
Diagon ally
 The next morning, Isagi woke up earlier than usual. He barely slept the night before, his mind racing with thoughts about magic, wizards, and the world Anri had introduced him to. The letter he had received lay on his nightstand, the parchment now slightly wrinkled from being handled so much. Â
He dressed quickly and ran downstairs, where his mother was setting the table for breakfast. His father sat with the morning newspaper, flipping through the pages as if yesterdayâs revelation had been a mere dream. Â
âYouâre up early,â his mother said, giving him a warm smile. âNervous?â Â
âNervous? Of course i am!â Isagi deflated, though his bouncing knee betrayed his excitement. âI just⊠I canât believe all this is real.â Â
His father lowered the newspaper, his brow furrowed. âAre you sure this isnât some elaborate scam? I mean, magic? It sounds ridiculous.â Â
Before Isagi could agree, there was a sharp knock at the door. His mother wiped her hands on her apron and went to answer it. Moments later, Professor Teieri stepped into the living room, looking as composed and regal as she had the day before. Â
âGood morning, Mr. Isagi,â she said, inclining her head. She glanced at his parents. âAnd to you as well. Are you ready to see Diagon Alley?â Â
Isagi nodded enthusiastically, nearly tripping over his chair as he stood up. His father, still skeptical, muttered something about scams, but his mother silenced him with a look. Â
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They took a taxi to London, Professor Teieri sitting primly in the front seat while Isagi stared out the window, his mind buzzing with anticipation. When they finally arrived at a nondescript pub called The Leaky Cauldron, Isagi hesitated. Â
âThis is it?â he asked, staring at the worn wooden sign that swayed slightly in the breeze. Â
âAppearances can be deceiving,â Anri said with a faint smile. She led the way inside, where the dimly lit interior smelled of old wood and butterbeer. Wizards and witches of all ages sat at small tables, chatting over drinks or flipping through newspapers with moving pictures. Â
âWhoaâŠâ Isagi whispered, his eyes wide as he took it all in (hold up đ).Anri didnât stop to let him linger. She led him through the pub to a brick wall in the back. With a quick tap of her wand, the bricks shifted and rearranged themselves, revealing an archway that led to a bustling street. Â
Isagi stepped through, his jaw dropping at the sight before him. Diagon Alley was alive with movement and color. Shops lined the cobblestone streets, their signs advertising everything from potions ingredients to enchanted brooms. Witches and wizards in vibrant robes hurried past, carrying packages or chatting animatedly. Â
âThis is incredible,â Isagi said, spinning around to take it all in. Â
âStay close,â Anri instructed, her tone firm. âWe have much to do.â Â
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Their first stop was Gringotts Wizarding Bank, a towering marble building guarded by goblins. Isagi was fascinated by the goblinsâ sharp features and businesslike demeanor, though he quickly realized they werenât the friendliest creatures. Â
âVault 687,â Anri told a goblin, handing over a key. The goblin led them deep into the bankâs underground tunnels, where carts sped along tracks at dizzying speeds. Isagi clutched the sides of the cart, laughing nervously as they zoomed down steep drops and sharp turns. Â
When they reached the vault, Isagiâs breath caught. Inside were piles of gold, silver, and bronze coinsâhis school funds. Â âThis is all mine?â he asked, staring at the treasure. Â
âA modest sum,â Anri said. âIt should cover your school supplies.â Â Isagi quickly filled a pouch with coins, still marveling at the idea of magical money. Â
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Their next stop was Madam Malkinâs Robes for All Occasions. Isagi stood awkwardly on a stool as a witch measured him for his school robes. Â âLate newcomer, dear?â Madam Malkin asked kindly. Â
âYeah,â Isagi said, glancing around. Â
Another boy entered the shop, his silver with a bit of green in his hair was gleaming in the sunlight. He gave Isagi a once-over before smirking. Â
âHufflepuff material, Iâd say,â the boy said, his tone smug. Â
âUh⊠thanks?â Isagi said, unsure if that was meant to be an insult. Â
The boyâs smirk deepened, but before he could say anything else, Madam Malkin shooed him toward another stool. Â
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After picking up his robes, Isagi and Anri visited Flourish and Blotts for his textbooks, including The Standard Book of Spells and Magical Theory. Isagi struggled to carry the stack of books, nearly dropping them twice. Â
Their final stop was Ollivanders, the wand shop. The interior was quiet and dusty, filled with towering shelves of long, thin boxes. Â
âAh, a new customer,â said an elderly man who emerged from the shadows. His pale eyes seemed to look right through Isagi. âI am Ollivander. Letâs find the perfect wand for you.â Â
Isagi spent the next half hour trying different wands, each with varying disastrous results. One wand sent sparks flying, another knocked over a shelf, and a third caused the room to shake. Â
Finally, Ollivander handed him a wand made of maple wood with a phoenix feather core. As soon as Isagi held it, a warm glow surrounded him, and a gentle breeze ruffled his hair. Â
âCurious⊠very curious,â Ollivander murmured. âWhatâs curious?â Isagi asked, gripping the wand tightly. Â
âThe phoenix whose feather resides in this wand gave only one other feather,â Ollivander said. âAnd that wand⊠belongs to someone who changed the wizarding world forever.â Â
Isagi frowned, unsure what to make of that. Â
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By the time they left Diagon Alley, Isagi was exhausted but thrilled. His bag was filled with books, robes, and supplies, and he held his wand carefully as if it were the most valuable thing he owned. Â
As they exited back through the Leaky Cauldron, Isagi turned to Anri. âThank you for everything, Professor. I still donât know if I deserve all this, but Iâll try my best.â Â
Anri expression softened slightly. âYouâll find that talent alone is not what makes a great wizard, Mr. Isagi. Itâs the choices you make. And I believe youâll make the right ones.â Â
As Isagi walked away with his parents, he couldnât help but smile. For the first time in his life, he felt like he was on the verge of something extraordinary. Â
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