1. Diagon Alley
Hope stood at the stove, hurriedly shoveling scrambled eggs from side to side with a bright smile. She and her father, Remus, lived in a small cottage tucked away in the quiet countryside of Yorkshire, miles from any other houses or villages. The cottage, worn down by time, was barely big enough for the two of them, and Remus couldn't help but wish for more—a better life for Hope, a better home. He longed to give her something more comfortable, less cramped, less bleak. But Hope didn't see it that way. She loved her home. Every crack, every imperfection told a story, a memory. Sure, it was small, but it was enough. She had her father, and the cottage, despite its flaws, was big enough for the love they shared. That was good enough for her.
The stairs creaked behind her as she moved the eggs onto two plates, also holding toast and bacon—one perfectly crisped, the other a bit rarer. "Look at you, normally I can't get you out of bed till noon," Remus laughed, approaching the table.
"Today's not just a normal day," Hope replied, setting down the plates. "Eat up; we have a long day ahead of us," she instructed, stacking her eggs and bacon on top of her toast and taking a big bite. Remus chuckled.
"Yes, I believe we do," he said, taking a bite of his bacon. "So, for the itinerary—"
"Itinerary? Have everything scheduled out, do you?" Remus asked, raising an eyebrow.
Hope nodded fervently, taking a big gulp. "Of course. First, we pick up all my books, then my cauldron, telescope, all the equipment. But not my wand. We should save the best for last. Then, my robes. Ooh, and I heard there's an ice cream shop, so we'll need to stop there—"
Remus smiled as he watched her excitedly list off her plans.
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Inside the Leaky Cauldron, the air was thick with the aroma of hearty stews and the clinking of glasses. Hope's heart raced with excitement as she trailed behind her father through the crowded pub. As they exited through the back of the Leaky Cauldron, a brick wall greeted them. Remus took out his wand and tapped a specific spot on the wall. The bricks parted, revealing a bustling alleyway filled with colorful shops and witches and wizards going about their business.
Remus turned to Hope. "Now, I know you had a whole schedule planned out, but how about we divide and conquer?" He smiled down at her.
Hope nodded. "Perfect. How about you get your books? Flourish and Blotts is just over there, and I can grab your cauldron, telescope, all of that," Remus suggested, placing some coins into her hands. "Once you're done, we can meet in front of Madam Malkin's for your robes."
Hope glanced at the alley with wonder before furrowing her brows. "Madam Malkin's?" she asked. "Dad, her robes are brand new. I'm sure they have a second-hand shop here."
"Nonsense," Remus waved his hand dismissively. "I've saved up for your time at Hogwarts. Don't worry about it."
Hope still hesitated. "Are you sure? I really don't mind second-hand."
"Positive," Remus said, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder and kneeling down to her level. "Now, go on, get your books."
Hope smiled uncertainly but nodded, making her way toward Flourish and Blotts. She paused in front of Quality Quidditch Supplies, staring at the Nimbus 2000 in the window. Though she'd never played Quidditch or even ridden a broom, Hope had always wanted to try it.
Entering Flourish and Blotts, she smiled nervously at the stack of books piled high, then glanced at the list she'd been given:
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
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble
She looked around, unsure where to start. A young boy approached, his friendly smile immediately putting her at ease. He looked a couple of years older.
"Lost, are you?" he asked with a gentle tone.
Hope nodded, showing him the list in her hands. "A bit. I'm looking for these books."
He smiled warmly. "No problem. Let's start with The Standard Book of Spells."
"So, what house do you think you'll be in?" The boy asked, As they moved through the shop, pulling books from the shelves, the boy asked.
"Not sure. I'd like to be in Gryffindor, since my dad was," Hope replied thoughtfully. "What house are you in?"
"Hufflepuff," he said, pulling down Magical Drafts and Potions.
Hope hummed softly. "You know, I wouldn't mind being in Hufflepuff," she said, looking up at him.
The boy smiled. "People don't usually think of Hufflepuff, since it's not one of the flashier houses. But I love it. You won't find a more inviting house, in my opinion."
After collecting all the books, he handed them to Hope. "Here's the last one."
"Thank you so much, er—" Hope began, realizing she didn't know his name.
"Cedric. Cedric Diggory," he introduced himself brightly.
"Hope Lupin," she replied, equally cheerful. "Well, good luck, Hope. Hope to see you in Hufflepuff," Cedric said as he left.
After paying and leaving Flourish and Blotts, Hope made her way to Madam Malkin's, her books in hand, and waited for her father. When she saw him, she couldn't help but gasp. Remus wheeled a cart with all her equipment, but it was the small red owl perched atop the cart that caught her eye.
"Is that—how did you..." Hope stammered, eyes wide with excitement.
