Chapter 2: Wizarding Wonders
Disclaimer: I have not gained possession of these characters in the time I spent writing this chapter.
Early the next day, Peter went with his family to the Leaky Cauldron. After a small bit of confusion where none of his family could actually see the building, Peter managed to bring them inside.
"Excuse me, are you Tom?" he asked the innkeeper wearing a black cloak.
"That's me," the wizard replied, "Let me guess, another first-year needing to get into Diagon Alley?"
"If you don't mind, sir" Peter responded.
"All right then," said Tom, "This way."
They followed him outside the building into a back alleyway, and stopped at a brick wall.
"Here we are," Tom said, "just let me open the gate."
He pulled out a wand and tapped one of the bricks. "Third brick from the left. Above the dustbins."
Suddenly the bricks started moving, rearranging themselves until they formed an opening.
Peter looked around in awe at the scene in front of him. The bricks had revealed a bustling alleyway with wizards of all shapes and sized. Magnificent shops surrounded them. With signs showing names like "Eyeclops Owl Emporium", "Madam Malkin's Robes", or "Ollivander's". Finally Peter's eyes found their way to a building labeled "Gringotts" in large gold letters.
Peter and his family entered the large domed building, and were surprised to discover that the employees there weren't wizards themselves. In fact, they didn't even appear to be human.
On either side of the hallway, little men with pointed ears, and hooked noses sat at their desks counting coins, weighing gold, and scribbling down numbers on to ledgers.
They approached one of the strange workers, "Um– excuse me?" said Peter's father cautiously.
The creature looked up from his work and peered at them through his small round glasses. "Yes?" he asked.
"We would like to exchange currency," exclaimed Peter's father.
"Talk to Harvdok," he replied, "he can help you".
The worker extended a finger towards another similar creature counting coins. Peter's family approached him and repeated the question.
"Very well," said the creature known as Harvdok, "how much will you be exchanging?"
As they left Gringotts bank, Peter could hear his father complaining about the exchange rate.
"29 knuts to a sickle? 17 sickles to a galleon? Does no one use even numbers anymore?"
Peter looked around at the shops surrounding him, eager to buy something. He decided that he would need a wand first and he went to Ollivander's.
The dusty shop was piled up with boxes from floor to ceiling and in the middle of it all sitting at a desk was a man that Peter assumed was Mr. Ollivander himself.
"Ah, come in, come in!" said Mr. Ollivander, peering at him. "Another first year, eh? We can sort you out with a wand as quick as that."
But it didn't feel as quick as that. Peter felt like they had tried out a million wands until they found a suitable one.
In the end they settled for a wand of 10 and a half inches, surprisingly swishy, made from Hawthorn wood with a core of Unicorn Hair.
Peter pulled out the supply list and read it out.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Uniform
First year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags
Set Books
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble
Other Equipment
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
1 wand (AN: this isn't a typo, it literally lists wand twice in the book. Maybe my book has a printing error or something but idk)
Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS
They went down the list, in order. They stopped at Madam Malkin's for his robes, and went to Flourish and Blott's for their books.
As they were entering Flourish and Blott's, Peter bumped into a large stack of books which scattered onto the floor. As they fell, Peter noticed that there was a girl behind the stack.
"Whoops, sorry about that," he apologized "here, let me help you with that". He bent down and started helping the girl pick up her books. "Are you going to Hogwarts too?" she asked, "I'm a muggle-born so all of this is very exciting to me. "So am I," Peter responded, "it's a little overwhelming to be honest". "Really?" she asked "well I don't think so. My name's Hermione Granger by the way." "Peter Hanson," he responded. "Well, I hope we'll see each other again," she said happily.
Peter bought his books and the rest of his equipment and was on his way. He begged his parents for a pet at Magical Menagerie, but he left that shop empty-handed.
