Chapter 2 Diagon Alley and Birthday Presents
The week went quickly; I spent time with mum, Ella and the flock and also spent a lot of time with Lily and met Severus a few times. I didn't know what Lily saw in Severus and he always told her she would be an awesome Slytherin when they got to Hogwarts. He didn't include me in their conversations although Lily tried. Lily also told me, Nick and Dylan what Severus told her since he wouldn't tell me. Soon it was the 23rd and I surprised Nick and Dylan by waking them up in the morning and Dumbledore came over also surprising them. Mum and I didn't tell the others when we were going to Diagon Alley, Lily and her family were also coming with us since I invited her and it saved Dumbledore from making two trips. We met Lily's parents who instantly started talking to mum and Petunia came but didn't say anything. Dumbledore told us that we would be taking the floo network to the Leaky Cauldron. Dumbledore explained to us what the floo network was, I was horrified. We had to step into the fire while the flames were burning, chuck some dust over them and say the Leaky cauldron loud and clear before we were taken to there by floo. Dumbledore lit the fire and showed mum and Mr and Mrs Evans how to make sure it was safe to step in, he demonstrated what we had to do and when he said the Leaky Cauldron he disappeared. Nick went next followed by Hamish and like Dumbledore they disappeared. Mum said she would go last with Amelia encase she didn't say it right because Dumbledore explained the consequences. I went after Monique followed by Dylan, Mr Evans, Lily, Petunia, Mrs Evans then Ella, Mum and Amelia. We all ended up in a dark dirty wizard's pub and it was the right place since Dumbledore was there with Nick and Hamish. We met Tom the land lord who directed us to the back of the pub where the bins where and told us that was how we would get into Diagon Alley from London. Dumbledore pulled out his wand and tapped certain bricks before they moved and created a pathway into the most colourful and magical place I had ever seen. We first went to Gringotts the wizarding bank and got a bank account and changed our muggle money into gallons, sickles and knuts. Before we went in Dumbledore explained that the bank was managed by Goblins with the occasional witch and wizard but consist mostly of goblins. After we left the bank we split up into groups, Nick, Dylan and Hamish were going with Dumbledore and Mr Evans to get their stuff while the girls and I went with Mum and Mrs Evans to get our stuff. Mum had given the boys enough money to buy their school supplies and a little extra for something to eat. We went to Flourish and Bolts first and got our books then ran into the boys and Madam Maxine's. Madam Maxine fitted us for our school clothes and told us that they would be ready at the end of the day once we finished shopping. Both groups went to get the wands together since Dumbledore suggested that it would be better if only those who were going to Hogwarts entered Olivander's and got our wands. Mum disappeared with Amelia and Ella while Mr Evans and Dumbledore waited outside with the others including Petunia. Mrs Evans came inside the wand shop with Nick, Dylan, Lily and I so she could help us get our wands. Looking around the shop we couldn't see any wands or the shop keeper since most of these shops were run by only one person. As we approached the clustered desk an old man appeared from the back of his shop. He introduced himself as Olivander and told us that the wand chooses the wizard not the wizard chooses the wand. Nick and I exchange looks that said 'this guy is weird.' Mr Olivander measured Lily's right arm first which was to be her wand arm. After about five wands she had the right wand. I was fitted next and it only took three wands to try out before I found the right one it was 11 and a half inches, unicorn tail hair and pine. After Nick and Dylan were fitted for their wands and got the right one, we left the shop with a dazzled Mrs Evans. Mum was back and was holding a cage that was covered by a curtain; Ella and Amelia were also holding cages almost identical. Mum gave me the cage and said Happy Birthday while Amelia gave Dylan the cage she was holding and Ella gave Nick the cage she was holding. Inside the cage were the prettiest owls I had ever seen, they were also the only owls I had ever seen. My owl was a brown barn owl with red feathers at the end of its wings. Apparently owls are used in the magic world to send letters to each other. Dylan had a small pygmy black feathered owl and Nick had a spotted black and white owl. I named my owl Magnum, Dylan named his owl Shadow, and Nick named his owl Fang, (wonder where he got that name from?) The last stop for the girls was to get our cauldron from the potion shop while the boys had to go to Flourish and Bolts to get their school books. Lily and I got matching cauldrons and trunks with our names engraved in them. We met the boy outside the ice-cream shop which had just opened. While we were eating our ice creams we walked past the Quiditch shop which had a bunch of kids standing around the window looking at a polished and shiny new broom on display. I didn't see the big fuss and neither did Lily but I didn't care since I could already fly without a broom because of my wings. The broom everyone was admiring was the latest broom called the Nimbus 500 and was the fastest broom yet. We got our clothes from Madam Maxine's and payed for them so we could leave and take our shopping home. Because we were in such a big group our stuff was evenly distributed around so one person wasn't carrying around everything. We used the floo to get back home but Dumbledore sent our new possessions home so we didn't have to take it in the floo. Instead of saying the Leaky Cauldron in the fire place we had to say 14 Spinners End. Back home I tumbled out of the fireplace and quickly moved out of the way as Dylan came through the fire place. Our school stuff was already in four piles mine, Dylan's, Nick's and Lily's. Once everyone was back we said goodbye to Dumbledore and saw Lily and her family go back home.
