chapter 5. Diagon Alley Harry woke early the next morning although he could tell it was Daylight he kept his eyes shut tight it was a dream he told himself firmly I Dreamed a giant called Hagrid came to tell me I was going to a school for wizards when I opened my eyes I'll be at home in my cupboard there was suddenly a loud tapping noise and there's Aunt Petunia knocking on the door Perry thought his heart sinking but he still didn't open his eyes it had been such a good dream tap tap tap all right Harry mumbled I'm getting up he sat up and Hagrid's heavy coat fell off him the Hut was full of sunlight the storm was over Hagrid himself was asleep on the collapsed sofa and there was an owl wrapping its Claw on the window a newspaper held in its beak Harry scrambled to his feet so happy he felt as though a large balloon was swelling inside him he went straight to the window and jerked it open the owl swooped in and dropped the newspaper on top of Hagrid who didn't wake up the owl then fluttered onto the floor and began to attack Hagrid's coat don't do that Harry tried to wave the owl out of the way but it snapped its beak fiercely at him and carried on savaging the coat Hagrid said Harry loudly there's an owl pay him Hagrid grunted into the sofa what he wants paying for delivering the paper look in the pockets Hagrid's coat seemed to be made of nothing but Pockets Bunches of keys slug pellets balls of string peppermint humbugs tea bags finally Perry pulled out a handful of strange looking coins give him five nuts said Hagrid sleepily nuts the little bronze ones Harry counted out five little bronze coins and the owl held out his leg so Harry could put the money into a small Leather Pouch tied to it then he flew off through the open window Hagrid yawned loudly sat up and stretched best be off Harry lots to do today gotta get up to London and buy all your stuff for school Harry was turning over the wizard coins and looking at them he had just thought of something that made him feel as though the happy balloon inside him had got a puncture um Hagrid um said Hagrid who was pulling on his huge boots I haven't got any money and you heard Uncle Vernon last night he won't pay for me to go and learn magic don't worry about that said Hagrid standing up and scratching his head do you think your parents didn't leave you anything but if their house was destroyed they didn't keep their gold in the house boy now first stop for us is Gringotts Wizards Bank have a sausage they're not bad cold and I wouldn't say no to a bit of your birthday cake neither Wizards have Banks just the one Gringotts run by goblins Harry dropped the bit of sausage he was holding goblins yeah so you'd be mad to try and Rob it I'll tell you that never mess with goblins Harry Gringotts is the safest place in the world for anything you want to keep safe except maybe Hogwarts as a matter of fact I gotta visit Gringotts anyway for Dumbledore Hogwarts business Hagrid Drew himself up proudly he usually gets me to do important stuff for him fetching you getting things from Gringotts knows he can trust me see got everything come on then Harry followed Hagrid out onto the rock the sky was quite clear now and the sea gleamed in the sunlight the boat Uncle Vernon had hired was still there with a lot of water in the bottom After the Storm how did you get here Harry asked looking around for another boat flu said Hagrid flew yeah but we'll go back in this not supposed to use magic now I've got you they settled down in the boat Harry's still staring at Hagrid trying to imagine him flying seems a shame to row though said Hagrid giving Harry another of his sideways looks if I was to or speed things up a bit would you mind not mentioning it at Hogwarts of course not said Harry eager to see more Magic Hagrid pulled out the pink umbrella again tapped it twice on the side of the boat and they sped off toward land why would you be mad to try and Rob Gringotts Harry asked spells enchantments said Hagrid unfolding his newspaper as he spoke they say there's dragons guarding the high security vaults and then you gotta find your way Gringotts is hundreds of miles under London sea deep under the underground you die of hunger trying to get out even if you did manage to get your hands on Summit Harry sat and thought about this while Hagrid read his newspaper the daily prophet Perry had learned from Uncle Vernon that people like to be left alone while they did this but it was very difficult he'd never had so many questions in his life Ministry of magic messing things up as usual Hagrid muttered turning the page there's a Ministry of magic Harry asked before he could stop himself course said Hagrid they wanted Dumbledore for minister of course but he'd never leave Hogwarts so old Cornelius fudge got the job bungler if ever there was one so he pelts Dumbledore with owls every morning asking for advice but what does a Ministry of magic do well their main job is to keep it from the Muggles that they're still witches and wizards up and down the country why blimey Harry everyone be wanting magic solutions to their problems nah we're best left alone at this moment the boat bumped gently into the harbor wall Hagrid folded up his newspaper and they clambered