THE ALLEY OF WONDERS
When the owl arrived carrying the reply to Natasha's letter. Natasha was just waking up. The new room was larger, and more comfortable than her old room. All her things were moved, the previous day from the cupboard. She had to move all the things on her own and the Dursleys did not help her. She never minded it though, as she was used to do all her work on her own. None of the family members spoke a word to her, the whole day, and acted as if she was not there in the house. They even did not make her do any chores, the whole day. It was all a new experience for her, during the 10 years she stayed in the house. She heard someone tapping on her window. When she turned to the window, she saw an owl just like the one she saw yesterday with a letter. She opened the window and took the letter from the owl. It was a reply from the school saying that, someone from the school will be coming to help her buy the things for her, on July 31st.
"July 31st! Her birthday!", she thought. It was a perfect birthday present. An introduction to a whole new world. The owl had already had flown away, as soon as Natasha received her letter. Natasha opened her bedroom door, and ran to the kitchen to inform her aunt. "Aunt Petunia! Aunt Petunia! I got a reply from school saying that, they will send someone to help me with shopping. They will be coming on my birthday.", Natasha said. Her aunt just gave her a weird look, and just nodded, and turned away without saying her a word. She ran back, and took a bath and came back to have her breakfast. For the first time, she was excited for her birthday. She had to wait for 5 days, till her birthday.
In the days that followed, she counted the days to her birthday. On the morning of July 31st, she woke up early, and stayed in the shower for long time, cleaning her up for her day. Dursleys did not scold her, they spoke rarely these days. They ignored the fact that it was her birthday, and did not speak a word to her. This was nothing new for her, and even she ignored them. At 9 30 Uncle Vernon left for his work and Aunt petunia went to do her housework. At exactly 10 AM the doorbell rang. Natasha ran and opened the door. She was greeted by a tall, and thin old woman wearing strange green robes. The woman looked at her, with a shocked look. "You must be Natasha potter. I am Professor Minerva McGonagall. I have come here to, introduce you to the wizarding world.", the woman said. "Yes, I am Natasha, please come in Professor", Natasha invited the woman in. The woman came inside the house, and sat in a chair. Just then Aunt Petunia came to the living room. She looked at the woman and gaped and shouted, "YOU!". "Aaah. I take it that you remember me Petunia, I think the last time we met, was during lily's funeral ", the woman said. "You knew my parents?", Natasha asked. " Yes, Natasha. They also were my students. I was also the one who, took your mother for shopping for the first time.", the Professor said. Natasha looked at the Professor in wonder. "We should get going Natasha, it's going to be a long day. We have to go to London", the Professor said. "Do we get all these things in London?", Natasha asked. "We are going to Diagon Alley, which is a famous shopping centre in the wizarding world.", Professor said. "Oh, are we going by train, Professor? ", Natasha asked. "No. We are going to go by apparition. This is a wizarding way of travelling", The professor replied. Natasha was very excited for seeing magic.
"Now hold my hand Ms potter.", professor asked. Natasha held the professors hand, and everything started to become blur for a second. But everything became clear in a moment. As soon as the surroundings became clear, Natasha felt like puking endlessly. "You must be experiencing a nauseating feeling. It is very common for people who do this for the first time", the professor told with a kind voice. "Where are we, professor? "Natasha asked. "We are front of the leaky cauldron, a famous wizarding pub, and the entrance to Diagon Alley.", the professor said. The pub was old and shabby from the outside, and Natasha wondered if the wizards and witches did not have any sense of cleanliness. The inside of the pub was filled with people of all ages. There was a barman, who looked really old near the counter. When he saw the professor, he said, "Aaah Professor. Very unusual to see you here today. In a Hogwarts job, I suppose?". "Yes tom. I had to escort one of the new students today.", the professor replied. Then a man with a turban came near them, and said,"g g good mmmmorning ppprofessor, i ssssee yyyyou are essscorting a sssstudent". "Yes, professor Quirrell. Nice meeting you, meet professor Quirrell. He teaches defence against dark arts at Hogwarts. Professor meet Natasha Potter.", the professor introduced. "G-g-glad to m-m-meet you Ms P-p-Potter. I t-take it t-that you w-won't be n-n-needing my s-subject.", professor Quirrell stammered. "We have to go professor. We need to finish the work fast.", the professor said. As soon as the other professor went, the duo went into another room which was completely empty, and did not have any other door. The professor faced the brick wall, and said some incantations. The bricks of the wall moved, revealing a crowded alley. "Welcome to Diagon Alley Ms Potter.", the professor said with a smile. The whole place breath taking for Natasha. The whole place was filled with men and woman, wearing strange robes and chitchatting. As Natasha walked, her eyes went everywhere and, she realized 2 eyes were not enough to explore the alley. She saw a shop called quality Quidditch supplies. She heard some children talking near something, she recognized as a broom. They were talking," This is nimbus 2000. The latest model to come out in market.".
