A/N - So, this is my first ever HP fic. I hope you all like it!
Disclaimer - I own nothing publically recognizable in this story!
Moira grinned as her owl swooped into her open window, carrying a small package and letter. She quickly untied the letter and package, "Thanks Helga. I'll even get you a treat, though it's not like you really need it," Moira muttered, quickly giving the slightly chubby barn owl a couple of owl treats before turning to the parcels she had set on her bed.
She tilted her head to the right, her birthday wasn't until Halloween, it was almost time for school, so there wasn't another holiday…Well, she thought, best not to look a gift horse in the mouth. She shrugged and opened the letter first.
Dear Moira,
So, I saw this and thought of you. I know you love muggle pens and stationary! I hope you like them!
We'll be in Diagon Alley tomorrow, at about 10:30. Would it be ok if I stayed with you for the next couple days before school? My parents are going to visit my grandparents, so I'd be alone here. If it's ok, I'll finish packing tonight, and bring everything with me tomorrow!
Miss you, and hope your summers been well!
Lily
P.S. What have you been feeding Helga? She's gotten so chubby!
Moira grinned, she adored Lily, even if they were really different in some ways. She eagerly ripped open the package, careful not to hurt anything inside in her haste. Inside was lovely stationary, some of it with different colored swirls and the other one with dragonflies. She grinned more broadly as she found two packages with muggle pens of all different colors of ink in the bottom of the package.
Remembering Lily's note, she quickly made her way downstairs to find her parents. Conveniently, they were both sitting in the parlor, reading and sipping tea. "Mom, Dad, can Lily stay with us until the start of school? She would be coming home with us tomorrow from Diagon Alley."
The two of them blinked at each other and her dad nodded. Her mom smiled warmly at her, "Of course dear, Lily is a wonderful girl. In fact, if you'd like, we can let you go by yourself tomorrow. We already withdrew more than enough from Gringotts for both the school year and for your shopping tomorrow."
"Thanks! I'll go send Helga back to her and let her know. Love you!" Moira didn't see her parents shaking their heads at her as she bounded up the steps and back to her room.
Using her new swirly paper and a bright purple pen, she scrawled a note to Lily.
Lily,
Mum and Dad said it was ok! And thanks for the package, I love them! See you tomorrow. I'll meet you inside the Leaky Cauldron!
Moira,
P.S. I think I may be giving her too many owl treats.
Moira attached the note to Helga's leg and let her out the window. She looked around her room, realizing that she still had quite a bit of packing to do before she would be ready for school.
Moira looked around the Leaky Cauldron, not noticing anyone she actually knew. She'd only been waiting for about 5 minutes, knowing that it sometimes took Lily longer to arrive since she had to come the muggle way. Just as she was debating getting a butterbeer, Lily walked in the door.
Moira grinned and hurried over to her, "Lily! It's been too long!"
Lily laughed as she was engulfed in a hug, "Moira, it's been two weeks since you saw me!"
"My point exactly. That was two weeks too long." Moira grinned as she let go of Lily, "Shall we go see what kind of trouble we can get in in Diagon alley? Maybe we can find some poor first years to annoy!"
Lily groaned, "Not this again! Moira, you do this every year since second year! As a Prefect, letting you scare the first years looks bad! Besides, it's mean!"
Moira grinned, "Lils, you aren't the prefect of Diagon Alley, and we aren't at Hogwarts yet! That said, tormenting the first years must be done. It's tradition. Which reminds me, I need to find someone to start training to take over my duties since I only have two years left…" Moira trailed off, looking thoughtful.
Lily shook her head, "There is no way it is going to take you 2 years to train someone for that!"
"Maybe not, but I should start scouting them at least! A third year would do nicely…so I should start looking at this year's second years." Moira smiled coyly as she pulled Lily into Diagon Alley after tapping the right brick.
"Yeah, you'd be lucky if they don't remember what you did to them!" Lily said. They both paused right inside the alley. "It never ceases to amaze me…"
Moira laughed, "Yeah, I know. It still amazes me sometimes…All the people and the different things…It's crazy. Alright, where to first?"
"Gringotts. I only have muggle money right now." Lily grumbled.
They began making their way to the goblin run bank. "Ok, so, after here, I think we should go to Malkin's. Then get some ice cream. Maybe after that we can go look at brooms? My old one died last month… Keeps swerving to the left."
Lily chuckled, "You've had it for awhile now…and you aren't very easy on it really. Though keepers never really are. Ok, after that, we should go get potions supplies, and go to Flourish and Blott's. And the owl apothecary! Mum gave me enough money to get one!"
"Way cool! So, that's the plan then. Let's get a move on." Moira glared at a second year sporting Slytherin robes as they swerved around him.
Gringotts was uneventful. They did change their plans around, going to get ice cream before heading anywhere else. There was little incident, only a bit of smearing ice cream on each other's noses. From there they headed to Flourish and Blott's and then to pick up a new broom for Moira. Potions supplies took only a few minutes, and then they were off to Malkin's to get new robes.
It was while Madam Malkin was getting their measurements (both at the same time) that things started to go wrong.
"Seriously Padfoot, is it necessary to try and go through the entire female population of Hogwarts?" Lily paled, quickly identifying James Potter's voice. She turned wide eyes to Moira who grimaced.
"Prongs, you wound me! I don't date girls younger than fourth years, and I don't do teachers." Moira gagged glaring in the direction of the sound of the voices.
