A week later on Petunia's eleventh birthday the Evans' all piled into their car on their way to London. Both Mum and Dad seemed off; as though they still didn't quite believe that both their daughters were witches, much less that there was magic school scouting for them. There was an agreement that they would just see if this Diagon Alley even existed and then go from there.
Lily, oblivious to this, was giddy as ever on finally getting to see the magical world. She'd been bragging to Snape over it since she snatched Petunia's letter and showed it to him. Snape apparently bemoaned that his parents wouldn't let him go with the Evans' to London like Lily initially tried to promise. His father wasn't too keen on Lily after he found out she and Petunia were witches.
Lily chatter aimlessly with Petunia, who was trying hard to ignore her nerves. She bounced her leg to help with the jitters. Having just discovered not only the wizarding world exists but also magic in less than a month had really put a spin on Petunia's world view. At this point she wouldn't be too surprised if she met a werewolf or something at this point.
"Do you think werewolves are real?"
"Huh?" Lily stopped whatever she was talking about to ponder Petunia's question, "Yes, the myth had to come from somewhere. And I think Mrs. Salisbury has one."
"No she doesn't."
"Yea huh, that big dog, Jamie. I only see it at night and it's like the size of a car. And who names their dog Jamie, it's a silly name. It must be her son, who's a werewolf!"
Petunia scrunched up her nose, "Her son's name is Simon-"
"No, that's her grandson."
"I thought his name was Jake or was it Paul," Dad muttered as he drove down the many streets in London looking for Kings Road.
"Oh stop this nonsense," their mum turned in her chair, "werewolves exist about as much as…"
Mum paused realising who she was talking to when Lily sneaked in, "Witches?"
"Lillian, no back talking," Mum snapped.
Dad let out a great booming laugh as Mum turned around in a huff, "Sorry Irene, but we were all thinking."
"Last I checked we were supposed to be on the same side."
"And that excludes a little teasing?"
Mum wheeled around to face dad, "I just mean-"
"Dad, left," Petunia shouted over, pointing at the green sign.
Dad glanced up and took a sharp turn knocking everyone to the side. Lily found herself in Petunia's lap and Petunia was half smashed into the window. Dad threw his head back and called out, "Nice catch string bean."
Mum shifted in her seat and asked, "What is this place? It's so… dilapidated…"
All along the road there were run-down stores with broken signs and moulding bricks. The people in the area were sparse and wearing worn-out, drab outfits. Petunia absentmindedly picked at her own patched jeans as they neared the Leaky Cauldron.
The Leaky Cauldron was nothing special; just another seedy pub that had a rusty sign and dusty glass windows, though this one did have a variety of people wearing funny outfits standing inside the window (similar to that of Ms. McGonagall's, but not nearly as fashionable). People wearing normal clothes walked past it, completely ignoring it.
Lily also noticed the building and pointed to it out the window, "Daddy you're going to drive past it."
"What?"
"The Leaky Cauldron, it's right across the way." Lily pointed once again, their mum squinted looking in the direction Lily had indicated.
"Dear, there's just a boarded off store."
Petunia said, "I see it too Mum, can we just go check it?"
Dad pulled the car over to the side of the road and parked it, staring at the Leaky Cauldron in confusion, "Well there's nothing wrong with just taking a look." He started to unbuckle himself and get out of the car walking across the street.
Lily left and ran over to Dad's outstretched arm while Petunia waited for Mum to gather herself. She frowned at the pub and shook her head, "Well I suppose it won't hurt. If they can turn tables to pigs they can probably stop normal people from seeing things."
Petunia hummed in response and let her mum guide her over to the rest of the family waiting at the front door.
The door peeled open revealing a less than magical room; tables and booths lined the wall and dotted the main floor, the room was dimly lit and the furniture fairly old and chipped. There were several wizards and witches sitting amongst themselves playing games and drinking. They looked common as far as wizards came. The most interesting person there was a tall and hardy man with a wild lion's mane of black curly hair at the back holding a large glass of some liquor. He was laughing loudly and merrily with his companion paying little mind to anything else. Actually, fairly few patrons spared a glance at the family and those who did decided they weren't important enough to hold their attention.
