-6-

I was up, washed, dressed and ready by four, four!-for the big day, namely- the day I was to be formally established as a witch. The day of my dreams.

Today, today we'd go to Diagon Alley. The place where I'd get my wand and books, and some other stuff too.

"COME ON! LET'S GO!" I exclaimed impatiently rapping on my parents' door.

"Ok," Father said.

It was nine in the morning, when the four of us stood at Charing Cross Road. In Father's hand was a letter, a letter from Hogwarts, which gave detailed instructions about the whereabouts of Diagon Alley. A wall jostled between a bookshop and record-shop, three bricks down, two across. Ta-da! Diagon Alley, open before you!

Charing, at this time of the day, was crowded and bustling. People walked by scores and dozens, blissfully unaware of the events going on in the midst of all this. It had been mentioned in the letter, Muggles can't see anything magical. A hidden market-place, the den of wizard folk. A young girl, on her way to her destiny.

Lily Evans, you have a place at Hogwarts.

Father looked around; rather embarrassed. "I'm going to tap now."

Maman sighed. "Just do it."

So Father did. Tap, I mean. I held my breath praying frantically. Not a joke please…

And then. Then the bricks started sliding slowly away. Like a trapdoor. A thin ray of light revealed an archway with a sign-"WELCOME TO DIAGON ALLEY".

Maman gasped. Dropped her bag on the pavement. Behind me, Petunia and Father were speechless.

"It's there."

I nodded. "Let's go."

I'll never forget that first glimpse of Diagon Alley.

It was….well, magical. Shops after shops after shops, selling things we'd never heard of-bat spleens and Lethe water and Cleansweep racing brooms (racing brooms!). Long aisles lined with magical stuff, carpets and charms and magic sweets

And oh, the people. They wore robes, long and colorful, turquoise, blood red and lavender and walked briskly, in a sharp business-kind of way-some were just plain shopping though. Some even wore pointy hats. There were many children my age, and by the way they clutched their parents' hands nervously and stared at everything with wide- eyed amusement, I could tell that they were my soon to be co-first years at Hogwarts. Petunia and I raced ahead, goggling at everything. Behind us, Maman and Father lingered, staring at cages full of the animals permitted as pets at Hogwarts-owls with gold, tawny or snow-white feathers, regal Persian cats with gorgeous silky fur and twinkling eyes, sleek Siamese cats with velvet coats the color of cream and ginger cats with coarse fur, toads with skin that seemed to be made of yellow, red, green or dark jewels.

"You'll need a pet, Lily," Maman said, consulting the letter." Any one."

Petunia and I looked at each other and I could read the suppressed excitement in her black eyes. A wave of affection for my sister, her wide heart and goodness passed through me.

"You'll choose." I said to her. I could afford to be generous as well.

Eeylops Owl Emporium and Menagerie was a riot of hoots and meows and croaks, with owl feathers, cat fur and the usual mess littering the floor. The store was crowded today with several people crowded near the shelves.

The Menagerie sold not only cats, toads and owls but also the blackest, fattest rats I'd ever seen (Maman firmly refused to go near it), and very furry, ball-shaped adorable looking creatures called Puffskeins.

"Go ahead", I nudged Petunia. She grinned and walked towards the cats.

I had never seen so many, many cats in my whole wide life. White cats, brown cats, black cats, tabby cats, regal cats, puffball-type cats, cats with long silky tails, cats with wiry bodies, fat cats, big cats, playful cats and dirty cats.

Stroking the head of a contemplative tabby, Maman, an ardent cat-lover, exclaimed, "I wish we could buy all of them!" Petunia laughed while Father looked aghast.

I went behind a shelf which housed the Persian cats. Petunia was cradling a beautiful cat with long golden fur as smooth and glossy as shot silk and startlingly blue eyes. "Like it?"

"I love it!" I grinned. "Maman I'll have that one."

We went over to the counter but soon realized our first mistake. My parents had no wizarding money whatsoever, and we could see all the people at the counters paying either in silver or golden coins. When Father approached the thin old man who was probably the manager of the store, he remarked thoughtfully, "You'll have to get your money at Gringotts."

"Grin-what?" we said together.

"Gringotts Wizarding Bank. Just round the corner. A snow-white building. I'm reserving your order go and get your exchanges done quickly."

We stepped out and set for the south of Diagon Alley. Petunia mumbled, "Wizarding money! Next they'll say they have a separate ministry for government."

Little did we know that she would be proved right soon.