Another delay! I'm very sorry, I know I'm one day past Thursday but I had to get this one out for you guys! I think until the end of July, I will need to operate on a bi-weekly posting schedule. Stay with me folks, I did end up writing my longest chapter yet after all. About the last chapter, the goblins definitely scammed Maxx out of being potentially the richest guy in Britain. Goblins right, greedy buggers. You'll notice that Maxx has a lot to learn about city living before he can really get going but he's got this.
Enjoy the chapter, this one was fun to write.
Chapter 9 – Diagon Alley
The ordeal in Gringotts had taken the better part of an hour and the sun was already approaching its peak, signaling to Maxximus that the morning was ending, and his first classes were approaching. It would not do well to be late to his first class. As if reading his thoughts Professor Quirrell presented the itinerary for the rest of this impromptu field trip with a nervous sheen of sweat and never quite maintaining eye contact.
"As we are r-r-running out of t-time we will get you f-f-fitted for your own robes. While they are getting r-ready, we will get you a wand and a trunk to hold the t-t-tools and books you will need. F-f-follow me. Quickly now."
The stuttering professor promptly made his way towards Madam Malkin's Robes For All Occasions, Maxximus hot on his heels. Once inside, Maxximus saw rows and rows of robes of different sizes and colours. He had never been inside a store before and was immediately stunned at the sheer labour it would take someone to make all of these. In his village, goods were only produced to be shared or used right away. The concept of carrying an inventory was quite foreign to him. He was also drawn to a robe, sequestered away in a corner of the shop. It was a long, soft white, gold detailed robe that swayed gently, evidence of a lighter material. Something about this robe reminded Maxximus of home. He was shaken out of his revelry by a quick and to the point, feminine greeting.
"Professor Quirrell, what can I do for you today? Students already set fire to your robes?"
The stuttering professor let out a laugh that sounded more like a stifled inhale than anything else.
"Not yet Madam Malkin, three school r-r-robes for the b-boy, please." He explained.
Turning her eyes onto Maxximus, she beckoned him to stand on the platform surrounded by hovering measuring items.
"Ah, a little late for back-to-school shopping, are we? Not a problem, once we have your measurements, your robes will be ready within the hour. I assume you will also need the pointed hat; dragon hide gloves and winter cloak?" At Maxximus' clueless expression, both of them turned towards his turbaned chaperone who promptly nodded.
After a few moments of measuring tapes, pins and clips whirring around him, Madam Malkin signaled she was finished and to be back once the rest of their shopping was finished.
It was not long before the pair arrived in front of Ollivander's. Inside were walls so tall they seemed to join together when looking up, the shelves covering these walls were filled with hundreds, if not thousands of slender boxes of different colours, seemingly haphazardly organized as Maxximus could not observe any clear pattern.
"Nine inch, Alderwood wand with a unicorn hair core. Welcome back Professor Quirrell. You, boy, must be here for a wand for I do not know you." An ancient man said, barely turning a corner in the back of the store. There was a strange look in his eye, they were fixated on him and unwavering as if focused on some hidden aspect of his soul.
"What is your name boy?" The strange man asked.
"Maxximus Sphinkus, sir." He replied.
At the mention of his last name, the old man face twitched curiously. He then approached Maxximus very closely, noses nearly touching and stared again, with still, unblinking eyes into his own blue ones.
"Sphinkus? We wondered when you would arrive. The first Ollivander, Gaius Ollivander, made two wands for a Sphinkus, the first he took, the second he left behind and instructed Gaius to give it to the next Sphinkus. While I do not know of its core, I still have the wand. One moment please." Garrick Ollivander stepped away from Maxximus and marched towards a hidden recess of his shop and returned with a leatherbound, slender parcel and placed it on the countertop. He gingerly untied the string holding the leather together. What the receding leather revealed was a relatively thick ebony wand with a straight handle that had slight grooves for sure grip and the rest of the wand was smooth with a slight spiralling quality.
