CHAPTER 2

After reading the letter and the list of school supplies, Jason calmed himself down a bit.

" Professor, how am I supposed to pay for all of this? I mean, I am an orphan, forget the books and all, I can't even pay the tuition fees", he asked her.

" Don't worry about it, Mr. Williams, Hogwarts is a self-sustaining school, everyone can learn there free of tuition", she calmly explained.

"As for the matter of school supplies, there is a scholarship scheme for orphans, so you will be fine." She tells him.

Jason sighed in relief and thought, ' Thank goodness for small mercies, I knew from some of my chats with Tom that there isn't any other school in the UK, and since Hogwarts is the only place a muggleborn can learn magic( some pure blood's and half-bloods prefers home tutoring), they had to have made something available for orphans, but it's good to have some confirmation. That was one of the first things I had asked Tom about, many fanfictions assumed that there should be more schools in magical Britain but there was no mention of that in canon.'

'Since the motives of a lot of supporting characters in the book were very vague, it led to readers forming many different possible reasons for their actions and hence so many fanfics with same characters having different motives (like good but manipulative Dumbledore to dark lord Dumbledore). It gave me many restless nights because I don't know which world I am part of, canon or some alternate universe with Dumbledore obliviating people left and right. I later stopped worrying about it but also decided not to make an opinion about someone based on past knowledge but also not attract too much attention to myself', he thought.

"So, how can I access those funds and when can we buy everything?" Jason asked getting his thoughts in order.

" we will be going right away and you can access your scholarship finds at Gringotts." She explained.

Afterwards, they quickly went to the matron to tell her about Jason's acceptance and that they had to leave to get him his school stuff.

The matron was ecstatic, not for Jason to have a wonderful opportunity but because now they had one mouth less to feed for ten months of the year.

After talking to matron a bit they went to leaky cauldron via taxi. As they reached the charing cross street, Jason could see an old pub which looked a bit odd in between two modern stores. As they entered the pub, the bartender noticed the lady and called out

" Good morning professor, do you need anything to drink?"

" No thank you, Tom, I am a bit busy, I need to go to the alley with a

new student" replied McGonagall motioning towards Jason.

"Ahh! If it isn't Jason, it looks like you finally got your letter" said Tom recognizing him.

"yes! Now I can have my own wand." Said Jason cheerfully as they wished him well and moved to the back of the pub.

As they reached a wall the professor pulled out her wand and while tapping specific bricks on the wall said to Jason "remember the pattern well".

As soon as she finished the bricks started to move and started parting ways and eventually creating a passage between them.

" I know you already been here but for formalities sake 'Welcome to Diagon Alley!'," McGonagall said pointing towards the passage with a smile.

As they entered the alley proper, they could see a lot of people wearing robes and moving to stores that sold stuff like potions, quills and broomstick's etc.

' Although this is not my first time here, entering the alley is still a magical experience, it's as if you enter a whole new world' thought Jason.

" let's go to Gringotts first, you tell me along the way where have you been in the alley before," said the professor.

" well, I have been to Gringotts before to exchange few muggle pounds and to flourish and botts for a few books," he told her.

" What kind of books have you read?" she asked genuinely curious.

"I didn't read much, a book on recent history and a couple of books on magical theory" he replied.

" I tried not to read any of the course books since I couldn't try anything from it," he told her.

' Though that is not the only thing I read, I can't exactly tell her that I started practicing occulomancy at such a young age. When I first asked about the subject at the book store, I wasn't expecting anything positive and was fully prepared to go into Knockturn alley for it. But luckily occulomancy is not a restricted subject and the book even said that everyone should have some experience in the discipline as even at a beginner level it helps controlling one's emotion and helps recollection. Though on the other hand the knowledge of legilimancy is restricted to certain professions like healers, aurors, and unspeakables, even then they can one learn the skill under certain oaths, ' he thought.

After that, the professor started explaining to him more about the magical world, some of which he knew and some of which he didn't like the structure of ministry and some it's departments which I might need to know due to some official matters or emergencies.

While chatting they reached a building which was clearly bigger than any other in the alley. 'Gringotts Wizarding Bank' was written on it in bold letters. After passing a couple of armored guards they entered the building proper. It had a beautiful hallway with a lot of goblin tellers sitting on each side. They approached one and professor McGonagall started speaking to him.

" Good morning master teller, we would like to open a Hogwarts scholarship account" she said to him.

"Wait a moment please," he said and called another goblin and then started telling them something in goblin tongue.

Then new goblin then turned towards them and said " follow me I will take you to master Sharpclaw's office, he will help you with the process", and started walking.

They soon reached an office with an aged goblin sitting behind the desk, their escort quickly said something to him goblin tongue and then went on his way. Sharpclaw then welcomed them and ask them to sit and then pulled out a parchment and a small knife.

He turned towards Jason and said " please place a drop of blood on the parchment for identification", and pushed the items towards him.

Jason looked toward the professor for confirmation and after receiving a nod cut his index finger with the tip of the knife and drop the blood on the parchment. Soon the cut started to heal on its own and words started to appear on the parchment.

Name: Jason Carl Williams

DOB: 2nd January 1976

Parents: Carl Martin Williams(1949 –1978), Sophie Rose Williams nee Taylor (1951-1978)

Accounts : 0

Note: 2 transactions pending.

As the words stopped appearing Sharpclaw said to Jason

" Mr. Jason it looks like you are not a muggleborn since both your parents are in fact magical."

Jason instantly got wide-eyed and whispered: "I knew it!"