Diagon Alley

Aria woke up from her faze.

"Oh dear, how I wished for this day to come. I wished and dreamt but who knew that it actually would! I must prepare, a party, no a feast!"

While murmuring to herself, Arth's mother ran out the room. A few seconds later, Arth could hear the clamoring sound of pots and pans.

Arth's father chuckled.

"Can't really blame her. She's been wanting to reveal the truth to you for several years. Instead, she got something even better. You rascal, always the pride and joy of our family aren't you?"

Arth looked up to the smiling face of his father.

"What do you mean by wizard? Are you saying that I can do... magic?"

The warm brown eyes of his father seemed as though he was looking into his soul.

"Have you ever had a moment where you angry and suddenly things start to go your way? Have you ever experienced a miracle beyond scientific explanation?"

Arth went silent.

Maxwell smiled.

"So you have experienced it before, the taste of magic."

"Are you a wizard too?"

"I am indeed a wizard, and so is your mother, she is a hella good witch."

Arth seemingly started to scrutinize the floor as if looking for any trash to pick up.

Seeing this, Arth's father sighed.

"What is it my son. Is there something that doesn't sit well with your mind?"

Arth stopped looking down and gazed back into the eyes of his father.

"Did you guys adopt me because you knew I was a wizard?"

Maxwell's eyes softened.

"My son, we had no idea that you were a mage when we adopted you. In fact, we would've gotten you no matter whether you could cast a spell or learn how to operate the electric box muggles call television."

"What is a muggle?"

"Non magical people, anyways. We don't care whether you are a wizard or not. You are our son. Nothing less, only more."

Arth once again put a smile on his face.

Chuckling, Maxwell nudged Arth on the shoulder.

"Go on now, celebrate. Your mother is cooking up a feast, can't be all gloomy on a day for festivity? Can we? Now let's go stuff ourselves like beasts."

Just on time, Aria called out from the kitchen yelling that food had just been served.

Arth ran to the kitchen, hugged his mom, sat down and started to wolf the food down.

His father soon joined in.

"Eat up, we have a busy schedule ahead of us."

Arth tilted his head.

Seeing this, his father started to explain.

"Now that you're accepted into Hogwarts, we need to get your school materials. Open your letter, there is another sheet isn't there."

In the midst of eating, Arth took out his letter and there was indeed another piece of paper.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

UNIFORM

First-year students will require:

1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)

2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear

3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)

4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)

Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags

COURSE BOOKS

All students should have a copy of each of the following:

-The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk

-A History of Magic by Bathilda

-Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling

-A Beginners' Guide to Transfiguration by Emetic Switch

-One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore

-Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger

-Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander

-The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble

OTHER EQUIPMENT

-wand cauldron (pewter, standard size 2) set

-glass or crystal phials

-telescope set

-brass scales

Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN

BROOMSTICKS

Arth looked up from the list with skepticism.

"Can we really obtain all of these here? I've never even heard of any of these books? And where can I get wand?"

His father let out a smirk.

"Of course its impossible to find any of these materials, that is, if you don't look in the correct place."

"So where do go to buy these."

His father checked the watch and murmured to himself.

"I guess we are a bit behind... he leaves for Hogwarts in September... today's date is... Bloody Hell, it's already the 29 of July!"

With a startling gasp, Mr. Kingscrown whipped out an elegant black stick from nowhere.

"Ahhhh, where's my pen... pen... damn, ACCIO PEN!"

There was a slight rattling noise as a pen came zooming towards them from somewhere within the house and landed safely in Mr. Kingscrown's palm. Hurrying towards a piece of paper, Mr. Kingscrown scrambled a jumble of words onto it at the speed of sound. After he finished, he threw the paper towards the window that magically opened to allow the letter to pass by.

"OI KING, TAKE THIS TO HOGWARTS!"

In response, the great horned owl from earlier flew out of its neon house and caught the paper in between its two claws.

"Oh how could I forget the envelope!"

Mr. Kingscrown pointed his wand at another piece of paper and caused it to chase the owl. When the paper came in contact with the letter, the paper enveloped it perfectly leaving behind a perfectly sealed letter.

Arth watched all this happen with a flabbergasted gaze.

"That was amazing!"

Hearing the compliment, Mr. Kingscrown allowed himself to put in a somewhat smug grin on his face.

"It is nothing my son, you'll learn to do the same in your upper years at Hogwarts."

"How did you keep it a secret from me all these years? It must have been hard?"

Mr. Kingscrown chuckled.

"It was indeed hard, I still can't stand the way you have to wait in traffic to go places. How much easier is it to just Apparate there directly? Your mother, on the other hand, seems to enjoy muggle cooking a great deal."

Mr. Kingscrown started to search around the house.

"Hmm, where did I put it? Oh, here it is."

Mr. Kingscrown took out an old jar that contained a glittery powder. After obtaining the mysterious powder, Mr. Kingscrown walked towards the fireplace. Curious, Arth couldn't help but ask.

"What is that Dad?"

"This is what we call Floo Powder, you take a pinch of powder, step up into the fireplace, and throw it down while shouting the name of the place you want to go. Of course, it needs to be a place that's registered by the Floo Network. It can't be some random muggle house. It's mainly used by families with young wizards who can't apparate."

"What is apparating?"

"Just think of it as teleporting."

Mr. Kingscrown got into the fire place while holding a bit of Floo Powder in his hands. The fire seemed to be doing no harm the him and seemed to playfully frolic around his legs.

"Remember, say the name clearly. Diagon Alley."

With a roar, the fire turned emerald green and rose in height to engulf Mr. Kingscrown. The next second, he was gone.

Understanding the underlying concept, Arth grabbed a bit a Floo Powder and walked into the fireplace. The insides of the fireplace was surprising neat and clean, the flame had once more turned playful and was warm at touch, not at all harmful. Still in a state of wonder and amazement, Arth threw the powder down.

"Diagon Alley."

With a lurch, he felt as if he was sliding down a really steep slide. He felt the whirl of the emerald flames going at a pace that churned his breakfast. He tried to maintain his balance all the while spinning and managed to succeed. And then it was over.

When he realized the spinning had stopped, he looked up and saw the smiling face of his father.

"Welcome to Diagon Alley."