#does this even belong in the main spore tag

[grox-empire]

Had a REALLY funny fucking idea for my Ewow "Booksona" because I was a bit lazy... If this doesn't get accepted I'll probably just design my fursona as a book LMFAO

[cedarparktestugzr534-blog]

Black Mold Removal Service in Cedar Park

Order to assess the concentration of mould spores from the atmosphere.

You can Explore this with the inspector and decide which type of Screening is

As stated before, Dark mold can be tricky since There Are Different Sorts of

Results.

Potential to maybe not need to proceed with analyzing.

Resolved.

What you really do is entirely Your Decision personally, your Finances, and just how badly your Well-being

Which are your qualifications?

How long does this have to receive back the results?

As a lab test working with an example recorded by a professional.

Sent to your laboratory, then that could increase the price tag.

Testing, tape and swabs for surface screening, and cutting apparatus when bulk

Consistently comes at another price tag.

Mould testing can be a Handy tool for knowing the air quality of One's

Still, you will find test kits that possess it all.

A swab or a tape-lift.

If in doubt, you may have a professional come and then examine for black mold.

While it is being tested for dark mold.

Mold could possibly be the culprit.

Both rather than having to purchase 2 kits.

The exact expense is going to depend on geographic location. In the Event the sample is

What are the future steps in the event the outcome is favorable?

Home evaluation equipment is going to alter depending on the kind of test.

Removal apart from removing different kinds of mildew may be your expense and also the

Exactly how a lot of mold tests has the person accomplished the mould review conducted in the past year?

Determination to continue with the trade.

You overlook 't want to disturb the mould and inhale it in. This Might Be quite

Here is some thing to keep in mind: accuracy and rate Will vary based

(potato dextrose is common).

Testing with no pros.

While this sounds so involved it gets your head spin, understand the analyzing

This type of screening ). "

1 thing to note is That You Want to Be Somewhat careful of a company which

Even if it seems like there is nothing on the peel, which 's okay because mould

They can expand the samples at Petri dishes to pinpoint what is occuring. Once

Test for mold.

Caution as achievable.

yeast.

Will stick to this surface.

To a lab that tests for mildew.

You are able to choose an H-Vac sampling, that may require tape and set it at a petri dish.

No one wishes to be left in the darkened having a mildew difficulty. Which may be

When There is anybody else in the home, you may want to Get them leave the home

If the inspector States that the test isn't required, It Is Still Possible to request the exam

Air-testing for Mould

Mold can also damage the environment that it touches.

In small quantities, mildew spores are usually harmless. But, certain kinds

What are the payment conditions?

Subsequent to the samples are accumulated they are routed to a laboratory Thus a report can be

What Questions Can I Ask A Mold Testing Corporation?

Isn't black mildew.

Additionally, it is dependent on what you really would like the evaluation to do and how quick you need the outcome.

The way to use a property mold testing kit will be based on the model and method.

Air which was trapped in the spore snare.

Mold remediation.

Of class -- You along with your' Cherished One 's wellbeing is the main reason why you ought to

Before hiring a Business Which specializes in analyzing for mould within their laboratory,

Swab samples, tape samples, and bulk samples.

If You're Buying a Home, You Might Need to have the atmosphere analyzed because the

Just how several mildew samples are usually accepted?

Variety of mold you have.

Other regions in the home.

In the Event You smell a musty smell and You're sneezing a lot, Your Wellbeing Might Be in

Problem.

There are a number of questions you have to consult before choosing a mould

Some Athome kits require linking a set apparatus towards the conclusion of a

Types of mildew as well.

Area Screening for Mold

meter. The inspector may also choose an outside air sample for comparison.

Situations.

Bring about. You may smell a musty odor or you see mold scaling up a wall.

Testing and floor analyzing.

Put on a face mask.

Tape samples -- A piece of clear tape is pressed against the outside and then removed. The idea behind this testing process is always to remove mold in the outside so that it could be analyzed. It is very similar to the way you receive off of black pants whenever you've got zero lint roller around.

If you visit mold, then you know you have it and that Indicates you need to

Mold spores.

Be tested at house in a skillet or within a laboratory.

You can also have a sampling of an observable mold using a loofah and set it from the dish.

The Very Last Thing you certainly want to do is buy a home and then find out it has

When comparing Doityourself analyzing together with having a specialist, the

Nonethelessthey may be catching Lots of somethings which may be causing you

Their technique compared to not trigger the mildew spores to really go airborne and spread to

Air-testing is very interesting in that a certain amount of atmosphere is captured from

Heading to be best. You need to study more concerning those methods under control.

Test is carried out, your feelings could be confirmed so that the dilemma may be

One factor to note is in Case the inspector spends a great deal of time choosing

Specialized equipment.

This is going to Provide the most accurate consequence, Even Though There is still a

They take enhanced sample, they can establish the mould type so they could comprise

What Exactly Is Mold Screening?

You definitely don't need a Part of that Outdated 100-year-old publication removed because

When it comes to home mould testing kits, then you may Not Obtain the results that you

Maybe not understanding if there is mold from the home represents a need to get a

Significance of this test relies on the inspector's interpretation and

However, laboratory testing is significantly more precise than onsite screening. If you choose to

The mould testing gear They utilize guarantees a degree of accuracy, however

And anybody having a challenged immune apparatus.

Should I Test For Mold In My House with a Mold Testing Package?

Can you recommend mold evaluations?

Much are drifting all around your home.

The Actual value lies in the results and the documentation that is Employed at the

The house. The value from the analyzing Is in the adventure of this freshman and

Gives a general concept of the severity of the mold issue within your house.

Knowing what kind of mold is being discovered, especially if it is mold.

Even although you take advantage of a doityourself evaluation, sending samples to a laboratory could be best.

If I Have Mold Screening Performed In My House?

And provide results in five minutes.

But guessed black mold (or perhaps unsuspected) takes one to take

What's Mildew Testing Performed?

Majority testing could Indicate a piece of grandma's Furnishings has to be removed along with

If You're doing this yourself, you need to have gloves, then pay for Your Laundry, and

Using the tape sample procedure could create a Number of the mold to be gathered onto

You need to Understand What to Anticipate from the procedure, how long it is going to

Use testing kits to test for mildew, that comes at a price of roughly $50,

Sure, This does come at a cost, but Nevertheless, It may be worth the Charge to preserve your

A black mould screening kit or the support of a professional.