"Ebony wood, unknown core, twelve inches, unyielding. Boy, it is my firm belief this wand was made for you. As I have not crafted this wand myself, I cannot ask for compensation, as such I will conclude that the Ollivander debt to the Sphinkus had been repaid." The words of the elder wandmaker flew completely over the head of the young boy who was immediately enamored by his very own wand. Professor Quirrell however, merely raised a curious eyebrow. Maxximus slowly reached out for the wand as if trying not to frighten it into disappearing but, once his hand wrapped around it, what he felt was surreal.
Immediately, a warmth coursed through his arm and through his entire body. Following was the soothing scent of the salty sea, the shield tattoo on his arm also began to glow through his robes while his shaggy curls were fanning around his head like a dark halo. This wand was his and it was unmistakable. Maxximus could do magic.
"The wand chooses the wizard, mister Sphinkus, and this is a match as strong as any I have ever seen. I am certainly curious of what you will achieve." Said the wandmaker before turning quickly and returning to his work in the back of the shop.
Professor Quirrell schooled his own emotions and returned to his general expression of anxiety.
"Mister Sphinkus, if-f-f we are to return in t-time for classes. We m-must hurry!"
The pair walked briskly out of Ollivander's and made their way towards a charming storefront façade with large display windows showcasing an array of fascinating magical items, from gleaming telescopes to intricate timepieces. In gold-lettered script, above the door, a sign read "Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment". Maxximus, now extremely excited at the prospect of acquiring more magical items does not hesitate to follow Professor Quirrell inside.
Once inside, he noticed that once again, the shop was extremely cluttered with items. He noticed the scent of polished wood, similar to what he experienced in the wand shop, as well as the smell of ancient parchment. The scent of parchment immediately snapped his memory to the Sphinkus Chronicle, sitting on the end table in his bedroom. The Praetor said they would revisit the lessons in the book at the end of the week. For some reason he could not help but feel quite nervous by the thought.
"Mister Sphinkus, f-find yourself a trunk to your l-l-liking, I will collect the rest of the mandat-t-ory items for you. The t-trunks are over there." The Professor directed.
Walking through the store, Maxximus was absolutely fascinated by all the magical baubles, he crossed the section on magical scales, these ones far different from the Sphinkus scale. Instead, they came in a variety of sizes and designs, some small enough to fit in his robe pockets, others likely taking up its own corner in his room. Most were a polished brass, not dissimilar to the Sphinkus bronze, but some were a brilliant silver or even a glittering gold. A couple of the scales were even inscribed with runic text, one of which he could even read! He discerned simple keywords relating to weight, size and equilibrium.
Finally in front of the trunks, he noticed that they also came in a variety of sizes and designs. How was anyone expected to choose from such a vast selection. Most were tan coloured while some were a leathery black. All of them rectangular. Noticing his indecision, Maxximus was approached by one of the store clerks. He was a young man, likely no more than twenty years old, wearing a plain dark blue robe.
"Good day, sir, looking for a trunk?" He presented himself with the distinct jovial tone of customer service. At Maxximus' nod, he continued.
"Well, if I were to make an assumption, I'd say you're doing a bit of late shopping for Hogwarts. Not a problem, I nearly missed the train on my first year. Most of the classic student trunks are out of stock but don't fret. That only means that you're going to get something good today. When looking for a trunk, you need a few things. It needs to be sturdy and equipped with a permanent expansion charm. All these trunks will meet that. However, I would suggest this one right here." The clerk proceeded to remove a modest sized black trunk with silver detailing and place it on the floor. He clicked the latch open and began describing the particular features of this trunk.
"This trunk, on top of the standard expansion charm, also comes with multiple compartments to help you stay organized, self-cleaning interiors so that none of your stuff comes out dusty, a featherweight charm so you aren't breaking your back lugging all your belongings around and finally a shrinking charm. The shrinking charm works by tapping your wand on the handle, then, the trunk will shrink to the size of a briefcase for easier handling. I definitely wish I had this one at Hogwarts." The clerk paused to catch his breath and gauge Maxximus' interest.
"If you'd like, I can bring the trunk to the front to help you ring it up. I understand you're here with Professor Quirrell. He already collected all the other items you'll need and will meet us there." The clerk finished, already picking up the trunk.
