Late August 1987

It was more than he had hoped and better than he had imagined.

Of course, having two half-blooded parents, he had been to Diagon Alley before, but only once, and Oliver couldn't have been more than four. They lived up in Edinburgh, and rarely made the trek down to London. They had astonishingly busy lives, and one eleven-year-old Oliver James Wood could not wait to start his own busy life at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the exact place he had been dreaming of attending since he was little and would jump up and down on his little toddler legs, babbling excitedly when his mother would make colors appear out of her wand.

Now he, Oliver, was getting his own wand and his own owl. Unfortunately he wasn't able to get a broom, but he staunched this blow by telling himself it would all come in good time.

Eyes wide, he surveyed the alley. Always being a little tall for his age, he wasn't lost in the crowd, and could see clearly a throng of red-headed wizards – the oldest being a teenaged boy that must've been around sixteen, followed by another grinning redhead who looked to be two or three years younger than the oldest child. The mother was clutching the hands of a young boy and young girl, and glaring at the backs of two identical sons, who couldn't be older than nine, that were pointing excitedly down Knockturn Alley. Oliver could hear her faint yell from where his own mother stood clutching his hand at the end of Diagon Alley.

What would it be like to have that many siblings?

His mother put an end to his inner musings by saying, "Come on, sweetheart."

"Where are we going first, Mum?" His mother, brushing her pin-straight brown hair out of her face, pulled a piece of crisp parchment from her purse and handed it to her son.

"What does it say first on the materials list, Oliver?"

Oliver narrowed his eyes to read the fine print on the letter and read, "Three sets of plain work robes (black), one plain pointed hat (black) for daywear, one pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar) and last is one winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)."

"Madam Malkins it is, then." Gently tugging on her son's hand, she led him there. A woman with smooth grey hair who looked approximately seventy tugged was pacing around the packed shop – there had to be at least six other first-year students getting robes today, noted Oliver. He wasn't the only one.

"Another first year, aren't you, dear?" Madam Malkin had asked when she caught sight of Oliver glancing around the shop nervously. "All right, come with me then."

-break-

After being fitted for robes, all of which were tucked into a carrying bag by his mother, they had taken off to Scribblus Writing Instruments, picking up a set of quills and parchment to last him until Christmas break, and stopped by Potages Cauldron Shop for a brass cauldron and picking up the basic apothecary ingriedients he would need at Slug & Jiggers Apothecary.

On the way to Quality Quidditch Supplies ("A special treat, Oliver, you're not actually getting anything," his mother had said) he passed by some duller shops; a junk shop with a wonky-looking scale situated in the window, and a plain building with no display windows labelled The Ministry Press.

A white building shining in the distance caught his eye. "Mum, what's that?" He asked, jabbing his finger in the distance and squinting when the sun reached his eyes.

"Gringotts – you know, the bank," she had replied, and Oliver nodded.

After gawking at the Nimbus 1999 for twenty minutes, and had to be persuaded out of there, Oliver finally left Quality Quidditch Supplies with his spirits running high. This was amazing! He couldn't wait to be an actual wizard!

"Where to next, Mum?" Oliver bounced up and down on his heels. His mother tapped her finger lightly on her lip and turned to face him in the middle of the alley.

"Cat, owl, or toad, Oliver?"

"Owl," he had replied automatically. Cats were just – well, putting it simply, he didn't like cats and found toads rather slimy and gross. Plus, owls were useful, for carrying letters back and forth, and were highly intelligent, he was told.

The interior of Eeylops Owl Emporium was dimly lit, and owl cages lined every inch of the walls except for the display windows. What he presumed to be the manager bustled around, robes flapping behind him and assisting customers on their purchases. Oliver shyly peeked at some of the owls lining the walls; only one stared back at him unblinkingly with wide yellow eyes. It had smooth, shiny brown fur and was a bit smaller than the other owls surrounding it, but gorgeous nonetheless.

"I like that one," he nodded in the direction of the owl.

"Are you sure, sweetheart? No going back," Mrs Wood warned him sternly. Oliver nodded. It was the only owl who had the courage – a Gryffindor trait – to look him in the eyes. His mother motioned the clerk over, and set the bird in front of him.

"Wronski," said Oliver automatically. "I'm naming it Wronski."

Wronski the owl looked up at Oliver through the metal bars of its cage and nipped his finger appreciatively.

Hello everybody! Yes, I'm starting another multichapter. No, don't look at me like that. I willeventually get around to finishing It Was Always You sometime. ;p Review to let me know how I'm doing.. thanks! This is written for The Hogwarts Years Competition, and I, obviously, will be using the delicious character of Oliver Wood. Enjoy!