Robes and Wands
Author: Lostark The Rude
Date: 11-15-01 00:25

It's my first year at Hogwarts. I was permitted to try my Wizard training at Hogwarts. You see, I failed my first year at Cowboils four times. My mom, who was half a giant, let me shop for clothes and my wand while she got my books and other supplies. She went to Cowboils, but my father, whoever he is, did go to Hogwarts. "Lostark your father during our marriage was more swept up with the hippie counter-culture. He and a few of his other wizard friends tried to stop the war with magic and never was able to do it," my mom said while we were walking into the Leaky Cauldron Pub. She tapped a brick with her wand three times. A huge hole came out of nowhere. I was adjusted to it. I shopped in Diagon Ally for Cowboils supplies.

I knew how to make a needle into a match and back, and then into a nail and back to either. I went to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. "Oh Hello! Let me guess, Cowboils again?" asked the shop keeper Madam Malkin knowing I come here to get my Cowboils uniform. She was the best.

"Actually Hogwarts," I said.

"Hogwarts? You?" asked Madam Malkin.

"Yes," I said as I stood up to be measured and had my robes made.

"Hogwarts? I go there. It will be my fifth year," said a young man waiting a few after me, about my age getting ready for his fifth year clothes. He had black hair and taped glasses. He reminded me of the kids I pushed around at Cowboils. "Cowboils. That's in the states, right?" he said.

"Yea, my mom insists we go here for supplies. It is the best place to get it," I said.

"Oh, where are my manners. I'm Harry," he said.

"Lostark," I said by now I was gone and paid for my new robes. Harry was behind one person before it was his turn. I then went to Ollivander's Wand shop. At Cowboils I wasn't allowed to have a wand as a first year.

"Hello how are you? Let me measure you first," Ollivander said. "Try a few wands. You know the wand chooses the Wizard. Try Dragon heartstring, yew, 13 inches." The wand made a raspberry sound, and the shopkeeper yanked the wand out of my hand. "Try unicorn hair, maple, 9 1/4 inches," Ollivander said. I waved the wand and as it made a duck sound, the wand was yanked out of my hand. "A rare one, Bamboo dipped in Vampire blood one meter," said Ollivander. I touched it and dropped it. It seemed to burn my hand. "That wand hates you. Try this one: Dragon Heartstring, Cedar, 13 inches," Ollivander said. I waved the wand and it sent sparks in the shape of a smile. "It has chosen you," he said with a smile. I returned to my mom who was at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor with my books and other equipment.

Reunion at the Ice Cream Parlor
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 11-15-01 01:26

Hermione brushed her bushy hair from her face, before beginning to march down the long cobbled street known as Diagon Alley. She passed by a wide assortment of shops and restaurants, eagerly anticipating the reunion with her best friends, Ron Weasley and the famous Harry Potter. They hadn't seen each other the entire summer because Hermione spent her holiday in Germany.

She sauntered past the Quidditch shop, watching a few young wizards run around with their new brooms. On the other side, owls were being carried in fine cages by their new owners. Hermione grinned as she approached Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor. The parlor was the designated meeting spot for the trio. They had made plans to do their back-to-school shopping together. She pulled open the door, and found herself to be the first of the three there.

"Of course," she muttered, hopping on a stool before the counter. "I'm certain they'll be running late."

"Wot can I do for you, lil Miss?" The ice cream man asked, pinching the ends of his handlebar mustache with his fingers.

"Uh...oh, I don't know."

"'Ow 'bout a sundae. They're free ev'ry 'alf 'our an' accordin' to my wotch it's toime to give out free sundaes!" The ice cream man grinned and began filling up a cup with vanilla ice cream. "You wont nuts or jus choc'late?" He asked as he poured hot fudge over the vanilla.

"No nuts please. Thank you." Hermione frowned and looked at the door. "Where are those boys?"

Shopping for Supplies
Author: Aradia Forest
Date: 11-15-01 06:03

Diagon Alley never fails to amaze me. No matter how many times I come here, I always feel overwhelmed by the assortment of shops. The first thing I need is money. So I head to Gringotts to make a quick visit to my vault.

That done, I face my dilemma: Where to go first? I close my eyes and spin around. It's Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. Very well. I walk in and ask to be fitted for Hogwarts uniforms. There is a fair size line, so I take a seat and wait in line.

There are a few other students there.

