Chapter 2: A magical world: Welcome to Diagon Alley
The fuck?
I stared at the letter and was forced to re-read it multiple times before I laughed my ass off. This was a funny prank; must have taken a lot of effort to fake the seal and write it so beautifully but magic? The only magic I ever believed in was chemistry and that was taught in school already.
Putting down the letter I shook my head in amusement before I began to put on my clothes. In the bathroom I stared at my own reflection. This body is beginning to look better and better. With actual food being fed to it and a calisthenic workout program from the 21st century I began to build some muscle and see definition.
Every morning for the past 3 years I would wake up from the crack of dawn and run 10km with a weighted backpack. After that I would visit the local park and use the pull up bar and monkey bars there to do callisthenics. Along with this I would play football (soccer) in a local league which further built my physique.
Putting on the shirt I take off down to the dining area, grabbing a piece of toast with a small sausage and dash off to the hospital.
Running to the hospital has also become a workout for me. Arriving at the hospital I began my work day. I was hired in the hospital as an errant boy and would receive the same salary as compensation but more important than the salary was the amount of doctors I was able to interact with which gave me more connections and therefore more recommendation letters.
In my lunch break I was visited by Lily out at the bench when we first met. She would always bring me lunch knowing that I would skip breakfast.
As I scoff down the sandwich like a man possess Lily singh dramatically,
"Did you skip your breakfast again today, Severus?" Lily asked in a humorous but also concerned manner. Looking at her I smiled with food still in my mouth. Taking a huge swallow I nearly choke and have to drink some water to force the food down.
"Don't really have time for breakfast you know? And besides, breakfast is overrated anyway."
"Well you would've skipped lunch and dinner too if I wasn't there to bring you food and you would've just had some weird canned food late at night. I know studying and working is important for you but you must not forget your health in the process for Gosh sake." Lily finishes her rant with a huff and I barely swallow the sandwich without choking to death, again. Looking at her I gave a smile.
"Alright mother," I said jokingly and she slapped my shoulder hard. Laughing it off I stand up and stretch.
"But I know you care for me too much to leave me hungry Lily." Lily further shakes her head. Closing the lunch box she place it back in the basket basket then spoke up,
"You are always too stubborn Severus…" something then crossed her mind and she looked up at me questioningly. Curious, I sat back down and looked at her expectantly.
With some hesitation Lily then fumbled through the picnic basket before pulling out a letter. Upon seeing the letter I was surprised.
"You got this letter too?" Lily asked curiously and I nodded.
"Yeah, I don't know how it got there but the letter arrived neatly on my bed this morning. It was strange since I know that none of the kids at the orphanage can write a letter like that as a prank. But if it got to you as well…"
I drowned off as I tried to think of how we both got the letter.
"The person must know both of us to be able to pull this off then." I said and Lily nodded. This theory makes the most sense on paper but in practice it doesn't. The people who we both collectively know can be tied down to 1 person, Lily's sister, Petunia. I've visited Lily's house many times over the past few years when I was invited and Petunia was always an odd one for me. She seems to hate me the moment she first laid her eyes on me and that hate only grew further and further.
Also I have seen her homework before, she doesn't have the writing calibre to be able to pull off a letter like that, she barely passed her english after all.
I then looked back at Lily and she seemed to come to the same conclusion. Shrugging my shoulder I looked at my watch and realised the time. Standing up I wave goodbye to Lily as my lunch break is over.
The rest of the day went as per normal. Clocking out at 8 O'clock I make my way back to the orphanage. The letter however was still fresh on my mind. It was strange, very strange and gave me a feeling as if I remembered it from somewhere.
The next day I woke up at the peak of dawn around 4:30 am and rushed off to workout. Coming back at 6:00 I was able to take a quick shower and do my morning routine before rushing down to morning morning service and as I was about to leave I for the dinning hall with some of the guy in the orphanage I was called over by the head caretaker of the orphanage.
"Is there anything you need ma'am?" I asked respectfully but straight to the point. The Headcartaker nodded and told me to come to her office.
When I arrived at her office I was greeted by a tall elderly woman. She had salt and pepper hair and dressed like she just came straight out of the industrial revolution era.