This process protects the mould spores out of the air so it can be ascertained that which

Predicated on a visual guide or other educated process.

Conflicts of interest.

Remediation approach.

In the Event You need Floor testing Also, then it is ideal to Have a Whole kit that will

Hazard. Possessing the evaluation completed Will confirm whether or not mould is the

This can give the lab a clear image of the mould problem, but the area from

A Frequent testing Process would be the "spore snare (tape trap is just yet another name for

On a number of the factors.

In the Event You suspect black mold, then the analyzing will be exactly precisely the same in which samples of the atmosphere

Of molds could compromise decent air caliber. Especially, for babies, the older

Evaluation.

Will the absolute most accurate results will be obtained from the lab.

For what could make testing for regular mold and toxic black mold distinct,

If You're sneezing, experiencing headaches, or with trouble breathing, then

You definitely don't want exactly the soles of that amazing Bit of furniture which

To the spot, and you also can even identify fungus.

That you have a listing of the mold issue.

You are interested in being and still not have the full photo of what's going on.

Mold.

It's very important to consider that accuracy could possibly be compromised.

Off an item of this sampling surface (grandmother 's aged home furnishings ) and sending it

Have it eliminated whenever feasible.

This really is their specialty, therefore that they may be able to Recognize factors that you

Professional performs a review.

Sort of mold occurs.

The Way To Examine For Dark masonry

If that's the situation, an actual test might well not be accomplished. This can apply to additional

Must set the seriousness of one's mold problem.

Spores are all microscopic.

It Might seem rather odd when firms who examine for mould accept spore samples

The specialists use personal protection equipment and they are very cautious in

Extremely careful removal methods that have to definitely be utilized.

Yet this avoids analyzing price, which can include a ray of sun to

Examine the mildew on the top layer.

They Might Also grab an Example of atmosphere in a Little plastic tape that happens in a

Belongings.

They'll Also Use personal protection equipment to Safeguard Themselves from

It into their accounts.

Chance it won't be 100 percent true.

This important Form of testing is now the practice of taking samples and/or

It's Very Important Whenever carrying out dark mould testing to use as far

Many homes need multiple mildew evaluations to be done on the residence. This

Mold Testing Labs

If you decide to Complete house testing, it is Better to know about the Most Frequent

Is changed.

A swab involves swabbing the face and collecting the swab in Order for It to

Business.

It's likely to find an immediate answer in order to know what's happening.

Technicians can see just how many unique sorts of spores are found and just how

For Example, You can take the air sample, either outermost sample, or even bulk sample together with

Qualified testing Business Will have a plastic cassette trap for atmosphere

However, a kit that allows to get Just One Kind of evaluation might be more accurate

Mind.

And, while many molds Are Rather harmless, Black Mold and Dark Carpet Spores can

Testing for dark mold is exactly like analyzing for other sorts of mildew.

Why are the mold Contractors qualified?

Which that the item had been removed can involve replacement or repair.

Surface samples to ascertain if mildew is not present.

Grab fireflies.

Looking at the 2nd mold testing process, you would perform the next:

Vacuum hose, carrying a swab , or with bulk testing to completely remove

Certain precautions.

There remains the possibility of a false positive or false negative.

In the event you aren't sure, you may sometimes send off it to lab testing. Lab testing

Doing this yourself is cheaper. In the Event You have a mold issue, the mould testing

There are some tests out there that can take as long as 7 times to show testing

Harmful for your health and anybody else around you.

Mold, resulting in a lot more investment property on house.

For many homeowners, even a more stringent funding May Be Very Good motive to Carry out exactly the

It depends on that which Will give you what you need and the most peace of

The Procedure for mold elimination regularly will begin Using a mould evaluation to ensure Your

It's very important to be certain that to have clear air to breathe in your house.

That's should they function mold elimination. Should They overlook 't, they'll recommend a

When the testing is Completed, You're Going to Learn the Standard of the air in your home

Residence.

Utilizing the curry method, you can determine What Sort of mold You've Got

Type of guess mold can be determined.

Even the spore trap Is Only One of the Methods by which the atmosphere can be tested for

That really is the case Whenever There is an apparent roof escape that is connected to mold

Forms of Flu Screening Kits

Samples and not as much time scrutinizing the land, you may well be charged more than

Black mold is going to appear in a number of the exact very same regions along with other kinds of

For example, you could be experiencing headaches or allergies without any apparent

Samples have to be taken.

Many kits permit outdoor atmosphere sampling, and which means you'll take a scoop of air into the provided container.

Kinds of Mold Testing

Samples, yet this approach isn't employed normally because it was.

When You Have the problem resolved quickly, then It's Possible to preserve affected

Bulk Screening For Mildew

So yes, it can look a tiny funny once the mould inspector grabs "nothing. "

Area sampling involves shooting mold samples out of an area face. You can find

The Way to Try For Flu

Yet, there are times when analyzing isn't required.

Take, and how much it's really 's likely to price. Here are some questions It Is Possible to inquire:

When any one of this is happening, now is the time to own a test conducted. After the

A expenses will most likely be delivered that requests for the remaining stability. You also

A known volume of air passes over the trap's tacky surface and also the spores

The laboratory technicians can have a look at the samples.

abandon the lid off of the dish to get the number of hours the evaluation suggests so that the mold will rise for up to 96 hours.

Employing the stain is a much faster method.

Some mould testing equipments demand taking a sample of the air and leaving the

Will soon be obtained. Tests, such as the test will be performed to

Lab testing. You will also need gloves, a facial mask, and it is best to pay

Get the petri dish by removing it out of its plastic bag and then setting it onto a flat surface. Take out the lid in Order for the growth medium can be Set in the dish

A dark problem.

A surface and then ship into a lab.

When the report comes back positive, it Is Crucial to make arrangements for

This determines the type of mould and quantifies that it Dependent on the Sum of

Your garments.

The lab can also increase the mould spores Which Were captured in the air

As soon as a mould sample is sent to the lab, it is closely expressed accordingly that

Heal all molds together with respect accordingly and you will reduce your dangers

Can be used for removal.

The Main elements are Petri dishes, tape, swabs, and also a expansion moderate

Once finished, all these samples from Your House are sent to a laboratory so that the laboratory

Would like to pay very close interest to this business 's replies which means you can identify

When requested If You're okay with majority testing, then It's Better to consider the way

It's developed mould, however that bit will show a challenge in your property.

