Penwick

The time had finally come for the family’s annual trip to Diagon Alley. Hazel absolutely loved trips to Diagon Alley. They happened very, very rarely for their family. Really, apart from one other time, they have only ever come to London to shop for school supplies for her brother. Her parents would usually buy Hazel a token little gift - a book, or some odd gadget, but the prime reason for the trip was school supplies, so for the previous few years all the shopping was for her brother. She didn’t mind so much. She spent the time looking around, thinking about when it would be her turn and she would get all her school supplies for Penwick. Or Hogwarts. Her brother had gone to Penwick, so she just assumed she would as well.

A trip to Diagon Alley was also one of the rare times their family actively engaged in magic. Hazel’s parents preferred to live a non-magical lifestyle, as they were among a non-magical community in St Andrews. Both for their safety, and in hopes to widen their children’s perspectives on magical and non-magical integration, they operated as a normal, non-magical family. They did go on other types of family trips - to the snow fields, to the lochs, the coast, Edinburgh, etc, but they did so the muggle way - by car. But to Diagon Alley? Even her parents didn’t see the sense in dealing with the long drive and the London traffic, not to mention hiding the strange and wonderful purchases they would be making. So, they opted for the magical, much more convenient, though a little less reliable form of floo powder.

Traditionally, they would get up early, take the floo network to the Leaky Cauldron and have some breakfast, and then begin their day of shopping. Hazel had no reason to expect today to operate any differently. All dressed and ready to go, the family gathered around the fireplace - Hazel’s mum and dad, Hazel and her older brother, Jamie.

Jamie was in a particularly unpleasant mood, and was the last one to be ready. This had become typical of him. Hazel and her brother didn’t get along so well these days, but she didn’t know why. He always just seemed frustrated and annoyed at everything she did or said. It made her feel very lonely sometimes, and she wondered if she was indeed an annoying person. Nevermind. Today she was determined not to let his mood affect hers. Today, they weren’t only shopping for him. Today, it was her turn.

Hazel’s dad went up to the fireplace first, taking his floo powder, dropping the powder into the fireplace, and walking into the now roaring green flames and grandly exclaimed ‘The Leaky Cauldron’. Then her father was gone. It really was incredible. Next, her brother Jamie did the same, then it was Hazel’s turn. She had done this a handful of times now, so was confident walking into the heatless green flames, and clearly stating her destination.

She closed her eyes, and held her arms close as the sensation of spinning came over her, and next thing she knew she was still again, and opened her eyes to her smiling father, and her brother looking around the sleepy Leaky Cauldron. Hazel stepped out of the fireplace, and within a moment or two her mother had appeared as well to join them. As sleepy as the Leaky Cauldron was at this time in the morning, it was nevertheless filled with an electric atmosphere. It may have only been Hazel, but she was sure she could feel it.

My, how excited she was!