Diagon Alley
I woke up sweating and panting. I sat up immediately and shot my eyes open, looking frantically around the room. I had one of those nights, again. I sighed, covering my face in my hands, and tried to calm down. I was still on edge, these repeated nightmares reminding me of my trauma were taking a toll on me. That I had sleep parylisis –at least that's what I called it– from time to time didn't help either. After some seconds I stood up and stretched, hoping to forget the horrible feeling it gave me. I looked in the mirror and saw my horrible morning face... ugh. I went to do my hair and put my clothes on. Although the day had started out shitty, we were going to Diagon Alley today! I was quite excited as to choose my pet and get my wand, maybe even meet some people on the way.
I packed a small handbag with some stuff I'd want to take with me: my own money, some object I had found myself calling my lucky charm, a tiny notebook and an ink pen. Not much more was needed since whatever else was important my parents would bring with them.
I rushed downstairs when I was done with my routine and entered the living room happily. My mom, who was sitting on the couch and eating some nuts, turned to look at me. She smiled softly, “good morning”, she said. I bounced up and down slightly in excitement.
“When are we going to Diagon Alley?!” She sighed and let out a small chuckle.
“It's morning, dear. We'll go in the evening.” I pouted, I was already ready to go and now I had to wait. God damn it. “Go get some breakfast and do something else while you wait. You won't even notice time passing by.” She snickered and turned her gaze back to the TV.
I groaned and went to the kitchen, leaving my bag on the dining table and looking for something to eat. I opened the refrigerator and grabbed a flavoured yogurt. I sat down next to where I placed the bag and sighed once I realized I had to get up again to get a spoon.
“Finally!” We were now in Diagone Alley and I was looking around curiously, taking in every detail I could find, watching all the different people walk around. “Where are we gonna go first?” I looked at my mom expectantly.
“Well, I have your list right...” She looked in her bag for a few seconds and took out the envelope that had arrived just a few days ago, “here!” She smiled and looked through it. “Me and dad will go buy the books, robes, etc. You can go get the fun stuff.” She smiled at me and I bounced excitedly.
“The wand and the animals?” I said, raising my voice quite a bit.
“Yep!” She laughed at my enthusiasm. “Give (Y/n) some money.” She turned around and nudged dad, who replied with a small smile.
“’aight!” He looked in his backpack and took out his briefcase to then hand me the money. “Be responsible with it. Don't lose it.” I nodded, wanting to leave and explore the shops already. “Our meeting point is here, don't leave Diagon Alley.” I rolled my eyes, already tired of hearing this. “You can ask around for help but do no-”
“-not follow strangers to weird places and accept any weird gifts. I know, I know.” My mom shot me a glare for interrupting my dad but he just laughed it off. My mom pulled out a small piece of paper.
“Here's the names of the shops you gotta go to.” I took the paper and unfolded it. “And a small drawing of the place. A mini map.” I smiled at the self-made map, seeing all the scribbles and wonky lines. She scratched the back of her neck with a little blush on her cheeks. “Not the best but I hope it helps. Made it on the way here.”
“Thanks mom!” I gave them both a quick hug and trotted happily into the busy street, them watching me while I left and heading to their destinations as well.
I walked into the pet shop first. I looked up to take in the vibe of the store. ‘Magical Menagerie’ was written above the door. Okay so, I had to get an owl, a cat or a toad. I walked in smiling brightly and looked around. Although I knew what I needed I couldn't help but look at the other animals around, some even magical. I started stimming lightly with my hands, and walked around the store without a real purpose.
I passed a glass cage sit on a table but there nothing was inside it. At least not that I could see. I stared at it for a while, curiously. After a few seconds a snake came out of it's hiding spot. It was spotless white, had red glowing eyes, and was small sized. It was mesmerising. I gasped and looked closer.
“Beautiful, isn't it?” A voice beside me spoke, and I flinched as I was not expecting it. I looked to the direction it came from and saw a boy with blonde, almost silver looking, silked back hair and grey eyes. He was looking at the snake attentively as well.