Natasha was filled with wonder, but she knew she had a problem. A big problem. "Professor, i think we have a problem. Uncle Vernon did not give me any money to buy anything", Natasha said. "Ms Potter, do you think your parents did not leave you any money? All the money you will need is stored in Gringotts, the wizarding bank. It is owned by Goblins. "the professor told. "Goblins? "she thought, "are they not supposed to be evil.". As they went inside the bank, she saw small humanoid creatures. Most of them were shorter than Natasha. They were all busy with paperwork and had very serious faces. They both went to a place where a goblin, who looked like he was the head, the professor cleared her throat, so as to get the goblin's attention. The goblin looked at them with an irritated face, and asked, "what is your purpose?". "Ms potter here wants to take money, from potter trust vault", the professor replied. "Does Ms potter have the key?", the goblin asked. The professor took a key from her robe, and gave it to the goblin. The goblin examined the key carefully and said, "Well, everything seems to be in order. Griphhook! "the goblin called. Then another goblin came and bowed to the head. "Escort Ms Natasha potter to her vault", the head ordered. The goblin bowed and motioned both of them to come with him.
They sat down in a cart, and the goblin made the car move. The car was moving through a dark passageway. As they moved further, Natasha started feeling uncomfortable and asked the goblin, "Can you reduce the speed?". "There is only one fixed speed for these carts mam.", the goblin replied. They stopped when they reached vault number 687. The goblin opened the vault with the key the professor had given him. When Natasha went inside the vault, she was amazed by the gold, silver and bronze coins which were inside the vault. "This must be wizarding currency", she thought. "Professor, can you help me with the money?", she asked.
"There are 3 types of coins for us. The gold coins are called Galleons, silver ones Sickles, and bronze Knuts. 1 galleon is 17 sickles and, 1 sickle is 29 Knuts", the professor said, helping Natasha to take the money. After the money was taken, they travelled back to the main hall. As she reached the main hall, she saw a giant of a man talking to the head goblin. The professor saw him and went to him with a smiling face. "Hagrid! I never expected to see you here. What are you doing here?", the professor asked. "Oh professor, i am here for Hogwarts business. About the item in vault 713. ", Hagrid said. "Yeh must be Natasha Potter. Yeh look just like your mother you know? I am Rubeus Hagrid, keeper of keys and grounds at Hogwarts. "Hagrid said offering a hand. Natasha was scared at first, because of the man's giant size but took his hand and gave a small handshake. "We must be going, Hagrid. We are already little behind the schedule.", the professor said. "That's OK professor, see you at Hogwarts. Even you Natasha, i look forward to talk with you properly.", the giant man said, and left with a goblin. "I think we will go to the clothes shop first, so that you can buy your school uniform", the professor said. They walked and came to a shop called Madam Malkin's. "Go inside Natasha, i want to have some fresh air, after that horrible ride in the cart", the professor said. Natasha nodded and entered Madam Malkin's shop alone, feeling nervous.
