Author's Note: I don't own Harry Potter.

Also, sorry about the little wait up. I'll try to update sooner!

Chapter Four: Diagon Alley

.: Parseltongue :.

"So tell us more about Gringotts," Cordelia requested, "how do they store all the coins and stuff? Do they have cash registers and stuff?"

"Gringotts is the wizardin' bank. Run by goblins. Yeh'd be mad ter try an'rob it. It's ter safest place in the world, except fer maybe Hogwarts. Which reminds me, I gott'er go there anyway. Hogwarts business," Hagrid replied.

"But how do they know you're you? We don't really have ID's or anything..." Cordelia continued anxiously.

"Er- what's an id?" Hagrid asked, not familiar with the muggle terms.

"An identification. If we didn't have those, couldn't anyone rob Gringotts?" Harry asked, "it can't be guarded that heavily though right?"

"Heard dragons guarded it, blimey, I always wanted me a dragon… since I was a kid." Hagrid said wistfully.

Cordelia was about to say that he didn't really answer their questions, but she saw Hagrid staring dreamily off into space, an odd sight. She gave a pointed look to Harry that clearly said: Boy, he was no help. Harry sent back a look that said, this guy is a little wacky. Cordelia nodded fervently, happy that someone agreed with her deduction. Hagrid seemed nice and all, but he didn't seem to be the brightest crayon in the box.. Fearing a name? Wanting a dragon? Using an umbrella to do magic on muggles? Talk about abusing power.

"We're almost there!" Hagrid called out. They had to take a train to downtown London, and and Harry and Cordelia were staring out the window in excitement and happily chattering about unicorns and threee-headed monsters that could be roaming around in the magical world. She liked Harry, he was nice, a bit humble and meek, but he was also very amusing.

As they were almost in London, Harry was telling Cordelia about how his aunt almost made him go to the local public school, Stonewall High and his cousin was going to Smeltings.

"Yeah, and Smelting's uniforms are hideous! One day, Dudley paraded around the living room for us in his uniform. He wore a maroon tailcoat, a orange knickerbocker, and a flat straw hat called boaters. And Uncle Vernon also said they had these knobbly sticks, used for hitting each other while the teachers weren't looking. He said This was good training for later life. I still don't get how this is 'good training" Harry deadpanned, while Cordelia was rubbing her stomach from laughter.

"Really now? That's the most absurd school I've heard of in my life! Well, with the exception of this one," Cordelia exclaimed, while sending them in another fit of laughter at Dudley's clothes and new school.

"I know! Well, at least I'm not going there! Is orange really my color?" Harry laughed, not used to laughing this much with someone, as he wiped tears of mirth from his eyes.

Finally, they arrived in downtown London, and Hagrid lead them around until he found what he was looking for: a tiny, grubby looking pub with a sign that said: Leaky Cauldron. Cordelia was sure Harry would have missed it if Hagrid hadn't pointed it out, because Harry wasn't the most observant person in the world. She noted in distaste at the sign hanging feebly from the post. Normally, she wouldn't be caught dead entering a building like this, but she figured this was a special circumstance. From her side, she could see Harry goggling in confusionat the run down looking pub. At least it seemed like none of the passersby noticed it.

"Um, Hagrid, we're too young to drink. I think you've been mistaken," Harry said bluntly, while Cordelia tried not to laugh at his serious face.

"Don't be silly! This is an' famous place y'know!" Hagrid said cheerfully, slapping them both on the back heartily. Harry winced and rubbed his back. Cordelia stiffened and whispered to Harry, "Where has that hand been? It doesn't look like he ever washes it."

Hagrid quickly looked away and motioned them to go in, but Harry was looking at her mentally saying, you go first! Codelia rolled her eyes and opened the door to the so called "famous place." For a famous place, it was sure dark and shabby. There were witches in the corner—drinking? Hagrid had taken them to a bar! Liar! She shuddered at the thoughts of her parents ever finding out about this, and whe was immediately sad at the prospect of not seeing them until the next summer. Maybe I can send them a letter or something.

