Author's note: Thank you for reading. I have already written the next chapter, I just had to edit this, and go over things. Please comment, and if you like, I would love it if you will follow this story, do what you will. :) Okay, enough chat, enjoy (Oh, and other characters are coming in next chapter.)

Chapter 2

Diagon Alley

The whole Kirkland family was very surprised to find an owl tapping on their window the very next day. Jarod was running around the house in a rush because he had a morning shift that day, but Arthur went straight to the window to let the poor bird rest. Jarod only got to glimpse the bird as he left the threesome all staring at the bird in wonder.

Arthur untied the small little paper from its leg and started to read.

Hello Kirkland Family

My name is Bagatha Humpford, and I will be your guide to Diagon alley.

Arthur looked up. "Diagon Alley, what is that." His mother shrugged and tried to get Peter to stay still.

I shall pick you up today at roughly 1 o'clock. Don't worry about payment, for that is taken care of. Hogwarts gives out loans to wizards and witches with muggle parents. I have a dear friend who had to be given a loan, and Hogwarts is a very generous school, even though poor dumbledore passed away a few years ago. Bless him.

Arthur looked up again. "I guess that nonmagic people are called muggles."

Peter started to giggle at this. "Muggle, mummy, muggle." Mary hushed him softly, and urged Arthur on.

Well anyway, before I forget. Write a note to the school and give it to the owl, he will know what to do. I presume you are going, but if you not, I truly advise you. Hogwarts is the top wizarding school in the world, especially after the great Harry Potter went there. People from other countries have even been requesting to go to Hogwarts, so please sent your dear child.

Mary spoke up at this. "Wow, Artie! They must know you are smart, and you will get to meet new people. Isn't that wonderful." Arthur nodded and continued.

I will be glad to see you, have a great morning.

Sincerely from your new friend,

Bagatha Humpford

Once he had finished reading the note, he ran into the kitchen to get some paper. In his neatest handwriting his wrote,

Arthur Kirkland will be attending Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry this year. He is very pleased, and looks forward to it.

He then ran up to the owl, and carefully held it out. The owl took it in its beak, and flew out the open window. Arthur watched it fly off, attracting the attention of many people on the streets. He ducked back into the room quickly, accidentally bumping his head.

Muttering and rubbing his head, he looked back at him mother and smiled. She smiled back, and started to bounce Peter on her knee. "This seems like a wonderful school Artie, although." She bit her lip. "Magic school."

Arthur's smile widened. "Come on mother, we both know magic is real, I can feel it in my bones."

"Okay then, but I wonder if you will need anything else, like normal clothing. Oh, and your tooth brush, and sleepwear, Oh, we mustn't forget underwear."

"Mother, I am sure I will be fine." He turned his head, hiding a slight blush. "Plus, wizards don't need to brush their teeth, they have magic."

"All people need to brush their teeth sweety." Mary smiled at her son's adorable pout. "I have an idea, how about we pack your bags right now, we might need to get new clothes for you. Oh, and you might need to wear something fancy. Oh, maybe we need to get you uniforms, how about that."

"Mother, we can do that another time."

Mary Kirkland would not have that. Carrying Peter, she stood. "Come Arthur, we are going to start packing. It will be good, and we need to do some summer cleaning."

Arthur dragged his feet behind his mother, and made weird faces at Peter who was starting to get on his nerves. They spent until lunch packing clothes and special things into a ratty old chest Mary dug out of their stuffy closet. They were eating lunch when Jarod came through the door, looking tired.

"Hello dear," Mary was in a joyous mood from cleaning, and hated to see her poor husband in such a tired state.

"Hello, Mary." He sat down at the table, and closed his eyes. Peter abandon his mother lap to go see his father.

Patting on his knee with chubby fingers, he squealed. "Daddy! Daddy! Pick me up!" Jarod smiled at his son, and scooped him up.

Arthur watched them from the corner of his eye from the book he was reading. Peter was always stealing the hearts of his parents. Arthur loved his brother more than anything, but he couldn't help but feel jealous. Peter was cute, and sweet, but Arthur couldn't quite pull that off. He always came off at snobby and rude. He didn't mean to be, it just kinda happened. He went back to his book. Well Peter wasn't a wizard, and he was, so that must mean he was special.