"I thought it would be a good idea, to keep me updated while you're at Hogwarts," Remus explained, his voice warm. "I know he's not the most majestic, but—"
"He's perfect!" Hope interrupted brightly, lifting the cage to her chest.
Remus smiled, taking her books and placing them in the cauldron. "I think I'll hold him while you get fitted for your robes," he said gently, handing her the money.
The fitting went smoothly. Madam Malkin, a kind witch, led Hope to a footstool at the back of the shop, where another witch slipped a robe over her head and pinned it to the right length. Afterward, they made their way to Ollivanders, the final stop on their list.
Hope's heart raced as she stood in front of the wand shop. This was it—the moment she had been waiting for her whole life.
"You ready?" Remus asked softly, glancing down at her.
Hope nodded, and they entered.
The bell above the door rang as they stepped inside. The shop was cramped, filled with thousands of narrow boxes stacked high, each containing a wand. Hope's nerves spiked as she glanced back at her father, who gave her a reassuring smile.
A wizened old man emerged from the back. "Good afternoon," he greeted with a soft voice. "Ah, another Lupin," he said, noting Hope's father. "I remember when your father bought his first wand—ten and a quarter inches, pliable, cypress wood with a unicorn hair core."
"It's served me well," Remus replied with a smile.
Ollivander turned to Hope. "And your mother's wand was quite different—twelve and a half inches, swishy, vine wood with a dragon heartstring core. A nice wand for charm work. She was a brilliant witch."
Hope felt the familiar ache in her chest at the mention of her mother. She quickly turned her attention back to Ollivander.
"Which is your wand arm?" Ollivander asked, pulling Hope out of her thoughts.
"My right," Hope replied, holding out her hand.
Ollivander measured her with a magical tape measure before selecting a wand. "Maple wood and dragon heartstring, eleven inches. Solid. Give it a try."
Hope waved the wand, but nothing happened. Ollivander looked at her thoughtfully, before handing her another. "Alder and unicorn hair, ten and a half inches. Fairly bendy."
Hope waved it again, and a box flew off a nearby shelf, nearly hitting her father, causing the little owl to squawk.
"Sorry," Hope said sheepishly.
Ollivander chuckled. "No, no. Not the right one. Here. Try this—rowan wood and phoenix feather, nine and a half inches. Quite flexible."
Hope held the wand, and warmth spread through her fingers. She raised it, gave it a swish, and a shower of red and gold sparks erupted from the tip, filling the room with dancing lights.
Her father smiled, his pride evident. Ollivander's eyes twinkled as he wrapped the wand in paper.
"Phoenix feather is a rare core," Ollivander remarked. "You'll do great things, Miss Lupin."
Hope clutched the wand, her heart full, as they left the
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After leaving Ollivanders, they sat at Florean Fortescue's Ice-Cream Parlour, both with chocolate ice creams in hand.
"What was Hogwarts like for you, Dad?" Hope asked, taking a bite of her ice cream.
Remus looked at Hope with a nostalgic smile, his eyes drifting into the past. "It was some of the best years of my life," he replied. "That is, until we had you, of course. It's where I met your mother. As you know, she was in a different house, so we didn't really interact much at first. She was quiet and focused, always buried in her books."
Hope listened intently.
"It wasn't until our sixth year that we really got to know each other," Remus continued, his gaze distant as he recalled the memories. "I, well, I wasn't the most confident back then, and she... well, she seemed a bit cold at first. But once you got to know her, got to know how warm she truly was, well, there wasn't a single soul who wouldn't brighten at the sound of her laugh. It was much like yours, in fact."
Hope smiled sadly, remembering her mum's laughter. It had always brought her comfort when she was told they had the same laugh.
"Of course, my friends eventually got tired of me pining after her from afar like a lost puppy," Remus chuckled, a hint of fondness in his voice. "They decided to take matters into their own hands and forced me to talk to her."
Hope's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Who were your friends, Dad? You've never really talked about them."
Remus's smile faltered, and a shadow crossed his features. "My friends... they were the best friends I've ever had," he replied softly, his voice tinged with sadness. "We had some incredible times together at Hogwarts... They were like brothers to me."
Hope noticed the sadness in her father's eyes and the way his voice trembled with emotion. "Did you lose touch? Why haven't I ever met them?"
Remus took a deep breath, his gaze drifting off into the distance. "Well, when You-Know-Who was at large... let's just say I lost them," he explained, his words heavy with sorrow. "It's a painful chapter of my past, one I don't like to dwell on."
Hope reached out and gently squeezed her father's hand, offering him silent comfort.
"But enough about me," Remus said, his voice regaining its usual warmth. "Hogwarts will be an incredible experience for you, Hope. You'll make lifelong friends, just like I did. And they'll bring you more joy than you can imagine."