Chapter Six
Where Everyone Knows Our Name.
I awoke to a sharp peck on the tip of my index finger, my actions where hazy as I tried to figure out what was happening. Although I could tell it was daylight, I kept my eyes closed tight, afraid of what was going to welcome me when I opened them. I dreamt a giant called Hagrid came to tell me I was a witch and that I was to attend a school for witchcraft and wizardry, I thought to myself, the thought of me opening my eyes and being back in the cupboard under the stairs made my heart sink.
Nibble. Nibble. Peck.
"Ouch." I miss sitting bolt upright as warm blood began to trickery down my index finger. The heavy coat that was covering me fall off revealing the clear blue sky, my sudden movement causes a stir beside me as it turns out Harry had been huddled beneath the warm, heavy coat as well.
Without getting a further glimpse of my surroundings, I see a scrawny, ruffled brown owl sitting on a black leather edge in front of me. It's large orange eyes like size of saucers staring at me. It lets out a squawk that wakes Harry,
Wha?" he groans sleepily.
"There's an owl." I whisper as the birds eyes flicker between me and Harry. Sleepily, my brother laughs and just rolls over. That's when I realise we are actually sitting on leather seats, from the way we were bundled together, it couldn't of been designed for more than one however, the size of the personal designed for was the question. Despite being bundled, Harry and I had room to turn from side to side without inflicting with each others space.
I elbow Harry sharply. He lets out a 'oaf' noise before turning back over to stare at me with venomous eyes, Harry has never been one for enjoying being interrupted whilst sleeping. He groans and sits up, coming nose-to-nose (well, beak) with the owl that lets out another squawk. I see the bird has a letter clasped in its talons, I go to take it but the bird pecks my finger away and squawk.
"Hagrid?" I question, then realising I hadn't seen the over-sized man yet. Its then I realise me and Harry are outside beneath green leaved trees. The item Harry and I had spent the night in was actually the side-car of a rusting looking motorbike.
"Where the –?" Harry asked before giving a sign of relief, he nudged me before pointing over to a large oak tree, beneath at the roots was the giant laying, snoring with his mouth hanging open. Suddenly I felt unsure about this man looking after us, in fact I didn't even know where we were.
"Hagrid!" Harry and I yell together, the man spluttered awake before staring at me and my twin. It took a moment for his eyes to come into focus but then he notices the owl that has turned his head hundred-and-eighty-degrees to stare at Hagrid. The letter still clasped in it's claws.
"Oh!" he gasps before getting up as quickly as seemed possible, "Pay him." he orders us, I look at Harry confused before we begun to rummage through the deep pockets, however there seems to be nothing but pockets, filled with bunches of keys, balls of string, mint humbugs, tea-bags, rolls of parchment and quills... finally, Harry pulled out a handful of strange-looking coins. "Give him five Knuts." said Hagrid sleepily.
My brows furrowed, "Knuts?"
"Little bronze ones."
Harry looking through his handful and removed five bronze coins from the pile, the owl held out it's leg so I could put the money into a small leather pouch tied to it. Once done, the owl dropped the letter into my lap and flew off through the trees into the blue sky. I handed the letter to Hagrid who smiled pleasantly as he took it off me, he ripped the envelop open and look out letter, he scanned over it carefully before grinning and putting the letter into one of the many pockets his jacket provided.
"Best be off, lots to do today." Hagrid informed us before seating on the motorbike which bent under the strain. He started up the engine.
"Hagrid... erm, where are we?" Harry asked.
Hagrid chuckled, "Not far from London, needed a place to sleep."
"You know that's what houses here built for." I reply a little sarcastically.
The giant huffed, "Yes well, I felt a night under the stars would be a first for you two." says Hagrid before revving the engine. I felt embarrassed because I was rude and Hagrid had our best intentions in mind. I decided not to question him anymore, Harry didn't share my decision.
"How did you get to the rock last night?" he asked loudly over the rumble of the engine, the thought had accrued to me as well, last night when Harry and I left with Hagrid last night there was no other boat but then again, as soon as Harry and I got outside, we seemed to fall asleep.
"Flew." Hagrid said breezily like it didn't matter.
"Flew?" Harry and I both exclaimed.
Hagrid nodded, "Yeah – but we'll go to London in this. Not s'pposed to use magic now I've got yous."
The engine roared louder than before, he sped off with Harry and I clasping on the edge of the side-car. We drove for a while, Harry and I huddled under Hagrid's heavy coat because the wind was warm but rather sharp. It then became apparent that this was the only time Harry and I felt alone since the news of our magical inheritance. Suddenly, I clasped Harry's body in my arms as tightly as I could, thankfully he returned my love. I had literally a million questions I wanted to ask him but Harry didn't know the answers either. I'm not sure how long Harry and I stay hugging however we stayed there until the bike engine splatters to a stop.
"Out you two," Hagrid orders whipping off the coat, "Our train leaves in ten minutes."
"Train?" Harry asks.
Hagrid nods, "Couldn't drive this thing into London, it's dangerous and not permitted where we are going." The man begins to walk off towards the pale bricked building marked TRAIN STATION. We followed him, by-passers stare a lot at Hagrid as they walked through the station, I couldn't blame them, not only was Hagrid twice the size but he kept pointing at ordinary items such as cash machines. Turns out Hagrid doesn't understand 'Muggle money' as he called it, therefore he gave it to Harry and I to sort it out. More people on the train stared, Hagrid took up two seats and sat knitting whilst Harry and I sat staring out the window, sometimes talking but our attention seemed distracted.
