Harry stopped at the cupboard briefly to grab his school supply list before leaving. He stuck the note for the Dursleys in the door, locked it behind him, and then he and Rose followed Hagrid down Privet Drive.
Hagrid's large frame loomed ahead of them, his heavy footsteps echoing off the pavement. "You don't have a car?" Rose asked, keeping close to her brother as they walked.
"Nah, not much use fer them in the magical world," Hagrid replied.
Rose frowned. "How did you get here then?"
"Flew," Hagrid said simply.
Both Harry and Rose were shocked. "You can fly?" Harry exclaimed.
Hagrid chuckled. "With a bit of help, yeh... But I'm not s'pposed to use magic, really."
They continued to follow him in silence, each of them lost in thought. Harry couldn't even begin to imagine what it must have looked like to see the giant man flying through the sky. He wondered how it could possibly work.
After walking for a bit in contemplative silence, Rose spoke up. "Where is it we're going, exactly?"
"Diagon Alley," Hagrid said. "Tha's in London. We'll take the train in."
Rose pouted, clearly disappointed she wouldn't get to experience magical flight. Harry chuckled.
"Is Diagon Alley just for magical people?" He asked.
Hagrid nodded. "Aye, fer witches an' wizards like you two, it is. It's hidden from the muggles, tha's why the headmaster sent me to take yeh."
Rose frowned, confused. "Muggles?"
"Non-magic folk, like yer aunt an' uncle," Hagrid clarified.
"Oh," Rose said, still looking confused. She glanced at Harry, who shrugged.
They continued to follow Hagrid, each of them lost in their own thoughts. Privet Drive and the surrounding streets were quiet and empty, with only the occasional car passing by, or the sound of nearby yardwork.
Harry couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation, mixed with a bit of fear and uncertainty, and definitely a sense of dread for the confrontation they'd be faced with later with the Dursleys. He pushed the bad feelings down, trying to just enjoy his temporary freedom. He didn't know what to expect, but he was determined to learn as much as he could, and to make the most of this new world that had been revealed to him.
Not too much longer after, they arrived at the train station. Hagrid's massive frame immediately drew stares from the other travelers. The giant man looked out of place among the crowds of people, his head nearly scraping the ceiling of the underground subway.
Harry and Rose struggled to keep up with Hagrid as he led the way to the platform, their small bodies easily jostled by the throngs of people. The air was thick with the smell of sweat and exhaust, and the sounds of people coming and going echoed off the walls of the station. Hagrid had some trouble with the money at the till, so he handed Harry the bills, muttering something about 'muggle money'. Harry counted out what they needed and paid for their tickets, returning the change to Hagrid.
Eventually, they made it to the train and found seats. Harry and Rose sat side by side, with Hagrid squeezed into a seat across from them. The giant man looked comically small in the cramped space, his knees nearly touching his chest as he tried to fit his massive frame into the tiny seat.
The train ride to London was long and uncomfortable, but finally, they arrived at the bustling city. Hagrid led the way through the streets, his massive frame easily pushing through the crowds. Harry and Rose followed closely behind, their eyes wide with wonder as they took in the sights of the city.
"This way, kids," Hagrid said, leading them down a narrow street.
He stopped in front of a grubby looking pub, the wooden sign out front proudly displaying the name as 'The Leaky Cauldron'.
"This is the place!" He exclaimed, reaching for the door. "We'll jus' go on right through to the back, follow me."
Hagrid pushed open the door, and they stepped inside. The interior of the pub was dimly lit and filled with the sounds of laughter and conversation.
"Oh, an' Harry - keep yer scar covered. Don' need ter draw more attention than necessary." Hagrid added, quietly.
Harry's hand flew to his forehead, where he knew a lighting-shaped scar was hidden beneath his messy bangs. He and Rose exchanged a nervous glance.
"How'd you know I have a scar?"
"Why, e'eryone knows, o'course!" Hagrid said in an overly-loud whisper. "It's the scar yeh got from you-know-who, after all."