up the stone steps onto the street passersby stared a lot at Hagrid as they walked through the little town to the station Harry couldn't blame them Not only was Hagrid twice as tall as anyone else he kept pointing at perfectly ordinary things like parking meters and saying loudly see that Harry things these Muggles dream up eh Hagrid said Harry panting a bit as he ran to keep up did you say there are dragons at Gringotts well so they say said Hagrid crikey I'd like a dragon you'd like one wanted one ever since I was a kid here we go they had reached the station there was a train to London in five minutes time Hagrid who didn't understand muggle money as he called it gave the bills to Harry so he could buy their tickets people stared more than ever on the train Hagrid took up two seats and sat knitting what looked like a canary yellow circus tent still got your letter Harry he asked as he counted stitches Harry took the parchment envelope out of his pocket good said Hagrid there's a list there of everything you need Perry unfolded a second piece of paper he hadn't noticed the night before and read Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry uniform first-year students will require one three sets of plane work robes black two one plane pointed hat black for day wear three one pair of protective gloves Dragon hide or similar four 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 one by Miranda goshawk a history of Magic by Matilda bagshot magical Theory by Albert waffling a beginner's guide to Transfiguration by emmeric switch 1 000 magical herbs and fungi by philadel Spore magical drafts and Potions by arsenius Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt scamander the dark Forces a guide to self-protection by Quentin Trimble other equipment one wand one cauldron pewter standard size two one set of glass or Crystal files one telescope set one 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 can we buy all this in London Harry wondered aloud if you know where to go said Hagrid Perry had never been to London before although Hagrid seemed to know where he was going he was obviously not used to getting there in an ordinary way he got stuck in the ticket barrier on the Underground and complained loudly that the seats were too small and the trains too slow I don't know how the Muggles manage without magic he said as they climbed a broken down escalator that led up to a bustling Road lined with shops Hagrid was so huge that he parted the crowd easily all Harry had to do was keep close behind him they passed bookshops and music stores hamburger restaurants and Cinemas but nowhere that looked as if it could sell you a magic wand this was just an ordinary Street full of Ordinary People could there really be piles of wizard gold buried miles beneath them were there really shops that sold spell books and Broomsticks might this not all be some huge joke that the dursleys had cooked up if Harry hadn't known that the dursleys had no sense of humor he might have thought so yet somehow even though everything Hagrid had told him so far was unbelievable Harry couldn't help trusting him this is it said Hagrid coming to a halt the Leaky cauldron it's a famous place it was a tiny grubby looking Pub if Hagrid hadn't pointed it out Harry wouldn't have noticed it was there the people hurrying by didn't glance at it their eyes slid from the big book shop on one side to the Record Shop on the other as if they couldn't see the Leaky cauldron at all in fact Harry had the most peculiar feeling that only he and Hagrid could see it before he could mention this Hagrid had steered him inside 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 everyone seemed to know Hagrid they waved and smiled at him and the bartender reached for a glass saying the usual Hagrid can't Tom I'm on Hogwarts business said Hagrid clapping his great hand on Harry's shoulder and making Harry's knees Buckle good lord said the bartender peering at Harry is this can this be The Leaky cauldron had suddenly gone completely still and silent bless my soul whispered the old bartender Harry Potter what an honor he hurried out from behind the bar rushed toward Harry and seized his hand tears in his eyes welcome back Mr Potter welcome back Harry didn't know what to say everyone was looking at him the old woman with the pipe was puffing on it without realizing it had gone out Hagrid was beaming then there was a great scraping of chairs and the next moment Harry found himself shaking hands with everyone in the Leaky cauldron Doris crockford Mr Potter can't believe I'm meeting you at last so proud Mr Potter I'm just so proud always wanted to shake your hand I'm all of a flutter delighted Mr Potter just can't tell you diggles the name Daedalus Diggle I've seen you before said Harry as Daedalus diggle's Top Hat fell off in his excitement you bow to me once in a shop he remembers cry Daedalus diggle looking around at everyone did you hear that Harry shook hands again and again Doris crockford kept coming back for more a pale young man made his way forward very nervously one of his eyes was twitching Professor quarrel said Hagrid Harry Professor Quirrell will be one of your teachers at Hogwarts Potter stammered