"Welcome, to the Patagon Alley, I mean, Diagon!" Hagrid looked at Harry's astonished face when the bricks parted and revealed the secret entrance to Britain's biggest magical marketplace. He was so excited for this moment that he got a bit distracted and mentioned the wrong place name.
Luckily, Harry didn't seem to notice his slip-up and sighed with relief as he wiped the imaginary sweat from his forehead.
"Hmm? Wait, the sweat was real!"
Which of his pockets had his handkerchief…?
"Come on, Harry, stay close to me and I'll show you all of this," Hagrid said as the boy hurried to follow him.
"Here you buy the feathers and the ink," Hagrid pointed out when passing by the writing store—"And there the gadgets needed for doing magic!"
Harry was dazzled. Floating pumpkins, laughing flowers, beautiful owls in cages and poles, ice creams with impossible flavors for his common sense, and he even swore he saw a bat hanging in broad daylight!
Although the fashion sense seemed frankly strange, extravagant, or just plain madness to him, no one seemed to notice the same oddity he did.
Just like he didn't understand why there were children looking at a broom in a display case with fascination, was cleaning that important to wizards and witches?
"There it goes! Look at that, it's the new Nimbus 2000."
"That's beautiful!"
"They say it's the fastest model!"
Suddenly, he realized a crucial problem that could jeopardize the dream he was living.
"But, Hagrid, how am I going to pay for all this?" Harry questioned—"I don't have any money."
"Your money is there, Harry," Hagrid pointed to a building with the words GRINGOTTS BANK in large letters, which managed to stand unnaturally despite the obviously crooked columns—"This is Gringotts, the wizard bank. There's no safer place, none—"he paused for a moment before adding proudly—"except Hogwarts."
Harry entered the prestigious establishment with Hagrid. Marble floors, chandeliers, and a bunch of ugly, short creatures professionally counting all sorts of gems, gold, and coins in carefully arranged seats.
Although the cobwebs hanging from the chandeliers detracted from the dignity of the place.
"This, Hagrid," Harry couldn't help but ask—"what exactly are these beings?"
"They are the ones who run the bank," Hagrid explained to Harry what kind of species they were and their fame—"They are as clever as anyone, but not very friendly if you ask me. Don't stray too far from me, alright?"
Harry saw as they reached a particular table and Hagrid pulled out a tiny key explaining that he came to withdraw money. If that key was his, why did Hagrid have it?
Then he heard something even weirder.
"Also, I have this from Dumbledore," Hagrid pulled out an envelope with the words TOP SECRET stamped on it—"It's about what you know, in the chamber, you know which one."
"Alright."
The two followed the person who would take them to the designated chambers and as they got on the mine cart, Harry couldn't help but nervously look around.
"Don't worry, my son also got anxious the first time he got on one of these machines," Hagrid told him to relax—"In the end, he asked me if we could ride again."
"You have a son?" Harry was more than willing to engage in conversation, as he didn't want to distract the cart driver and rush into what seemed like a big void below.
Plus, he was genuinely surprised by the fact.
"Yes, although he's a bit older than you. You'll meet him at Hogwarts later, I'm sure you'll be great friends," Hagrid said cheerfully—"His name is Barnaby, he has a lot of talent."
"Then he's in the second year?" Harry asked, interested in learning more.
"Not exactly, he's actually three years older than you," Hagrid hesitated for a moment—"You see, actually he…"
"Chamber 687!" the driver got off the cart—"Light, please."
Harry wanted to ask more, but his mind was drawn to the large amount of gold, silver, and copper coins piled inside his family's chamber. Following Hagrid's instructions, he took a specific amount that would be more than enough for his school expenses and still have pocket money if needed.
"Chamber 713!"
"What have we come to get, Hagrid?"
"I can't tell you, Harry, it's a very secret Hogwarts matter."
Harry thought it didn't matter too much, when the door opened, he could get a glimpse inside and find out. But to his disappointment, he could only see a solitary package under a beam of light.
Very melodramatic if you ask me.
"Better not mention this to anyone, Harry," Hagrid told him as he put away whatever the package was inside his coat with multiple pockets.
Harry nodded, although he still had the normal curiosity of a child and started to theorize what it could be to be kept in such a secure place but to be so small.
The subsequent purchases were really quick with Hagrid's guidance.
"We only have left… the wand!" Harry checked the mandatory list twice to make sure.
"The wand? Then Ollivander, there's no better place," Hagrid pointed to a shop and looked around sneakily—"Why don't you go ahead, Harry? I have something to do, I won't be long."
He had seen a beautiful white owl and since Harry had just arrived on the magical side of the world, he would need a suitable pet.
Owls are good companions, useful for making deliveries, and easy to take care of.
It would be his surprise birthday gift!
"Alright," Harry didn't know what the matter might be, but he didn't ask to avoid seeming nosy.
"Good, wait for me in front of the store when you're done," Hagrid said goodbye and turned around as he hurried towards the pet shop, fearful that someone might get ahead of him and end up taking that beautiful specimen he saw.
Harry was about to push the door, when it suddenly opened and a figure came out, knocking him to the ground as they collided.
"I'm sorry, I didn't see you," the person who came out apologized—"Are you alright?"