“It is!” I smiled sweetly at him.
“I'd love to get him but bloody Hogwarts only allowes owls, cats and toads.” He groaned and rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed. Then he turned to look at me and stretched out his hand. “Draco, Draco Malfoy.” He grinned and I chuckled.
“(Y/n), (Y/n) Elsher.” I shook his hand, excited to meet someone who was going to the same school as I was. “I'm going to Hogwarts as well! It's my first time; I'm a first year. And you?” I let go of his hand and I swayed on my feet, shifting my weight from foot fo foot slightly.
“Mhm! I'm a first year, as well.” He showed a proud smile and I looked back at the snake, who was looking at us with curious eyes, lifting it's head up a little.
“It's such a shame that other animals aren't allowed.” I looked back at Draco quickly and then at the snake again. “It would really suit you to have this snake as a familiar.” I smile widely. “I don't know how, but you look alike.”
He smirked at this, again with that proud look on his face. “So, you think I'm beautiful as well?” He looks at me with a playful look in his eyes. I didn't know if he was joking or not, but I decided to go along with it.
“Yep! You're really nice to look at.” I complimented him, not thinking much of it. Draco put a surprised look on his face since he was a bit taken aback by what I said. A small silence appeared but was soon broken.
“Thanks, I know.” His surprised look dissapeared and a smug smile made it's way onto his face.
“Draco!” Another blond man, this time with long hair and clearly an adult, made his way towards the blond boy. “We gotta go, come on. You've spend enough time here.” I look up at him and he looks back at me with a judging look, but he forces a smile on his face and I smile back awkwardly.
“Well (Y/n), gotta go. Hope to see you in Slytherin.” He walked away with who probably was his dad, who added a ‘chop chop’ while exiting the store.
I didn't think I would go into Slytherin, given my traits. But I didn't have the time to tell him as he didn't really let me. I watched him walk away with his, supposed, dad. I turned around again, snake now in it's hiding spot, and I sighed. I wanted to look at it some more.
Then, my brain started to torture me. I began overthinking while I stared at the seemingly empty cage. ‘Why did I say that? Was it too weird? Did I make it awkward? I'm sure he thinks I'm a freak now. Who even says that to a stranger? He won't want to talk to me ever again. For fuck's sake, couldn't I keep my mouth shut?’ I noticed myself panicking and breathed in deeply, trying to be as quiet as possible. I rubbed my eyes and sighed.
I looked around some more, and ended up by some cats. I crouched down, as they were roaming on the ground with a small fence around them. Some were sleeping, some were playing, some looked at me curioulsy and went back to their business after, and one, one, cat was looking at me with an intense look it it's eyes. It looked small, about half a year old, and it didn't blink or take it's eyes off of me. It was kind of adorable to look at. I stared back at it and didn't move, creating a staring contest.
“Let me open the gate for you.” I looked beside me and saw the owner of the shop crouching down next to me. “Looks like she caught a liking to you.” They smiled at me and I giggled back, covering my mouth slightly.
She opened the gate, and some cats came closer, rubbing against the fence or just looking around. That one cat, spotless brown by the way, didn't move an inch. I was starting to doubt if it was dead. I reached out my hand, and she blinked, moving her head slightly to look at it. I sighed in relief; she was alive. I touched her head to initiate a pet and although she didn't move much she started purring immediately. A few seconds later she leaned in and I started caressing her head while scratching underneath her chin. I smiled, letting out an ‘aww’.
“She looks cute now, but let me tell you, she's chaos in itself.” The owner laughed, still beside me.
I grabbed the cat and she meowed when I did so, carefully biting me in a playful way. I giggled, because it didn't hurt at all. I brought her to me and started petting her. She calmed down because of it and her pupils started dilating. I was completely in love with this kitten.
“Can I take her?” I look at the owner, and they stood up, smiling softly.
“Of course! Come, follow me.” They left the other kittens and cats to roam around for a while, they trusted them to not cause any ruckus, although I doubted that. We got to the cash register. “Wait here, I'll go get the stuff you need for her.” I nodded.