Just then the boys became visible, clearly noticing them right away. "Evans! What a surprise! I was hoping to run into you!"
Lily glared at him and huffed, "And I've been hoping to avoid you!"
Sirius tried to cover a grin, "Give it up Prongs. 'Sides, plenty of other girls out there."
"Real rich, coming from you. You've made your way through most of the girls at school!" Moira said, looking down at him from the small stool she stood on.
"At least I'm not a prude!" Sirius glared at Moira.
Madam Malkin gave them all dirty looks as Moira replied, "I am not a prude, you're just a slut!"
Madam Malkin let out an exasperated sigh, "Really, is this kind of language necessary in my shop?"
The girls continued to glare at the boys, who grinned and wandered off a bit. They managed to get out of the shop without further incident. But it didn't last long. They were accosted yet again in the Apothecary where Lily was looking at owls and Moira was harassing a frightened first year.
Moira snickered mentally, "I knew a boy once who tried to jump onto a stairway as it was moving. He's still in St. Mungo's. He hit his head so hard that they barely saved his life. Though, to this day, he still thinks he's a dog."
The first year stared at her in horror before running off to find a parent. Lily just shook her head, "You know, you really don't have to tell them such things!"
Moira just grinned and went off to hunt her next victim. Lily sighed, blinking at all of the different owls. She might prefer a cat, but an owl would mean she could send her parents letters, so an owl it was. She was currently admiring a barn owl that could very nearly be Helga's twin. Lily grinned at the bird, it seemed to like her well enough at least.
She jumped as she felt a hand on her shoulder, turning to look into the grinning face of Potter.
Moira pushed a lock of her black hair out of her grey eyes before turning to her next victim. This one was a girl. She grinned and waved at her before going over. "Snowy owls were always my favorite, but my Helga is a barn."
The girl looked at her with wide eyes, "If you like snowy owls, how come you have a barn?"
"My first year, when I came here to get a pet, Helga was fluttering around in here. The woman running the shop that day couldn't get her to calm down. She flew straight at me! She landed on my shoulder, and we've been friends ever since. I'm Moira, what's your name?" Moira grinned down at the girl. She might just grow to like this kid.
The girl grinned at her, "Cool! My name is Jesse Corrin. What year are you? What's Hogwarts like?"
"I'm a sixth year this year. Hogwarts is great! There's a lot of really cool stuff there. The great hall has a ceiling that shows what the weather is like, and there are all kinds of secret passages ways and stuff. Though, just make sure you never go into the Forbidden Forest alone, alright?" Moira smiled lightly at the girl.
"Potter, what the hell do you want now?" Lily glared at him vehemently, picking up the cage of the owl she had picked out and making her way to the counter.
"Now now Evans, no need to be rude! Actually, I'm waiting for Sirius to stop harassing that first year…" James pointed at a first year boy with shaggy hair and blue eyes.
"Moira's been harassing them too. I think she went to the other side of the store to harass a small girl…" Lily shook her head as she paid for the owl.
Sirius stared down at the boy, "What do you mean that's so cool? I just told you I've seen ghosts at the Shrieking Shack and you think it's great! You're ruining my plan! You're supposed to be terrified!"
The boy blinked at him, "Oh, I am? Sorry…"
Sirius stared at him dejectedly, "Alright…What's your name?"
"Julian Drain. What's yours?"
"It's Sirius. Alright, so, I've decided I like you…So, I'll start passing on some of my wonderful knowledge to you once we get to Hogwarts…as long as you don't end up in Slytherin." Sirius smiled softly at the look of wonderment on the boys face.
"Really? Awesome! What house are you in Siri?" Julian grinned up at him, pushing a piece of hair out of his eyes.
Sirius winced, "Let's…refrain from calling me that…and, I'm a Gryffindor."
Lily smiled down at the owl, "I shall name you Helter! You and Helga will get on great!"
James raised an eyebrow, "Helter? And who's Helga? Isn't it a little on the fat side for an owl?"
Lily glared at him, "Stop being mean to Helter! Helga is Moira's owl. She's chubbier than Helter is…"
Jesse, who looked like a younger version of Moira with green eyes, looked up at her, "Why not?"
"Well, one, it's forbidden, and two, it's dangerous. There've been rumors about all kinds of things being in there that can eat you. Vampires is the latest one…" Moira stared down at the girl. She reminded her of herself her first year.
"Ok Moira! I won't. Though I've always wanted to meet a vampire…as long as it didn't eat me."
Jesse smiled, then turned to look at the owls again.
Moira smiled brightly. Yep, definitely reminded her of herself. "You're alright kid. I'll see you around!"
Jesse waved vigorously to her as she went off to find Lily.
Moira and Sirius were both making their way to Lily and James from separate sides, and didn't notice each other. Lily and James both wince and Sirius bumped into Moira hard enough to send both of them tumbling.
It took less than ten seconds for Moira to react, "Black! I swear that if you don't get off my right now I will set you on fire!"
Sirius, who had been about to apologize, quickly realized who it was. "Oh, it's just you Nightshade. I was going to apologize, but I'm sure it would be lost on you."
Moira groaned, "Just get the bloody hell off of me you fat ass!"
Sirius glared as he got off of her, "I take offense to that, my ass is not fat."
Lily pulled Moira up, "Ok! It's time to go. We've got everything we need, and your parents will want us back at your place soon."
Moira glared at Sirius as she was pulled away and Lily sighed. With the two of them going at it like that, it was going to be a very long year.
A/N - Alrighty, let me know what you think!
