Diagon Alley

Charles Gaunt POV

They watched as the bricks slid away, revealing a street crowded with men, women and children all dressed in a variety of coloured robes and cloaks and pointed hats. Lively but small shops lined the pathway, with their colourful signs and banners. The shop windows showed off their magical wares, drawing in the attention of those passing by.

McGonagall stood with a small smile as she watched them gawking. She enjoyed the wonder children from muggle always felt when they first come here. It was one of the reasons she always volunteered to deliver the Hogwarts letters.

Charles and Emily gazed around starstruck. 'I don't think I'm ever going to get used to this!' Charles mused to himself. He was sure Emily was feeling the same way he was. How couldn't she be. How could anyone not be amazed by this!

"Now come along children. We have a lot to do today," Mrs McGonagall said, leading the way forward. They walked down the path, Charles and Emily looking at whatever caught their attention. Which meant pretty much everything. There was a shop with a giant golden scissor shaped sign, with flying scissors cutting peoples hair inside. A potions shop with tens of glass phials on the shelves and a broom store with a group of boys near his age standing outside the window, chatting excitedly about the newest broom models. Charles didn't pay much notice to the last one. He already knew first years weren't allowed their own brooms. It said so in the letter.

They followed McGonagall into a bookstore named Flourish and Blotts and after telling them to wait at the front, she walked straight to the reception area, past a queue of witches and wizards. The shop was filled to the brim with books. Shelves upon shelves lined the walls, from the ceiling to the floor and that was only the first floor. Charles could see stairs leading, though nobody seemed to be going up there.

A head of bushy brown hair entered his view and a haughty voice called to them, "Are you two here for your Hogwarts books?" When Emily nodded to her, she continued, "That's good. I got mine last week and I've come to get some others that weren't on the list. I found that some of what was in the first-year books didn't go into enough detail."

"I'm Hermione Granger by the way," she introduced herself.

"Ah! Emily Clark." She managed to get out. Hermione nodded out turned to Charles pointedly.

"And you are?"

She was a bit rude, but Charles responded normally. "Charles," he said, holding out his palm.

"Just Charles?" she questioned, shaking his hand.

He paused for a moment, realising this would be his first time introducing himself with his surname.

"Sorry," he said, "Charles Gaunt. If you bring any of those books with you to Hogwarts, would you mind letting me borrow some after you're done reading them." Charles smiled sheepishly. It was a lot to ask of someone you just met. "It sounds like it could really help with our studies."

"You mean it?!" Hermione beamed at him. Charles saw the girl's eyes brighten when he nodded to her. "We could go over and compare our notes as well. Ah. Only if you want to though!"

Charles looked away, unsure at the idea. He didn't know if he would enjoy studying together with her, as he was used to doing it alone. He turned back to her hopeful face and rubbed the back of his head. 'Ah screw it. If she's lending me her books, the least I can do is give her some of my time. She can be friend number two.'

Having made his decision he smiled at her, "Sounds like a plan, Hermione."

Charles didn't notice her cheeks turn a hint pinker as Emily had tightened her grip on his hand, which she hadn't let go of for the last half an hour. He winced as he looked at her, but she didn't look any different, so he just slipped his hand out of her grasp and stretched it.

"Miss Granger, how good it is to see you again," McGonagall called as she made her way back. A man and a woman were walking beside her. They wore kind faces and smiled as they walked towards them.

"Professor McGonagall!" Hermione beamed, using her school title.

'Maybe I should start calling her professor as well. She is going to be one of my teachers soon after all.'

"Your parents tell me you have already read through all your course books," Hermione nodded her head furiously, "Hogwarts is fortunate to have witch like yourself attend this year. I have no doubt you'll accomplish great things in the future."

Hermione smiled wildly at her parents, who looked at her with pride. "She's always been a studious girl. We couldn't be prouder." Her father reached his hand out for her, "It was lovely seeing you again Minerva, but we best be off. Come along now Hermione."

The girl hopped over to him, taking his offered hand. "Goodbye Professor," she said and turned to Charles and Emily, "See you both at school!" The two of them waved her off quietly. Charles noted that Emily hadn't said much since Hermione's arrival, the girl had been completely overpowered by her. Something she wasn't used to.

"Well now, I believe it's time we went and got your uniform." Soon, the group found a purple painted shop named Madam Malklin's Robes for All Occasions and walked in.

They were greeted by a squat and smiling older woman dressed in mauve clothing, "Minerva, good to see you again. These are new students I presume?" she looked them over before continuing, "My, what good looking children. You've come at a good time. I can see to them straight away."

Professor McGonagall thanked her and sat down on a nearby seat. "You there," Madam Malkin

gestured to Charles, "We'll start with you. What is your name young man?"

"Charles ma'am, Charles Gaunt." She gave a curious look to the Professor but didn't say anything.

"Well stand over here while I measure you please. It won't take long." Charles shouldn't have believed her, 'I've been standing here for twenty bloody minutes' he thought. Madam Malkin was extremely thorough in her measurements and the way she looked at him throughout made Charles a little uncomfortable. When she was done, she smiled and patted his patted his back affectionately. Charles went to sit down as Emily got up, wearing his new pointed hat. 'What can I say? It's surprisingly comfortable.'

Fifteen minutes later, Emily had finished and after thanking Madam Malkin, McGonagall paid for their robes and arranged for them to be delivered at the same time as their books. They walked around Diagon Alley buying what they needed for Hogwarts before stopping for some lunch. Charles and Emily talked enthusiastically about everything they had seen in the magical shopping district, with Professor McGonagall answering the occasional questions they had.

