Hello
I'm just back from Diagon Alley. Mum and Dad never came with me, but I was fine with Professor McGonagall. It was amazing; we went there though a pub named the Leaky Cauldron. It was rather small, and it was on a London Street but Professor told me only witches and wizards can see it, which I thought was fascination. I mean, there must be a whole load of magic out there, I know nothing about. And I'm going to learn it all. We went though there to a room at the back, Professor tapped the bricks with her wand and then suddenly I was in this town, sort of. I mean it was just amazing, being in a magical place.
There were a whole load of shops. Professor had my money; she had taken some money off of Mum and Dad and had changed it in to magical money. I still have to learn that. We never went to the back though, as she had already done that. But I saw the outside, it looked beautiful. It was a white building and it looked really fancy. There were these creatures there and when I asked what they were and I got told they were … goblins, I mean, can you believe they exist. I wonder what else exists in the magical world.
I got to go to a whole load of shops and buy everything I need, that was on my lists. I didn't buy a pet though. If I need to send a letter to mum or dad I'll borrow one of the school owls like Professor McGonagall said. Yes, I think I forgot to mention that, they use owls instead of telephones and internet. They write letters to each other and send the owls to deliver them; the owls must be very smart if they can do that.
I went to a shop called Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. As you can guess, that's where I got my school robes. Which are very plain, but I'm not complaining. Next I went in to my favorite shop ever. I think I will go there nearly every year, to buy much more than just school stuff. It's called Flourish and Blotts, it's a bookstore. The shelves are ceiling high. There are all types of books, we bought all the books off of my list, and also I got a few books for reading. I especially like reading Hogwarts A History. I have been reading that since I came home, I have read a little with Mum and Dad. And they seem really happy for me to go to Hogwarts. I can't wait.
I had to get all the other stuff for school too, for potions I have to get a cauldron and scales, also the basic potion ingredients. I was a little worried about being a little behind at school because I didn't know about magic till last week. But Professor McGonagall assured me that there are a lot of muggle-born's, and even the pure-bloods or half-bloods that grow up in the wizarding world won't know a lot. Because you can't do magic outside of school, they might know some spells but there wouldn't be able to perform them until they're at Hogwarts.
I also got a wand, and it's amazing. Do you know it's the wand that chooses the wizard, I was surprised at that? I'm not sure if I believe it, but I'm not really bothered at the moment. There was this man named Mr. Olivander and he seemed a little creepy, but he was nice. I also got my wand, and I love it. I feel like I actually truly believe it now, I believed it before but now it just seems so real.
Hogwarts is going to be amazing, I'm sure I'll be writing in to you a lot. I think I should call you something? I mean you're my diary … shouldn't you have a name? Anyway September is only a month and a week away. I'll be at Hogwarts before I know it.
Hermione ..