The rest of June passed quickly and July came and went. Ella celebrated her 9th birthday and besides us only the Evans were invited. Lily and I got on really well and became good friends. Petunia was invited but didn't want to come. Dylan and Nick organised a present from all of us for Ella which was the new broom that we saw in the Quiditch shop. Ella ended up showing witch features so Dylan and Nick decided that we would all put money together and buy her a broom and then she could fly with us. Behind our house was a big empty patch that was for any nearby wizards and witches to use and fly around. Muggles saw a big broken down building and didn't go anywhere near it. We had a gate that led towards the field and we fly around there with Ella and mum watching us during the day, we also let our owls fly around since they always came back and flew with them sometimes. Of course we never flew when Lily wasn't around, she may be my best friend but I wasn't ready to tell her our biggest secret. Mum got Ella a Quiditch book which told her how to fly, some new clothes and two tickets for a kid friendly concert so that she and Monique could go. Ella also got a broom cleaning set from Lily and her parents.
July went and I spent my spare time reading Hogwarts a History, I wanted to know as much as I could before I went to Hogwarts because even if there were muggle borns that don't know much I didn't want the pure bloods and half bloods to look down on me. Lily had already finished the book. I don't know how she finished it since it is so boring but I wanted to know the basics like what are the four houses. I read about how Slytherins needed to be sly and cunning, Gryffindors were bold and courageous, Ravenclaws were smart and Hufflepuffs were loyal and kind. I could be a Slytherin but I wanted to be a Gryffindor. On August 2nd we all celebrated Monique's 9th birthday she and Ella were at the concert so we were planning a surprise birthday party. The concert went until lunch time so all those that were invited were hiding in the living room. Banners were hung up, helium balloons touching the ceiling and party food spread across the table. Lily and a few other girls from around the neighbourhood were invited and holding wrapped presents in her arms. I planned Monique's gift and mum chipped in. We had set up a private shopping trip for Monique and a friend. We were giving her $100 plus some extra for the friend which we were hoping would be Ella. The two girls were picked up by mum who was working at her new job as the local vet until 11 leaving us supervised by the Evans. When the door opened and the two girls chattering away walked in we jumped out of our hiding spots, flicked on the lights and yelled SURPRISE! Monique had the one of her best days and loved her present since she loved clothes and fashion. The next birthday was Amelia's 4th three weeks later. It was only a family party but Lily came over to say hello and give Amelia her present. Amelia was given so many toys that she had to put some in the spare room to give her enough room to move in her room.
2 days later Dylan, Nick and I were stuffing school stuff in our trunk, we didn't have to wear our school robes until we were on the train close to Hogwarts. We were meeting Lily at the station and Severus was going with her. Mum told us to pack some ordinary clothes for the days we didn't have to wear school clothes; I was all packed and had double checked that I had everything when I went do stairs to see a whinging Amelia.
"But I want to go too," she said stubbornly.
Amelia was getting better at her talking since she arrived because we weren't taught very well at the school. Dylan, Nick and I weren't very good at spelling but could write neatly and read long words. Hamish and Monique were making sure that they could read and write before they went to school and Amelia didn't have to worry as long as she could talk.
"Amelia you'll be able to go when your 11," I said picking her up off the ground.
"But I want to go now." She replied stubbornly.
"You can't go until you are old enough to get a wand and are 11," Dylan said from behind me.
"There you see, Hamish, Ella and Monique can't go yet either and you'll be able to play with them while we can't." I told her, "plus you can't take all your toys with you."
Amelia thought about it then decided that she didn't want to leave her toys when mum came back into the room and Amelia ran out.
"Are you two all pack?" she asked as Dylan helped himself to a chocolate chip cookie. Mum's cookies were the best.
"Yep I'm just waiting for Magnum to come back." I told her and grab a cookie before Dylan ate them all.
"Same," Dylan said with a mouthful of cookies.
Soon everyone was downstairs helping themselves to cookies. Mum had a rule that we could only have four at a time and once everyone had four you could get more. Dylan was waiting for everyone to finish their four cookies then he grabbed the last four.
"Well remind me to make a big breakfast tomorrow." Mum said laughing.
A tawny owl tapped on our window with an envelope tied around its leg. Mum went and untied it gave the owl the cookie in her hand and showed us the envelope. It had the Hogwarts crest on it and once we opened it we got our scarlet train tickets. Platform 9 and ¾ it said.