After they had finished eating, McGonagall told them it was time to get their wands. Charles had been waiting for this moment all day as it was the item, he had been most excited to get since he read the list on his Hogwarts letter. He had them being waved around several times today, each time making him stare I wonder. He knew that without his own, he wouldn't be able to do any magic. Getting a wand would the first step in his wizarding journey and he was beyond ready to go get one.

They soon arrived at a building named Ollivanders with a sign over the door with peeling gold letters that read 'Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C' and McGonagall led them inside. The shop was small and narrow. Cases of wands were stacked on top of each other atop the many shelves on the walls. There was a front desk close by and behind it, Charles could even shelf rows and piles of wand cases.

They immediately caught the attention an old man with long, scraggly white hair and silvery eyes. He was atop a ladder leaned against one of the shelves behind the reception area, sorting through its contents.

"A young witch and wizard. And with Minerva no less," he looked at them, "Here to get your first wands I presume." He stepped down from his ladder and moved to his desk.

"Indeed, they are Garrick." Professor McGonagall said urging them forward.

"Yes, how wonderful. I still remember when I got my first wand, as if were only yesterday," the old man reminisced fondly, "Nothing quite like ones first wand. Come, come. Let me get a look at you both."

Emily stepped forward eagerly, "Hello sir," she spoke nervously. The man was definitely a little odd.

"What a polite girl," he said, "Would you tell me your name please." The man pulled out a tape, "And show me your writing hand as well."

She did as he asked at put forward her right hand, "Emily Clark."

"Clark you say? I'm not familiar," he said as he measured her, "no matter. I know just where to start with you!" He ran back behind his desk and returned a moment later with a red box. Opening it, he pulled out a sleek brown wand with a bump on the handle. "Here, Holly, ten inches with a unicorn hair." He handed it to her, "Go on, give it a try."

Emily gave it a wave, but nothing happened. "Not quite," Ollivander took the wand back and rushed to find another one. "Here, this one seems like a good fit." The wand was a lighter shade of brown than the first and had a leaf engraving on its handle.

This time when she gave it a wave, a warm light emanated from its tip warming her hand and she smiled wildly, as did Ollivander. "It seems you are favoured by Chestnut, Miss Clark. Reasonably springy and nine and a half inches long with a unicorn hair core. A fine wand indeed."

Emily ran in front of Charles and started showing off her wand proudly, before sitting down next Professor McGonagall.

"Now let's see what we can do you my dear boy," Ollivander gestured for Charles to come closer.

"Which is your dominant hand?" he asked.

"I can use either, Sir," Charles told him.

"Oh ambidextrous, are you? "Then just show me the one you use more." Charles raised his right hand up for Ollivander to see.

"Right, I have an idea. Your name please, my dear boy," Ollivander stood up and asked.

"Charles Gaunt," he replied quickly. 'Maybe I'll get used to this faster than I thought.'

The old man paused, and his eyes widened as he stared at the boy. "Curious," he said, "curious indeed." He made his way to the back slower than he had done for Emily. When he came back, he presented Charles with a sleek black wand with a spiral shaped handle. "Ebony, thirteen inches and a dragon heartstring. Give it a go."

Charles flicked the wand harshly and it flew out of his hand and hit into the surrounding walls. "Well that certainly isn't the one," Ollivander stated picking it up. The next one he brought out had a more wooden texture and a crook at the end. When he waved it, a boom sounded out behind them and a series of cases flew of their shelves. "Definitely not!"

Ollivander went through several wands after that. Each one either feeling cold in his hands or making a mess. Charles would be lying if he said he wasn't disheartened by this, he desperately wanted a wand and it was seeming like it might happen after all. Ollivander on the other hand grew more excited each time he failed and now he was running back and forth, smiling like a madman with new wands for him to try.

"You must remember Mr Gaunt," he said softly, "The wand chooses the wizard! A wand has already chosen you and its not going to just let you leave with another. Now its just up to us to find it." Charles cheered up at that, if this wand had chosen him, then he would wait here all night until it was found. Ollivander returned with yet another case, this one having a black top and a red colouring underneath. "Perhaps…" he whispered.

He opened the box and pulled out a long smooth and dark brown polished wand with a red sheen and lighter brown vine pattern, starting from where the wand was supposed to held and ending a touch further up. Charles felt drawn to the wand as soon as it entered his sight. Subconsciously he reached out for it and Ollivander's silver eyes shined as he passed it over with care.

The second it touched Charles's palm, he felt a heat spread from it, quickly encompassing his whole body. He didn't need any encouragement. He flicked the wand softly and as he did; blue sparks flew outwards from the wands tip. Charles heard Emily squeal as she clapped her hands excitedly.

Charles grinned, though it came out as more of a sneer. 'That was wicked!'

"This wand has chosen you as its master, Mr Gaunt," Ollivander said and Charles got the impression that he was proud of him. Why he would be proud of someone he's just met, Charles didn't know, but he was sure he could hear it in his voice.

"Red Oak, a phoenix feather, fourteen inches long and unyielding. Good for those with quick reactions and wit. It was crafted using Red Oak I collected whilst travelling in my younger years and is one of the finer works I have made. I was worried that it wouldn't find a match in my lifetime, seeing as its such picky wand," Charles almost thought he saw tears in the old man's eyes as he spoke kindly, "It's unyielding nature means that if anyone else tried to use it, then they would be met with a fierce resistance. With a wand like this, you will accomplish truly great things. Have there be no doubt."