Harry scrunched his face in confusion, but continued to follow after Hagrid. "… Who do I know?" He muttered, looking to his sister in case he'd missed something. She shrugged, equally confused.
The air inside the pub was thick with the smell of alcohol and smoke, and the sounds of laughter and conversation filled the room.
They followed Hagrid past the bar, where a gruff-looking barman greeted them. "Hagrid! You want the usual? Oh, and who might these two young ones be?" he asked.
"Hullo there, Tom! No time fer drinks, we're on Hogwarts official business. I'm helpin' young Harry Potter here get his school supplies," Hagrid replied, clapping Harry on the shoulder. He seemed to realize what he'd said a moment too late, as at the mention of Harry's name, the entire pub fell silent.
Tom and the other patrons turned to stare at the young boy, their eyes filled with amazement.
"Blimey, is that Harry Potter?" someone asked.
"The Boy-Who-Lived?" one of them whispered.
Suddenly, people began to converge on them. They tried to shake Harry's hand, while others thanked him. Rose was pushed away from her brother by the mob of people, so she hid behind Hagrid, unsure of what was happening.
Hagrid grumbled. "All righ', all righ', everyone move aside! We've got some school shopping ter do now."
Hagrid quickly ushered them to the back of the pub, away from the curious eyes of the other patrons. Rose clung to his coat, completely ignored by the mass of people who were apparently only interested in Harry. Confused and annoyed, Harry pushed his way through and eventually got past the crowd.
Hagrid led them out a backdoor and into a small alley surrounded by a brick wall. Harry returned to Rose's side, and they waited as Hagrid took out his pink umbrella and started to examine the bricks.
"Sorry 'bout that, back there," he said, looking sheepish.
"What happened?" Rose asked. "Everyone was acting like Harry's famous or something."
"Well, tha's 'cause he is!" Hagrid exclaimed. "Yeh got that scar from you-know-who, Harry, the night he killed yer parents. Didn't ya know that?"
Harry shook his head, and Rose squeezed his hand. "No, sir."
Hagrid abruptly stopped what he was doing. "Yeh don' know - yeh DON' KNOW?" He bellowed. "Bloody useless muggles, not tellin' yeh 'bout Hogwarts, or even you-know-who-"
"I'm sorry, we really don't know anything," Rose said quietly, her voice wavering.
The giant stopped his ranting and let out a large sigh. "Right. Well, yeh'll learn all about it soon enough, I reckon. News spreads fast in the magical world. Le's get you two into Diagon, then I'll start explainin' fer yeh." He went back to examining the brick wall. "Ah, here it is! Now stand back and watch."
They did as they were told, and watched as Hagrid tapped out a small pattern on the bricks. Suddenly, the bricks began to move and shift, as they opened up to reveal the entrance to a bustling street on the other side.
"Wow!" Harry and Rose both exclaimed in awe as they followed Hagrid through, the wall closing back up behind them.
As they stepped out into Diagon Alley, Harry and Rose were immediately struck by the vibrant and bustling atmosphere of the magical marketplace. The cobblestone street was teeming with oddly dressed people of all shapes and sizes, and the air was filled with the sounds of laughter and conversation. Hagrid didn't seem so out-of-place here, but now Harry and Rose stuck out with their oversized, worn clothing.
There were a variety of tightly-packed buildings lining the street, many of them tall and imposing, with intricate carvings and decorations adorning their facades. Some of the buildings seemed ancient and worn, while others were sleek and modern.
"Welcome to Diagon Alley!" Hagrid exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear. "The best place in the wizardin' world to buy all yer school supplies."
The two children looked at each other in awe, their minds racing with questions. Rose's eyes widened as she took in the sights around her.
"It's like a whole other world," she breathed.
"Firs' stop's Gringotts bank. Yeh'll need to take out some money fer yer school things." Hagrid started to walk down the alley towards a large, marble building.
Harry and Rose almost had to sprint to keep up with him. "Um, wait, Hagrid!" Harry called, nervously, trying to ignore the head-turns and stares of the people on the street. "We don't have any money!"
