Starting over...

It took Catherine and Adam a while to move all of their friends along and say good-bye properly, but by the time they had, they were completely hyper and over-excited.

"Mum, do you know when the shops in Diagon Alley close on a Saturday?"

"No, but ring your Aunty Betty and tell her about being accepted, and I'm sure she'll take you and Adam up to London by Portkey tomorrow..."

"But we want to go today...!"

"Well, just phone her and see what she's up to today, its only 1 o'clock anyway, maybe you can get some lunch in London or something. Oh, which reminds me, you've got a Gringotts vault in your name! We've been saving since you were born, just in case. If you didn't get accepted we were just going to withdraw all the money and save it for Muggle University... I'll just go and find the key..." Footsteps and thumping were heard upstairs for about five minutes, and then they heard "Aha!" and Catherine's Mum returned downstairs brandishing a large, heavy looking, shiny gold key.

"Wow, my own Gringotts key..." whispered Catherine, reaching for it...

"No! Your Aunty can look after it for you, thank you very much, I'm not letting you loose with all that gold! It's for necessities, emergencies, and school supplies only!"

"Aaaaw, Mum..."

"Don't worry, I'll send you spending money each term, it's not like you'll be going to Hogsmeade for a couple of years anyway."

"Right, I must go and ring Aunty Betty then... has she got a muggle phone? Or shall I use the fireplace?"

"Oh, use the fireplace, it's cheaper - in fact you may as well go there on the Floo network, but use the fireplace in the spare room upstairs, that's the only one that's connected. It looks like it's blocked up, but there's actually a door there. The powder is in the green pot on the mantelpiece."

"Okay Mum, I'll 'phone you when I know what's happening, Adam, do you need to ring your mum and tell her where you're going?"

"Oh hold on, I'll use my mobile before we go, it won't work in the Wizarding world, will it? ... Hi! Mum, I'm going to Cath's Aunty's house. I'm not sure when I'll be back, I might see you later or I might see you tomorrow, it depends. I'll let you know later. Yeah. Okay, byeeeee ... there we go, let's go! I'm ready!"

"Bye Mum! Oh wait a minute, what's Aunty Betty's house called again?"

"It's number 7, Oak Glen."

"Thanks, I'll see you soon! Byeeeee!!"

They ran upstairs to the spare room, (Adam practically skipped...) and went over to the fireplace. Catherine pulled on the wooden boards that covered the opening to the fireplace, and they swung out to the side like a door, revealing a large opening. They stoked up a fire and Catherine threw a handful of Floo powder in, shouting "5 Oak Glen!" Adam followed suite, and soon they landed in a huge black marble fireplace. It was obviously Betty's, because she was seated on the sofa drinking tea and stood up to greet them with a huge grin on her face.

"So you've been accepted, my dear!" she exclaimed excitedly, "It's wonderful news, I was always telling your mother that you belong in 'our world.' Being such a fan of young Potter and all..."

"Yes, I was so shocked when the owl landed on my bed, you wouldn't believe it. In fact, I'm still finding it hard to believe... I'd like to ask you something actually, if that's okay?"

"Yes of course, but would you mind introducing me to your young friend here?"

"Oh, I'm sorry! This is my best friend Adam, he got accepted too, and that's why he's here."

"Lovely to meet you dear," said Betty as she shook hands with Adam "It's nice for Cathy to have a friend, at least you two will know each other at Hogwarts!"

"Yeah, it's good to have a friend who's known me for a long time. Can I ask you that question now?"

"Fire away."

"Well, has everything in the Wizarding world happened the same as in the Harry Potter books?"

"Yes, indeed it has! You're such a fan, I'm sure you'll already be way ahead of your fellow first years, although there is more to magic than knowing the right words, as you well know."

"But why have the books been published in the Muggle world?"

"No-one knows. But they have been personally authorised by the Minister for Magic himself, so it's all above board. Anyway, you know Muggles, they'd never believe anything that in their eyes was so far fetched."

"So J.K. Rowling is a Witch?" asked Adam

"No, someone has put a spell on her so that she knows all about the events that are unfolding in the Wizarding world at the moment, they seem just like her own imagination to her though, and she writes them down in her books."

"Ooooh, I see. So can we go to Diagon Alley today? Or do we have to wait until tomorrow?" Catherine asked

"We can indeed! It's open continuously until the school year starts, because you can imagine how many people up and down the country have to go to Diagon Alley to buy their school supplies. It's the best place to get school equipment; even Hogsmeade doesn't have anywhere near as much variety. We'll use a Portkey, Floo powder's ever so expensive these days and I'm running low..." Betty picked up an empty crisp packet form a big red basket on the side. "I always keep some things which can be used to make a Portkey in this basket, so I don't have to go around hunting for one," she explained as she whipped out her wand, pointed it at the crisp packet and muttered the right words to charms the Portkey.

"Is it done now?" asked Catherine excitedly

"Yes, yes, it is dear. Now, we all have to touch the Portkey - yes, that's right - and, if we wait a few seconds..."

Catherine felt a sort of tug behind her navel, and soon the world was sloshing violently and colourfully around them. They were on their way to the famed Diagon Alley.