"The usual, Hagrid?" the bartender asked, reaching for a glass. Harry and Cordelia exchanged another look. For having just met, they were becoming very fast friends.

"Can't, Tom, I'm on Hogwarts business," Hagrid said, patting Harry and Cordelia's shoulders, much to both of their annoyance. The whole room fell silent. Great, now we're going to get bombarded, Cordelia thought sarcastically. She looked at Harry, who was beginning to do a countdown with his fingers. 5...4...3...2...1... Bam.

"Can it be? Harry Potter? Oh—what an honor…ahh! Cordelia Vixen! We thought you were dead!" Tom exclaimed, clutching his heart.

Georgina frowned. She had the urge to say that she was, and she was currently a ghost sent by death to haunt people she didn't know; but she had no idea if they were actually going to believe her, or catch on to the joke.

Everyone was looking at them, or rather Harry. Some were looking at her with expressions of shock, fear, or excitement. Then, all of a sudden, everyone came to shake Harry and her hands. They said some things to Harry, bowed excitedly to him, and did all sorts of hero-worshipping things to him. With her, they just stared, or smiled, waved, and scurried off quickly, but not before catching another look at Harry.

Finally, a pale man with a purple turban (which smelled awful, noted Cordelia) came up and introduced himself as the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. He kept on stammering at Harry, but when he approached Cordelia, his whole demeanor changed, not that anyone else in the pub cared or noticed. They were still gushing over Harry.

He stood up straightly and looked her straight in the eye. Cordelia smiled serenely at him.

"Hello, professor. I must say I am quite interested in your subject" Cordelia said earnestly, although she had never heard of Defense Against the Dark Arts, but it sounded interesting, so it was only a half-lie.

"Y-yes, I h-h-have to s-say. My subject is q-q-q-uite the killer!" Quirrel said somewhat convincingly. His new demeanor didn't fit with his stutter and she wondered if he even had one int he first place. Probably not, but why would he fake it?

When he was gone, her mouth twisted into a frown, as she pondered this new mystery. But for now, she would be especially wary with Quirrel.

It almost took another ten minutes to get away from the rest of the crowd. At last, Hagrid managed to make himself heard over the babble.

"Must get on-Lots ter buy. Come on Harry, you too Cordelia."

"Told yeh, didn't I? Told yeh you was famous. Even Professor Quirrell was tremblin' ter meet yeh — mind you, he's usually tremblin'."

"Is he always that nervous?" Cordelia asked suspiciously

"Oh, yeah. Poor bloke. Brilliant mind. He was fine while he was studyin' outta books but then he took a year off ter get some firsthand experience… They say he met vampires in the Black Forest, and there was a nasty bit o' trouble with a hag — never been the same since. Scared of the students, scared of his own subject — now, where's me umbrella?"

Woah, Vampires, Hags? What kinds of creatures did they not know about in the muggle world?

Three up… two across…" he muttered. "Right, stand back, Harry."

He tapped the wall three times with the point of his umbrella.

The brick he had touched quivered — it wriggled — in the middle, a small hole appeared — it grew wider and wider — a second later they were facing an archway large enough even for Hagrid, an archway onto a cobbled street that twisted and turned out of sight. Cordelia kept the combination in her mind in case she needed it later.

"Welcome, to Diagon Alley!" Hagrid said grinning at the two kids, "we'll be off ter Gringotts first."

Harry and Cordelia barely registered Hagrid's words, as they looked at everything in amazement. A cauldron shop sold cauldrons in all shapes and sizes, ranging from brass, copper, gold, and silver. An apothecary sold odd parts such as dragon liver, troll eyes, and bat blood. At Eeylops Owl Emporium there were all different types of owls, hooting merrily. Cordelia pointed to a group of kids near a broomstick shelf, all admiring the latest model. "It must cost a lot to clean the floors," she muttered dryly, causing Harry to laugh loudly. Flourish and Blotts, the bookstore was filled with titles she hadn't even heard of before. Madam Malkin's Robes had the odd clothing she had seen all the witches and wizards wear. Finally, a huge, snow-white building with beautiful polished bronze doors stood, looming over the other shops…Gringotts.

