Chapter Two

Haylin stared in wonder at Gringotts Wizard Bank.

"We have banks?" she asked Mr. Crouch who was standing next to her with his hand on her shoulder.

"Just this one," he replied, "and all your money is here." Haylin's eyes brightened slightly at the prospect of money. She walked excitedly through the bronze doors and, what looked like, a goblin glared at her.

"Was that what I think it is?" she asked looking up at Mr. Crouch. He looked down at her with a faint look of surprise. He seemed to keep forgetting that she didn't know everything about magic as most witches her age do.

"If you're thinking it's a goblin then yes it is. They run the bank. Very smart goblins are, you wouldn't want to cross one," he replied. Haylin nodded and turned to look where she was going. She found herself facing a pair of beautiful silver doors, and stared at then in awe. After passing through the final pair of doors, a goblin appeared before her, frowning.

"Can I help you?" he said coldly. She held up her key. He stared at it for a while then took it from her and said, "Follow me please." After looking to Mr. Crouch for assurance she obediently followed the goblin. He led her, it seemed, deeper and deeper under ground. As she looked around Haylin could have sworn she saw a jet of flames bursting from somewhere further on. She was so preoccupied with trying to find the source of the fire that she didn't notice that the goblin had stopped and walked right into him.

"Excuse me," he said, now glaring openly at her.

"Sorry," Haylin mumbled. The goblin turned to a large door in front of them, inserted the key and stood back. The door opened to reveal large piles of gold, silver and bronze. Haylin took big handfuls of each kind of coin and left the bank feeling a lot happier than she was.

"Now to Ollivanders, I think," Mr. Crouch said, steering her into a shop on her right hand side. She looked around and saw rectangular boxes every where and no sign of organization at all.

"Ah hello my dear," came a voice from somewhere. Haylin looked around and found her self face to face with a very old man.

"Looking for a wand are you? Well follow me and we'll see you right." Haylin was stumped as to who he was referring to when he said "we" but followed him all the same. She was made to wave at least a dozen wands around until she finally felt a tingling sensation in her fingers.

"At last!" The old man cried happily. He clapped his hands together. He took the wand from her and packaged it up. "Lovely wand, this one," he said. "Ash, 14 inches, with a very unique Thestral tail hair." He beamed at her. "Seven Galleons, please."

"Thank you," Haylin said, and handed over the money.

"Yes, thanks," Mr Crouch said and steered Haylin out of the shop. As they stepped back onto the street, Mr Crouch glanced down at his watch.

"Ah, perfect timing," he said. "20 minutes until your train leaves. We just have enough time to get you your books and robes, and maybe an owl, if you wish." He steered her towards a fancy-looking shop. He pushed the door open. "Madame Malkin!" he called. A short, stout woman bustled out of the back room, a huge smile on her face. Her bottle green robes swished around her legs as she made her way over to Haylin.

"Greetings, child," she said. "Robes for Hogwarts, I presume?" Without waiting for an answer, she pulled Haylin towards a stool and stood her on it. A large black robe floated towards her.

"Put it on, dear," Madame Malkin instructed. Haylin did so.

"It's too big," she said. Madame Malkin took the robe off her and replaced it with another one.

"Perfect," she said and smiled at Haylin. Haylin took the robe off and Madame Malkin packaged it up in silver paper for her. "Twelve Galleons, dear, thank you."

Haylin paid. "Have a nice day, she said politely and exited the shop, Mr Crouch following her.

"And now, for your books," Mr Crouch said. He pointed towards a scroll-shaped shop called Flourish and Blotts. He led Haylin towards the shop and opened the door. Haylin entered the door, Mr Crouch following her. Haylin looked around at all the books. Several in particular caught her eye these were books such as Curses and Counter-Curses and Love Potions – Make 'em and Break 'em. Haylin was so fascinated by all the books that she didn't notice the bushy-haired girl in front of her until they collided.

"Sorry," Haylin muttered, helping the other girl to her feet.

"That's okay," the other said, smiling and brushing herself off. "I'm Hermione. Are you going to Hogwarts, too?"

"Yeah," Haylin said. "I'm Haylin."

"I hope I get in a good house," Hermione said.

House? Haylin thought, confused.

"Yeah, umm, me too," Haylin said.

"Haylin!" someone called. Haylin turned to see Mr Crouch waving at her, a pile of books under his arm. "If you want a pet, we have to go."

Haylin turned back to Hermione. "See ya at Hogwarts," she said brightly, and turned on her heel to walk away.

The Magical Menagerie smelt of animals and animal food.

"This place smells like animals and animal food," Haylin said, wrinkling her nose.

"That's because it's full of animals...what do you want?"

Haylin looked around the shop at all the different animals. A white cat jumped down from her perch and looked at Haylin.

Hello, it said, who are you?

My name is Haylin, Haylin thought to it.

The cat purred and rubbed itself against her leg. Hello, Haylin, it said.

"Can I get her?" Haylin asked Mr Crouch.

"Sure," he said and smiled at her. Haylin smiled back and picked up the cat.

"Twenty Galleons, please," the lady at the counter said. "Blayd is just out of kitten-hood and is incredibly intelligent."

It's true, the cat told Haylin. Haylin suspected Blayd was smirking.

"Right," Mr Crouch said suddenly, "we have less than ten minutes to get you to your train, please hold on tight."

Haylin did as she was told, gripping Mr Crouch's arm and her bags and her cat.

A curious sensation came over her, then, with a loud CRACK, they were gone.