Time seemed to fly for the next hour, because before the Kirklands knew, they heard a knock at their door. Arthur rushed up to get it, but was not met with what was expected. Standing in the doorway was a rather squat lady, no taller than him. Her hair was a vivid blonde color, and she wore a green and red jumper with a long flowing purple skirt. On her feet she wore high heeled boots, and a long, dark purple cloak hung on her shoulders.

Her voice was high pitched, and it made Arthur flinch slightly. "Good Afternoon young man. I am Bagatha Humpford, and I will be helping you today." She walked through the door on swollen ankles, and plopped herself on the green couch, right next to Mary. "I presume you are Mary Kirkland, Arthur's mother."

Mary was quite taken aback. "Umm, yes. Yes I am."

"Well good. It is very nice to meet you all. I have a son going into hogwarts in a few years, and another one who is in his third year. They are both terrible children, but they aren't too bad a magic, so who am I to complain. They will probably get a stable job at the ministry, that's what I think."

Arthur still stood in the doorway, startled by the woman's quick appearance. He watched as she talked nonstop about things none of the Kirklands understood, but she was interrupted by a high squeal.

"Daddy, why is mummy talking to a fat lady wearing a christmas jumper and a cape." Jarod attempted to hush his son, but it was no use. Mary tried to rush Arthur and the rather talkative witch out the door before anything else happened.

Bagatha would not stop talking as they walked to what Arthur presumed was the underground. She talked at a hundred miles per hour, and walked almost as fast, which was hard for Arthur to keep up with. He well built, with still a bit of baby fat on his features, but he still had trouble keeping up. Mother said he was a late bloomer, whatever that means.

Arthur could see the opening for the underground coming up, but instead Bagatha stopped, and looked up and down the empty street. Arthur looked at her strangely as she pulled a long smooth stick out of her robe. She raised it to the sky, and Arthur watched her, trying not to laugh. She looked quite silly. But all of a sudden, a loud crack sounded through the air, causing Arthur and Mary to jump in panic. Bagatha just stood as a giant three story purple bus appeared out of nowhere. Clicking her tongue, she hurried them along, stepping into the giant bus.

Arthur couldn't help but shake as he entered the bus. Chairs and benches lined the walls, and a large chandelier hung from the ceiling. He sat down with his mother in the corner as Bagatha chatted with the driver about their destination and how life was going and all that. Arthur couldn't get enough.

Arthur then started to notice something. All the people on the bus looked rather sick. Many were looking practically green. Seconds after making this observation, he felt a sharp pain on the back of his head. The bus had taken off, and chilling speeds, passing cars and people like a bullet. He had hit his head on the wall, hadn't he.

By the time they had stopped, Arthur understood why the people on the bus looked so sick. He could barely stand, and he felt like he was going to hurl. As soon as they left the bus, he ran towards the nearest trashcan, and hurled. That was not an experience he would like to face again.

When he gained his composure, he looked up to find a small pub. It looked awfully sketchy. In faded silver letters, a squeaky sign read The Leaky Cauldron. To his surprise, nobody seemed to notice. People walking down the streets didn't even seem to look at it. In fact, not even his mother seemed to see it.

Bagatha started to walk towards it, waiting for her companions. Mary, who was standing by Arthur almost flipped. "Don't go in their, it says it is under construction and dangerous."

Arthur looked at her strangely. "No it doesn't mother, it is just a normal pub. What has gotten into you."

Arthur had to drag her inside the building, although she was very unwilling, and almost started crying. Upon entering, she calmed down, and then started to laugh in amazement. People in cloaks and pointed hats were every where, and cats and other strange animals ran about. Arthur started to laugh too. This was all just so wonderful.

Bagatha led them to the back of the room, waving at the occasional person. Arthur watched as a feather duster flew around the room, along with several mugs filled with drinks. His past carsickness was long gone. His mother almost had to drag him into the back alley. Little did he know that the pub was nothing compared to what he was about to see.