Professor quarrel grasping Harry's hand I can't tell you how pleased I am to meet you what sort of magic do you teach Professor Quirrell the defense against the dark arts muttered Professor quarrel as though he'd rather not think about it not that you needed a Potter he laughed nervously you'll be getting all your equipment I suppose I've gotta pick up a new book on vampires myself he looked terrified at the very thought but the others wouldn't let Professor Quirrell keep Harry to himself it took almost 10 minutes to get away from them all at last Hagrid managed to make himself heard over the Babel musket on lots to buy come on Harry Doris crockford shook Harry's hand one last time and Hagrid LED them through the bar and out into a small walled Courtyard where there was nothing but a trash can and a few weeds Hagrid grinned at Harry told you didn't I told you you was famous even Professor quarrel was trembling to meet you mind you he's usually trembling is he always that nervous oh yeah poor bloke brilliant mind he was fine while he was studying out of books but then he took a year off to get some first-hand experience they say he met vampires in the black forest and there was a nasty bit of trouble with a hag never been the same since scared of the students scared of his own subject Now where's me umbrella vampires Hags Harry's head was swimming Hagrid meanwhile was counting bricks in the wall above the trash can three up two across he muttered right stand back Harry he tapped the wall three times with the point of his umbrella 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 said Hagrid to Diagon Alley he grinned at Harry's amazement they stepped through the archway Harry looked quickly over his shoulder and saw the archway shrink instantly back into solid wall the sun Shone brightly on a stack of cauldrons outside the nearest shop cauldrons all sizes Copper Brass pewter silver self-stirring collapsible set a sign hanging over them yeah you'll be needing one said Hagrid but we gotta get your money first Harry wished he had about eight more eyes he turned his head in every direction as they walked up the street trying to look at everything at once the shops the things outside them the people doing their shopping a plump woman outside an apothecary was shaking her head as they passed saying Dragon liver 17 sickles an ounce they're mad a low soft hooting came from a dark Shop with a sign saying e lops owl Emporium Tawny Screech Barn Brown and snowy several boys of about Harry's age had their noses pressed against a window with broomsticks in it look Harry heard one of them say the new Nimbus 2000 fastest ever there were shops selling robes shops selling telescopes and strange silver instruments Harry had never seen before Windows stacked with barrels of bat spleens and Eels eyes tottering piles of spell books quills and rolls of parchment Potion bottles Globes of the Moon Gringotts said Hagrid they had reached a snowy white building that towered over the other little shops standing beside its burnished bronze doors wearing a uniform of scarlet and gold was yeah that's a goblin said Hagrid quietly as they walked up the white stone steps toward him the goblin was about a head shorter than Harry he had a swarthy clever face a pointed beard and Harry noticed very long fingers and feet he bowed as they walked inside now they were facing a second pair of doors silver this time with words engraved upon them enter stranger but take heed of what awaits the sin of greed for those who take but do not earn must pay most dearly in their turn so if you seek beneath our floors a treasure that was never yours Thief you have been warned beware of finding more than treasure there like I said you'd be mad to try and Rob it said Hagrid a pair of goblins bowed them through the silver doors and they were in a vast marble Hall about a hundred more goblins were sitting on high stools behind a long counter scribbling in large ledgers weighing coins and Brass scales examining precious stones through eyeglasses there were too many doors to count leading off the hall and yet more goblins were showing people in and out of these Hagrid and Harry made for the counter morning said Hagrid to a free Goblin we've come to take some money out of Mr Harry Potter safe you have his key sir got it here somewhere said Hagrid and he started emptying his pockets onto the counter scattering a handful of moldy dog biscuits over the Goblins Book of Numbers the goblin wrinkled his nose Harry watched the Goblin on their right weighing a pile of rubies as big as glowing coals got it said Hagrid at last holding up a tiny Golden Key the goblin looked at it closely that seems to be an order and I've also got a letter here from Professor Dumbledore said Hagrid importantly throwing out his chest it's about the you know what in Vault 713. the goblin read the letter carefully very well he said handing it back to Hagrid I will have someone take you down to both vaults grip hook grip Hook was yet another Goblin once Hagrid had crammed all the dog biscuits back inside his pockets he and Harry followed grip hook toward one of the doors leading off the hall what's the you know what in Vault 713 Perry asked can't tell you that