The Adventures of Callum Jones

Diagon Alley

On the streets of Knockturn Alley a bedraggled boy with shaggy brown hair and bright blue eyes was clutching a letter he was dreaming about for years now. He was dressed in mismatched robes, and a blue dusty hat that was several years old. He had just pickpocketed from a blonde man with extremely long hair, so he could buy his school supplies. This boy was Callum Jones, or well, he preferred Cal most of the time. No, no, he had no relations with the other people with the last name Jones in the wizarding world and has been doing all he can since the age of five to get by off the streets of magical Britain. He cannot remember a time where he hadn't needed to pickpocket from the rich, for a meal, a place to sleep, and second-hand robes. He has also been able to go from The Alleys' to Hogsmeade several times using the Knight Bus, and Floo Network. He knows every nook and cranny of Daigon Alley, Knockturn Alley, and Hogsmeade, and has been almost invisible to every crook alike in the run-down places of magical Britian. The only man he has ever gotten to know a little bit was Mundungus Flether when exchanging stolen items for more money. To everyone else he was a chameleon, a nonentity, someone who blended in despite his appearance of a homeless kid.

Cal couldn't help but grin to himself as he pocketed several galleons, sickles, and knuts, after stealing from the likes of Lucius Malfoy. It was so, simple. All he needed to do was use his magic to manipulate the magical lock on his sack of money and quickly summon the cash to his pocket, while standing right next to the man practically unseen. Cal was used to this by now, having perfected it over the years. No rich folk ever noticed they had some money missing since they had so much on them anyway at all times. Getting enough money for equipment, new robes, and his first wand? That was nothing.

Soon enough Cal had gotten out of Knockturn Alley and made his way back into Diagon Alley, his school shopping list in hand he went to the trunk shop first, as it was more practical to be able to carry everything in as he shopped for everything else. He was very grateful to be able to get a trunk with a simple feather light charm on it, so he wouldn't be unable to move it. Soon enough he got his school robes, a little better day clothes, shoes, and undergarments. After getting ink, quills, and parchment, he went to the Apothecary for his potions ingredients, and supplies. He'd been in here a couple times before, and was able to get all he needed.

Next he stopped at the book store in which a knocked down sign of Gilderoy Lockhart was hanging off of the window and a curious crowd of red-heads emerged outside where people in the book store were looking at them weirdly. Cal ducked around the Weasley family and made his way in, ignoring the camera flashing and a stunned looking Lockhart looking for a new target to accost. He rolled his eyes, and couldn't help but think, Why in Merlin's name is there drama everywhere? Cal headed toward what he needed never mind the fact that a huge fight had taken place moments before and that the crowd was still recovering from the shock.

After he got his books, he was ready to get his wand! Cal hadn't deliberately set out to get the best thing last, it was just the furthest shop away from him sleeping hideout as he had made his way down the Alley that was closest to the Leaky Cauldron. Almost skipping with excitement, he entered Ollivander's and hoped for once he wasn't invisible. Almost immediately Garrick Ollivander came around the corner and looked curiously at the newcomer.

"Hmmm, I remember your mother coming in her for her wand ages ago my boy! Now let's see here..." Ollivander trailed off and Cal had frozen to the spot in shock.

His...his mother was a witch? Cal had always known he was a half-blood and had always wondered if one or bother if his parents were magical. Since Ollivander only mentioned Cal's mother, did that mean his father had been a muggle? Cal only had a moment to ponder this as he was forced to hold out his left arm and try over a dozen wands before one finally sparked with fireworks coming out. It also felt like home. "Oh, Thestral hair and Ash, twelve inches, supple...unusual combination, but nevertheless it chose you..." Ollivander trailed off and Cal bought his wand. As he left the shop Cal checked his stash of money and realized with another smirk that he had enough money for the rest of the summer at the Leaky Cauldron and plenty of extra for when he went to school. Feeling lighter than he has been in weeks, he goes into the Cauldron to rent a room up until first term starts.