บท 7: A wizard can hide another

Diagon Alley, a merchant's avenue hidden in London for witches and wizards of all kinds. It was there that magic adepts made their purchases for everything related to their world. Anything from wacky potion ingredients to flying brooms could be purchased. It was also there that the young wizards went to get their school supplies for their time at Hogwarts.

The next morning, the Dursleys accompanied by Hagrid and Harry sailed back to the coast. Hagrid even had the pleasure of accelerating the boat magically with a pink umbrella curiously and to Vernon's great dismay. Petunia strangely resented it no more than a slight look of disdain. It seems that the house mother had been strengthened since last night and no longer seemed so helpless when faced with the strangeness as she was. Dudley was all the more admiring of his mother, who had concealed her performance from him. Now he knew from whom he looked more.

Once ashore, Petunia convinced Vernon to drive back to Privet Drive.

- "It's easier like this Vernon. I am more used to them than you. I will bring Duddy back once we've done all we need, don't worry." said Petunia reassuring Vernon.

Vernon Dursley wasn't obviously pleased with this situation, but the father knew that it would be difficult for him to manage his behaviour among so many "degenerate", as he called them. In the worst case, he would put his own family in danger. So he gave Petunia a large envelope, probably containing the money he had brought with him from Privet Drive, and then kissed his wife on both cheeks doing his best to reassure her - or rather to reassure himself. Vernon then turned his eyes to Hagrid, who gave him back without flinching, and stepped forward with a firm step towards the giant.

- "Listen to me closely, Giant. If anything - ANYTHING - happens to them, you can trust me to become your worst nightmare. Believe me!" argued Vernon to Hagrid.

- "Don't worry Dursley. Nothing is gonna happen to yer son and wife. Trust meh words" responded Hagrid.

- "I hope so!" grumbled Vernon.

Vernon then took a glance at Harry, who stood next to the Giant and smiled tensely at him. Vernon only snorted heavily and then headed towards his son. He observed Dudley who was standing there without blinking, his eyes still half-closed as usual, and then exhaled a large mouthful of air.

- "Take care of your mom, would you Dudley" said Vernon.

- "Always." smiled Dudley as usual.

Vernon smiled slightly and then headed towards the car before leaving in the distance to Privet Drive, his home. Those who stayed said their goodbyes before setting off for the next train station. The departure was made in no time thanks to Petunia who took care of all the work, to the great pleasure of Hagrid who was lost among the Muggles and their system. They therefore took the train to London without stopovers and sat at their seats in silence. Hagrid, who was occupying two seats alone, took a newspaper out of his coat, which he had received in the morning from an owl. The Daily Prophet was the official newspaper of witches and wizards, it was thanks to this piece of paper that the inhabitants of the wizarding world kept themselves informed. Dudley and Harry were fascinated by the moving pictures in the newspaper as if the photos had been filmed and not photographed. As for Petunia, she did her best to ignore the newspaper.

- "Ministry o' Magic messin' things up as usual," Hagrid muttered, turning the page.

- "There is a Ministry of Magic? '' asked Harry before he could stop himself.

'Course. They wanted Dumbledore fer Minister, but he refused. He'd never leave Hogwarts. So it's old Cornelius Fudge who got the job, but all he do it's pelt Dumbledore with owls every morning askin' fer advice." responded Hagrid nonchalantly.

Hagrid then began to explain the work of the Ministry of Magic. Basically, they kept the Muggles hidden from the existence of the wizarding world. If they didn't take care of it and the wizards were discovered by the Muggles, it would be chaos. According to Hagrid, the Muggles wouldn't stop seeking magic to solve their problems. But Dudley rather thinks that the Muggles would be more inclined to hunt the witches and wizards, but not with pitchforks this time.

Time passed slowly in the train, the landscape was still passing by as the locomotive brought them closer to London. Dudley was contemplating the scene as it passed calmly through the window, his meditation exercises returning to his mind. After a while, he turned his eyes to his mother who was sitting in front of him and quiet.

- "I was wondering, how do you know about this Dragon Alley?" asked Dudley to her.

- "It's Diagon Alley." corrected Petunia sighing and then continued.

- "I went there when I was young... with Lily. When it came time to get her school supplies for the first time, a witch brought us there. It was the revelation of the magical world for me. Before that, I didn't want to believe it. I never liked this place. Every time Lily had to go for her school supplies, I tried to escape. Sometimes I could do it, sometimes I couldn't. Of course, Lily loved this place. She would see her friends from school, witches and wizards just like her. The few times I went there, I could see some wizards staring at me with pity, others with disdain or even with curiosity. Not all wizards are the same. Nevertheless, they cannot help but see people without magical powers as inferior, voluntarily or not." answered Petunia bitterly.