Hagrid shook his head, but didn't stop. "Don' worry, Harry. Yeh've got plenty, in yer vault. Yer parents left yeh quite the fortune."
Harry paused to take this in, frowning lightly. Either Hagrid was lying, or this was something that could potentially change their lives forever. If he was right, and they really did have money – did the Dursleys know? Did they have access to it? He shook his head to clear it, and carried on after the giant. Everything was already overwhelming, he'd just have to think it over later.
Rose looked up to him with a worried expression, thinking the same thing, but didn't say anything.
They kept on until they came to the front of the bank. It was imposing and intimidating, with massive, towering columns and a grand entrance that seemed to stretch up into the sky.
They followed Hagrid inside, their footsteps echoing off the marble floors. The interior of the bank was dimly lit, and the air was filled with the sounds of clattering coins, shuffling papers, and hushed conversations.
All around them were small, strange creatures with frightening features.
"What are they, mister Hagrid?" Rose whispered.
"Goblins," he replied softly. "Clever as they come goblins, but not the most friendly. Best stick close to me."
They made their way to the teller's counter, where a stern-looking goblin sat perched on a high stool. He didn't so much as glance up at them.
Hagrid cleared his throat. "Mr. Harry Potter here needs to access his family vault to make a withdrawal."
The goblin looked up, slowly, and narrowed his eyes. "Does Mr. Potter have his key?" He asked, suspiciously.
Harry shifted nervously, glancing to Hagrid. Thankfully, Hagrid pulled a small, bronze key out of his pocket and handed it over to the goblin.
"Oh, an' I've got somethin' else here too. It's about you-know-what, in vault you-know-which. Dumbledore's orders," Hagrid added, pulling out a small letter wrapped in string and placing it on the counter.
"Hmm," the goblin muttered, examining the key and the letter. "Very well. Follow me."
He hopped off his stool, and they followed him down an elevator and to a cart on tracks, leading into a large cavern. The three of them crammed in with another Goblin, and the cart took off. By the time it stopped, both Harry and Rose were afraid they might be sick, but had enjoyed the ride too much to care.
They clambered out of the cart, and Hagrid handed the key to the goblin. He placed it in the lock of a giant round door and turned, pulling the heavy door open.
Harry and Rose gasped.
Inside were piles of glinting gold coins, jewels, and treasures. The large interior of the vault was filled from floor to ceiling with riches.
"It's all yer's," Hagrid said, grinning.
The goblin handed each of the kids a good-sized velvet pouch. Slowly, carefully, they stepped into the vault, overwhelmed with everything surrounding them.
Rose gingerly picked up one of the gold coins, running her thumb over the design on the surface. "What are these?"
"Tha's a Galleon," Hagrid answered. "Seventeen silver Sickles to a Galleon and twenty-nine Knuts to a Sickle, it's easy enough."
Harry stood in the center of the vault, unsure where to begin. "How much do I need?" He asked.
Hagrid went over and helped him fill a bag with coins. While they were occupied, Rose started to fill her own bag. She filled her bag about halfway with coins, then focused on the other items in the vault.
She found a small, wooden trinket box with a silver serpent necklace and a pair of delicate, ornate rings inside. Those went into the bag. She also found a small knife with a carved-bone handle and a leather holder that she put in as well.
Near the front of the room, there was a pile of what looked to be letters and packages, all addressed to Harry.
"What are these?" She timidly asked the goblin, who was standing nearby.
"That would be Mr. Potter's fanmail." He stated. "It's set up to be delivered directly to this vault. Any cursed or harmful items have been screened out and incinerated."
Rose, who had been reaching for one of the wrapped packages, quickly pulled her hand back, eyes wide. "So… A-are they safe now, then?"
The goblin merely inclined his head.
Hesitantly, Rose reached back out and picked up one of the packages. It was small, and wrapped in a brightly colored and patterned paper. She carefully unwrapped it, revealing what appeared to be a very nice, old fashioned feather quill set with a small vial of ink. It went into the bag. Another package had a golden watch with multiple hands that didn't seem to point to anything, but it looked neat, so it went into the bag as well.
