Finch's mother told him stories that's she had heard as a child all the way there. They stopped walking in front of an abandoned looking tavern with a broken sign. Finch turned to look at his mother, confused. "Are you sure this is the place, Mum?" He asked, turning back to see the building suddenly change in front of his eyes. Instead of a run down building, it was now a slightly less broken down building with a sign that said 'Leaky Cauldron'. "Nevermind." He mumbled, walking toward the door. As soon as he opened it, he was greeted by a wave of laughter and the smell of cinnamon. His mother walked ahead of him, right up to the bar, where a man stood, polishing a glass. "Excuse me sir, but do you know how to get to Dia-"
"Diagon Alley?" The bartender said, cutting her off. She nodded and his grin grew. "Well sure. Just go out back and tap on the bricks. I'll have someone show you the way." He looked to a table near the door where two teenagers, both of whom had ginger hair, were seated. "Go over to 'em and ask. Arthur and Molly are good people." He said before turning back to a customer. Finch bit his lip, awkwardly walking over to the table slowly. "E-excuse me. Could either of you show me how to get to Diagon Alley?" The girl looked up first, a smile spreading all the way to her eyes. "Well of course. First year is it?" Finch gave her a smile of his own, nodding graciously. The boy stood up, holding out his hand to Finch's mother. "Arthur Weasley. I'm a seventh year at Hogwarts. This is my girlfriend, Molly." Finch's mother took his hand, shaking it. "Meredith Harrell. This is my son, Finch." She said, dropping his hand and letting him pass. "Follow me. It's quite easy, I promise."
Elena and her parents used the Floo Network, popping into the fireplace of Borgin and Burkes. After her father finished a quick errand he had to run for the Minister, they headed over to Diagon Alley. They ran into a total of 7 people her mother and father worked with and, after spending 40 minutes standing bored around while they talked, her father handed her a bag of galleons and told her to go get her school things. She headed straight to Ollivander's, knowing her wand would be the most expensive purchase. When she entered, Mr. Ollivander was already busy with another customer, a skinny fellow with longish black hair and expensive clothing. Obviously a pureblood and probably one of a good family. When he turned around, she caught a good look at him and recognized him instantly. Sirius Black, eldest son of the Black family and her parent's dream son-in-law. He raised an eyebrow at her, gave her a quick once over and nodded, obviously acknowledging her parentage. The Black family and the Marino family were related. If she recalled correctly, her great aunt was married to a Black.
As soon as the Black boy had left, Elena stepped up to the counter, head held high. "Ah, Miss. Marino. I knew I'd be seeing you." The old wizard said, smiling down at her. Elena just rolled her eyes. He shuffled to the back of the store, pulling out 3 boxes. He laid all three open on the counter in front of her, smiling. "Choose whichever calls to you the most. Letting her eyes scroll over the wands, she felt a sudden tug as her eyes landed on the one in the center. Slowly picking it up, she held it in her hand, marveling at it. She'd held her father's wand before, but this felt different. Ollivander smiled. "Intriguing. Maple and unicorn hair, 11 1/2"." He mused. She set the wand back in the box and let him wrap it up before handing him the money and going on her way, passing a young muggle born boy, whom she scowled at on her way out.