"Are you Mister Severus Snape?" the woman asked in a stiffly professional tone. I nodded and the woman seemed pleased. She then requested if we can have a private chat and the head caretaker agreed.
When she went out and closed the door, the woman sat down elegantly on one of the provided chairs. Taking a chair I also sat down. My first impression of this woman is that she was like some of my head nurse in my past life. They always have this extremely professional, stiff and prudish side to them that can come off as scary or annoying to some.
"Now, please let me introduce myself, I am professor Minerva Mcgonarall, head of house Gryffindor, professor of transfiguration and deputy headmistress under Albus Dumbledore." Mcgonarall introduced herself and I was deep in confusion and amazement.
"Say sike right now," I said jokingly but the woman just looked back confusingly. Scrunching my eyebrow I spoke up,
"You are the woman whose name is signed in those strange letter talking about some magic school that both I and my friend got," I stated and her eyes told me that she agree,
"Are you kidding me? Why are you pranking kids as an adult?" I asked a bit rudely and I can see that she was offended.
"This is certainly no prank ." the woman replied back sharply. "You have been accepted to Hogwart school of witchcraft and wizardry due to your innate talent for magic."
"Magic?" I asked back rhetorically feeling laughter bubbling inside me,
" "Professor" McGonagall, the only magic that I believed in is chemistry and they already taught that in school. But if you were talking about magic as in those cheap street-performance tricks then I have no interest." I ended my sentence and was thinking of walking out but then something caught me and my cheeky side took control.
"But if you are so sure then show me "magic"," I said thinking that I got her but then the woman stiffly stood up, her eyes gleaming.
"Very well, then I shall show you magic." she then took out something like a wooden wand and with a wave and an incantation she turned into…
"A bloody cat?!" I nearly fell over from shock. When I watch a full grown woman turn into a cat my entire world fall apart as it is. Scramble I take a look at the cat clearly with my eyes and I nearly have a heart attack.
'She's a cat, a human turned into a cat! A cat!' My mind races to a sudden, painful and abrupt stop, like a line of racing cars crashing into each other. Stepping back in disbelief I nearly lost my footing and fell onto the floor. What is going on? Have I overworked? Yeah this is just a dream. With a hand I slapped myself with everything that I have but when I look back I still see a cat. Suddenly the cat then turned back into Mcgonagall.
My mind was ready to give out.
Everything that I know was taken off of me within seconds. Law of conservation of mass, hundred, thousands of years of physical, chemistry and biology flipped upside down.
"Wha? Ho? Wh?" I couldn't speak properly, the shock was too much for me. The woman smiled smugly and I would've been mad if my blood pressure wasn't through the roof right now.
"Is this the magic you were looking for, ?" McGonagall asks and I take a deep breath. I was now calm enough to let logical thought take over. If she can transform her entire body into a cat then if I can learn this magic then I…
Endless possibility then crossed over my head and my hand trembled in excitement.
If I can learn this magic then I know I can use it to save countless people. Images of countless patients that I fail to save cross my mind. If I can simply use magic to transform a rock or a piece of cotton into a heart then I no longer need to wait for an available heart to begin the implant procedure nor do I have to watch old patients or patients that are deemed "unfitting" wait to their death for a simple heart implant.
This magic, I need to learn it.
Not trusting my own mouth to speak up I nodded and McGonagall smiled. She then walked over to the chair and sat down. I merely flop ungracefully back onto the chair behind me and stared at her. Mcgonagall then said that since I was accepted into the school naturally I was going to be taught magic. However since I am a "Half-Muggle" I would need a guide to buy supplies, introduce me to the world of magic and many more.
Therefore a week from now I need to attend a meeting held under Big Ben, this meeting was to help me buy supplies and equipment for my attending the school. Mcgonagall then transformed into a cat again and leaped out the window.
When she finally left I felt like my soul, one that just left my body, had finally returned. Never in both my existence did I encounter such a strange thing. Gulping, I finally stood up when I could feel my leg strength again. Then I remembered that Lily also got the same letter. It seems that she also got the same letter from the same organisation that McGonagall belonged to. With this in mind I finally regained my senses and straightened my shirt. I need to go visit Lily, if anything her parents could help me get to big ben.
