The brick wall that had led us into Diagon Alley closed behind us once we had all passed through it. We followed Mr. Weasley along the bustling street passing shops that sold all sorts of wizarding supplies imaginable. I was most grateful for the Weasley's genetic red hair at the moment, as Mr. Weasley was easily distinguishable in the large crowd. Brooke had grabbed my hand at some point to keep us from getting separated.

At the end of the road stood an enormous, white, and crooked building. It stood three stories high with large white columns supporting each one. A sign was etched into the stone above the door that said: Gringott's Bank. On either side of the bank the road split in two leading off into other shopping areas. The one on the right didn't exactly look welcoming. Don't think I'll be going down there anytime soon.

I turned back to look at Devin who was trying to drink everything in and grabbed his arm to get his attention.

"The bank's run by goblins and I know it's a lot to take in, but try not to stare too much at them. They aren't exactly very friendly," I said warning him.

"Is that one?" he whispered, nodding toward the large bronze doors.

A small, pale goblin stood at the door bowing to people as they walked in. He stood about waist high with a pointed face and beard. He wore a scarlet and gold uniform and had long, bony fingers.

"Yes," I whispered back.

We walked through the doors and came to another set of silver doors with words engraved into them.

Enter, stranger, but take heed

Of what awaits the sin of greed,

For those who take, but do not earn,

Must pay most dearly in their turn.

So if you seek beneath our floors

A treasure that was never yours,

Thief, you have been warned, beware

Of finding more than treasure there.

"I take it not a lot of people try to rob Gringotts," said Jeremiah as we passed through the second set of doors.

"No one's ever tried to rob it period," said Ron. "There's way too many enchantments, plus goblin magic protecting it. Rumor has it that there's even dragons guarding the high security vaults."

"Yeah, I'd say that's pretty full proof," said Brooke.

Entering the main room of the bank, it was a huge marble room with Goblins everywhere.

They were sitting in high chairs in several rows of long counters that led all of the way to the other end of the room. As we passed by them they were measuring gold on brass scales and examining beautiful stones like rubies and sapphires through eyeglasses.

There were several halls that branched off from the main room that goblins were escorting people in and out of. At the end of the hall sat a sole desk with a goblin scribbling down in a ledger.

"Morning!" greeted Mr. Weasley. The goblin looked up from his book of numbers and nodded his head at Mr. Weasley.

"We've come to make a withdrawal from our vault along with four others," said Mr. Weasley gesturing to us.

"Have you got all of the keys, sir?" the goblin asked. Mrs. Weasley reached into her purse and placed five golden keys on his desk.

"Very good. Would your family like to wait in our waiting area?" he asked. He held out his hand to an area in the corner of the room near one of the halls.

"Kids, wait here, we'll be right back," said Mrs. Weasley.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley followed the goblin into one of the halls and the rest of us walked over to the seating area and got comfortable. A female goblin with brown hair and wearing a red dress, similar to the male version of the Gringott's uniform, walked over to us pushing a tea cart.

"Tea?" she squeaked in a high pitched voice. "It's complimentary."

"Yes, please!" said Ginny eagerly grabbing a cup.

"Does it have enough sugar in it?" asked Devin. Brooke swiftly elbowed him in the ribs.

"It's not sweet tea you idgit, its English tea," she said taking a cup for herself.

He rubbed his ribs and decided to take a cup for himself to try.

"Thank you," said Percy, accepting the last cup and sipping it with his pinky extended.

Fred took his cup, crossed his legs, and mocked Percy sipping his tea with a little bit of a dramatic flair. He even flipped his hair like some high strung rich lady, which earned several laughs. The little goblin then rolled away the cart giving Devin a sharp look.

"Do you have to be so rude?" I scolded Devin.

"It was a simple question, I wasn't trying to be," he said setting the teacup down, deciding he didn't necessarily care for it. "I should've brought some sweet tea with me."

"Just owl your mum, when you get to school," suggested Ron.

"I'll let you borrow Bilbo," said Jeremiah.

"Be sure to share it with us," said George. "If enough people like it we could sell it and make a killing."

"I'll definitely take you up on that," Devin said.

A door opened up across the room and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley walked out carrying several small bags filled with our money.

"Now, we've gotten out everything that you'll need plus a little spending money," said Mrs. Weasley.