He was disappointed to see a lone brick wall, ragged, and dusty. He wanted to go back into the pub to see the drinks fly around the room, and watch the strange people, but went Bagatha took out her wand, he stopped. She tapped the wall several times. Arthur cried out in pure amazement as the bricks started to move, making clunking sounds as they moved aside.

Arthur was speechless when he looked through the gap. Shops of every size shape and color lined a cobblestone street. Owls flew around, shedding feathers, while cats ran around people's feet, carrying packages. People were everywhere, talking, yelling, shopping. But the best part of all was all the organized chaos that seemed to be everywhere.

Random object flew about, people rode on broomsticks, some wizard turned into a bird, and flew away. Things that looked like fairs flew about, causing mistif. Newt tails, and spider eyes were for sale in a window. Odds and ends were flying around a shop. Arthur couldn't find words, and by the looks of Mary, she couldn't either.

Bagatha was already twenty paces ahead of them before Arthur realized they were gaping. Slightly embarrassed, he dragged his mother along. Hopefully nobody had seen him. He was a part of this world now, so he had to act like it. His mother had gone slightly blank at this incredible world. Arthur had a feeling she was going to faint.

Bagatha didn't seem to notice the odd behavior of the two Kirklands, she had just continued on, not looking back. She was talking about wand stores, and how ollivander was finally in business.

"After you-know-who died, poor Mr. Ollivander was so weak." She quieted her voice, and looked behind at the two. "It is said he was tortured by the man himself."

Arthur interrupted her. "Wait a sec, who is that?"

Bagatha gasped, "Oh yeah, I forgot, you grew up around muggles." She shuddered. "You-know-who was the evilest dark wizard ever. Long ago, about twenty years ago from today, there was this man. I don't know his real name, but he called himself." She gulped, "Well that doesn't matter right now, but anyway, he went to go murder this family of three, the potters. The mother and father died, but their little baby son, by the name of Harry survived. I don't know why, but somehow he survived a terrible curse, and seemed to kill you-know-who too."

Arthur gasped. "That's amazing."

"I know, well anyway, for many years, you-know-who was silent, but fourteen years later, he showed up again. At the time, young Harry Potter was attending school at Hogwarts. He said that he was back, but nobody listened. I for one did not, he was just a boy, and everybody thought him a attention seeker. I wasn't to blame. Well anyway, one thing led to another, and Voldemort came to power. I am not really sure what happened, but one day in May three years ago, the news came out that you-know-who was dead, and that Harry Potter had killed him. It was a dark time, but it has been peaceful ever since. In fact, the crime rate in the wizarding world is at a all time low."

She smiled as she finished, and Arthur was left with many questions. Who was this "you-know-who?" How did he die, and what happened with Harry Potter? Arthur didn't listen as she continued to talk. He thought about this evil man, and Harry Potter. He was curious, and when he was curious, he would look into things. Just as he was about to form a plan, Bagatha stopped in front of a worn out store. It was the plainest on the street, painted black, with faded gold lettering.

It read Ollivanders, Makers of fine wands since 382 Bc. Arthur had to read the sign multiple times. How could they be making wands for that long? That seemed insane. Arthur relized that Bagatha was already inside the building, along with his mother. He ran inside the building, not wanting to keep them waiting.

His mother was already sitting down in a chair when he entered the shop. Arthur noticed she was looking rather blank. It was odd, she usually had lively shine in her green eyes. Maybe there was some sort of spell that only effect muggles at work here. He asked Bagatha, who was being silent for once.

She opened her mouth to answer, when his question was answered by a wild looking man riding in on a bookshelf latter. "You are an observant one boy."

The man had purple eyes, and wild hair that seemed to fly around in the ."air. Although he seemed to sparkle with energy, Arthur could tell he had seen dark days. Permanent bags hung from his eyes, and his eyes hid some sort of pain. Arthur found him rather scary.

"Muggles who come to Diagon Alley have a memorie charm put on them, just so they don't go wild and expose our world."

"My mother would never do that!" Arthur felt slightly offended. His mother was the kindest and most sensible person he knew.

