16 Chapter 14: Diagon Alley for the second time

It has been more than a month and a half into the vacations and I was miserable. After ten months of doing magic and surrounded by it everyday to going back and leading an ordinary muggle life was very frustrating to me. It's like I'm addicted to magic and now it's hard for me to live without it.

'This must be how those drug addicts feel when going through drug withdrawal. It's like l'm going through magic withdrawal', I thought as I was laying in my bed in the middle of the afternoon, bored out of my mind.

I have already completed the homework professors gave for the vacations and have nothing to do until the list of books arrives which should come any day.

Suddenly I heard flapping of wings outside my window. I sat up excitedly and looked at the window to see a brown barn owl sitting on the window sill. Tied to its leg was a letter with Hogwarts crest on it.

Finally, I've been waiting for what felt like ages for this. I jumped from my bed and hurriedly injured the letter from the owl's leg. I patted its head after I was done and it flew off with a hoot.

I quickly opened the envelope and inside were two parchment. First one was like the admission letter I got last year but instead it said I successfully graduated to second year with usual instructions to catch Hogwarts express on September 1st. In the bottom half my exam results were mentioned for formality because the results had already been declared on the last day of school.

I placed 7th overall out of around 40 students in my year, even though I didn't take the exams seriously. I guess the average level of students is quite low or maybe professors compensated my marks in written exams with the practical exams.

The second parchment contained the list of usual books needed for second year along with the collection of all of the Lockhart's books. Since coming to this world I've tried to keep an open mind about regularly hated characters like Ron, Snape and Dumbledore and not formed any bias against them but not this guy. I won't be giving him the benefit of the doubt.

He is a talentless fraud, a leech and a burden to magical society. In Hogwarts teachers are allowed to recommend books other than the course books and this guy took full advantage of that by assigning his own books for students of every year. That's about three hundred copies of everyone of his books sold without effort.

I don't see how Dumbledore can hire him just based on his fame and his alleged feats of grandeur. I don't think Dumbledore took interview of Lockhart as five minutes of talking with this guy, someone as smart as Dumbledore would definitely know he's a fraud. I guess no one wants to take the job because of the curse that's proving itself every year.

'Now that this list has come, I can finally go to Diagon Alley'.

Next day I went to the Diagon Alley, Mother wanted to come with me but I reassured her I will be fine, she then offered me some money but I declined it politely. She is a genuinely good hearted person and cares for all the children in the orphanage much. She never let the children feel that they don't have parents. After living my last life surrounded with selfish and greedy people that shows one thing on the surface but are completely different from inside, it's really nice to see such a kind and selfless person. She is the first and the only person in this world that I genuinely care for. When I become rich and powerful, I will definitely donate a lot of money to this orphanage.

After coming to Leaky Cauldron, I greeted Tom and immediately entered the Diagon Alley through the entrance at the back. I made my way to Thomas' Restoration with my trunk containing the books and robes I won't need this year. I grew a few inches taller from the last year so I will need a new set of robes.

"Welcome back Callum Haven, I've been expecting you", Thomas greeted me as I entered the shop.

"Good Morning Mr. Thomas", I replied.

"Let's see the list for second year, hmm.. the usual set with Gilderoy Lockhart's collection. Honestly what is the new teacher thinking assigning so many expensive books for a single subject. What's the worst thing is, most likely it's not going to be needed next year because of the curse of the job and won't have any resell value," Thomas was talking to himself more than me.

"Anyway, I think you will need a bigger set of robes, you grew up quite a lot in a year. Is this all the things you want to return, hmm let see… I will examine their condition, meanwhile you go to Gerard in the back to get your robes", Thomas said to me and began going through things in my trunk.

When I came back with my new robes, well new for me, Thomas was all ready with a set of books for second year for me. I noticed that Lockhart's collection of books were entirely new, probably because he couldn't get them second hand. To be honest they are worthless to me new or old.

"These are all your things, let me pack them in your trunk, then I have good new for you. I have examined your books and uniform, they are in excellent condition, they are still as good as when I gave them to you last year. So, here's your payment- 4 sickles and 13 knuts," He handed me the coins.

I felt a sense of pride as I looked at the coins, even though I've much more hidden in my pocket, these are my first legitimate earnings in this world.

