Chapter One

Harry Potter fan fiction Chapter One.
Co-writing with Drakora5588.
Hope you enjoy!
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The drive wasn't very long, but Cecilia was confused. "Why did that snake want me?" The thought never stopped bouncing in her mind. "Mom-" She would begin, only to be suddenly cut off by her parents.

"Quiet! Honey." was her Mom's voice.

"Shut the hell up!" Was her dad's response.

They eventually stopped, outside a small pub. "Umm..." was all Cecilia could get out before being hushed.

Few people were on the walk, but those who passed by didn't seem to notice the pub. The Leaky Cauldron. "What an odd name." Cecilia whispered to herself. After her parents were sure no one was coming they got out of their car and literally ran across the sidewalk, and into the bar.

They burst in, but no one looked there way, as if it were normal. A large man, who seemed covered in hair, was walking their way.

"Well, Mrs. Riddle." He began, in the most kind way. "It seems that yer accepted th' enrollment offer af'er all!"

"Hagrid." Her mother said, hastily. "You need to take her into Diagon Alley. I can't go back there, after You-know-what happened."

"M-mother..." The girl stuttered. "What happened?"

"Nothing!" Her mother's tone frightened Cecilia, and she backed down.

Hagrid's voice was large, but friendly. "Well, Mam. I'll take 'er ter Gringotts, an' I'll help 'er wif all 'er supplies."

"Thank you, Hagrid." Both Cecilia's Mom and Dad replied. Well, her dad said it more gruffly.

Hagrid took Cecilia behind the pub, and into a small alley. "This isn't the famed 'Diagon Alley' is it?" she scoffed. Din, who had draped himself across Cecilia's shoulders, looked her strangely, as if he disproved of her tone.

"Nope!" Hagrid said, more gleefully than the 11 year-old girl expected. "It's behind that there wall!"

He approached the back wall, and tapped his big, pink umbrella to one of the bricks. Like magic the wall crumpled into an arch. Cecilia couldn't believe her eyes. There was a whole another town inside London! People with tall, Halloween-type witches hats and cloaks were walking around, like it was a normal day. Once they passed though the arch the wall folded into a solid, normal-looking wall.

The town seemed old-fashioned, with old building and large marble building. Each building a a sign, most of which looked like pots. One store was called Flourish and Blotts, another was called Apothecary. A group of children, wearing robes and interesting hats, who were around Cecilia's age had gathered around a display window. The store was called Quality Quidditch Supplies. Hagrid, who was larger than two full grown men, easily parted the crowd and Cecilia gaped upon a broomstick, floating on it's own in the window. Pictures were hung all around it, but they were moving, showing people flying on broomsticks, and holding trophies.

"Wow!" Cecilia gasped, she had never seen anything like it.

The walked along, and Cecilia could see a huge building towering over the town. It was marble and looked fit for a king.

"This way ter Gringotts!" Hagrid gestured to the large building. It had the appearances of the United States White House, but to her surprise, it was a bank. Small creatures, to Cecilia looked like elves, wandered the massive halls. One was at the front of the largest hall. He was busy writing with one heck of a quill pen.

"Name?" He asked. His voice deep, and annoyed.

"C-Cecilia Rid-Riddle." Cecilia stammered.

The creature looked up from his work, and glared at her evilly. "Do you have a key?"

This time, Hagrid stepped up. "Oh! I has it here. Lemme get it out fer ya." He shuffled through, what seemed thousands of pockets. Finally he pulled out a small key. He dangled it from a chain. Cecilia was astonished by it's looks. It was silver, with a scull head. The length of the key looked like folded wings. The key part was a darker silver, and loked so sharp it could be a knife.

"Okay." The creature, again, scoffed.