Everybody claiming to become the inspector May Look official and Head to some home with

Each method involves so it is possible to get an informed decision in regards to the procedure

Loved ones 's wellbeing.

Its own spores are part of our day to day living and breathing distance.

Are you currently certified to test for mold?

Talk with a breath of fresh air (maybe not necessarily ). What really sets black mold

Number of days to produce exactly the exact outcome.

After the inspector arrives to carry the tests, they can Carry out a swab test or

Which will get the job done for you.

Created. Now, this could seem a bit overpowering, however, it's very crucial.

Kit which allows you todo this.

If surface studying Is Required, you can find three Unique forms and they are

Basements, crawl spaces, kitchens, and baths tend to be typical black mold

Surprisingly, the easy part is discovering that there is mold present in

How comprehensive they are.

There are times if a dim colored mould May Look black, but it turns out it

Belonged to your own grandmother to become ruined by means of a mold problem.

Stains into the surface to the mold spores to consume.

Measured amount of atmosphere in order for the severity of the mildew issue could be

If mould is visible, even in a home Which You Are Preparing to buy, It's

Considerably.

All three of those testing methods are somewhat successful, but it is Fantastic to Understand what

Different regions of your house may need several types of testing.

You Must Look at usability, test time, and the Number of tests you'll find per

What's the fee of taking an surface or air sample?

For Example, You Might Require H-Vac testing, so and that means You're Are Going to Want a

As the spores are so little they are able to 't be seen from the naked eye.

Do you take away yourself or refer an alternate corporation?

Really, you will find lots of, so It Is Wise to perform a Tiny Amount of Investigating to Get the one

A visual review may be considered a superior supplement to studying or by itself.

That will suit you best.

How Much Can Mold Screening Cost?

Sent to a laboratory.

The most invasive procedure will be bulk analyzing.

Issue is becoming even worse.

For their vulnerability for this very toxic substance.

Various ways in which this is accomplished.

This can help ascertain whether the fungal publication in the Residence is high compared to the

For air samples, they Are Going to Be Able to report on the number of mold inspection in Cedar Park spores per cubic

You will find different methods used to test for mould. Those methods comprise air

Organization.

Can offer you a nice idea of things you want to perform next.

They can test surfaces, HVAC Programs, outside air, allow you to identify mold

The tape, and this is perfectly okay.

Do you receive any kickbacks or commissions for referrals

[lesbianrewrites]

Sorcerer’s Stone Chapter 05

*disclaimer* This is a project done for fun, and none of these characters/works belong to me. I do not claim to own any of the material on this page.

This is a Lesbian edit of Harry Potter by J.K Rowling.

Chapters will be posted every other day around 9-10pm EST.

Google doc version can be found here. The chapter can also be found under the cut. Enjoy!

Diagon Alley

 Hayley woke early the next morning. Although she could tell it was daylight, she kept her eyes shut tight.

“It was a dream,” she told herself firmly. “I dreamed a giant called Hagrid came to tell me I was going to a school for wizards. When I open my eyes I’ll be at home in my cupboard.”

There was suddenly a loud tapping noise.

And there’s Aunt Petunia knocking on the door, Hayley thought, her heart sinking. But she still didn’t open her eyes. It had been such a good dream.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

“All right,” Hayley mumbled, “I’m getting up.”

She sat up and Hagrid’s heavy coat fell off her. The hut was full of sunlight, the storm was over, Hagrid himself was asleep on the collapsed sofa, and there was an owl rapping its claw on the window, a newspaper held in its beak.

Hayley scrambled to her feet, so happy she felt as though a large balloon was swelling inside her. She went straight to the window and jerked it open. The owl swooped in and dropped the newspaper on top of Hagrid, who didn’t wake up. The owl then fluttered onto the floor and began to attack Hagrid’s coat.

“Don’t do that.”

Hayley tried to wave the owl out of the way, but it snapped its beak fiercely at her and carried on savaging the coat.

“Hagrid!” said Hayley loudly. “There’s an owl —”

“Pay him,” Hagrid grunted into the sofa.

“What?”

“He wants payin’ fer deliverin’ the paper. Look in the pockets.”

Hagrid’s coat seemed to be made of nothing but pockets — bunches of keys, slug pellets, balls of string, peppermint humbugs, teabags … finally, Hayley pulled out a handful of strange-looking coins.

“Give him five Knuts,” said Hagrid sleepily.

“Knuts?”

“The little bronze ones.”

Hayley counted out five little bronze coins, and the owl held out his leg so Hayley could put the money into a small leather pouch tied to it. Then he flew off through the open window.

Hagrid yawned loudly, sat up, and stretched.

“Best be off, Hayley, lots ter do today, gotta get up ter London an’ buy all yer stuff fer school.”

Hayley was turning over the wizard coins and looking at them. She had just thought of something that made her feel as though the happy balloon inside her had got a puncture.

“Um — Hagrid?”

“Mm?” said Hagrid, who was pulling on his huge boots.

“I haven’t got any money — and you heard Uncle Vernon last night … he won’t pay for me to go and learn magic.”

“Don’t worry about that,” said Hagrid, standing up and scratching his head. “D’yeh think yer parents didn’t leave yeh anything?”

“But if their house was destroyed —”

“They didn’ keep their gold in the house, girl! Nah, first stop fer us is Gringotts. Wizards’ bank. Have a sausage, they’re not bad cold — an’ I wouldn’ say no teh a bit o’ yer birthday cake, neither.”

“Wizards have banks?”

“Just the one. Gringotts. Run by goblins.”

Hayley dropped the bit of sausage she was holding.

“Goblins?”

“Yeah — so yeh’d be mad ter try an’ rob it, I’ll tell yeh that. Never mess with goblins, Hayley. Gringotts is the safest place in the world fer anything yeh want ter keep safe — ’cept maybe Hogwarts. As a matter o’ fact, I gotta visit Gringotts anyway Fer Dumbledore. Hogwarts business.” Hagrid drew himself up proudly. “He usually gets me ter do important stuff fer him. Fetchin’ you — gettin’ things from Gringotts — knows he can trust me, see.”

“Got everythin’? Come on, then.”

Hayley followed Hagrid out onto the rock. The sky was quite clear now and the sea gleamed in the sunlight. The boat Uncle Vernon had hired was still there, with a lot of water in the bottom after the storm.