"Thanks Mr. Thomas for everything", I said with a smile.

I exited the shop and began exploring the Diagon Alley. This coming year will be most dangerous for me as I'm a muggleborn. There's a high chance that I could be targeted by the basilisk. I have to take measures to save myself in case it attacks me.

As I was looking around I saw a toy shop and an idea came to my mind. I entered it and asked the man behind the counter, "Excuse me sir, do you have anything that can make sounds of different animal, I want to gift my little brother, he likes funny animal sounds", I said to him.

He said he has and showed me a small flute like device, it was about the size of my index finger.

"This little thing can make fifty different sounds of animals, extremely realistic too. You just have to say the name of the animal close to its name, it's great for teaching little kids, so it will be an excellent gift. Here, try it, say the name of any animal or bird from this chart, it comes with the flute", He gave me a small chart with the flute.

I browsed through the chart and looked for the name I was looking for- "Rooster", I said aloud to the flute.

Out came a very realistic cry of rooster.

"This will be perfect. How much is it?" I asked.

"That will be 6 sickles"

"Hmm…can't you give it to me for 5 sickles please, it's my whole allowance", I pleaded and put up a sad face.

"Alright Alright, since you are such a good big brother, I will give it to you for 5 sickles," he said after a thought.

'Ha Sucka'

I handed him the coins with a smile and got out of the shop with the flute. It's really convenient and compact so I can always carry it with me, it will come in handy if I have to face basilisk. I don't know how much of basilisk being afraid of rooster's cry is true but better safe than sorry.

Next I bought myself a pair of square rimless glasses from a shop. They don't have any power because my eyesight is perfectly fine. I got them because I want to charm them to have an outer reflective layer like a mirror and also I looked really smart wearing them. I could have gotten mirrored sunglasses from a muggle shop but I want to start try charming objects this year, but nothing complex yet, so this will be a perfect little project.

The reason I'm doing this is to prevent eye contact with the basilisk. Again I don't know if it will work or not but no harm in taking every measure I could think of that can potentially save my life.

Late in the afternoon I was sitting at Florean Fortescue's Ice-Cream Parlor eating my sundae and thinking of things I could buy that I may need this.

At first I was thinking about buying books but most books can be found in library or ROR. I could buy a wand holster but no one in Hogwarts actually uses one not even the professors, so it'd be weird for me to wear one. I guess only aurors and hit wizards use them regularly, because their job requires instantaneous drawing of wand in certain situations. Maybe I should still buy one and only use it in ROR during practice.

Next I went to Gringotts to see if I can open an account. I can't keep my money in ROHT forever, there's a chance of someone else finding it.

"Master Goblin, can I open an account for myself" I asked a Goblin teller.

"Where are your parents little wizard?" He asked me.

"I don't have them, I mean I'm an orphan", I said.

"Hmm.. Are you in Hogwarts? If so then your legal guardian should be the Headmaster. If you want to open an account then you will need his permission since you are a minor. An owl from him will do." He informed.

Well that's a red flag.

"Is there no other way to keep my coins safe, there's not many coins?" I asked him again.

"Well, if you have little amount, you don't have to open an account. We also provide locker services, even a minor can opt for one. The rent will be 7 sickles a year, that you will have to pay up front , this fee won't be refunded even if you close your locker tomorrow."

"If I rent a locker then Headmaster won't have to know about it right?", I asked to make sure.

"He won't have to", he reassured me.

I decided to rent the locker. I completed all the formalities which included them examining my wand for security purposes, filling a form and signing a contract which I read thoroughly word to word twice to make sure I won't get screwed over later. It seemed legit.

I paid them and a Goblin showed me to one of the back rooms with hundreds of locker in it. He opened the locker 799 and handed me the key and went out of the Room. I placed seven of my ten still unspent galleons along with some sickles in it. I saved some in case I need it till I reach Hogwarts. I shut locker amd kept the key and exited from Gringotts.

'Now what should I do with my remaining time', I felt reluctant to go back to the orphanage because it feels amazing to be back in the magical society even if I can't do magic yet.

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AN: Please suggest anything else MC can buy here in Diagon Alley because I can't think of anything. Try to keep it realistic.