"Hello, my name is Aradia. I'm entering my first year at Hogwarts."

Off to Diagon Alley
Author: Eithne Pendragon
Date: 11-15-01 07:59

Eithne walked up and down the streets of Diagon Alley, as she glanced through her silver wire-framed half-moon spectacles at the list she'd been owled that morning. She let out a sigh as she headed into Flourish and Blott's.

She walked out of the bookstore with her arms full of parcels. In her left arm was a Care of Magical Creatures book that growled and snapped, and almost bit off her hand. She had to put a Body-Bind Charm on it just to calm it down. She thumbed through her Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts book as she walked along. It certainly looked interesting. She chuckled as she wondered who the DADA master would be this term. They never managed to hold on to one.

Eithne had spent the first half of the summer with the Muggle side of her family. At this moment, she was wearing a pair of flared blue-jeans, black high-heeled boots, and a t-shirt with a psychedelic design on it, all of which she had picked up while in the Muggle world. She liked both wizard and Muggle clothes, but didn't feel like going out in robes that day for some reason.

She had picked up a new robe for school, though -- and a silver one just for fun -- and a new wand. Oak with a phoenix-tail core. It suited her, she guessed.

She also stopped by Quality Quidditch Supplies.

"Hi", she said to the man behind the counter. "Has my Firebolt come in yet?"

"Hello Eithne! How are you? Indeed it has. Here you go!"

She gave the shiny new broom an appraising glance, and smiled satisfactorily. The personalized number on the Firebolt was 710. Her birthday.

"Heh heh. We'll show those hot-shot Gryffindors a thing or two this term!" Eithne said with a wink and a sly grin.

"Bet you will, dearie. Good luck, and have fun this term, Miss Prefect!"

With her face lit up like Filibuster fireworks, Eithne walked out of the Quidditch shop. As she did so, she bumped into a bushy-haired boy with glasses.

"*gasp* Oh, hi Harry! Sorry for bumpin' into you. Have a nice summer?"

"Eh ... not particularly. You know how it goes over there on Privet Drive. I'm actually glad to be HERE."

Eithne chuckled again. "Yep, I do. I got a few that are like that in my family."

Harry smiled, and the broom in Eithne's hand caught his eye.

"And just what might THAT be?" he asked, giving Eithne a wary look.

"A secret weapon." Eithne replied, an "up-to-something" expression etched all over her face. "Just wait till I get you on the pitch!"

"Yeah ... can't wait!", Harry retorted, grinning. "Look, Eithne, it's been nice seeing you again, but I'm supposed to meet Ron and Hermione at Fortescue's, and I'm late. But I'll see ya around, OK?"

"Yeah. Try to stay out of trouble this year! *heh heh* Send me an owl if you can, and I'll see you in the Great Hall in a couple of weeks!"

Eithne used her new Firebolt to fly back to the home she shared in the Village with her father. She headed to her room and set all her things down. She let Jareth, her snow owl with eyes of mismatched blue, out for a quick fly, and tried on her new school robe. It was black, as always, and it bore the coat of arms for the house of Ravenclaw. She took the silver Prefect badge she received along with the owl message, pinned it onto her robe, and looked at herself in utter shock. Her, a Prefect! She grinned ear to ear.

"Platform 9 3/4, here I come!"

Robes, Repairs and Ice Cream
Author: Dr. Armageddon Endikut
Date: 11-16-01 00:56

I was standing in line at Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, nine people after a giant who was going to Hogwarts. The giant, who introduced himself to another boy named Harry, was talking to him. The line was long at both ends so I waited. Then I decided to have Hishibar, my owl, fly to the ice cream parlor for one rat and one chocolate with some money. I continued to wait. An hour later Hishibar came back to deliver the ice cream. "Shoot! Which is which!" I said licking one. "Ew, this is yours, Hishibar," I said, handing him his ice cream, licking my chocolate.

"Now why didn't I think of that?" said Madam Malkin.

Disaster in Diagon Alley
Author: George Weasley
Date: 11-17-01 02:59

"Stoo-pid Floo Powder!" George cursed as he fell on his bum. "I hate doin' that!" Charlie and Bill helped him up, taking either hand and pulling him to his feet. Bill and Charlie decided to come along with the whole family, even though they weren't at Hogwarts anymore.

"Mum, Fred an' I have to get our books, first!" George proclaimed.

