The Twin and Harry Potter

Diagon Alley

Vanessa wakes up just as the sun is rising the next morning. Although she hadn't slept all that long, her mind shows no sign of drowsiness. She is more excited than anything. She finally gets to leave this blasted family. Harry sleeps soundly beside her, wrapped snuggly in Hagrid's coat. The sun starts to shine brightly in the dusty room. The storm has passed, giving way to a beautiful sunny day. Hagrid sleeps silently on the couch.

It wasn't long before she hears Harry muttering to himself.

"It was a dream. I dreamt a giant called Hagrid came to tell me I was going to a school for wizards. When I open my eyes I'll be at home in my cupboard."

Vanessa grins, pouncing on him.

"It wasn't a dream, you git! We're going to Hogwarts!" She exclaims as she grabs his shirt and shakes him.

Harry opens his eyes, meeting Vanessa's, the relief is written all over his face.

"Thank goodness it wasn't a dream." Suddenly a loud tapping noise sounds in the room. Both jerk their heads to the source, an owl on the windowsill, rapping it's claw against it. It holds a newspaper in its beak.

Harry scrambles up and over to the window, letting the owl in. It swoops in, dropping the newspaper on Hagrid. Then dive bombing the coat the Vanessa is sitting by.

"Hey, shoo." Vanessa tries waving it away, but it snaps at her.

"Hagrid!" Harry calls. "There's an owl."

"Pay him." Hagrid grunts, his face buried in the sofa.

"What?" Harry and Vanessa say together.

"He wants payin' fer deliverin' the paper. Look in the pockets." Harry and Vanessa look through the pockets look for money. Vanessa finds a claw of some kind, keys, and balls of string. Harry is the one who finds a handful of strange coins.

"Give him five knuts." Hagrid says sleepily.

"Knuts?" Harry gives Vanessa a confused look. All she can do is shrug.

"The little bronze ones." Hagrid responds. Harry counts out the amount needed and hands them to Vanessa since she's closer. The owl holds it's leg out so Vanessa can put the money in a small leather pouch. Once it is paid the owl flies off through the window. She stares after it in wonder, something as simple as newspaper delivery, done by an owl. Amazing.

Hagrid finally sits up stretching as he does so. Some of his joints pop as he does.

"Best be off, yeh two, lots ter do today, gotta get to London an' buy all yer stuff fer school."

Harry and Vanessa seem to get the same thought as they both look at the coins in Harry's hand. Shhe feels a pit forming in her stomach.

"Um -- Hagrid?" Harry says softly.

"Mm?" Hagrid hums as he shoves his feet into his boots.

"We haven't gotten any money." Harry murmurs.

"And you heard Uncle Vernon last night ... he won't pay for us to go and learn magic." Vanessa hangs her head. "I've only got a few pounds myself." She suddenly wishes she hadn't bought that last book, they could use all the money they can get.

"Don't worry about that," Hagrid stands. "D'yeh think yer parents didn't leave yeh anything?"

"But their house was destroyed --" Harry starts.

"They didn't keep their gold in the house, boy! Nah, first stop fer us is Gringotts. Wizards' bank. Have a sausage, they're not bad cold -- an' I wouldn't say no teh a bit o' yer birthday cake, neither." No one has to tell her twice