Chapter 2

I decided to jump on a train and try to get to London. It was a giant city where there were many possibilities. The train ride went without any problem, but when I got there, there were more people there than I could have ever imagined. It was hard to get anywhere, but I made it out of the mobs of people and into a little alley. I was about to sit down when I heard a voice.

"Watch where you're sitting, you giant oaf, you could have crushed me!" I looked down, and staring back at me was a small green snake. "How can you talk?" I asked him. "The same way you can, I suppose. Where are you headed?"

"Anywhere I can, I guess. I got a strange letter, but I can't get what I need to go there, so I don't know. How about you? Would you like to come with me?" The snake bobbed his head eagerly. "Alright then, I suppose that I should give you a name." I thought for a moment, then I found the perfect name for a snake. "How about Salazar?" "I would be honored to carry that name. Thank you." He said. I smiled.

We talked for a while longer, and he told me that he could help me get to the place where I could get the things that I needed to go to Hogwarts. The next day, he brought me to a pub, and there were a lot of witches and wizards. It made me a little scared, remembering my experiences with him, but I didn't say anything. I went up to the man behind the counter. "I need to buy stuff for Hogwarts, but I don't know where to go. I also don't have the money to buy anything. Can you at least point me in the right direction, sir?" He just looked at me. "And what is your name, little lass?" I smiled. "Ivy Henderson, sir. Can you help me?" Now he laughed. "Sure. I'll take you to Diagon Alley, but then you need to find your own way." "Thank you, sir." He nodded and led the way to a wall, where he tapped a brick three times, and the wall opened up to reveal a busy street. I thanked him again, then went looking around. I wasn't looking where I was going, and ran into a boy about my age, and he had light blonde hair. We both landed on our rear, and I hurried up. "Sorry, are you alright?" I asked, helping him up. "And who are you?" He asked, rather rudely. "Oh, sorry. I am Ivy Henderson. And who might you be?"

"I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy." Oh-no. "Malfoy. That means that your father is-" A voice from behind me interrupted me. I knew that voice without even looking. Lucius Malfoy. "Me, yes. And I know someone who is looking for you, Henderson. You made it far, but not far enough. Never far enough." I can't go back! No! "Please, sir. I can't go back. I-" He interrupted me by pointing his wand at me. I was frozen in fear. Salazar must have felt it, because he poked his head out and saw what was going on. He threw himself at Lucius, which broke me out of my daze. "Salazar, don't do it! Come back!" Lucius just batted Salazar onto the ground, and put his foot right over Salazar's head. "What did you call this snake?" He asked me. "Salazar, sir. Please don't hurt him, sir. Please." I begged. "I won't, if you cooperate. If you don't, well, then he is dead. Draco! Get the snake." Draco bent down and picked Salazar up by the tail. The fool. "Salazar, you need to get away, I can't let them hurt you. I will find you, I promise. Go!" Salazar squirmed away from Draco, who looked just as stunned as his father. "You're a Parselmouth." Was all that Lucius could say. I ran.

I didn't pay attention to where I was going, and I ended up in a store. It was lined with boxes. A lot of boxes. I was so entranced by my surroundings that I didn't notice an old man who had snuck up on me. He scared me half to death. "I was wondering if you would come, Ivy. Have you come to buy your wand?" What! "Oh, uh, no, I don't have any money, sorry, sir." I said. "I understand, and I have contacted Dumbledore. He has told all of the shop owners about you, and he was kind enough to buy everything ahead of time, as a favor, or so he said. So you just need to pick it all up. Now, to find your wand."

He handed me many different wands, then taking them right back, mumbling the whole time. Then he found a wand and brought it out. "Try this. Red oak, dragon heartstring, flexible, 11 1/2 inches. This might work." And it finally did. "You now have your wand. It is an excellent wand. Be careful at Hogwarts." And with that warning, he left. So I did too.

I wandered around until I found everything, except for my Potions materials. Potage's Cauldron Shop was my last stop. I have always been fascinated by Potions, but he had used them in ways that made me respect, and fear them even more. After I got my supplies that I needed to get, I wandered around a while, looking at everything. I had no money though, so I had to leave without getting anything extra. As I left Diagon Alley, I looked around one more time.

And I saw the Malfoys, again. I turned and ran out, carrying everything in my cauldron. I found a quiet alleyway where I stopped to rest for a bit. And who should be waiting for me but Salazar. "I am very glad that you are alright. Thank you for listening." I told him. "I am glad that you are alright too, Ivy. I am sorry for the mean people. I did the best I could." He looked very sad. "It was amazing, what you did back there. Most snakes wouldn't have done that. So thank you. Now, lets get some rest." He agreed, so we laid down and slept the rest of the day away.
Now I just need to wait for a month before I can go to Hogwarts.