Cecilia was given the ride of her life: In what seemed like a mine cart her and Hagrid were carried through a maze of tunnels, at extremely fast (and in Hagrid's opinion, dangerous) speeds. Hagrid explained, before the trip, that Gringotts was run by goblins, and that it was impossible to break into. "It has the highest security than any building in the world." As he described it, "no one can get in wifout the help of a Goblin, and if yer do, there are monsters that prevent yer from stealing anyting."

Their Goblin chauffeur put on the brakes, and with a jolt the movement stopped. "Finally" Hagrid gasped, with great relief.

The Goblin stepped out, and even though she was the only one there, called to Cecilia and Hagrid "Riddle, two-forty-nine."

The pair walked to a huge door, and once the key was inserted into it it opened up, like clockwork. There was a large sum of money inside it, but only gold, silver and bronze coins.

"Hagrid," Cecilia began, her American accent was covered by a slight English accent. "How does this money system work?"

"Well, yer see, the gold ones are Galleons, they's worth the most.The silver ones ar' called Sickles, and th' bronze ones are knuts. Seventeen silver Sickles to a Galleon and twenty-nine Knuts to a Sickle, it's easy enough."

"Oh!"

Cecilia rushed around her cell, and gathered not even half of her money. Hagrid gave her a small bag. "It expands ter hold all yer need it ter. It's sorta bottomless."

"Sweet!"

Back in the light of day, Hagrid took Cecilia to the wand shop. He sat in a chair, but was to big for it in the fact he was two men wide and two-and-a-half men tall. The store was called Ollivander's and it was filled with boxes. There was no space, except for a old, frail looking man, sitting behind a large wooden desk.

"Oh!" He exclaimed as Hagrid grunted as he tried to get out of his seat. "May I help you, Hagrid?"

"No, yer jus' got ter help this here lassy." He forces a smile and a slight hand gesture to Cecilia.

"Oh!" He said, once more, "I have the perfect wand for you, dear. He ventured into the store, and returned with three boxes. "The one I though would fit you might not work, so I brought a few extras."

He pulled out a box. The object inside, apparently was a wand, was made from what looked like a oak tree. It's wood was lightly colored, and it's handle had a blue gem crafted into it.

"Oak wood, Unicorn Hair, 12 and a half inches, slightly springy." He described the wand like he had every detail memorized. "Go ahead, give it a try."

Cecilia took the wand, and automatically, with the slightest flick of her wrist, a blue snake shot from her wand. As soon as it appeared, it was gone. "Umm.." Cecilia began, but the shop owner cut her off.

"Oh! Yes!" He exclaimed. "The wand has chosen you! It's perfect for you!"

"Okay..."

"It's 13 Galleons."

"Umm, okay.... Here ya go!" Cecilia said, as she handed him the money. She wasn't sure why a snake had come from her wand, but she really liked this wizardry stuff now. She was beaming so much, she just got a wand!

Hagrid was finally unstuck and they exited the store. Cecilia looked around her. Her day jumped from horrible to great! They walked around and Cecilia learned all about Hogwarts, and about Wizardry and Witches. She also learned that Harry Potter was famous!

Just as they were about to get ice cream, Cecilia saw a young girl, around her age, sitting outside a pet shop. She looked miserable.Her Hair was short, and midnight black. She had no books or any bags of a sort, just a wand and, well, cloths. Just as Cecilia was pointing out the girl to Hagrid, Din lept off Cecilia's shoulders and ran to the girl.

"Hey!"Cecilia called out, trying to get Din to return, and hoping the girl would hear her.

The girl easily caught Din, who had stopped next to her. She reached out and held him out to Cecilia. For a moment, Cecilia hesitated to grab him, but kindly accepted her ferret.

"Erm.. Thanks for catching Din..." Cecilia said, smiling a little after she said it.

"Hey, It wasn't a problem." The girl replied.

A moment of silence passed between the two. Cecilia looked up from the ground to see the girl quickly turn her eyes away.

"Um, my name is Cecilia. Cecilia Riddle. What's your name?"

The girl brushed her black hair out of her face. "My name is Verra Draggenmyre."