The Art of Fitting In

Chapter Two: Samson Gets His School Things

Summer was coming to a close. Things around the house had gotten better. Samson's parents agreed to call him Samson. They had even bought him a few binders and a packer for the new school year. With school approaching fast they were off to get the rest of his supplies. They had received a second letter after the RSVP that told them all the supplies was available in Diagon Alley.

They were walking down a crowded street when they found the place they were looking for. The Leaky Cauldron. If they hadn't been looking for it they wouldn't have known it was there. They building was crumbling, or so it appeared. It was a simple illusion to keep the muggles away. Upon entering, Samson smelled some of the oddest smells ever combined. Part liquor, part beef stew and part licorice. The room was dimly light but Samson could see everything. Owls were perched on the support beams, a cat had just turned into a woman and there was someone much larger than the average man sitting at the bar. The tavern was loud, but quiet at the same time.

"Can I help you?" Said a friendly young witch who worked there.

"Yes. We're looking for the entrance to Diagon Ally? Could you show us where that is?" Samson's mother replied. Samson himself was too nervous to speak. He never liked strangers.

"Ah yes right this way." The witch turned to Samson, "Is this your first year at Hogwarts?"

"Y-yes. I'm very nervous. Do you know much about it?" Samson blurted out.

"Do I? I went there! Of course, the time I was there was very dark times indeed."

"D-dark times?" Samson gulped.

"Oh yes. I was there during the great Battle of Hogwarts. Lost my best friend to the combat. But it's safe there now. All the damage repaired."

The kind woman's words frightened Samson. What kind of fighting had happened?

"Here we are dear. Diagon Alley!"

Samson was so lost in though he hardly noticed that they were there.

"Miss what did you say your name was?"

"Hannah Abbot. Come see me next time you're in the tavern! I'd love to hear about your time at Hogwarts!"

And then she was gone before Samson could thank her.

After purchasing most the school supplies there were only two things left to buy, a wand and an owl. The man at Flourish and Blotts had told them Ollivanders Wand Shop was the place to go. So here they stood, outside of the smallest shop they had seen all day. Samson pushed the door open and heard the chime go off.

Inside were long shelves full of small rectangular boxes. The shelves looked as though they could go on for miles. Maybe they did. As Samson inhaled he smelled a wonderful mix old books and wood. At the sound of the bell a young man in his thirties poked his head from around one of the shelves.

"Ah a Hogwarts student, are you?"

Samson nodded. He wasn't sure what to make of the store.

"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Garrick Ollivander the second." Mr. Ollivander was looking Samson over. "Yes let's get on with it then. Which hand is your wand hand?"

Samson was confused.

"M-my what?"

"The hand you write with."

"Left" Samson replied. And with that Mr. Ollivander disappeared into the shelves. Samson was nervous. What if he couldn't actually do magic? What if there was a mistake? But Mr. Ollivander didn't seem to think so. He had returned with a few boxes in hand.

"Maple, thirteen inches, very bendy, unicorn tail. Go ahead, give it a wave."

Samson waved the wand around a little, feeling silly as he did it. The wand did nothing.

"No not that one. Let's try this. Holly, 10 inches, slightly springy, dragon heartstring."

Samson waved that one around. As he did he felt his fingers begin to tingle, a red aura surrounded him. He had done it!

"Yes very good. This wand chose you yes. It's very good wand for transfigurations. You may find yourself excelling in that class. Now let's get you checked out."

"S-sir you said that the wand chose me?"

"Oh yes. Wands choose the wizard. You never get the same results with another's wand."

Once the wand was paid for they headed over to Eeylops Owl Emporium. Samson's mother had decided to get him an owl so that they could write letters while he was at school. He chose a spotted owl which he named Raider. Samson had all of his school supplies. This wasn't a joke after all.