After I fixed myself I went back to my room, grabbed the letter, then I made my way to the dinning hall of the orphanage, grabbed a piece of toast and cheese and got out, making my way toward Lily house, which was up in the nicer part of the town. When I got there I pressed the doorbell while straightening my clothing to make myself look presentable. When the door opened I came face to face with a girl. She was Petunia, Lily's older sister and she attended the same school as me. Petunia hated me; I have no idea why but her attitude toward me ever since she first saw me has been that of loathing and contempt. I did not help the situation with my sometimes sharp tongue.
"What are you doing here, Snape?" She asked me in a condescending and venomous voice.
Jesus it is barely 9 in the morning and she is already in character. I resisted the urge to shake my head and smiled back at her.
"Good to see you today Petunia, you are, as always, pleasing to interact with," my sarcasm dripped out unconsciously and I half-regretted it when Petunia's eyes basically heated up to the point it melted diamond, "Could you please let me in?" I asked in a no-bullshit tone and her eyes basically became venomous.
"No!" Petunia said with great disgust like I was a Hobo begging for food before her and she shut the door on me. As I got a door shut on me first thing in the morning I saw the door opened and Lily stepped out. She was currently still in her PJ and her hair was unbrush but she still looked very cute with her bright smile once she saw me. However, One look at her and I already know what's up. McGonagall has visited her house too.
"The letter was not a prank…" I said frankly to gauge her reaction. Lily nodded and my suspicion was confirmed.
"I told my parents that you also got the same letter…and you are probably outside…so they wanted to meet you." I raise an eyebrow in surprise. Originally I was planning to come here to tell Lily about McGonagall and maybe catch her here, then if Lily's parents agree I could tag along to Big Ben with them. But it seems that Lily has already gotten the visit…and now is expecting me.
Nodding, I walked in. I saw Petunia basically raging but decided to ignore her. Along with Lily I made my way to the living room Where Lily's parents, Mr and Mrs Evans sat on the couch, their expression looked like that of someone who just received some shock.
Walking I was stranded at the entrance of the living room until her father pointed me toward one of the couch seats. Nodding, I walked over and sat down. We had a moment of silence before Mr. Evans spoke up.
"Lily told me that you also got the same letter?" Nodding I pull out the letter from my outer jacket. Handing it to him I watched as he scanned the letter and gave it back to me. Mr. Evans then look up at me with seriousness in his eyes and spoke,
"Severus, you are a smart kid, heck the smartest that I know of, and you have a very bright future in the medical field…Will you join this school? That's what I need to know. In your opinion, is it worth it? To throw away your entire future in the "real world" to step into this magical world." asked and I had to take some time to put the answer together.
" ," I finally spoke up, "I have given it very deep thought on my way here and in my personal opinion I think that it is worth it. Even though I've seen this magic thing for the first time today I can say that it is…something. For me it would be worth it to explore this element of our world and get to experience it, it would be a once in a lifetime opportunity to attend this school." Since I did not know much about this subject of magic this is the best answer I can come up with.
seems to nod and I notice it is a sign for me to excuse myself. I politely excused myself and walked out. Before I walked away however I saw Lily looked at me and I recognized that she wanted to talk after she was done with her parents so I nodded. After I make it out of the door I stand outside, leaning against the door.
After around 10 minutes Lily walked out and I raised an eyebrow, asking her silently.
"Yes my parents have agreed to let me go to Hogwart under the condition that I must stick close to you." I gave a chuckle and wave it off,
"Don't worry Lil, you won't have to stick around boring old me if you don't want to, I won't tell."
Then we began our walk. We continue our banter as usual. Since it was Saturday and I had nothing to do, me and Lily hung out all day. We walk around town, do some window shopping, sit and stare at the lake and do our things. We sometimes talk about serious things, sometimes we just joke around and laugh our asses off.
After I walked Lily back to her place I wandered the night streets. Cokeworth was not a pretty fun place to hang around at night but it does the trick. There is a small bar up town that serves good food and beers so I ended up going up there. As I walk through the cold air at night I take out a cigarette from my jacket and light it up. Taking a puff I smile at the warmth it brought me. Cigarettes have since I came here became a constant in my life. I can quit whenever I want and go cold turkey but it is just not worth it in my opinion, the substance was just way too good for me.
