6 6: Diagon Alley and Wands
"""Happy birthday to youuu!"""
In the early morning of the 6th of January, 1991, a mother and a pair of house elves were singing happy birthday to two twins. The room was embellished with a variety of different decorations, some moving, some not. On top of the main table, were floating candles with a mixture of different bright colors, giving the room a festive look. Illuminated with the goldish light coming from the morning sun, the room gave a feeling of warmth, one appreciated by every occupant.
"Thank you, Mother, and Nitwib and Flint, as well." thanked Lysandra. She always liked festive days in the castle, especially their birthday. A shame this would be the last one in a while the twins would spend with their family. She then looked at her brother, who appeared to be in deep thought. Before she could call him out, he asked.
"Thank you three as well, but Mother, now that we're eleven, do we get our own wands? I mean, I like the legacy wands you gave us, but still, it feels like something is missing..." Lysandra then looked at her wand. The centuries of its usage by different wizards could be seen in it, but she still liked it. However, just like Alaric said, it felt like something was amiss.
"You don't have to worry about that. Because you see, two letters for the each of you came in this morning." Said Isadora, with four letters, two on each hand. At the mention of letters, the twins instantly shoot up. After getting the letters from their mother, Lysandra just threw away the Durmstrang one, before opening the Hogwarts letter. On the other hand, Alaric looked at the Durmstrang symbol in the envelope, as if looking at his own child, before, with great difficulty, also throwing it away. He then slowly opened the Hogwarts acceptance letter.
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HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Mr. Grindelwald,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all the necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress
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HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
UNIFORM
First-year students will require: Three sets of plain work robes (black), One plain pointed hat (black) for daywear, One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar), and One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings).
Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.
COURSE BOOKS
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
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 Quentin Trimble
OTHER EQUIPMENT
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal vials
1 telescope
1 set of brass scales
Students may also bring, if they desire, an owl OR a cat, OR a toad.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS.
Yours sincerely,
Lucinda Thomsonicle-Pocus, Chief Attendant of Witchcraft Provisions.
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"Merlin's beard, so much stuff..." commented Lysandra.
"Normally, I would take you, kids, either to Gregorovich or maybe even a French wandmaker..." said the mother.
"I sense a 'But' in there" noted Alaric.
"Well, because we're going back to Britain, I thought that maybe, you two would like to get acquainted with its magical side! And while we go there to buy your school's supplies, I'll have Nitwib and Flint move the rest of our things to the cottage in Godric's Hollow! What do you think?" said Isadora, while she intertwined her fingers in front of her face, showing some eagerness to take her children in some shopping/sightseeing.
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Located in London, England, Diagon Alley is a hidden street that can only be accessed by wizards and witches and is home to a variety of magical shops and businesses. It's described as a narrow, cobbled street lined with colorful storefronts, each with unique features and signage. From Diagon Alley, a variety of other streets diverge, forming what, from above, looks like a river system. Some of these other streets are Knockturn Alley, Horizont Alley, and Carkitt Market.
Walking through this narrow street, were a mother and her two children. The mother, as always, had an air of elegance and superiority around her. With silvery blonde hair and white-blue eyes, she was wearing a fashionable black tight dress, with a cloche hat, an outfit normally only seen worn by purebloods. Her daughter, on the other hand, had a flowing dark-blue dress, that complimented well her jet-black hair and blue eyes.
As for the son, with his shoulder-length almost silver hair, and white-blue eyes, just like his mother, he sported a grey vest, dressed over a formal white shirt, with grey pants and black formal shoes. On top of these clothes, was a dark-blue wizarding robe.
The air around them, supported by their clothes, gave them an air of superiority compared to most wizards and witches present.
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[Alaric's Pov]
Diagon Alley was, all in all, better than what I expected. The vibrant shops, with a variety of different colors, contrasted well with the gray ambiance that Britain had. As we slowly made our way through the cobbled street, we reached our first destination. Lysandra insisted that we would go check the other shops first, and leave Ollivanders for last. But I didn't care. The only thing I wanted at that moment was to finally feel "complete". I just couldn't wait. While my wandless magic was steadily progressing, my magic with a wand was at a roadblock. While I had only entered the beginning of my magic maturation, which starts at eleven years of age, and finishes at seventeen, I still felt like the bigger the base, the higher the tower.
(A/N: The bigger the foundations, the higher the potential.)
I and my sister swiftly opened the door. The interior of the shop was dimly lit and cluttered, with shelves upon shelves of rectangular boxes, probably containing wands of various sizes, shapes, and materials. When I rang the bell at the counter, an old man with white hair and eyebrows and spectacular, protruding silver eyes, came from the back of the store.
"Hmmmm... two new customers! Have you come for your first wand, my children?" asked, who I assumed to be Mr.Ollivander, with a kind but enthusiastic voice, a bit of a stupid question.
"For what else would we be here?" replied my sister, with a question of her own.
"Hahaha, well, it's just a formality. Why don't we start with you, little miss? Main hand?" he continued.
As Mr. Ollivander asked Lys questions, he would bring different sets of wands. At one point, after going over about 50 different ones, he brought an old-looking box from the back of the shop.
"Why don't you try this one miss? Elder wood, phoenix feather core, eleven inches and slightly flexible."
As soon as my sister picked up the wand, I saw an expression of relief forming on her face.
"Interesting, very interesting. I think we've found your wand, little miss. Now, what about you, my boy?"
Just like Lysandra, the old man asked me a set of questions, bringing each time a new wand for me to try. After Merlin knows how long, I could see some hesitation in Mr.Ollivander. I gave up to temptation and read most of his thoughts, which showed me that he just couldn't decide what wand was a fit for me. But then, he looked at my sister's wand, and, like when cavemen discovered fire, a weird expression appeared on his face, and he rushed to the back of his shop.
After some rumbling and objects flying around sounds, he came back with an even older box than my sister's. He slowly opened the box and presented it to me.
"Here, Elder wood, thestral tail hair, and dragon heartstring core, fourteen inches and unflexible."
The wand had a sleek black color to it. The handle had a spiral shape to it, with a jewel on its base. When I picked it up, a relaxing feeling washed over me, as a long-lost part of my body had been reunited with me.
"Very interesting indeed." said Mr. Ollivander "Those two wands were made from the same elder tree. I guess it's fitting for twins... I must say, I don't remember the last time I sold an Elder wood wand, and I don't forget anything. I expect you to do great things! May they be terrible or good, but great indeed!"
My sister, tired of the man's excentric-ness, just asked. "How much, Mr. Ollivander?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, 7 galleons each."
After paying, my sister left quickly. As I was opening the door to leave, I heard the old man.
"May I ask, but I never knew your name?" he said. I pondered for a bit. It's not like being surnamed Grindelwald was a crime. And even, I was proud of my family name. I then looked at the man.
"My sister's named Lysandra. And I'm Alaric. Alaric Grindelwald." The man's eyes widened for a bit before a small smile made its way onto his face. "I see, then I definitely expect great things from you... Mr. Grindelwald."