"Thank you, sir, truthfully, I'm not quite sure what to look for around here. I didn't grow up around here, everything is new. Thank you for your help." A grateful Maxximus shared.
"My pleasure! You're not alone, every Muggleborn goes through the same thing. Let's bring this to the register."
Arrived at the register, Professor Quirrell was waiting nervously with a standard set of crystal phials, a telescope and, one of the brass scales without any runic inscriptions. Combined with the trunk, Maxximus counted out forty-six galleons, paid for his supplies, placed them arbitrarily inside his new trunk and shrunk it the way he was instructed.
The rest of the supply run was mostly uneventful. Maxximus picked up a standard size 2 pewter cauldron from the Potage Cauldron Shop a few doors down from Wiseacres. On the way back to Madam Malkin's for his robes, they stopped by Flourish and Blotts to pick up the mandatory books, although Maxximus was not sure why he needed them since he still could not read English. Once back at the robe shop, Maxximus changed out of the transfigured robes into his very own robes that came with that distinct new clothes smell. He folded his shenti and returned it to another compartment in his trunk. In total, Maxximus had to spend seventy galleons, most of them going towards the trunk that so far, has been rather lifesaving considering how many books he would have had to carry around.
Upon approaching the face of Gringotts, where they started this adventure, Maxximus could not help but notice that his coin pouch was considerably lighter than when he first stepped out of those bronze doors. He also realized that there was not too much left in his account back in Gringotts. He got his first glimpse of Diagon Alley today and there were many items already on his shopping list for next time. Maxximus needed to come up with a way to make money if he wanted to continue to spend it. Filing that thought away for later reflection, he joined arms with the professor and the Side-Along Apparated back to the edge of the Hogwarts ground. Aptly bracing for the sensation, he was not as rattled as the first time. This mode of transportation was still unpleasant, just mildly less so.
By this point, the sun had just passed its peak, Maxximus was running late, he really did not want to be late on his first day. He hurried along, next to Professor Quirrell, towards the main gate and once inside, the stuttering professor turned to face him.
"Mister Sphinkus, we mustn't t-t-tarry, we are both late for classes. F-f-fortunately for you, your first class is with me. As such, I can f-f-forgive this absence. D-deposit your trunk in your dorm and join us for c-class. It will be on the third f-floor, ask the p-p-portraits to show you the way. B-be sure to speak with me, b-before leaving class."
The professor then strode meaningfully away, into the vast network of corridors and stairwells that make up Hogwarts. Maxximus, possessing fairly strong spatial awareness made his way to his dorm rather efficiently, only stopping to ask for directions once when he got caught on a moving staircase. It was when he faced the door to his common room, did he face a new challenge. The door was locked. Maxximus had no idea how to unlock it. It's not that he did not understand what he needed to do. The puzzle was obvious to him. When he first saw the door yesterday, the flasks inside the door all had the same colour liquid. Today, there was one flask with a lot of red liquid, one with a little yellow liquid, a third with some blue liquid and the last one with barely and green liquid. His time watching his mother brew potions taught him about how some colours interact when mixed. This is where the issue arises, Maxximus did not know how to interact with the flasks. If he could not interact with the flasks he would not get into the dorm. Maxximus was effectively locked out.
Not wanting to delay any further, he simply ran down the hall to where he assumed the class should be, shrunken briefcase in tow. At least he was already in his school robes, he could not read or write so there was not really much value in pulling out his books or his parchment. He was good to go. Considering his dorm was already on the third floor, it did not take him very long to reach the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.
A bit winded, he paused in the doorway and investigated the classroom. First, he noticed that Professor Quirrell was still unpacking is course notes, he had not missed anything. At least that was a start. He then turned to the students, as usual, all the students were staring at him except this time, he took a moment to stare back. Across from the professor's desk were neat rows of desks that could seat two students, side by side. These students either had red or yellow crests on their robes. Must be Gryffindor and Hufflepuff he thought to himself. All the students were also much younger than he was, they seemed to be about eleven while he was fourteen. Those extra three years meant that Maxximus was at least six inches taller than the tallest student, yet another reason to be stared at he realized. He knew he was supposed to sit somewhere but he was a bit frozen in place. There were a couple empty tables in the far back of the classroom, but he wanted to be able to hear the softspoken professor, most of the front seats were taken by pairs of the same house. Was that some unspoken seating rule at Hogwarts? He was not sure, and he definitely did not want to step on anyone's toes on his first day.
