4 Diagon Alley

[AN: Okay... since I received a lot of positive feedback... and to entice more people to read my fanfic, I will release 3 or 4 chap... it is also my belated Christmas and New Years gift to everyone! Clap Clap Clap... also, I would like to thank give a shout out to @Lvl_1_Noob (that's me) being the highest giver of power stone (9 votes)... then to @crouch72601, @AvatarWan96, @huoh, and @olympus with 3 votes each. And @DevilAsura, @Adearic, @Adelasorra with 2 votes each. And to the rest, I won't mention coz its too long.]

After that talks Dumbledore, two wizards came by. They said they're from the ministry of magic. They asked me some questions. They then cast a spell on witnesses. They claimed to have their memories of that particular incident erased. Only my parents were spared.

Later that night, in my room, I came to ponder on various things. Perhaps I just want to convince myself that this world really is the magical world of Harry Potter and whatnots.

I had no idea how it happened.

Thinking of many possible scenarios of what might happen next or simply thinking of the original plot, I spent the entire night contemplating.

However, I found my efforts to be futile. Mostly, all I got are questions. Questions like; when was Harry born? What is the year Harry attended in Hogwarts? Am I still in the original plot? Is it safe here… blah blah.

Obviously, I can't come up with a satisfactory answer. I am a fan, but not a crazy fan. So, I am not well-verse of the Harry Potter world. I am just your average movie enthusiast.

This is quite problematic. If I am in the timeline where Lord Voldemort is at large, then I might be in danger!

It is known throughout the series that Lord Voldemort hated mudbloods.

And here is the question. How will I survive in the face of the most dangerous wizard of all time?

Thus, I came up with a solution.

First, study and learn magic, become strong, aim for power (possibly and the most obvious reason). I need strength to survive in a fantasy world (or perhaps I watched too much anime). If ever I need to face him, I want power to outclass or outsmart him to survive.

Second, if possible, avoid crossing path with the dark lord. If I can't gain power to defeat the dark lord, why should I face him, right? It is better to avoid him than stand against him. It may be the most cowardly thing to do, but for all I know, the people who faced him ended up dead. Even the mighty Dumbledore can do nothing against him (that he had to scheme against the dark lord).

I don't know what happened to me in my first life. I am not sure if I died, but, I won't let myself killed in this new life.

***

Since my parents accepted (somehow) the facts about me being a supernatural superhero, a wizard. So together we made a trip at Diagon Alley to buy my stuffs for school.

We got instructions from Dumbledore on how to get there and that's the Leaky Cauldron.

Leaky Cauldron was a dark and shabby place. There are many old witches and wizards sitting in a corner. Each of them is busy doing something – reading old newspaper, smoking in a pipe, staring at the ceiling/wall, gossiping, chanting, sipping tea, etc.

And seeing these many witches and wizards, my parents had the urge to panic. It was their first time to be in a gathering place of witches. Of course, it is because of their prejudice that witches are primarily evil. After all, they were taught to hate witches.

At the bar counter, we met an old man of lean stature with short beard. He greeted us, "Hello to our dear guest and to you, young wizard. How may I help you?"

I felt nervous that I stuttered, "To D-diagon Alley?"

The atmosphere is different here. Although, I am familiar with the scene as I saw it in the movie, the feeling of talking to a real witch/wizard is strange. I mean, previously you thought they were simply fictional characters, and then all of a sudden, they came to life. Will you believe that? Well, I still had troubles.

Diagon Alley.

That simple phrase has brought us standing on a brick wall, outside the pub.

The old man then starts tapping the bricks with his wand as if counting it and then the wall started to move until it formed an archway.

And there is the glimpse of the infamous Diagon Alley. It has narrow roads with tall tightly squeezed buildings reaching 4-5 floors at most. The most prominent buildings were located where roads intersected.

It was pact with extraordinary people, some with noble bearings but many wore shabby clothing.

Our first destination is the place called Gringotts Bank located North of Diagon Alley. Since we came from the outside, we have to exchange pounds for Galleons. Gringotts is an imposing snow-white multi-story marble building. It was the grandest place I saw since I arrived here.

It was filled with goblins! [AN: Goblin Slayer coming.]

Again, my parents were hilarious in their first encounter with the goblins managing the bank. I still can't forget my father's hilarious comment on these goblins.

He anxiously whispered to my mom, "I told you dear, the banks are run by goblins. See, how greedy they are with our money?"

Well, I am sure he is talking about the banks in the surface.