Madam Malkin was a squat, smiling witch dressed all in mauve." Hogwarts, dear?" she said, when Natasha started to speak. "Got the lot here - one young man being fitted up just now, in fact.". In the back of the shop, a boy with a pale, pointed face was standing on a footstool while a second which pinned up his long black robes. The lady took her measurements, and went inside. "Hello," said the boy, "Hogwarts, too?". "Yes," said Natasha," I take it that even you are too. What is your name?". "It's Malfoy, Draco Malfoy", the boy replied. "My father's next door buying my books and mother's up the street looking at wands," said the boy. "Then I'm going to drag them off to look at racing brooms. I don't see why first years can't have their own. I think I'll bully father into getting me one and I'll smuggle it in somehow. "he went on. Natasha felt that he must be coming from a very rich family, considering that he was talking even more worse than Dudley. But she was curious and listened on. " Know what house you'll be in yet?", he asked. "House? what is he talking about", Natasha thought. "No.", Natasha told the boy, it was the truth, though not in the way the boy thought. "Well, no one really knows until they get there, do they, but I know I'll be in Slytherin, all our family have been-imagine being in Hufflepuff, I think I'd leave, wouldn't you? "the boy asked. "Slytherin? Hufflepuff? Funny names ", she thought. "Did you come here with your parents?", the boy asked. " No, they were killed when i was a child", Natasha replied. "Oh, sorry," said the boy, not sounding sorry at all. "But they were our kind, weren't they?", the boy asked. "They were a witch and wizard, if that's what you mean.", Natasha replied. "I really don't think they should let the other sort in, do you? They're just not the same, they've never been brought up to know our ways. Some of them have never even heard of Hogwarts until they get the letter, imagine. I think they should keep it in the old wizarding families. "the boy said. Natasha was annoyed by this talk, but before she could reply Madam Malkin said, "That's you done, my dear,", Natasha hopped down from the footstool. "Well, I'll see you at Hogwarts, I suppose," said the boy. "You never told me your name", the boy said loudly as Natasha started going. "Natasha Potter", she told exiting the shop, leaving the boy with a shocked look.
The professor was waiting for her outside. "Professor, what are Slytherin and Hufflepuff? "Natasha asked. "They are two of the four houses at Hogwarts. The houses are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin and Hufflepuff. The students will be sorted into any of these houses, based on their personalities and traits", the professor said. "How do we get sorted?", asked Natasha. "We have a hat at school, which decides your house. You have to put the hat on your head, and the hat will decide.", the professor answered, "Your parents were in Gryffindor house, and i am the head of Gryffindor house.". "Does that mean i will be in Gryffindor too? "Natasha asked. "No, that does not necessarily mean that you too will be a Gryffindor, sometimes the children will end up in a different house than their parents.", the professor replied. Natasha swallowed the information and followed the professor to Flourish and Blotts, the wizarding bookstore. She found many interesting books apart from her school books, and bought many other books. The professor helped her in selecting her books. She even found many books titled after her, almost all of them telling ridiculous tales, like her battling a dragon, saving kids from trolls etc. She bought many books, which explained wizarding culture, and history. She found about a game called Quidditch which was played on brooms. The professor explained some basic rules of the game, and Natasha found that the professor herself was a player during her school days. She became highly interested in the game and bought a book titled 'Quidditch Through the Ages'. Then she went to the apothecary to buy other things, and later she bought a telescope which the professor explained she will be using for her Astronomy class.
There was only one item left for her, a wand. "Go get your wand Ms Potter, i have something to buy here.", the professor told. ", the professor said motioning her to a shop which had a sign on the door that said:Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C.A single wand lay on a faded purple cushion in the dusty window. A tinkling bell rang somewhere in the depths of the shop as she stepped inside. It was a tiny place; empty except for a single, spindly chair. Natasha felt strangely as though she had entered a very strict library; she swallowed a lot of new questions that had just occurred to her and looked instead at the thousands of narrow boxes piled neatly right up to the ceiling. For some reason, the back of her neck prickled. The very dust and silence in here seemed to tingle with some secret magic. "Good afternoon," said a soft voice. Natasha jumped. An old man was standing before her, his wide, pale eyes shining like moons through the gloom of the shop.
"Hello,", said Natasha awkwardly.
"Ah yes," said the man. "Yes, yes. I thought I'd be seeing you soon, Natasha Potter."
"You look just like your mother. It seems only yesterday she was in here herself, buying her first wand. Ten and a quarter inches long, swishy, made of willow. Nice wand for charm work."