Dudley observed his mother with sadness. The magical world he had just imagined was not as enchanting as he thought. Well, wizards or not, everyone remains human in the end. Dudley drove back into his seat and started looking at the passing landscape again, thoughtfully.

- "I suppose so, yes. But in the end it is the magical world that is hidden not the other way around" Dudley noted.

Petunia smiled at his response and then turned his eyes to his son.

- " Your letter. There must be a list on it. Can you read it to me?" asked Petunia

- "Sure."

Dudley put his hand in his coat and retrieved his letter. There was a second piece of paper with a list of furniture on it. Dudley began to read:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL

of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

UNIFORM

First-year students will require:

1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)

2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear

3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)

4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)

Please note that all pupils' 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 Beginners' 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 by Quentin Trimble

OTHER EQUIPMENT

1 wand

1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)

1 set glass or crystal phials

1 telescope

1 set brass scales

Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS

If Dudley didn't believe magic existed, he would swore that he just read a joke paper for Halloween.

The journey of Dudley, Harry and company went smoothly. After arriving in London, their group used the Underground to get to a street in the town full of shops but none seemed to sell magic supplies. Dudley simply thought that the shops should be hidden somewhere or that the sellers should have other areas for the wizards. But Hagrid proved otherwise.

- "This is it. The Leaky Cauldron. It's a famous place." said Hagrid.

- "... For real?" simply responded Dudley, a bit doubtful.

Facing the group was a tiny grubby looking pub. If Hagrid didn't point it out, Dudley and Harry wouldn't have seen it. In fact, nobody in the street except seemed to see the pub and more over seemed to avoid it. This was a little peculiar.

Petunia said nothing and simply entered followed by Hagrid, Harry and Dudley. The inside of the pub was just as the image of his exterior, tiny and grubby looking but darker. There was a disparate group of people with long coats who talked with each other in a smoking atmosphere. Behind the bar was an old bartender, who was quite bald and looked like a toothless walnut. When Hagrid entered the place, the bartender immediately greeted him with a smile.

- "Ah, Hagrid, the usual?" asked the bartender, taking a glass in his hand.

- "Can't, Tom, I'm on Hogwarts business" said Hagrid pointing at Harry.

The bartender stopped what he was doing and looked at Harry before opening his eyes wide open.

- "Good Lord! This is Harry Potter!" exclaimed the bartender.

Suddenly, all the noises and conversations in the bar became silent. Everyone in the pub looked at Harry who felt pressured by all this attention. Dudley and Petunia looked at the scene a little surprised. They never would have known Harry would cause such a scene. As for Hagrid, he could not contain his smile.

Then an impressive scene took place in the tavern. Everyone in the room stood up and came to greet Harry. For a long time, Harry spent his time shaking hands with strangers who congratulated him and were thrilled with his presence. Some passed by pushing Petunia without delicacy and others tried to move Dudley away but unfortunately for them they found themselves facing a wall. A pale young man made his way forward, very nervously. One of his eyes was twitching.

- "Professor Quirrell! Harry, Professor Quirrell will be one of your teachers at Hogwarts." said Hagrid

- "P-P-Potter, c-can't t-tell you how p-pleased I am to meet you." stammered Professor Quirrell, grasping Harry's hand.

- "What sort of magic do you teach, Professor Quirrell?" asked Harry

- "D-Defense Against the D-D-Dark Arts. N-not that you n-need it, eh, P-P-Potter? You'll be g-getting all your equipment, I suppose? I've g-got to p-pick up a new b-book on vampires, m-myself." muttered Professor Quirrell.

After a while Hagrid grabbed Harry and pushed people aside to make his way through the horde to finally reach the rear of the pub and excitedly arrived at a small walled courtyard. Dudley followed him closely with his mother, ruling out anyone who tried to obstruct them.

- "Told yeh, didn't I? Told yeh you was famous. Even Professor Quirrell was tremblin' ter meet yeh — mind you, he's usually tremblin'' grinned Hagrid putting Harry back on the floor.

- "Is this guy always that nervous?" asked Dudley, a little confused by what he just saw.

- "Oh, yeah. Poor bloke. Brilliant mind. He was fine while he was studyin' outta books but then he took a year off ter get some firsthand experience. … They say he met vampires in the Black Forest, and there was a nasty bit o' trouble with a hag — never been the same since. Scared of the students, scared of his own subject — now, where's me umbrella?" responded Hagrid.

While Dudley and Harry processed the new information Hagrid provided them, the Giant took out his pink umbrella. Afterward, Hagrid tapped the wall brick three times. A few second latter,the brick he had touched quivered — it wriggled — in the middle, a small hole appeared — it grew wider and wider — a second later they were facing an archway large enough even for Hagrid, an archway onto a cobbled street that twisted and turned out of sight.

