Arnold's Wizarding World

Chapter 2: Venture into Diagon Alley

Note: PLEASE NEVER FORGET THIS! All questions will be answered! If something seems confusing or inconsistent, it will get answered later! I PROMISE!

I didn't bother asking Grandma and Grandpa why they thought I was a wizard. I figured I was dreaming and it was only a matter of time before I woke up in my room.

So for now I'll just go along with it.

We walked around a small town where there were people in robes walking around with their children. Sheesh, this is back to school shopping on another level.

But one thing was for sure, I definitely wasn't in Hillwood anymore.

"C'mon Arnold let's get you fit for your school robes. You're not going to Hogwarts dressed like that are you?" Grandpa asked, causing me to look down on my usual outfit.

"What's wrong with the way I'm dressed?"

Grandpa scoffed, "That's not Hogwarts material! C'mon."

We both walked into a shop, and I jumped as I noticed Gerald getting fit into these long black robes.

"Gerald!"

Gerald looked up and gleefully smiled, "Hey man! You look great! I'm so glad to hear you're okay."

"Hello Arnold," Mrs. Johanssen greeted as she and Timberly approached us. "It's good to see you. My husband is buying Jamie O a new broom, rumor has it that the quidditch season this year is going to be the greatest since before the wizarding war."

Okay universe, now would be a good time to wake me up.

"Are you trying out for quidditch, Arnold?" Gerald asked. "If we get put in Gryffindor, Ginny Weasley is going to be our captain, she's great man! Jamie O loves her!"

"W-What's quidditch?" I asked hesitantly, receiving a frozen look from Gerald.

"You're kidding, right?"

"It's your turn young wizard," a woman said as she led me towards a station and began fitting a robe on me.

"Mom! I want to go to Hogwarts!" Timberly cried.

"You're not old enough yet, Timberly!" Gerald scolded.

The woman fitting me looked into my eyes briefly before doing my measurements, "You have his eyes."

"Huh?" I asked, feeling a strange sense of deja vu.

"Has anybody ever told you you have the Chosen One's eyes. Are you related to him?"

Some sort of voice inside my head that strangely sounded like Helga's was telling me that I probably shouldn't ask who the Chosen One is, I don't want to be looked at as if I'm crazy again.

"Who are your parents?" she asked.

"Miles and Stella Shortman," I responded automatically.

She shifted her eyes toward me and gave me an apologetic smile, "I'm so sorry, you must miss them."

Huh?

"Okay! All set!"

I stepped down the platform with my new robes and Gerald showed me his fist.

"Don't leave me hangin man."

I smiled, well, at least not everything was completely different.

We did our usual handshake and walked out together.

"Let's go get you kids your wands," Grandpa said. "Ollivander's is right around the corner."

"I'm so glad he recovered quickly from the war," Mrs. Johanssen stated.

What the heck is this 'war' everyone keeps going on about? The only war I've ever witnessed is the one Harold started in the cafeteria after throwing food at Sid and Stinky.

We turned a corner and I crashed roughly against someone.

I automatically knew who it was.

"Watch where you're goi— oh, it's you."

I opened my eyes and came face to face with Helga, who was already wearing her own robes and was holding on to a stick. She was scowling at me, nothing new, but strangely, that little spark I've gotten used to seeing in her eyes was no longer there. I could no longer tell if she was truly scowling or not.

But boy was I still relieved to see her.

"Helga! Thank goodness you're okay!" I exclaimed as I embraced her.

She roughly pushed me off and growled, "Who said you could touch me?"

"Hel—"

"Who said you could even speak to me? Like I'd ever speak to a moron like you. Just stay out of my way, football head, I don't want any trouble."

She then walked away, and I noticed Gerald shake his head.

"Mm, mm, mmm, that girl will always be nasty."

I don't get it. I thought Helga and I were a thing! What a weird dream. Okay universe, I'm ready to wake up now.

We stepped into Ollivander's and I gasped as I noticed Rhonda and Nadine cheering in a corner and fawning about their wands.

"Gerald, you're up first," Mrs. Johanssen cheered as Gerald was taken to talk to the clerk behind the desk.

I heard the door open and a boy stepped in, and I could have sworn I've seen him before. His freshly cut blonde hair and piercing blue eyes seemed all too familiar. Wait a minute, his name was Sean! He goes to PS 119!

Or at least, he's supposed to go there.

"Sean von Scheck, it's good to see you child," Mr. Ollivander greeted as he handed Gerald his sti— I mean, wand.

And he was Scheck's nephew, I had forgotten about that.

"That's my name, don't wear it out," he winked. "I'm here for my wand."

"Yes yes, but I think this football headed young wizard was waiting before you."

Sean shifted his eyes toward me, causing chills to run down my spine.

"You're next, young wizard," Mr. Ollivander said as I approached him.