She handed bags out to everyone and I took notice that the Weasley children's bags were significantly smaller than ours. It wasn't exactly a secret that the Weasley's were poor, but they made due and were rich with love. They were unselfish in every way and didn't hesitate to open their home to us every summer and to three complete strangers they had never met.

I knew Ron would be getting most of his school supplies as hand-me-downs with the exception of parchment, quills, scales, and cauldron. I had already informed the others of the Weasley's financial situation before we left so we could avoid an awkward "Hey, you're not buying your books?" type of questions. Ron was obviously embarrassed if anyone pointed anything like that out to him. He was very proud of his family, but being the youngest boy I think he felt overshadowed at times.

I quickly put my bag of coins into the small over-the-shoulder purse I had brought with me, that also held my wand. Devin wordlessly handed his bag to me and I put it away with mine. Brooke, having a bag of her own, stored Jeremiah's in hers.

"Ok, this is where we all split up. We'll meet back at The Leaky Cauldron at one o'clock and head home for lunch," said Mr. Weasley.

"Percy, I want you with Fred and George to make sure they don't get into any shenanigans," said Mrs. Weasley.

"But mother I was planning on…." Percy started.

"No 'buts,'" she said cutting him off. Percy slumped his shoulders and followed Fred and George out of the bank.

"You lot will be OK?" asked Mrs. Weasley.

"Yes Ma'am! You can count on us!" I said putting my arm around Ron and tugging him to me. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley walked out of the bank as well, followed by Ginny, who was complaining rather loudly that she couldn't come with us.

"So where should we go first?" asked Brooke.

"I'd say we should get our robes first. They'll take a couple of hours to finish, so they'll probably be done by the time we finish shopping," I said.

"Sounds good to me," said Jeremiah.

Ron and I led the way out of the bank, and on our way out we passed by an enormous bearded man. He was like a really tall Santa Claus except his wild, bushy mane was black instead of white and he looked very wild. Not paying attention to where I was going and to the man instead, I slammed into the boy walking beside him, setting his glasses slightly askew.

"I'm so sorry!" I said. "I wasn't paying attention."

"S'alright," he muttered fixing his glasses and jogging after the man.

"Good job," said Devin sarcastically. I raised my hand to punch him in the arm, but he darted past me.

Entering the street, we walked down the road and headed into Madame Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. An older witch stood at a desk in the front and turned her head up to look at us when we walked in.

"Hogwarts?" she asked.

"Yes," answered Ron.

"Follow Me."

She led us to a room in the back with robes of all colors hanging on racks and several stools placed in the middle of the room. She called over three witches who were working on different sets of robes on mannequins. Ron went and sat down in a chair by one of the racks, while the rest of us got fitted.

The witches instructed us to step on the stools so they could take our measurements. They threw over plain black robes over our head and pinned and adjusted the fabric to where it fitted us suitably. They then took measurements of our heads, for the hats we would be wearing.

"They'll be ready in about three hours," said the witch I assumed to be Madame Malkin. The others walked outside to wait on me while I finished paying for my robes. The bell dinged on the door and I turned my head to see a handsome, blonde boy about my age walk in.

"Hello," he said. "You going to Hogwarts too?"

"Yep, you a first year as well?" I said signing my receipt.

"Yes, I am," he said rather proudly. "Do you know what house you'll be sorted into? I'll definitely be in Slytherin."

"Well, nobody really knows until they get there," I said placing the receipt into my bag.

"True. As long as I'm not in the same house as THOSE people," he said nodding his head toward the window. Brooke was doing a demonstration of Fred's gnome tossing dance, making the others laugh.

I shot the boy a nasty look and said, "Well, I'd be tickled pink if I was in the same house as THOSE people," I stalked past him, purposely shoving my shoulder into his, and walked out the door.

"So, where to next?" I said more angrily than I'd hoped.

"What's wrong?" said Brooke with a worried look.

"That blonde kid was just making fun y'all," I said. Ron peaked around me and into the shop where the boy was walking towards the back with Madame Malkin.

"Oh," he said with sudden disdain. "That's Draco Malfoy."

"So is he some big shot or something?" asked Jeremiah.

"No, but his dad is. Lucius Malfoy is one of the school's governors and they come from a really old family with a lot of influence in the Ministry," explained Ron.

"So because they're rich and powerful they think they can treat everyone else like trash," said Devin.

"Yeah, pretty much," replied Ron.

"Well, I for one am not going to let him ruin our day," I said positively.

