your wand has already chosen you. I believe that's a vine wand in that box, as they are prone to reacting to their owners stepping into the room. Let's have a look,"

Ollivander opened the box and lifted out a slender, light-colored wand.

"Ah, yes," Ollivander said, "It is a vine wand. 10 ¾ inches, unicorn hair core, and rigid flexibility. You know, you can tell a lot about a witch or wizard, based on their wand, especially what wood the wand is made of. Do you want to know what owning a vine wand says about you?"

"Sure," Virginia said.

"It means you seek a greater purpose," Ollivander said, "You have a vision beyond the ordinary, and you frequently astound those who think they know you best. It also means your personality has hidden depths. This is a less common type of wand and never before have I witnessed for myself their sensitivity to instantly detect a suitable owner. Better try the wand out for yourself, though, to be sure. Which is your wand arm?"

"Um," Virginia said, not sure how to answer.

"He means," McGonagall said, "Which hand do you write with?"

"Oh," Virginia said, "My left."

Ollivander handed Virginia the wand and she took it in her left hand.

"Now," Ollivander said, "Give it a gentle swish,"

Virginia swished the wand through the air, and the greenish glow came back, this time more focused on Virginia as if someone had cast a green spotlight on her.

"Yes," Ollivander said, "That is your wand. Would you like me to wrap it up for you?"

"No thanks," Virginia said, "I'd rather carry it home in my hand like this."

"Alright then," Ollivander said, "I presume you will be paying for it, Minerva?"

"Yes," McGonagall said.

McGonagall handed Ollivander about a dozen gold coins Virginia had never seen before, and they both exited the store.

"Professor?" Virginia asked as she and McGonagall were walking along the street to another shop, "What were those coins you paid for my wand with?"

"Oh," McGonagall said, "Those were Galleons. They're the highest form of currency in our world. There are also silver Sickles and bronze Knuts. There are 17 Sickles to a Galleon, and 29 Knuts to a Sickle."

"So," Virginia said, doing quick math in her head, "It would be 493 Knuts to a Galleon."

"Precisely," McGonagall said, "Now, we must get the rest of your school supplies."

They went to Flourish and Blotts to get Virginia's textbooks. In Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, Virginia was fitted for her school uniforms. McGonagall took Virginia to a shop called Scribillus for a bottle of black ink, a few feather quills, and some rolls of parchment for doing schoolwork. Then, they went to the Apothecary to get Virginia a cauldron, a scale, and potion ingredients for Potion's class. After they went to Twinkle's Telescopes to get Virginia a telescope for Astronomy class, McGonagall suggested something a little more fun.

"At Hogwarts," McGonagall said, "Students are allowed to have either an owl, a cat, or a toad. Would you like to get a pet to take with you to Hogwarts?"

"Why not," Virginia said.

"Splendid," McGonagall said, "I would recommend an owl, they're used by the wizarding community to send letters. Even though Hogwarts had an Owlery that you could borrow an owl from during the school year, it might be nice to have an owl in case you make some friends that you want to keep in touch with over the summer holidays."

"Do you think I will make friends?" Virginia asked, "I seem to not belong anywhere."

"I'm sure you'll find peers to belong with at Hogwarts," McGonagall said, "Many students do, and friendships at Hogwarts tend to last for a lifetime."

Virginia hoped this was true. It would be nice not to feel like an outcast somewhere, as she often did no matter where she was. McGonagall led Virginia into Eeylops Owl Emporium where she chose a barn owl she named Sampson. Afterward, McGonagall took Virginia to King Cross Station to get her a ticket for the Hogwarts Express, the train which would take Virginia and all the other Hogwarts students to school. McGonagall had also bought Virginia some Floo Powder and taught her how to use it to get home.

"You can also use it to go back to Diagon Alley on September 1st." McGonagall said, "From there, it's only a short bus ride to King's Cross Station."

"Thanks, Professor," Virginia said, right before she took some Floo Powder in her hand, stepped into a fireplace, and shouted out her address to go home.