- "Welcome, everyone, to Diagon Alley," said Hagrid.

Hagrid couldn't stop himself for grinning at Harry and Dudley amazement. As for Petunia, she simply gazed at the street before sighing again. Dudley lost count of the time she did it today. The group set foot in the street, the hole in the brick wall closing behind them, and they stepped into the alley surrounded by strange shops selling magic products of all kinds. Now, Dudley and Harry no longer doubted that they were on a merchant street for wizards.

- "First we go to Gringotts. It's the bank fer wizards. Harry got money from his parents, yeh won't need to pay anything. I also need somethin' right here. Hogwarts' business." said Hagrid to Petunia.

Harry was beaming when he heard this. He couldn't express his gratitude for his parents anymore, but he was glad they left something for him even if it was nothing. Petunia nodded to Hagrid and followed him, Dudley not far behind. He and Harry were still watching all the products the shop could offer - To Dragon liver to flying broomsticks. They finally arrived in front of a tall and white building with the name "Gringotts" in golden letters writing above the doors. A small man, that Hagrid described as a goblin, opened the door for them and they entered. They passed another set of doors to finally arrive at a vast marble hall. About one hundred goblins were working behind a large counter and sitting on large stools. In the hall we could hear the sound of scribbling, gold coins chiming, brass scales weighing.

- "I will go with Harry to take some money from his vault. There is a counter where yeh can change yer Muggle money for some Galleons or Sickles" said Hagrid to Petunia.

Petunia silently nodded to him and went to the described counter with Dudley while Harry and Hagrid went to another counter. Dudley followed his mother throughout the exchange and only looked at Harry until they walked away to a door following a goblin. Petunia quickly finished the exchange of money, either by ease of use or her mother's urge to get it over with. Dudley and Petunia did not linger and left Gringotts to wait for Harry and Hagrid. Although she knew the place, Petunia was not comfortable in Diagon Alley and even though she refused to admit it, the presence of the giant reassured her a little. Dudley spent his time observing the life of the wizards in the merchant aisle. Although their activities were different from non-magical people, their behavior was not so different from Muggles. It was actually a bit disappointing, thought Dudley, who perhaps hoped for more esotericism or exoticism. Some time later, Hagrid and Harry returned and regrouped with Dudley and Petunia. Dudley could not help but notice Hagrid's sick mine, as if he had just taken a ride on a roller coaster. Harry, on the other hand, seemed a bit worried, strangely.

- "Glad we're outside," said Hagrid, a bit trembling.

- "What do we do next?" asked Dudley.

- "Might as well get yer uniforms. I think I will need to sit a moment. Gringotts' cart yeh 'now"

- "Carts?" asked Dudley.

- "That's how you get to your vault. There is a large gallery of caverns below us and you need to take a ride on their carts to access your deposit. Hagrid even told me there is a dragon down here!" responded Harry instead of Hagrid and seemingly a bit proud to show off his knowledge.

- "...Neat," said Dudley.

Following Hagrid they walked toward a shop named Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. Before he entered the house, Petunia asked Harry and Dudley to hand over their list to him.

- "I'll get your supplies while you make your uniforms. That's how my parents used to do it with Lily back then... Here, Dudley, take this money, you should have enough. Mr. Hagrid, are you coming with me?"

- "Right behind you, Ma'am" quickly answered Hagrid.

Petunia nodded and left with Hagrid, who followed her on her heels. Dudley and Harry ventured into the clothing store where they were greeted by a smiling and squat witch dressed in purple.

- "Hogwarts dear? I have the lot here. In fact, another young man is being fitted up just now." Madam Malkin said looking at Harry.

- "And I suppose you are here for your new uniforms? But I don't remember you, that's rare. Can you give me your name and school's year please? she asked Dudley, obviously mistaken.

- "Dudley Dursley, first year" answered Dudley, not even a slightly perturbed.

- "First year?!" she said astonished.

Harry and Dudley couldn't blame her. Dudley absolutely didn't look like an eleven years old kid with his height. After the moment of surprise, Madam Malkin displayed great professionalism and took them to the back of the store where a boy, with a pale pointed face and platinum blond hair, was standing on a stool having a black dress on him pinned by a second witch. Harry and Dudley stood on footstools and a third witch appeared in the workbench to pin Harry's dress, while Madam Malkin decided to take care of Dudley and seemed strangely interested in the young man's case. Madam Malkin passed a long black cloth over Duldey's shoulders and began to pin his robe, a funny smile on her lips. Although Dudley noticed the witch's strange behaviour, he didn't pay too much heed to it.

- "Hello, Hogwarts too?" said the boy with the pointed face talking to Harry.

