Katherine Greenwood: The Hidden World #5

Instructions

Katherine's POV: After leaving the wand shop, we continued through Diagon Alley. Hagrid helped me carry the heavier bags, and I kept checking to make sure my wand was safely tucked away. We had nearly finished when I noticed a shop filled with cages. I slowed down and looked through the window. There were birds everywhere. Owls. Big ones, small ones, brown ones, black ones, and white ones. I stopped completely. "Hagrid?" I said. "Yes?" I pointed toward the shop. "What are all those owls for?" "Owls are used to carry letters and messages." I looked at him. "They can deliver letters?" "Yep." I stared through the window. The idea seemed incredible. "Could I buy one?" I asked quietly. Hagrid looked at me. "You can, if you've enough money left." I quickly remembered the envelope Dad had given me. We had already bought almost everything on my list, and I still had some money left. I counted the coins carefully. "I think I do." Hagrid smiled. "Then let's have a look." We went inside, and I walked slowly between the cages. I saw so many owls that I didn't know which one to choose. Then I saw her. She was sitting quietly on a perch near the back of the shop. Her feathers were almost completely white, with a few darker markings, and her large eyes followed me as I approached. I stopped in front of her cage. "She's beautiful," I whispered. Hagrid looked over. "Snowy owl." I looked at him. "What's her name?" "She doesn't have one yet." I looked back at the owl. She tilted her head slightly, watching me. "Can I hold her?" The shopkeeper helped me take her out carefully, and she sat gently on my arm. She was surprisingly calm. I smiled for what felt like the first time all day without being nervous. "I think I want her." Hagrid smiled. "Then we'll get her." I used some of the wizard money to buy the snowy owl and everything she would need. I couldn't stop looking at her as Hagrid helped me carry the rest of my things. "I'll have to think of a name," I said. "You've got time." I looked down at her white feathers. I didn't know what I would call her yet, but I already knew I was going to miss her whenever I wasn't with her. Before we left, Hagrid asked if there was anything else I wanted to see. I thought about it. There was one thing I hadn't asked about yet. "Hagrid?" "Yes?" "How am I supposed to get to Hogwarts?" He smiled. "I'll show you when the time comes." I nodded, although that answer only gave me another question. "And... what happens when I get there?" Hagrid looked down at me. "You'll meet the other students. You'll get sorted into one of the school houses. Then you'll start your lessons." I frowned. "What's a school house?" Hagrid laughed. "I'll explain that later." I sighed softly. There were still so many things I didn't understand. Hagrid looked at the time and then turned toward the entrance. "We should be getting you home." I nodded and followed him, carefully carrying my owl while he carried most of the bags. Before we left Diagon Alley, Hagrid stopped and reached into his coat. "Oh, nearly forgot this." He handed me a small piece of thick paper. I looked down at it. "What's this?" "Your train ticket." I turned it over in my hands. "For Hogwarts?" "That's right." I looked at the ticket again. There were words and numbers printed on it that I didn't completely understand. "How do I know where to go?" I asked. Hagrid pointed to the information printed on the ticket. "It tells you where and when to get on the train. Keep it somewhere safe." I carefully tucked it into the same place where I had put my school letter. "What if I can't find the right place?" I asked quietly. Hagrid smiled. "The ticket'll tell you where you need to be." I nodded, although I still felt a little nervous about it. Hagrid led me back through the Leaky Cauldron and out into the ordinary world. The strange sights of Diagon Alley disappeared behind us, and soon we were walking back toward my home. I kept looking down at my new owl, my wand, and the bags of school supplies I was carrying. It was hard to believe that all of this had happened in a single day. When we finally reached my house, I could see Mum, Dad, and my siblings waiting for me. Hagrid helped me carry everything to the door. "There you are," he said. "All ready for school." I looked down at everything I had brought home. Books, clothes, supplies, a wand, a snowy owl, and a train ticket that would somehow take me to Hogwarts. I still had so many questions. "Thank you, Hagrid," I said quietly. He smiled. "You're welcome, Katherine." He gave me one last nod before turning around and walking away. I stood in the doorway and watched him disappear down the street. Then I looked at the snowy owl perched calmly beside me and held the train ticket tightly in my hand. Hogwarts suddenly felt much more real. And somehow, I was going to have to figure out how to get there.