Chapter 4: New friends

They walked up the moving stairs and reached a huge painting. Zak was amazed by what he was seeing—moving stairs, paintings that were alive and magic. Doc would totally say 'there must be a scientific reason for this' if he's here. And Drew would protest saying that 'it's magic'.

"There's nothing here." Zak exclaimed, seeing there's no door to enter.

"Watch," Harry explained. "Fat lady, the password is 'Phoenix'. Let us in."

"Wait a moment." The fat lady in the painting said. She was holding a glass on her hand and tried to sing to break the glass. The others closed their ears. Komodo growled and Zon howled. She continued until she broke the glass by hitting it at the rock beside her. "Oh my. I do have talent for singing! You may enter,"

The painting concealed a passage door and they entered. "Does she do that all the time?" Zak asked.

"Yes. She did that for 5 years and I never see her sing nicely for once." Harry replied. They arrived at the common room where not many people gathered. The placed looked comfortable and nice. Fiskerton was amazed that he didn't realized he just passed through a ghost. It freaked him.

"Bhost (ghost)!" he yelled.

"There is nothing to be afraid of. He's friendly." Harry explained as he walked to Ron and Hermione.

"Harry, we've been waiting for ages—who is this?" Ron asked as he looked at Zak.

"I'm Zak Saturday."

"I'm Ron Weasley. Nice—hair,"

"Ronald, be polite. I'm Hermione Granger. And these are—"

"My siblings. The huge gorilla-cat is Fiskerton," Zak replied. Fiskerton was staring at the fireplace. "And there's Komodo the Komodo dragon." Komodo was sniffing at Ron and then jumped onto him and ate the Fizzing Whizzbees.

"Hey, those are my last ones!" Ron yelled. "Give them back!" he chased Komodo all around the room. Hermione shook her head.

"And there's Zon, a pterosaur." Zon howled silently as she stared at Hermione. She nuzzled Zon. "Nice girl,"

Ron was still chasing Komodo until he turned invisible and tripped Ron. Ron fell on to the rug, cursing. Komodo snickered. Fiskerton stared at the fireplace and said "Ooo..." in awe. Then he turned to the sofa and sat on it, making himself comfortable.

"It's late and a storm was coming tonight. Later I'll take you to Hagrid. Come, let's take a good night's sleep. Tomorrow's a long day." Harry exclaimed. He led the way to Zak and Fisk's beds beside his. A lot of people were already on their beds, sleeping. Ron slept opposite Harry.

"Oh, Harry, you're not asleep yet," called Neville Longbottom beside Harry. He yawned. "I see you have new friends."

"These are the Saturdays. They're the new students here." Harry replied.

"I'm Neville Longbottom. Nice to meet you. I'll see you tomorrow during class. Good night." Neville fell onto his pillow and slept soundly.

"Well, Zak, let's call it a day, shall we? Good night." Harry said as he too fell asleep immediately.

Zak lied on his bed. "I can't wait for tomorrow, right, Fisk?" Fisk nodded agreement. Komodo slept beside Zak and Zon slept outside.

"Today is Sunday, so I'm planning to take you to buy your stationeries." Harry said. "Let's head for town. We got to be hurry since I'm taking you to see Hagrid later."

"Harry, wait up!" Hermione called from behind. She, Ron and Luna chased up to them. They stopped to wait for them.

"Harry, I thought I told you to wait for us at the common room!" Hermione shouted.

"I told Ron we'll meet at Diagon alley," Harry replied.

"Ronald!"

"Maybe I left out some details?" Ron said.

"Who is the new kid there? I am Luna Lovegood. Pleasure meeting you. I'm from Ravenclaw," The blonde girl shook hands with Zak. "And these must be cryptids. I never thought I'm going to see them in such short notice."

"I'm Zak."

"Where are we going?" Ron asked.

"Diagon alley. First we'll reach Madam Malkin's and then Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Next at Hagrid's. Come on, we're late."

"Can we go for some butterbeer later?"

"I love these robes!" Zak exclaimed, looking at himself at the mirror. "Cool! I bet Doyle looks bad on these."

"Toooo smoor (small)," Fisk said as he wore one. That robe almost exploded.

"Oh my. I think I need to make a special order for this big guy over here," Madam Malkin exclaimed. "I'll have it done right away." She left.

"I'll take this one," Zak said. "Then next we'll get wands, right?"

"Professor Dumbledore had told me that he'll be making a very special one for you. He'll give it to you soon." Harry replied.

"Now, we're done, let's head for Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes." Ron said.

They walked down the street to reach a crowded shop. They entered it and Zak was surprised. This is heaven!

There were potions, flying fireworks, brooms, magic candies, and lot of lots of stuff that aren't found in his world. He and Fisk cooed. Harry and Ron waved their hands at a pair of twins whom were older than them.

"Hey, Fred, George, how's the shop?" Ron asked.

"Quite good. Hey, who's that little friend there of yours?" Fred asked.

"Wow, a genuine gorilla-cat. Cool," George looked at Fisk.

"He's Zak, a new kid. You won't mind showing him around?" Harry asked.

"No problem," the twins replied at the same time. They pulled Zak and Fisk with them.

"Are you sure they will be fine?" Hermione whispered.

"Yup."

"These are dungbombs. Quite common if you want to humiliate someone." Fred said as he handed some to Zak. Zak looked at it in disgust. Fisk pinched his nose.

"Ewww.... I bet Doyle would love these. Let's explode his room with these babies when we get home." Zak murmured. Fisk giggled. "By the way, what mad that stench? It's horrible. Wait... let me guess... cow dung?"

Fred shook his head. "Alguff the Awful goblin used his sweat to make these," he sneered.

Zak put them aside. "Gross. I think.... I'll be heading to the potions' section first." Fisk spit his tongue out.

"Good point, Zak." George said. He pulled him to the love potions that were placed neatly on a pink rack. "Love potions. Effective, long-lasting, and the target will not notice he was in a spell. Have anyone on ya' mind?"

"Hey, ya' lot! You snatched me 4th customer this week! Take you own customer for your potions!" Fred shouted.

"You knucklehead, I did not! All of our customers are the same!" George retorted.

"Okay, Zak. Time to go," Harry said as he ushered him.

"Wait, I need to buy some dungbombs." Ron exclaimed. Hermione shook her head as Ron was going to spent all his allowance on those, again.

The gang reached a little hut at the middle of the meadows. Harry entered it followed by the others. A fat man with a long beard sat by the table, drinking some butterbeer.

"Hey Hagrid. I bought friends,"

"Oh, Harry, I've been expecting you. Come sit. All of you," Hagrid pulled out stools for the gang. Then he spotted Zak and Fisk.

"I knew ya' bringing friends, but not that big," Hagrid examined Fiskerton. "A Fiskerton Phantom, I see. Famous in England. Do sit,"

"Asha yi ah famous," Fisk said.

"Yes, you're famous," Zak said. "I'm Zak."

"Well, Hagrid's the name. I'm the Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts and the Care of Magical Creatures professor. I'm so glad to teach you, Zak. Butterbeer?"

They soon hear rumbling sounds of storms coming from outside. They walked out to find another storm coming. "Another storm. We got to be back fast," Hermione made a point.

"Storms are frequent lately, but nothing to be worry about. I'm sure Quidditch will be held tomorrow as usual," Hagrid exclaimed.

"What's that?" Zak pointed towards the dark, gloomy forest nearby.

"That's the Forbidden Forest. If I were you, I won't enter." Harry said.

"I'm not going to meet those spiders again," Ron said.

"Spiders?"

"You don't want to know,"