Rose opened a few more packages, but most of them seemed to be children's toys or expired candy, so she left them. She topped her bag off with a few more interesting, small items, then went over to Harry, who had just finished filling his bag as well. Surprisingly, despite being filled with heavy coins and other things, the bags felt like they barely weighed anything at all. Probably something to do with magic, both Rose and Harry thought.
"All set?" Hagrid asked, and they nodded. "Right, le's be off, then!"
Bubbling with excitement and holding more money than they'd ever had in their lives, they left Gringotts and headed back out to the shops.
"There's so many!" Rose buzzed. "Where are we going first?"
"Ya have yer supply list, Harry?" Hagrid asked.
Harry nodded, pulling it from his pocket. "The first thing listed is the uniform."
"Madam Malkin's, then. She'll get yeh sorted."
Hagrid led them to the front of a wood-veneered shop with large windows, displaying different styles of long, flowing robes. The sign above it read "Madam Malkin's Robes For All Occasions".
"Here yeh are. Go on in an' get fitted fer your robes." Hagrid said, then he paused. "Now, do yeh mind if I head back to the Leaky fer a quick pick-me-up? Those Gringotts carts make me a bit queasy. I'll meet yeh back here in jus' a bit."
Harry was hesitant, but nodded. They were like fish out of water here, and didn't really want to be left alone, but they couldn't deny that Hagrid did look a bit pale.
Hagrid smiled warmly. "Feel free to have a look around the shops if yeh're finished before I'm back, jus' don't go wanderin' too far."
With that, he left, leaving Harry and Rose alone outside of the robe shop. They took each other's hand, and after a brief pause to collect themselves, went in.
As they entered, they were immediately struck by the dizzying array of colors and textures that filled the shop. The walls were lined with shelves of shimmering fabrics in every shade imaginable, and the air was filled with the sound of clattering needles and the chatter of customers. Harry and Rose looked at each other in amazement, their eyes wide with wonder.
A plump woman with a kind face and a tape measure draped around her neck (who Harry assumed must be Madam Malkin herself), approached them with a smile. "Hello, dear," she said, addressing Harry. "I assume you're here for your school robes?"
Harry nodded, feeling a sudden surge of excitement. He had never been allowed to pick out his own clothes before, and the thought of choosing his own robes for Hogwarts filled him with a sense of independence and freedom.
"And you as well?" She asked, turning to smile warmly at Rose.
"Not yet," Harry answered for her. "She's not old enough yet. But she will be next year."
He hadn't yet considered what it meant for them that only he would be going to Hogwarts. Maybe there was a way for her to come early? "… But we'd still like to get some clothes for her as well," he added quickly.
Madam Malkin smiled at the both of them. "Of course, dears, not a problem at all. Right this way, please."
She led them through to the back of the store, where a few other children were being fitted for their robes. "It'll just be a moment," she said.
They waited a few minutes until it was their turn, then each stepped onto a wooden platform adjacent to each other. Magical measuring tapes flitted around them, measuring every possible thing either Harry or Rose could imagine, and then some. Madam Malkin stood off to the side, writing down the measurements. She was efficient and business-like, but Harry couldn't shake the fear that she was judging him and his sister. He tried to stand up straight and look confident, but he could tell that he was failing miserably.
"Hmmm," Madam Malkin said, frowning as she measured Harry's chest. "You're a bit thin, aren't you, dear? We'll need to make sure these robes are properly fitted so they don't hang too much. I'll put in a charm to help them loosen in case you fill out a bit while at school."
Harry felt his cheeks burn with embarrassment, but he didn't say anything. He was used to being scolded and belittled by his aunt and uncle, and he didn't want to give Madam Malkin any reason to be angry with him too.
Next, they were draped with a light, black fabric, and a floating needle worked around them to expertly stitch up the seams and hems. Rose watched it work, captivated. Harry tried to hold as still as possible, still embarrassed.