"Right!" agreed Brooke passionately. "I say next we go to the cauldron shop."

"Agreed!" I said, linking arms with her and strolling back down towards The Leak Cauldron, where Potage's Cauldron Shop was.

After getting their cauldrons and dragging Devin away from one that was solid gold, we headed to Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment where we bought our brass scales, glass phials, and collapsible telescopes. The telescopes made it easier to fit more things in our cauldrons, which had basically become our shopping bags.

"Instead of going to Flourish and Blott's for our books why don't we go to the Second-Hand Book Shop?" I suggested.

"They're a lot cheaper and some of the books are brand new," said Ron.

We walked across the street and down the road to the book shop. They had all of the books we needed, and some of them were actually brand new like Ron had said.

While waiting in line behind the others to check out I spotted Ron looking at the comic book stand. When Jeremiah finished paying he met up with Ron and they both walked outside to wait in front of the store. Making sure both of their, backs were turned I quickly grabbed the comic book Ron had been staring at, The Adventure of Martin Miggs, The Mad Muggle, Issue #1, and put it with my other books.

"Oh, good if you hadn't of grabbed it, I would have," said Brooke knowingly.

After we finished, we thanked the young wizard at the desk and walked out the door and back into the sunny street.

"Ron, we have something that we want to give you," said Brooke, taking the comic book from my hand. "We're really thankful that your family opened your home to us, so we thought we'd get you a gift as thanks."

Jeremiah and Devin looked clueless, but went with it. Ron looked at the comic book that Brooke handed to him and his eyes lit up They looked like the fireworks that had awoken me from my slumber this morning.

"Thanks!" he said excitedly. "Seriously, I'm really grateful,"

He had an extra skip in his step as we made our way down to the Apothecary to get supplies for potions.

"Are we done now?" asked Devin.

"Yep, but I'd like to go see Mr. Ollivander before we go get our robes," I said.

"Kristin and I always liked going in and looking at the wands every time we were here," explained Ron.

"Yeah, I told him last year I'd show him my wand when I got it," I said. "Many wands in the America are made strictly from materials found there."

We walked down to Ollivander's Wand Shop and the bell dinged as the door opened. It was a dark, narrow shop crowded with rows and rows of long boxes stacked on shelves and on top of each other. I never knew how Mr. Ollivander could ever find anything in the shop, but I suppose he had his own system, as disorderly as it was.

"Mr. Ollivander!" I called. "It's Kristin and Ron!"

An old, man with white hair poked his head out from behind one of the many shelves and smiled.

"Bless me soul!" he said hopping down, surprisingly limber for his old age. "I knew you would be coming in at some point. Are these your friends?"

"Yes, sir! This is Devin, Brooke, and Jeremiah."

"Wonderful! I assume you've all received your wands as well?"

"Yes, sir," said Devin.

"I know in America it's a little different to get your wands. I believe you have to get a permit once you turn of age," he said.

"Yeah, it's easier to track dark wizards that way," said Jeremiah.

Mr. Ollivander nodded his head and walked over behind his desk.

"Now let me see your wand. I've been looking forward to it," he excitedly. I fished my wand out of my bag and handed it to him.

"Beautiful!" he said taking an eyeglass and examining it. "Let's see, Dogwood, eleven and a half inches, rougarou hair core, and solid. A very nice wand. It is fiercely loyal to you and has a very playful nature. Although it's curious that it has a rougarou hair for a core. It's typically regarded as having an affinity for dark magic, but in your hands I see that this is a powerful wand that seeks excitement. It certainly suits your personality."

"You were able to tell all of that with just looking at it?" questioned Devin.

"Many things factor into wands, but one things has always been clear. The wand chooses the wizard," Mr. Ollivander explained. "Now if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to take a look at all of your wands."

"Me next!" said Brooke eagerly grabbing her wand out of her bag.

"Hmm. Cedar, ten and three quarters, slightly springy, and the spine of a white river monster. Very rare! You didn't receive this wand from a wand maker did you?" he said.

"It's been passed down our family every generation. I think my mom said it was rare for it to actually choose an owner though," she said.

"Quite right," he said. "They don't make wands like this at all anymore. Thiago Quintana, who originally made the wands, guarded the secret of luring in the white river monster to his death, which is when the wands were no longer made. You will be a frightening adversary with this wand, especially if someone intends to harm those who you are fond of. I have never met a witch or wizard with a Cedar wand who I would care to cross in a duel. This wand will only go to an owner who is cheerful and optimistic with a big, and sometimes overactive, imagination. I can see why it has been so picky all of these years."