Making my way through the bar I sat down at a lone table and ordered a carbonated water and fish and chips. As I waited I pulled out a pocket size journal and began writing. This is a Journal that I use to keep everything documented ever since I first came here. Writing it kept me organised and planned my next move but it seems that for the past two days everything that I ever planned was thrown into the drenches to die and now I have to restart anew. After I finish my writing I put away the notebook just in time to receive my food. Thanking the waitress I began eating.
After a solid meal I went back home. After a shower I layed on my bed and contemplated life.
A week went by as normal. I am still extremely busy with all the studying and mentoring at the hospital and any additional time that I have was either spent playing soccer or hanging out with Lily. Just like that however a week went by and it was time for us to head to Big Ben. As we made our drive to London I stared out at the road, and I have to admit, I was quite nervous.
This is not the first time I would go to London but it is the first time I went to it like this. When we arrived at London it was a beautiful city, clean, and organised. This is truly different from the London that I know; the London that I know is akin to a third world country. The street is riddled with crime and stabbing happens almost every minute, drugs and homelessness was normalised and there were even gang turf wars taking place in bright daylight in the middle of the street. Seeing the city now gave me a strange sense of nostalgia.
After parked the car at some spot away we walked toward the base of Big Ben in order to meet the guide. When we arrived at the base of Big Ben at the spot we saw a man in strange attire. It looks almost exactly the same as that of McGonagall, right out of the industrial revolution.
"It seems we found our man" I told Lily and and made my way toward the man. Noticing us approaching him the man smiled.
"Good morning," He greeted us and I returned the greeting. Then I took out our letter and gave it to him. The man took the letter and scan through them briefly before he nodded and smiled brightly.
"Well then! It seems that we have Mr. Snape and Mrs. Evans," the man then gave us his hands to shake then he looked up at and held out his hand, as they shook hand the man questioned ,
"May I assume that you are their guardian?" When nodded in confirmation the man's smile got even wider.
"What a jovial day it is then! Now that we have your identity, let me introduce myself, my name is Henry Weasly and I will be your guide for today." The man, Henry, said enthusiastically. Looking around I didn't see anyone so I became curious and asked.
"Excuse me, if you don't mind me asking, are you going to only be guiding us? I cannot find anyone around and I can't imagine us just being the only pair that got accepted into this school of magic."
Henry seemed delighted at my question and nodded enthusiastically.
"Yes, yes, I will be your guide for today but there isn't just you who are invited. There are dozens, maybe hundreds of other kids, like you, who got invited but we cannot have too many children and their parents gather at one spot can we?" Henry then looked at us as if expecting a response. With a shake of my head I decline. Doing so would gather too much attention and McGonagall seems to tell that "Muggle" or normal people are not allowed to know of the magical world.
"Yes, yes, yes! That cannot happen. So the families are spread all over London at different spots to avoid suspicions." Henry then straightened himself and tightened his tie. "Alright then I think we are ready, Let's go to Diagon alley!"
With that we began walking with Henry to whatever location he seems to be taking us to. As we walked I began chatting with Henry,
"So, ," I started and Henry interrupted.
"Hahaha, please don't call me " " it makes me feel like my pop. Call me Henry instead."
"Right, then please call me Severus." After all the initial pleasantry has been spoken over I got into business trying to get information. Especially on this school "Hogwart"
"Henry, could you please tell us more about Hogwart?"
Upon hearing the question Henry smiled nostalgically as if he was remembering something pleasant. Nodding Henry then look down at me,
"Well Severus, Hogwart is the best magical school in all of Britain. It has probably the longest history of all the magical schools in the world. The school also has some of the best wizards and witches in the world as its faculty. You have probably met McGonagall, right?" He asked and I nodded.
"Yes, She is one of the best if not the best in the field of transfiguration," upon my confused expression Henry quickly explain,
"Transfiguration is a branch of magic that focuses on the altering in the form of an object, animal or things…" He put some thought into it before saying, "It is like turning yourself into a cat or turning an object like a vase into something like a living crow."
Realisation then dawned upon me after Henry's explanation. When McGonagall transforms from a person to a cat she is essentially doing transfiguration. But with this realisation came more questions: How can you turn yourself into a cat? Doing so would make you lose a lot of mass that was there before and would mess up everything, also when Henry said that you can turn a vase into a crow it is mighty impossible as that is…
I stopped myself and locked back into the topic at hand.
