4

Diagon Alley was amazing! Everywhere I looked there was something going on: the shops, the things outside them, people doing their shopping, owls, strange silver instruments, and so much more! Mum and Dad had been giving me a mini tour.

We were just passing a tall wizard selling 'Daily Profit' newspapers, when I felt a hand on my arm. Whipping my head round, I saw Harry, his emerald eyes staring into mine.

"Oh, it's you", I said, pushing his hand away and turning back towards my parents, who were now talking to Hagrid.

"Yes it's me. Now come on, I have my money, let's go explore!" Harry said grinning, practically jumping up and down in excitement.

"Fine. Mum, Dad, we are going now. See you Hagrid!"

"Have fun!"

"Stay safe!"

"Remember yer school things!"

"Bye!" Harry said, grabbing my arm and pulling me up the street. Sighing, I allowed him to pull me with him, up to a small shop called 'Ollivanders'. Harry and I both stopped walking to admire the tiny place.

HARRYS POV

I looked over at Millie to see her staring with wide eyes at the shop. I placed my hand on her shoulder again, and she flinched slightly, jumping from her thoughts.

"It looks quite dark in there. Are we sure it's open?" Millie said, gently pushing my hand away again.

"Let's try," I shrugged. She nodded, opening the door and walking through, me following close behind her. The very dust and silence in here seemed to tingle with some secret magic.

"Good afternoon," said a soft voice. I looked up and found a man standing in front of us, with wide, pale eyes.

"Hello," I said awkwardly.

Millie glanced at me quickly, before muttering a small "hi".

MILLIES POV

I don't like this man much, and I've just met him. He's creepy.

"Ah yes," he said, staring at Harry. "Yes, yes, I thought I'd be seeing you soon. Harry Potter."

"And you are..."

"Millie Sir. Millie Donovan," I replied quickly.

"Ah, a Donovan? I sold your father his first wand Millie. Eleven and a half inches, dragon heartstring, very flexible, good for charm work," he said, nodding to himself. I didn't know what to say, so I kind of just stood there awkwardly until he turned his gaze back to Harry. "And yours too. Your Mothers, ten and a quarter inches long, swishy, made of willow. Your father, on the other hand, favoured a mahogany wand. Eleven inches. Pliable. Well I say your father favoured it- it's really the wand who chooses the wizard after all."

By now, I had worked out that this was clearly Mr Ollivander. He had come so close to Harry that he and Harry were almost nose to nose. I threw my hand over my mouth, trying to stop myself laughing, while Harry just shook his head, his mouth twitching up.

"And that's where..." Mr ollivander touched the lightning scar on Harrys forehead. "I'm sorry to say I sold the wand that did it." I gasped. So it was a wizard who had done this to Harry?

"Powerful wand, very powerful, and in the wrong hands," Mr Ollivander continued. "Well, if I'd known what that wand was going out into the world to do..." He shook his head. Do what? What did the wizard do?

"Well now - Miss Donovan, let me see..." said Mr Ollivander, unfortunately turning his attention towards me again.

HARRYS POV

"Hold our your arm - that's it." I watched as he measured Millie from shoulder to finger, then wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit, then round her head. I suddenly realised that the tape measure, which was measuring between her nostrils, was doing this on its own. Millie must have noticed too, because her eyes were wide as she watched the floating measuring tape.

"That will do," Mr ollivander said, and the tape measure instantly crumpled to the floor.

"Right then, Miss Donovan, try this one. Unicorn hair, fairly light, nine and a half inches, made from black walnut." He said, as he handed the wand to Millie. She took the wand and almost suddenly, the tip of the wand began to glow, her hair flowing back, her eyes wide. I smiled as she looked at the wand happily.

"Wow." Mr Ollivander said. Millie looked up as the glow died down again.

"What?" She asked.

"The first wand I gave you, chose you." He said, watched Millie. "That happens very rarely. I think we can expect great things from you, Miss Donovan."

"Thank you, Sir," Millie replied, looking up at him and grinning.

"Now, Mr Potter," he said, rushing behind the counter and pulling out a pile of wands.

MILLIES POV

I was shocked about what Mr Ollivander had said about expecting great things from me. Me? What's special about me?

"Try this one. Beechwood and dragon heartstring. Nine inches. Nice and flexible, just take it and give it a wave," Mr Ollivander said, handing Harry the wand.

He took the wand and waved it around a bit, but Mr Ollivander snatched it out of his hand almost at once. Harry raised his eyebrows in my direction, and I smirked.

