Not in Kansas Anymore

Ackley resisted the urge to bounce in excitement as he watched an older man his father asked for assistance tap a stick, no a wand, against a red brick wall to reveal a bustling street behind. A gasp of amazement escaped the wide eyed eleven year as he took in the scene before him. People in billowing robes wandering down the street, bags of books and other items floating behind their owner, and wait; was that a broom on display in one of the windows? And what on earth was that store with the bouncing, shrieking items on show?

The brunette could hardly contain his excitement. Where should they go first, the book store? He was dying to get his hands on a few textbooks which would explain more about the history of this new found world and of course a spell book or two. But then there was the pet store. Who knew what type of creatures existed? Maybe he’d be lucky enough to spot a dragon or a unicorn. Oh please let dragons actually exist he mentally pleaded. His gaze flickered to the sky above, as though expecting one to appear at any moment.

“Gringotts first. It’s been a long time since I’ve had any sickles on hand”. His father announced. The man sounded as though he were surprised to find himself speaking of such things. Ackley still found it hard to believe that his ordinary, well-to-do father had been raised in a world like this. Even if he was a, what was that word again; oh yes, squid! Ackley found himself growing unexpectedly self-conscious as the two of them made their way down the cobbled street. The ten year old aware of the fact that their shabby jeans and plain shirts distinguished them from the robe clad figures surrounding them.

After a few minutes, he found himself stood outside a snowy-white building, which towered over the stores surrounding him. “I know this is all new to you son, but whatever you do don’t stare or make a comment on their appearance” his father warned before pulling its bronze doors open. “Why would I...” he began before stopping mid-sentence as the cause of his father’s warning became clear. The creatures behind the desk were most certainly not human, and they didn’t appear particularly friendly, if the scowl on their faces was anything to go by. Ackley opted to follow his father’s advice and ducked his head as they waited patiently for their turn. He remained uncharacteristically quiet as his father and the goblin serving them made the transaction. All the talk of exchange rates went a bit over his head anyway.

After what seemed like forever, but was probably twenty minutes, the duo exited the wizarding bank. The ten year old let out a sigh of relief as he looked around. “Daddy, can we go to the bookstore first?” He pleaded in a slightly whiny voice as his desire to learn grew. His father sighed, but before the man could reply they accidentally ran into a girl who seemed to be in a hurry. She looked to be a similar age to him Ackley was pleased to note. It also seemed as though she wasn’t afraid to get dirty if the grass stains on her clothing was anything to go by. “I’m so sorry. I got distracted. It’s just... all of this is so amazing. I can’t believe there’s brooms, cauldron and I’m not even sure what that is on display” the last a reference to the display for a store he was now close enough to read said ‘Weasleys Wizard Wheezes’. “I am Ackley by the way and you are?” He commented before extending a hand before his father could shoo him away. The man seemed exasperated by his son’s decision to over share.

@Katerina Masi

Kitty was with her Mama in the bookstore in Diagon Ally. Camp had been so much fun and she was so excited to go back to school for another year! She was looking through the books on her list, trying to grab the nicest new copy they had—the ones that hadn’t been opened and closed a hundred times. While she would have been fine with a secondhand book, her mother insisted on new to save the secondhand ones for people who needed them. Her mothers made plenty of money and so she was very lucky. She took her books to the register with her Mama, let her mother pay, and then carried the bag out the front door.

She turned suddenly, then ran flat into a boy around her age range. She blushed, and went to admonish him until she caught the look of his starry-eyed gaze. Oh, he was cute. Was he new? Maybe he was a first year? “First time?” She asked, smiling at him widely.  She took his hand and shook it firmly. She remembered a firm handshake was supposed to be a sign of respect. Her uncle taught her that.

“I’m Kitty.” She used her nickname rather than her real name. “You’ve really never bene to Diagon before? It’s great! Are you from a muggle family?” She asked, realizing if he wasn’t used to magic stuff and wasn’t usually in Diagon, that must have been it. Her mom shot her a look and she rolled her eyes a little. “I didn’t mean that in the bad way, just that I know it’s really cool for people who aren’t as used to magic stuff.”

“I’m a second year at Hogwarts this year, Gryffindor. What about you? Are you just starting out? Maybe you can be a Gryffindor with me!”

Ackley smiled brightly at the girl and nodded his head when she questioned whether it was his first time in the alley. A snide part of him thought that should have been obvious, but he was much too excited to dwell on such uncharitable thoughts. Ackley was surprised by the firmness of her handshake. “Kitty? Like a cat? That’s so awesome” he praised; perhaps it was a strange name, but with a name like Ackley who was he to judge?

The brunette had opened his mouth to answer her query when Kitty interrupted him to clarify the intent behind the question. The eleven year old frowned as he considered the implications of her remark. What did she mean by the bad way? What could be bad about asking someone if they came from a muggle family? Were there people who thought being muggle raised was a bad thing? Ackley also noticed the way his father seemed to tense at the remark. He was missing something, he was sure of it, and he hated that.

Since his father didn’t make to interrupt or drag him away he decided it was safe to answer the question. “I was raised in the muggle world. Mum’s a muggle and dad’s a squid. My big brother’s a muggle, but we think my little sister might be a witch” he didn’t notice how his father mouthed the word ‘squib’ to Kitty’s mother to clarify what he meant, which was fortunate as the eleven year old hated making such obvious mistakes.

He grinned as she questioned him and felt relief as she seemed to accept him. He’d worried he’d be an outsider with all the wizarding raised kids clustered together in a clique. “I start Hogwarts this year! Dad thinks I’ll be a Gryffindor like you, but mum’s convinced I’ll be a Ravenclaw. That’s after dad explained to us about the houses. We didn’t know anything about the magical world until a week ago.” Despite Ackley’s best efforts there was a touch of bitterness to the explanation. How different would things have been if he’d grown up knowing about the magical world? Imagine the books he could have read, the people he could have met, and of course the creatures he could have seen.

Ackley then noticed his father shuffling, a sure sign the man was about to suggest they continue shopping. He didn’t want to part from his new friend so soon. Their bags suggested they’d already been to the book store, but Ackley had a way to deal with that. “Kitty, have you and your mummy been to the apothecary yet?” The poor boy stuttered over the unfamiliar word. “We haven’t! Maybe we could go together? You could help me pick high quality ingredients!” He suggested hopefully.

Eoin meanwhile frowned at his son. “Ackley, don’t be so rude. I’m sure these ladies have plans for today and we mustn’t hold them back” his father admonished before offering a hasty apology to Kitty’s mama. The eleven year old frowned as a rebellious scowl suddenly appeared on his face.