Disclaimer- I don't own anything that you readers recognize from the Harry Potter books/movies. That all belongs to J.K. Rowling. I only own my character Serena Lily Potter, the character Christopher Elijah Granger belongs to my friend, Kiba1278, and Adelinda Narcissa Malfoy belongs to my other friend, SunriseDestined. On my profile page will be links to the outfits the characters will be wearing. Please comment/review but please don't leave rude comments.
Chapter 5: Diagon Alley
Serena stared around London in awe. Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon had never taken the twins up to London before. She knew it was big but not this big. The streets were crowded with people and the stores lines were sometimes out the door.
Hagrid walked on one side of her while her brother was on the other; Harry was reading the list of items they needed for school aloud. " 'All students must be equipped with a one standard size two pewter cauldron, and may bring, if they desire, either an owl, a cat, or a toad.' "
"Oh, I've always wanted a cat!" Serena gushed. She had made the mistake once to ask The Dursley's if she could have a cat that lead her to not food for two weeks.
"Can we really find all this in London?" Harry asked tilting his head back to look at Hagrid in the eye.
Hagrid gave them a small smile. "If you know where to go." He said lifting a giant finger and pointed towards a small, dark shop that if he hadn't pointed it out, Harry and Serena wouldn't have noticed it. As Hagrid ushered them into the shop, Serena had the strange feeling that only they could see it.
Hagrid had told the twins that this place was famous; for a famous place, it was very dark and shabby. A few old women were sitting in the corner, drinking tiny glasses of sherry. One of them was smoking a long pipe. A man in a top hat was talking to the old bar tender, who was quite bald and looked like a toothless walnut.
There was a low buzz and the chatter stopped when they walked in. Serena noticed everyone seemed to know Hagrid, they smiled and waved at him and the bar tender reached for a glass, saying, "The usual, Hagrid?"
"No thanks Tom," Said Hagrid, waving his hand away at the glass. "I'm here on an official Hogwarts business. Just helping young Harry and Serena buy their school supplies."
Serena was surprised that the old bar tender, Tom, looked at her and her brother as though he was going to faint. "Bless my soul," He sounded faint as well. "Its Harry and Serena Potter!"
Suddenly everyone was looking at them, the old women with the pipe was puffing on it without realizing it had gone out. Hagrid was beaming and Serena backed up as there was a great scraping of chairs and the next moment, Harry and Serena found themselves shaking hands with everyone in the leaky cauldron.
"Welcome back Mr. Potter, welcome back," One said as he vigorously shook Harry's hand.
"Hello Miss Potter, such a fan!" Serena blushed got redder as each person embraced her hand.
"Doris Crockford, Mr. and Miss Potter," A small man in a purple top hat gave them each a shake of a hand. "I can't believe I'm meeting you two at last."
"Harry P-P-Potter. S-S-Serena P-Potter. C-can't tell you how o-pleased I am to meet you." A pale young man made his way forward as he spoke nervously and one of his eyes were twitching as he looked at them.
"Hello, Professor I didn't' see you there," By Hagrid's tone, Serena could tell he knew him. "Harry, Serena, this is Professor Quirrell. He will be your Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
"Oh, nice to meet you," said Harry holding his hand out while Serena gave him a respectful nod, making her long, messy red hair fall into her face.
"A fearfully fascinating subject. N-not that you need it, eh, Potters?" Professor Quirrell said looking at Harry's hand.
"Yes, well must be going now," Hagrid seemed to not want to discuss what Professor Quirrell had said in the Leaky Cauldron. "Lots to buy," He added hastily as an excuse as he ushered the twins through the pub and out into the back door where there was mounds of garbage along the sides.
"See, Harry, Serena? You two're famous." Hagrid told the twins.
"But why are we famous Hagrid?" Serena asked softly.
"I mean, all those people back there, how is it that they know who we are?" Harry asked.
"I'm not exactly sure I'm the right person to tell you that, Harry, Serena." Hagrid said a bit distracted as he stared at the large brick wall in front of them.
"Three up...two across..." Hagrid was muttering. "Right, stand back, you two," He told the twins sternly as he tapped the wall three times with the point of his umbrella.
The brick he had just touched quivered. It wiggled-in the middle, a small hold appeared-it grew wider and wider-a second later they were facing an archway large enough for Hagrid, an archway into a cobbled street that twisted and turned out of sight.