Dad took the lead towards the bar top where an older man leaned, cleaning out a glass cup casually speaking with a woman. Mum followed dragging Petunia and Lily in a death grip as though she thought they would wander off and bug the other occupants, though with the way Lily was staring over at the giant she might not be overreacting .
"Hello my name is Harold Evans, this is my wife Irene and our daughters Petunia and Lily," Dad greeted the bartender with an outstretched hand, which he ignored in favour of looking over to Petunia and Lily.
"Muggle-born?" the man asked in a warm raspy voice. Petunia, perplexed, gave him a questioning look. Lily on the other hand nodded.
"We're both witches, but I'm not starting until next year."
Petunia felt his eyes shift over to her, "Uh yeah, I'm going into my first year at Hogwarts."
The man sighed, shifting his eyes to the parents, "Suppose you lot are looking for the entrance to Diagon Alley then?"
"Ah yes we are…"
"Tom."
"Tom." Dad repeated, watching Tom expectantly as he pushed his way off the bar top and merrander over to the back door.
Outside there was a closed off courtyard that held a trash can against the wall. Tom took out a bent black wand and walked over to the wall. He motioned for Petunia and Lily to walk over, "Now you two, when you get your wands you'll be able to do it yourselves. Pay attention, I won't be showin' it again."
Tom counted with his wand three up and two over from the tip of the trash can. Once his wand was placed over an unsuspecting stone he tapped it three times. The stone shot back as though someone on the other side pulled it out. Petunia tried to peer through the new hole, but the stones next to it pulled out too. Like dominos the entire wall collapsed from that one stone backwards until a bustling colourful alley could be viewed on the other side.
"Welcome to Diagon Alley."
The alley was full of oddly shaped buildings boasting about selling all sorts of oddities; there were cauldrons made of different materials, pet shops with an abundance of owls, sweets and toys bouncing about. Witches and Wizards of all sorts were walking up and down the streets talking about needing bat wings or new sets of dressing robes or about the newest racing broom.
Lily was pointing to a store selling sets of brooms. The store was surrounded by children chatting about how fast it was and about something called quidditch. Lily stared wantonly at the store, "Do you think witches can really fly on brooms? Can we fly on brooms?"
Mum pulled Lily back before she could try to bugger off with Petunia, "I think you've done enough flying for my nerves. Besides, we're here for school supplies."
"Wow this place really is something, huh girls?" Dad was as enamoured as Lily, barely paying attention to which way they needed to go. Mum tapped him and pointed towards a giant white building that was sitting slightly tilted. The building had wrap-around windows and a great gilded door that was above a set of marble steps. On the front a golden sign read Gringotts Bank, "Ah, well suppose we should head there first."
The family made their way up the steps and were greeted by a short man wearing an old-timey pinstriped suit. He had grey hair, long ears and long fingers and couldn't have been more than three feet tall. He gave the family a wrinkled smile and welcomed them into the bank. Petunia wasn't sure what to make of him, but Lily whispered that he must be a goblin because they ran the bank. Petunia gave the goblin a stiff nod before being ushered into the bank.
Inside there was an immaculate chandelier lit by hundreds of wax candles. The main forare had several goblins behind desks acting as tellers speaking with different wizards and witches. Dad went up to the first open goblin and explained the situation, quickly getting the money exchanges. A handsome marron bag of knuts, sickles, and galleons were dropped in Dad's hands. The family left the bank in search of the first store.
They went through each store slowly getting all the materials, needing to ask for assistance several times. Inside Flourish and Blotts Lily tried to sneak in a few more books at the chiding of their mum.
"But Mummy, I want to get a jump start and How to Bewitch the Unexpecting sounds like it's very educational" Lily tried.
Mum snorted, "If their idea of a rounded education is teaching children to hex each other, I think we're in need of a new school."