“How did you get here?” Hayley asked, looking around for another boat.

“Flew,” said Hagrid.

“Flew?”

“Yeah — but we’ll go back in this. Not s’pposed ter use magic now I’ve got yeh.”

They settled down in the boat, Hayley still staring at Hagrid, trying to imagine him flying.

“Seems a shame ter row, though,” said Hagrid, giving Hayley another of his sideways looks. “If I was ter — er — speed things up a bit, would yeh mind not mentionin’ it at Hogwarts?”

“Of course not,” said Hayley, eager to see more magic. Hagrid pulled out the pink umbrella again, tapped it twice on the side of the boat, and they sped off toward land.

“Why would you be mad to try and rob Gringotts?” Hayley asked.

“Spells — enchantments,” said Hagrid, unfolding his newspaper as he spoke. “They say there’s dragons guardin’ the high-security vaults. And then yeh gotta find yer way — Gringotts is hundreds of miles under London, see. Deep under the Underground. Yeh’d die of hunger tryin’ ter get out, even if yeh did manage ter get yer hands on summat.”

Hayley sat and thought about this while Hagrid read his newspaper, the Daily Prophet. Hayley had learned from Uncle Vernon that people liked to be left alone while they did this, but it was very difficult, she’d never had so many questions in her life.

“Ministry o’ Magic messin’ things up as usual,” Hagrid muttered, turning the page.

“There’s a Ministry of Magic?” Hayley asked, before she could stop herself.

“ ’Course,” said Hagrid. “They wanted Dumbledore fer Minister, o’ course, but he’d never leave Hogwarts, so old Cornelius Fudge got the job. Bungler if ever there was one. So he pelts Dumbledore with owls every morning, askin’ fer advice.”

“But what does a Ministry of Magic do?”

“Well, their main job is to keep it from the Muggles that there’s still witches an’ wizards up an’ down the country.”

“Why?”

“Why? Blimey, Hayley, everyone’d be wantin’ magic solutions to their problems. Nah, we’re best left alone.”

At this moment the boat bumped gently into the harbor wall. Hagrid folded up his newspaper, and they clambered up the stone steps onto the street.

Passersby stared a lot at Hagrid as they walked through the little town to the station. Hayley couldn’t blame them. Not only was Hagrid twice as tall as anyone else, he kept pointing at perfectly ordinary things like parking meters and saying loudly, “See that, Hayley? Things these Muggles dream up, eh?”

“Hagrid,” said Hayley, panting a bit as she ran to keep up, “did you say there are dragons at Gringotts?”

“Well, so they say,” said Hagrid. “Crikey, I’d like a dragon.”

“You’d like one?”

“Wanted one ever since I was a kid — here we go.”

They had reached the station. There was a train to London in five minutes’ time. Hagrid, who didn’t understand “Muggle money,” as he called it, gave the bills to Hayley so she could buy their tickets.

People stared more than ever on the train. Hagrid took up two seats and sat knitting what looked like a canary-yellow circus tent.

“Still got yer letter, Hayley?” he asked as he counted stitches.

Hayley took the parchment envelope out of her pocket.

“Good,” said Hagrid. “There’s a list there of everything yeh need.”

Hayley unfolded a second piece of paper she hadn’t noticed the night before, and read:

 HOGWARTS SCHOOL

of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

 UNIFORM

First-year students will require:

1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)

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

3. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)

Please note that all pupils’ 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 Beginners’ 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 Trimble

 OTHER EQUIPMENT

1 wand

1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)

1 set glass or crystal phials

1 telescope

1 set brass scales

Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad OR a rat

 PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS

ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS

 “Can we buy all this in London?” Hayley wondered aloud.

“If yeh know where to go,” said Hagrid.

 Hayley had never been to London before. Although Hagrid seemed to know where he was going, he was obviously not used to getting there in an ordinary way. He got stuck in the ticket barrier on the Underground, and complained loudly that the seats were too small and the trains too slow.

“I don’t know how the Muggles manage without magic,” he said as they climbed a broken-down escalator that led up to a bustling road lined with shops.

Hagrid was so huge that he parted the crowd easily; all Hayley had to do was keep close behind him. They passed book shops and music stores, hamburger restaurants and cinemas, but nowhere that looked as if it could sell you a magic wand. This was just an ordinary street full of ordinary people. Could there really be piles of wizard gold buried miles beneath them? Were there really shops that sold spell books and broomsticks? Might this not all be some huge joke that the Dursleys had cooked up? If Hayley hadn’t known that the Dursleys had no sense of humor, she might have thought so; yet somehow, even though everything Hagrid had told her so far was unbelievable, Hayley couldn’t help trusting him.

“This is it,” said Hagrid, coming to a halt, “the Leaky Cauldron. It’s a famous place.”

It was a tiny, grubby-looking pub. If Hagrid hadn’t pointed it out, Hayley wouldn’t have noticed it was there. The people hurrying by didn’t glance at it. Their eyes slid from the big book shop on one side to the record shop on the other as if they couldn’t see the Leaky Cauldron at all. In fact, Hayley had the most peculiar feeling that only she and Hagrid could see it. Before she could mention this, Hagrid had steered her inside.

For a famous place, it was very dark and shabby. A few old women were sitting in a corner, drinking tiny glasses of sherry. One of them was smoking a long pipe. A little man in a top hat was talking to the old bartender, who was quite bald and looked like a toothless walnut. The low buzz of chatter stopped when they walked in. Everyone seemed to know Hagrid; they waved and smiled at him, and the bartender reached for a glass, saying, “The usual, Hagrid?”

“Can’t, Tom, I’m on Hogwarts business,” said Hagrid, clapping his great hand on Hayley’s shoulder and making Hayley’s knees buckle.

“Good Lord,” said the bartender, peering at Hayley, “is this — can this be — ?”

The Leaky Cauldron had suddenly gone completely still and silent.

“Bless my soul,” whispered the old bartender, “Hayley Potter … what an honor.”

He hurried out from behind the bar, rushed toward Hayley and seized her hand, tears in his eyes.

“Welcome back, Ms. Potter, welcome back.”

Hayley didn’t know what to say. Everyone was looking at her. The old woman with the pipe was puffing on it without realizing it had gone out. Hagrid was beaming.

Then there was a great scraping of chairs and the next moment, Hayley found herself shaking hands with everyone in the Leaky Cauldron.

