The bricks rearranged themselves, forming an archway into another world. As Arnit stepped through, he felt a shift in the very air around him—an energy that hummed beneath his skin, something ancient and powerful.
If someone could describe Diagon Alley in a few words, that would be dynamic and alive.
There was no silence here, only the constant murmur of spells, the rustle of enchanted robes, and the laughter of young witches and wizards experiencing magic for the first time. Signs glowed with shifting colours, enchanted posters whispered advertisements, and cobblestone streets pulsed faintly, reacting to the magic of those who walked upon them.
It was Arnit's first time visiting a magical place, surrounded by magical people. It was a bit overwhelming for the first few minutes. Took him some time to calm down but the excitement was quite palpable on his face. He turned towards his uncle, who was walking beside him. "You have been here, right, uncle?"
"Yes, of course. Even though I work in the muggle world, I still wish to visit magical markets and tourist destinations for witches and wizards from time to time. And Diagon Alley is one of the most visited places in the entire British magical community." Vedant replied with a smile.
"Ooh, that's why sometimes you come home late at night," said Arnit; realisation dawned on him while looking towards his uncle.
Vedant simply turned his face somewhere else, avoiding his nephew's judgemental eyes.
Arnit's eyes were constantly roaming around, trying to see magic or learn something new. But mindful enough not to stare too much.
There was a bounce in his step that he himself hasn't realised.
They continued their walk on the street while observing the people around them. The excitement on the children's faces who were there shopping for the new year at Hogwarts was apparent. The constant hustle and bustle was creating a vibrant atmosphere around the market.
"So, where should we go first?" he asked his uncle even though he had some ideas.
"First, let's get you some fitting robes," Vedant said while walking towards Madam Malkin's robes for all occasions.
"But I thought we would go to Gringotts bank first! Isn't that where you exchange your currency and deposit your money in the vaults for future purposes?" Arnit argued while looking towards a looming white building.
"Yes, you would have been absolutely right if I didn't already have tens of thousands of galleons in my one-touch withdraw pouch. And I also don't trust goblins with my money. We have our own family vault somewhere safe, which is connected to my pouch. So whenever I need some money, all I need to do is grab some from this pouch."
"Wow!!! I never knew you had this kind of pouch, uncle. But I thought the currency for the Indian magical community is different from the British one. Then how are you taking out galleons from that pouch?" Arnit asked, confusion featuring on his face.
"First of all, there's nothing special about the pouch. The special part is our family vault, which has so much; you won't be able to spend it your whole life. And that's just one of the perks of being part of a family whose history dates back thousands of years. Now on your second question. Yes, almost every community has its own currency, just like in the muggle world. But you know that in the muggle world, just like how most of the international transactions happen in the US dollar, the same way galleons are used in the western part of the magical world since it's not a dominating currency in the eastern magical communities like the Indian subcontinent, Chinese magical community, Japanese, Korean, and all the other ASEAN magical societies. But then how am I taking out galleons after galleons from this pouch? Well, because your grandfather had signed a contract with Gringotts that will convert the Indian currency into galleons, sickles, or knuts as per your needs at a substantial fee." Vedant explained the whole thing while standing in front of the shop.
"This is Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. Here, take this pouch and go inside and buy some robes for yourself while I deliver your letter to Hogwarts. I'll also buy a pet owl as per our discussion. If I am not here by the time you come out, directly go to Flourish & Blotts to buy the books. Buy any book you want there." After saying his piece, Vedant walked towards the Eeylops Owl Emporium.
After seeing his uncle going away, he turned his attention towards the shop in front of him. 'Okay, Arnit, here goes nothing.' He took a deep breath and entered the shop.
A soft chime rang as Arnit pushed open the door to Madam Malkin's robe shop. It smelt of fresh fabric and faintly of lavender, the air filled with the gentle hum of magic as enchanted needles stitched robes without assistance. Rows of Hogwarts uniforms hung neatly on racks, and enchanted measuring tapes zipped through the air like impatient hummingbirds.
Arnit hesitated for a moment, taking in the sight. It was his first true step into the magical world beyond the secrecy of his childhood, and the sheer oddity of it all made him both excited and wary. Before he could dwell on it, a plump woman in a deep mauve robe bustled forward.
"Ah! Another Hogwarts student! Step right up, dear," Madam Malkin chirped, ushering him toward a fitting stool. "Let's get you measured!"
As Arnit stepped up, a voice beside him caught his attention.
"Looks like we'll be in the same robes soon," the boy said with an easy grin. He was standing on a similar stool, arms slightly raised as magical tapes flitted around him. He had light brown hair, striking grey eyes, and a warm, confident air about him.
Arnit returned the smile, relieved to see another student his age. "Looks like it. First year?"
"Yeah," the boy nodded. "I'm Cedric Diggory."
"Arnit Shukla," he replied, shaking Cedric's outstretched hand.
Cedric studied him curiously. "Are you new to the wizarding world?"
Arnit hesitated, debating how much to say. "Sort of," he admitted. "I didn't grow up around many wizards."
Cedric nodded thoughtfully. "It can be a lot to take in. But Hogwarts is brilliant—you'll love it."
Arnit glanced around at the bustling shop, still feeling like an outsider looking in. "I hope so."
"You got a house in mind?" Cedric asked, eyes glinting with curiosity.
Arnit had read about the houses, but he truly had no idea where he belonged. "Not sure. You?"
"Dunno yet, but my dad was a Hufflepuff," Cedric said. "Wouldn't mind that. What about you?"
Before Arnit could answer, Madam Malkin clapped her hands. "All done, dear! You'll fit right in at Hogwarts," she said with a kind smile.
A floating mirror positioned itself in front of Arnit, and he caught sight of himself in his crisp black Hogwarts robes. For the first time, the reality of his journey fully sank in. He was going to Hogwarts.
Cedric stepped down from his stool, adjusting his new robes. "Well, guess we'll find our houses soon enough," he said with a grin. "See you on the train?"
Arnit nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah, see you there."
After giving his address to Madam Malkin for the delivery of the robes, he went to Flourish & Blotts for the books.
When he was at the end of his book shopping spree, Vedant entered the shop while carrying a dusky eagle-owl, a powerful owl species with piercing yellow eyes and a commanding presence.
Arnit turned towards his uncle and was surprised to see a majestic big brown owl peacefully sitting inside a cage. It didn't take long for him to fall in love with his pet.
"Wow, Uncle, it's quite amazing for an owl to have this kind of presence. Which species is this?" He asked his uncle, his eyes not leaving the owl, totally captivated by its presence.
"It's a Dusky Eagle-Owl, often associated with guardianship and spiritual guidance, fitting for your journey," explained Vedant to his nephew.
"Why don't you name your companion?" Vedant asked eagerly.
"I have already thought of an appropriate name—Meghdoot, messenger of the clouds."