"Dear boy, I wasn't saying she would. It just automatically does that. I think she will have a lot of questions once you are home."

Arthur frowned slightly, and nodded after a second. "Are you Mr. Ollivander?"

"Yes I am, and who might you be." He smiled at the boy, trying to figure him out.

"I am Arthur, Arthur Kirkland."

"I see," the old man squinted. "I will be right back." He bowed, and nimblely traveled to the back rooms.

Bagatha smiled, "I best be going now, I trust you will be able to find your way about, you seem capable enough."

Arthur stuttered. "Umm, of course I can." He smiled, feeling slightly nervous.

Bagatha started, "oh, before I forget." She pulled something from the back of her pocket. It was a ticket, and a piece of paper. "On the first of September, go to kings cross station, and get on at platform nine and three quarters." She smiled, "I recommend going there early, it might take a while for you to get on the platform. Oh, and the papers has the shops where you can get things."

She was about to leave when Arthur stopped her. "Excuse me Mrs, but what about money?"

"Oh yeah," she fished one last thing from her pocket. It was a small leather pouch, clanking with coins. "That will be enough, and maybe a little extra." She winked at Arthur. "Oh, keep the bag too, it is dragonhide, really useful."

She clanked out the door, boots making clicking sounds on cobblestone. Arthur turned back to find Ollivander holding out a long wand, a dark shade of brown.

"Thirteen inch, dragon heartstrings, cherrywood, swishy."

Arthur took the wand delicately. He looked to the man for instructions, but he just sighed.

"No good at all." He clucked as he pried the wand from Arthur's hands, and walked outback. He returned with another one. "I am certain this will do it. Eight inch, unicorn tail, ash wood, stubborn."

As soon as Arthur took the rather short want in his hand, instant peace came over him. He looked at it, noticing it was rather plain, but it was beautiful, with a strong grip, and a smooth surface. Ollivander nodded, a smile coming on his face.

"I was wondering when I would cell this wand. It has always been rather stingy, always misbehaving when given to another." He flinched, "when I gave it to a student last year, it caught my curtains on fire." He laughed at his, but Arthur looked down at the wand strangely. It had been his hand for only a minute, but it had grown on him.

He left the store, purse feeling slightly lighter, and a wide smile on his face. The rest of the day went by smoothly. Arthur dragged his mother along the whole time, going to Madam Malkin's, Flourish and Blotts, and a few other places. He decided to spend his last remaining coins on a rather fine looking kitten. It was white with orange patches lining its coat. He named it Oliver, and kept it in a small cage. It purred the whole way home.

As soon as he entered the dark flat, his mother started to come out of her haze. "Umm, Arthur, what happened."

"Oh, well we got all the shopping done for school, but they had to cast a spell on you so you wouldn't go telling the world about Diagon Alley."

"The last thing I remember was getting off I giant purple bus."

"Oh yeah, that was the knight bus, we took the underground home."

Mary looked very felt. "Okay dear, well I am glad we are home now." She yawned and started to walk off to the bedroom where she could hear Jarod and Peter snoring. "Goodnight love, we can talk more in the morning."

Arthur watched her close the door, and he took all his belongings into his small room. He let Oliver loose inside his room, taking a spare pillow off the bed for him. Little Oliver flat out ignored the pillow, and plopped right on the corner of the bed. Arthur look a moment to smooth his fur. Oliver was so soft, and he purred like there was no tomorrow.

Arthur took a moment to look through all his stuff. He had gotten a new uniform, along with several cloaks, and a fine pointed hat. Arthur neatly folded everything and put it into his ratty chest, finding it hard to shove a cauldron in there. He dragged it to the corner, and lay Oliver's cage atop it.

Nothing could stop him as he flopped into bed, not even bothering to turn the lights off. Little Oliver moved up to his head, warming the back of it, and purring in his ear. In his last dwindling thoughts before sleep, Arthur thought about his new school with excitement. Hogwarts was going to be amazing, and maybe he could make some friends too. Yawning, it was no time before Arthur was fast asleep, dreaming about flying brooms and magical buses.