My Last Laugh (A Hogwarts Story)

Chapter 5: Diagon Alley

"Well, we have to go to Diagon Alley. You can get your wand, cauldron, uniform and other stuff there." Lupin said.

"Ok, how do we get there?"

"Take my arm." Lupin replies. I look at him strangely but do as he says.

I feel as if im being sucked through a straw. An invisable force pushes all the air out of my body leaving me feeling dizzy and a bit light-headed. I recover soon after and look to Lupin for answers.

It's only then do I realise we weren't on the street anymore. Well when I say we weren't on a street I mean we weren't on the same street as before. This street was lined with tall buildings that sold all sorts of things.

Many people dressed in robes similar to lupins were walking alone the street, going into the many shops.

The street, which I assumed was Diagon Alley immediately surrounded me with a warm feeling.

I look to Lupin with an astounded look on my face, completely forgetting about how I even got here in the first place I ask, "is this Diagon Alley?"

"Yes it is and our first stop is gringotts bank."

As we walk down the slightly crowded streets, I look at all the shop windows. There's a shop that sells books, a shop that sells robes, one that sells potion ingredients and there's even one with a small crowd of boys around the window that sells broomsticks.

We arrive at the bank and walk inside. I try to keep from staring at the goblins that are scattered around the place. If I had any doubt about the letters genuineness, I didn't anymore.

Lupin goes to a counter at the front of the bank. "I'd like to access the Hogwarts vault."

"Key." The goblin simply replies. Lupin pulls out a small golden key and the goblin nods. "This way."

We are lead to a cart resembling a rollercoaster. Lupin gets in first and I quickly follow, not wanting to upset the angry looking goblin.

After what seemed like hours of twists and turns, we reach a clearing and the cart stops. The goblin walk over to one of the vaults and opens it.

When I look inside I see mountains of golden, silver and bronze coins. As Lupin is filling a bag with the strange coins he says "this is the Hogwarts vault. Muggle-horns who don't have any wizard money can borrow money from the school to pay for their school supplies."

I nod and he stands, the bag now full with coins. "The gold ones are gallons, the silver ones are sickles and the bronze are knuts." He says while lifting the obviously heavy bag onto his shoulders.

After another cart ride that lasted forever, we step out of gringotts and walk into a shop called olivlanders.

"Hi. I'm mr. Olivlander. Are you going to Hogwarts?" The shop owner says. He has gray hair and has a kind look on his face.

"Yes," I reply. "It's my first year."

"Then I guess you will be needing a wand." He says and goes to rummage in the back of the store. When I look at what's there, I onsee shelves full of long cases, each with what I'm assuming is a wand.

Mr. Olivlander returns with a couple of the cases and hands one to me.

"Unicorn hair, cherry wood, 12 inches." I grasp the handle of the wand and when he tells me to give it a flick, a window shatters.

With a wave of his wand, Lupin fixes the window and mr. Olivlander sends him a grateful smile.

I put the wand back on the counter and it is quickly replaced by another one.

"Dragon heart-string, oak, 14.5 inch." Mr. Olivlander says.

I give the wand a flick and nothing happens.

Four wands later mr. Olivlander hands me a wand and a feeling of warmth washes over me. Mr. Olivlander smiles and says "phenix feather, cherry, 10 inches, firm."