Brooke took back her wand and stared at it in awe.

"I guess I'll go next," said Devin taking his wand out of his back pocket.

"Red Oak, twelve inches, hard, and the hair of a wampus cat. This is an excellent dueling wand. The hair of a wampus cat tends to only favor those with a warriors heart. Although, being Red Oak it always indicates that its owner has a hot temper," laughed Mr. Ollivander. "Do be warned though, keeping your wand in your back pocket isn't the smartest thing to do. Wizards have been known to lose a butt cheek or two."

Brooke, Ron, and I cracked up laughing and I saw Jeremiah quickly remove his from his back pocket.

"Alright, let's see here. Swamp Mahaw wood, twelve and a half inches, reasonably supple, and a thunderbird tail core. It'll take a bit to warm up to you until you prove your worthiness, but once it does it will be very loyal. A perfect wand for every branch of magic, but transfiguration especially. It will be difficult to master this wand, so work hard." Mr. Ollivander said handing Jeremiah's wand back to him.

"I thinks it's time for us to go pick up our robes," said Ron looking at his watch.

"Oh, you're right!' I said. "It was great seeing you Mr. Ollivander! See you later!"

He waved goodbye to us, and we walked out the door and up the street to the retrieve our robes.

"How much time do we have before we need to meet up with everyone?" asked Jeremiah trying to rearrange his cauldron so his robes would fit.

Ron looked at his watch again. "About an hour."

"I think I saw an ice cream shop back that way, how about we go in and eat some," suggested Brooke.

"Perfect Brookie Cookie! I'm tired of lugging this cauldron around all day. My arms better look like Arnold Schwarzenegger's when I'm done," I said.

"Arnold who?" said Ron with a confused look.

"He's a muggle body builder," answered Devin.

We hauled our full cauldrons over to Florean Fortescue's Ice-Cream Parlor, sat down at a table, and put our things on the floor. A middle-aged wizard with long, brown hair and a short beard walked over to us.

"Long day kids?" he asked smiling.

"Very!" I said.

"What'll it be?"

Each of us ordered our ice-cream, and waited patiently for it to arrive.

"I'm so tired," said Jeremiah leaning back in his chair.

"Stop being a wuss," said Devin.

"Shut up," Jeremiah fired back.

"Now, now, you two, play nice," I said.

"Here comes our ice-cream," said Ron his mouth practically watering.

Mr. Fortescue set down our ice-cream in front of each of us and we dug in. I got a hot fudge sundae, yum!

"You know, I've always wondered something, Kristin," said Ron. "What's your deal with nuts? You eat peanuts, but you won't eat them on ice cream or anything."

"I stopped questioning her habits long ago," said Jeremiah.

"Oh shush!" I replied "I don't' really know myself. I like peanuts by themselves but I don't like them in brownies and stuff."

"Maybe it's a texture thing," said Brooke.

"No, I don't think it's that," I said thoughtfully.

"I think you're just an idiot," said Devin. Boy, he was really on one today.

"Well I think you're a doo doo head," I replied with one of my many wonderfully inventive insults. I scooped out the last of my fudge and pushed the bowl away.

"Your mom won't be mad at us for eating before lunch will she?" asked Jeremiah.

"Don't tell her, and even if you're not hungry, force it down," Ron said cautiously.

I looked out of the window we were sitting near and jumped straight out of my seat. A pair of twins had their faces smushed against the window making ugly faces.

"I don't think my heart can take much more of this," I said putting my hand over it.

Brooke had scooted about two feet away and when she recovered began laughing. The twins walked in the shop with a rather haggard looking Percy.

"What's up with you?" asked Devin.

"Joke shop," he answered before stealing my vacant seat. Ah, that it explains it. He had the unfortunate pleasure of testing out Fred and George's newly acquired arsenal.

"Saw mum, dad, and Ginny heading up to The Leaky Cauldron we better head after them," said George.

We all left the shop and quickly strode up the road back toward the pub. I shoved my cauldron at Fred and said "Be a gentlemen and carry this for me."

"Oi! I've been carrying my own stuff all day!" he protested.

"Yes, but I'm just a weak little girl. Oh, I'm feeling faint," I said placing the back of my hand to my forehead and skipping past him. Grumbling, Fred grudgingly carried my supplies following behind me.