Diagon Alley
1820 Words
Chapter - 05
Soon the trio reached their destination and got off the taxi. Maybe she wanted to keep a low profile or just wanted to enjoy one of the muggle rides, instead of apparating prof McGonagall chose the taxi.
Both Alex and Nicole followed the lead of prof McGonagall and soon stood in front of a shabby bar. Alex looked around only to find that nobody walking there paid any attention towards the bar as if it does not even exist.
"' The Leaky Cauldron' looks kind of shady if you ask me, professor are you sure we are in the right place" as usual Nicole didn't forget to remark. Alex was having a premonition that Nicole might turn into some kind of bane for prof McGonagall.
"I have been escorting students for a few decades now miss Ashbridge I think I know my way around here" sure enough as soon as Nicole opened her mouth, prof McGonagall lost her composure.
Following prof McGonagall, the trio entered the bar. For a famous place, it was very dark and shabby. A few old women were sitting in a corner, drinking tiny glasses of sherry. One of them was smoking a long pipe. A little man in a top hat was talking to the old bartender, who was quite bald and looked like a toothless walnut. The low buzz of chatter stopped when they walked in.
"Prof McGonagall, what brings you here? The usual?" the bartender asked.
"Not today Tom, I am escorting the new students, to buy their supplies" prof McGonagall politely refused and continued walking.
They didn't walk much when prof McGonagall was surrounded by a group of wizards, like a flower surrounded by bees and how can Nicole leave this opportunity.
"Looks like someone got a lot of admirers," Nicole said loud enough for prof McGonagall to hear and prof almost coughed up blood.
It took them almost ten minutes to get away from all of them. Prof McGonagall with a slightly flushed face adjusted her glasses and didn't dare to look at Nicole. Prof McGonagall led them through the bar and out into a small, walled courtyard, where there was nothing but a trash can and a few weeds. Prof McGonagall took out her wand and tapped it rhythmically on the wall and soon the bricks began to adjust themselves, and a small hole appeared which started to grow wider and wider. As the wall disappeared a bustling street filled with people wearing pointy hats was in front of them.
"I am sure you have the list of all the items you need," prof McGonagall asked, turning towards Alex.
"Yes but before that, I need to exchange my money with Galleons," Alex said, taking out a bundle of notes.
"You can either go to the bank, or there are some shops which also exchange currency, but their exchange rate is higher" prof McGonagall said, while they continued to walk down the street.
As they were walking, Alex saw a sign stating currency exchange.
"Let's go in there," Alex said, pointing towards the shop.
As they walked inside, they found a group of people standing in line, while an old man exchanged there currency. The current rate of conversion in the bank was six pounds for one galleon while here it was six and a quarter for one. After exchanging Alex had, four thousand one hundred and sixty galleons with him, adding one thousand galleons which the man in black gave him, he was quite rich now.
"Since you have the money and the list you can shop on your own now, I have some work so I will be leaving" as they left the shop prof McGonagall said.
"Thank you, professor,".
"Brother let's go eat something" after prof McGonagall left, Nicole pointed towards a shop.
After eating to their fill, both Alex and Nicole roamed around the streets, while buying books and other equipment. After about three hours, only the wands and pets remained to be bought.
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After asking around for a while, they stood in front of a narrow and shabby shop. The golden letters over the door were peeling off, and one could barely make it out what was written:
Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 b.c.
A single wand lay on a faded purple cushion in the dusty window.
As they stepped inside, a tinkling sound resonated somewhere deep inside of the shop. It was a tiny place, empty except for a single spindly chair, which was placed in one of the corners. As they looked around, they could see thousands of narrow boxes piled neatly right up to the ceiling.
"Good afternoon," they heard a voice as if someone whispered into their ears. Nicole let out a shriek and backed off only to stumble upon the chair. Alex too was taken aback by the voice.
Soon an old man emerged from behind one of the shelves and came towards the counter.
"My apologies miss, I had no intention to startle you" the old man apologised to Nicole in a deep and trembling voice.
"It's alright just give me some discount on the wands and we are even," Nicole said to the old man while dusting her clothes.
"..."
"Why are you standing like a statue, won't you show us some wands or are we supposed to look on our own?".
"Yes!... Yes! I will show them to you right away. So which is your wand hand?" Mr Olivander asked while holding a measuring tape in his hand.
"Right for both of us, I suppose" Nicole replied, not understanding the reason behind such a question.
