"Right, is everybody ready?" Molly asked, earning murmurs of "yes" and nodding heads in response. Ron and I had been giggling with excitement for our trip to Diagon Alley all morning, and now the moment had finally come. We'd both been to Diagon Alley many a time before, but this was the first time we would be going to make our own purchases, as oppose to just tagging along when Ron's older brothers were buying their Hogwarts supplies.

"Poppy can go first as she's our guest. Go on, dear,"

"Thank you, Molly." I smiled at the kind woman and stepped into the fireplace before taking a pinch of Floo Powder, "Diagon Alley," I spoke clearly, pitching the glittery powder into the fire before being engulfed in the emerald green flames. Having used the Floo Network for most of my life, I was familiar enough with it to use it without any disasters. There were still instances in which I would panic a little or forget to keep my elbows tucked in but fortunately, this time I was successful in reaching Diagon Alley without any mishaps. It wasn't long before Ron and the rest of the Weasleys had joined me and we set off on our quest for school supplies.

"Where do we go first?" Ron inquired, looking around at all the different shops and stalls that surrounded us. I glanced down at the list of things we would need that came with our Hogwarts letters;

UNIFORM

First-year students will require:

1. Three sets of plain works robes (black)

2. One pointed hat (black) for day wear

3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)

4. One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)

Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags

COURSE BOOKS

All students should have a copy of each of the following:

The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk

A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot

Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling

A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore

Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander

The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Tremble

OTHER EQUIPMENT

1 wand

1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)

1 set glass or crystal phials

1 telescope

1 set brass scales

Students may bring, if they desire, an owl OR a cat OR a toad

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICK

Yours Sincerely,

Lucinda Thomsonicle-Pocus

Chief Attendant of Witchcraft Provisions

"Well, the first thing on the list is uniforms, so why don't we start with that?" I suggested.

"Ah, yes, there's a perfectly good secondhand shop not far from here," Molly said and so it was decided; Percy, Fred and George were allowed to go off and buy their things on their own, while Ron, Ginny and I followed Molly.

My parents had given me the money I needed but I would still be buying my robes from the secondhand shop as I didn't grow up in the wealthiest of wizarding families, just like Ron. My parents worked for the Ministry of Magic, like Arthur, and weren't home a whole lot, which is why I spent most of my time with the Weasleys and why I was shopping for my very first set of Hogwarts supplies with them rather than my parents. Not that I minded, though, I loved spending so much time with the Weasleys and my best friend.

"Poppy, look!" Said Ron, running up to Broomstix, where the Nimbus 2000 was being displayed in the window after we left Second-Hand Robes.

"Wow!" I said in awe, standing next to the ginger boy and admiring the broomstick through the polished glass.

"It's so cool!" Ron gushed, looking at it as if he wanted to marry the mahogany broomstick.

"Yeah, and bloody expensive." I said, staring at the price tag in disbelief; 340 galleons, "Come on, we still need to get our books, wands and a bunch of other things." I grabbed Ron's hand and began pulling him away from the shop, but as I turned around, I ended up bumping into someone. I was about to start apologising profusely, but when I looked up and saw who it was, a huge smile broke out on my face.

"Cedric!" I squealed, throwing my arms around my cousin's waist.

"Hey, Pop," chuckled Cedric when I almost knocked him over, "I forgot you were starting at Hogwarts this year. You should've reminded me; I would've come with you to get all your stuff."

"It's fine, I'm here with the Weasleys anyway," I told him, gesturing to Ron who just smiled awkwardly. Cedric Diggory had always been more like an older brother to me than a cousin. If I wasn't at the Wealseys', I would usually be with him and my Uncle Amos while my parents were working.

"Have you gotten your wands yet?" The brown haired Hufflepuff asked the two of us.

"I haven't, but Ron's having Charlie's old wand." I told him.

"Great, I'll come with you; I remember getting my first wand, it was so exciting." He said, smiling fondly at the memory. Molly then walked up to us with Ginny, looking rather frazzled.

"Ron, Poppy, please do not wander off like that. You two gave me such a fright, I thought I'd lost you in the crowd!"

"Sorry, mum."

"Sorry, Molly." I said at the exact same time as Ron. Molly then noticed Cedric and her frown was replaced with a warm smile.

"Hello, Cedric," She greeted my cousin with a hug, "How lovely to see you, dear."

"You too, Mrs Weasley." Cedric smiled back. We all made our way to Ollivanders and my mouth fell open in amazement when we walked in. Thousands upon thousands of magnificent wands lined the shelves and it felt like the most magical place I'd ever set foot in.

"Ah, Weasleys!" A friendly looking man with a wild mane of white hair said cheerfully. Mr Ollivander. "And Mr Cedric Diggory!" He instantly recognised my cousin, presumably as this certainly wasn't Cedric's first trip to Diagon Alley or this very shop.

His gaze then landed on me and he smiled as if he knew exactly who I was, however he still asked for my name, "And who might you be?"

"Poppy Grace, sir." I introduced myself shyly.

"Pleasure to meet you, Miss Grace. Who's going first?" Mr Ollivander looked between me and Ron.

"Um, actually, sir, I'm the only one getting a wand; Ron already has his brother's." I said.

"Very well, one moment," He ventured into the back of the shop before returning with a wand and handing it to me, "Give this one a go." I gave the wand a wave, only to have a gold spark fly out and hit the vase perched on Mr Ollivander's desk, causing it to smash into a million pieces.

"I'm terribly sorry, sir."

"Not to worry, I'll fix it later. Try this one," He took the faulty wand from me and handed me a new one. I waved it around and suddenly all the lights in the shop went out. If it weren't for the daylight streaming through the windows, it would've gone pitch black.

"Sorry...again," I said sheepishly, throwing a glare at Cedric when he chuckled.

"It's alright, give this one a twirl," Mr Ollivander handed me yet another wand and I knew it was the one for me as soon as I wrapped my fingers around it. I didn't even have to do anything when a soft breeze picked up, blowing my hair back as a golden glow emitted from somewhere I couldn't figure out, but the breeze and the glow disappeared almost as quickly as they came.

"Perfect!" Beamed Mr Ollivander, "11 inches, applewood, unicorn hair. A powerful wand, best suited for a witch or wizard with high aims."

"Thank you, Mr Ollivander." I said, happy to have found my wand.

"It's my pleasure, dear."