- "Yes" answered Harry.

- "My father's next door buying my books and mother's up the street looking at wands," continued the boy with 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."

Harry didn't get a good feeling listening to the boy while Dudley watched him and grinned. He didn't know why but he got a strong desire to slap the little blondie's face. The boy finally seemed to notice Dudley, perhaps because of his faint grin, and then turned to him.

- "Are you brothers?" asked the blondie.

- "No, cousins." simply answered Dudley.

- "Oh. And in which grade are you?" asked the boy to Dudley.

- "First."

- "Really!" exclaimed the boy surprised.

He looked at Dudley with a suspicious glance for a second only to continue in a cautious tone.

- "Are you a half-giant?" said the boy scornfully.

- "I don't think I a - Wait? Half-giants exist" asked Dudley himself surprised this time.

- "It seems unbelievable, but yes..." replied the boy, always in a contemptuous tone.

- "How could someone possibly do it?"

Dudley asked the question but more on the pragmatic aspect than on the moral ambiguity of the question. The boy, for his part, understood the second one.

- "I never understood myself. Mad wizards if you ask me." said the blondie sneering.

- "My father couldn't agree more with you." said Dudley sneering too.

And then began a strange conversation between the two boys..

- "You are quite tall for a wizard. Are you playing Quidditch?" asked the boy for Dudley without contempt this time.

- "What's Quidditch" asked Harry innocently.

- "You don't know?" exclaimed the boy, embarrassing Harry.

- "He couldn't even afford a broom, so playing 'Quidditch'..." joked Dudley, emphasizing the last word without knowing it himself.

- "Humpf… That reminds me of some wizards. Don't bother yourself with Quidditch if you don't have a broom to play with." sneered the boy embarrassing Harry even more.

'Holy cow, it's really played with brooms', thought Dudley surprised.

- "I've already played a few games before. 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" said Harry in a low tone.

As for Dudley, he just shrugged his shoulders

- "Well, no one really knows until they get there, do they, but I know I'll be in Slytherin, all our family have been — imagine being in Hufflepuff, I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?"

- "Oh, nobody 'sane' could support that." Dudley said sarcastically, but once again the boy still didn't notice it.

- "I can agree more. Where are you parents?"

- "Father's home. Mother's shopping." simply said Dudley.

- "And you?"

- "Dead" muttered Harry

- "Oh, I'm sorry" said the boy, not sounding sorry at all.

- "But they were our kind, weren't they?" he continued.

- "Kind?" Harry asked incredulously.

- "Wizards." answered Dudley to Harry.

- "Oh? Ah, yes they were."

- "I really don't think they should let the other sort in, do you? They're just not the same, they've never been brought up to know our ways. 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?"

- "Dursley," said Dudley, not hiding anything.

- "Hum… Are your family working at the Ministry? I think I heard my father speak of someone called Dursley once" asked the boy, trying to remember something.

- "I think they had to send some complaints to them over the last months," grinned Dudley.

- "I understand. Even my father, despite his work at the Ministry, couldn't help but to be frustrated by the inefficiency of the system sometimes. With a Minister like Fudge, that was to be expected. If my father were in his place, he would soon have reformed the Ministry as he should have been." declared the boy.

- "I am definitely waiting for this day" continued to ironicize Dudley.

- "Thank you." said the boy, still mistaking.

- "That's you done, my dear," said the witch who pinned Harry robe.

- "You too, dear" said an oddly smiling Madam Malkin to Dudley.

Both him and Harry stepped down at their stool, happy to be done with their uniform.

- "Well, I'll see you at Hogwarts, I suppose," said Dudley, smirking to the blondie.

- "It will be a pleasure " responded the boy, smiling to Dudley and ignoring Harry (to his own pleasure).

Harry and Dudley left the shop and rejoined Petunia and Hagrid, who was covered in furniture, who waited for them outside, apparently done with shopping. Dudley walked to them with a big smile on his face while Harry looked as he just ate a plate of worms.

- "Did you really become friends with this boy?" asked dubitably Harry to Dudley.

- "What are you talking about? This blondie is precious. Oh boy, I'm gonna love gluing him on the ceiling... " grinned Dudley with a malicious smile.

At this moment and despite his dislike for the boy, Harry felt really sorry for him.

- "Done you two? Good, all we need now is your wands. Let's go!" hurried them Petunia.

----

Inside Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, a woman dressed with a pretty witch robe approached the boy who had just finished his dressing.

- "I bought all of your furniture, Draco. Come, your father is waiting for us. Mhh? you seemed quite pleased. Did something happen?" the woman asked the boy named Draco.

- "I just met someone. A very tall boy as old as me. I think we could be friends" innocently said Draco smiling.