Chapter 5: Diagon Alley!

There was so much to do, Professor Dumbledore told me everything Sev had and more, including all the subjects in Hogwarts. Muggle studies would be a piece of cake, but the rest, I had no idea what they'd be like; Transfiguration, Potions, Defence against the Dark Arts. There were so many more, I was begining to worry; everyone else would be better at magic than me, kids from magical families would know so much more, would I fit in? But there was Sev, I'd be ok, he would help me through it all, right? Well the more worrying thing was that there was a lot to get, and there's different money in the wizarding world. I could change the money in Diagon Alley though, so Sev and his mum took me and dad there.

Severus' mother was a thin, sour-faced, sallow looking woman, who never seemed to break into a smile. She had always scared me a little, though I'd never admit it to Sev, but today she seemed welcoming enough. Severus' dad was a muggle, like my family, so his mum didn't seem to mind spending time with me and my dad. Mrs Snap didn't seem to own a car that I could see, I guessed the man of the family had it, but we weren't going by car. We used floo powder, that involved stepping into a fireplace and setting fire to yourself, as far as I could see. "Oh, no no no! I am NOT doing that." was my automatic protest after watching my best friend get eaten away by green flames.

My dad chuckled, "Listen Lil, hunnie, Mrs. Snape knows exactly what she's doing. So watch I'll go next, then you go, ok?" I wasn't convinced, not in the slightest, and now I was starting to be scared for dad, but out of the corner of my eye I could see Sev's mum looking at me impatiently. I simply nodded, not trusting my voice. Dad stepped forward, and after a little tugging I let go of his hand. "Alrighty then..." He took a big handful of the powder then dropped it just as she yelled, "Diagon Alley!" and he was gone. I was still afraid but I was desperate to see my dad now, so stepped into the fireplace and mimicked his actions exactly.

After an exteemely disorientating trip, I slid out of a fireplace next to Sev and dad, all my worried finally abated. Sev began teasing me about being afraid, evidently my loving father had let word slip of my fears of the green fire. After being thoroughly embarrased, and Mrs. Snape slid through, we moved on. The Alley was a long, winding street with crooked shops lining it either side, the largest building being the one at the end, "Gringotts, the best place to keep money, our wizard bank" As he said this, Sev gave me a nudge and we both raced along, I would win, he always let me.

As I reached the doors I noticed something about the workers, "What are they!" I realised how loud I shouted two seconds too late.

Sev laughed as he reached me and simply pointed to the plaque on the building and said "Goblins, they can be quite possessive of gold, and other valuables of course." I looked to the plaque, which read:

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.

That creaped me out and had my grabbing for my father hand before I would enter. The vaulted ceiling streched for what seemed like a mile, I quickly dragged my dad over to the desk Sev directed me to, and we changed the money. The Goblin gave me a fleeting quizical look but soon handed me a big bag of coins, which made me grin. I ran straight over to Sev who asked me to go with him to his vault, "We're going underground?" I couldn't help the small quaver that accented my question, Sev had prevously told me about stories about Gringotts, dragons, and stuff like that, but I coudn't say no.

He looked at me with a slightly pained expression, "Its ok Lily, I can wait here with you if you like, and mum can go and get the money." That simple look, slightly worried, just because of me, it reminded me why I loved him so much, I shook my head.

"Into the depths, right?" I gave him a smile, that was tinted by fear, but I sucked it up and went with him.

"Please don't talk while we ride this thing, I'm going to have to concentrate on not throwing up." These were the first words I had heard Sev's mum say to me all day, I gave her a quizical look but I wasn't going to disagree. So our journey was a silent one, except from all the oohs and ahhs that escaped my dad's lips. The twists and turns were so fast and sharp that I easily understood Mrs. Snape's discomfort. When we arrived the little goblin opened the Snape's vault, little piles of silver and copper strooned the floor. I was impressed, and smiled to show my admiration, but Sev scowled at me and pushe past me into the carriage. This time the silent journey was filled with tension, that I didn't understand.

"Why didn't you just stay up here?" he shouted his wisper.

"Because, well-" I thought he had wanted me down there, but he cut me off.

"You wanted to see how much money I have? Well thre you go, I'm poor, happy now?" His reaction shocked me, I had been impressed, and so what if he was poor? That didn't matter.

"No! I on't care if you're poor or if you had money to fill two of those vaults, I only care about you. If you don't know that... well I guess you don't know me!" I knew I had been harsh, and I felt bad, but why would I care how much money he had, he's my best friend for goodness sake.

I couldn't help it, I almost walked away, but a small voice begged me not to. "No, Lily, don't... don't go, stay with me, please. I'm so sorry, I-I... I was embarresed, sorry." It was tesement to our friendshp when I turned, hugged him and completely forgave him. I couldn't stay angry with him, I simply didn't have it in me.

Afterward we didn't think anything of the fight, we went and bought our equipment. Dumbledore had said I could have a pet, so I got a black cat, slightly stereotypical of awitch, but who cares. Sev told me I ought to rethink my name for him, "Why, I think Saucepan is the perfect name for him." Sev didn't argue any further and Saucepan seemed to like his name too. Next Olivander's, Olivander was a weird guy. It was quick and easy thoug, the first wand I picked "chose me".

Sev and I walked along, he checked his list, "We need to get you some robes." We went into Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, and Madam Malkin stood me on a stool. She waved her wand and a tape measure set about measuring every inch of me, starting with my nose, and continuing on until it measured my small toe on my lft foot. Why she would need to know this for robes, I guess I'll never know.

As I stepped down a boy ran in dragging his parents behind him, "Oh finally, Madam Malkin, make them Griffindore, that's where I'm going to be!" The tape went about measuring him, which must have been hard as he looked as if he was vibrating. Sev picked up my new robes and walked out of the shop looking a little uncomfortable, I began walking after him. "Oh hi there, I'm James Potter, is it your first year too? I can't wait, what about you?" his words rushed out so fast I couldn't get a word in edgeways.

I smiled, his enjoyment was infectious, "I'm Lily Evans, and yes it is my first year at Hogwarts, first year in the wizard world in face, I'm a muggle born." He looked shockd for a second, but he soon was grinning again, it seemed impossible for him not to.

"Well, hello then Lily Evans, muggle born, I hope I'll see you in hogwarts." and with a quick nod of his head he was dragging his parents away again. I joined Severus and, after getting a potions set, we left. All I had to do now was wait.