Luckily for him, at the exact moment he was about to commit to one action or another, the poor professor fumbled his notes and dropped them all over the floor around his desk. Instinctively, he rushed over to help him pick up his parchments along with one of the Gryffindor girls with extremely bushy hair. While they were both getting the pages together, they simply floated from their hands and back onto the desk.
"Miss Granger, Mister Sphinkus, while I thank you f-f-for your initiative, I will take this op-p-portunity to remind you both that we are magical. Nonetheless, one point to Gryffindor and Sphinkus for good character." The professor said with a small smile. A couple students giggled a little as the girl blushed, lowered her eyes and returned to her seat. Maxximus decided that he might as well sit next to her at this point among the sea of Gryffindors. He sat on her left while on her right was a strange pair. A very skinny green-eyed boy with a curious lightning bolt scar on his forehead and next to him a boy with fiery red hair and the most faded robes in the room. Perhaps he also was struggling to buy school supplies. He sat down on the wooden chair, leaned his trunk against the leg of the desk, it was still shrunken down to the size of a briefcase and was therefore relatively unnoticeable, moved his chair in a little so that his arms could rest comfortably on the table and prepared for a lesson similar in style to the ones his mother would deliver. At least this had a shred of familiarity. The girl next to him however had one of the books that was on the school supplies list and was casually paging through it waiting for the professor to start the class. Once the professor took his place in front of the class, she promptly shut the book and rested her arms above it, almost protectively he noticed.
"G-good morning, class. Welcome to Defence Against the Dark Arts. I am Professor Quirinus Quirrell, and I will be guiding you through this subject this year. Today, I will provide an overview of what we will be covering in our lessons." He glances at a piece of parchment in his hands, takes a deep breath, and continues.
"This class is one of the most important you will take during your time at Hogwarts. You will learn how to protect yourself from dark creatures, defend against curses, and develop the skills necessary to remain safe in the face of dark magic." He looks up, towards the back of the room, not making eye contact with any of the students.
"We'll start our year with an exploration of dark creatures. First, we'll Gnomes, which are mischievous creatures often found in gardens. Following that, we'll delve into the study of Doxies, small fairy-like beings with venomous bites, and then examine Imps, small mischievous creatures similar to Pixies." Quirrell pauses, his hands shaking slightly as he rearranges his notes.
"We will also cover Bowtruckles, which are tree guardians that can be quite dangerous if their homes are threatened. Additionally, we'll study the nature of Ghosts and Gargoyles, understanding their magical properties and how to interact with them. We'll learn about Hags and the dangers they pose, as well as Fire Crabs and Gytrashes, and how to handle encounters with these creatures." His voice steadies as he continues, his passion for the subject shining through.
"An essential part of our curriculum will be understanding how to cure werewolf bites, a vital skill should you ever find yourself in such a dangerous situation. This knowledge is particularly important, as it involves both defensive and healing magic." Quirrell looks around the room, making sure the students are following along.
"In addition to creatures, we will focus on various spells that are crucial for your defense. We'll start with the Curse of the Bogies, though we won't be practicing it—just understanding it. We'll learn the Knockback Jinx, or Flipendo, to push attackers away. We'll practice the Vermillious and Verdimillious spells, which produce red and green sparks respectively, useful for signaling and minor combat. The Wand-Lighting Charm, Lumos, is essential for visibility in dark places, while the Smokescreen Spell can provide cover in dangerous situations. Finally, we'll cover the spell Periculum, which shoots red sparks and can be used as a distress signal." He takes another deep breath, finding his stride.
"In the later part of the year, we will put these skills into practice. We'll have defensive spell drills, simulated dark creature encounters, and even introduce basic dueling techniques. These practical lessons will culminate in mock duels and practical examinations, giving you a chance to demonstrate what you've learned." Quirrell smiles nervously, trying to reassure the students.