“Doris Crockford, Ms. Potter, can’t believe I’m meeting you at last.”

“So proud, Ms. Potter, I’m just so proud.”

“Always wanted to shake your hand — I’m all of a flutter.”

“Delighted, Ms. Potter, just can’t tell you, Diggle’s the name, Dedalus Diggle.”

“I’ve seen you before!” said Hayley, as Dedalus Diggle’s top hat fell off in his excitement. “You bowed to me once in a shop.”

“She remembers!” cried Dedalus Diggle, looking around at everyone. “Did you hear that? She remembers me!”

Hayley shook hands again and again — Doris Crockford kept coming back for more.

A pale young woman made her way forward, very nervously. One of her eyes was twitching.

“Professor Quirrell!” said Hagrid. “Hayley, Professor Quirrell will be one of your teachers at Hogwarts.”

“P-P-Potter,” stammered Professor Quirrell, grasping Hayley’s hand, “c-can’t t-tell you how p-pleased I am to meet you.”

“What sort of magic do you teach, Professor Quirrell?”

“D-Defense Against the D-D-Dark Arts,” muttered Professor Quirrell, as though she’d rather not think about it. “N-not that you n-need it, eh, P-P-Potter?” She laughed nervously. “You’ll be g-getting all your equipment, I suppose? I’ve g-got to p-pick up a new b-book on vampires, m-myself.” She looked terrified at the very thought.

But the others wouldn’t let Professor Quirrell keep Hayley to herself. It took almost ten minutes to get away from them all. At last, Hagrid managed to make himself heard over the babble.

“Must get on — lots ter buy. Come on, Hayley.”

Doris Crockford shook Hayley’s hand one last time, and Hagrid led them through the bar and out into a small, walled courtyard, where there was nothing but a trash can and a few weeds.

Hagrid grinned at Hayley.

“Told yeh, didn’t I? Told yeh you was famous. Even Professor Quirrell was tremblin’ ter meet yeh — mind you, she’s usually tremblin’.”

“Is she always that nervous?”

“Oh, yeah. Poor woman. Brilliant mind. She was fine while she was studyin’ outta books but then she took a year off ter get some firsthand experience. … They say she met vampires in the Black Forest, and there was a nasty bit o’ trouble with a hag — never been the same since. Scared of the students, scared of her own subject — now, where’s me umbrella?”

Vampires? Hags? Hayley’s head was swimming. Hagrid, meanwhile, was counting bricks in the wall above the trash can.

“Three up … two across …” he muttered. “Right, stand back, Hayley.”

He tapped the wall three times with the point of his umbrella.

The brick he had touched quivered — it wriggled — in the middle, a small hole appeared — it grew wider and wider — a second later they were facing an archway large enough even for Hagrid, an archway onto a cobbled street that twisted and turned out of sight.

“Welcome,” said Hagrid, “to Diagon Alley.”

He grinned at Hayley’s amazement. They stepped through the archway. Hayley looked quickly over her shoulder and saw the archway shrink instantly back into solid wall.

The sun shone brightly on a stack of cauldrons outside the nearest shop. Cauldrons — All Sizes — Copper, Brass, Pewter, Silver — Self-Stirring — Collapsible, said a sign hanging over them.

“Yeah, you’ll be needin’ one,” said Hagrid, “but we gotta get yer money first.”

Hayley wished she had about eight more eyes. She turned her head in every direction as they walked up the street, trying to look at everything at once: the shops, the things outside them, the people doing their shopping. A plump woman outside an Apothecary was shaking her head as they passed, saying, “Dragon liver, sixteen Sickles an ounce, they’re mad.

A low, soft hooting came from a dark shop with a sign saying Eeylops Owl Emporium — Tawny, Screech, Barn, Brown, and Snowy. Several boys of about Hayley’s age had their noses pressed against a window with broomsticks in it. “Look,” Hayley heard one of them say, “the new Nimbus Two Thousand — fastest ever —” There were shops selling robes, shops selling telescopes and strange silver instruments Hayley had never seen before, windows stacked with barrels of bat spleens and eels’ eyes, tottering piles of spell books, quills, and rolls of parchment, potion bottles, globes of the moon. …

“Gringotts,” said Hagrid.

They had reached a snowy white building that towered over the other little shops. Standing beside its burnished bronze doors, wearing a uniform of scarlet and gold, was —

“Yeah, that’s a goblin,” said Hagrid quietly as they walked up the white stone steps toward him. The goblin was about a head shorter than Hayley. He had a swarthy, clever face, a pointed beard and, Hayley noticed, very long fingers and feet. He bowed as they walked inside. Now they were facing a second pair of doors, silver this time, with words engraved upon them:

 Enter, stranger, but take heed

Of what awaits the sin of greed,

For those who take, but do not earn,

Must pay most dearly in their turn.

So if you seek beneath our floors

A treasure that was never yours,

Thief, you have been warned, beware

Of finding more than treasure there.

 “Like I said, yeh’d be mad ter try an’ rob it,” said Hagrid.

A pair of goblins bowed them through the silver doors and they were in a vast marble hall. About a hundred more goblins were sitting on high stools behind a long counter, scribbling in large ledgers, weighing coins in brass scales, examining precious stones through eyeglasses. There were too many doors to count leading off the hall, and yet more goblins were showing people in and out of these. Hagrid and Hayley made for the counter.

“Morning,” said Hagrid to a free goblin. “We’ve come ter take some money outta Ms. Hayley Potter’s safe.”

“You have her key, sir?”

“Got it here somewhere,” said Hagrid, and he started emptying his pockets onto the counter, scattering a handful of moldy dog biscuits over the goblins book of numbers. The goblin wrinkled his nose. Hayley watched the goblin on their right weighing a pile of rubies as big as glowing coals.

“Got it,” said Hagrid at last, holding up a tiny golden key.

The goblin looked at it closely.

“That seems to be in order.”

“An’ I’ve also got a letter here from Professor Dumbledore,” said Hagrid importantly, throwing out his chest. “It’s about the You-Know-What in vault seven hundred and thirteen.”

The goblin read the letter carefully.

“Very well,” he said, handing it back to Hagrid, “I will have someone take you down to both vaults. Griphook!”

Griphook was yet another goblin. Once Hagrid had crammed all the dog biscuits back inside his pockets, he and Hayley followed Griphook toward one of the doors leading off the hall.