"Welcome, Harry, Serena, to Diagon Alley. That's where you get your quills and ink," Hagrid pointed towards a store with quills and parchment in the front window as they walked through. "Over there, all your bits and bobs for doing wizardry,"
As they passed a large crowd in front of one store with a shiny broom in the front window, Serena and her brother caught some comments like "It's a world class racing broom" and "Wow! Look at it! The new Nimbus 2000! It's the fastest model yet!"
Suddenly Serena felt something hit her inside her head and she turned to look at her brother who said worriedly to Hagrid, "But Hagrid, how are we going to pay for all this? We don't have any money."
"Well, there's your money, Harry, Serena!" Serena turned to look up at a large building that reminded her of a very large bank, thus that was what it was.
"Gringotts, the wizard bank! Ain't no safer place, not one! 'Cept perhaps Hogwarts," Hagrid told them as they walked into the building. "Harry look" Serena said pointing to the words on the doors.
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.
As they walked through the doors, they passed a creature with wrinkled skin and just a bit shorter than the twins with greenish-gray skin, Harry asked, "Hagrid what exactly are those things?"
"They're goblins," Hagrid answered back and Serena turned her head to look at the Goblin, wanting a second look. "Clever as they come the goblins, but not the most friendly of beasts. Best stay close." Serena looked up at the goblin sitting at a towering desk that stood taller than even Hagrid.
"Mr. Harry Potter and Miss Serena Potter wishes to make a withdrawal." Hagrid said.
"And does Mr. Potter and Miss Potter have their key?" The goblin asked as he looked down at the twins.
"Wait a minute," Hagrid mumbled as he began to go through his pockets. "Got it somewhere...Ha! There's the little devil!" Hagrid held up a tiny little key with his large forefinger and thumb. "Oh, and there's something else as well. Professor Dumbledore gave me this." He handed the goblin a slip of paper which the goblin took it in his long, thin fingers. "It's about the You-Know-What in vault you-know-where." The goblin looked at Hagrid through his tiny glasses that were perched on the end of his nose. "Very well." He said finally.
They had to ride in a cart to get there. As they turned each corner, Serena was almost convinced that she was going to fall. She spent the whole ride to their vault holding tightly onto her brother's arm; pretty sure she was cutting off his circulation but he didn't complain once, no, he only put his arm around her.
When they finally reached The Potter vault, Serena was relieved to be on firm ground again. "Vault 687," The goblin, Griphook, said. "Lamp please," He said and Serena, who was holding the lamp, lifted it higher, revealing an extremely large, elegant door. "Key, please," Griphook held out his long, knobby hand which Hagrid dropped the tiny key into.
The vault door swung open and the twins' jaws dropped open. On the other side was countless of mounds of gold.
"No way..." Serena breathed, reaching out and picking one gold coin up. It felt cool in her hand.
Both were given a small pouch which they filled with gold before they stepped out again. Hagrid, who had received the key again, handed it to Serena along with a chain he had dug out of his pocket. "Here Serena, take it, you should keep it for your brother and you."
Serena smiled up at him before threading the key onto the chain and tying it around her neck.
The cart came to another stop and Griphook ran his finger across the door and it opened. Serena and Harry peered in, expecting to see more gold but for a moment they thought there was nothing there but then, Harry pointed out a small brown sack right at the back of the vault.
Hagrid, wordlessly, scooped up the bag then clambered back into the cart which took off.
"What's in there, Hagrid?" Serena asked curiously.
"Can't tell you Serena, sorry, but Hogwarts business. Top secret." Hagrid answered back.
*Diagon Alley*
"Might as well get yer uniforms" Hagrid said nodding towards Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. "I'll get yer books. When yer two are done meet me here". "Okay Hagrid" the twins said as they walked into the shop.
"Hello, Hogwarts dears?" the kindly witch behind the counter said, Serena was guessing it was Madam Malkin, the owner of the shop
The twins nodded, looking around at their surroundings in wonder.
"There are a lot of them coming today, in fact, there is a young boy and girl here being fitted now."
Harry was lifted up onto the stool next to this strange boy. He had platinum blonde hair and was really thin. Serena was lifted up next to the girl who had black hair wearing a green jacket with a black shirt and a black skirt.
"Hello." said the girl. "Hogwarts too?"
"Yes" Serena said as the workers in the shop fitted her for her school robes.
The girl was about to say something when she was cut off by the boy with blond hair. "My father is up the street looking at books and my mother is looking for Potion ingredients. We are going to meet up later and get my wand. Maybe, I might drag them off to look at brooms. I don't know why the first years can't have their own. I might have Father buy me one and I'll sneak it in somehow" the boy said to Harry as the girls turned to look at them.