"Strange, very strange. You remind me a lot of… him. You have his eyes."

I rose an eyebrow, again? Was this going to be a recurring theme?

"What's your name?"

"Arnold Shortman."

I think I heard Sean gasp behind me, but I wasn't paying much attention.

"Hmm, strange. You and him don't have the same last name, but nevertheless, let's have you test some wands."

He handed me a wand, and it did nothing, as expected.

He rose an eyebrow, "Strange, the wand didn't react."

Of course it didn't! I have no magical powers, and this is only a dream!

"Let's try this one."

After testing out twenty wands, and waiting for Sean to receive his wand before Mr. Ollivander would try again with me, I honestly felt like the poor man was going to lose his sanity.

He shuffled to find another wand for me to test, but that one didn't react either.

"Goodness child, none of these wands are reacting!"

"Why don't I give it a try?"

I turned and widened my eyes. BORIS was standing next to Mr. Ollivander with a cheesy smile on his face.

"Sir, I do appreciate your offer, but only I can distribute the wands."

"You have a long line of children waiting, let me take care of Arnold, we are old friends."

Mr. Ollivander turned to me and I nodded. I was then allowed to enter a back room with Boris, and I sat on a wooden chair.

"I'm sure you have many questions," he said, cutting right to the chase as he looked at the wands.

"Yeah, what happened?" I asked. "Am I dreaming?"

"No. You're not dreaming."

I widened my eyes.

"What's the last thing you remember?"

"I was home, looking for my parents, with Helga… and then I felt really sick…"

"You and Helga were attacked by dementors," Boris stated, turning his body towards me.

"What?"

Wait, that was real?

"Dementors are magical creatures that suck the life and happiness out of you. Only wizards can fend them off, I had to use the patronus charm to save both of you."

"Wait, wizards are real?"

"Yes Arnold, and so are witches. I myself am a wizard. Remember the alma mater I was telling you about? I graduated from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the school you're going to go to."

"I don't want to go to Hogwarts! I go to PS 118! Why are my friends acting so weird?"

"You were sent to a fake universe, a world other than your own," he said simply. "And I'm going to help you find your parents."

"My parents?"

"Yes, your parents are in trouble Arnold. They were kidnapped and brought to this universe by a very bad man named La Sombra."

"La Sombra!" I asked, feeling my heart beat quickly. My parents were in trouble! Again!

"La Sombra sent those dementors to go and attack you. He knows you're the only one who can stop him."

"But La Sombra is dead!"

"No, he is not. La Sombra made a deal with a very evil wizard named Voldemort on an exhibition trip he took to Scotland three years ago. Voldemort granted him powers that he'd obtain after death if La Sombra promised he'd give him the Corazon and the location of the Green Eyes. You see Arnold, the Green Eyed people are wizards and witches, and Voldemort wanted them to join his army."

I gasped, that explained the weird relics and how they managed to hide themselves from society!

"But just a few months ago, a boy with the name of Harry Potter defeated Voldemort, and many of his followers. You have his eyes you know, Potter's eyes are also green."

Harry Potter. So that was his name.

"So now La Sombra is free to do with his powers what he wants, and he is targeting you. He wants revenge, and you're also the only one who can access the Corazon. The Corazon is more than just a cure for some sleeping sickness, it's a magical object that can grant you ultimate power. La Sombra wants that power. So he kidnapped your parents to lure you in."

"But the Corazon fell over a cliff! And how do you know about the sleeping sickness?"

"I have ways child, I've been watching you for a very long time. In regards to the Corazon, when La Sombra revived, he retrieved it and brought it to this universe. But an unknown recent event caused him to lose it. Rumour has it that it's currently lost in Hogwarts."

"Then I should probably go back to my universe to get help from Helga and Geral—"

"You cannot leave Arnold. You're stuck here until you find the Corazon. I'm sorry."

"Wait but what about Helga, is she okay?"

"Yes, she is at home, and she is alright."

"But my grandparents will worry when they realize my parents and I have disappeared!"

Boris smiled, "Don't worry about them, I already took care of that."

I stayed silent, letting everything that was being told to me sink in.

"But I'm not a wizard, how am I supposed to defeat La Sombra?"

Back in San Lorenzo, defeating La Sombra was child's play compared to now.

"The Corazon will help you defeat him, you just need to find it. For now, you're going to have to pretend you're a wizard."

Boris handed me a wand, which didn't react when I grabbed it.

"But how do I find the Corazon? I don't even know where to start!"

"I'm sorry lad, I can't help you there. But a good start would be attending Hogwarts."

I sighed, why is it always me?

"You took a long time in there Arnold," Gerald stated. "My mom had to take Timberly back home."

"It just took them awhile to find my wand," I answered as my Grandpa rose an eyebrow at me.

