A/N: Hey all! It's Lies of a Silver Tongue (LOST) here! New story. I know. *avoids rotten tomatoes* I can't help it! Thank you for giving this story a try anyway! As always, I don't really know where this'll go. I will be writing this with my sister who goes by the penname MagicMilkbone (MM) on this site.

First things first. I've had this idea for quite a while. I don't know for how long or when I thought of it, but I think it might've come to me when I was riding the Forbidden Journey for about the millionth time this last summer. (It was my second time going to Universal Orlando Studios. Both times, I went when the Harry Potter themed parks opened. Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley are AMAZING!) It was probably around when the dementors attacked in the Quidditch Pitch and we dove into the cleft.

Anyway, Please review, follow, and favorite! Constructive criticism is much appreciated, but flames mean as little as mint does to me. And I hate mint. XD THIS STORY IS UN'BETAED! ALL MISTAKES MADE ARE MY OWN. FEEL FREE TO NOTIFY ME OF ANY ERRORS!

-LOST

Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter books or movies and am not trying to make money off of writing spinoffs from the series. All rights reserved.


Diagon Alley was always a busy place. Wizards buying the comfortable robes at Twilfitt and Tattings for everyday wear, witches purchasing dresses with friends all the while gossiping about Witch Weekly's 'Most Charming Smile' award winner, and children running amok, indulging in a scoop- or four- of Florean Fortescue's sticky toffee ice cream. It was no different when Mariah Rist came to buy her supplies for her first year at Hogwarts. She had already gotten her wand when she was much younger, eleven-and-three-quarter inches of dark-tinted yew with a dragon heartstring core, and recently bought her cauldron, and her brass scales.

"Oh auntie, please!" She was saying, staring imploringly at her aunt. "May I please get a scoop of clotted cream and treacle fudge before we go and get my robes?" Mariah never said 'auntie', unless it was in times like this. She even threw in her puppy dog eyes. Literally. Her nose elongated slightly and turned into a muzzle.

"Oh all right." Her aunt Lilica sighed, handing Mariah a few sickles and a galleon. In truth, she really didn't care. She didn't care if the child wanted to buy eighteen pygmy puffs. Mariah would get it. However, Lilica didn't care if the child walked off the edge of a cliff and fell to her tragic death either. She just didn't care. "Make it quick." Mariah grinned, her muzzle disappearing. Her hair bubbled bright yellow before returning to it's normal dark shade and Mariah ran off towards the ice cream parlor.

Wizards and witches all around her parted to make way as soon as they saw the emblem on her outer robes. Everyone recognised the lilac crest of a clashing wolf and eagle surrounded by a serpentine dragon of Mariah's family. She quickly got her scoops of ice cream and turned to leave, paying Mr. Fortescue. "Thank you, sir." She said as she walked out the door.

Looking up, Mariah saw a familiar head of red. "Aideen!" She exclaimed. Said witch turned her head.

"Mariah!" Aideen said in turn. "You here to buy your supplies?" Mariah nodded. "Exciting. Hogwarts is great fun. And, I've got a surprise for you." The younger girl looked at Aideen expectantly. "Oh, you'll just have to wait and see. Go finish the rest of your shopping. I'll most likely meet you at Flourish and Blotts. That is, if you haven't bought your books yet. Now run along."

Mariah returned to her aunt. "Who was that woman?" Lilica asked her, looking at the auburn haired witch who was already making her way down the street towards the book store.

"A friend." Mariah answered vaguely. She looked at her supply list. Next stop: robes.


Walking out of Madam Malkin's, new, elegant, black robes in hand, Mariah dragged her aunt toward Flourish and Blotts. She frowned upon seeing the gathered crowd and flashing lights. Witches and wizards alike were spilling out of the small, cramped shop, flooding out of the narrow door. "Aunt Lilica, what's happening?" Mariah questioned.

Lilica's face lit up. She immediately began to fix her already-perfect, black hair. Straightening her clothes, she answered, "Oh, Gilderoy Lockhart has come to visit Diagon Alley." Lilica answered, having just remembered. "Oh, how generous of him to take time out of his busy celebrity schedule! A great man, he is. Very brave and handsome, too!" She looked at Mariah thoughtfully. "Quick, turn your hair lilac!" Mariah looked at her aunt, confused.

"But why?" She asked.

"Just do it!" Lilica snapped.

"Fine, fine." Mariah huffed. "Er, what color is lilac exactly?" Lilica sighed, pointing to the crest on her own robes.

"That color." Mariah looked at the emblem and blinked slowly, her vision soaking up the color. Her hair slowly turned the correct shade of purple and Lilica clapped excitedly. She asked for Mariah to do the same with her eyes, but the younger witch blatantly refused to that.

Pushing past probably half of the female population of witches in the world, Mariah and Lilica finally entered Flourish and Blotts. Mariah craned her neck, trying to catch a glimpse of the famous Gilderoy Lockhart. Her aunt Lilica squealed. "Ooh, there he is!" The pair pushed past more people, Mariah getting many envious glances because of her current hair color. They also received many glares, though the crowd kept their mouths shut upon seeing their family crest.