Inside, there were little creatures with beards, and a greedy look on their face. They bowed to the trio and walked away.

"Are those-," asked Harry, "Goblins!" Cordelia exclaimed excitedly. She had just seen her first magical creature!

Now they were facing a second pair of doors, silver this time, with words engraved upon them:

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.

"Like I said, Yeh'd be mad ter try an' rob it," said Hagrid, to which Harry replied, "Sounds creepy."

They walked up to a counter where a goblin waited patiently for the next customer.

"Morning, We're come ter take some money outta Mr. Harry Potter and Miss Cordelia Vixen's vault. An' I got a letter from Professor Dumbledore about the you-know-what vault seven hundred and thirteen," Hagrid explained.

"Do you have Mr. Potter's key? And Miss Vixen will have to draw some blood from her vault, since I'm assuming she doesn't have a wand yet," replied the goblin while reading over the letter. "Very well, Griphook will take you to your vaults. Griphook!"

Yet another goblin came and led them to another set of doors that lead to a stone passageway that had railroad tracks on the floor. A tiny cart appeared and Griphook ushered them in.

The cart only went one speed, which was very fast. Cordelia gripped Harry's arm desperately trying not to scream her head off. It looked like Hagrid was going to retch at any second. Harry looked like he was having the time of his life, despite the fact that he might have to get his arm amputated later. Finally the cart stopped and they got off. Hagrid leant against the wall to keep from falling over and Georgina still hadn't released Harry's arm.

"Potter Vault," croaked Griphook, unlocking the door and pushing it open. Inside were mounds of gold coins, columns of silver and heaps of bronze. Cordelia heard Harry gasp next to her. She smirked. She couldn't wait to see her fortune.

"Seventeen silver sickles to one gold galleon, twenty-nine knuts to a sickle, its easy enough," Hagrid explained before helping Harry shovel some money in a bag that Griphook handed out. After Harry's vault the trio got back into the cart, for an even longer and wilder cart ride.

The rattling cart seemed to know its own way, because Griphook wasn't steering.

Harry's eyes stung as the cold air rushed past them, but he kept them wide open. Once, he thought he saw a burst of fire at the end of a passage and twisted around to see if it was a dragon, but too late— they plunged even deeper, passing an underground lake where huge stalactites and stalagmites grew from the ceiling and floor.

"I never know," Harry called to Hagrid over the noise of the cart, "what's the difference between a stalagmite and a stalactite?"

Despite Cordelia being scared out of her wits, she let out a bubbly laugh at Harry's random question.

Stalagmite's got an 'm' in it," said Hagrid, not looking amused at all. "An' don' ask me questions just now, I think I'm gonna be sick."

Unfortunately, Hagrid was also clutching Harry's bag of coins, which would be unfortunate if he decided to barf in it.

They got out again fifteen minutes later, to go to vault seven hundred and thirteen. There was no keyhole.

Odd, mused Cordelia, how are they supposed to get in, then?

Griphook gently stroked his fingernail on the door and it gently melted away.

"If anyone but a Gringotts goblin tried that, they'd be sucked through the door and trapped in there," said Griphook.

"How often do you check to see if anyone's inside?" Harry asked.

"About once every ten years," said Griphook with a rather nasty grin. Cordelia giggled. Goblins had an odd sense of humor, it seemed.

It was a tiny package lying on the floor wrapped in brown paper. She frowned, and noticed Harry doing the same, obviously wondering how a tiny package like that could be so important. Hagrid scooped up the package and stuffed it in his pocket, patting it safely.

Finally, I'll see what my vault looks like! Cordelia thought excitedly when they were back in the cart. They arrived where there were no tracks left. It was the last vault.

"Vault one thousand," Griphook announced nasally, "we need a sample of your blood please, Miss Vixen, here's a needle, and prick it on your finger, then press it to the vault."

