ᴀ ᴅ ʀ ɪ ᴇ ɴ ɴ ᴇ [1]

05. vinculos ligarus

chapter five

VINCULOS LIGARUS

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"FIRST YEAR STUDENTS WILL REQUIRE: Three sets of plain black work robes, one plain black pointed hat for day wear, one pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar), one winter cloak (black, silver fastenings). Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags. All students should have a copy of each of the following: The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk, A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot, Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling, A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch, One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore, Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander, and The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble. Other equipment needed: one wand, one cauldron (pewter, standard size 2), one set glass or crystal phials, one telescope, one of set brass scales. Students may also bring an owl or a cat or a toad," I read aloud off the equipment list.

"Can we really find all this is London, Hagrid?" Harry asks disbelievingly.

"If yeh know where ter go," Hagrid replies quite simply.

Harry and I exchange a confused glance. From our few short trips to London, we've never, once, seen a shop selling wands, owls and cauldrons.

Hagrid stops suddenly in front of us, and I crash into him.

"Why'd you stop?" I mumble, rubbing my nose.

"This is it," Hagrid says, gesturing to the grubby pub on the corner. "The Leaky Cauldron. Famous place."

It's a small, discreet-looking place. If Hagrid hadn't pointed it out, I probably wouldn't have noticed it was there.

Inside is dark and shabby. It's rather underdressed for a famous place. A few old women are sitting in a corner, drinking tiny glasses of sherry. One of them is smoking a long pipe. A little man in a top hat is talking to the old barman, who is quite bald and looks like a gummy walnut. The low buzz of chatter stops when we walk in. Everyone seems to know Hagrid; they wave and smile at him, and the barman reaches for a glass, saying, "The usual, Hagrid?"

"Can't, Tom - I'm on Hogwarts business. Just helping young Harry an' Ada here buy their stuff," says Hagrid, clapping his hand on my shoulder, making my knees buckle.

"Bless my soul," says Tom the barman, "It's Harry and Adrienne Potter."

The barman rushes out from behind the counter and shakes Harry's hand eagerly.

"An honour, Mr Potter, an honour. . ."

He then comes over to me and takes my hand in his, brushing his lips against my knuckles.

"The same to you, Miss Potter, an honour to finally be meeting you."

I don't know what to say. Everyone is looking at Harry and I. Suddenly, there is a great scraping of chairs and, next moment, Harry and I are shaking hands with everyone in the Leaky Cauldron.

"Doris Crockford, Miss Potter, can't believe I'm meeting you at last," says a small, rather peculiar looking witch, tears shining in her eyes.

"So proud, Miss Potter, so proud."

"Always wanted to shake your hand - I'm all of a flutter."

"Delighted, Mr Potter, just can't tell you. Diggle's the name, Dedalus Diggle."