Peter spent the rest of the summer leading up to the start of term lost in his school books, magic was such a fascinating topic compared to what he was used to. He was bursting with excitement for the trip to Hogwarts.
On the day of departure, Peter's parents drove him to King's Cross Station. Following Professor McGonagall's instructions, he walked straight at the barrier between platforms 9 and 10 and found himself at platform nine and three quarters. He waved goodbye to his parents, loaded up his luggage in the compartment, and boarded the train.
As the train set off, Peter searched the hallways for a compartment, but every one seemed to be filled.
Finally, he came across a compartment with a boy sitting in it. The boy was his age, with brown hair and green eyes and he seemed to be looking out the window.
"Excuse me," he said, opening the compartment, "mind if I sit here?"
"I don't see why not," the boy replied.
"My name's Peter Hanson," Peter said, introducing himself.
"I'm Jacob," he replied, "Jacob Ronillius."
"That's an odd surname," remarked Peter.
"I'm guessing you're a muggleborn then," asked Jacob, "names like that are fairly common in the wizarding world, especially among the old pureblood families".
"Yes I am," answered Peter, "I've never heard of any of this before, I'm really excited". "I read all about Hogwarts and magic this week, which house do you think you'll be in?"
"I don't know," replied Jacob, "I could be anywhere. My parents expect me to be in Slytherin though, my whole family's been in Slytherin".
Suddenly they were interrupted by a round-faced boy who opened their compartment.
"Has anyone seen a toad go through here?" he asked, "I lost him, and I need to find him or my nan will kill me".
"Nope," Jacob said, "haven't seen one." "Does he answer to anything?" asked Peter.
"Well no," replied the boy, "I've never tried calling him, but his name is Trevor, if that helps".
"We'll keep an eye out," assured Peter.
As soon as Neville left, another person walked in. She had blond hair cut short and brown eyes.
"Can I stay in your car?" she asked, "I can't get a moment of peace in mine because everyone keeps coming in to see Lee Jordan's tarantula".
"Fine by me," Peter said.
She sat down across from Peter and Jacob.
"Between us though," she whispered, "It's just an ordinary garden spider that he cast a growing spell on".
"My name's Sarah Antorelle," she said, introducing herself.
The three talked in the compartment for most of the train ride and eventually the topic turned to gossip.
"Do you know what everyone's been saying?" Sarah asked.
"No, what?" said Peter.
"They say that Harry Potter himself is on this very train!" she exclaimed.
Jacob looked shocked but Peter was confused.
"I don't understand," he said "who's Harry Potter?"
"He was the boy who defeated You-Know-Who!" said Jacob.
"Who?" asked Peter.
"One of the most powerful dark wizards to have ever lived," explained Jacob
"How did he defeat him?" asked Peter.
Sarah spoke. "Long ago when You-Know-Who was at the height of his power, he went to kill two wizards named Lily and James Potter. He succeeded in doing so, and then went to kill their baby son Harry. For some reason, You-Know-Who's spell backfired, instead of destroying Harry, it destroyed him. All that Harry suffered from it was a scar shaped like a lightning bolt".
"Why do you keep calling him You-Know-Who?" asked Peter.
"We don't say his name," replied Jacob, "the deeds he did were so horrible that everyone is afraid to say his name".
"But what is his name?" asked Peter impatiently.
"We can't say it," replied Sarah
"Can you spell it?"
"No," said Jacob.
"Write it?"
"Okay fine".
Peter was passed a bit of parchment that read VOLDEMORT.
"Voldemort?" he said.
"DON'T, SAY, THE NAME!" hissed Jacob.
"Sorry," replied Peter.
They talked and laughed for the rest of the trip, these three would soon become great friends. As they neared Hogwarts castle, Peter had a feeling that these years would play host to some of the most memorable events imaginable.
Thank you to everyone who liked, followed, and/or reviewed the last chapter! I did not expect this many people to like it.
As always, feedback and constructive criticism is encouraged and welcome!