"Maple and Phoenix feather. Seven inches. Quite whippy. Try-"

It went on like this for about five more minutes, Harry trying, while Mr Ollivander handed him several more wands. Until-

"I wonder..." he muttered, staring at the new wand in his hand, then at Harry, then back to the wand. "Yes, why not, unusual combination, holly and Phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple."

Harry took the wand. Like mine had, the tip of the wand glowed, pushing his hair back, revealing the lightning scar. Smiling, I clapped as Mr Ollivander cried, "Yes indeed! Oh very good, well, well, well... how curious, how very curious..."

"Sorry," said Harry. "But what's curious?"

Mr Ollivander fixed Harry with his pale stare.

"I remember every wand I've ever sold Mr Potter. It so happens that the Phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand, gave another feather - just one other. It is very curious indeed that you should be destined for this wand, when it's brother gave you that scar. "I think we must expect great things from you both of you. After all, he who must not be named did great things - terrible yes, but great."

I eyed the man in front of me with curiousity, before paying him seven gold galleons each for the wands, and thanking him, we left, Mr Ollivander bowing us from his shop.

HARRYS POV

We walked together through Diagon alley, chatting excitedly. We had now bought everything we needed except our robes, however I couldn't stop thinking about what Mr Ollivander had said. He who must not be named? Who was he? Was he the one that murdered my parents?

"Potter?" Millie said, turning to me.

"Donovan?" I mimicked.

"Your scar. What happened? How is it everyone knows who you are?" Millie said, slowing down a bit.

I stopped suddenly.

"I don't know what happened, and I don't know why everyone knows who I am," I replied, a bit harsher than I had implied.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know," Millie said quietly, speeding up again. I sighed.

"Millie, wait," I said, grabbing her arm and pulling her back. I noticed her cheeks were red. "Are you hot or something?"

"What?" she snapped, pulling her hand away.

"It's just, well, your red," I said, and felt a blush rise in my own cheeks.

"So are you," she said, crossing her arms. "Come on, Potter."

She skipped past me and down the cobbled street. Rolling my eyes and grinning, I followed after her quickly, stopping in front of one of the shops.

"This one?" I said to Millie, nodding towards the sign saying 'Madam Malkin's Robes for all occasions'.

"Sure," Millie said, leading the way into the shop.

MILLIES POV

As I walked into the shop, Harry behind me, I saw a smiling witch dressed all in mauve. She must be Madam Malkin. I smiled at her, as she stepped towards us.

"Hogwarts, dears?" she said. Harry now stood next to me, our fingers brushing against one anothers. Harry leant towards me, playfully grabbing my hand, grinning.

"Nope," I muttered, rolling my eyes.

"Fine," Harry fake pouted, but let go.

"Follow me," Madam Malkin said, leading Harry and I to the back of the shop. "Another young man starting at Hogwarts is being fitted up just now, in fact".

Excited but nervous to meet another young wizard, I brushed my fingers through my hair, hoping to make a good first impression.

HARRYS POV

I noticed Millie attempting to brush her hair with her fingers. I don't know why, she looked fine. I went to open my mouth to tell her, but was interrupted by Madam Malkin dragging her away onto a stool, next to a boy with a pale, pointed face. Madam Malkin then indicated for me to stand on the stool the other side of the boy. Obeying, I stood on the stool next to him. She then began working on measuring Millie and I.

"Hello," said the boy to the both of us. "Hogwarts too?"

"Yes," Millie said, whilst I nodded.

"My fathers next door buying my books and mothers up the street looking at wands," he said. He had a bored, drawling voice. "Then I'm going to drag them off to look at racing brooms. I don't see why first years can't have their own. I think I'll bully father into getting me one and I'll smuggle it in somehow."

He strongly reminded me of Dudley, my cousin. Millie grimaced in his direction.

"Have you two got your own brooms?" the boy went on, oblivious to Millie's dirty looks,

"No." We said at the same time.

"Play quidditch at all?" I looked at Millie expectantly, as I had no idea what quidditch was. She however did, as she replied with a blunt "no."

"I do - Father says it's a crime if I'm not picked to play for my house, and I must say, I agree. Know what house you'll be in yet?"

"No" I said, feeling more stupid by the minute. Millie just looked away. Clearly, the boy was annoying her."Well, no-one knows until they get there, do they, but I know I'll be in slytherin, all our family have been..." I saw Millie look back up at they boy with a shocked look. Slytherin? I'd ask her about it later."... imagine being in hufflepuff, I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?" With that, Millies faces creased into anger.

