the_debt_of_time

It was incredibly odd to hear such foreign shops referred to so casually, and
Hermione wondered if she would ever feel like she belonged amongst the witches and
wizards or if she would always feel a bit out of her element.
She turned once more, losing her way as she walked past Madam Malkin's and again
found herself on the ground after being run into by another boy. She growled as her books
scattered across the cobblestone.
"Sorry," a kind voice spoke above her.
"It's all right. I'm starting to think it's just me," she commented with a sigh as she
gathered her things. She stood up, dusting off her clothes, smiling when a hand held out
her dropped copy of A History of Magic. "Thank you."
The skinny, black-haired boy in front of her nodded awkwardly, smiled at her, and
then without another word walked into the robe shop behind her. Hermione's gaze
followed him, smirking slightly at the way his hair stuck up straight in the back. "At
least some people here are nice," she said to herself.
After a short lunch at the Leaky Cauldron, Professor McGonagall and Hermione
made their way to a narrow, shabby-looking shop ahead of them. Peeling, gold letters over
the door read, Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C. Hermione smiled brightly up
at the sign as they entered the shop.
"Good afternoon." Ollivander smiled as he approached the counter, glancing down
at the little witch and then looking up at Professor McGonagall. "Professor, always a
pleasure. You won't believe who came into my shop not ten minutes ago!" the older wizard
said excitedly.
"I can imagine," Professor McGonagall said with little patience.
"Harry Potter!"
"Harry Potter?" Hermione looked up at the man curiously. "Is that someone
famous?"
Ollivander stared at her as though she were speaking another language.
"Read this one," Professor McGonagall said to Hermione, pointing to her copy
of Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century. "As excited as we all are that Harry Potter
has returned to the Wizarding world, Mr Ollivander, this young witch needs a wand, and
we haven't all day."