"This is a challenging subject, but it is vital for your safety and well-being in the wizarding world. Participation and practice are key. I encourage you to ask questions and seek help whenever you need it." With that, he gestures towards the students to take out their textbooks.
"We will begin today with an introduction to the Grindylow. Please turn to page 12 in your textbooks. As we progress, remember that constant vigilance is your best defense against the dark arts."
Everyone except Maxximus did so, earning a strange look from his neighbour. He knew this made him look unconcerned with his education but that could not have been farther from the truth. His time in his village garnered him a near perfect auditory memory, he could make robust mental notes of everything he was ever told. In fact, this was common in his village because no one really wrote anything down, so you had to remember everything.
The lesson proceeded fairly smoothly, Professor Quirrell occasionally stumbling on his words but delivering the lecture well, nonetheless. Maxximus noted that the main takeaway with Gnomes is that they are small, relatively harmless creatures, more of a nuisance than anything else. Getting rid of them was as simple as picking one up by their potato sized head, spinning around and throwing them as far as possible. Reminded him a bit of the games he would play in the village with his friends. He laughed silently to himself as he imagined the leather ball they used grumbling as they threw it around.
The class ended and immediately the bushy haired girl turned to him in her seat.
"Hello there, I'm Hermione Granger, good to meet you, Maxximus." Before Maxximus could even respond, the girl, Hermione, jumped into a barrage of questions.
"How did you create a new House? I read Hogwarts A History and that should not have been possible. How did you Apparate into the school, Headmaster Dumbledore said that should not have been possible. Are you as powerful as Merlin? Is that why you didn't take any notes? You should still really take notes, who knows what will be on the exam." She concluded taking in a large breath.
Maxximus was expecting people to ask questions, he was hearing whispers wherever he went. He supposed he better answer as best he can, her inquiries were more curiosity than accusation anyway.
"Hello Hermione, you might be the first student to talk to me so far. Thank you! I'll be honest, I'm not completely sure how to answer your questions because I myself am not super sure what on earth is going on here. Just yesterday I was in my village with my friends and all of a sudden, I ended up here. I don't know how or why I made a new House, it kinda sucks because I'm the only one in it. I don't think I Apparated because I Side-Along Apparated with a professor this morning to get my school supplies and it definitely did not feel like that. I can't say I know who this Merlin fellow is, but I don't think I'm very powerful. I haven't done any magic yet!" The last part he said a bit nervously, he hoped that this girl who did not think of picking up the pages magically was in the same boat as he was. He definitely knew this next answer would not paint him positively, he continued anyway. Honesty is the best way to make friends.
"And umm, I didn't take any notes because I uhh, don't know how…" He paused a moment to gauge her reaction. As expected, her eyes widened and she shook her head, hair swinging everywhere.
"Sorry, what do you mean you don't know how, you write the title of the topic we are covering, and you note all the points the professor wants us to cover to read about it later and fill in the gaps. Then you rewrite your notes with all the new information into an organized essay." She said matter-of-factly.
Maxximus was not sure what an essay was, but he knew you needed to read and write to come up with one. Looks like he will need to divulge his little secret.
"I never learned to read or write in English." He said quickly.
If it was possible, her eyes widened even further, and she began to stutter and stammer not dissimilar to the professor who was watching the interaction while leaning on his desk.
"B-b-but you must know how to read, how else can you learn anything. B-books hold so much knowledge and-" Professor chose this moment to interrupt her rambling.
"Miss Granger, I believe you must hurry if you wish to be early to your next class. I need to speak to Young Maxximus briefly." Hermione blushes again, realizes the class emptied out, gathered her things and hurried out of class.
"Maxximus, Miss Granger is correct, you will need to learn to read and write if you are to take full advantage of your time at Hogwarts. For now, I have come up with a solution and I will divulge those details with you after dinner. Your next class is Charms with Professor Flitwick, luckily for you it is only a few doors down. Today should be mostly syllabus, do not worry about taking notes." He expressed in clear speech unlike his usual demeanor.
Maxximus nodded and made his way to Charms class, this year was shaping up to be far more interesting than he could have ever imagined.