As they left Gringotts, the atmosphere around the group became noticeably lighter.
At least for Emily.
The bank had been impressive, but it had also been intimidating.
Diagon Alley, on the other hand, felt exciting.
Every shop promised something new.
Every street corner seemed to hide another magical wonder.
For the first time since arriving in the wizarding world, Emily found herself completely immersed in the experience.
She looked everywhere at once.
Colorful signs hung above storefronts.
Owls perched outside pet shops.
Magical advertisements moved on their own.
The entire street seemed alive.
Beside her, Mohit remained calm as he observed everything through Analyze.
His skill continuously gathered information.
Every shop.
Every enchantment.
Every magical item.
Though he appeared relaxed, his mind was working constantly.
The wizarding world contained knowledge accumulated over centuries.
Missing even a small detail would be a waste.
Their first destination was a large bookstore.
Rows upon rows of books filled the interior.
The smell of parchment and ink lingered in the air.
Emily immediately became overwhelmed.
"There are so many..."
Professor Snape handed them a supply list.
"You will require every textbook listed here."
The store owner quickly gathered the necessary books.
Standard magical theory.
Charms.
Transfiguration.
Potions.
Magical history.
Astronomy.
Herbology.
Within minutes, a sizable stack had formed.
Emily looked at the pile.
Then at Snape.
Then back at the pile.
"Do first-years actually read all of this?"
Snape's expression remained unchanged.
"Those who wish to pass do."
Emily immediately stopped complaining.
Mohit hid a smile.
After leaving the bookstore, they visited several additional shops.
Potion ingredients.
Cauldrons.
Writing supplies.
Protective gloves.
Basic magical equipment.
Each stop provided another glimpse into wizarding culture.
Mohit carefully memorized everything.
Many magical inventions fascinated him.
Some were simple.
Others displayed remarkable craftsmanship.
Several items even gave him ideas for future experiments.
By the end of the morning, they had acquired most of their required supplies.
Only one important item remained.
Their wands.
Eventually, the group stopped before a narrow shop.
A faded sign hung above the entrance.
The words were simple.
Ollivanders.
Makers of Fine Wands Since 382 B.C.
Even before entering, Mohit sensed the magical aura surrounding the building.
This place was different.
Ancient.
Powerful.
Important.
The moment they stepped inside, silence greeted them.
Thousands of wand boxes covered the walls from floor to ceiling.
Emily instinctively lowered her voice.
"It feels strange here."
Professor Snape nodded.
"Many people say the same thing."
A soft voice suddenly emerged from the shadows.
"I prefer unique."
An elderly man stepped forward.
His silver eyes immediately settled upon the newcomers.
Garrick Ollivander.
The legendary wandmaker.
His gaze lingered on Mohit slightly longer than expected.
For some reason, the old wandmaker appeared unusually interested.
"Professor Snape."
"Mr. Ollivander."
The two exchanged brief greetings before Ollivander focused entirely on his future customers.
"First-year students, I presume?"
"Yes," Emily answered.
Ollivander smiled.
"Excellent."
The wandmaker began with Emily.
Several measurements were taken.
Arm length.
Height.
Finger size.
Shoulder width.
The process appeared random.
Yet Ollivander treated it with utmost seriousness.
Eventually, he selected a wand.
"Try this one."
Emily accepted it carefully.
The moment she waved it, several boxes exploded from nearby shelves.
Ollivander immediately took it back.
"Definitely not."
More wands followed.
One produced sparks.
Another shattered a vase.
A third nearly knocked over a bookshelf.
Emily began looking embarrassed.
"Am I doing something wrong?"
"Not at all," Ollivander assured her.
"The wand chooses the wizard."
Several more attempts followed.
Then it happened.
The instant Emily touched a particular wand, golden light filled the room.
The magical energy felt warm and harmonious.
Ollivander smiled.
"There we are."
Emily stared at the wand in amazement.
"It feels... right."
"Because it is."
The wandmaker nodded approvingly.
"An excellent match."
Then it was Mohit's turn.
The atmosphere inside the shop subtly changed.
Even Ollivander appeared unusually focused.
He performed the same measurements.
However, the old wandmaker seemed thoughtful throughout the process.
Finally, he selected a wand.
"Try this."
Mohit accepted it.
Nothing happened.
Ollivander frowned.
Another wand followed.
Then another.
And another.
Each failed.
The wandmaker's excitement gradually increased.
"A rare situation."
Professor Snape silently observed from the side.
Even he found the situation unusual.
Ollivander rarely struggled for this long.
Meanwhile, Mohit remained patient.
He could sense that many wands reacted to him.
Yet none fully accepted him.
It was almost as though they could not decide.
Minutes turned into nearly an hour.
By now, even Emily had become curious.
Then Ollivander suddenly froze.
His eyes widened.
"I believe I have it."
The old wandmaker disappeared into the back room.
Several moments later, he returned carrying an old box.
Unlike the others, it appeared ancient.
Carefully preserved.
Ollivander opened it.
Inside rested a beautiful wand.
The moment Mohit touched it, the shop erupted with light.
A powerful magical wave spread outward.
Several nearby wand boxes trembled.
The lights flickered.
Even Ollivander looked astonished.
Then he began laughing.
"A remarkable match."
Mohit studied the wand.
For the first time, he felt a perfect connection.
The wand felt like an extension of his own arm.
Natural.
Effortless.
Complete.
"It fits."
Ollivander nodded enthusiastically.
"Indeed it does."
The old wandmaker's eyes gleamed with curiosity.
"I suspect great things await you, Mr. Rautela."
After the purchases were completed, the group finally left the shop.
Emily immediately looked toward Mohit.
"That took forever."
Mohit laughed.
"At least we found the right one."
"Eventually."
They continued down the street.
Most of their shopping was now complete.
The remaining purchases were relatively minor.
For the first time that day, they could simply enjoy the atmosphere.
As they walked through Diagon Alley, Mohit noticed something interesting.
Certain families behaved differently from others.
Some witches and wizards carried themselves with obvious pride.
Others seemed careful about social status.
A few conversations hinted at deeper divisions within wizarding society.
Pure-blood families.
Political influence.
Ancient traditions.
Magical bloodlines.
The social structure of the wizarding world was far more complicated than it appeared on the surface.
Mohit quietly stored the information away.
Understanding society was just as important as understanding magic.
Both could become powerful tools.
By late afternoon, their shopping was finally complete.
Boxes and bags filled with supplies had been organized neatly.
Emily looked exhausted.
Yet she was smiling.
Today had been one of the most exciting days of her life.
Professor Snape glanced at the two children.
"Your preparations are complete."
Mohit nodded.
"Thank you for your assistance, Professor."
The gratitude was genuine.
Snape studied him briefly before responding.
"You are welcome."
Though he would never openly admit it, guiding these two students had been more interesting than expected.
Especially Mohit.
The boy remained a mystery.
And mysteries had a habit of attracting attention.
As the sun slowly began setting over Diagon Alley, Mohit looked toward the magical street one last time.
Soon he would attend Hogwarts.
Soon he would gain access to one of the greatest repositories of magical knowledge in the world.
And soon, his true journey in this world would begin.