"Uhm yes, please continue with whatever you were saying before, thank you." Henry nodded then continue,
"As I said, Hogwart has some of the best faculty in the world, their head Master, Albus Dumbeldore is the greatest wizard of the modern era, and the current most powerful. He was the one who defeated Gildewart after all…"
Henry then continued to talk about how the school was run.
I learned that Hogwarts students are separated into different "Houses" like Griffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and hufflepuff. And that the Houses are also rivals with each other like Slytherin and Gryffindor. I also learn about different courses and classes like Potion making, transfiguration, Defense against the dark art, Charms, care of magical creatures, etc…
Although it was interesting enough I still needed more information, especially about the job prospect after graduation.
When I asked Henry about it he told me that my job prospect depended on what I am good at. If I am interested in becoming an Auror if I am particularly good at Defense against the dark art, or A ruin or charms master if I am particularly good at Charms, or I can become a potion maker or Veterinarian if I am particularly good at care of magical creature or potion making.
I also asked him about the currency in the magical world and the exchange rate between the normal world and the magical world currency. It dawned on me that since the magical world is governed by different government bodies and seems to have their own custom I couldn't imagine them using the same currency as us in the normal world. Henry seems to perk up at the question and began to explain enthusiastically,
"That's a great question Severus, the magical world uses a currency called Galleon sickle and Knuts. One Galleon can be translated to 17 sickles and 1 sickle can be translated to 29 knuts. As of my current knowledge One Galleon can be translated to around 7-8 pounds." Hearing the translation price I almost staggered. What kind of translation is that?
Looking at my surprised Henry simply laugh,
"Well don't be surprised, as of my current knowledge you muggles currency, the pounds, are not even made of Gold, our galleons however are made out of pure gold that is enchanted by cryptic charms, of course it would be worth much more." That makes sense but not a lot of sense at the same time. Nut hey, I'm a surgeon, not an accountant or banker, what do I know?
We began to chat about more information that I needed to know with asking questions here and there until we arrived at a Pubs that have a sign that read
"Leaky Caldron" Walking into the pub Henry greeted the bartender and the waiter before he went to the back and knocked on the stone wall in a certain pattern. Then the wall seemingly opened up like 2060s technology and I allowed us to see what's behind it.
"Wow," Lily perched up and I had to agree with her. Behind the stone wall was an entire world in of itself. The Alley was a place filled with and bustling with life. People in strange wizard attire were walking around window shopping or were just enjoying themselves. It looks almost like something straight out from a movie.
Henry then turn back to us and said with a bright smile that adorned his freckled face,
"Welcome to Diagon Alley!"
Walking around Diagon Alley was a treat in-of itself. There were so many interesting things and trinkets to look at. There were potions shops with strange looking potions in many colours, there were pet shops with all kinds of animals, some of which didn't look like they belong in this world, there were fashion shops, with beautiful robes and clothing and hats, and there were…broom shops? This broom shop seems particularly popular with kids as I can see many of them, including those of my physical body's age, gather around it talking. When I asked Henry about it I was introduced to Quidditch.
The best way I can describe it is that if you were to play American football, with a soccer ball and with a baseball that tried to kill you in mid air with a broom that you ride on…yeah, that seems confusing even to me.
We then arrived at the bank, Gringott. The banks in this world seem to be run by goblins. These strange and ugly looking creatures were said to be so feared in the magical world that people entrusted their money to them. Henry also told us that Goblins are also very particular with money and would keep it safe with their lives so entrusting the money to goblins is the best of ideas.
When I arrived at the one of the Goblins I began the transaction.
I ask the Goblin if I could convert normal world checks to magical world money and it seems to agree. Taking out a check book from my bank I write it a check.
I have made a lot of money these past few years. Working at the hospital, tutoring kids, doing homework for coins, winning local contests and the inheritance from me selling the house after Tobias received a life in prison for murder and child abuse, I was good with cash.
Converting 9000 pounds, which was half of my cash, into gallons was painful. The exchange rate completely killed me and I swear I could hear something die inside of me when the goblin handed me a bank statement that said I now have only 1,200 Galleons.
