Diagon Alley
Mid month finally arrived for both Harry and Irlynn. As promised that morning each got up with the expectation of getting their school supplies. Harry had gotten used to the Leaky Cauldron being his temporary home. He mostly kept to the room or with Hagrid. They had done several more trips into London. But that morning, he was up and dressed before Hagrid woke.
"Blimey, Harry. How long you been awake?" Hagrid asked as he ambled into the room.
"A while," Harry answered, excitement in his voice. He had even went down and gotten breakfast.
"I ate too," he added.
"Excited are you?" Hagrid laughed. Harry just nodded.
"Alright, well let me find a bite to eat and we can get on our way," Hagrid said. Harry followed his new friend down to the pub and sat down at what had become their usual table.
"Morning, Hagrid. Looks like Harry here is a bit enthusiastic about school," Tom remarked.
"That is he," Hagrid agreed. Despite it being mid morning, several patrons had come in for lunch. As Hagrid led Harry towards the back of the pub, they passed a man in a large purple turban. Harry felt a sudden pain in his forehead and tried to rub it away as the man slowly turned around.
"Oh…oh m-my," the man said.
"Morning, Professor," Hagrid greeted.
"Is t-that…H-Harry P-Potter?" he stammered.
"Yes Sir," Harry answered.
"Come on, we have a few stops to make before we can do any shopping," Hagrid said, leading Harry away.
"Who was that?" Harry asked once they were outside.
"That's Professor Quirrel. He teaches Defense Against the Dark Arts," Hagrid explained as he picked up his pink umbrella. Harry didn't understand why Hagrid always carried it with him, even when it wasn't raining. Hagrid tapped a series of bricks with the tip of the umbrella and instantly the wall before them began to shift and reveal a completely different place.
"Welcome to Diagon Alley," Hagrid said, ushering Harry in.
Far from them in Ireland, Irlynn and her parents had been up since seven that morning, getting ready to make the trip into London.
"Mum, how long is it going to take?" Irlynn yawned as they piled into the car.
"About forty minutes to the ferry and then an hour to London," Victoria answered. With that, they were off.
They managed to arrive at the ferry in under half an hour and caught an earlier ferry. Irlynn sat on the edge and watched the water froth and foam behind them. She felt the spray brush against her cheeks and smiled. This was going to be a good day. Her letter had also included instructions on how to find Diagon Alley, the one stop place to get all sorts of magical supplies. They would have to stop at Gringotts Bank to change money. She must have dozed off because the next thing she knew, William was shaking her.
"We've arrived," he said. Irlynn bolted from the bench and headed for the ramp to land. She looked around at all the tall buildings. It looked like the pictures she'd seen in school books.
"Mum, do you have the directions?" she asked once they had disembarked.
"Right here," Victoria replied, pulling out the piece of parchment.
"Did you remember your lists?" William asked. Irlynn pulled them from her pocket.
"Alright, well then…where to start," he said.
"We have to go to the bank first," Irlynn said, dragging her parents along.
They had a bit of a hard time finding the bank until they asked someone who looked like they might know. He was a very tall man.
"Excuse me. Could you point us in the direction of Gringotts Bank?" William asked.
"Right in front of you," he said and continued on his way, a boy about Irlynn's age at his side.
"Thank you," William called and led his wife and daughter up the steps. Irlynn saw the man and the boy being led off in the other direction by a very wrinkly, long eared and nosed creature.
"Will, do you have the money?" Victoria asked. William handed a large sac of bills and coins to his wife. The goblin across the desk took the sack and dumped it out. With fingers faster than anything Irlynn had seen, he sorted and converted the currency.
"Thank you very much," William said, taking the new coins and handing them to his daughter.
"We've got a bit of a long list it looks like. Do we want to split it up?" he suggested as they exited the bank. They found a bench nearby and looked at the lists.
"I want to get the robes with Mum," Irlynn said.
"Alright…do you want to get the quills and cauldron too?" William asked.
"Not really," she admitted.
"Alright. How about we do it this way, you and Mum get the robes, wand and the books. I'll get the other things," he suggested.
"Ok…oh can I get an owl? It says we can have an owl…for mail," Irlynn said. Her parents shared a look but nodded. With that they split up, each with a list and some money.
Down in the bowels of Gringotts Harry found himself standing in front of a very large door to a vault that was supposedly his. The goblin inserted the key and Harry listened as the multitude of locks unhinged and the door finally swung open. Harry's jaw dropped as he saw the piles upon piles of golden coins.
"This…this is mine?" he gasped.
"You didn't think your parents left you with nothing did you?" Hagrid chuckled.
"I…I didn't know they left me anything," Harry murmured.