"Please hold out your arm for me. That's it." He measured Nicole very cautiously from shoulder to finger, then wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit and round her head. As he measured, he said, "Every Ollivander wand has a core of a powerful magical substance, miss. We use unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers, and the heartstrings of dragons. No two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons, or phoenixes are quite the same. And of course, you will never get such good results with another wizard's wand". After measuring, Mr Olivander stood there thinking about the wands.
Nicole suddenly shouted startling Mr Ollivander who was in deep thoughts "Will you make it stop you perverted old man".
As Mr Olivander turned towards Nicole, he saw that the measuring tape was now coiling around Nicole's chest on its own. Mr Ollivander flushed red with shame and fled inside to look for wands while the measuring tape followed, while Alex looked at Nicole with a complicated gaze.
"You better give me a decent discount old man, or you will see the worst of me" Nicole shouted from behind to Mr Ollivander.
"What?" sensing Alex's gaze on herself, she asked.
"You have no regard for their seniority or the kind of legend they are don't you," Alex asked with a deep tone.
"Why?" Nicole asked while playing dumb.
"First with prof McGonagall and now Mr Ollivander. I am sure you must have read about him in books" Alex wanted to talk some sense in his sister.
"Well, I am just asking for compensation for what he did to me" Nicole defended her actions.
Alex was about to reply when Mr Ollivander came back with a bunch of boxes.
"Let's look at the wands for the miss first" taking out a wand he handed it to her.
"Cedar and phoenix feather, ten and a half inches. Quite whippy, take it and give it a wave" Mr Ollivander explained.
"No.. not good, how about this one rowan and unicorn hair, eleven inches. Nice and flexible, here give it a whirl" before Nicole can even wave the wand Mr Ollivander took it from her and gave her a second one.
As soon as she waved the wand, sparkles came out of it and illuminated the shop.
"Bravo, but how unexpected, all the owners of the wand made of rowan are pure-hearted but, very well let's be it. The wand made of rowan wood is more protective than any other, and in my experience renders all manner of defensive charms especially strong and difficult to break. It is commonly stated that no dark witch or wizard ever owned a rowan wand, and I cannot recall a single instance where one of my own rowan wands has gone on to do evil in the world".
At first listening to Mr Ollivander Nicole was getting angry, what do you mean by unexpected. Are you saying I don't have a pure heart? She was about to strike down when Mr Ollivander continued to praise the wizards which owned a rowan wand, which made her feel elated and hence, Mr Ollivander unknowingly avoided a crisis.
"Now let's look for a wand for you Mr..." turning towards Alex Mr Ollivander said.
"Ashbridge, Alexender Ashbridge" Alex replied respectfully.
"Yes, Mr Ashbridge if you please" Mr Ollivander gestured Alex to come closer.
After measuring Alex, Mr Ollivander went back to the shelves and soon came back with another batch of wands.
"Here, try this Mr Ashbridge. Fir and kelpie hair, Eleven and quarter inches, pliable" Mr Ollivander said, while giving him the wand.
As soon as Alex flicked the wand a bit, several boxes flew out of the shelves making the place a mess.
"No, it won't do" shaking his had Mr Ollivander placed the wand back inside the box.
"How about this one? Blackthorn and dragon heartstring, Twelve inches. Strong but stiff" taking out another one he gave it to Alex.
As Alex waved the wand Mr Ollivander tried to stop him but before he could do that the papers placed on the counter caught fire.
"Well, this won't do as well" disappointed that none of the wands fit he kept that in the box.
After that Alex tried several wands only to be rejected by Mr Ollivander and the shop was a mess.
"Well, I suppose the wands I make are not suitable for you Mr Ashbridge, I can only apologise to you" at last, Mr Ollivander gave up.
"It's alright but can you tell me where can I find one for me?" even Alex was a bit dejected by the outcome.
"I can tell you the names, but you can find all about them in books" Mr Ollivander replied dispirited.
"We will take our leave now Mr Ollivander, how much for my sister's wand?" Alex asked while taking out coins from his pocket.
"Take the wand as a gift from this old man, for all the inconvenience I caused the young lady".
"You are good, old man" listening to Mr Ollivander Nicole gave him a thumbs up.
"Well good day Mr Ollivander" Alex greeted him for the last time while walking out of the shop.
Suddenly Mr Ollivander remembered something and shouted.
"Wait, Mr Ashbridge, I may have something for you" saying this the old man ran inside the store leaving the puzzled siblings at door.
After about five minutes Mr Ollivander came back with an old box covered in inches of dust. Placing it on the counter Mr Ollivander began to clean it. Opening the box he carefully took out a wand and gave it to Alex.
"Try this"
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- Writer
