Chapter 1
Amelie lived in two different worlds. Or rather, she knew about two different worlds. She just lived in one. Most of the time.
Brushing her hair short brown hair into a ponytail, she quickly got ready for work. Mr. Borgin didn't require any fancy uniform, but she dressed in all black, just to match the attire of the people who often frequented the shop.
She sighed, already feeling the usual sense of dread she felt whenever she had to get ready for work. Mr. Borgin wasn't exactly a friendly man, but he was the only one to hire her. And it was at the antique shop, Borgin and Burkes that she would work, at least until she got her degree in physics and astronomy.
She changed in a cubicle, stuffing her university clothes in her backpack, not bothering to fold them, and made her way out of the bathroom.
There was also a feeling of nervousness that came along with it too. It stemmed off the anticipation and anxiety that something would go wrong, that Mr. Borgin would find out that she wasn't really a witch.
The old man didn't ask for a resume, didn't ask for any references. He just seemed glad that he finally had someone to dump all the work on, while he could go and relax after a long day at the back of the shop.
Amelie plugged her headphones in, and started making the journey, as she usually did, towards Egham station.
She checked her phone as she walked, still connected to the school's Wi-Fi. Hoping, like she always did, for a message from her sister and brother at Hogwarts. It was a stupid hope, really. She knew that muggle devices didn't work at Hogwarts, no matter how dependent people became on the technology.
And, well, since Amelie was a Squib, she became very dependent on Muggle technology.
She wondered what all the exciting new things her siblings were learning at Hogwarts. She of course, knew about the subjects, transfiguration, charms, potions… she had lost the feeling of exclusion long ago, but she had never lost the curiosity of knowing there was something out there that exceeded scientific knowledge.
And Amelie was very interested in science. That's what she was studying at the University of London. She was in her second year, studying two subjects that always made her feel like she was doing magic, albeit a very slow kind of magic.
She barely noticed her surroundings as they passed her by. Before she knew it, she had made it to Egham station. The train was arriving in a few minutes, and she eagerly tapped her Oyster card on, making her way through the turnstiles.
She didn't much mind the journey by train. She'd listen to music, or watch something on her iPad. Some days when her mind became too stressful for her, she'd distract herself by getting ahead on her school work, until she made it back to London, to the Leaky Cauldron, where she was renting out a room while she studied and worked.
The landlady, Hannah Abbott was a very kind lady, and knew how busy she was, having to work all night and study all day. She understood when her room was just a little bit too untidy on inspection day.
Her husband, Neville, was also very accommodating to her, knowing she was a Squib, and recounting his own stories about how he thought he was a Squib in his youth, too. Amelie laughed along with him, although inside she was always slightly annoyed. He was a wizard, and she had no magical powers whatsoever. It felt, not exactly unfair… but as if he was trying to understand something that he had no idea about…
Still, she understood his heart was in the right place, and she couldn't fault him for that.
The train ride went smoothly. There weren't any loud talkers in her carriage, or that one man who always got on at the same time she did, that spent most of the ride talking to his reflection in the window.
Still, she put her headphones in, and buried her nose in a heavy textbook about the physics of time (even though she didn't like reading, much, this at least was interesting), so at least if someone started a commotion, she could pretend she was oblivious to it.
By the time she reached London, she was feeling rather rejuvenated, even though she wasn't very excited to go to work, at least she could be immersed in a world of magic, even if she couldn't use it herself.
She got off the train, checked her phone for the time, and started rushing towards the Leaky Cauldron. Maybe she should get an Uber, she considered, and make the trip quicker.
But no, Mr. Borgin was going blind too, and could barely read a clock. He wouldn't care if she was a few minutes too late. He didn't even notice, the half-dozen times she did it.
The less time working in that shop, the happier she would be.
So she walked the streets of London, the sun had set long ago, and now the moon hung high in the sky.
The Leaky Cauldron's sign could be seen now a few metres away, swinging backwards and forwards in the wind. She shuffled her way over, none too quickly, dodging some lads wearing neon coloured snapbacks and baggy pants, as if they were stuck with the fashion sense of 2009.
They hooted after her as she passed, drunk, even though it was only a Wednesday night. Sighing, Amelie sped up quickly, and disappeared through the entrance of the Leaky Cauldron.
Hannah Abbott was busy pouring drinks for the patrons of the Leaky Cauldron, but she greeted Amelie with a smile as soon as she came in.
"All ready for work?" she called out.
"As ready as I can be." Sighed Amelie.
She weaved her way through the tables as she entered the backyard of the Leaky Cauldron. Hannah followed after her, knowing that she wouldn't be able to get into Diagon Alley without her help.
