26.
The Next Morning:
The morning sun shone through the large windows of the Londen house, the quiet of the house broken only by the soft tapping of Dana’s feet as she walked towards her dad and uncle. Dean and Sam sat in the kitchen with a cup of coffee, the silence between them comfortable but focused. They were still getting used to the house, the house elves, and most of all the reality that their lives had changed completely.
At that moment, there was a loud, heavy knock on the front door. Dana jumped up from her chair, her eyes wide with excitement. She heard Tinker open the door, and then she heard a heavy voice. Ever since Vernon, heavy voices have scared her a bit, and she looked at Dean in alarm. Both Dean and Sam rose from their seats as the biggest man they had ever seen walked into the kitchen.
The giant man filled the doorway. His wild beard and long hair made him even more imposing, but his kind eyes sparkled with joy when he saw Dana, who did her best to disappear behind her dad.
“You must be Dana Potter!” Hagrid said with a broad smile. “How nice to finally meet you!”
Dana peeked from behind Dean's broad back and looked at Hagrid with wide eyes. “Hello sir, Wow… you’re big.” Hagrid laughed loudly, a deep, hearty sound that echoed through the house. “That’s what they all say, my dear child.”
Dean stepped forward. “And you are?” Hagrid looked at Dean and Sam, his eyes curious. “Ah, you must be the Winchesters.” He held out a huge hand to Dean. “Rubeus Hagrid. Guardian of the Hogwarts grounds and Keeper of Keys.”
Dean looked at the hand as if it were a dangerous animal, but Sam stepped forward and shook his hand without hesitation.
“Sam Winchester,” he said with a smile. “Nice to meet you, Hagrid.” Dean continued to eye Hagrid suspiciously. “So… you’re our guide?” Hagrid nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, Professor Dumbledore asked me to take you to Diagon Alley. It’s time to get all the school supplies for Dana.”
Dana felt more confident and grabbed Dean's hand. “Really? We’re going now?” Hagrid smiled at her. “Yes, young lady. Ready for an adventure?”
After Tinker and Gildy had dropped everyone off before the Leaky Cauldron, they followed Hagrid inside. It was true what Albus had said, with their jeans and flannel jackets, they stood out. But both men couldn’t care less and walked through the dingy pub. Upon arrival at the small area outside the pub, Hagrid walked resolutely toward an old, crumbling wall.
“This is the entrance,” he explained. “But only if you know how to open it.” Dana, Dean and Sam watched in fascination as Hagrid touched a few stones with his umbrella. The wall shifted, forming an archway leading to Diagon Alley.
Dana looked around with wide eyes as they entered Diagon Alley. The colourful shops, the floating signs, and the hum of the magical community around her made her silent with wonder. It was the same as in Kansas, but different altogether.
“Wow…” she whispered. Hagrid smiled broadly. “Beautiful, isn’t it? Everything you need for your first year at Hogwarts is here.” Dean and Sam followed with suspicious glances. They could feel the eyes of passersby burning into them.
Dean leaned toward Sam. “Do you see what I see?” Sam nodded. “They look like we brought a three-headed dog with us.”
A wizard with a long beard paused for a moment, staring intently at them. His eyes slid from Dean to Sam, then settled on Dana. “Potter,” he whispered almost reverently, before hurriedly walking on.
Dana tugged at Hagrid’s coat. “Why are they looking at us like that?” Hagrid patted her gently on the head. “They recognize you from the way you look, you look just like your father and you have your mother’s eyes. And you scar of course.” Dean looked at Sam. “I knew we had to do something about that scar. I hope they stick to staring. I’m not really in the mood for trouble.”
Sam laughed softly. “Dean, relax. This isn’t a hunt.” Dean rolled his eyes. “Not yet.”
As they walked past several shops, Dana held Dean’s hand tightly. A witch in a pointy hat watched them go and whispered something to her companion, who looked at Dana in shock.
Dean saw it and grabbed Sam’s arm. “That’s going to irritate me.”
“What?”
“The whispering. I feel like a fairground ride.” Hagrid turned and looked at Dean with a smile. “Don’t worry, Dean. They’re just curious. You guys look a bit… er…” He fumbled for words.
“Muggle-like?” Sam added. Hagrid chuckled. “Exactly.”
Before they could enter Madam Malkins, an older witch approached Dana. She leaned forward slightly and looked at her kindly. “Are you Dana Potter?” she asked softly.
Dana looked at Dean for confirmation. Then she nodded. “Yes, ma’am.” The witch smiled warmly. “It is so good to see you, my child. Your parents would be so proud of you.”
Dean felt his jaw muscles tighten. He stepped forward and placed a hand on Dana’s shoulder. “Thank you, ma’am,” he said with a polite nod, but his gaze made it clear he wanted her to continue. The witch took the hint and left.
Dana stood on a small platform as Madam Malkin circled her with her tape measure. The fabric of the robe felt soft and light, and Dana smiled as she looked at herself in the mirror. She had never worn such beautiful clothing before, let alone something made especially for her.
“You look like a real witch, kiddo,” Sam said encouragingly from the corner of the store. Dean stood with his arms crossed, clearly uncomfortable. “Are you sure they don’t have something a little tougher? Something with… leather or something?”
Madam Malkin snorted disdainfully. “School uniforms are practical, sir. Not fashionable.”
Dana giggled softly, which softened Dean’s stance. “How does it feel, kiddo?” Dana turned slightly in front of the mirror, her eyes sparkling with joy. “It feels good. It’s… real.”
Madam Malkin leaned toward her and smiled. “You’re ready for Hogwarts, my dear child.”
