Author's Note: Hey everyone... this is my first real fan fiction that I've written and been happy with. Please review if you can, I appreciate feedback as it helps me better my writing style. This chapter is pretty much an introductory chapter. I will post as soon as I finish each chapter, which make take some time since I'm generally swamped with my real life duties. Hope you enjoy the story.
Chapter One
"Alexandria Kiara Draven, get your bum up now!" Her mum yelled to her from the other side of the house.
She grumbled into her pillow, not wanting to be awake just yet. She slowly climbed out of her nice warm sleeping bag and trudged to the kitchen, holding onto a wall for support. When she got into the kitchen she could smell the Egg McMuffins her parents got from the nearest McDonalds. She almost wanted to retch at the scent of the cheap breakfast food; instead she sat down on the counter farthest from them. "By the way mum, I told you before, my name is not Alexandria, and it is Alex."
Her mum laughed softly at her stubbornness. "Alright then I suppose I'll start calling you Alex, but I do prefer Alexandria. Are you excited about today?"
Alex thought about it for a while. Today was the day they moved from the US back to Ireland. Alex didn't quite know how to feel about it, she'd been living here since she was five years old. Though she knew her younger brother would be excited about it since he had never seen Ireland. Then again, neither had she. One of the many perks of having been born blind. She decided to tell her mum the truth about how she felt. "Honestly mum, I don't know how to feel. This place has been my home for so long. When we move, I'll have to get used to a whole new house and a whole new area. It's a bit scary for me."
She heard her mum stand up, and then suddenly she felt her mum's arms around her in a soft embrace. She hugged her mum back, inhaling deeply. She loved how her mum smelled, always a warm and earthy scent. She let go when her mum did and hopped off the counter to join the rest of her family. She might as well eat something before they got on the plane.
She thought it was kind of funny that they were traveling the Muggle way to their new home, seeing as they were from the Wizarding world. She had previously been going to a school for the last three years called Clearly Gifted, School of Magic. It was a school for young witches and wizards to learn how to control their magical abilities. Her brother Roiben had been going there as well, only he was taking introductory classes in order to give him a heads up about what to expect in the years to come.
She would miss her old school and her old friends, she thought while she slowly ate her food. However, she expected to receive a letter to Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry some time during this summer at their new place in Ireland. When she finished eating, she got up and went into the bathroom to brush her teeth. Just as she was done brushing her teeth, her mum came in and brushed her long wavy auburn hair back into a ponytail.
"I missed being able to do this while you were at school, though I'm sure you managed without me. You always did, even when you were little. You hardly ever wanted anyone's help doing anything. It was like you wanted to prove to the whole world that being blind wasn't going to stop you. I only wish there was a way I could have given you your sight back, then you could see all the beautiful things I see." Her mum sighed softly and set the brush down.
She turned towards her mum and smiled. "There are beautiful things in my world too mum. Like the soft way you speak when you're recalling a fond memory, the way you always smell so earthy like you've just finished gardening, and the way you hug me when you're excited about anything. Those are just a few things, the ones that top my list of beautiful things."
They left the bathroom just as the taxi driver knocked on the front door. Her mum and dad packed their things into the taxi and everyone climbed in, ready to leave this place behind. Her family and the taxi driver talk the entire way to the airport, she, however, stayed silent.
They boarded the plane and were on their way to a new life back in Ireland. Alex sat next to Roiben, who was excitedly describing everything he saw in full detail to her. Sometimes she thought this was annoying, but today she was glad for his eyes and keen attention to even the minutest speck. She listened with a half-smile on her face as he rambled on about everything from the shapes of the clouds, to the shades of blue in the sky, and he even went as far as to whisper how there was an older couple kissing on the plane. She loved how the smallest things embarrassed her little brother.
I wonder how he'd react if I told him that eventually he would kiss a person not related to him. He'd probably flip out and deny it the rest of the way. She smiled even more at her thoughts of embarrassing her little brother. It was in that moment that she realized that he was pretty much her only friend. Well hopefully I can make more when I'm at school. It would definitely be a nice change; maybe I'll even make friends who don't feel the need to patronize my blindness.
Suddenly the plane landed and jerked her awake, she hadn't even realized she had fallen asleep. Her and her family patiently waited until everyone else was off of the plane before exiting. She held Roiben's hand as they walked through the terminal and outside to yet another taxi.
