Professor McGonagall was looking on, amused as their expressions got more and more incredulous. Sagan was the first to recover. "What's quidditch?"
"Quidditch is a game played on broomsticks. There are three kinds of ball used in the game. There's the quaffle, two bludgers and the snitch. All together, there are seven players on each team, a keeper, two beaters, three chasers and a seeker. There are spots available for some of those spots on all four House teams. If you decide to try out and if you make the team, then the Captains will explain to you how the game is played.
Both twins were listening intently, sounding like they'd enjoy playing this new game called 'Quidditch'.
"Of course, you'll need to make a visit to Diagon Alley sometime in the near future. If you like, I can go with you, help out, and you'll need to change muggle money to wizard money."
"Thank you Professor, that would be great, but what's 'muggle'?" Alison asked quietly.
"Oh, I'm sorry. A muggle is a non-magical person like yourself and Mr Dursley. It's not anything offensive, if it sounded that way."
"Please, call us Dudley and Alison," she said politely.
"Thank-you, Alison. Now, when would you like to go to Diagon Alley?"
Dudley spoke up for the first time in a while, still looking very pale. "You guys can go now if you like. I have some, er, stuff... to do. I don't think I'll be finished for a while yet."
"Are you sure Dud?"
"Positive."
"If it's alright with you Professor, we could go now if you want?" Alison told the older woman.
"That's perfectly fine with me, Alison," McGonagall said with a smile.
"Alright, kids, go get your stuff together, we're going out."
Once they were in Diagon Alley, Lincoln and Sagan were practically bouncing around the cobble-stoned road in excitement. First, Minerva took Alison and the twins to Gringotts to open a vault for the twins and exchange money to put in the vault. She decided it would be easier to exchange a large amount at the one time rather than having to keep coming back to add to the account, so she handed over the £2000 she had withdrawn from the Muggle bank before arriving here which, when exchanged, amount to about 400 galleons.
After withdrawing a little bit of that, they headed back outside to buy the school supplies Lincoln and Sagan would need for Hogwarts. Alison requested that they get wands first, so McGonagall led them to Ollivanders.
Above the door was a shabby, peeling sign that read, Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC.
They walked into the store without making a sound. None of them spoke. The store was covered in dust and there were ceiling-high shelves with long, thin boxes as far as the eye could see.
"Lincoln, why don't you ring the bell?" Alison whispered when they reached the counter, sensing the powerful aura around the place.
As soon as the bell rang, a ladder flew across the back wall, holding an ancient-looking man.
"Professor McGonagall? Why're you here? Your wand didn't break now did it?" The man's voice was soft, but strong in a way. It seemed wispy, but able to be great and terrible if it wanted.
"No, no," McGonagall said irritably. "I'm just helping Mrs Dursley here get her children's supplies for Hogwarts."
"So a wand each for the young sir and miss?"
"Yes, thank-you."
"Now, why don't you go first young sir?"
Lincoln blinked in surprise. "O-o-o-k..." he stammered nervously.
After the usual enchanted measurements, Ollivander finally said, "Here, try this one. Cherry, Unicorn Hair, 11 inches."
As soon as Lincoln gripped the wand and swished it a bit, rainbow sparks flew out the tip. He, Sagan and Alison gasped in awe.
"Very nice, you are very well suited to that wand young one. Treat it well. Now for the young miss." He walked up and down the shelves, apparently very deep in concentration. Finally he pulled a box out and said "Rosewood, Dragon Heartstring, 13 ½ inches. No, definitely not." Ollivander squeaked as Sagan swished the wand and shattered the glass vase behind the counter. After a quick muttered "Reparo," from Ollivander, he pulled another box down and said, "Willow, Thestral Hair, 9 ½ inches." When nothing happened he grabbed another one and said "Mahogany, Phoenix Feather, 10 inches." This time, sparks flew out the wand's tip when Sagan grasped it. "That wand will serve you well. Take care of it."
They finished paying and grabbed the newly wrapped wands. Next stop was Flourish and Blotts.
As soon as Lincoln saw the miles of books, he ran off to see what he could find. "Lincoln!" Alison called after her son. She started to chase after him. Suddenly, she saw Lincoln run straight into a man with jet-black hair.
"I'm so sorry, sir!" she said breathlessly. She grabbed Lincoln by the arm and pulled him away from the stranger. "He just got a little excited is all. We aren't quite used to magic yet."
"Oh, that's quite all right," the man said kindly. Alison looked up into his bottle-green eyes to see a genuine smile on his face. "I have kids of my own. I know exactly how you feel. So, you're – Professor McGonagall!" he said as the older woman came up to them with Sagan in tow. "We didn't expect to see you here. Who do you have with you this year?" Harry asked, referring to the three Dursleys.
Professor McGonagall's face showed a range of emotions, varying from surprise, to angry shock. "Harry! I'm shocked at you. This is Alison, with her kids, Sagan and Lincoln." She said the names very slowly, as if speaking to a child.
"Those names sound familiar, somehow…" Alison saw the man's face scrunch up in concentration.
"Dursley…" she prompted.
"Oh," Harry let a small sound and his eyes widened. "So Dudley's kids are magical? What'd he do when he found out? I mean, he grew up hating magic!"
This time, Alison answered, "Well, he went a bit pale and refused to say more than one word at a time. And he refused to come here, to help the kids, and he hasn't spoken to them at all since we found out..."
"Well, he's probably a bit scared. His very first encounter with magic, he ended up with a pig's tail!"
Alison was frowning. Who was this man who seemed to know her husband so well? McGonagall has called him 'Harry'. Wait, could this be Dudley's cousin, Harry Potter?
"Are you Harry Potter?" she asked him.
"I am," he said. "I take it you've heard of me. Not all of it bad, I hope."
"Oh, no!" she said quickly. "No, most of it was quite good. I never knew you were a wizard, though. Dudley failed to mention that."
Harry shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm not surprised," he said. "He and I didn't always get along too well. We're more friendly acquaintances, really." He turned to the twins now. "But I haven't met you before!" he said jovially. "How do you do?"
"Fine," Sagan said. Lincoln stayed quiet, staring up at Harry in awe. Harry smiled gently. "Well, I hope you have as much fun in the Wizarding world as I did. I can tell you now that it's every bit as wondrous and amazing as the Muggle one. And it is possible to live in both worlds. Never forget that."
The twins nodded. "Now, since I've only just met you, I'd like to spend a little time with you. Is that all right with you four?" McGonagall and Alison both nodded. "Well!" he said happily. "I'll just go get the rest of the family, then!" And with that, he walked off .
Two minutes later, he came back with a red-headed woman and three children, two boys and a girl. The girl was a redhead with deep chocolate eyes, like her mother. The eldest boy had his fathers messy black hair but had inherited his mothers chocolate coloured eyes. The youngest boy, however was almost an exact replica of his father, except he didn't wear glasses. After introductions were made, the two families (and one professor) headed off to finish shopping.