After they left, my new found friend suddenly started climbing my clothes, I looked at her in amusement. She climbed all the way up from my arms to my shoulder, and she rested there. Just laying, however she could. I tried not to move much to not make her fall and laughed softly.
The owner was finally back, a plastic bag in hand filled with the stuff I needed. “I haven't put any unnecessary stuff in, I promise.” They got behind the counter and put the bag on top of it. I smiled at that, I trusted them.
I gave them the money and they handed me the change. I grabbed the bag, kitty still on my shoulder, and exited the store.
I finally found ‘Ollivanders Wand Shop’ after searching some time, with the help of my mom's map. It wasn't really helpful, but I was thankful for it anyways. I signed relieved, and let my shoulders sink a little. I rushed towards it and was about to go inside when I bumped into someone. There were so many people around and I wasn't paying much attention to which directions anyone was going.
“Oh my god, I'm so sorry!” I heard a woman yell.
I had fallen to the ground, right on my butt. Plastic bag on the floor next to me but thankfully not much had fallen out. My cat, who I decided to name KitKat – I know, very funny – had jumped off of me and was now standing next to me on the ground, sniffing my leg.
I looked up, but the woman stood completely fine and out of the way, while a boy next to her was leaning on a taller one behind him, who I guess managed to catch him before he fell. They all had ginger hair so I guessed they were family. There stood a woman, a boy around my age and two other kids who looked a bit older and exactly like each other. Twins?
“Ron! Apologize, help her up!” The woman, who I guessed was his mother, hurried him and shot him a quick glare.
“N-no need, I can-” before I could finish, I was interrupted. Ron had already stepped forward and put a hand out for me to grab.
“I'm very sorry! Are you okay?” I decided to just grab his hand and let him help me up. I brushed some dust off my clothes and smiled at him while picking my stuff up.
“It's okay, are you okay?” He looked like an awkward wreck honestly, but it was cute.
“Y-yes! I'm fine.” He showed a small and doubtful smile and I grinned back happily.
“Good!” I looked down to see KitKat staring up at me, two of her paws on my shoe. I looked at her in awe as I bowed down to pick her up and hold her in my arms. Then I looked back at the people in front of me. “I'm sorry as well, I wasn't look-”
“Oh no, don't worry sweetheart!” The mom stepped forward and offered me a warm smile. “All's well that ends well.” I smiled back at her, letting out a small chuckle. “Are you first year to Hogwarts as well?” She asked me, while the twins were teasing and chuckling at Ron who just pouted in response.
“Mhm!” I said, straightening my back and looking up at her, more lively than before.
“Ron here is as well!” She gently pushed him forward, eager to introduce him. “He could use some good friends.” It was all said warm-heartedly, of course. He nervously smiled at what his mom said, kind of embarrassed. I was about to say something- when she spoke up again. “Oh, how silly of me.” She shook her head lightly. “I'm Molly Weasley, mother of Ron, George and Fred Weasley.” She signaled each of them while naming them. “And some other kids, but they're off with their dad right now.”
“Honestly, mother! You've confused us again!” Said, supposedly, Fred.
“It hurts, you know.” ‘George’ continued, faking a pain in his heart dramatically.
“Oh gosh, I'm sorry boys!” She answered with a worried slightly guilty on her face.
I smiled at the situation, seeing such a wholesome family made me happy. Sometimes I wish I had siblings. Although maybe having so much was also kind of chaotic... I looked at the shop next to us, and I could see a rather old man looking at us through the window, smiling warmly. I looked back at the Weasley's.
“Well, I think I gotta go. I need to get my wand.” I smiled awkwardly at Molly, and she gasped at what I said.
“Oh, of course! Sorry for stealing your time. Go, go!” She pushed me gently towards the shop and I walked towards it.
Looking back once more and waving as they left as well. When Molly turned her head, Fred and George approached me, and the first one mentioned whispered “She actually had it right, we just like to mess with her.” He chuckled softly as George stood mischievously grinning behind him. I laughed softly and they left, waving me goodbye as well.