Roiben described everything to her on the car ride, seeming even more excited than he had on the plane. She gently squeezed his hand, hoping he'd get the message that she was as excited as him but nervous as well, and even if he didn't get the message, that was fine too.
They arrived at their new house, everyone else walked in quickly while she followed behind slow enough to get the feel of the house. She wondered around, not even surprised by the fact that everything was already unpacked. Another joy of being from the Wizarding world. Her parents had hired professional wizard movers, who pretty much just Apparate your things from one location to another, and they even keep the layout the same. Her parents had even bought a house exactly the same as the one in the states solely for her benefit.
The rest of the week went on normally with only the occasional trip she and Roiben made so he could explore the land their house was on. Finally when Sunday came around an owl dropped off a letter that was addressed to her. Roiben opened it and read her Hogwarts acceptance letter to her, pausing long enough to squeal his excitement. The family agreed that the next day they would travel to Diagon Alley to pick up Alex's school supplies.
"Wake up Alex. Come on, today we get to do more exploring. Hurry up, everyone is waiting on you." Roiben was shaking her to emphasize every syllable as well as to wake her up.
Alex rolled over and grabbed her brother, hugging him so he couldn't get away as she tickled him intensely. He kept wiggling, trying to get away, and they both ended up on the floor, laughing. She let him go and he helped her get up. Then she shooed him out so that she could get dressed. She left her room and joined her family by the fireplace, today they were traveling by Floo powder.
Once they were all in Diagon Alley, they walked to Madam Malkin's robe shop. Inside an old witch escorted Alex onto a pedestal in order to size her robes. About twenty minutes later, she was finished and they were on their way to the next shop. They stopped by a vendor and one butterbeer each, both Alex and Roiben were thrilled as the butterbur was delicious. After the quick stop, they decided the next store to go to would be Ollivander's Wand Shop.
They stopped outside of the shop to talk briefly. "Well Alex, sometimes it takes a long time to get the right wand, so if you don't mind, we figured it would be easier to go get the rest of your supplies while you're inside." Mum stated nonchalantly.
Alex smiled blankly. She knew that she would only slow down the process of shopping and it wasn't like she could really do much sightseeing anyway. "Alright, but take Roiben with you. He's practically dying to explore this place. I'll stay here, so after you're done, don't forget to come back and get me."
"Thanks Alex. I'll tell you all about it when we get home."
"I'm sure you will kid." She chuckled as he walked her to the door, then he held it open for her so she could just walk inside.
Once inside she could smell the dust and the mildew in the air, she had been told this was the oldest shop in Diagon Alley and to her, it definitely smelled that way. She cautiously walked forward until she felt the counter in front of her. She couldn't hear anyone around her.
"Hello? Is anybody there? Mr. Ollivander?"
As if on cue suddenly she heard someone scuffling around in the back, the footsteps seemed to get closer. She could feel a presence in front of her.
"Ah, Miss Draven, finally stopping in my store for your wand, eh? Thought you'd be closer to fourteen, you should have been here two years ago."
"Well, I'll be fourteen in September. How do you know who I am though?"
He laughed softly. "Your mother and father brought you in here when you were very little, no more than three years old. Well, let's get you started."
"But Mr. Ollivander, I'm -"
"Blind? Yes, I know. Don't worry about that, all you have to do is stand there. When I find a wand that I think will work for you, I'll hand it to you."
"Alright" she nodded, "you're the boss."
She heard him shuffling around the store, chattering aimlessly about how the wand chooses the wizard and how it generally took ten minutes to an hour to get some students their wands. Finally she heard him walking back towards her. She held out her left hand, ready to take the wand from him.
"First one. Seven inches, Holly and unicorn hair." He placed the wand in her hand. "Just wave it; you'll know if the proper response happens."
She felt foolish, but waved it anyhow… nothing. She handed it back.
"It's rare that the right wand is picked in the first try. Be right back."
She heard the door open, slow footsteps walking towards her; she could smell raspberries and mint. The footsteps stopped to her right, so she turned her head slightly in that direction.
She hadn't even noticed Mr. Ollivander was back until she felt him place a wand in her hand.