"No, Mummy! I want to get my new quill and ink, first!" Ginny argued.

"All right, kids! One at a time, really now! Yer mum only has one body, she can't be pulled in too many directions at once!" Mr. Weasley said with a chuckle.

"Hey, Dad. Can Charlie an' I go look around a bit?" Bill asked his father, with a hopeful smile.

"Sure, I don't see why not, Bill," Mr. Weasley said.

"Can Fred and George come with us? Please, Dad?" Charlie asked, grinning.

"Well...I don't see why not, it's going to be a while until we get around to getting their things. Just meet us at the Flourish and Blott's at ten, okay?" Mr. Weasley said.

"Roight, Dad! Thanks!" Bill, Charlie, Fred and George went off on their own.

"We goin' to Gamble and Japes, Charlie?" Fred asked with a grin.

"You know it, Brother," Charlie clapped his hand on Fred's shoulder and they grinned evily.

Hagrid's Wand an' a Few Bits and Bobs
Author: Hagrid
Date: 11-18-01 01:19

Hagrid burst out of an upstairs fireplace of The Leaky Cauldron Pub in Diagon Alley and nobody noticed.

Hagrid was so surprised at this he felt in need of a pick-me-up in the downstairs bar.

However, today was the second most important trip to the alley that he had made in his long life. (The most important being the day he proudly took Harry Potter shopping).

"Ter day's the day I gets me new wand" he said to himself and headed towards Ollivander's, the wand maker.

Mr. Ollivander was waiting for (a rather surprised) Hagrid. "The good professor Dumbledore said you would be in," said old Ollivander. "In fact your wand has been chosen AND paid for by the good professor."

He handed over a long polished box and Hagrid opened it. He took out the biggest wand he had ever seen.

"15 inches of solid oak, young Hagrid" smiled Ollivander...."Please try not to get this one broken!!"

A rather speechless (and slightly tearful) giant let himself be led out of the shop where he stood smiling happily. He got some funny looks from some passing Hags (but then.. don't we all) but he ignored them.

Diagon Disaster
Author: Fred Weasley
Date: 11-18-01 01:29

The four red-heads entered Gamble and Japes eagerly, immediately heading toward the display cabinets housing such things as Belch Powder and Dungbombs.

"I smell loads of trouble brewing this term," Charlie said to Bill, wrinkling his nose.

"You wouldn't believe the potency of a combination of Stink Pellets an' Dungbombs!" Fred admitted, signalling to the clerk that he wanted a sack of each product.

"Dumbledore's gonna be completely zonked out by the time we're through with 'Ogwarts!" George added, looking in approval over Fred's shoulder.

"Give me some 'Iccup Sweets as well, thank you," Fred said to the clerk before turning to face his brothers. "Roight, I s'pose we should get our books now."

"What? Shopping for books so soon?" Bill said, raising an eyebrow as he reached for Fred's forehead. "Are you feeling alright?"

George nodded, with a look of concern on his face. "Yeah. Wot gives, Fred?"

Fred looked at his brothers seriously and cleared his throat. "I jus' think this is our last year at 'Ogwarts an' all. We should try to do well." He turned back to the clerk and pulled out some coins. "'Ere ya go."

The clerk looked over the coins and arched a brow. "You're short a few, boy."

"You're bloody roight, I am. I'm not gonna pay full price for this! You didn't even fill up the sacks all the way!" Fred shook the sacks vigorously, indicating that they did indeed have plenty space left in them.

The clerk sighed and muttered, "Very well, boy. Get out of me sight!"

Fred grinned and turned towards his brothers, who were all looking at him in shock. "Wot now?"

Charlie's eyes lit up and a big smile formed on his face. "How on earth do you always manage to wangle your way around things?"

"Wot can I say, Charlie? I'm jus' good at wot I do!" Fred said, as he made his way to the door. "Oh, an' by the way. I was jus kiddin' 'bout bein' serious with me school work an' all that." He grinned and stepped out of the joke shop.

"Ahh! See, I knew it!" George said, slapping Fred on the back. "Now, come on, let's go get into some trouble!" No sooner had this been said, when Fred turned and bumped into a girl, causing his purchases to scatter all over the alley.

"Oh bloody 'ell!" He exclaimed, kneeling down to retrieve his joke paraphernalia. "Wotch where you're..." He looked up at the girl, who had knelt to help collect his stuff. "...goin'...Uh...alroight then?"