Now, I finally focused on the store before me. I entered after taking a deep breath in, opening the door. I looked around but couldn't see the man from before anywhere. I was about to ask if there even was someone there, but someone beat me to speaking.
“Ah! An Elsher, I assume?” I looked surprised in his direction, and nodded slowly. “I remember the day your dad first entered the shop, also stumbled on someone before entering. Your mother, that was.” I smiled brightly, amazed at how this person, I supposed was Ollivander, remembered that occurrence from so long ago and also recognized how I was their kid. “I could recognize that smile anywhere. And your mother's features are un-unrecognizable.” He smiled brightly at this. Then he opened the box he had in his hands, showing a wand inside of it. He offered it to me. “Here, try it. It may be for you. Remember, the wand chooses the witch, not the other way around.”
I put KitKat down next to my feet. I reached for it and grabbed it, it felt a bit uncomfortable in my hands which Ollivander noticed and shared a doubtful look to.
“Do I just... flick it?” He nodded, still the same look on his face. I did so, and a hard wave of wind came forward messing up my hair and pushing me foward a bit as the papers that layed on his desk flew all over the place. I looked up at him in worry, seeing his hair is now messy as well. “Oh my god! I'm so sorry!” I said in a panicked tone.
“Yep, I thought so.” He ignored my apology and grabbed the wand out of my hand, not paying the mess any attention. He put it back in the box, looked around for another wand and gave it to me.
I tried again, but this time instead of a fierce wind, some kind of laser like lights came out of it and they immediately started burning some spots everywhere, not enough to catch fire of course, just leaving marks on the walls. I shook the wand trying to turn it off but it didn't work and I just ruined his workplace more. He took it out of my hand and it stopped immediately. “I- uh-” he didn't let me finish
“Don't worry, it happens.” He smiled warmly at me. “Maybe...” He went a bit deeper into the wand section coming back quickly and handed me another wand, this one way longer than the ones he gave me earlier. I flick it giving it a try, and nothing happened. “Try again.” Nothing happened. He chuckled. “Again.” I did so, and suddenly all cabinets and drawers flew open. I flinched back. I looked around and, fortunately, not much archives or boxes flew out of their respective places. I sighed in relief and handed him the wand with an awkward smile on my face. “Don't think much about it. I've had clients that took over 10 different wands to figure out which one was theirs!” While he snickered I gulped, hoping I wouldn't be one of those.
He returned to the depths of the aisle of wands, and took some time to come back, which I took to look around seeing every detail of his office - and all the things I had messed up. I felt a bit guilty although he told me to not worry about it. He came back with another wand, hopefully the last one, and handed the box unopened to me.
“Try this one. It would be amusing if this one would choose you.”
“I hope it's this one then.” I grab it excitedly, getting used to making a mess. I open the box and pick up the wand. I flick it, and a beam of light comes out. It's not blinding, but it's beautiful to look at. I look at him and he nods, making me bounce up and down. “Yes yes yes!” I speak very fast, not able to contain my happiness. “What kind of wand is it?” I look at him with sparkles in my eyes, acting as if I just found my soulmate. Ollivander laughed at this.
“11 inches, dogwood, phoenix feather core, slightly springy. Dogwood wands have playful natures and insist on partners who can provide them with scope for excitement and fun; they are my favorite wands to present to their owners!” He leans in smiling, and his words make me beam. “And a phoenix feather as core! That's impressive; these wands are always the pickiest at choosing their owners.” I squealed in delight, not being able to control my stimming again. Ollivander ruffles my hair at this. “I can see why this wand likes you.”
“Thanks Mr. Ollivander!”
After I pay for the wand, I rush out of the store with KitKat, my new wand and the bag of necessities. I stop by “Sugarplum's Sweet Shop” before heading towards the meeting point me and my parents had decided on, munching on some chocolate. When I see them, I tell them excitedly all about my day. I couldn't wait to go to Hogwarts.