"Nice big smile, Harry." Lockhart was saying to a young boy with dark hair and round glasses, vivid eyes a startling green. Mariah made a face at the celebrity wizard with blonde hair.

"Oh, isn't he a looker!" A nearby witch exclaimed. She was a plump woman, with smile lines around her mouth and warm brown eyes. Her hair was the most striking, still a vibrant red despite her middle-agedness. Lilica sneered at her. The woman was very obviously a Weasley.

"I hope you are here to actually buy your haggle of children school books, Mrs. Weasley." The younger, twenty-eight year old witch spat at the matriarch of the Weasley clan. "Mr. Lockhart would never pay much attention to a poor, blood traitor such as yourself. A married one, at that." Molly Weasley's face turned as red as her hair, turning even redder at the sight of Lilica's family crest. She opened her mouth to retort, but paused when she saw Mariah at Lilica's side. Molly settled for a furious glare at Mariah's aunt before turning back around.

"When young Harry here stepped into Flourish and Blotts today, he only wanted to buy my autobiography- which I shall be happy to present to him now, free of charge-" Lockhart was saying. The crowd applauded at the last part. "He had no idea," he continued, shaking Harry. "that he would shortly be getting much, much more than my book, Magical Me. He and his schoolmates will, in fact, be getting the real magical me. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I have great pleasure and pride in announcing that this September, I will be taking up the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!" The crowd cheered and clapped as Mariah blanched. Lockhart was admittedly decently attractive, she would give him that, even as an eleven year old, but him teaching a class, Defense Against the Dark Arts no less, was completely absurd.

The young boy on the stage, who Mariah quickly realized was Harry Potter, practically toppled off of the stage, staggering under the stack of books in his arms. Marching towards Mariah and her aunt, he stopped near the Weasley clan, plus Hermione Granger and her muggle parents. "You have these." He mumbled to the youngest and only female Weasley. She appeared to be the same age as Mariah. Lilica stiffened, staring at the young wizard. "I'll buy my own-"

"Bet you loved that, didn't you, Potter?" A voice drawled. Mariah turned. The voice belonged to a sneering boy with snowy blonde hair. His gray eyes glared at Potter. "Famous Harry Potter," Malfoy said. "Can't even go into bookshop without making the front page." Lilica looked around.

"He can't help it, can he, Draco?" Mariah sighed. No malice was present in her voice, just a cold, flat nonchalance. "He is Harry Potter, after all. Famous for a scar on his face.

"Aunt Lilica, can I fix my hair now?" Mariah murmured, promptly ignoring everyone else after getting in her own words. Her aunt sighed and nodded. Mariah looked relieved and her hair returned to it's original rich, dark brown shade with purple streaks. The Weasley blood-traitors watched with a fascination that seemed to disgust themselves. Malfoy rolled his eyes.

"Must you add the streaks?" Lilica sighed. Mariah nodded innocently, flashing a toothy grin. She looked towards the Weasleys. It appeared that there was still a heated argument going on.

"Well, well, well- Arthur Weasley." A new voice quite similar to Malfoy's cut in.

"Lucius." The red haired wizard responded coldly. The new wizard turned. Mariah found herself stuck in Lucius Malfoy's penetrating, steely gaze.

"Lucius." Lilica echoed, albeit more civilly.

"Mr. Malfoy." Mariah said, following her aunt's example.

"Lilica." Lucius answered. He nodded stiffly at her niece. Molly Weasley whipped around, staring at the new arrivals. Though her family and friends outnumbered the four purebloods before her, Lucius, accompanied by his 'friends', dominated them in power, political or otherwise.

"Pleasure to see you here." Lilica continued. "I'm afraid, however, that I must take my leave now. More shopping to do. We'll return when the line is more manageable. Enjoy yourself with this brutish, blood traitorous lot." Her pale, ice blue eyes strayed towards Mr. and Mrs. Granger who were looking on apprehensively, glaring at them coldly. With that, she strode toward the door, though the line would've been plenty manageable with their pureblood status and family tree. Mariah was about to follow but stopped when she saw Aideen's auburn hair. She was currently chatting with Mr. Lockhart, many witches eyeing her enviously.

"Now, which book would you like me to sign?" He was saying. "I wouldn't want to keep a pretty lady such as you waiting."

"Oh, I hate to say this, but I'm afraid I don't own a copy of your books." Aideen said, smiling apologetically. "Any of them." She added. Lockhart looked positively appalled.

"Well, we can't have that, can we?" He answered, flashing his award winning smile. A few witches nearby actually fainted. Mariah made a face. Lockhart accio'ed two copies of his entire series- including Magical Me- into his hand.

"Double the offer for a wonderful witch." Lockhart exclaimed, signing each and every book. Aideen smiled, pulling off a convincing 'ecstatic' look. When Lockhart turned around for a few moments, Aideen bolted, holding all of the books with ease. She was about to drop all copies of the entire series into the fireplace as she passed. Thinking better of it, she shrugged, keeping all of the books.

Aideen saw Mariah and walked towards her. "You keep a few." She said, shoving half of the books into the younger girl's arms.

"What'll you do with the rest?" Mariah asked. Aideen smirked widely.

"Bribery."

With that, she walked away, leaving Mariah to the rest of her shopping.