Chapter 7: Getting Acquainted
James and Sirius tiptoed and tried to shove their way to the front, just to peer through the thick crowd surrounding the glass windows outside Quality Quidditch Supplies, their all-time favorite shop in Diagon Alley. They caught a glimpse of the latest broomstick in town, Nimbus 1500, on the erected podium. Both of them shared the same I-have-already-owned-that-broomstick grins and squeezed out.
"We're going to bring our Nimbus 1500 to Hogwarts, whether allowed on not." James told Sirius softly as the two boys attempted to make their way to the entrance of QQS. "Who cares about the rules?"
"Of course, we aren't exactly the kind who're going to follow rules like that." Sirius replied swiftly. With quite a bit of 'excuse-me', they managed to make their way into the shop to look for other Quidditch related stuffs, not like they need any of those. Afterall, they were just getting prepared to get into their house quidditch team by third year.
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Standing at the opened entrance of Diagon Alley, Lily and Arabella looked through their list.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Uniform
First-year students will require:
Three sets of plain work robes (black)
One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear.
One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
One winder cloak (black, silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags
Set Books
All students should have a copy of each of the following
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginners' Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble
Other Equipment
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST-YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICS.
Lily and Arabella looked at each other and shared the similar lost look on their faces. They looked up and saw the flurry of cloaked people moving in and out of the shops, holding many weirdly shaped shopping bags, and speaking magical jargon that they did not understand.
"First thing first, any idea where to get our robes?" Lily asked, looking through her list.
"I'm as non-magical as you're." Arabella shook her head and took a deep breath.
"Do they have a map of this Diagon Alley or something?" She looked around, trying to find a directory of the place, like those in muggle shopping center.
"Hi, you two seem lost. Do you need any help?" A girl with dark brown wavy hair approached them out of nowhere. She looked like about their age but slightly more petite and definitely seemed comfortable with the magical environment.
"Yeah, er, we are." Lily replied politely, and still looking confused.
"Well, I'm Stefanie, going to be first year at Hogwarts. Both of you are holding onto some parchment which looked like the Hogwarts letter that I have. So you two are going Hogwarts too?" Stefanie asked courteously, and smiling at the same time.
"Yup. Really glad to meet you Stefanie, I'm Lily Evans and she's Arabella." Lily introduced and they shook each other hand. A happy glow was radiating on her face.
"Arabella Figg, nice to meet you, Stefanie." Arabella said.
"So what are we waiting for? Let's go." Stefanie said happily and turned to walk. Hmm, Figg, Mum told me in one of that bedtime story about a famous seer with the last name Figg. Could she be one of the descendent?
"We don't know where we are supposed to go." Arabella replied, looking around Diagon Alley in amazement now instead of the previous confusion, thanks to Stefanie's aid.
"Oh, you two are from muggle family? Erm, I mean non-magical family?" Stefanie asked curiously.
"Yes, I supposed. We're from muggle family." Lily answered, looking rather perplexed.
"It's ok. I can help you. I am from a magical family. Been here rather often, but today is the first time I'm here alone. Just ditched my brother at the Quidditch store."
"Quidditch?" Lily and Arabella questioned at the same time. Stefanie just smiled and started explaining the magical community to them.
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Remus was wondering alone in the Quality Quidditch Supplies when suddenly there was a crashing sound of heavy boxes from the other aisle behind him. Out of curiosity, he went over to take a look and found a whole pile of leather cases with the silver words of Broomstick Servicing Kit on the ground.
The shop-owner came over and tried to clear the mess magically while checking for any broken items, muttering something incomprehensibly and checking out if there were any mischief around.
Just then, he heard two boys giggling softly behind him. One of them had short messy black hair and brown eyes and the other had longer and neater dark brown hair and blue-green eyes, both around his age.
"So you two did that?" Remus asks with a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Who? We? Nah, why would we?" The boy in dark brown hair replied with a fake innocent look.
"Haha. That was so obvious, you know." Remus grinned and he turned to walk out of the shop.
"Hey, wait, what's your name?" The boy in messy black hair rushed up to him and asked.
"Remus Lupin. How about you guys?" Remus looked at the two boys who stood on his both sides.
"I am James and he's Sirius." James said and winked at Sirius.
"We are both soon-to-be first years in Hogwarts and going to be the biggest pranksters there." Sirius replied and winked back at James.
"I'm going to be the first year there too. Nice to meet you, guys. See you on September first." Remus said and about to turn and walked over to Flourish and Blotts Bookstore.
"How about we shop together? You have the prankster potential in you, you know?" Sirius grinned cheekily, putting his hand over Remus' shoulder.
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The three girls shopped together all afternoon for their robes and books and pets and materials needed for potions, etc. Finally, from Stefanie's recommendation, they went towards Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor. After ordering their ice cream and settling down at a corner, they started chatting excitedly about going to Hogwarts.
The three boys, upon finishing their shopping for school supplies, were heading towards the Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor too, coincidentally.
As the girls were sitting on one end while the guys at the other, so they never managed to meet. As it was getting late, Lily and Arabella bid Stefanie goodbye and promised to meet up on at King Cross station to go through the Platform 9 and ¾ together. Stefanie then head towards QQS to wait for Sirius and James and head home together.