42 Shopping in Diagon Alley

That year, Draco's summer plans weren't altered and he still spent most of his time in France with Abraxas. However, all of that changed when he received his invitation to start school. In fact, he received quite a few invitations.

"Draco, look, another letter. This time it's from the Salem Academy. Are you sure that you want to refuse, I hear that they have the most beautiful witches over there…" Abraxas wiggled his eyebrows and Draco snorted at the older man's childish display.

Because his family was well-known and had business dealings in many countries, it was no wonder that he received a lot of letters. Before this summer, he wasn't aware that there were so many magical schools in the world. Most of them taught different subjects and one had to select the school which was the most suitable for them when considering where to go.

"Let's count," Draco relaxed into his seat at the breakfast table and casually raised his hand to count fingers. "There was an invitation from Beauxbattons, Durmstrang, Salem, Castelobruxo, Ilvernmory, Mahoutokoro and Koldovstoretz. And, of course, the letter from Hogwarts."

It was interesting to compare different schools and their requirements for entering and studying there. Some, like Hogwarts, required only textbooks, wands, uniforms and potion equipment as well as few other miscellaneous things. Others required a bonded familiar for optional classes, talisman papers and Grimoires, which acted like wands and conducted magic through written spells.

"Are you sure that you want to go to Hogwarts? It's far from the best school out there – it's standards have dropped over the last 100 years. Recently, the most popular school is actually Ilvernmory – many people strive to go there but never have the chance. Yet, you are going to waste it," Abraxas sighed with pity. In his opinion, Draco was too stubborn and didn't know what was best for him.

"I have already decided," said Draco firmly.

"Alright, then. Your mother arranged the shopping trip to Diagon Alley in a week's time. Your father will join you – I am sure that he is proud of you being accepted to Hogwarts."

Draco rolled his eyes. It was obvious from the very start that he would be accepted almost anywhere he desired to go. If it wasn't for Lucius' Dark Mark and Draco knowing the future, he might have really selected a different school to attend. With his talent for practical magic, who would actually doubt his abilities?

Draco's eyes strayed to the newspaper, which was placed nearby. On Daily Prophet's front page was his own photo and title proclaiming: 'Britain's Genius Refused 7 of the World's Best Schools to Go to Hogwarts!'

---

On the first of August, Draco and his parents appeared in the Dragon Enterprises building. Because the store had its own fireplace, Draco didn't have to come to Diagon Alley from the Leaky Cauldron and could conveniently come and go to the shopping district whenever he wanted.

"Your store made a lot of progress," commented Lucius as he looked around.

The shop was filled with people, who were milling about and curiously looking at various mirrors on display. The consultants were always nearby, explaining each item's usage and functions. The place was filled mostly with parents and their children, who, like Draco, were getting ready for the new school year. Among them were also a lot of muggleborns.

"Mom, Dad, look! We will be able to talk face-to-face with each other when I go to Hogwarts!" shouted one girl with excitement. Draco curiously looked in her direction and caught a glimpse of bushy brown hair. But before he could confirm his suspicions, Narcissa urged him to hurry up.

"First, you will go to get your measurements taken for the uniform. Lucius, your task is to buy textbooks, while I will stand in line at Ollivander's. I can already see many people going in that direction. Wand and robes always take the longest time," said Narcissa with excitement. Draco's mother, like many other women, really liked shopping and whenever she was surrounded by various stores, her eyes sparkled with the desire to buy.

Lucius and Draco exchanged long-suffering glances and complied with the lady's arrangements. Neither of them wanted to spoil her day, which was almost as important as sending off her child to school for the first time.

It wasn't Draco's first time in Diagon Alley - he visited the place often enough when he came to check his business. So it didn't take long for him to find Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.

When he entered the store, he had to wait for fifteen minutes before it was his turn to be measured. Just as he hopped up on the stool, a bell sounded and a new customer came in. Draco turned his head and his eyes flashed with recognition.

'As expected,' he thought to himself.

A boy, who looked to be a few years younger than himself, soon came up and was directed to stand on another stool. His hair was dark and messy and he had oval glasses on his face. For an eleven-year-old, Harry Potter looked to be small and scrawny.

Draco silently sized him up. He had expected to meet the protagonist there and didn't try to avoid their encounter on purpose. First, what would be the point? Second, he was curious whether the actual person would differ from the portrayal in books and movies.

The conclusion he came to, as he observed the other person, was that the reality was different from the screen's representation, however, it was similar to books. Harry Potter was malnourished, thin and seemed to be a bit shy – he avoided eye contact with everyone around and stared at the ground as though it held all of the universe's secrets.

This small boy was supposed to fight Voldemort and defeat him a few years later. Even better, he was supposed to encounter the Dark Lord's remnant less than a year later, in a fight for the Philosopher's Stone!

...The boy looked as though the slightest gush of wind would knock him over.

After sizing up Britain's hero, Draco finally opened his mouth and asked: "You're going to Hogwarts too, right?"

Harry seemed to be confused for a moment. He raised his head and looked at Draco as though asking him whether the question was directed at himself. After a few seconds of awkward silence, he understood that it was indeed so and blushed a bit.