Anyway, I no longer feel surprise to things that is magical. It hit me when I saw the magical door in the Leaky Cauldron. Where else can you find this scene but in Harry Potter. So there's my wakeup call that this is really the world of Harry Potter!

We exchanged € 3,500 for roughly 78 Galleons and 11 Sickles, which are gold and silver coins respectively. It was explained to us the value of these coins. [AN: Don't, I suck at Math.]

For 1 Galleon is 17 silver Sickles and 29 Knuts is a Sickle.

Then, we're off to buy some stuffs.

First stop is the wardrobe shop, particularly known as Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. There is nothing much happening there as the shop keeper simply took my measurement. And not long enough, the transaction was over.

Next, we came to a bookshop of Flourish and Blotts.

We purchased all the books I need and surprise is a surprise, the books are very expensive. Outside, a single book only cost around € 5.20, but here, it cost golds!

Later, we purchase everything from some small shops save for a wand and a pet.

All the way through, my parents didn't fail to have something to say. Whenever they see weird things they would be startled and whisper to each other.

Like for example, when we saw a levitating broom.

"Dear, look at that. It's a broom and they're riding it." It was my dad who picked the interest.

"You know what, I saw Mrs. Heddle owns the same broom. I always knew she is a witch." Mom claimed. Her eyes filled with vindication.

Or when mother encountered a moving hand, a floating eyeball, a talking bat, a galloping fish, and other things weird.

"Dear, these things are really scary. It creeps me up." My mom whispered while terrified.

"I know dear… I just hope we can get out of this as soon as possible."

Now, the thing I am excited for, though, I thought I can save it for last. [AN: Most of all, my readers… hehe…]

"A wand. But, where can I find that wandshop?"

Then we saw a door with letters in gold, which read 'Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C.'

I must say, those words had some charms on it.

We came by the door and the tinkling bell rung.

"Good morning," A soft voice greeted us.

A thin man is sitting by the counter, inspecting a wand on his hands.

I said, "Excuse me… we're here for a wand."

"Of course, of course… every young wizard came here for their first wand of course. Come let me take a look."

He then cast an eye over me. Those wide silvery eyes were a bit creepy if you ask me.

He pulled a long tape measure with silver markings out of his pocket. "Which is your wand arm?"

"Wand arm?" I asked.

"Are you left handed or right handed?"

"I'm… l-left-handed."

He then moved to measure my arms, "I have a few wands here if you may try."

We then found him rummaging through the wand shelf. And when he came back, he brought 3 small and narrow boxes.

"Right then, Mr. Stanford. Here try this, Ash and dragon heartstring, 11 inches, quite whippy." He said as he handed the wand.

"Nope--. Now try this, Beechwood and dragon heartstring, 10 inches, nice and flexible." He then handed the next wand.

"Nope--. Now try the third wand, ebony and unicorn hair, 10 and a half inches, springy. Nope--" He then went further deep inside his shop and returned with one more box.

He carefully retrieved it from the box and presented it to me.

"Alright, try this, Yew and phoenix feather, 11 inches, nice and supple. Very powerful!"

I held the wand and it just feels right in my hand.

But then, "Nope--. You know what? Just today, I sold its twin brother to a very strange but very promising boy. And selling two related wands is somewhat a bad omen. Thankfully, the wand didn't choose you. But, what wand will it be? Tricky, very tricky. I never met such tricky customer in recent years."

Seeing the manager's troubled face, I asked, "Mister, is there no wand for me?"

"No, no. I believed that all wizards are destined for a wand. It will be very strange for a wizard not chosen by a wand."

"Then, what is the matter?"

"I am curious."

Lost in daze, the shop manager went towards the dark room and came back with another box – an aged and worn out box.

"The wand's name is 'The Second'. Come give it a try." He said as he handed me the wand – a fine wand of exquisite craftsmanship!

I received it and then… WhoOoShHhH!!!

A sudden burst of energy had shocked my parents and the manager.

"Terrifying!" He exclaimed in shock.

"Was that some special effect when a wand accepts a master? That was awesome!"

"That mister young wizard is the complete submission of the wand."

"What is this wand? I feel terrible just by holding it, but at the same time, I can feel its power! Yes, I desire strength."

"Mr. Stanford…"

"Ah yes! I am… am invincible! Haha!"

"What?"

"I am invincible and no one can stop me! Haha!"

WhoOoShHH!!!

"Mr. Stanford, stop! Contain you magic!" The manager shouts.

"What is happening?!" My Father raised his voice.

"Wa~ I feel great!" I exclaimed.