The smell of old books filled the air as they entered the bookstore. The shelves towered above them, filled with leather-bound volumes, magical titles, and scrolls of parchment. Dana looked at the stacks of books with wide eyes. “Dad, can I read them all?” Dean grinned. “If you can do that, you’re smarter than me.”
Sam was immediately in his element and began reading titles. “History of Magic… Defense Against the Dark Arts… This is fantastic.” Dean looked at a thick book titled ‘Magical Disasters and How to Avoid Them’ and made a face. “That looks like trouble.”
Dana looked around and tugged at Dean’s coat. “Dad, can I pick an extra book?” Dean smiled and nodded. “Sure, pick some sweetheart.”
They walked further along the cobblestone street until they came to a store with a single wand on a purple cushion. Ollivanders, the sign read. Wandmaker. The bell above the door chimed softly as they stepped into the dark shop. The air smelled of old wood and something akin to magic itself. The walls were covered in endless rows of narrow, dusty boxes, and the space felt charged with ancient, dormant power.
A thin, older man with silver hair slowly emerged from the shadows. His eyes glittered with curiosity as he surveyed the new visitors. “Ah, Miss Potter, I wondered when I would be seeing you,” Ollivander said softly. “It was not so long ago that your father and mother were in here, buying their first wands.’ His voice was a whisper, but it reached every corner of the shop.
Dana looked around curiously as Ollivander opened several boxes and brought them to her. He opened one and pulled out a long, slender wand. “Let’s start with this one. Rowan wood, unicorn hair core. Try it.” Dana took the wand cautiously, but before she could do anything with it, a stack of boxes behind her began to wobble dangerously and collapsed with a loud crash.
Ollivander shook his head thoughtfully. “No, no. That’s clearly not the right one.” He pulled another wand from a box and handed it to Dana. “Ashwood, dragon’s heartstring.” Dana waved it, but a pot in the corner of the room exploded with a bang and a cloud of green smoke.
Dean coughed and waved the smoke away. “Does this happen all the time?” Ollivander smiled slightly. “Finding the right wand is a delicate matter, sir. The wand chooses the wizard, not the other way around.”
Dana tried a few more wands, but none of them seemed to work. She felt increasingly discouraged. “Don’t give up,” Sam said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder. “The right wand is out there, you just have to find it.”
Ollivander nodded in agreement and walked to a high shelf at the back of the shop. He pulled out a dusty box and blew gently on it. “This one is special… very special.” Dana took the wand. It was made of mahogany, with a phoenix feather core. As soon as she held it in her hand, she felt a warm, tingling glow flow through her fingers. A soft golden glow filled the room.
Ollivander smiled with satisfaction. “Ah, there it is. The wand has chosen.”
Dana looked at the wand in her hand in surprise. “It feels… right.” Ollivander nodded slowly. “That’s because it’s a perfect fit for you. But there’s something you need to know.”
The room fell silent as Ollivander turned his gaze to Dana. “The core of that wand comes from the same phoenix as He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.”
Dean’s face froze. “Wait, what?” Ollivander sighed deeply. The phoenix that gave the tailfeather gave me two. One of the feathers is in his wand, the other feather is in this one. They are brotherwands. But since He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is dead, it matters not, maybe. But it is clear that we can expect great things from you Miss Potter. After all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things. Terrible, but great.”
***
After the somewhat shocking events in Ollivander’s shop had subsided, Dana’s stomach growled softly. Sam heard it and suggested to go to lunch.
When lunch was over, the group was sitting at a table outside the magical café. Dana was wiggling her legs impatiently as she watched the people passing by in Diagon Alley. Dean leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed, while Sam looked through a list of purchases.
Hagrid stood up and wiped his hands on his coat. "Will you two stay here for a while? I have something to do." Dana looked up curiously. "What's that?"
Hagrid smiled mysteriously. "You'll see later, my dear." Dean watched Hagrid suspiciously as he walked away. "What's he thinking of doing now?"
Sam grinned. “No idea dude.” After about 15 minutes, Hagrid reappeared, his enormous frame towering over the crowd. Dana jumped up when she saw him. But when she looked closely, she stopped dead in her tracks.
On Hagrid's large arm sat a snow-white owl. Her feathers shone in the sunlight, and her amber eyes were bright and intelligent. She turned her head toward Dana as if studying her.
Dana’s eyes widened in wonder. “Is that… for me?” she whispered. Hagrid nodded and stepped closer. “Yes, girl. This is Hedwig. She’ll bring you your mail, keep you company, and…” He glanced at Dean and Sam, “…keep an eye on you if you need it.”
Dana stepped forward carefully and held out her arm. The owl very carefully walked from Hagrid’s arm to Dana’s. She was surprisingly light, and her feathers felt as soft as silk.
“Hedwig…” Dana said softly. She looked up at Hagrid with tears in her eyes. “Thank you. She’s beautiful.” Dean stood up and looked at the owl. “So… this means we have a pet now. Wonderful.” He grumbled but Dana saw his smile.
Sam smiled. “She’s perfect, Dana. What a beautiful owl.” Dana looked from her uncle to her father, her eyes sparkling with delight. “She’s the most beautiful owl ever.”
Hedwig looked deep into Dana’s eyes and let out a soft, reassuring sound. Dana smiled broadly and held her gently. “I promise I’ll take good care of her,” she said firmly. Hagrid nodded. “I know I will, girl. Hedwig’s a clever owl. She can sense who she can trust.”
Dean looked at Hagrid. “And this was the secret job you had to do?” Hagrid winked. “Some things are worth sneaking away for.”