It was not unusual for Grace to be in Lena's flat on a Tuesday morning but this week was different. They were sitting on the sofa together, both looking at the TV. To an outsider it would look like they were fascinated in finding out whether the man on the screen was going to pass the all important lie detector test but, in fact, they were steeling themselves for the arrival of Arthur Weasley. At 10 o'clock exactly, there was a sharp rap on the door. Grace breathed a sigh of relief as Lena ran to the door. She had been worried that the wizard would apparate directly into the living room. She was easily startled at the best of times so she didn't know how she'd cope with a man appearing out of thin air in front of her.
Having expected his arrival this time, the girls were a lot more relaxed. Lena offered him a cup of tea to which he showed more delight in the workings of the kettle than the actual drink. Eventually he sat down on the sofa with a loud exhale. Grace noticed he was wearing an eclectic combination of a tartan shirt, Bermuda shorts and deerstalker hat. Clearly he struggled with the concept of muggle clothing.
"Right then. I'll assume you've been thinking about your options a lot over the past couple of days". Grace nodded whilst Lena made a soft noise of acknowledgement. "Have you thought about whether you would like to accept the offers?"
"Yes!" enthused the pair in unison before giggling.
"Sorry, Mr Wea- Arthur. It's just that we've wanted this for a very long time so we might be more than a little excited" Grace explained.
"No worries, perfectly understandable. I remember being just as excited when I got my letter. Of course, I was expecting to go all along having grown up in a wizarding household. It must be even more exciting for you. Now, let's get these letters sent to Hogwarts". He pulled a quill and some parchment out of his shorts pocket and scratched a short message down before attaching it to the leg of a small, scruffy owl that had mysteriously appeared in the room. The owl took off in a flurry as Mr Weasley stood up from the sofa.
"Right then, if you're coming to Hogwarts, we'd better get you sorted. Dumbledore assures me that you both have a small amount of money in your muggle banks? We'll be able to exchange your money at Gringott's so you should have plenty for all your equipment. So if you're ready, we'll get going. I notice you don't have a fireplace in this building so we'll have to travel your way".
Grace felt slightly embarrassed at the prospect of being in public with this strange man wearing socks and sandals. He noticed the look on her face and chuckled in the warm manner that was becoming familiar.
"Oh, don't worry. I have a car. No muggles can see it and it will get us to London in no time at all". He winked conspiratorially.
Sure enough, parked outside the flats was a battered blue Ford Anglia. "Excuse the condition. It got a bit busted up a while back and I've never got around to fixing it. I've found I prefer it this way. It looks more discreet. Works perfectly fine though".
Despite the initial appearance, the interior of the car was rather luxurious. The seats were larger than usual with soft, plump cushions. There was much more leg room than was to be expected and the car had the faint scent of cinnamon and spiced apples. More remarkably, the journey from Winchester to London took no more than 10 minutes and Mr Weasley found a parking space in Charing Cross with no trouble at all.
As they climbed out of the car, he pointed to a building across the road. It was a small, dingy pub with dirty windows and a broken down sign hanging above the dark door. "That would be the Leaky Cauldron" he exclaimed with a flourish.
They hurried across the busy road and entered the door. Grace was amazed that none of the people rushing past seemed to notice. "They see an old shop front" explained Mr Weasley, following her gaze.
Unlike Mr Weasley's car, the pub inside was no fancier than the exterior. The lighting was very low and it was rather shabby, although it was clear that the owners had tried to make it look more appealing by adding strange plants on each table. A few witches and wizards sat at tables, reading newspapers and chatting to each other. "Morning, Arthur!" called out one of the wizards as they passed.
The girls looked on in awe. This was their first glimpse at the wizarding world. The customers were wearing robes that they had only read about and the portraits on the walls were milling around their frames. A broom was sweeping by itself in the corner. Behind the bar, a young girl with wild curly hair was pouring out a drink for an old man propped on the bar. "Now this is your last red currant rum, Fillibert. Anymore and you won't be able to stand. It's not even half ten yet".
"Good morning Violetta", greeted Mr Weasley. "Is Hannah about?"
"Yeah sure, I'll just get her for you". The girl ran up the stairs behind her, calling as she went.
"That's Violetta Broadus", explained Mr Weasley. "A lovely young girl, she is. Very promising future ahead of her. She's going back to Hogwarts as a mentor this year. She finished a couple of years ago and is interested in being a professor so Dumbledore has set her up with an apprenticeship. Keep your eyes peeled for her, she'll look after you if you need anything".
The slim girl bounced back down the steps. "Violetta, this is Grace and Lena. They'll be starting Hogwarts this year so I've told them you'll look out for them. That's no problem, is it?"
"Of course not!" Violetta smiled at the girls "Hogwarts is a wonderful place. I couldn't bear to leave. That's why I'm going back. Bar work is nice for me for now but it's not what I want to do in life. I'm sure you'll both love it there".
A jolly looking woman with blonde hair and a round face entered behind the bar. "Arthur! How lovely to see you again!"