The shop owner quickly snatched the wand away from me and hurriedly said, "I will hold on for your wand for a moment. You will receive your wand at Hogwarts."

"What was that?"

"What's what?"

"The wand… it's talking to me… do wands talk to their owner?"

"No."

"Then, why is it giving me aspiration… to desire power."

"Mr. Stanford, this wand is the manifestation of my great grandfather's entire lifetime of hard work. During my great grandfather's olden days, he sought for a true owner of this wand. For every wandmaker's dream is for their wand to be remembered in the history of wizardry, even if it aids the dark wizard. The wand passes in the hands of many wizards. Great wizards of great bearings, but all of them had one thing in common – they all died a mysterious death. We could only think that the wand was cursed!"

"O-okay…" I said being skeptical.

Now why am I thinking that something bad is going to happen to me?

"For centuries of slumber, it found a master. No. It found its true master. You, Mr. Stanford is its sole wielder and no one else!"

"No, no… I don't want it!" I hurriedly rejected.

"But the wand chooses you."

"But I don't want to die 'a mysterious death'."

"Oh you won't. Its previous owner died because the wand never recognized them as its master. In later times, we concluded that the wand is simply selective, strictly selective."

"Is it safe for me to use?"

"Oh~"

"Is it?"

"Anyway Mr. Stanford, wait for your wand in Hogwarts. I will personally send it to you via an owl. Please carry on with the payment. That would be 42 Galleons. Thank you for your patronage."

"Wait, Mister! You didn't answer me!"

PoOf!

And he's gone.

Damn you Mister!

"I am so mad." I said to my parents, "Mom, dad let's go. I still require a pet."

***

After that unbelievable thing that happened earlier, we reached our last stop – a store that sells various animals, the Magical Menagerie. Though, some shop rather specialized when dealing with pet like the Eeylops Owl Emporium which sells owls, the Magical Menagerie sells various kinds of animals.

"Good day good customer, how may I help you?" A slim lady, fluffy in appearance came to greet us.

"I ask if –" I started but before I finish, she readily cut me off.

"I know, I know, you need a pet. Come, come. Here we have a variety of animals you can choose from poisonous orange snails, giant jewel-encrusted tortoise, sleek black rats that are very intelligent, owls, ravens, cats of every colour, Puffskeins, Transforming rabbit and much more. So what kind of pet you wish to have?"

"An owl."

"Ohh… then we have here some species exquisite for new tamers."

She led me to where cages of various sizes and shapes with owls are located. My parents are not allowed further, so they have to wait in the reception.

I scattered my sight and found several interesting birds – just about the exact size I want. Not too small nor big, looking very proud and intelligent. There's a silver owl, a white owl, a silvery gold owl, a silver-ash owl, and etc.

"How much is this one?" I asked.

"Ah good eye, this one is rather special, possessing special qualities. It is very intelligent and only few wizards own such species."

"How much?"

"26 Galleons."

"26? How about that one?" I pointed to another.

"That's 25 Galleons."

"That?"

"38 Galleons."

"How about this one?"

"25 Galleons."

"The one over there?"

"That's 22 Galleons." She turned to me and said irately, "Excuse me, are you going to ask the price of every single owl in this shop? I don't have all day to do just that!"

"Umm… I only have 12 Galleons on me. How about this, can you sell this one for 12?"

"But that's 28! And no, my birds cannot be bargain. How about you choose a rat or a toad instead?"

"But I want an owl."

"You want an owl? Then why don't you choose one of those. You only look for the prettiest and not even batting an eye on the other normal owls. It only cost 5-15 Galleons."

"I don't like it."

"Then no owl for you. Choose another animal, they cost half that of an owl and some are even cheaper."

"No other option?"

"No. Take it or leave!"

"Even a little bit?"

"I said no!"

"Even with puppy eyes?"

"Grrrr!" She took out her wand and threatened me with it, "If at the count of three and you still can't decide which pet you want, then don't blame me for…"

"Ok. Then I take this one. How much is it, 7 Galleons?"

As I handed her the money she took a full-3600 change, "Thank you for your patronage, come again."

I looked at the owl – it was around 3 inches (it almost fit in my small palm), it's dirty-brown in colour, and it also has that pungent smell. It looks like it was a mess.

"Geez, why did I buy this thing?"

Pew pew! It chirps.

Its big black-rounded eyes seems to look at me with disinterest.

After the whole fiasco at Diagon Alley, we came home and parents were relieved. Though, they kept on insisting that they will never visit that place ever again. The walking hand and the floating eyes and ears still haunts them. It must have been hard for them.