"My Dad was in hufflepuff!"Millie said, clenching her fists, facing the boy.

"Really? Are you a half- blood then?" the boy replied, raising his eyebrows.

"Yes."

"Hm. I thought you looked like more of a pure blood."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It's just - your pretty. Any girl who's not pure blood is usually ugly. Take it as a compliment." Draco shrugged.

Millie just sent him another glare before facing back towards the mirror.

"I say, look at that man!" said the boy suddenly, nodding towards the front window. I saw Hagrid walk past, along with Ruby and Jake, all three of them waving at Millie and I, who smiled, waving back. They stopped outside and continued talking. They were probably waiting for us now, as we were nearly done.

"That's Hagrid," Millie said, smiling at them. "He works at Hogwarts."

"Oh," said the boy, "I've heard of him. He's a sort of servant, isn't he?"

"He's the gamekeeper," I quickly told the boy as Millie had opened her mouth, probably to start yelling at him. I could tell she didn't like him just as much as I did.

"Yes, exactly. I heard he's sort of a savage - lives in a hut on the school grounds and every now and then he gets drunk, tries to do magic and ends up setting fire to his bed."

"And where could you have possibly heard that complete utter lie from?" Millie snarled at the boy. He just raised his eyebrows at her.

"I like you," he said suddenly. Millies glare softened at his words, probably from shock. "Your sassy, I like that. What's your name?" he asked her, sticking his hand out towards her. I was disliking this boy more and more every second. Millie eyed his hand anxiously, then looked up at me, obviously wanting an excuse not to shake his hand.

MILLIES POV

I looked at the boys hand, then at Harry. I did not want to shake this boys hand.

"I think Hagrid's brilliant," Harry said quickly, causing the boy to turn round towards Harry. I let out a sigh, silently thanking Harry.

"Do you?" said the boy, with a slight sneer. "Why is he with you anyway? Where are your parents?"

"They're dead," said Harry shortly. I let out a small gasp. His parents were dead? Why hadn't he told me? I looked down at the floor, feeling guilty for being rude earlier and saying he thinks he was better than everyone else.

"Oh, sorry," said the boy, not sounding sorry at all. I looked up again, sending the boy another glare. "They were our kind, weren't they?"

"They were a witch and wizard, if that's what you mean," Harry replied angrily.

"I really don't think they should let the other sort in, do you?" He was talking to both of us again. "They're just not the same, they've never been brought up to know our ways." I looked at Harry, knowing that both of us had been brought up without knowing about magic - but he was looking at the floor blankly. "Some of them have never even heard of Hogwarts until they get the letter, imagine. I think they should keep it in the old wizarding families. What's your surname anyway?" Facing Harry yet again. But before Harry could answer, Madam Malkin said, "That's you two done, my dears" looking at me and Harry. Not sorry for an excuse to stop talking to the boy, we hopped down from the foot stalls.

"Well, I'll see you both at Hogwarts, I suppose," said the drawling boy.

"Hopefully not," I muttered under my breath, making Harry give a small smile, as we walked out of the shop, thanking Madam Malkin, back to my parents and Hagrid.

We had left Diagon Alley now, and were outside the leaky cauldron, back in London, surrounded by 'Muggles'.

"Guess I'll see yer at Hogwarts then Millie!" Hagrid said, smiling down at the brunette.

"Yes! See you then, Hagrid! Thank you for today." She smiled back.

"No need to thank me. Bye Ruby, bye Jake, hope to see yeh soon..." I watched as Hagrid, Ruby and Jake said their goodbyes to eachother. I turned around to see Harry staring at the floor in silence. Slowly, I walked up to him.

"Harry, I'm so sorry about your parents, I had no idea..." I started, shuffling my feet.

"It's fine," Harry said, smiling weakly. "And you don't need to say sorry, it's not your fault."

I nodded, a slight flush coming to my cheeks. Unfortunately, Harry noticed.

"Are you blushing?"

My head snapped up and I crossed my arms tightly. "No, I'm not."

"Millie, time to go." I heard my Mum say behind us.

"See you next week, Potter."

Before Harry could answer, my Mum had pulled him in for a hug.

"Goodbye honey, we'll see you soon!"

"Bye, Mrs Donovan," Harry said quietly.

"Call me Ruby, sweetheart." Mum smiled. Harry then shook hands with my Dad, but not before my Dad whispered something to him. Harry blushed furiously, his eyes darting towards me, before looking away again. Raising my eyebrows, we said our final goodbyes before separating from Hagrid and Harry. I had already had the best day, and my magical journey had just begun...