Seeing the amount I asked Henry if it would even be enough to cover the tuition. Henry laugh and stated
"Please don't worry Severus, tuition is covered for muggle students for the first 3 years of their studies, the rest however you have to pay on your own." hearing that I take a sigh of relief before asking him how much a normal tuition would've cost us.
"4,000 galleons a year." my soul nearly left my body. After some quick calculation I almost spit blood, that amount of money would be around 30,000 pounds a year, if covered for the first three years then I would be only 14 by the time that I have to fork out that amount of money.
I asked Henry about Loans, sponsorship or scholarship and received many positive answers; Firstly I can borrow government loans and those loans would suffer zero interest rate before I finish school. After I finish school however the loan would suffer from a 7% interest rate compounding quarterly and pay back monthly. Or if I show talent I could get sponsorship from businesses or research institutions, the government of Hogwart itself or if I prove outstanding I can receive scholarships.
Overall the system was much like the 21st century system.
After Lily and Her father finished the transaction Henry then Handed us a list of items that we needed: this included books, tools and uniform. He then took us around the shops in Diagon alley in order to search for the things on the list. Everything felt pretty much like a shopping experience so I just kind of zone out and go with the flow. However when it was time to get our wand we arrived at a shop called Ollivanders: Maker of Fine Wands since 382 B.c.
Walking into the shop I was met with an ancient feel to it. The feeling reminded him of that time when he visited an ancient library in China. Around me were thousands of boxes that I suspect contain wands in them. After we waited for sometime a man stepped out of the back. He looks around his 70s with white hair wrinkled skins, reminiscent of the great Albert Einstein.
Walking to the desk he and Henry exchange some brief pleasantries before he looks toward me and Lily. He smiled toward us and gestured for us to come to him.
"Welcome to Ollivander," smiling back. I greeted the man as politely as possible. Henry has told me that this shop is the best place to buy wands in all the land and he is the best wand maker in Britain and beyond, a man like that deserved respect at least.
"Good day sir, my name is Severus Snape, it is a pleasure to meet you." Lily and then introduced themself and the man responded back in return. After that he took out a bunch of boxes and began to open them. He then requested Lily to give him a dominant arm and measured them with a silver tape measure. After the measurement concluded he took a wand from one of the box, and gave it to Lily,
"Birch wood, 12 inches long, rigid, perfect for defense against dark art." He handed it to Lily and the moment she touched it she instantly gave it back. Shaking his head the man tried another one,
"9 inches, made of alder, flexible, good for potion making." Lily took the wand, waved it around before she shook her head and gave it back. Olivander seemed excited before he pulled out another box and took the wand from inside.
"Ten and a quarter inches long, swishy, made of willow, a good wand for charm work."
Lily then took the wand and upon taking it I could see her eyes light up. She swishes the wand around and from it tips light blue spark like fireworks can be seen.
"Excellence! Excellence indeed!" After that Lily paid 7 galleons for Her wand and it was my turn. After Ollivander measured me up he started handing me wands. I didn't know what to expect but I know that the situation that I am currently in is a phenomenon. After about 100 different wands I can feel brutration and awkwardness brewing inside me. Ollivander however seems much more excited and interested.
After around 3 hours we were already approaching some of the last wands inside his shops. Wands and wands boxes can be seen all over the place as Ollivander tried his best to match me with a wand.
"Very strange! Very strange indeed…" Ollivander muttered before he walked to the back and took out an ancient looking box and opened it. Inside the box was a wand, it was pitch black, in the darkest shade imaginable.
"Here, try this; 11 inches, made of Hollow wood, White Basilisk heart string, and mildly-flexible, good for positioning and defense against the dark art." Ollivander spoke but his tone changed. Others might have not noticed but for me I can spot it immediately, when a patient tries to hide something from you they usually have the same tonality and body language. In fact his body language is that of someone who carries important information and needs an escort.
nodding I take the wand and immediately I took a great liking to it. Every surgeon have a favorite scalpel, one that feel right for them, every soldier also have a favorite rifle, one that feel right for them. This wand, it was perfect for me. waving the Wand like Lily did I can see something pitch black coming out of it. the sound is like gun powered. Nodding toward Ollivander I pay my 7 galleons before we left the shop.
Walking away from the shop I carefully examined my wands, what secret can this little stick hide?