Richard Rockwell could well be what some people would call a normal boy, at least by Muggle Standards. He grew up a rather normal life with rather normal parents and friends for most of it, his teachers and headmasters he would run into trouble with. His friends would get him up to no good sometimes, but not that he had any real trouble doing all of that on his own either. Learning was never his strongest feat, and he rather spent his time playing board games with the other schoolmates he had.

But Richard wasn't all normal, not even in the slightest. His family was foreign to the English folk whom they are neighbors with, and only his mother and sister were biologically related to him in any shape or form. Whenever he would get down while he sat at home on a dark rainy day, there was only one who could keep him company and brighten the day for him. Whom was it you might ask, well someone who was more abnormal than he was.

Curled up in a tight black ball beside the boy was the dark shape of his fiercest warrior, his mighty champion. His bravest friend, and yet his most harmless one who stood by him. The one who has been beside him for many years ever since he was no more than three years old. And only slightly longer than he had spent overseas in Europe for. The shadow that lurks in the corner staring daggers at newcomers, Riley the black furred feline.

But today things were about to get even weirder, as trouble had always found Richard before. This time things weren't different, the day before he had been messing around with some of the boys in the yard when one of the unstable houses nearby nearly crushed one of his friends. Richard however was able to save the boy by some strange power that he had always and inkling of, but never was sure about until he had experienced it from his own hands.

There was one more thing that set the Rockwells apart from the others, well at least some of the other families of London. A secret that had to be kept by laws older than the wisest man of the same nature, their family had originated from the UK many years ago and so it could be said that they returned home from a very long vacation in some respect. But their reasons for leaving, and especially returning to England was quite simple really.

They were of one of the most ancient lines of Wizarding Families, not quite related to anyone of note oh not of course. But both Richard's mother and his birth father had long strands of wizarding blood in them, just as Richard has it running through him as well. It had always been there, playing into his mischief. But it came out its strongest when one of his schoolmate's life was threatened. Both boys were safe, but unfortunately Richard was taken away by his family and was removed from that school's registry not too long after.

Now Richard sat in the back of his Step Father's car, stroking the back furs of the sleeping ball of night beside him. As the car pulled up outside an older looking building, rauchety and withered slightly with a Sign that hung outside on a metal post. It read quite simply of course, two words plain and proud. "The Leaky Cauldron".

"Final stop." Sean called as he looked over his shoulder at Richard. "I will be seeing the both of you after you are done shopping, can't be raising any more eyebrows than needed am I right?" The man chuckled slightly as Richard's mother unbuckled and climbed out of the car. Richard was feeling a little nervous as his mother opened the door. The brown haired boy unbuckled himself and patted Riley's side to get her to sit up. The shadow glanced around before hopping out of the car before her friend.

"See you later love, we'll be fine." Richard's mother said as she gave Sean a kiss on the cheek, before taking Richard's hand and leading him towards the inn. As the door swung open and the two were welcomed to the sight of an ancient looking building, creaking beams of wood and plaster was rather dangerously unstable looking.

Richard Rockwell and his mother walked into the crowded Leaky Cauldron, weaving their way through the hustle and bustle of witches and wizards. Richard's black, feline companion, Riley, trotted alongside them, her piercing green eyes scanning the room for any potential threats.

As they settled into a booth, Riley jumped onto the table and curled up in a ball, her sleek black fur glinting in the dim light. Richard's mother ordered them some tea, and they waited patiently for their drinks to arrive.

As they chatted idly, Richard absentmindedly stroked Riley's fur, feeling her purring contentedly beneath his touch. Suddenly, a group of rowdy young wizards stumbled into the pub, their raucous laughter echoing off the walls.

Riley's ears perked up, and she shot a warning glare in their direction. Richard's mother placed a hand on Riley's side, calming her down.

But just as the group of wizards reached their table, one of them bumped into Riley, causing her to hiss in anger. Richard leapt to his feet, a fierce protectiveness swelling up inside him.

"Watch where you're going," he growled, his brown hair falling into his eyes.

The leader of the group sneered at him, his wand at the ready. But before he could utter a spell, Riley let out an otherworldly screech and launched herself at the wizard, sharp claws bared.

The wizard stumbled back, but Riley wasn't finished yet. She clawed at his face, causing blood to trickle down his cheeks. The other wizards recoiled in horror and rushed to help their friend.

As the chaos ensued, Richard's mother grabbed his arm and dragged him toward the exit, Riley by their side. They slipped out of the Leaky Cauldron, relieved to be free of the chaos.

Despite the danger, Richard couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in his cat. He knew he had a fierce and loyal protector in Riley, no matter the dangers they may face in the wizarding world.

Out in the courtyard Richard felt it was a little too tight for his liking, Richard's mother raised her wand and typed three times on the stone brick walls to their left. As the small corner opened up wider, into a bustling street that seemed to be made straight out of an alleyway. Richard had heard some of the other magical families his mother had been speaking to about Diagon Alley, and judging by the angle and the shape of the buildings around him. It definitely fits the mold of some of those folk.

As they walked down the bustling streets, Richard's mother kept a tight grip on his arm while Riley stuck close to their legs. They didn't speak much, still shaken from the near-death experience they had just encountered.

Riley was getting a little uncomfortable, and growing slightly hostile at the amount of people crowding the street. Keeping close to Richard as much as she could with a low rumbling Snarl, as she glared at all the people pushing past them in the meantime.

It seemed that Richard's mother could finally get a breath of Fresh Air, as she looked up and with a sigh of relief breathed out. "Ollivander's, makers of fine wands." As she took Richard's arm and led him through the bustling crowd, Riley hot on their heels as she pushed open an old blackened door and entered the old somewhat run down building.