She did as she was told, wincing slightly when she had to poke herself. When her bloodied finger on the door, the doors creaked open loudly.

Everyone except for Griphook's jaws dropped open.

The vault was MUCH larger than expected, and the contents made Harry's vault look like a handful of coins. There was no silver or bronze. Only gold. Cordelia was sure that her fortune made up the core of the earth, it was so huge.

Blankly, she scooped up as many gold galleons as she could before walking out and back stepping in the cart.

"Griphook? How did I get all this money?" Cordelia asked politely. She wanted to know if it was rightfully hers, or if it really was someone else's.

"Well, in addition to your family's stocks and buisnesses that they own, you also get six percent of Hogwart's yearly income, being an Heir and all.."

"An heir? What do you mean?"

"Er- can we get moving now? i'm sure you can ask when yer older," Hagrid interrupted nervously, 'I think I need to see the light again soon."

Cordelia stared at him, not sure if he didn't ant her to know what an Heir was or if he really was sick and needed to be on solid ground.

"Blimey! Did you see how large that vault was?" Harry exclaimed loudly, shaking her out of her reverie.

"I know! I really didn't know I had that much!" Cordelia smiled back, happy that her friend wasn't jealous or anything.

One wild cart ride later, the trio found themselves outside of Gringotts.

"Might as well get yer uniform," said Hagrid, nodding toward Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. "Listen, Harry, would yeh mind if I slipped off fer a pick-me-up in the Leaky Cauldron? I hate them Gringotts carts." He did still look a bit sick.

"No we don't mind, Hagrid. We'll meet you there later," Cordelia replied happy to be rid of him.

"Race ya there, Harry!" squealed Cordelia, taking off.

Harry beat her there even though she got a head start, but he told her she did a great job anyways.

Georgina thought to herself, it wouldn't hurt to get a few extra robes, would it? Since she would be using them for a while and money wasn't a problem. So she told Madam Malkin to get her a few more robes in different colors.

They both were getting fitted with a boy with a pale, pointed face was standing on a footstool while a second witch pinned up his long black robes. Madam Malkin stood Harry on a stool next to him slipped a long robe over his head, and began to pin it to the right length. Cordelia was getting fitted with another seamstress, who was gushing about how adorable she would look with her new robes.

"Hello," said the boy, "Hogwarts, too?"

"Yes," said Harry.

"My father's next door buying my books and mother's up the street looking at wands," said the boy. He had a bored, drawling voice. "Then I'm going to drag them off to look at racing brooms. I don't see why first years can't have their own. I think I'll bully father into getting me one and I'll smuggle it in somehow."

Cordelia's eyes widened. "But you don't want to get in trouble on the first day, would you? That's embarassing!"

The blonde boy blushed, apparently he didn't think of it that far, "But they wouldn't know teachers never catch those sorts of things!"

Cordelia just shrugged, while Harry was strongly reminded of Dudley.

"Have you got your own broom?" the boy went on.

"No," said Harry.

"Play Quidditch at all?"

"No," Harry said again, wondering what on earth Quidditch could be. He looked over at Cordelia who was talking to the seamstress.

"I do — Father says it's a crime if I'm not picked to play for my house, and I must say, I agree. Know what house you'll be in yet?"

"No," said Harry, feeling more stupid by the minute.

"Well, no one really knows until they get there, do they, but I know I'll be in Slytherin, all our family have been — imagine being in Hufflepuff, I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?"

"Mmm," said Harry, wishing he could say something a bit more interesting.

"I say, look at that man!" said the boy suddenly, nodding toward the front window. Hagrid was standing there, grinning at Harry and pointing at three large ice creams to show he couldn't come in.

"That's Hagrid," said Harry, pleased to know something the boy didn't. "He works at Hogwarts."

"Oh," said the boy, "I've heard of him. He's a sort of servant, isn't he?"

"He's the gamekeeper," said Harry. He was liking the boy less and less every second.