"That's my twin brother Draco, a bit loud isn't he? I'm Adelinda Malfoy" the girl said as her brother continued to ask questions like "Do you have your own broom?" "Play Quidditch at all?".
"Just a bit. It's nice to meet you, I'm Serena Potter and that's my twin brother, Harry that your brother is talking to" Serene said waiting for Adelinda to freak out about who she was as the workers finished fitting the girls for their robes.
"Nice to meet you Serena" Adelinda said calm as the girls got off the platform.
"You're the first person not to freak out about who I am" Serena said looking at Adelinda.
"Really? Well I figured that you probably have had enough of people freaking out about who you are. So I figured I would take the calm route. I mean so what if you are famous, you probably want to be treated like a normal person" Adelinda said.
"That is exactly how I feel. I think we are going to be fast friends" Serena said looking at Adelinda. "I agree. Shale we go check on the brother?" Adelinda asked. "Yes lets" Serena said as they walked over to the boys to hear Adelinda brother say.
"No one really knows what house they'll be in until they get there, do they? But I know I'll be in Slytherin, all my family's been. Imagine being in Hufflepuff, I think I'd leave wouldn't you?"
"Hufflepuff? Slytherin?" Serena asked Adelinda. "They are the houses at Hogwarts along with Ravenclaw and Gryffindor" Adelinda said.
"Oh my Lord, look at that man!" the boy yelled pointing to Hagrid who was waiting for the twins "Who is that?"
"That's Hagrid he works at Hogwarts." Harry said as the workers finished their robes.
"Yes, he's sort of a servant isn't he?" Draco asked.
"He's the gamekeeper." Serena said as she and Adelinda walked closer to their brothers.
"I hear he's sort of…savage. And every now and then, he gets drunk, tries to do magic and ends up setting fire to his bed." Draco said as he notices Serena standing next to his sister.
"I think he's brilliant for bringing me and my sister here…and stuff." Harry said defending Hagrid.
"That's odd. Where are your parents?" Draco asked. "God brother, you can't just asked people where their parents are" Adelinda said to Draco.
"Dead." The twins said.
"Oh, sorry. Well were they our kind at least?" The twins nodded their heads thinking he meant witch and wizard.
"Good, I don't really think Hogwarts should allow the other sort in, you know…Muggle born. Some never hear of Hogwarts till they get the letter." Draco said.
"We were raised by despicable Muggles. And we never learned that we were a witch and wizard until early this morning." Serena said.
"Oh, you were raised by Muggles?" Adelinda asked.
"Yes. My aunt and uncle on my mum's side. They were of no help. Abusive little idiots" Harry said.
"What's your surname, anyway?" Draco asked Harry.
"That's it," Malkin said handing them all their robes "You done, dears."
"Well, see you at Hogwarts." the Draco said as Adelinda followed him out. "See you." Serena said as the twins walked over to Hagrid.
*Later that day*
They had bought almost all of the necessities on their list. Hagrid, as a birthday present, had bought them a pet. He had gotten Harry a beautiful snowy owl who was fast asleep in her large cage with her head under her wing while he got Serena a small Siamese kitten. She decided to name her Sarabi.
Deciding to take a break, Serena and Harry had treated Hagrid with ice cream which was their way to say thanks.
"Harry, don't feed her that!" Serena pushed her brother's hand away as he tried offering his cookie-dough ice cream to Sarabi who let out a small meow.
"I wasn't going to!" Harry countered as he unfolded their list of school supplies that had been stuffed into his pocket for most of the day. "We still need a wand, Hagrid," Harry announced.
"A wand?" Hagrid repeated. "Well, you two want Ollivander's. There ain't no place better."
*Ollivander's*
The last shop was narrow and shabby. Peeling golden letters over the door read 'Ollivander's; makers of fine wands ever since 382 b.c.'. A single wand lay on a faded purple cushion on the busty window.
A tinkling bell ran somewhere in the depth of the shop as they stepped inside. It was a tiny place, empty except for a single spindly chair that Hagrid sat on to wait. Serena felt as though she had just entered a library which made her feel right at home while Harry shifted uncomfortably. He didn't really like libraries because of the librarians. Every time he walked in, he was always thrown out because he did something loud like drop a book or shout to Serena on accident. Beside her, Serena could feel thousands of new questions bursting inside of her brother's head as they both stared at the thousands of narrow boxes piled neatly right up to the ceiling.
