The Making of a Peacock

The Making of a Peacock

Chapter Three: Diagon Alley

"Gilderoy," Diana began, "I really don't think you should get your hopes up about this new school. Everyone knows there's no such thing as magic." She was being as kind and gentle as possible. She loved when her son was excited about something, but there was a difference between living in the real world versus a dream world.

It was mid-August, and Gilderoy had almost an entire month to fantasize about all the wonderful things in store for him. Not a day went by where he didn't talk incessantly about the exclusive school, or all the neat magic tricks he'd be learning. He wore his cloak around the house all the time even though it was the middle of the summer. After all, it seemed fitting wizard attire, and he dove into his King Arthur books with even more fervour than before.

"I mean, just look at the list of supplies," Diana continued. "Where are you supposed to get a cauldron or a wand? We've been to every bookstore in London, and no one has even heard of The Standard Book of Spells. Honey, I just don't want you to be disappointed."

"I won't be. I know it. I know it, Mum." He had never shared with her the incident a few years back when he made his hair re-roll on its own. He knew he was special. His mother had always told him so, but he knew it went deeper than that.

"All right, dear," she said, sighing. "I'm off to bed then. You should go too. Nothing rejuvenates the skin like a good night's sleep."

"Yes, I'm going," he replied. But when he got to his room, he sat down at his desk and took out a fresh piece of paper and a pen. He began drawing a man with a tall, pointy hat. He was clothed in long, flowing robes with stars and half moons on them. In his hand he held a wand, and there was an owl perched on his shoulder. He wrote at the bottom: Gilderoy Lockhart, Magician. He placed the drawing under his pillow, and began his night-time beauty rituals in preparation for bed.

In the morning, he was awoken by voices downstairs.

"I'm terribly sorry I've arrived so late in the summer holidays," said a curt woman's voice with a slight Scottish accent. This piqued Gilderoy's interest so he quietly got out of bed and tiptoed to the top of the staircase to listen.

"Oh, that's quite all right," said Diana as she finished tying her house-robe closed. True to character, she was completely breathtaking - even at such an early hour. "I'm sorry, but I'm not quite sure I understand the nature of your visit," she said as she began filling the tea kettle.

"I'm Professor Minerva McGonagall. I'll be teaching Gilderoy at Hogwarts this year," the other woman stated very frankly.

"Excuse me?" It was a good thing the tea kettle was already sitting in the sink, as Diana probably would have dropped it.

"We Owled his admittance letter a few weeks ago, and received his acceptance that same day. We just assumed that everything would be taken care of in the normal fashion..."

"So, this school of yours is... real?" Diana interrupted.

"Of course it's real!" Professor McGonagall replied. "You see, this is why I've come today. When a child comes from a magical family, there is no need for a personal visit before the start of term. Since Gilderoy's father is a Wizard, we assumed he would know all about the magical world."

Diana sat down. "I'm sorry, he's a... Wizard?" She glanced up the stairs, and Gilderoy quickly hid out of sight.

"Well, of course! How could he not be? His family line can be traced back ages in the Wizarding world!"

Diana just sat there, too stunned for words.

Professor McGonagall hesitantly continued, "Which is why we realized there might be the possibility of his absence in your household. He currently has another child enrolled in our school...well, that's neither here nor there..."

"Does everyone know who Gilderoy's father is?" Diana looked terrified.

"No." The professor placed a gentle hand on Diana's. "No one knows except myself and the Headmaster. Now," she continued, straightening up, "my purpose in coming today is to escort you to Diagon Alley to purchase Gilderoy's school supplies, and also to give him his train ticket for the Hogwarts Express."

They continued their conversation as Gilderoy crept silently back to his bedroom and closed the door. His father. They had spoken about his father. He didn't know anything about him; that was definitely one subject his mother did not like to discuss, so he never brought it up. His father was a Wizard, and he had another family. A mixture of emotions flooded through Gilderoy. Of course, he was ecstatic that he really would be going to a new, magical school. He was thrilled that his father really was out there somewhere, but he was also deeply saddened. Why had he always stayed away? Why had he abandoned him for this other boy? Why didn't he love him?