The air was dusty and some of the wooden stakes were broken many long years beforehand, as they finally pressed on forward it seemed rather empty except for the many shelves full of small boxes that stuck out somewhat in random places amongst the rest.

Richard's mother seemed just as confused as he was as to the state of the building, as they pressed on forward, finally a small thin ancient looking man slid along a track to appear from seemingly nowhere.

"Welcome, I am Garrik Olivander." the old man greeted with a warm smile as he descended down to approach the main desk. Looking over the two guests, as Riley jumped up onto the counter the man gave her a strange look. "Just the wand for the young lad I am guessing? Well let us see what we have for you then."

The old man went back into the crowded aisles and started sorting through the various boxes, before pulling one out and pulling it from what Richard could make out as being a wand. He had seen his mother's before, but this one looked different from any of the other ones.

Ollivander presented the wand to Richard carefully. "12 inches, Birch. Unicorn hair." he said, handing the hilt of the wand to Richard, as the young boy took it carefully into his hands. It was heavy in the palm and seemed to tip slightly, as he waved it as he had seen his mother do before a sharp ring was sent out. As everyone ducked low to the ground while Riley launched herself into the air.

"No, no.. that wouldn't do." Ollivander said snatching the wand right out of Richard's hands, delicately putting it back in its box and placing it back in its original location balancing the unstable boxes around it.

"Here we are, 14 inches, Oak. Dragon Heartstring." Olivander handed Richard a new wand, which the boy took carefully and with uncertainty. As he raised it up above his head it screeched loud enough to pop his eardrums and nearly drop to the floor.

"Good heavens not!" Ollivander yelled as he snatched that one away, and put it back just like the last one. Finally reaching up to grab yet another box as the room quieted down from the echoes.

"E-eleven inches, Lauriel. Unicorn Hair." Olivander said as he handed the last wand, this one fit perfectly in Richard's hands. Well balanced and under control no matter which way Richard moved it. Both his mother and the wand maker seemed relieved, Riley was watching it curiously.

"That settles it then." Olivander said before naming the price, which Richard's mother paid nicely before hustling him out of the shop. The streets were still quite crowded, but much less so now. As Richard's mother instructed him on where to place his wand when he wasn't using it, also commenting on how she never had to endure something like that when she got hers.

Richard however was far too focused on the wand in his possession, turning it over three times in his hands as a smile spread wide across his face. It had also drawn the attention of Riley who was walking beside him once again looking up at him. Her bright green eyes glittering in the darkness of her pelt, her tail raised up high as she sat down to leap up onto Richard's shoulders.

The boy raised his hand to stroke her back, before slipping his new wand into his pocket for safekeeping. As his mother guided him in front of her, looking up at the tall wizards all around him. Of varying ages and sizes, some with long beards, some shaven. Weaving through robes and cloaks as he pet Riley even more for comfort. The feline rubbed against him as she knew just what he was feeling.

Finally they entered a shop with walls lined with robes and cloaks, materials all on display behind the counter. An older gentleman greeted them with a warm smile, as he leaned forward they discussed prices. But Richard was a little busy sorting through the robes, many tall and brightly colored and others are more in the gray and black coloring.

"Alright young man, if you could follow me back to get fitted." the man said, drawing Richard's attention as Riley was lifted off his shoulders, his mother carrying his friend as Richard reluctantly followed him into the backroom. "Currently we have another also getting his fitting in this room, so all you need to do is keep to yourself if you so wish."

Inside the room was a greater and complete assortment of materials, as a blonde haired boy was working with a much older lady also sizing the boy up for his own fitting. Richard was guided to the stool beside the boy. As the measuring tapes came out Richard looked over his shoulder at the other boy, who turned his own head and gave a smile.

"Was wondering when I'd see someone my age around here, most of the other customers were in their hundreds or something." the boy jokes, which got a jab from the woman doing his fitting. "I'm Josh by the way, Joshua Popham. What's your name?"

"Richard, er… Richard Rockwell." Richard answered.

"Pleased to meet you Richard, are you going to Hogwarts too?" Joshua asked, clearly trying to make small talk as the room was quiet and boring without it.

"Yeah, my mom's a little worried about it." Richard answered.

"Muggle?"

"Witch, but we're not from around here naturally."

"Ah, well I understand that then… Hogwarts is probably way different from wherever you come from." Joshua answered with a shrug. "Don't worry, it's one of the safest places in the wizarding world, or so they say these days. It is one of the more open schools in the world, Muggleborns and Half Bloods welcome. My mum's a witch and my Dad's a muggle, they both are brilliant at what they do."

The witch assisting Joshua had come to an end of her work. As she guided the boy out he said a brief farewell that Richard returned. Raising an arm to wave before getting it yanked down to his side by the wizard helping him out.

Richard walked out of the library with his new robes still on, his clothes piled on the bottom of the pile of books he was attempting to carry on his own. Riley was weaving between his and his mother's legs trying to keep out of the way of the feet of others in the street.

"I'll take those now Richard, come on we should get back so Sean can pick us up." His mother said as she picked up some of his baggage, as Richard looked up he saw a poster selling bats, cats, and owls.

"Mom, can we get an owl to take to school?" Richard asked as he looked over his shoulder at the pet store.

"Oh come please, would you really want to replace poor Riley?" Richard's mom, joked before turning a little serious. "It is a lot cheaper for you to take the cat we already have anyway, and beside Riley was anxious while you were getting fitted. And I dare not think what she would do for the months you'll be away."

Richard looked down at the black ball of night at his feet. "Sorry ol gal, I will be happy to take you along with me." He said which perked the cat up, meowing happily as if he could understand her. Or perhaps that she could actually understand him in return?

As they re-entered the Leaky Cauldron, Richard's mom checked to see if the rowdy wizards were still around. Before easing up and guiding him back through to the exit.