said Hagrid mysteriously very secret Hogwarts business Dumbledore's trusted me more than my job's Worth to tell you that grip hook held the door open for them Harry who had expected more marble was surprised they were in a narrow Stone passageway lit with flaming torches it sloped steeply downward and there were little railway tracks on the floor grip hook whistled and a small cart came hurtling up the tracks toward them they climbed in Hagrid with some difficulty and were off at first they just hurtled through a maze of twisting passages Harry tried to remember left right right left Middle Fork right left but it was impossible the rattling cart seemed to know its own way because grip hook wasn't steering Harry's eyes stung as the cold air rushed past them but he kept them wide open once he thought he saw a burst of fire at the end of a passage and twisted around to see if it was a dragon but too late they plunged even deeper passing an underground Lake where huge stalactites and stalagmites Grew From the ceiling and floor I never know Harry called to Hagrid over the noise of the cart what's the difference between a stalagmite and a stalactite stalagmites got an m in it said Hagrid and don't ask me questions just now I think I'm gonna be sick he did look very green and when the cart stopped at last beside a small door in the passage wall Hagrid got out and had to lean against the wall to stop his knees from trembling grip hook unlocked the door a lot of Green Smoke came billowing out and as it cleared Harry gasped inside were mounds of gold coins Columns of silver heaps of little bronze nuts all yours smiled Hagrid all Harry's it was incredible the dursleys couldn't have known about this or they'd have had it from him faster than blinking how often had they complained how much Harry cost them to keep and all the time there had been a small fortune belonging to him buried deep under London Hagrid helped Harry pile some of it into a bag the gold ones are galleons he explained 17 silver sickles to a galleon and 29 nuts to a sickle it's easy enough right that should be enough for a couple of terms we'll keep the rest safe for you he turned to grip hook Vault 713 now please and can we go more slowly one speed only said grip hook they were going even deeper now in gathering speed the air became colder and colder as they hurtled round tight corners they went rattling over an underground Ravine and Harry leaned over the side to try to see what was down at the dark bottom but Hagrid groaned and pulled him back by the Scruff of his neck Vault 713 had no Keyhole stand back said grip hook importantly he stroked the door gently with one of his long fingers and it simply melted away if anyone but a Gringotts Goblin tried that they'd be sucked through the door and trapped in there said grip hook how often do you check to see if anyone's inside Harry asked about once every 10 years said grip hook with a rather nasty grin something really extraordinary had to be inside this top Security Vault Perry was sure and he leaned forward eagerly expecting to see fabulous Jewels at the very least but at first he thought it was empty then he noticed a grubby little package wrapped up in brown paper lying on the floor Hagrid picked it up and tucked it deep inside his coat Harry longed to know what it was but knew better than to ask come on back in this infernal cart and don't talk to me on the way back it's best if I keep me mouth shut said Hagrid one wild cart ride later they stood blinking in the sunlight outside Gringotts Harry didn't know where to run first now that he had a bag full of money he didn't have to know how many galleons there were to a pound to know that he was holding more money than he'd had in his whole life more money than even Dudley had ever had might as well get your uniform said Hagrid nodding toward Madame malkin's robes for All Occasions listen Harry would you mind if I slipped off for a pick-me-up in the Leaky cauldron I hate them Gringotts cards he did still look a bit sick so Harry entered Madame malkin's shop alone feeling nervous Madame Malkin was a squat smiling witch dressed all in mauve Hogwarts dear she said when Harry started to speak got the lot here another young man being fitted up just now in fact in the back of the shop a boy with a pale pointed face was standing on a footstool while a second witch pinned up his long black robes Madame Malkin stood Harry on a stool next to him slipped a long robe over his head and began to pin it to the right length hello said the boy Hogwarts 2 yes said Harry my father's next door buying my books and mothers up the street looking at wands said the boy he had a board 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 was strongly reminded of Dudley have you got your own broom the boy went on no said Harry play Quidditch at all no Harry said again wondering what on Earth quidditch could be 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 said Harry feeling more stupid by the minute 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 hmm said Harry wishing he could say something a bit more interesting I say look at that man said the boy suddenly nodding toward the front window Hagrid was standing there grinning at