"Yes, exactly. I heard he's a sort of savage — lives in a hut on the school grounds and every now and then he gets drunk, tries to do magic, and ends up setting fire to his bed."

"I think he's all right, he's a little odd, but then again, most wizards are" said Harry mildly.

"Do you?" said the boy, with a slight sneer. "But why is he with you? Where are your parents?"

"They're dead," said Harry shortly. He didn't feel much like going into the matter with this boy.

"Oh, sorry," said the other, not sounding sorry at all.

"But they were our kind, weren't they?"

"Yes they were humans. Were yours?" Cordelia cut in sarcastically, as she was done talking to the seamstress and hopping off the stool.

"You know that's not what I meant," the boy said dryly.

With new confidence with his friend by his side, Harry boldly added, "No, we don't know you, so why would we know what you meant?"

The boy looked irrated, and huffed. He was about to say something when Madam Malkin said, "That's you done, my dear," and Harry, not sorry for an excuse to stop talking to the boy, hopped down from the footstool.

"See you at Hogwarts!" Cordelia said cheerfully, back at the boy, and she and Harry walked out of the store with their new wizard robes, the blonde boy looking thoughtfully after them.

They stopped to buy parchment and quills. Harry cheered up a bit when he found a bottle of ink that changed color as you wrote. When they had left the shop, he said, "Hagrid, what's Quidditch?"

"Blimey, Harry, I keep forgettin' how little yeh know — not knowin' about Quidditch!"

"Don't make me feel worse," said Harry. He told Hagrid about the pale boy in Madam Malkin's, Cordelia growing angrier and angrier about how he made Harry feel.

"— and he said people from Muggle families shouldn't even be allowed in —"

"Yer not from a Muggle family. If he'd known who yeh were — he's grown up knowin' yer name if his parents are wizardin' folk. You saw what everyone in the Leaky Cauldron was like when they saw yeh. Anyway, what does he know about it, some o' the best I ever saw were the only ones with magic in 'em in a long line o' Muggles — look at yer mum! Look what she had fer a sister!" Hagrid exclaimed.

"So what is Quidditch?" asked Cordelia, not letting Hagrid get away with not answering.

"It's our sport. Wizard sport. It's like — like soccer in the Muggle world — everyone follows Quidditch — played up in the air on broomsticks and there's four balls — sorta hard ter explain the rules."

"And what are Slytherin and Hufflepuff?" asked Harry.

"School houses. There's four. Everyone says Hufflepuff are a lot o' duffers, but —"

"I bet I'm in Hufflepuff," said Harry gloomily.

"Better Hufflepuff than Slytherin," said Hagrid darkly. "There's not a single witch or wizard who went bad who wasn't in Slytherin. You-Know-Who was one."

"Vol-, sorry —You-Know-Who was at Hogwarts?"

"Years an' years ago," said Hagrid.

"Woah," breathed Cordelia and Harry together.

They finally reached the bookstore, and while Hagrid was getting their schoolbooks, Cordelia and Harry wandered off to look at some more.

Currently, they were at the History section of the bookstore.

"Look!" Cordelia whispered urgently, "I think I'm going to get these books!"

She held up the book so Harry could see it. A Brief History of Prominent Pureblood Families, by Bathilda Bagshot and Simple Charms and Spells for the Beginner, by Adalbert Waffling.

"Cool!" Harry exclaimed, "Do you think my family's in there?" he asked, pointing to the first book.

"Probably," replied Cordelia, bringing it up to the cashier and paying for the books, "I heard the Potters were a pretty old family."

Luckily, she had paid for her books in advance because Hagrid refused to let Harry get Curses and Countercurses (Bewitch Your Friends and Befuddle Your Enemies with the Latest Revenges: Hair Loss, Jelly-Legs, Tongue-Tying and Much, Much More) by Professor Vindictus Viridian.

Hagrid led them out of Flourish and Blotts and into the cauldron store. Harry and Cordelia both wanted a gold cauldron, but Hagrid wouldn't allow it, but they got a nice set of scales for weighing potion ingredients and a collapsible brass telescope.