"Well go on…take some of it, you'll need it for books and all that," Hagrid instructed. Harry filled a sack with Galleons, Sickles and Knuts. As they climbed back into the boat.
"Uh…would you mind stopping at vault 667?" Hagrid asked. The goblin nodded and steered the contraption down a few more levels. Hagrid stepped from the boat, sending it rocking violently. He watched the goblin insert the key and reached a large hand in, pulling out a pouch.
"Hogwarts business," Hagrid said to Harry. With that they returned to the main floor and left the building.
"Come on, why don't we stop by Flourish and Blotts and pick up your books," Hagrid suggested. Harry just nodded, looking around him at all the people strolling about in cloaks and robes. They reached the book shop and Harry pulled his list out, browsing the shelves. He finally found the books he was looking for. Just as he turned the corner, he collided with someone, sending books falling to the floor.
"I'm sorry," Harry apologized, bending down to pick them up. He looked up to see a girl with burnt auburn hair and hazel eyes staring at him.
"It's ok. They're just books," Irlynn said. Harry glanced at the titles. They were the same books he needed.
"Are you going to Hogwarts too?" she asked.
"Yeah…first year," Harry answered. Irlynn smiled and handed him the books.
"We can get more," she said, reaching to the shelf to pick up a new set before he could protest. They walked up to the counter together and got in line.
"Bye," Irlynn called as she and Victoria walked out. Harry had grabbed some quills, ink and parchment while he was there. He quickly handed over some galleons and waited for change before going to find Hagrid again. Harry looked at his list. He had yet to get a cauldron, robes or a wand.
"Can we stop and get a cauldron?" he asked.
"Course…you don't' want to show up on your first day without a cauldron," Hagrid said, leading the boy down past a few more shops. They quickly procured a cauldron and headed for Madam Malkin's Robe shop. Harry handed his other purchases to Hagrid and stood on a small stool so he could be measured. Next to him stood a young blond boy a little taller than Harry. He just kept his gaze straight ahead, not even acknowledging that Harry had walked into the store. The robes were done quickly as well and Harry found Hagrid waiting outside. Across the street, he caught sight of the girl fro the book shop.
"Is that the wand shop?" Harry asked.
"It is. Ollivander is the best wand maker in the country. Why don't you go on ahead and I'll be there. There's something I've got to do," Hagrid instructed. Harry crossed the street and pushed the door open. Irlynn and Victoria were standing at the counter so Harry hung back. A man with wispy white hair appeared behind the counter.
"May I help you?" he asked.
"I need a wand," Irlynn said. He nodded and disappeared again. He returned with several boxes. He opened one and hand it to Irlynn. She took it in her right hand and stared at.
"Well go on and swish it about a bit," the man said. She waved it around and the other boxes began to clatter towards the edge of the counter.
"Uh…no…I don't think that is going to work. Try this one," he said, handing her a cherry wand. She waved that around with a much different result. It glowed in her hand.
"I thought so," he said.
"Cherry and unicorn hair. Eleven and one quarter inches. Very nice my dear," he said. Irlynn paid for the wand and just stared at it as her mother led her out of the shop. Harry slowly approached the counter.
"Here for a wand are you?" Ollivander asked.
"Yes, Sir," Harry replied.
"Alright, give me a moment," he said and disappeared, taking the unopened boxes with him. He returned with a few new ones. Harry took the first wand given to him and waved it around, causing several boxes behind the counter to go flying.
"No. Definitely not," Ollivander mumbled. Handing Harry another. Harry waved that one with similar result. He quickly put it down and took a step back. Ollivander looked at Harry for a minute and tapped his chin.
"Maybe…just maybe," he mumbled to himself and wandered off. He returned with one more box. He carefully handed it to Harry. Like he had seen Irlynn's wand to, Harry's wand glowed too.
"Holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches," Ollivander recited.
"But there is something special about that wand, my boy," he added.
"There is?" Harry asked and the man nodded.
"It is very interesting that you should receive this wand…when it's brother was the one who gave you that scar," he explained. Harry touched his forehead.
"He Who Must Not Be Named was a great wizard, an evil wizard but a great one," Ollivander aid.
"I believe that you are meant to do great things, Harry Potter. Great and powerful things," he said. Harry swallowed and handed over payment for the wand. He hadn't expected to hear something like that. He turned around to leave when he saw Hagrid standing outside with a bird cage, a snowy owl perched inside. The eleven-year-old rushed out.
"Here you go," Hagrid said.
That evening, Hagrid and Harry headed back to the Leaky Cauldron with all of his purchases. Irlynn and her parents headed back to the outskirts of London to catch the evening ferry back. It was no coincidence that the two had met that day. They would soon see each other again.