Chapter 2: Diagon alley
Wow what a
place!! Chris though as they walked down
the busy streets of Diagon Alley.
“Oh I almost forgot Happy Birthday Chris,” Hagrid
said while pulling out a squished vanilla cake. Chris took it surprised that a total
stranger remembered his birthday and almost everyone at the orphanage forgot.
“Thank you.” Chris whispered, very touched at the
gesture as Hagrid waved it off.
After they got most the school supplies, Hagrid
said, “We’re almost done just two more things. First your
wand.” Chris nodded and followed him silently watching the weird people
in bright colored cloaks and pointed hats walk down the street talking to each
other. They reached a shop called Ollivanders: Maker
of Fine Wands since 382 B.C. They enter the shop to meet and old man, who
scurried up to them as soon as a little twinkling bell sounded.
“Hello Hagrid how may I
help you?” said the old man with a smile who Chris guessed was Mr. Ollivander.
“We’re here for a wand for young Chris.” said Hagrid
patting Chris’s shoulder, causing Chris fell to the ground because of the
weight of Hagrids hand. Chris got up and dusted
himself off, looking at Hagrid a little angrily. Hagrid just smiled sheepishly
as Mr. Ollivander bustled around the dusty little shop.
The old man
started to climb a ladder to get a wand after he got the wand he handed it to
Chris.
“Now swing your arm.” Chris nodded and swung his
arms as he did, wind surrounded him sending his blonde hair flying across his
face and his ocean blue eyes widened with fright. The wind died down instantly
Mr. Ollivander gasped, looking at Chris in surprise. “Never in all my years have I had someone find the right wand on the first time! I
have a feeling that you, Chris, might be one of the most powerful wizard in our time. Do you know of the legend of the four
wizards made up of two girls and two boys? And when the four come together they
can defeat the almighty Lord Voldemort!” Hagrid winced at the sound of Lord Voldemorts name.
“Do you possibly think that Chris will be with Harry
Potter? I heard that the legendary four are coming to Hogwarts this year.” Hagrid stated. Now Chris was confused but he
still stood there but finally spoke up.
“Who’s Harry Potter?” he asked for a moment they
stared at him like he grown five heads but Hagrid finally spoken up.
“I almost forgot. Harry Potter is a wizard about
your age. He was the one we found at the house where you-know-who killed his
parents and three others on that dreadful night. But he is said to be one of
the most powerful wizard because no one, I mean no one, can defeat him, and the
other three are with him too.”
Hagrid then
took me to a big building with goblins everywhere. I think it was called
Gringotts as we entered; I gasped at the sight of hundreds of little goblins
all sitting on stools.
Hagrid
walked up to a goblin.
“How may we serve you today sir?” the goblin asked
look up from a document he was signing, looking a little annoyed.
“Yes we would like to open a volt number 213.” Hagrid
said casually, checking down at Chris, who seemed awe struck by all the
activity.
“Do you have the key?” the goblin asked, and Hagrid
began to rummage around in his coat, dumping various items on the counter in
his quest.
“Now I know
I put it somewhere.” a muffled voice of Hagrid said in the depth of his coat.
“Ah ha!” he said victoriously holding up a small golden key. The goblin nodded
as he grabbed the key inspecting it carefully, turning it this way and that.
He looked up
and finally said, “Everything seems in order. Let me get Braun to take you to
the vault.” Turning over and looking
over his shoulder he yelled, “Braun!” A little goblin in a bellhop suit came
up. “Take them to vault 213.” Braun nodded and guided to the two towards a
door.
The door opened showing a cart Chris gulped slightly
never really fond of roller coasters him, having a weak stomach and all. Slowly
he climbed in a griped the sides with all his might till his knuckles turned
white. Suddenly the cart jolted and they sped off, Chris screaming and grabbed
on the sides for dear life, and Hagrid looked faint. The cart went faster and
faster until Chris couldn’t scream anymore, his lungs wouldn’t allow him.
Suddenly just like it stared, it stopped, Chris sighed in relief and heard
Hagrid grumble about hating carts.
Chris looked
at where they had stopped wearily and it was in front of a vault with the
number 213 written neatly across it. The goblin walked up to the vault pulled out
the key and opened it. Chris’s eyes widened as he gasped. Never in his life has
he seen so much money! It had three piles of gold and silver coins that almost
reached to the ceiling!
“Is this money all mine?” Chris whispered in
amazement Hagrid nodded as he pulled out pouch and filled it up to the top with
gold and silver coins.
“Here’s your
money for the school year.” Hagrid said, handing it to Chris, who stuffed it
into his pocket quickly.
The ride back
in the cart was just as bad as the first. Hagrid muttered curses under his
breath and shut his eyes, while Chris screamed louder then before. As the cart stopped Chris and Hagrid scrambled out of the cart as
fast as they could hoping never to ride it again.
After that Hagrid headed to the wizard pet shop and
picked up a brown owl. He grinned triumphantly and turned to Chris, waiting for
his approval.
“What’s this for?” asked Chris cautiously, looking
at the bird with mixed interest and confusion.
“It’s for your birthday,” said Hagrid said
happily, and Chris shook his head forcefully.
“But you gave me a cake! I think
that’s enough! Thanks though.” Chris said while he pushed the bird back to him,
but Hagrid shook his head and pushed it back toward him.
“No it’s yours. Anyways you need
one to bring your mail.” Hagrid stated, as Chris accepted the gift, looking at
Hagrid in confusion.
“Oh… Ok.” Chris said, wondering
why he needed a bird to bring his mail but pushed it aside. Just then, Hagrid
started back for the station, but Chris noticed it was the wrong way. “Where
are we going? This isn’t the way to
“You’re going to an orphanage here in
England.” said Hagrid, not looking back at Chris, his voice stating not to
argue. “But…okay.” Chris said, a bit sad but figured that he wouldn’t win this
argument.
That night
in his new orphanage he was lying in his bed feeling slightly sick after eating
the food. After going through his things and organizing them he finally got to his
owl.
“I think I’ll
call you….” He paused trying to come up a good name for him. “I’ll call
you…Leo!!” he said smiling liking the name already.
The owl
hooted happily liking the name too. Chris smiled setting the bird on the ground
next to him and went to sleep, dreaming of how Hogwarts will be.