The Mystery of the Philosopher's Stone.

Chapter 2: Diagon Alley

At the start of the summer holidays in 1991, Harry was excited. His nervous anticipation was not because of the start of the holidays. He couldn't wait for them to be over. He was going to Hogwart's in September.

His letter from the school had arrived on the last day of term. He would be visiting Diagon Alley next week to buy his uniform and equipment. This magical street was filled with wizarding shops hidden from non-magical people, or muggles, as wizards called them.

Etta was more than a little jealous and resentful of the fact that Harry got to go to Hogwart's first. But, she hid this from her foster parents and Harry as best she could. However, Etta was glad it was the holidays for a different reason. She had noticed that all of her teeth had started to grow slightly pointed.

This had only become noticeable about a week ago. She had not mentioned it to her foster parents, but she had sensed them watching her more closely lately. They seemed to be constantly observing her with a look of expectation. Maybe they knew why these changes were happening but she wasn't sure how they would react to her disclosure of this strange physical development. She would wait a little longer before talking to them about it.

 On the Monday after school finished, when William had left for work, Elizabeth took Harry and Etta to London on the train. The letter from Hogwart's explained to Mr and Mrs Green how to gain access to Diagon Alley. When they arrived, they were overwhelmed by all the new sights, sounds and smells.It was very busy and they found it difficult to make their way to all the shops they needed to visit.

"Mum, how are we going to pay for all this?" asked Etta.

"Dumbledore told us that your real parent's left you a fortune in wizarding gold," Elizabeth replied. "If you look over there at that very tall building, you can see where it is kept. That is Gringott's, the wizarding bank, run by goblins," she added.

"What do goblins look like?" Harry asked with real curiosity.

"You'll see one as we approach the door," Elizabeth replied.

As they neared the buildings, they could see a set of steps leading up to 2 heavy iron doors with words engraved on them."Enter stranger but take heed of what awaits the sin of greed. For those who take, but do not earn, must pay most dearly in their turn."After going through these doors, there was a short corridor to a second pair of steel doors. Above the doors was written. "If you search in Gringott's vaults, without permission, you're at fault. Thief, beware of hidden threats. You will have nothing but regrets."Mrs Green, entered confidently, despite never having been there before. They entered a huge space, with wooden panelling on the walls and large wooden desks were placed in two lines either side of the central passageway. One hundred goblins sat on high wooden stools at each desk with a taller, ornate desk in the centre at the far end of the hall. The Potter family walked towards this. As they neared this desk, Mrs Green addressed an ancient looking goblin who peered down at them through his tiny spectacles.

"Good morning," she said politely, "We've come to take some money out of the Potter family vault."

"Do you have the key, madam?" the goblin enquired in a dry voice, as if he rarely spoke.

Mrs Green looked in her handbag and passed him the key.

"Very well," the goblin said, "that is all satisfactory."

"Griphook," he said turning to a younger goblin, behind him, "Please could you escort these clients to their vault."

Mrs Green and the children followed the goblin to a set of tracks in a dark tunnel.  A carriage appeared out of nowhere as the goblin approached the tracks. Everyone squeezed in and the carriage hurtled off down the tracks bumping and swaying as it went. After ten minutes the carriage stopped abruptly. Mrs Green got out and staggered slightly, her face was pale, with a bead of sweat on her forehead. The children bounced about, having thoroughly enjoyed the ride.