"Hi Hannah. I'm afraid I can't stop for long but I had to introduce you to Lena and Grace. They're two new students at Hogwarts. I was hoping to introduce them to Neville but I suppose he's in his greenhouse".
Hannah chuckled. "Of course he is. If he's not teaching, he's tending those plants. He's very excited right now. He thinks he's discovered a new use for Mimbulus Mimbletonia cacti so he's been working on that every hour of the day. What a shame he missed you. It's lovely to meet you girls".
Grace couldn't help but feel welcomed to this strange world. Everyone they had met was so friendly. She was already feeling comfortable. It seemed so odd that just a few days ago she didn't believe this world to exist and now she was happily wandering around inside it.
Before she could take in everything that was being presented before her, Mr Weasley was steering the pair out of the pub. They entered the courtyard that they had read about and watched in wonder as Mr Weasley tapped the bricks on the wall and Diagon Alley emerged, brick by brick, before them.
The small street was bustling with people in robes, rushing around into the various shops lining the sides. A few shops had stalls in front of their windows with small crowds gathered around. The strange objects being sold were amazing enough without the strange smells and noises that filled the air. Owls swooped intermittently overhead en route to delivering letters and parcels. Looming on the horizon was a grand white building with intimidating brass doors. A sign above the entrance indicated that this was Gringott's Bank.
The small group entered the bank which, whilst no doubt beautiful, left Grace feeling quite uneasy under the suspicious glare of the goblins. They quickly exchanged their muggle pounds into galleons and were relieved when they stepped back, blinking, into the late summer sun.
Together they moved around the various shops of the cobbled street, picking up their essential equipment. They were fitted for robes at Madam Malkin's, which felt strange to move in after years of muggle jeans and t shirts. Lena was so delighted to visit Flourish and Blotts and be surrounded by hundred of enchanted books that she bought a few that weren't even on the school book list. Finally, they stepped into the shop that they had been most looking forward to- Ollivander's. They emerged half an hour later clutching their own wands- Grace's a 10 inch willow with dragon heartstring and Lena's an 11 inch yew with unicorn tail hair.
By the time they were back in the Leaky Cauldron, they all had aching feet and both girls were laden with heavy bags. They examined their purchases as they sipped iced pumpkin juice at a small table in the corner.
"This seat taken?" a voice drawled from above them. Stood next to the table was a tall young man who appeared to be in his early twenties. His hair was formed of dark curls that fell above his strong eyebrows.
"Roscoe! How lovely to see you! Please, join us. We were talking to your sister earlier"
"So she said. She told me that these very lovely ladies were joining Hogwarts College". Now that Grace looked at him, she could see a remarkable resemblance to Violetta. "I'm going too. I don't know if Arthur told you, but some of the current students are staying on to attend the college too. A sort of pilot scheme, if you will. They might make it a permanent feature if it works out well. Maybe one, or both of you, will share classes with me. I'm a Slytherin. So if you get put there too have a look for me. I'm happy to show you the ropes".
"Thank you, that's kind of you" replied Lena, smiling back at him. Grace nodded nervously. She was never very good in social situations. Nor was Lena, for that matter, but her nerves usually translated into talking too much and making accidental inappropriate comments. "We get sorted? I've always wanted to be sorted! Do we get the Sorting Hat and everything? Ooh this is so exciting!"
Roscoe looked slightly cautiously at the over enthusiastic girl opposite him. "Well, I'm not sure to be honest. This is the first year so I don't know how you'll be sorted. I'll assume it's the Sorting Hat though. Just make sure you don't get put into Gryffindor. Load of idiots, they are. Slytherin is where it's at!"
"So the rivalry isn't just a myth?" asked Lena.
"Oh no! There is definite rivalry between the houses. It's mainly just the Gryffindor lot being jealous of us. Don't blame them really. I'd be jealous too. We're the best looking, the most talented, the most likely to get anywhere" he finished knowingly.
Violetta approached the table. "Reckon you can give me a hand Ros? It's getting a little busy. Alfrieda gets here in ten minutes so it's only until then".
"Sure, no problem", Roscoe rose from the table. "I'll see you later, girls. Enjoy the rest of your summer".
"He was nice" stated Grace as he sauntered towards the bar.
"I don't know" replied Lena. "Seemed a bit creepy to me. All that stuff about Slytherin being better. More likely to get anywhere. I just thought it was a bit weird".
"Unfortunately you'll find some people are like that" sighed Mr Weasley. "I should warn you that you might face some of them in Hogwarts. You're muggle-born and not everyone likes that. It's infinitely better since the Second Wizarding War but there will always be some who believe only pure blood witches and wizards should be here. Just be ready for it and don't let it upset you. You're no less a witch than someone with an ancient wizarding family. Anyway, drink up. We'd better get you back home".
They drained their glasses and moved towards the door, nodding to Violetta and Roscoe as they left. Grace took one last look at the now busy pub and could have sworn she saw Roscoe wink at her as her eyes swept the scene. Her eyes shot back to him but he was now serving an elderly witch and with that, the splintering door of the pub closed.