When debating about if they should get an animal for Petunia (Petunia being fairly against the idea), an older wizard weighed in that an owl would make for a great pet so that she could send letters home. Thus it was decided for her that she was getting an owl. Petunia talked her mum into getting the robes while Lily and Dad went into the owl emporium.
"Are you sure, wouldn't you like to pick your own out?" Dad asked.
"I'm sure. I have faith in Lily's picking abilities. Besides, it smells like a zoo in there."
Lily smiled at the compliment, "Good! I'll find the prettiest, fastest one."
Petunia and Mum split off heading for Madam Malkin's robe shop. Inside a pair of witches were gossiping lowly by a display of elaborate gem jewellery with a young teenage wizard behind it glancing at a newspaper. The employee, a young stout witch with flaming red hair, turned her attention to the mother and daughter, "Hogwarts I presume."
"Yes, I believe the letter said, oh where is it," Mum rumaged around her bag to no avail.
"I think Dad took it."
The witch waved them off, "Oh it's no issue. We get tons of students here during summer season, so we have a list of what's required. What year?"
"First."
The witch went behind the back counter flicking through a few pages before pulling out a parchment with a list written on it. She waved Petunia over to a back room where a pair of stools stood with fabric drenched over desks.
On one of the stools a boy with combed back brown hair was getting fit for his own robes. He had a kind, open face and was trying to converse with the wizard pinning his robes, much to the wizards annoyance. As Petunia stepped up, the boy refocused on her, happy for a conversing partner who might responde.
"Hello, what's your name?"
"Petunia Evans."
The boy threw out his hand for her to shake, "I'm Frank Longbottom, nice to meet you." Before Petunia could shake his hand the seamter yanked his arm back in place.
"You're going to Hogwarts, right?"
"Yes, it is going to be my first year." Frank said, "You?"
"Same"
"Hmm, what house do you want to get in? I'm gunning for Gryffindor, my father was in that house. He works as an auror and he said that lots come from Gryffindor. So I think it must be a good house," Frank waited for Petunia's answer, but all she gave him was a baffled look. What in the hell were Gryffindors or aurors. She hadn't a clue. She told Frank this.
"Oh, are you a Muggle-born?"
Petunia was quickly getting annoyed by the tone everyone kept saying Muggle-born with. It sounded like they pitied her for being ignorant and that it was her fault. "And?" she asked in a slightly more defensive tone than she intended.
Frank was taken aback, "Nothing, um, so aurors are like wizards and witches that fight dark wizards to keep all us safe. They train really hard and it can be really dangerous work. I want to go to training after I graduate from Hogwarts."
"Oh so like a wizard cop?"
"What's a cop? Do they also hunt down dark wizards?"
Petunia, happy that she for once knew something someone else didn't, answered, "Well by the sounds of it, it's a mooggle auror-"
"Muggle" Frank corrected.
"Whatever. It's a muggle auror that arrests gangbangers and common trash like thieves and dognappers."
"So gangbangers are like muggle dark wizards?" Frank guessed to which Petunia nodded at him, "That's a silly name."
"So is auror and dark wizard. Dark wizard," Petunia sneered, "sounds so stupid, like they're trying to make themselves sound scary."
Frank huffed a laugh, "I never said it was a good name, just what it's called."
"You're done," the seamster said to Frank like it was the best moment of his day. Frank hopped off and waited in front of Petunia.
"I'll be seeing you on the train then."
Petunia smiled, "Sounds great."
"Great," Frank responded and left the room. Petunia soon followed out of the room to where her mum waited. The employee informed Mum that all clothes would be sent to the house hopefully within the month.
Outside by Ollivander's wand shop Lily and Dad stood with their new owl peaking at the bars in its silver cage. The owl was a smaller Tawny owl that apparently was only about a year and half old. It was a mean looking owl with beady eyes that tracked Petunia thoroughly, her feathers were already puffed up giving her a bigger look despite her short stature. Lily started on about different name ideas she had, but all Petunia could focus on was the store in front of them.
