Chapter 8: Diagon Alley

Diagon Alley. Thats where they were right now. To be precise, they were inside Madam Malkin's shop for robes fitting.

With the guidance from Hogwarts Headmaster, Albus Dumbeldore, they had bought their books, cauldrons, potions ingredients, quills and ink bottles. Now they were about to purchase their robes. Dumbeldore told them that they will be sorted during the welcoming feast. However, he did told them that Justin will be in the fourth year along with Alex and Harper while Max will be in the third year.

"Can we just get sorted now?" Justin asked for the fifth time that day. He obviously can't wait to get sorted. In his mind, he knew that he will be sorted to Ravenclaw because he is smart. Ravenclaw are filled with intelligent students so he will best fitted in there. Harper, by the way, also set that she will hands down get into Hufflepuff. She is loyal like the Hufflepuff especially with Alex. She always loyal towards Alex in every way.

Alex, on the other hand, couldn't care less where she will end up. She doesn't care if she's in Gryffindor or Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff or Slytherin. All she cares about was to get back home. Max thought of the same thing. "I don't mind which house just as long i could have fun at it."

After their robes fittings, Dumbeldore led them to another shop at the corner of the street, Ollivander Wandmaker. As they stepped in, Justin looked around in awe. "Woah!"

Following behind him, Harper also looked around in awe. "This is so awesome..."

"Best you get your wands from here, Ollivander serves the best wands in Britain," Dumbeldore beamed at them. He stood by the front desk and rung the bell.

Suddenly an old man came in from the back of the store. He was carrying small rectangular boxes. "Welcome to-- Professor Dumbeldore?! What a surprise.."

"How do you do?" Dumbeldore greeted him. "I need your help to have these young ones have their wands. Hope thats fine with you."

"Absolutely Professor," Ollivander replied, looking from Justin to Harper and then to Alex and Max. "Who will go first?"

"I-" Justin cried but Harper pushed him aside and come forth.

"I would like to start sir."

"Ah, quite a feisty one are you? Well then come now, i will get your measurement." Ollivander gestured Harper to come with him to the corner. Taking out a measuring tape from his front pocket, he started to measure her hand. Meanwhile, standing at the corner, Randy, the young Bulgarian Auror, was leaning against the wall with his arm crossed of his chest. He volunteered himself to come along in the trip. In his defense, someone like Professor Dumbeldore should be protected. He's an Auror by the way, it his job to protect people.

Ollivander was now taking the wands measurement from Justin and Max. Harper had received her wand. Its an 11 inch ebony with unicorn hair wand which was perfect with her 'artistic' and colourful abilities. Afterwards, Justin and Max had their wands with them. Justin got the 11 3/4 inches maple wand with golden snidget feather. While Max got the 11 inches Hazel wand with Dragon Headstring.

Its Alex's turn now. "Lets just get this over with..."

As usual, Ollivander gets the measurement by running up and down the measuring tape on her hand. He wrote down the numbers on his notebook and walked to the selves of wands. Alex has tried the total of five wands until she get the one. "Have a try at this one..."

Its an 11 inches Holly wand with Griffin feather.

"Thats the same wand as you have Mr. Gavrail," Dumbeldore whispered. Randy looked at him and turned to Alex.

Just as Alex got hold of the wand, she quickly involuntarily casted a spell on the flower vase on the desk. It smashed into pieces. "Woo!! Cool!!"

"Looks like you got yours now, Miss Russo." Ollivander told her.

"Yeah..." Alex smirked. She stared at her wand and smiled.

It was night time now, Justin, Max and Harper were already sleeping in their rooms upstairs of the Leaky Cauldron. Dumbeldore had left after he told them they will be heading to King Cross the next day and aboard the Hogwarts express. Unlike others, Alex was still wide awake. She sat by the window and looked out the window. "Man, this is boooo - - - ringggg!!" She exited her room that she shared with Harper and walked down the stairs to the main hall of the Leaky Cauldron.

There were less people around at this time. There were two or three people sitting at the corner and they were talking quietly. Alex looked around the room and noticed Randy sitting at the bar. He looked like he was drinking a beer.

"Hey, you shouldn't drink that!" Alex told him as she sit next to him at the bar.

He chuckled. "Why?"

"Dude, you're still underage. You're not supposed to drink that... What is that exactly?"

"This right here is a butterbeer, want to try?"

"No, I'm good..."

He chuckled again.

"You're not drunk are you?"

"No." Randy looked at her and smiled. He pushed his bottle away and turned to her. "Shouldn't you be sleeping right now?"

"Shouldn't you be heading home?" Alex replied.

"I will..." Randy replied. "Maybe about two hours later."

"Oh..." Alex breathed out, nodding her head. Randy balled his fists together in front of him and let out a deep sigh.

"Anyway.." He began as he get off the stool. Adjusting his coat, he brushes off some invisible dusts off his front and looked at Alex. "This is goodbye..."

"What? Goodbye? Aren't you coming to Hog--whatever its name is?" Alex.

"Its Hog--warts and I'm not going there, i actually got school somewhere else."

"Which is where?"

"Durmstrang..." he said proudly.

"Oh, can't I go there then? With you?" Alex suggested.

"Why?" the young Auror looked at her curiously.

"Nothing, just... you know, stuff..." she babbled, raising her shoulder numerous times. The young Auror raised his eyebrow and looked at her curiously. It does seemed weird to him when Alex said that. Could it be that she's-

"I'm not crushing on you if that's what you're thinking!" Alex told him. He chuckled.

"Pity..." Randy began. "I was hoping that you are..."

He winked at her. She blushed.

"See you at Hogwarts!"

Randy walked to the door and waved at her.

"Hey! You said you're going to Dumbworth?!"

"Its DURMSTRANG!!" he shouted back. The young Auror disappeared through the entrance door leaving Alex curious of he meant earlier. Not on the school part but on the 'crush' part.