She nodded, her green eyes shining.

"Good, good. Thanks for your 'elp." He smiled slightly and stood, lending her a hand.

A collective "Oooooooh" was heard from Charlie, Bill, and George who stood in the background.

Dumbbell in Distress
Author: George Weasley
Date: 11-18-01 02:08

Bill, Charlie and George stood outside of the joke shop, staring in awe and what had just happened. They exchanged glances.

"Talk about a damsel in distress, the roles are reversed and this is a dumbbell in distress!" Bill whispered to his two brothers.

They stared as the girl smiled and helped Fred with his things, then excused herself and went on with her shopping. Fred stood there, staring after her, his mouth hanging open.

The other three brothers approached him, teasingly. "Blimey, Fred! Lookit that one! She's a beaut, don't ya think?" Charlie clapped his hand on his younger brother's shoulder.

"Right! She'll be at Hogwarts, Fred! You can take her to all the dances and everything!" Bill said, laughing.

Fred gave his older brothers looks that said he was not amused with their jokes. "I don't even know the girl, you guys! Will ya quit it already?" He barked, stuffing the remainder of his purchases in their bags.

" 'E's roight, you two," George said to Bill and Charlie, "But, did ya see those eyes? She's as gorgeous as those Veelas! Only she ain't dangerous! She's...dangit! It's 10:00, we're s'posed ta meet Dad and Mum back at Flourish and Blott's to get our books!"

All four Weasley boys made a run back to Flourish and Blott's so as their parents wouldn't be so angry with them.

Boys Will Be Boys
Author: Samantha Thatcher
Date: 11-18-01 02:49

Samantha smiled to herself. "Boys.." She chuckled to herself. " Well....Let's see...*Sigh* Where to firs'?" She looked at her list of books and what not. "Hmm...Three pairs of black robes, eh? Buggar...Where in the.." Before she could finish, some boy with blonde sleeked back hair ran past her and knocked her to the ground.

"HAY!! WATCH WHERE YA'R GOIN' YA BONE BAG!!" Sam screamed after him still on the ground.

Glaring after him, though, she got up and headed down the street. Making sure she didn't miss any building, Sam finally found a robe shop, was sized and got some robes.

"Well, tha's one down. Now for the books." And sure enough there right down the street was a bookstore. She ran down the list. "Buggar...Tha's a load a books."

But finally she was finished and was on her way back to the Leaky Cauldron.

Bloody Sundaes
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 11-18-01 03:14

"'Ermione, ready for another?" The ice cream man asked, leaning over the counter.

Hermione groaned and clutched her stomach. "Goodness, no. Three is quite enough!"

"Roight then. Your lil friends are runnin' a wee bit late, aren't they?" He noted as an owl flew into the parlor.

"Tell me about it," Hermione said impatiently, watching the owl make its order.

"One chocolate, one rat, coming roight up!" The ice cream man quipped to the owl.

"Rat?" Hermione scrunched up her nose in disgust. "That's positively revolting."

"I beg to differ, 'Ermione. You ever 'ad roasted weed rat? It's quite good. I remember when I was a wee lad an' I was a part of the young wild ranger's troop. We'd go on campin' trips an' the like. Ev'ry eve we'd sit 'round the fire singin' folk songs and roastin' weed rats. Sometimes, the rats would get so crisp and toasty..."

"Oh Harry, Ron...where are you?" Hermione muttered, covering her face with her hand.

The Weasleys
Author: Draco Malfoy
Date: 11-18-01 20:41

Draco was on his way to Knockturn Alley from Flourish and Blott's when he saw the Weasley boys walking his way.

"So, do you Weasleys have any money for new books this year? Or do you still buy used ones?" He sneered.

The boys glared at him. "A shame it's our last year at 'ogwarts Malfoy. Seems we haven't given' you 'nough attention." Fred grinned.

"What do you mean?" Draco glared.

"What do we mean?" George said back. "Watch yo'r step Malfoy. It's the Weasley twins last year! We won't put up with anythin' from you!" All the boys laughed as they walked off.

"Is that a threat Weasley!!" Malfoy yelled after them. But they ignored him. Then he ran off in rage.

Just moments later he ran into a girl and knocked her to the ground. He heard her scream after him but Draco paid no attention. He was going to get a yelling at for being late.