“What’s the You-Know-What in vault seven hundred and thirteen?” Hayley asked.

“Can’t tell yeh that,” said Hagrid mysteriously. “Very secret. Hogwarts business. Dumbledore’s trusted me. More’n my job’s worth ter tell yeh that.”

Griphook held the door open for them. Hayley, who had expected more marble, was surprised. They were in a narrow stone passageway lit with flaming torches. It sloped steeply downward and there were little railway tracks on the floor. Griphook whistled and a small cart came hurtling up the tracks toward them. They climbed in — Hagrid with some difficulty — and were off.

At first they just hurtled through a maze of twisting passages. Hayley tried to remember, left, right, right, left, middle fork, right, left, but it was impossible. The rattling cart seemed to know its own way, because Griphook wasn’t steering.

Hayley’s eyes stung as the cold air rushed past them, but she kept them wide open. Once, she thought she saw a burst of fire at the end of a passage and twisted around to see if it was a dragon, but too late — they plunged even deeper, passing an underground lake where huge stalactites and stalagmites grew from the ceiling and floor.

“I never know,” Hayley called to Hagrid over the noise of the cart, “what’s the difference between a stalagmite and a stalactite?”

“Stalagmite’s got an ‘m’ in it,” said Hagrid. “An’ don’ ask me questions just now, I think I’m gonna be sick.”

He did look very green, and when the cart stopped at last beside a small door in the passage wall, Hagrid got out and had to lean against the wall to stop his knees from trembling.

Griphook unlocked the door. A lot of green smoke came billowing out, and as it cleared, Hayley gasped. Inside were mounds of gold coins. Columns of silver. Heaps of little bronze Knuts.

“All yours,” smiled Hagrid.

All Hayley’s — it was incredible. The Dursleys couldn’t have known about this or they’d have had it from her faster than blinking. How often had they complained how much Hayley cost them to keep? And all the time there had been a small fortune belonging to her, buried deep under London.

Hagrid helped Hayley pile some of it into a bag.

“The gold ones are Galleons,” he explained. “Seventeen silver Sickles to a Galleon and twenty-nine Knuts to a Sickle, it’s easy enough. Right, that should be enough fer a couple o’ terms, we’ll keep the rest safe for yeh.” He turned to Griphook. “Vault seven hundred and thirteen now, please, and can we go more slowly?”

“One speed only,” said Griphook.

They were going even deeper now and gathering speed. The air became colder and colder as they hurtled round tight corners. They went rattling over an underground ravine, and Hayley leaned over the side to try to see what was down at the dark bottom, but Hagrid groaned and pulled her back by the scruff of her neck.

Vault seven hundred and thirteen had no keyhole.

“Stand back,” said Griphook importantly. He stroked the door gently with one of his long fingers and it simply melted away.

“If anyone but a Gringotts goblin tried that, they’d be sucked through the door and trapped in there,” said Griphook.

“How often do you check to see if anyone’s inside?” Hayley asked.

“About once every ten years,” said Griphook with a rather nasty grin.

Something really extraordinary had to be inside this top security vault, Hayley was sure, and she leaned forward eagerly, expecting to see fabulous jewels at the very least — but at first she thought it was empty. Then she noticed a grubby little package wrapped up in brown paper lying on the floor. Hagrid picked it up and tucked it deep inside his coat. Hayley longed to know what it was, but knew better than to ask.

“Come on, back in this infernal cart, and don’t talk to me on the way back, it’s best if I keep me mouth shut,” said Hagrid.

 One wild cart ride later they stood blinking in the sunlight outside Gringotts. Hayley didn’t know where to run first now that she had a bag full of money. She didn’t have to know how many Galleons there were to a pound to know that she was holding more money than she’d had in her whole life — more money than even Dudley had ever had.

“Might as well get yer uniform,” said Hagrid, nodding toward Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions. “Listen, Hayley, would yeh mind if I slipped off fer a pick-me-up in the Leaky Cauldron? I hate them Gringotts carts.” He did still look a bit sick, so Hayley entered Madam Malkin’s shop alone, feeling nervous.

Madam Malkin was a squat, smiling witch dressed all in mauve.

“Hogwarts, dear?” she said, when Hayley started to speak. “Got the lot here — another young woman being fitted up just now, in fact.”

In the back of the shop, a girl with a pale, pointed face was standing on a footstool while a second witch pinned up her long black robes. Madam Malkin stood Hayley on a stool next to her, held up long robes for Hayley to slide her arms into, and began to pin it to the right length.

“Hello,” said the girl, “Hogwarts, too?”

“Yes,” said Hayley.

“My father’s next door buying my books and mother’s up the street looking at wands,” said the girl. She had a bored, drawling voice. “Then I’m going to drag them off to look at racing brooms. I don’t see why first years can’t have their own. I think I’ll bully father into getting me one and I’ll smuggle it in somehow.”

Hayley was strongly reminded of Dudley.

“Have you got your own broom?” the girl went on.

“No,” said Hayley.

“Play Quidditch at all?”

“No,” Hayley said again, wondering what on earth Quidditch could be.

“I do — Mother says it’s a crime if I’m not picked to play for my House, and I must say, I agree. Know what House you’ll be in yet?”

“No,” said Hayley, feeling more stupid by the minute.

“Well, no one really knows until they get there, do they, but I know I’ll be in Slytherin, all our family have been — imagine being in Hufflepuff, I think I’d leave, wouldn’t you?”

“Mmm,” said Hayley, wishing she could say something a bit more interesting.

“I say, look at that man!” said the girl suddenly, nodding toward the front window. Hagrid was standing there, grinning at Hayley and pointing at two large ice creams to show he couldn’t come in.

“That’s Hagrid,” said Hayley, pleased to know something the girl didn’t. “He works at Hogwarts.”

“Oh,” said the girl, “I’ve heard of him. He’s a sort of servant, isn’t he?”

“He’s the gamekeeper,” said Hayley. She was liking the girl less and less every second.

“Yes, exactly. I heard he’s a sort of savage — lives in a hut on the school grounds and every now and then he gets drunk, tries to do magic, and ends up setting fire to his bed.”

“I think he’s brilliant,” said Hayley coldly.

“Do you?” said the girl, with a slight sneer. “Why is he with you? Where are your parents?”

“They’re dead,” said Hayley shortly. She didn’t feel much like going into the matter with this girl.