"Good afternoon," Said a soft voice. Harry jumped while Serena looked around nervously and stroked Sarabi as she meowed in alarm.
An old man was standing before them, his wide, pale eyes shining like moons through the gloom of the shop.
"Er, hello," said Harry, awkwardly.
Mr. Ollivander extended a shaky hand and touched the lightening shaped scar on Harry's forehead with a long, white finger, then turned to Serena who shied away.
"I'm sorry to say I sold the wand that did that," He said softly, sending chills running up Serena's spine. "Thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Powerful wand, very powerful and in the wrong hands...well, I'd known what that wand was going to do..."
He shook his head to clear it.
"Well, now-Mr. and Miss Potter, let me see," He pulled out a long tape measure. "Which is your wand arm?"
"Err, well, I'm right handed," Harry offered and Ollivander nodded approvingly then turned to Serena who whispered, "Right,"
"Every wand had a core of a powerful magical substance, Mr. and Miss Potter, we use Unicorn hairs, Phoenix tail feathers and heartstrings of dragons. No two Ollivander wands are the same. No two unicorns, dragons or Phoenixes are quite the same."
"That will do," He said once he had finished measuring their arms. "Right then, Mr. Potter." He turned his attention to Harry as he held out a wand to him. "Try this one. Beechwood and dragon heartstring. Nine inches. Nice and Flexible. Just take it and give it a wave."
Harry took the wand and waved it around a bit, but Ollivander snatched it out of his hand and gave it to Serena but nothing happened.
"Maple and phoenix feather. Seven inces. Quote whippy. Try-"
Harry tried but it did nothing, Serena as well.
"Tricky customers, eh? Not to worry. We'll find the perfect match here somewhere. I wonder0yet, why not-unusual combination-holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple."
Harry took the wand. Serena felt a sudden warmth run into her fingers; she knew it was her brother's feeling.
"And try this Miss. Potter. Willow and phoenix feather, ten inches." Mr. Ollivander said handing her a wand with what look to be red jewels on the end of it. She felt a sudden warmth once more, reminding herself of washing her hands in hot water.
Once they paid, they exited the shop.
Hagrid took them to lunch after that. Serena couldn't stop thinking about what Ollivander had said about the wand. She guessed it must have had something to do with her scar.
"You all right Harry? You seem as quiet as your sister," Hagrid commented worriedly. "Come to think of it, Serena, you started talking then you stopped. Are you two alright?"
"He killed our parents didn't he?" Serena whispered hoarsely.
"The one who gave us this," Harry continued, sensing Serena wouldn't be able to go on. In his opinion, her feelings were extremely delicate. He reached up and indicated to his scar. "You know Hagrid. We know you do."
Beside him, Serena nodded to support him while Hagrid looked down at the table, unable to look at the twins who sat across from him.
"First and understand this Harry, Serena, because it's very important. Not all wizards are good," Hagrid began.
"Like some Muggles," Serena commented softly.
Hagrid nodded to her. "Some of them go bad," He continued. "A few years ago one of them went as bad as they can go. His name was V-. His name was V-."
"Maybe if you wrote it down..." Harry began.
"Nah, I can't spell it," Hagrid said before taking a big breath as though he was about to jump into water. "All right, Voldemort." He shuddered.
"Voldemort?" Harry and Serena repeated in unison.
"Shh!" Hagrid looked around to make sure no one had heard them. "It was dark times Serena, dark times, Harry. Voldemort started to gather some followers. Brought them over to the dark side. Anyone who stood up to him ended up dead. Your parents fought against him. Nobody lived once he decided to kill them. Nobody, not one. Except you two."
"Us?" Harry glanced at his sister. "Voldemort tried to kill us?"
Hagrid shushed him a second time and looked around again. "Yes. That ain't no ordinary cut on your foreheads Harry, Serena." Serena reached up and her smooth finger brushed the roughness of her scar. "A mark from that only comes from being touched by a curse, an evil curse like that."
"What happened to V-...to You-Know-Who?" Serena whispered and Harry leaned forward eagerly, wanting to hear the story.
"Well, some say he died," Hagrid cleared his throat. "Codswallop in my opinion. Nope, I reckon he's out there still too tired to carry on. But one thing's absolutely certain. Something about you two stumped him that night. That's why you two're famous. That's why everyone knows your names. You two're the boy and girl who lived".