"If it's not too much trouble, I need a bag." Allie had noticed that Molly also had a small bag that could hold a great many things.
After Goblin Griphook nodded, he left.
Snape stared after the departing Griphook and said, "Rare..." He looked down at Allie. "Goblins are clever... but not friendly."
Before long, Griphook came back carrying a tray, upon which lay a small silver-embroidered pouch and the key to vault 842. "Miss Evans, there are two hundred Galleons in here. If you need anything else, you are welcome to visit Gringotts again."
Seeing Professor Snape reach out to take the items ahead of her, Allie said to Griphook, "I will, thank you, Griphook."
With that, the two of them walked out of Gringotts.
Snape looked the bag and key over repeatedly, but could not detect any strange curses placed upon them; presumably, that goblin was simply in a very good mood today.
They rarely sold such exquisite bags, and even when they did, the price was astronomical. However, the money in the vault was more than enough to cover the cost of the bag.
What Snape did not know was that the bag was a gift from the goblins to Allie.
"Come here, let me put this on you." Snape motioned for Allie to come closer. The bag had a strap that could be slung diagonally across the waist, and the strap was enchanted to adjust its own size.
"Miss Evans, you should know the exchange rates for this money," Snape said.
"Yes, Professor. One Galleon is worth seventeen Sickles, and four hundred and ninety-three Knuts." Molly sometimes took Ginny along with her when she went out to buy daily necessities.
The key, which Snape had wrapped in the palm of his hand, unfurled once more to become a silver chain and emerald bracelet, with the gleaming golden key right in the middle, looking quite lovely.
"Wow! Professor, it's so pretty! What kind of magic is this?" It was truly amazing. If she knew this kind of magic, she could transform lots of pretty bracelets and hair ties for Ginny.
Snape did not answer her. He took Allie's hand and led her toward a cauldron shop nearby, where they quickly selected the items needed for school.
Next, they came to Flourish and Blotts.
The bookshelves here were packed from floor to ceiling with books: some were leather-bound hardcovers as large as paving stones; others were silk-bound books the size of postage stamps; some were filled with peculiar symbols; a few were wordless books of unknown origin; and some books were actually writhing about on their own!
"Professor, may I buy some gifts for the Weasley family?" Allie asked.
"You may... I'll wait for you here." He thought he had just caught sight of Lucius Malfoy...
Allie picked out her own textbooks as well as the ones Ron was missing. For Percy, she chose *Common Sense of Being a Prefect*; for George and Fred, *Secrets of Prank-Making* and *A Compendium of Tricky Delights*; for Molly, *Raising Hens*; for Mr. Weasley, *Those Years I Spent with Muggles*; and for Ginny, *Tips on Riding a Flying Broomstick*.
Carrying a pile of books, Allie found Snape. "Professor, it seems there are a bit too many books..." She ought to find a trunk to carry them all.
Snape produced a portable leather trunk from behind his back. "Put them inside."
This was a magical trunk, practically an essential item for any young wizard, which could hold clothing and supplies while remaining very lightweight.
Allie neatly placed the books into the trunk, then lifted it gently, feeling much lighter.
Allie paid for her purchases. "Let's go, Professor," she said with a smile at Snape.
Snape nodded and led Allie out of the bookstore.
They made their way through the bustling streets and stepped into Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.
"Go on in by yourself, I have something to take care of... I'll be right back." Snape had spotted Draco Malfoy inside the shop; even though the boy was his godson, he had no wish to go in.
Allie remembered that Professor Snape had indeed mentioned in his letter that he had business to attend to, which was why he was bringing her along. She had already delayed the professor for quite a long time, which made her feel a little guilty. "All right, Professor, go ahead! I can manage on my own."
Madam Malkin was a short, plump witch with a kindly smile, dressed in mauve robes, who came forward to greet her. "My dear, do you need Hogwarts robes? Please sit on the chair and wait; it won't be long."
Near the door was a row of benches, behind which stood a massive glass window that allowed people outside to see the garments on display inside.
A few wizards were already sitting on the chairs. A bit further in, several witches were measuring young witches and wizards for height and waist size, while behind a curtain, a line of witches waved their wands as they stitched robes.
"Are you a first-year at Hogwarts this year too?" asked the boy sitting next to Allie.
Allie turned her head. The boy had a striking head of platinum-blond hair and exquisite, lavish clothing.
"Yes, it seems we'll be classmates," Allie answered his question.
Before the boy could say anything more, he was called over by a nearby witch to have his height measured.
At that moment, Madam Malkin called out, "My dear red-haired girl! Come over here!" Allie stood up and walked over to Madam Malkin. Holding a soft measuring tape, Madam Malkin took Allie's measurements, chatting as she worked: "Such a lovely child. I have a robe here that will fit you wonderfully; we just need to embroider your name on it."
Madam Malkin led her behind the curtain so a witch could use magic to stitch her name onto the garment.
Allie folded the finished robes, placed them in her trunk, paid Madam Malkin, and hurried outside.
First, she spotted Professor Snape wandering aimlessly nearby, and when she looked back again, she saw him standing there blankly with an ice cream cone in his hand.
He stood there so long that passing wizards were giving him strange looks.
"Professor, are you finished with your business?" Assuming this business involved wandering around outside.
Only Merlin knew why he had come up with such a lame excuse when he wrote that letter. "Finished... Eat this... Someone gave it to me." Snape brandished the ice cream in his hand.
He had walked past Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour and seen a young wizard begging his parents for ice cream, and on a sudden whim, he had walked in and bought one.
As soon as he came out, he regretted it...
Allie took the ice cream and looked doubtfully toward the ice cream parlor; there was a huge queue of customers there, so it hardly seemed likely they were giving away ice cream because they couldn't sell it all.
"Raspberry flavor~ Thank you, Professor, this is delicious!" Allie felt that this slightly melting ice cream was exceptionally sweet.
After they left, a platinum-blond boy burst out of Madam Malkin's shop—it was the first time he had ever cursed the tediousness of bespoke robes for taking up so much of his time.
Meanwhile, Allie had arrived at Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC.
This shop and the bustling street around it exuded an air of great antiquity. The peeling gold letters above the door read: *Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC*.
"Hello~ Is anyone here?" Allie stepped into the shop, with Snape following closely behind.
Somewhere in the back of the shop came the sound of tinkling chimes. The shop was tiny, dim, and filled from floor to ceiling with long, narrow boxes, save for a single wooden bench.