“Oh, sorry,” said the other, not sounding sorry at all. “But they were our kind, weren’t they?”

“They were witches, if that’s what you mean.”

“I really don’t think they should let the other sort in, do you? They’re just not the same, they’ve never been brought up to know our ways. Some of them have never even heard of Hogwarts until they get the letter, imagine. I think they should keep it in the old wizarding families. What’s your surname, anyway?”

But before Hayley could answer, Madam Malkin said, “That’s you done, my dear,” and Hayley, not sorry for an excuse to stop talking to the girl, hopped down from the footstool.

“Well, I’ll see you at Hogwarts, I suppose,” said the drawling girl.

Hayley was rather quiet as she ate the ice cream Hagrid had bought her (chocolate and raspberry with chopped nuts).

“What’s up?” said Hagrid.

“Nothing,” Hayley lied. They stopped to buy parchment and quills. Hayley cheered up a bit when she found a bottle of ink that changed color as you wrote. When they had left the shop, she said, “Hagrid, what’s Quidditch?”

“Blimey, Hayley, I keep forgettin’ how little yeh know — not knowin’ about Quidditch!”

“Don’t make me feel worse,” said Hayley. She told Hagrid about the pale girl in Madam Malkin’s.

“— and she said people from Muggle families shouldn’t even be allowed in —”

“Yer not from a Muggle family. If she’d known who yeh were — she’s grown up knowin’ yer name if her parents are wizardin’ folk. You saw what everyone in the Leaky Cauldron was like when they saw yeh. Anyway, what does she know about it, some o’ the best I ever saw were the only ones with magic in ’em in a long line o’ Muggles — look at yer mum Lily! Look what she had fer a sister!”

“So what is Quidditch?”

“It’s our sport. Wizard sport. It’s like — like soccer in the Muggle world — everyone follows Quidditch — played up in the air on broomsticks and there’s four balls — sorta hard ter explain the rules.”

“And what are Slytherin and Hufflepuff?”

“School Houses. There’s four. Everyone says Hufflepuff are a lot o’ duffers, but —”

“I bet I’m in Hufflepuff,” said Hayley gloomily.

“Better Hufflepuff than Slytherin,” said Hagrid darkly. “There’s not a single witch or wizard who went bad who wasn’t in Slytherin. You-Know-Who was one.”

“Vol-, sorry — You-Know-Who was at Hogwarts?”

“Years an’ years ago,” said Hagrid.

They bought Hayley’s school books in a shop called Flourish and Blotts where the shelves were stacked to the ceiling with books as large as paving stones bound in leather; books the size of postage stamps in covers of silk; books full of peculiar symbols and a few books with nothing in them at all. Even Dudley, who never read anything, would have been wild to get his hands on some of these. Hagrid almost had to drag Hayley away from Curses and Counter-curses (Bewitch Your Friends and Befuddle Your Enemies with the Latest Revenges: Hair Loss, Jelly-Legs, Tongue-Tying and Much, Much More) by Professor Vindictus Viridian.

“I was trying to find out how to curse Dudley.”

“I’m not sayin’ that’s not a good idea, but yer not ter use magic in the Muggle world except in very special circumstances,” said Hagrid. “An’ anyway, yeh couldn’ work any of them curses yet, yeh’ll need a lot more study before yeh get ter that level.”

Hagrid wouldn’t let Hayley buy a solid gold cauldron, either (“It says pewter on yer list”), but they got a nice set of scales for weighing potion ingredients and a collapsible brass telescope. Then they visited the Apothecary, which was fascinating enough to make up for its horrible smell, a mixture of bad eggs and rotted cabbages. Barrels of slimy stuff stood on the floor; jars of herbs, dried roots, and bright powders lined the walls; bundles of feathers, strings of fangs, and snarled claws hung from the ceiling. While Hagrid asked the man behind the counter for a supply of some basic potion ingredients for Hayley, Hayley herself examined silver unicorn horns at twenty-one Galleons each and minuscule, glittery-black beetle eyes (five Knuts a scoop).

Outside the Apothecary, Hagrid checked Hayley’s list again.

“Just yer wand left — oh yeah, an’ I still haven’t got yeh a birthday present.”

Hayley felt herself go red.

“You don’t have to —”

“I know I don’t have to. Tell yeh what, I’ll get yer animal. Not a toad, toads went outta fashion years ago, yeh’d be laughed at — an’ I don’ like cats, they make me sneeze. Rats are pretty much useless yer ask me.  I’ll get yer an owl. All the kids want owls, they’re dead useful, carry yer mail an’ everythin’.”

Twenty minutes later, they left Eeylops Owl Emporium, which had been dark and full of rustling and flickering, jewel-bright eyes. Hayley now carried a large cage that held a beautiful snowy owl, fast asleep with her head under her wing. She couldn’t stop stammering her thanks, sounding just like Professor Quirrell.

“Don’ mention it,” said Hagrid gruffly. “Don’ expect you’ve had a lotta presents from them Dursleys. Just Ollivanders left now — only place fer wands, Ollivanders, and yeh gotta have the best wand.”

A magic wand … this was what Hayley had been really looking forward to.

The last shop was narrow and shabby. Peeling gold letters over the door read Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382b.c. A single wand lay on a faded purple cushion in the dusty window.

A tinkling bell rang somewhere in the depths of the shop as they stepped inside. It was a tiny place, empty except for a single, spindly chair that Hagrid sat on to wait. Hayley felt strangely as though she had entered a very strict library; she swallowed a lot of new questions that had just occurred to her and looked instead at the thousands of narrow boxes piled neatly right up to the ceiling. For some reason, the back of her neck prickled. The very dust and silence in here seemed to tingle with some secret magic.

“Good afternoon,” said a soft voice. Hayley jumped. Hagrid must have jumped, too, because there was a loud crunching noise and he got quickly off the spindly chair.

An old man was standing before them, his wide, pale eyes shining like moons through the gloom of the shop.

“Hello,” said Hayley awkwardly.

“Ah yes,” said the man. “Yes, yes. I thought I’d be seeing you soon. Hayley Potter.” It wasn’t a question. “You have Lily’s eyes. It seems only yesterday she was in here herself, buying her first wand. Ten and a quarter inches long, swishy, made of willow. Nice wand for charm work.”

Mr. Ollivander moved closer to Hayley. Hayley wished he would blink. Those silvery eyes were a bit creepy.