After having a few more fabrics of varying weights and thicknesses draped over them and stitched up, they were finally finished.
Madam Malkin helped Harry pick out a nice pair of Dragon hide gloves ("Dragons are real?" Rose had whispered), and a warm woolen pair for Rose. In addition to the rest of what Harry needed for his uniform, they both also got a pair of matching wool scarves, which Madam Malkin said were charmed to change to their house colors once they were sorted. Neither Harry nor Rose had any clue what she was talking about, but they politely thanked her and paid, taking their bags and leaving the shop.
"Hagrid's not back yet," Rose noted, scanning the street for any sign of the friendly giant.
"Hm," Harry said, pulling out his supply list and studying it intently. "Books are next on the list, then there's some strange things like a cauldron and scales, and a wand. It also says I can bring a pet."
Rose looked thoughtful, her brow furrowed in concentration. "Maybe books next, then. I want to see what sort of books there are in the magical world. Maybe we'll find something useful."
"Alright," Harry said, nodding in agreement. "Let's see if we can find a bookstore."
They set off down the street, their eyes scanning the various shops and storefronts that lined the cobblestone road. They avoided the other pedestrians, wary of drawing unwanted attention to themselves.
"There's one," Harry pointed out, and they crossed the street to a shop called "Flourish and Blotts". They pushed open the door and stepped inside, their eyes adjusting to the dim light of the shop. The place was crowded with what Harry assumed were other students, all busy browsing the shelves or chatting with each other.
The shopkeeper noticed them and waved them over. "Welcome, welcome! Our Hogwarts required texts are over there, organized by year. Feel free to look around as well." He gestured to where the bulk of the customers seemed to be, then turned his attention back to the other shoppers.
Rose grabbed Harry's arm, and the two weaved their way through the crowd, trying to find a relatively unoccupied space. The shelves were stacked high with books of all shapes and sizes, and the air was filled with the sounds of people chatting and pages being flipped.
"Wow," Harry breathed, his eyes scanning the shelves as he tried to take it all in. "Look at all these books, Rose."
"I know," she said, her voice full of awe. "I've never seen anything like this before. Here, look at this one – 'Basic Hexes for the Busy and Vexed'." She pulled the book off the shelf and flipped through the pages, her eyes lighting up with excitement.
Harry scanned the titles of the books on the shelf. They ranged from things like 'Jinxes and Hexes to Frighten Your Enemies' to 'Household Charms for Everyday Living'. He pulled one down and flipped through it, his eyes scanning the pages for anything interesting. Behind him, a group of older students walked past, their arms filled with massive tomes. Across the room, a small golden winged-ball buzzed through the air, darting between the shelves and the customers.
The magical world really was amazing.
As the crowd thinned, Harry and Rose were able to make their way to the Hogwarts section. Harry piled the books on his list into his arms, and Rose picked out a few that caught her eye.
"Grab that one too, please, Rose," Harry said, pointing to a book called 'Modern Magical History'. "It looks interesting."
Rose nodded and added the book to her pile, and the two of them got in line to pay for their purchases. The shopkeeper was kind enough to shrink their books for them, so they could fit them all into a small pouch. It was a fascinating sight to watch, as the books shrank down to tiny sizes before their eyes.
As they were about to leave the shop, there was a knock at the window. Harry turned to see Hagrid standing outside, a large grin on his face as he held up a pair of ice-cream cones.
Harry and Rose exchanged a glance, then quickly made their way to the door.
"Got somethin' fer you two," Hagrid said as they set down their things and each took one of the cones he handed them. "Hope I didn' make yeh wait too long."
Harry happily licked his ice-cream, the cold sweetness spreading across his tongue.
"Thanks, mister Hagrid!" Rose exclaimed, and Harry echoed the sentiment. Hagrid chuckled.
"So, what do yeh think o' the magical world so far?" He asked, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
"It's amazing," Harry said, his voice filled with awe.
"Everything's so different," Rose added.
"It's only goin' ter get better from here," Hagrid said, his grin growing even wider. "Jus' wait and see."