Harry stepped into Madam Malkin's clothing shop, a mix of excitement and nervousness bubbling inside him. He had never been to a place like this before, and the prospect of starting a new school filled him with curiosity.

As he looked around, he noticed a girl about his age standing near the racks of robes. Her silvery-blonde hair cascaded down her shoulders, and her elegant posture caught his attention. She seemed confident and composed, the very picture of poise.

Harry hesitated for a moment before mustering the courage to approach her. "Hi," he said, trying to sound casual, but his voice still carried a hint of shyness. "Are you getting your robes too?"

The girl turned to face him, her grey eyes meeting his with a measured gaze. "Yes, I am," she replied, her tone polite but reserved. "I suppose you are too, given that you're in Madam Malkin's."

Harry chuckled, feeling a little more at ease. "Yeah, I guess that's a safe assumption. I'm Harry, by the way, Harry Potter."

The girl's eyebrows raised ever so slightly, recognizing the name. "I'm Daphne Greengrass," she introduced herself, her tone softening slightly. "Nice to meet you, Harry."

"You too, Daphne," Harry replied with a small smile. "You look really nice today, by the way."

Daphne arched an eyebrow, surprised by the compliment but still maintaining her composure. "Thank you. I suppose dressing well is important, even for shopping."

Harry nodded, realizing he might have been too forward. "Yeah, sorry if that was weird. I just thought you looked nice, that's all."

Daphne's lips twitched into a small smile. "It's fine, Harry. You're not the first person to compliment me."

As they continued chatting, Harry couldn't help but feel intrigued by Daphne. She seemed different from the other girls he had met, more reserved and composed. He found himself wanting to know more about her.

"Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin, right?" Harry asked, trying to keep the conversation going.

Daphne nodded, her eyes never leaving him. "Indeed. Each house stands for different qualities and values."

Interest piqued, Harry probed further. "Could you elaborate on that? I'm curious to know more."

Daphne's lips curved into a subtle smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Gryffindor values bravery and courage. Hufflepuff values hard work, loyalty, and fairness. Ravenclaw values intelligence, knowledge, and wit. And Slytherin values ambition, cunning, and resourcefulness."

"Sounds like each house has something to offer," Harry remarked, genuinely intrigued.

"Yes, they do. But they also come with their own expectations and stereotypes."

"I can see why you might be conflicted," Harry said, sensing a hint of uncertainty in her voice. "Do you have a preference for which house you'd like to be in?"

Daphne hesitated before answering, her composure returning. "My parents were both in Slytherin, and they expect me to follow in their footsteps. However, I'm also drawn to the idea of being in Ravenclaw, where intelligence is highly regarded."

Harry nodded, understanding her dilemma. "It must be difficult to balance your own desires with what others expect from you."

Daphne raised an eyebrow, her frosty exterior resurfacing. "I make my own choices, Harry. Ultimately, it doesn't matter what others think."

"Of course of course" Harry replied, not wanting to pry further.

Harry nodded, respecting Daphne's independent spirit. "You're right. It's your decision, and you should choose the house that feels right to you."

Daphne's eyes softened, and for a moment, Harry caught a glimpse of vulnerability beneath her cool exterior. "Thank you, Harry. It's not often that people understand that about me."

Harry smiled warmly. "Well, I think it's important to be true to yourself. And whatever house you end up in, I'm sure you'll do great things."

Daphne's smile grew, and a flicker of warmth shone in her grey eyes. "Thank you for saying that, Harry. You seem like a different sort of wizard. Not like the ones I'm used to."

Harry chuckled. "I take that as a compliment, I think." He glanced around the shop. "Do you think we should find our robes now?"

Daphne nodded, her reserved demeanor returning. "Yes, let's get that sorted."

They spent some time picking out their robes, occasionally sharing remarks and laughter. Despite the initial distance between them, Harry felt a growing sense of camaraderie with Daphne. There was something intriguing about her, and he couldn't shake the feeling that they would make good friends.

As they paid for their robes and left Madam Malkin's, Harry realized that he was looking forward to seeing Daphne at Hogwarts.

As Daphne excused herself to go meet her parents, Harry found himself wanderingthrough Diagon Alley, lost in thought, he heard a booming voice calling his name. Turning around, he couldn't help but smile as he saw Hagrid, the friendly half-giant, approaching him with a wide grin.

"Harry! There yeh are, my boy!" Hagrid exclaimed, patting him gently on the back.

"It's good to see you again, Hagrid," Harry replied, feeling genuinely happy to be reunited with his friend.

Hagrid's eyes sparkled with delight. "And it's good to see yeh too, Harry. Got somethin' special fer yeh, I do!" He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small parcel wrapped in brown paper.

"For me?" Harry asked, surprised.

"Ay, that's right. Yer birthday present," Hagrid said, handing him the parcel.

Harry eagerly unwrapped it to find a beautiful snowy owl inside a cage. "Wow, Hagrid! Thank you! She's amazing!"

"That's Hedwig, she is," Hagrid said proudly. "She'll be yer companion at Hogwarts, she will. Take good care of her.

"I will, I promise," Harry said, feeling a rush of happiness. "Thank you, Hagrid."

With the excitement of his new pet, Harry and Hagrid made their way to Ollivander Wand Shop. The shop was filled with the scent of aged wood and the soft glow of wands in display cases.

"Ah, Mr. Potter, back for yer wand, I see!" said Mr. Ollivander, a slender, silver-haired man with keen, observant eyes.

"Yes, sir," Harry replied, a mix of anticipation and nervousness bubbling inside him.

Mr. Ollivander ushered Harry to a tall stool and began handing him wands to try. Wand after wand, Harry waved, swished, and flicked, but none seemed to fit perfectly. The shop's shelves rattled and the air hummed with magic as he tried different combinations.

"Let's see, let's see," Ollivander murmured, shuffling through various boxes. Finally, he brought out a particular box and carefully opened it to reveal a slender, sleek wand with a pearlescent sheen.

"Twelve and three-quarter inches, phoenix feather core, made from a rare and powerful wood – ebony," Ollivander announced, handing the wand to Harry.

Taking the wand in his hand, Harry felt an immediate connection. As he gave it a swish, a cascade of sparks shot from the tip, filling the shop with a warm glow.

"Well, well, well! It seems we have a match!" Ollivander said, his eyes shining with satisfaction.

Harry couldn't help but smile, feeling a sense of awe and wonder at the magic he had just witnessed. He thanked Mr. Ollivander and turned to Hagrid.

"I can't believe it, Hagrid! This is amazing!" Harry exclaimed.

"The first wand for a wizard, always special" Hagrid said with a hearty chuckle. "Yeh're bound to do great things, Harry. I can feel it!"

With a newfound confidence and his new wand in hand, Harry was ready to embrace his journey at Hogwarts.