"You've gotten popular Arnold, everyone is talking about you and how long it took for them to find your wand."

Oh boy, way to not call attention.

"Last stop, time for you kids to get your pets!" Grandpa exclaimed as we all entered the pet shop.

Pets?

Gerald immediately had his eyes set on a brown owl with bright hazel eyes.

I heard a familiar oink and turned my head quickly. I gasped as I noticed Abner laying locked inside a cage. He oinked at me repetitively, and I approached him.

"A pig Arnold, really? Usually wizards get an owl, or at least a cat," Gerald said as he and his newly bought owl approached me.

"I don't think he's for sale Shortman," Grandpa added.

"Where's Grandma?" I asked.

"She went to go get ourselves some lunch."

I nodded and turned to look at Abner, who was smiling at me hopefully. I hated seeing him like this. Abner was supposed to be free, liberated; not confined and locked away like this.

"I want him," I said, catching the attention of the store owner.

"Are you sure? He wasn't supposed to be for sale, but he was dropped off at our doorstep last night and we kept him in here just in case anyone was interested. We were going to sacrifice him at the end of the week if no one adopted the little fella."

"What?" I exclaimed, standing protectively in front of Abner.

"I wasn't for the decision, but I'll gladly sell him to you if you want him. I'd hate to see the little guy go away."

"I'll take him!" I exclaimed, almost automatically.

"Are you sure Arnold? A pig isn't a wizard's traditional pet," Grandpa advised.

But Abner will always be my pet, no matter what universe I'm in.

"Yes Grandpa, I'm sure."

Grandpa shrugged and paid the store owner, who released Abner from his cage.

Abner immediately started licking me in the face, causing me to chuckle.

"Looks like he likes you man, what are you naming him?" Gerald asked.

"Abner," I answered as I pat Abner on the head.

"Alright, seems like that's all. Let's go, you both have a big day tomorrow," Grandpa said as we all began walking out of the shop.

I carried Abner and moved to follow them, but was stopped as Abner began to oink urgently.

"What's wrong boy?"

I let him down and he walked toward his cage, pulling out a green relic and an envelope.

"What's this?" I asked, pulling out the letter.

Dear Arnold,

If you are receiving this letter then that means that the Green Eyed people's attempt to communicate with you has worked. We have sent Abner over to keep you company while we try to find a way to bring you back from The Hole. You are in danger amigo, you have to be very careful with who you trust.

La Sombra is alive, Arnold, and he is accumulating an army to go against you. He is more powerful now, he now has powers that he didn't have before. He and his followers have created a world within the real world that the Green Eyes call, The Hole. The world you are in right now isn't real. It's a fake world fabricated by La Sombra. They have trapped you in there, and you cannot leave unless we find a way to bring you back.

I am packing my things to travel to Hillwood as we speak; I will inform your grandparents, parents, Helga and Gerald of what is going on.

La Sombra has taken the Corazon with him to The Hole. Only you can unlock the Corazon, and if La Sombra gets his hands on it, we're all going to be in big trouble, and we may never get you back.

With this letter the Green Eyes have attached a miraculous relic that will give you magical powers. The Green Eyes have transferred some of their power onto this relic, and you will temporarily be given the powers necessary to survive.

I know this all sounds confusing, but I don't have time to explain in full. I'll explain everything when we get you back. Be careful Arnold, and sit tight, we're coming.

Sincerely,

Eduardo

Now I'm even more confused. So this pig was my real Abner?

I grabbed the relic and suddenly felt a strong force run through my veins. My wand began shaking, and I felt my eyes glow.

Thank goodness the shop owner had left to the back room. I don't think them being here would have made things better.

I stared at my wand, and flicked it, causing a wave of energy to hit the ceiling.

"Arnold!" my Grandpa scolded as he and Gerald returned to the shop. "No powers until you get to Hogwarts!"

My "Grandpa" then muttered a strange word and the ceiling was fixed, good as new.

Things just got even weirder.

And things start getting even messier! Okay, because I'm struggling to get people to review, I've asked Arnold to come join me to help with the [marketing?] of this story!

Arnold: Review everyone! Or Chloe will get sad! It took me a lot of effort to not get her to stuff herself with hot cheetos when she realized only one person reviewed!

Me: *sneaks a handful of hot cheetos in my mouth* His efforts worked

Arnold: I thought I took away your whole stash!

Me: *hides bag* I don't know what you're talking about

Arnold: You're starting to act like Chocolate Boy

Me: And you're too nice! What kind of promotion was that?

Arnold: Hey, at least I tried

Me: Hmm, we're going to need something more aggressive *starts packing bags of hot cheetos*

Arnold: Where are you going?

Me: I'm taking a little trip to Europe, we're going to need help *leaves*

Arnold: Uhhh, okay then! Review everyone! Like, please review, before she does something crazy!