Then they visited the Apothecary, which was fascinating enough to make up for its horrible smell, a mixture of bad eggs and rotted cabbages. Barrels of slimy stuff stood on the floor; jars of herbs, dried roots, and bright powders lined the walls; bundles of feathers, strings of fangs, and snarled claws hung from the ceiling. While Hagrid asked the man behind the counter for a supply of some basic potion ingredients for Harry, Harry himself examined silver unicorn horns at twenty-one Galleons each and minuscule, glittery-black beetle eyes (five Knuts a scoop).

"But I haven't gotten yer birthday present yet, Harry," Hagrid said pushing him to the Eeylops Owl Emporium, which was connected to the Magical Menagerie, where Cordleia wandered through. Harry had already promised to share his owl with her so she could use it to mail her parents.

She was looking through the cages, looking for a potential pet, but all of the animals looked so high-matinence, and so furry. Although the list said only a toad, owl, or cat, she reckoned the teachers wouldn't be able to figure out she was the one who had a different animal, unless Harry tattled on her, which she was certain he wouldn't. Cordelia wanted a pet that would make her seem respected, and maybe a little feared. She considered the baby panther, but when she got closer to it, it tried to scratch her. She huffed at it, and thought no mammals.

She didn't want a bird, either because then she wouldn't be able to show it off because it would have to stay in the owlry. Also, if she wanted a bird, she would get some type of owl, so it could at least deliver mail and be somewhat useful.

A toad or amphibian was completely out of the question, as they were slimy and ugly too. Not to mention it would probably stink or run off to God knows where.

Cordelia was about to go into the magical creatures section, but she was stopped by one of the workers, saying she would have to bring a parent or guardian to sign the release forms. She scowled and moved to the last section, the snakes.

The snake section was a mess of jumbled hisses. Suprised she could understand them, she looked through the cages, and was dismayed to see most of them were simple garden snakes and other harmless species. As she moved to the back, though there were bigger vipers, much to her delight.

.:Hello:. She hissed to a sleeping boa constrictor.

It sleepily nodded at her, and went back to sleep. Boring, she thought. She was about to leave, before an excited hiss called out for her.

.:Mistresss, Mistresss:.

.: Yes?:. She replied back, finding a small black snake peering up at her from its cage.

.:Take me, take me. The ownerss would not notice, they have been trying to get rid of me for monthsss :. it replied.

.:Yeah, because you're jussst a baby ssnake!:. hissed another snake that was sitting on a rock above them.

.:I ssstill have all the enchantments put on me!:. the smalled snake argued, .:and my mother told me all about the World!:.

.:Sstill, the nice missstress wouldn't want a puny ssnake like you:. the other snake hissed smugly.

.:Actually, that would be nice, sso can I jussst take you? :. Cordelia asked the little snake that was peering hopefully at her.

.: Yess, I will sslide on you arm, don't worry, I would never bite a ssspeaker :. The snake said smugly.

With that, the whole reptile house began to hiss at once, .:Ssspeaker? sshe iss a sspeaker? We thought sshe just had an enchantment! Take me, take me too! :. they begged.

Cordelia looked confused for a few seconds, but thought it would be wise to leave as quickly as possible before a worker came over and found out she had caused some disturbance with the snakes and had stolen one of them.

She dashed out of the shop, finding Harry and Hagrid waiting for her, Harry now carried a large cage that held a beautiful snowy owl, fast asleep with her head under her wing.

"Found anything you liked?" Hagrid inquired.

"Nope," Cordelia replied, "Although the snakes did creep me out." She winced as the snake on her forearm coiled tighter, as if it heard what she said. She was suddenly thankful for full sleeves.

"All right then. Just Ollivanders left now — only place fer wands, Ollivanders, and yeh gotta have the best wand." Hagrid said.

A magic wand… this was what Harry and Cordelia had been really looking forward to.

Author's note: Whew, that was a long chapter! I hoped you liked it though! Please review, and I'll try to get the next chapter up ASAP!