SNAKE

3 | diagon alley

Walking in the streets of London, Cora could only think about how excited she was about leaving her relatives and starting a new life. Her brother was reading the list of supplies they needed to get out loud as Hagrid listened.

"Can we find all this in London?", Cora asked.

"If you know where to go", answered Hagrid.

They arrived to a pub that seemed closed and didn't even seem to have a door. As they got closer, the sign that seemed empty suddenly read, 'The Leaky Cauldron', and Hagrid opened the door for the twins. When they entered, Cora looked at all the people inside, voices and laughter could be heard, also noticing that the place wasn't very clean.

"Hagrid! The usual, I presume?", greeted the bartender. Hagrid smiled, "No thanks, Tom. I'm on official Hogwarts business. Jus' helpin' young Harry and Cora here buy their school supplies."

The bartender's eyes widened. "Why is he looking at us like that?", whispered Cora to Harry. He shrugged.

"Bless my soul", the bartender finally said. "It's Harry and Cora Potter." The chatter, laughter and music in the whole pub quieted down and every single person was looking at them. Harry felt slightly uncomfortable and Cora's curiosity grew. I suppose people knowing my name is a step on the right direction to achieve greatness.

"Welcome back, mister Potter", a random man who was close to them shook Harry's hand. "Welcome back, miss Potter", tipping his hat. Harry and Cora nodded politely, not knowing what to say. Then a woman introduced herself, "Doris Crawford, mister and miss Potter, I can't believe I am meeting you at last." Again, the twins nodded.

"Harry C-Cora P-P-Potter. C-can't tell you how p-pleased I am to meet you", a man with a turban on his head approached them.

"Hello, Professor, I didn't see you there. Harry, Cora, this is Professor Quirrell, he'll be your Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."  Cora watched the man slightly smile at them, her eyebrows furrowed and she looked him up and down, thinking, Seriously? This stuttering man is going to teach us that class?

"Oh, nice to meet you", Harry went to shake his hand. The Professor didn't take it, instead he backed off slightly. "F-fearfully f-fascinating subject. N-n-not that you n-need it, he-ey Potters, heh"

"Yes, well. Must be going now, lots to buy", Hagrid laughed a bit. "Bye", said Harry.

"Goodbye, Professor. Delighted to make your acquaintance", Cora said trying to make a good first impression. She did not particularly like the man, but she knew it was important for her future teachers to think highly of her if she wanted to be the best.

As they walked away with Hagrid, Cora whispered to her brother, "A bit odd that one, don't you think? Did you notice he backed away when you wanted to shake his hand?" Harry nodded, "Yeah, but whatever." She rolled her eyes at her brother's lack of curiosity.

They walked out through a door in the back with Hagrid. "See, kids? Yer famous."

"But Hagrid, why are we famous? All those people back there, how is it they know who we are?", asked Cora. Hagrid looked at them, thinking, and replied, "I'm not sure I'm the right person to tell you that, Cora."

The twins looked at each other with furrowed eyebrows, about to ask more questions, but got distracted by Hagrid tapping his umbrella on some of the bricks. After he did that, the wall started shifting and opened up to an alley filled with shops and people. "Welcome, Potters, to Diagon Alley."

Harry and Cora watched the place in wonder, smiling at the liveliness of it all. Hagrid walked with them through the alley, pointing to shops and telling them where to get each of the supplies on their lists. While they were walking, Harry slowed down to watch a broom from afar that caught his attention, making him smile. At the same time, Cora was looking at a pet shop, seeing all the animals and wondering if they maybe had a snake. She had always liked snakes, but she then remembered the letter specified students could only bring an owl or cat or toad.

"But Hagrid, how are we to pay for all this? We haven't any money", Harry asked Hagrid the question that was algo going through Cora's mind.

"Well there's your money, Harry! Gringotts! The wizard bank, ain't no safer place. Not one, except perhaps Hogwarts", Hagrid said pointing at a white tall building at the end of the alley.

The group of three entered the bank. It was beautiful on the inside. Cora was admiring the sight when a nervous Harry tugged on her sleeve, bringing her closer to him and said only loud enough for her and Hagrid to hear , "Uh, Hagrid? What exactly are these things?" Only then did Cora noticed the not so pretty creatures stamping pages or counting money.

"They're goblins, Harry. Clever as they come, goblins, but not the most friendly of beasts. Best stay close."

Hagrid cleared his throat once they reached the end of the corridor to get the goblin's attention. "Mister Harry Potter and miss Cora Potter wish to make a withdrawal." The goblin seemed extremely annoyed and reached forward to meet Harry and Cora's eyes. Harry gulped nervously but Cora smiled slightly and nodded even though she was a bit scared, still trying to make a good first impression on anyone she met.

The goblin returned the nod while looking harshly at both of them and said, "And do mister and miss Potter have their key?"

"Ooh, wait a minute. Got it here somewhere", Hagrid looked through his coat until he finally found the key. "Ha! There is the little devil." Hagrid then lowered his voice, "Oh, and there's somethin' else as well", he pulled out a small envelope and handed it to the goblin. "Professor Dumbledore gave me this. It's about the you-know-what in vault you-know-which. The goblin nodded in understanding, "Very well."

Then the group of three, plus a young goblin, got into a cart and went through the tunnels in the bank. They finally arrived to vault 687, their vault. It turns out their parents had quite a lot of money. Each twin grabbed enough money to buy their school supplies and new clothes, and a little extra just in case they wanted to spend it on something else.

They moved on to another vault. Vault 713. "What's in there, Hagrid?", asked Harry. "Can't tell ya, kids. Hogwarts business, very secret", Hagrid replied. He got off the cart and waited for the goblin to open the vault. Cora looked around Hagrid and the vault seemed to be empty, or that's what she thought until Hagrid came out with a little package. That has to be something important for it to be locked in a vault all by itself.

"Best not to mention this to anyone, kids", said Hagrid while putting the package away in his coat. Harry nodded and Cora thought, Odd.

~

All of their supplies had been bought as well as their new wardrobes. "We still need... a wand", Harry read off the list.

"A wand? Well, you want Ollivander's. There ain't no place better. Why don't you run along there and wait? I just got one more thing I gotta do, won't be long." The twins nodded and went into the store.