Amelie watched as she tapped the bricks with her wand, and they transformed into an archway, showing the deserted streets of Diagon Alley.
Hannah shoved her wand into the pocket of her green tartan dress, giving her one final smile as she left.
Amelie became accustomed to the dark streets of the wizarding village. It was practically deserted at this time of night, and her only company was the street lamps illuminating the cobblestones below her feet with a pale glow.
But Diagon Alley was not her destination tonight. She walked a little bit more, past the Gringotts bank, heading into the alley way towards Knockturn Alley.
Here, it was more alive, as it usually was at night time.
Witches, wizards, and other creatures from magical walks of life roamed the streets here. She waded her way through a group of vampires, and finally stumbled into Borgin and Burkes.
Mr. Borgin was assisting a group of witches and wizards, showing them the more tame antiques he had at the front of the shop. For all its bad reputation, Mr. Borgin kept trying to make strides into becoming a more reputable business, though Borgin struggled to say no to buying or selling a dark artefact to two.
As soon as he saw her come in, he left into the backroom, leaving the witches and wizards standing there, confused, until Amelie jumped in for Mr. Borgin.
"Hi," she said. "Can I help you?"
The wizards were young, probably Hogwarts aged, and if Amelie had to guess, probably in their 6th or 7th year.
"Sorry, yeah." One of them said, stepping forward. "We're just browsing."
Amelie nodded, with a bright smile plastered on her face. "Give me a shout if you need any help."
She walked around to the counter, avoiding tripping over the step that she fell over numerous times before.
Before long, the group left without buying anything.
A few more people entered the shop, and Amelie sold things, calculating the change expertly in her head. She was glad she was good at maths, because of course, there were no electronics in this shop, so calculators wouldn't work.
Then, as it was nearing one in the morning, with a woman with long grey hair, wearing a long black cloak came into the antique shop, a breeze blowing in after her.
"Hello." Amelie said. "How can I help you?"
The woman shuffled forward on a long black cane. Though she was old, the only lines on her face were around her eyes, and mouth.
"I have travelled such a long way." She said vapidly. She held a large velvet pouch which she pulled off her wrist, and placed it delicately on the counter. "I've wanted to get rid of this for ages."
Amelie frowned looking at the pouch. She lifted it up and opened it. Inside was an orb like a crystal ball, except instead of grey smoke, it glowed pink, green and blue.
She lifted it out of the pouch, examining it. "What is it?" it was light as a feather, and when she tapped it, she noticed it was hollow inside.
"An object worth more trouble than needed." The woman said. "Whoever touches it disappears, for a very long time."
Amelie dropped it immediately, like it was a hot coal. It bounced onto the counter and instead of shattering like she expected, it just rolled off the counter and onto the hardwood floor, where it lodged itself between two shelves.
The woman laughed. "No need to be so worried, it only harms non-magical folk."
Amelie's eyes widened to size of saucers. "I'm a Squib!"
"Ah," the woman said, the smile wiping off her face. "Well, I can see how that would be a problem."
"A problem?" Amelie yelled. "You don't just go around giving people things like that without knowing whether they're Squibs or not!"
The woman backed away. "Well, you should have a sign up or something!"
A sign up! Amelie thought, absolutely outraged. The nerve of some people. But she needed to mind her temper before Mr. Borgin came in to see what was going on.
"Well, where will I end up?" asked Amelie. Hopefully nowhere too far from here. Amelie would hate to think about what Mr. Borgin would do when he noticed the shop abandoned.
"I don't know! I've never seen them again!" the woman turned and scarpered out of the shop.
Amelie swore loudly. Just her luck. "Stupid wizards." She muttered under her breath.
Should she have been more shocked? Probably. But she wasn't. Her day had been too exhausting to use more energy and emotions than the fake smile and friendly voice she reserved for the customers.
Inside, though, all she could think about was the stupidity of wizards. Typical that they would think that just because they were in a wizarding village, that every person here was magical. Once she came back, she would have to make a notice reminding people of the existence of Squibs. Maybe she would even try and write an opinion piece to the Quibbler. That would show them!
She sat there, fuming in her rage, waiting for the charm, or curse, or what-have-you take effect, but it was a few moments before anything happened, and then, just as Mr. Borgin came out of the backroom, quite belatedly, to see what all the commotion was, Amelie disappeared.
A/N: Hey guys! Welcome to my new fic! I've wanted to write a Tom/OC fic forever, and I'm finally beginning one. Though since I am working on an original novel, this one will be updated quite haphazardly. Reviews are motivating, and help me not leave things in the dust!
I hope you like it!
Question: Who's your favourite Harry Potter character?