He opened the drawer of his nightstand and shuffled through the assortment of odds and ends until his fingers closed around a small metal object. He brought it out and sat on his bed. It was an old skeleton key. He couldn't remember when he'd gotten it. As far as he knew he'd always had it. It had once belonged to his father, that much he knew.

A few minutes later, there was a slight knock on his bedroom door.

"Gilderoy, dear." Diana's voice sounded oddly timid. She cracked the door open and peered inside to find Gilderoy sitting on his unmade bed. "It seems you were right." She smiled as she walked over and sat down beside him. She lovingly placed her delicate hands on her son's. "Professor McGonagall is here from your new school. She's to take us to buy your school supplies today."

Gilderoy looked up at her with his sorrowful eyes. He was never very good at hiding his emotions.

"Oh, my handsome little man, what's the matter? I thought you'd be excited," she said, concern spreading across her face. She caught a glimpse of the old key in his hands, and a bit of anxiety joined her concerned expression.

"It's nothing, Mum," he replied. He pushed down his sad feelings regarding his father into the very depths of his heart and managed a smile. "I am excited. Let's go get my school things, shall we?"

Diana enveloped her son in a warm hug, and then headed out the door. Gilderoy got up and went into the bathroom to prepare for the day ahead. He looked at his reflection in the mirror and smiled to himself.

It was going to be an extraordinary day.

~*~

A short while later, the three of them were on the train headed into the heart of London. Minerva was quite uncomfortable as she wasn't used to travelling in such a fashion, but decided that it was probably better this way. It would enable Diana to find the entrance to Diagon Alley on her own in the years to come since she wouldn't be able to get there in the usual way. However, she still tensely gripped the coin in her pocket that she had intended on using as a Portkey. The whizzing landscape was making her nervous and a bit nauseous. She pulled a small bottle from her robes, uncorked it, and downed the entire contents. Thank goodness Horace had insisted on sending her with a relaxation potion. You never know what you're going to encounter when you enter the world of Muggles, he had said. Too right.

Throughout the journey, Minerva explained to Gilderoy and Diana a little of the history of Hogwarts and the magical world. Gilderoy seemed fascinated by it all, and asked endless questions, particularly concerning Transfiguration when she told him that was the subject she taught. He was certainly a precocious child, and was rather handsome as well. Of course, it would be impossible for him not to be handsome, what with his pedigree. Yes, she thought, he would do quite well at Hogwarts.

After meandering through the streets of London and coaxing a rather reluctant Diana into the Leaky Cauldron, the three found themselves, finally, at the entrance to Diagon Alley. Gilderoy was enthralled by the magic he felt reverberating in the air. He soaked up his surroundings. There were people everywhere bustling about wearing robes and pointed hats of all colours. Suddenly, Diana and Gilderoy felt very out of place with their own manner of dress. There were joke shops, ice cream parlours, and clothing stores! Gilderoy wanted to investigate every single one of them.

"Right, then," stated Professor McGonagall. "I think we'd best begin at Gringotts. After all, you can't buy anything without any money, can you?" She firmly gripped Gilderoy's shoulder and guided him towards a very imposing building towards the end of the street. When they entered, Diana gasped audibly. Gilderoy's eyes grew wider as he stared at the many small creatures going about their business in the vast lobby.

"What are those things?" asked Gilderoy.

"They're goblins, Gilderoy. They run Gringotts, which is perhaps the safest bank in all of Britain. And you'd do well not to stare."

Gilderoy looked down sheepishly as the three of them approached the nearest empty counter.

"Now, I trust you've brought your key," Minerva said to Gilderoy. He looked a bit confused, but then remembered the skeleton key he'd slipped into his pocket earlier.

"Well, I've got a key, but I don't know if it's the right one," Gilderoy said as he pulled it out of his pocket.

"Yes, I think that will do," she said taking the key from him. She turned to the goblin on the other side of the counter. "Gilderoy Lockhart will be needing to make a withdrawal. Here is his key. I think you will find everything in order."

