In The Beginning: First Year

Chapter 2: Diagon Alley

(One week later)
I was wearing black ripped jeans and an off-the-shoulder black shirt, with my firzzy curls tied into a low pony. I had five minutes until McGonagall came to pick me up.
Mum and Dad had agreed to let me go, so long as I wrote often and I didnt leave the campus grounds without an adult. I had been so excited when they said I could, it was one of the best moments of my life!
I heard the doorbell ring, and my mother call out to me. I grabbed my phone and raced down the stairs. "Hi Professer McGonagall!" I said. She smiled and said good morning back to me. We walked out the house and down the road where we stopped. "Now, we will  be taking the Knight Bus there, do you get carsick at all?"
"No Mam" i replied. What was the Knight Bus I wondered.
McGonagall stuck out her wand, and 30seconds later a huge triple story bus popped into view. "WELCOME aboard the Knight Bus, where do ya wanna get to? Cuz we cab take you from here to Timbukto if we really wanted to, couldnt we, eh Ernie?" a pimple faced man cried out to us.
"Morning Stanley, just to Diagon Alley please" McGonagall said formally, handing him some bronze coins. We hopped on and the bus jerked into action.
During the ride, McGonagall explained the çoncept of money in the wizarding world. It was really strange.

After half an hour, the bus finally stopped outside a pub called The Leaky Cauldron. It was dirty and grimy. I looked at McGonagall in confusion. She winkedat me and walked towards the back of the pub. We went through the back door and jnfront of us was a brick wall. She tapped some of the  bricks in a formation and they rearranged themselves into an arch way. I stopd there, completely gobsmacked.
"Ms Granger, please pick your jaw up off the floor.  Let's get going".
As I stepped through the archway, everything looked brighter. The street was full of people in strange clothing holding bags, animals and wands. I followed the Professer over to a small shop on the street. There, I saw around 10 other kids, all around my age. "Just go stand over there please, I just need to explain the rules to everyone" she whispered to me.
I went and stood next to a couple of boys. They smiled at me and I awkwarfly said hello. "Good morning everyone. My name is Professer McGonagall and I will be taking you school shopping. Now,  does everyone have their letters?" Everyone mumbled a yes. "Excellent. For your safety, there are a few rules". She droned on, explakming the multitude of rules. The boy next to me turned and started talking to me. "Hey, my name is Justin Finch-Fletcherly. Isnt this just amazing? I mean, a whole new world!" He whispered quicky, barely taking a breath. "Yes, its quite cool isnt it? What house do  you want to be in? I responded quietly. He thought for a minute. "Well, I don't know much about them, only from what Ms- i mean Professer Sprout told me. I reckon Hufflepuff would be good, though I don't mind any. What about you?" He amswered chattily. I didnt know much abiut the houses either, only that Gryffindors were brave, Ravenclaws smart, Slytherins cunning and Hufflepuffs loyal and fair. "I want to be a Gryffindor, though I will probably get Ravenclaw" I answered. McGonagall began to walk and we all followed her. Justin and I kept chatting. He was extremely nice, a little awkward like me, but nice.