"Do you still have your letter?" I whisper.
He nods and pulls out the letter, I take it from him and remove a piece of paper I hadn't noticed the night before. It went through a list of uniform needed for Hogwarts, plain work robes, pointed hat, protective gloves and a winter cloak. There was a list of eight compulsory books that we needed, they all sounded amazing: History of Magic, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them as well as The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection. I gulp, why do me and Harry need a book on self-protection from dark forces? I think, however I continue to read on about the other equipment me and Harry will require: a wand, a cauldron (pewter, standard size 2), 1 set glass or crystal phials, a telescope and a set of brass scales.
"A wand?!" I hiss, maybe this all is real, but a wand, really?
Then in a small footnote, it clearly stated that students may being an owl OR a cat OR a toad.
"A pet?!" Harry questioned in shock. Then in large letters at the bottom of the letter was: REMINDER TO PARENTS THAT FIRST-YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS.
Broomsticks? I thought, this is crazy, completely mad. Hagrid and I stare at our letters, rereading each paragraphs carefully. These items we must buy, but Harry and I have no money. I keep skimming over the pet section, I wonder where I can get one, let alone all of these items. Surely you can't buy these things on the streets of London?
"Can we buy all this in London?" I wondered aloud.
"If you know where to look." Hagrid winked as the train came to a hault.
Neither Harry or I had never been to London before, but Hagrid seemed to know where he was going, however he was obviously was not used to getting their in an ordinary way. He got stuck at the ticket barrier on the Underground and complained loudly that the seats were too small and the trains too slow. Hagrid was so huge that the crowd parted easily for him; all Harry and I had to do was keep close behind him in order not to get lost. Out in the street we passed book shops, music stores, restaurants and cinemas but nowhere that appeared to sell magic wands or spell books.
If I knew the Dursleys have no sense of humour, I would of thought this was all a joke for mine and Harry's humiliation. Even though everything Hagrid had told us so far was so unbelievable, I couldn't help but feel I could trust him. Then, as I admire the narrow streets filled with 'ordinary people' Hagrid enjoyed calling them. We halted sharply.
"Here we are, the Leaky Cauldron." Hagrid announces before saying proudly, "It's famous."
The Leaky Cauldron was a tiny, grubby-looking pub. Hagrid steered us inside, for a famous place it was very dark and shabby. A few old women were sitting in a corner, drinking tiny glasses of sherry. One of them was smoking a long, wooden pipe. A little man in a top hat was talking to the barman, who was bald but with a large beard. The small chatter stopped harshly when they walked in, everyone seemed to know Hagrid, they waved and smiled.
"The usual, Hagrid?" the barman asked.
"No, sorry Tom, on official Hogwarts business." Hagrid smiled, clapping his great big hands on Harry and my shoulders, "Young Harry and Grace here need to buy their school supplies."
The Leaky Cauldron suddenly became still, and I then feel like that snake in the reptile house, every pair of eyes turned to myself and Harry, studying us carefully we stand still, paralysed with fear. Suddenly, the barman hurried out from behind the bar, rushed towards Harry and myself, seizing my hand and shaking it forcefully.
"Bless my soul," he whispers to me, "Grace and Harry Potter... what an honour, truly." he tells me shaking Harry's hand. Neither of us knew what to say. Everyone was staring at us. The elderly women in the corner suddenly looked filled with life. One almost leapt from her seat to introduce herself.
"Doris Crockford, I can't believe I'm meeting you at last!" she flusters.
Hagrid laughed before finally pulling Harry and myself away from the crowd. However, one incredibly pale young man stepped into our line of movement, he was incredibly nervous with one eye twitching. "P-P-Potter Twins!" stammered the man, "C-Can't t-tell you how p-pleased I am to meet you."
"Hello Professor!" Hagrid boomed, "Harry and Grace, this is Professor Quirrell, he'll be your Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher."
Harry smiled warmly and sticks out his hand, "Nice to meet you."
Quirrell laughed almost repelling from Harry's waiting hand, "F-f-fascinating subject, n-not that you'll need it, e-e-h, Potters?"
"What do you –"
"We best be off!" Hagrid announces loudly interrupting me, he quickly grabbed Harry and I by the scruffs of our t-shirts, not in a aggressive way but to ensure we didn't get lost in the swarm of the people. Hagrid let us out the back of the pub inside a small, brick-walled courtyard where there was nothing but a few bins.
"Hagrid?" I ask, "Who are those people? And how do they all know us?"
The giant was looking at the wall straight in front of us, "I'm sorry but I don't think I'm the right person to tell you that." he apologises sincerely before studying the brick wall, then with the tip of his umbrella, Hagrid tapped the wall three times. The brick he had touched began to quiver, it wriggled and in the middle a small hole appeared. It grew wider and wider, a second later they were facing an archway large enough for Hagrid, an archway that lead onto a cobbled street that twisted and turned out of sight.
"Welcome," said Hagrid, "To Diagon Alley."
A/N: Sorry it took so long to upload, I was writing one long chapter but it just seemed too long so I broke it down into two chapters. Please review, favourite and follow if you are enjoying, your feedback is much appreciated. Onwards, to Diagon Alley.