Mr. Ollivander moved closer to Natasha. Natasha wished he would blink. Those silvery eyes were a bit creepy. "Your father, on the other hand, favoured a mahogany wand. Eleven inches. Pliable. A little more power and excellent for transfiguration. Well, I say your father favoured it - it's really the wand that chooses the wizard, of course.", the wandmaker said. "And that's where..." Mr. Ollivander saw the scar on Natasha's forehead and said, "I'm sorry to say I sold the wand that did it.". "Thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Powerful wand, very powerful, and in the wrong hands... well, if I'd known what that wand was going out into the world to do..." He shook his head. "Well, now - Ms. Potter. Let me see." He pulled a long tape measure with silver markings out of his pocket. "Which is your wand arm?". " I'm right-handed," said Natasha with excitement to have her own wand. "Hold out your arm. That's it." He measured Natasha from shoulder to finger, then wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit and round his head. As he measured, he said, "Every Ollivander wand has a core of a powerful magical substance, Ms. Potter. We use unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers, and the heartstrings of dragons. No two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons, or phoenixes are quite the same. And of course, you will never get such good results with another wizard's or witch's wand.". Mr. Ollivander then started flitting around the shelves, taking down boxes.
"Right then, Ms. Potter. Try this one. Beachwood and dragon heartstring. Nine inches. Nice and flexible. just take it and give it a wave.". When Natasha gave a wave some of the boxes fell out of their shelves. "Sorry, "Natasha apologized. "It's OK Ms. Potter most of the people who come here do not get their wands on their first try.", the wandmaker told kindly. They tried many wands, and none of them seemed to work. Natasha noticed that the wandmaker, was becoming more and more happier, as he pulled out more and more wands. "Tricky customer, eh? Not to worry, we'll find the perfect match here somewhere - I wonder, now - yes, why not - unusual combination - holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple." Natasha took the wand. She felt a sudden warmth in his fingers. She raised the wand above his head, brought it swishing down through the dusty air and a stream of red and gold sparks shot from the end like a firework, throwing dancing spots of light on to the walls. Natasha knew that she had finally gotten her wand. Mr. Ollivander cried, "Oh, bravo! Yes, indeed, oh, very good. Well, well, well... how curious... how very curious..."
He put Natasha's wand back into its box and wrapped it in brown paper, still muttering, "Curious... curious.". "What is so curious, Mr. Ollivander? "Natasha asked. "I remember every wand I've ever sold, Ms. Potter. Every single wand. It so happens that the phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand, gave another feather - just one other. It is very curious indeed that you should be destined for this wand when its brother why, its brother gave you that scar. ", he said. Natasha was shocked, but did not say anything. "Yes, thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Curious indeed how these things happen. The wand chooses the wizard, remember...I think we must expect great things from you, Ms. Potter...After all, He- Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things - terrible, yes, but great.", the wandmaker added. Natasha started feeling really uncomfortable, and wanted to get out of the shop as fast as she could. She paid seven gold Galleons for his wand, and Mr. Ollivander bowed them from his shop. When she went outside, she was shocked to see the professor carrying an owl cage. Inside the cage was a beautiful snowy owl, fast asleep with her head under her wing. "Happy birthday, MS Potter. I thought it will be good to buy you a present", the professor said. "T-Thank you professor", Natasha went and hugged the professor. This was her first ever birthday present. The professor pulled her out of the hug slowly, and said, "You are welcome, Natasha", addressing her by her first name.
"She's just like lily. "Minerva thought. "Even she showed the same enthusiasm while she went shopping". She forced back tears coming out of her eyes. The late afternoon sun hung low in the sky as Natasha and McGonagall made their way back down Diagon Alley, back through the wall, back through the Leaky Cauldron, now empty. They went to a secluded place outside the pub, and apparated back to Privet Drive. The professor handed her an envelope and said, "This is your ticket fer Hogwarts, First of September, King's Cross, it's all on your ticket. You have to just run through the brick wall between Platform 9 and 10 to get to the required platform, its platform number 9 3/4th.", the professor said. Natasha nodded and said, "Thank you professor for everything.". The professor nodded and vanished with a pop. As she went to Number 4, she knew that it was going to be a long wait till September 1st.