~*~

Gilderoy and Diana were both very excited to see the first shop they were headed for: Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. They were going to be buying clothes!

"Now Gilderoy, why don't you run into Madam Malkin's and get fitted for your school robes. Your mother and I will go to purchase your books."

"Actually, Professor," Diana began, trying to tear her eyes away from the front window of the robe shop, "I'd prefer to stay with my son while he's being properly fitted." Her eyes darted to the cobblestones at her feet at she tried (unsuccessfully) to not blush.

"Very well. I will meet you back here when I am finished." She turned on her heel and started toward the bookstore, rolling her eyes and smiling as she went.

Diana and Gilderoy exchanged knowing glances and hurriedly made their way into the shop. Gilderoy was amazed at the richness of the fabrics lining the walls. His mother inhaled deeply, and started putting together Gilderoy's new wardrobe in her mind.

An older woman entered from the back room and smiled as she set down a pile of various fabrics. "I expect you're here for your Hogwarts robes then? Just hop right up on the stool, and I'll measure you up, quick as you please." She pulled her wand out from her own robe and began waving it in slow, circular patterns all around Gilderoy.

Diana walked across the room to give the beautiful fabrics a bit of a closer inspection.

"Mmm...right then," Madame Malkin said as she finished up her measuring. "If you'll return in half an hour, I'll have your robes ready for you." She turned back to her abandoned pile of fabrics intending to resume her work.

"Excuse me, ma'am," Diana interjected, "but we haven't even picked out material or decided on a style."

Madame Malkin laughed. "This'll be your first one at Hogwarts, I expect. My dear, all the students wear the same style of robe, and they're all made from the same black material."

Diana looked horrified. Her son! Wearing all black!

Gilderoy looked horrified. Him! Wearing all black!

Madame Malkin noticed the identical expressions of terror on their faces - it would be hard not to. "Don't worry yourselves," she said, smiling. "In a few years' time this young man will have to outfit himself for the seasonal Yule Ball. Come back then, and I'll fix you up with something right nice."

Diana and Gilderoy left the shop with their dampened spirits only slightly lifted. Professor McGonagall met them outside with a cauldron full of books at her feet.

"I believe we still need to get you a wand." She started heading down the street, and the Lockharts quickly followed. "I'll take you over to Ollivander's, and then I must return to Hogwarts. When you've finished for the day, just go back to the Leaky Cauldron. Tom will give you a feathered quill that I've left with him. It is a Portkey. That means when you touch it, it will take you back to your house in Dandee. Unless of course, you prefer another ride on the train."

They soon found themselves standing at the entrance of Ollivanders wand store.

"All right then," said Professor McGonagall. "I'll take my leave of you now. It has been a pleasure meeting both of you, and I look forward to seeing you at school in a few weeks, Gilderoy. Here is your ticket for the school train. Keep it in a safe place. The train leaves exactly at eleven o'clock from King's Cross Station, so budget your time accordingly. The Head Boy and Girl will be there to meet you and help you with your things. Good day." Professor McGonagall turned sharply on her heel in her endearingly concise way, and with a pop, she was gone.

Diana was quite taken aback, but Gilderoy wasn't as affected. After all, his imagination was much larger than Diana's. And being a child, his ideas of normalcy weren't quite as ingrained as hers. He opened the shop door and led his mother inside.

It was rather dusty and a bit dark inside the shop. Gilderoy was careful not to accidentally brush anything so he didn't coat himself in dust. One thing he noticed about the Wizarding world is that they generally weren't as concerned with keeping things clean. An older gentleman with kind eyes looked up from his desk when he heard the door chimes.

"Hogwarts, I presume?"

"Yes," Gilderoy replied importantly. "My name is Gilderoy Lockhart, and I'll be needing a wand to further my studies as a great magician."

Ollivander chuckled to himself. "Well, Mr. Lockhart, let's see what we've got here for you. Lockhart, Lockhart... I don't recall ever hearing that name before. You must be Muggleborn, am I right?"