We got to Madame Malkins Wear and we all went in.
"Ahh.. first years I take it Minerva?"
"Indeed. Now, girls on the right and boys on the left. Girls we are going to go to the book storewhile the boys get fitted, the  you will grab your robes while the boys are getting their books. Come on!"
I said bye to Justin and followed the group of girls out and across the road. "Hey, I'm hannah, Hannah Abbot" a girl said to me, smiling. She had two blonde piggy tails and was slightly chubby. "I am Hermione Granger" I replied. We started talking, but as soon as we entered the store, i broke off from the group. I loved books, they were some of my only friends. I ran my hands along the edges of the books. Quietly, I took one from the shelves. "You know, that one is really good" a voice said. I spun around and facing me, stood a girl, probably my age, with high cheekbones,  a slim figure and blonde hair. She was very pretty. "Oh, whats it about?" I asked tentively.
"Couple of wizards who had a deathwish, left their child an orphan and a madman considered an evil yet talented force" she replied.
"That sounds... interesting" i said.
"Yeah,  its an biography of the boy wonder, Harry Potter and this evil wizard named You Know Who" she smirked.
"You Know Who?"
"Never heard of him? Well, his name is Lord Voldemort, but dont say it. It's neant to be bad luck. He was prejudiced agaonst mudbloods and muggles. Killed hundreds he did"  she whispered.
"Woah...wait whats a mudblood?"
"Great, just my luck to run into one" she said, her smile faltering.
"What do you mean?"
"A mudblood is someone with dirty blood,  essentially a bad term for muggleborns".
"Oh I am a muggleborn!" I beamed.
She sighed.
"Whats wrong?" I asked.
"I am not meant to associate with your kind" she sniffed daintly.
"Oh..."
"Just dont tell my parents your heritage" she said giving me a wink.
I beamed. "My name is Hermione Granger, whats yours?"
"Daphne. Daphne Greengrass" she stuck out her hand. I shook it. We giggled at our formality. "MS GRANGER!" McGonagall cried out. "Oh, i have to go. I'll see you later" i said quickly.
"See ya!"
"Wait! Are you a first year as well?"
"Yes, i am" she replied.
" I'll see you at school then!" I cried out as i ran back to McGonagall.
I quickly ran over to McGonagall. She handed me my books with a stern glare on her face. "Ms Granger, please do not go off on your own".
"Yes Mam, wont happen again" i apologised.
"Now, please go up to the counter and pay for your books. 2 gallons should do it".
I walked up to the counter and saw one other book, "History of Hogwarts". I grabbed it and put it on the counter. The other book, the one Daphne had suggested,  and the History of Hogwarts bought my total up to 3 galleons. I took out some muggle money and calculated the transition. 2pounds 90 (AN: i use dollars and cents,  so that probably isnt right. Sorryy!). I paid for it and put all the books into a book bag i had received.
I joined McGonagall and the other girls and walked back to Madame Malkins.
As we went in, McGonagall eaited outside for the boys. They went outside and madame Malkin greeted us. "Ok girls. Line up and lets get this over with." She said.
She measured us all and handed us some black robes. Then we got the unfiform for under our robe. It was a white button up shirt with a pleated grey skirt. The ties were plain, but she explained that they would magically become out house colours once we were sorted.

I folded them neatly and placed them in a bag. When the last girl had gone, McGonagall and the boys came back. "Come on everyone, we have a few more shops to get to" McGonagall yelled out.
We followed her out onto the street where we went to so many different stores. We got hats, bags, cauldrons, etc.
But finally, at the end of the day, we went to Ollivanders to get a wand. "Ms Granger, please go in to get your wand" McGonagall ordered to me.
I stepped into the shop. It was dark and dingy, and the walls were lined with boxes of wands.

"Ah, Ms Granger. I sense great power around you. You are destined for great things, both good and bad" came an eerie voice.
"Hello Mr Ollivander" I replied timidly. "What do you mean by that?"
"In your viens runs power darker and more advanced than... good golly... probably as powerful as You Know Who himself" he said. "But let's find you a wand, shall we?"
We tried quite a few, even phonix and oak.
"I have it!" He suddenly cried.
"Where is it..." he muttered to himself. "Aha! Here you go Ms Granger, try that".
He handed me a wand. As soon as it touched my skin, i felt instant warmth. A golden light glowed around me and I felt the magic inside of me rush through my veins. I felt a thronbing power deep inside my core. "This is it" I whispered.
"10 3/4 long, vine wood and dragon heartstring core" he said happily.  "10 galleons please".
I handed himthe money and reached for the doorknob.
"Oh and Ms Granger?"
"Yes sir?"
"Make sure you arewith the right people, for some may try and use you. Do be careful" he warned.
I nodded, thanked him and headed back outside.
"Ok everyone, we will now be leaving. We will apparate, which is just teleportaion. Hold on tight to everyone and all of your belongings please!" McGonagall said firmly.
There was a loud pop and we were gone.