The Life and Times of Misty Echo: REDUX

AN: Hey everyone! Sorry that I stopped updating my old fic, but school and stuff got in the way of Misty's little journey. I hope you can forgive my absence, and enjoy reading this redux as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Misty Echo could only recall shades of her childhood. Laughing as her father changed a mouse into a teacup; chasing her obsidian-colored owl Nightingale around the loft, her mother tearfully saying goodbye one midnight before she faded from her life, her father's laughs turning to sighs of indifference, playing quidditch in the backyard by herself, and acquiring her letter of acceptance into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry on her eleventh birthday on June 26th.

"I-is this real Dad?" she asked her father as she read the contents, her sapphire eyes scanning the letter for signs of forgery.

Mr. Echo slowly put on his reading glasses, overlooked the details, and gave one of his now-rare smiles. "Yes, honey, yes it is. I'm so proud of you."

"I-is it okay if we go to Diagon Alley as soon as possible?" she asked her dad, voice trembling.

"Yes. We can go tomorrow, if that is what you wish."

"Thank you so much Dad,"

The next midday, Misty Echo and her parent walked through the busy streets of Diagon Alley. The first stop: Ollivander's.

"Ah," said Mr. Ollivander as he looked at Misty and her father. "It has been quite some time since I've seen an echo in my store. "Was it not thirty years ago that you, Jet, came here with your future wife, Miriella? You two had a cute story, being friends since childhood and all."

Her father's face turned to stone, as it always did when her mother was mentioned. "Yeah, it was," he said cooly. He then quickly changed the subject. "Misty needs a wand for Hogwarts."

Ollivander seemed to be aware of the tension in the situation. "Ah...yes. Misty, if you would follow me." He led her to the shelves full of wands. "Try them out."

Misty reached for one on the highest shelf, a 6-inch yew wand that seemed familiar to her somehow. As soon as she touched it, it seemed to bring back more memories from her shaded childhood. She lifted it, and the energy in the room drastically changed.

"Well now," said Ollivander with a laugh, "I think you found your wand. It has been quite a few decades since I have found another person to find their wand so quickly."

Ollivander continued. "That is a most peculiar wand, that is. That is the only wand that has ever been returned to me. It was dropped at my doorstep around five years ago. I tried to see who left it, but I only saw a shadowy figure running down the road."

Her father paid for the wand, and from there they passed the animal shop.

"Would you like a new owl for Hogwarts?" her father asked.

Misty thought for a second, twirling her long silver hair as she always did when she was deep in thought. "No thank you, Dad. I think I'd prefer to take Nightingale with me. He has always been a good owl to me."

From there, they stopped at the cauldron shop, where Misty purchased a simple black cauldron, the book shop, where she purchased her literature for the year, and finally at the tailor.

As Misty waited to be fitted for her robe, she saw another girl start to walk out, wearing her robe. She had straight blonde hair and catlike, green eyes. As she walked by Misty, she stopped moving and looked at Misty's face, appearing to study it.

"Uh...hello?" was all Misty could say to the girl's staring.

"Hello. My name is Randet Liner. Are you heading to Hogwarts also?"

"Yes," Misty said proudly. "My name's Misty Echo."

"I didn't ask for everything about you." With that, Randet walked out of the store.

Before Misty could try to understand what just happened, she was called to be fitted for her robe.