The Lockharts both had puzzled looks on their faces.

"Just as I thought," Ollivander said to himself. Then he addressed Diana, "You are not a witch?"

"I most certainly am not!" she exclaimed indignantly. "Although," she added, "some of the more jealous women in my social circle might like to imply that I am." She chuckled a bit at her own joke.

Now it was Ollivander's turn to look puzzled, but he proceeded to bring out his measuring tape and let it get to work on Gilderoy.

"More measuring?" asked Gilderoy. He was feigning exasperation, but truly he loved being doted on. This was turning out to be a wonderful day - well, apart from the whole black robe issue.

"Oh yes," replied the older man. "We want to make sure you're fitted with the perfect wand. Now, let's see here..." He mumbled to himself as he started pulling out various boxes from the overloaded shelves behind his desk. "Why don't we try this one?" he said as he handed Gilderoy a thick, black wand.

Gilderoy eagerly snatched the wand out of Ollivander's hand and began flamboyantly waving it around.

"I quite like this one. Thank you," Gilderoy said.

"Wait, boy! It needs to do something. You can't just pick a wand because you like how it looks. No, this one is all wrong for you. Let's try another."

And they did try another, and another, and another. Nothing happened with any of them. After two hours, it seemed like they had tried almost every wand in the shop. Ollivander was secretly thinking that this Gilderoy was probably not magical. Even if he had received a letter of acceptance to Hogwarts, Dumbledore wasn't infallible. Perhaps he had just made a mistake. After all, the parents were Muggles. It was most likely that this poor little boy was one as well.

In desperation, Ollivander headed into his back room to retrieve the wand he never thought he would sell. He found it years ago in the south of France when he was on holiday. He knew it wouldn't be a very good wand to work with - he certainly would never have made anything like it. It was more aesthetically pleasing than anything else.

Willow, with an inset of rosewood, ten inches, and a core of Veela hair.

There were a number of things wrong with that wand. First of all, the wood should be solid, not inset with anything; it made the magic coming out of it weaker and less predictable. Furthermore, Veela hair was probably one of the worst wand cores you could use; it made for a very temperamental and difficult-to-use wand. However, with no other options, he delicately picked up the new box that housed the old, discarded wand, and brought it back into the front room.

Gilderoy's eyes grew as big as saucers when Ollivander lifted the wand out of its box.

"It's lovely," Diana breathed.

Gilderoy fingered it lightly and then picked it up. Immediately, the wand started vibrating, and he had to grasp it with both hands to keep it from flying out of his grip.

"I think we've found it." Ollivander sighed with relief.

"How much do I owe you?" asked Gilderoy still staring at his wand, unable to hide the joy he felt.

"Nothing, dear boy. I cannot take money for a wand I did not make. You be careful with that, now," he admonished as he returned to the back room for a much-needed shot of Firewhiskey.

As they headed back into the street, they talked animatedly about the day's events, and were deciding where they should go next. Caught up in their conversation, neither was paying as much attention to their surroundings as they should have been. Suddenly, Gilderoy collided with something and fell unceremoniously backward onto the ground. He looked up to see another boy on the ground in front of him. He was a few years older with long white-blond hair. He would've actually been very good-looking had it not been for the ugly scowl he was currently wearing.

"I'm so sorry!" Gilderoy apologized as he scrambled to get up. "Here, let me help you." He offered his hand to the older boy.

"Don't touch me!" the boy snarled as he hoisted himself up and brushed his robes off. "By the look of your clothes, you're a filthy Mudblood. I wouldn't want to become infected." He smoothed his hair down and started stalking off.

Gilderoy was shocked and darted his eyes over to the man who had been next to the boy. The man was staring transfixed at his mother. And she, likewise, was staring back, equally transfixed.

"Mum?" Gilderoy touched his mother's arm, but didn't take his eyes off the man. Then, the man turned his gaze upon Gilderoy.

"Father, are you coming?" the other boy sneered impatiently.

"Yes..." The man faltered a minute more. "Yes, Lucius. I'm coming." Then he turned and walked away.