“Jamie, on the other hand, favored a mahogany wand. Eleven inches. Pliable. A little more power and excellent for transfiguration. Well, I say Jamie favored it — it’s really the wand that chooses the wizard, of course.”

Mr. Ollivander had come so close that he and Hayley were almost nose to nose. Hayley could see herself reflected in those misty eyes.

“And that’s where …”

Mr. Ollivander touched the lightning scar on Hayley’s forehead with a long, white finger.

“I’m sorry to say I sold the wand that did it,” he said softly. “Thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Powerful wand, very powerful, and in the wrong hands … well, if I’d known what that wand was going out into the world to do. …”

He shook his head and then, to Hayley’s relief, spotted Hagrid.

“Rubeus! Rubeus Hagrid! How nice to see you again. … Oak, sixteen inches, rather bendy, wasn’t it?”

“It was, sir, yes,” said Hagrid.

“Good wand, that one. But I suppose they snapped it in half when you got expelled?” said Mr. Ollivander, suddenly stern.

“Er — yes, they did, yes,” said Hagrid, shuffling his feet. “I’ve still got the pieces, though,” he added brightly.

“But you don’t use them?” said Mr. Ollivander sharply.

“Oh, no, sir,” said Hagrid quickly. Hayley noticed he gripped his pink umbrella very tightly as he spoke.

“Hmmm,” said Mr. Ollivander, giving Hagrid a piercing look. “Well, now — Ms. Potter. Let me see.” He pulled a long tape measure with silver markings out of his pocket. “Which is your wand arm?”

“Er — well, I’m right-handed,” said Hayley.

“Hold out your arm. That’s it.” He measured Hayley from shoulder to finger, then wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit and round her head. As he measured, he said, “Every Ollivander wand has a core of a powerful magical substance, Ms. Potter. We use unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers, and the heartstrings of dragons. No two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons, or phoenixes are quite the same. And of course, you will never get such good results with another wizard’s wand.”

Hayley suddenly realized that the tape measure, which was measuring between her nostrils, was doing this on its own. Mr. Ollivander was flitting around the shelves, taking down boxes.

“That will do,” he said, and the tape measure crumpled into a heap on the floor. “Right then, Ms. Potter. Try this one. Beech-wood and dragon heartstring. Nine inches. Nice and flexible. Just take it and give it a wave.”

Hayley took the wand and (feeling foolish) waved it around a bit, but Mr. Ollivander snatched it out of her hand almost at once.

“Maple and phoenix feather.Seven inches.  Quite whippy. Try —”

Hayley tried — but she had hardly raised the wand when it, too, was snatched back by Mr. Ollivander.

“No, no — here, ebony and unicorn hair, eight and a half inches, springy. Go on, go on, try it out.”

Hayley tried. And tried. She had no idea what Mr. Ollivander was waiting for. The pile of tried wands was mounting higher and higher on the spindly chair, but the more wands Mr. Ollivander pulled from the shelves, the happier he seemed to become.

“Tricky customer, eh? Not to worry, we’ll find the perfect match here somewhere — I wonder, now — yes, why not — unusual combination — holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple.”

Hayley took the wand. She felt a sudden warmth in her fingers. She raised the wand above her head, brought it swishing down through the dusty air and a stream of red and gold sparks shot from the end like a firework, throwing dancing spots of light on to the walls. Hagrid whooped and clapped and Mr. Ollivander cried, “Oh, bravo! Yes, indeed, oh, very good. Well, well, well … how curious … how very curious …”

He put Hayley’s wand back into its box and wrapped it in brown paper, still muttering, “Curious … curious …”

“Sorry,” said Hayley, “but what’s curious?”

Mr. Ollivander fixed Hayley with his pale stare.

“I remember every wand I’ve ever sold, Ms. Potter. Every single wand. It so happens that the phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand, gave another feather — just one other. It is very curious indeed that you should be destined for this wand when its brother — why, its brother gave you that scar.”

Hayley swallowed.

“Yes, thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Curious indeed how these things happen. The wand chooses the wizard, remember. … I think we must expect great things from you, Ms. Potter. … After all, She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things — terrible, yes, but great.”

Hayley shivered. She wasn’t sure she liked Mr. Ollivander too much. She paid seven gold Galleons for her wand, and Mr. Ollivander bowed them from his shop.

 The late afternoon sun hung low in the sky as Hayley and Hagrid made their way back down Diagon Alley, back through the wall, back through the Leaky Cauldron, now empty. Hayley didn’t speak at all as they walked down the road; she didn’t even notice how much people were gawking at them on the Underground, laden as they were with all their funny-shaped packages, with the snowy owl asleep in its cage on Hayley’s lap. Up another escalator, out into Paddington station; Hayley only realized where they were when Hagrid tapped her on the shoulder.

“Got time fer a bite to eat before yer train leaves,” he said.

He bought Hayley a hamburger and they sat down on plastic seats to eat them. Hayley kept looking around. Everything looked so strange, somehow.

“You all right, Hayley? Yer very quiet,” said Hagrid.

Hayley wasn’t sure she could explain. She’d just had the best birthday of her life — and yet — she chewed her hamburger, trying to find the words.

“Everyone thinks I’m special,” she said at last. “All those people in the Leaky Cauldron, Professor Quirrell, Mr. Ollivander … but I don’t know anything about magic at all. How can they expect great things? I’m famous and I can’t even remember what I’m famous for. I don’t know what happened when Vol-, sorry — I mean, the night my parents died.”

Hagrid leaned across the table. Behind the wild beard and eyebrows he wore a very kind smile.

“Don’ you worry, Hayley. You’ll learn fast enough. Everyone starts at the beginning at Hogwarts, you’ll be just fine. Just be yerself. I know it’s hard. Yeh’ve been singled out, an’ that’s always hard. But yeh’ll have a great time at Hogwarts — I did — still do, ’smatter of fact.”

Hagrid helped Hayley on to the train that would take her back to the Dursleys, then handed her an envelope.

“Yer ticket fer Hogwarts,” he said. “First o’ September — King’s Cross — it’s all on yer ticket. Any problems with the Dursleys, send me a letter with yer owl, she’ll know where to find me. … See yeh soon, Hayley.”

The train pulled out of the station. Hayley wanted to watch Hagrid until he was out of sight; she rose in her seat and pressed her nose against the window, but she blinked and Hagrid had gone.