Harry and pointing at two large ice creams to show he couldn't come in that's Hagrid said Harry pleased to know something the boy didn't 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 Game Keeper said Harry he was liking the boy less and less every second yes exactly I heard he's a sort of 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 I think he's brilliant said Harry coldly do you said the boy with a slight sneer why is he with you where are your parents they're dead said Harry shortly he didn't feel much like going into the matter with this boy oh sorry said the other not sounding sorry at all but they were Our Kind weren't they they were a Witch and Wizard if that's what you mean 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 before they get the letter imagine I think they should keep it in the old Wizarding families what's your surname anyway but before Harry could answer Madame Malkin said That's you done my dear and Harry not sorry for an excuse to stop talking to the boy hopped down from the footstool well I'll see you at Hogwarts I suppose said the drawing boy Harry was rather quiet as he ate the ice cream Hagrid had bought him chocolate and raspberry with chopped nuts what's up said Hagrid nothing Harry lied they stopped to buy parchment and quills Harry cheered up a bit when he found a bottle of ink that changed color as you wrote when they had left the shop he said Hagrid what's Quidditch blimey Harry I keep forgetting how little you know not knowing about Quidditch don't make me feel worse said Harry he told Hagrid about the pale boy in madame malkins and he said people from Mughal families shouldn't even be allowed in you're not from a muggle family if he'd known who you were he's grown up knowing your name if his parents are Wizard and folk you saw what everyone in the Leaky cauldron was like when they saw you anyway what does he know about it some of the best I ever saw were the only ones with magic in them in a long line of Muggles look at your mum look what she had for a sister so what is Quidditch it's our sport wizard sport it's like like soccer in the Muggle World everyone follows quidditch played up in the air on broomsticks and there's four balls sort of hard to explain the rules and what are Slytherin and Hufflepuff School houses there's four everyone says Hufflepuff are a lot of duffers but I bet I'm in Hufflepuff said Harry gloomily better Hufflepuff than Slytherin said Hagrid Darkly there's not a single witch or wizard who went bad who wasn't in Slytherin you know who was one Vol sorry you know who was at Hogwarts years and years ago said Hagrid they bought Harry's school books in a shop called flourish and blots where the shelves were stacked to the ceiling with books as large as paving stones Bound in leather books the size of postage stamps and covers of silk books full of peculiar symbols and a few books with nothing in them at all even Dudley who never read anything would have been wild to get his hands on some of these Hagrid almost had to drag Harry away from curses and counter curses bewitch your friends and befuddle your enemies with the latest revenges hair loss jelly legs tongue tying and much much more by Professor vindictus Viridian I was trying to find out how to curse Dudley I'm not saying that's not a good idea but you're not to use magic in the Muggle world except in very special circumstances said Hagrid and anyway you couldn't work any of them curses yet you'll need a lot more study before you get to that level Hagrid wouldn't let Harry buy a solid gold cauldron either it says pewter on your list but they got a nice set of scales for weighing potion ingredients and a collapsible brass telescope then they visited the Apothecary which was fascinating enough to make up for its horrible smell a mixture of bad eggs and rotted cabbages barrels of slimy stuff stood on the floor jars of herbs dried roots and bright powders lined the walls bundles of feathers strings of fangs and snarled claws hung from the ceiling while Hagrid asked the man behind the counter for a supply of some basic potion ingredients for Harry Harry himself examined silver unicorn horns at 21 galleons each and minuscule glittery black beetle eyes five nuts a scoop outside the Apothecary Hagrid checked Harry's list again just your wand left uh yeah and I still haven't got you a birthday present Harry felt himself go red you don't have to I know I don't have to tell you what I'll get your animal not a toad toads went out of fashion years ago you'd be laughed at and I don't like cats they make me sneeze I'll get you an owl all the kids want owls they're dead useful carry your mail and everything 20 minutes later they left elop's owl Emporium which had been dark and full of rustling and flickering Jewel Bright Eyes Harry now carried a large cage that held a beautiful snowy owl fast asleep with her head under her Wing he couldn't stop stammering his thanks sounding just like Jurassic world don't mention it said roughly don't expect you had a lot of presents for them dursley's just follow letters left now only place and you gotta have the best one a magic wand this was what Harry had been really looking forward to the last shot was narrow and shabby