The store boasted to have been open since 382 b.c. and considering the paint job on the building, Petunia was inclined to believe them. Very little of the original paint was still on the shop with a generous amount being peppered on the ground in front of it. Inside the window a single wand laid on a purple cushion. Petunia had briefly wondered if it was someone important before pushing open the door.
Inside was as musty as one might have guessed with dust colouring every surface with a grey filter. Boxes upon boxes were piled roof high and a counter stood as the only piece of furniture in the store. An older man came walking out of the black void of the back of the store. His greying hair was combed back and despite his age he stood at a tall and imposing height.
"Hello there. Which of you two would be needing the wand today?" The man addressed the two girls.
"Our eldest here," Dad tapped Petunia on the shoulder and she gave a strained smile. The man hummed and swished his wand, a silver tape measure flew into his hand.
The man gestured for Petunia to step forward, "Your name dear."
"Petunia Evans, and yours?" Petunia asked in a confident tone. She tried to imitate her mum's voice when at a fancy dinner party with her co-workers.
The man, somewhat bored, said, "Garrick Ollivander, now put up your wand arm."
"Do you mean my writing hand?"
Mr. Ollivander waved her off which she assumed meant that it was the same thing. She put her left arm up straight and the tape measure leaped forward. Lily wandered over and was watching the measuring happen in wonder. Petunia lightly tapped Lily with the tip of her shoe, "Back up, you're going to mess it up."
"I'm not even touching it."
Mum sighed and pulled Lily back by her shoulders telling her to stay back. Lily stuck her tongue out at Petunia. Petunia reciprocated, but had to stop when the tape went to her nose and measured her nostril length. Lily stifled a laugh.
Mr. Ollivander started to pull some boxes down as he hummed at the results of the measurements. He took out a slightly peachly brown wand with pretty carvings on the handle to her, "Cherry wood, unicorn hair, 9 ½ inches, springy. Just flick it," he said in a bored tone handing the wand over.
Petunia stared at it and when she went to flick, he pulled the wand away, "I didn't even get to flick it."
"Not right," was all the explanation she got. Another wand was given and just like the first was snatched back. She was given two walnut wands and after that he decided that walnut was a no-go. Petunia was getting a bit nervous at the stack of wands the counter was amassing. With something that old a light breeze could probably knock it over. Mr. Ollivander didn't seem concerned (about Petunia's misfortune with wand hunting or old furniture) instead he gained a spring in his step as he gathered more wand boxes.
"Bit difficult, huh?"
Petunia grasped the new wand, cedar with phoenix feather, which was taken mid swish, "I might do better if I could fully swish it."
"Petunia," Mum scolded.
Mr. Ollivander cracked a smile, "Nothing bad about being difficult, nope not at all. I don't think you're a phoenix feather or unicorn hair type of witch. Let's go with dragon heartstring then," he pushed the boxes over and pulled some more from the back.
He gave some more wands over (which Petunia actually got to fully swish before they were pulled from her hands). When he ran out he went in the back and took out one box. The wand inside was warm brown and slightly bent, the handle was a bit thicker and had swirling lines down wrapped around the handle like a vine.
"Fir wood, dragon heartstring, 10 ¾ inches, unyielding." Mr. Ollivander handed the wand over to Petunia.
She was sure he was about to snatch it but instead just watched expectantly. She threw up her arm and waved it down ward creating an explosive trail of red sparks. Her parents gave their congratulations and Lily clapped excitedly as she practically jumped onto Petunia to see the wand.
"Ah a survivor wand," Mr. Ollivander said as he was packaging the wand.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Petunia asked.
"Fir wands tend to go to those that can persist in the worst circumstances. Very stubborn and decisive, not bad traits when used wisely. Paired with dragon heartstring, it can make a very powerful and somewhat unpredictable wand, though very useful for those who know what to do," Mr. Ollivander handed the box over to her and leaned down to Petunia's height, "You, however, have some growing to do before you can fully realise this wand's potential. Hopefully that won't be an issue for you."
Petunia gave the man a steady look, "I'm sure I can handle it."
Mr. Ollivander gave her a ghost smile, "Now that's what I like to hear."