"Be with you in a moment sir. Now, Miss Draven, this one is ten inches, Willow and Veela hair. It is very rare to have Veela hair as a core and I only have three here at the store."
She waved it and the sensation that flowed through her was an incredible feeling, light and airy. Also, the air smelled as it did in the morning after a summer rain, her favorite scent that she knew of.
"Well done Miss Draven. The wand is one Galleon and three Knuts. I also throw in a free small jar of wand polish."
Alex pulled out her money pouch. One big one, that's the Galleon and three small ones, those are the Knuts. She handed the money to Ollivander, put her pouch back in her pocket and followed the counter till she found a chair. She sat down with her wand in her lap, waiting for her family to come collect her.
She wasn't really paying attention to Ollivander and the stranger, but when she finally heard him speak, she couldn't help but eavesdrop a little.
"I need you to take a look at my wand," his voice was like liquid velvet and honey rolled into one, "it's been sluggish performing even simple spells."
She wanted to lean in closer, to be able to breathe in the scent of him. She was about to stand up when she heard the door open again. She recognized the footsteps as Roiben's, so she stood up and let him lead her out of the store. She didn't even get to learn the name of the young man in the store.
"Well?" Her mum asked once they were outside. "What did you end up getting?"
"A rare one according to Ollivander. Ten inches, made of Willow with -" she paused for a dramatic effect, "Veela hair in its core."
"Oh, we got you a present too." Roiben said eagerly. "Mum reckons she'll be useful. It's an owl. She's a spotted owl so she's about sixteen inches long, dark brown with white spots and just all around, a beautiful bird."
"What should I name her?"
"Well sweetheart, I'm sure you'll think of something." Her dad said as he hugged her shoulders in a side hug.
"Thanks for the gift everyone, I love her and I'm almost certain I'll have a name for her by the end of the day."
They headed back to The Leaky Cauldron for lunch, each person getting their favorite. Alex ordered a roast beef sandwich, which she munched on quietly as Roiben described everything he saw. When everyone was finished with their lunch they headed towards the fireplace to head home.
Before they could pack up any of her school supplies Alex's mum performed a spell on all the books so that they were no longer written in English but in Braille. After she finished with the books, she handed them to Roiben to take into Alex's room. Once Alex and Roiben were in her room he set the owl's cage down on her desk and proceeded to help her pack up her supplies and clothes for school so that she wouldn't have to worry about packing anything the night before school started.
"What do you think about Stormy?" Alex asked as she headed to her desk and opened up the cage.
"Stormy? Like stormy weather kind of Stormy? Well, I like it. It works for both genders and it sounds pretty." Roiben answered as he opened up the window in case the owl wanted to go outside.
She smiled, "Stormy it is." She reached into the cage and gently petted her owl, listening to her hoot softly.
They left the room to head to the dining room for dinner just as Stormy flew out the window in search of her own meal. Alex and Roiben took their respective seats just as their mum walked out of the kitchen with dinner. They talked about everything that happened that day, although Alex omitted the details about the boy in Ollivander's Wand Shop. The conversation went on merrily until everyone was full from the great meal of corned beef and cabbage. The adults cleaned up the dishes while Alex and Roiben stayed sitting at the table, waiting for tea and dessert.
"I wonder what's for dessert tonight. I hope its cake." Roiben drummed his fingers on the table impatiently.
"You always hope its cake. I hope it's a mint chocolate pudding pie." Alex smiled at the thought of mint.
When her parents walked back into the dining room she smelled the air and smiled. What she smelled reminded her of the boy in Ollivander's, realizing that she probably wouldn't see him again, she frowned slightly.
She leaned in and whispered to Roiben, "Raspberry cheesecake and mint tea."
Her parents served up the tea and dessert for everyone, and then they sat down and started on their dessert. Alex stayed quiet while everyone else was talking, not really paying much attention to the conversation. After dessert was over she decided to turn in to bed early, as she was fairly exhausted but mostly to dream in peace.
The next three weeks passed in a blur of moments, only pausing occasionally for Roiben to drag her around the town to explore. She only had one more week before the start of the term, secretly she hoped this week would pass just as fast as the last few weeks had, not that she wanted to be away from her family, but she had wanted to see if that boy went to Hogwarts.