"Yes, I am going to Hogwarts," he said awkwardly.

"What's your name?" Draco continued prodding.

The dark-haired boy hesitated but, under Draco's inquiring look, he finally relented: "I'm Harry Potter. What about you?"

The seamstress, who was fixing the robe's hem, squealed quietly with surprise. Draco glared at her for the displayed unprofessionalism and turned back to continue their conversation.

"Oh, are you really? Which house do you want to go to?" the blond ignored the boy's question and probed further.

"House?" Harry was confused. Hagrid hadn't said anything about any houses.

"You know. Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. First years get sorted into one of these houses. I heard that your parents were Gryffindors, so I assumed that you wanted to continue their legacy," Draco explained patiently.

"You're done," said the seamstress before Harry had the chance to reply.

Draco nodded and, after a quick goodbye, left the shop in a hurry. What he wanted to achieve with this encounter was done. He was sure that the protagonist would want to go to the house, where his family once lived and studied. Draco didn't have to act spoiled or arrogant in order to make the other avoid him. He just had to be indifferent yet informative and Harry would not stray from his heroic path.

"Draco, finally. You came just in time. It's our turn now," said Narcissa as soon as the blond boy approached Ollivander's store.

When they entered the small building, it was empty – a stark contrast to the bustling scene outside. Draco and his mother sat on the stools provided for the customers and waited.

"Ah, Draco Malfoy. Our young genius, right?"

A voice suddenly sounded from the side. Even though Draco was prepared for a surprise, he was still startled. His mother, on the other hand, just stood up and gracefully smiled.

"Yes, please help us find the best wand for my son."

"Of course, of course. The wand selects the wizard, not the other way around. But you must already know that, hmm?" Ollivander looked at the blond boy with his piercing eyes. Draco didn't avoid his gaze. The old wand-maker smiled with satisfaction and turned around, quickly taking out one of the rectangle boxes and opening it up.

"Alright, let's try this one. Unicorn hair, Ebony, 11 and a half inches. Suitable for combat and very stable."

Draco took the wand into his hand. Before he had a chance to wave it, the wand jumped out of his reach, clearly rejecting him.

"Hmm, seems like unicorn core is not compatible with you. Let's try something more powerful." After musing out loud for a few seconds Ollivander once again took out one of the boxes. "Dragon heartstring, Maple, 9 inches. Very ambitious and powerful wand."

This time Draco managed to swing the wand, but it almost destroyed the ceiling with the powerful blast which followed afterward. Ollivander expertly waved his own wand and stabilized the roof before continuing offering wands without a change of expression.

After trying a few more of dragon heartstring wands, the old wand-maker declared that while Draco clearly had power, which was characteristic to dragons, the range of magic this type of core was capable of producing was too narrow for the boy.

"Phoenix feather, Vine, 12 inches. Mysterious and picky. Give it a try."

As soon as Draco picked up this wand, he felt a warmth spreading all over his body. The elegant dark wand produced silvery-blue sparkles, as though happily greeting the new master.

Ollivander and Narcissa clapped their hands with smiles on their faces.

"Very impressive!" said the old wand-maker. "Vine is not a common wood to be used in wand crafting. However, if a witch or a wizard is matched with a wand made out of this wood, it will be of great help in achieving the owner's goals and will often surprise you in the most desperate moment. The phoenix feather core strengthens this quality and allows the owner to utilize various kinds of magic freely. I expect great things from you, Mr. Malfoy. It seems that newspapers don't lie when they talk about you."

Narcissa proudly smiled at her son. Which mother wouldn't be satisfied with their child being praised by others so much?

"Alright, enough of that. The total will be 8 galleons, thank you." Ollivander extended his hand, clearly demanding for his customers to pay up.

The mother and son pair speechlessly stared at the wand-maker for a moment. Five minutes later they exited the store, leaving the old man to count his money.

After getting the wand, the rest of the shopping trip was rather quick and boring.

---

"Hagrid, what are Hogwarts' Houses?" Harry asked curiously after he exited Madam Malkin's shop and met up with the half-giant.

"Oh, yes! I completely forgot to tell you. There are four houses into which you can be sorted. Gryffindor for the brave, Hufflepuff for those, who are loyal and friendly, Ravenclaw is home to the intelligent, while Slytherin is housing the ambitious and cunning ones. Your parents were in Gryffindor – they were very brave! You should be proud of them," answered Hagrid.

The man's eyes teared up a bit and he took out a handkerchief to blow his nose. The noise this action created reverberated through the whole Alley, making people turn around and stare at the half-giant with disgust. Harry lowered his head to avoid the strangers' gazes.

"I can select, which House I will go to?" he asked after a while.

"Oh, no. There will be a Sorting Ceremony and your personality inclinations will decide that. However, sometimes, if you absolutely refuse to go to one house, or want to go somewhere specific, you will be allowed that. I advise you to avoid Slytherin. That's where You-Know-Who went and it still has many of his supporters. Remember, all of the greatest people come from Gryffindor! That's where Albus Dumbledore was also sorted in his time."

If Draco heard Harry's and Hagrid's conversation, he would have sighed with relief.