Written for Assignment #7 on Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry forum: Geography, Task #1 – Write about a muggleborn getting their first set of robes and hat. Word count: 493.

Second-Hand Robes Shop

"We need… Three sets of plain work robes," stated Lily, carefully checking her supplies list. "And one pointed hat."

Eileen Snape, who was in charge of this little excursion to Diagon Alley, sighed quietly.

"We were going to visit the second-hand shop," she said reluctantly. "But you'll probably want to buy yours at Madam Malkin's."

"Uhm… Second-hand is okay," she decided quickly. Ollivander's had been the first place they visited and the wand took fair share of her money. And mother always complained that they were still growing and needed new clothes too often! So it was only reasonable to save on them a little.

"Let's go then." Eileen didn't comment Lily's choice any further. Instead, she just led the kids in the right direction. It wasn't a long walk. After five, maybe six minutes they stood in front of a small shop crammed between a sweetshop and, ironically, Twillfitt and Tattings, the upper-class clothing shop.

"In you go."

The interior wasn't very welcoming with its low ceiling and too many racks kept in too small space, and Lily hesitated for a moment; but she let Severus grab her hand and pull her inside.

She wasn't sure where to look for the robes she needed. Her friend's mother soon answered the unvoiced question:

"School robes are not on display."

Then she moved to talk to the clerk. The witch sitting behind the counter was visibly bored and didn't even bother to greet approaching her customers.

"These two are Hogwarts first-years," said Eileen, waving her hand in Severus and Lily's direction.

"Three sets and a hat each?"

Eileen nodded.

"And one winter cloak for the girl."

The witch focused on them for a moment, most likely estimating the sizes needed. Then, without a word, she headed to the back room.

When she came back, she carried several hangers with robes on them. As she passed them to the children, Eileen urged Lily and Severus to try the robes on. There were no changing rooms, so they could only put them on right there, in front of the counter.

Pulling the loose-fitting robe over her head, Lily felt a bit awkward. When they were both dressed in their uniforms, the clerk handed them the hats. Lily quickly placed it on her head, and as Severus did the same, she giggled. "We look funny."

"You'll get used to it," muttered Severus.

Eileen looked at them and ordered Lily to try the other robe. She did as she was told, neatly putting the hat and the first robe on the counter and putting on the second one.

"This one's better. A bit too long, but we can easily fix it. The first one would be too short," she explained. "We'll take them," she informed the clerk.

The witch nodded and collected the clothes to pack them and sum up the prices. While she was busy doing this, Eileen asked the children:

"What else's on your lists?"