Disclaimer: I still don't own The Hunger Games or Harry Potter. (I'm working on that last one though)
Big thanks to my amazing Beta comingsummers!
"Dad, will you hurry up!" I shout impatiently up the stairs, "I want to get to Diagon Alley sometime today please,"
It's only a matter of seconds before I hear my Dad's heavy footfalls on the battered stairs, "Ok Lily, calm down it's still only 7:30 in the morning, and you're not usually up until 9 at the earliest!" He complains, running a hand through his messy hair.
"Well this is important," I huff stubbornly, but when I see the threatening glare he's sending me I quickly add, "but I'm sorry if I woke you from your much needed beauty sleep." In a very patronising voice, clasping my hands together.
"If you don't shut up Missy, you're not going to Hogwarts at all!" Regulus threatens. I should be worried, but I know and he knows it's an empty threat. He's just as excited as I am about Hogwarts.
"Sure Dad, sure I'm not.."
o0o0
There's a woosh of flames and suddenly I'm stood in a thin alleyway full of bustling people dressed in strange robes. Lining the streets are colourful shops, advertising things I'd never even heard of. There were kids playing with strange firework things, and marvelling over a brand new model of broom. "Diagon Alley," I mutter under my breath "The most magical place in the world," It seemed like it to me at least.
There was a second woosh, and my Dad was standing behind me. "Come on then, we need to go to Gringotts first," and without further explanation (like what the hell Gringotts is!) he propels me forward through the busy crowds towards a large marble building that was sure enough labeled Gringotts.
"This my little princess is none other than the world famous wizarding bank, Gringotts" My Dad gestures up at the grand building with a smile.
"Awesome.." I breathe jogging to catch up with my father who was already walking through the large, wooden double doors.
When I join my Dad on the other side of the doors, I am stood in a long marble coated corridor, that was lined with large wooden stations, with strange little men seated on the other sides stamping letters and talking to strangely dressed people of all ages.
"What are they?" I whisper incredulously, raising my eyebrows in the direction of a particularly grumpy looking one.
"That one specifically is Griphook, those generally are goblins," He says gesturing first to Griphook, and then to the rest of the small gnarled creatures. "Well come on then, we need to get some money at some point today, if you're planning on starting this year," He says striding purposefully towards Griphook.
"Excuse me," My Dad says with importance as he reaches the large wooden desk.
The goblin sighs impatiently looking up from the stack of papers he was reading and stamping, "Yes?" He huffs.
"I would like to take some money out of my vault," Dad seems unperturbed by the goblins lack of hospitality. "My names Regulus Black," he adds on the end as an afterthought.
The goblin narrows his already slit like eyes, "and do you have a key Mr Black?" He asks sceptically.
"Of course," My Father smiles and hands over a small golden key. With the number 711 inscribed on it.
Griphook scanned the key for a small amount of time before looking back up at the two of us. "All seems to be in order here I'll take you down now.
o0o0
"I think I'm gonna be sick," I say clamping my hand over my mouth, to try and force down anything trying to come back up.
"You'll be fine," My Dad tries to reassure me, although I'm sure he's noticed the way my face is rapidly growing greener, and the small sheen of sweat on my forehead. "Although just out of interest how much longer is it going to be?" He asks hurriedly realising my urgency to get off of this rickety cart that was speeding along some almost not there tracks into nothingness.
Instead of gracing us with a verbal reply, the goblin decides to just slam on the brakes, and I almost hurtle off the edge of the cart. "Vault 711, Key please,"
My Dad hands over the small golden key and the unnamed goblin inserts it into the vault door. The large metal door swings open almost immediately revealing piles upon piles of shining gold cylinders, which upon further inspection turn out to be stacks of singular golden coins. On the floor by them are rubies, emeralds, diamonds and sapphires, some on their own, some part of larger pieces of jewellery.
"Its.. Its-" I stutter not quite believing how much money Dad has when we've been living in poverty for so long.
"I know, it's hard to think this whole time I've had this hidden away, but it'll make sense to you one day when I've explained it properly." My Dad looks at me begging me not ask anything.
I sigh, but against my better judgement don't ask.
0o0o
"Right then what's next?" I ask trying to be enthusiastic even though I desperate to know why my Dad kept all his money a secret. Of course my facade doesn't work, Regulus Black can read me like a book.
"Look, Honey I know you're confused right now, but I promise one day when you're old enough to properly understand, I will completely explain it. For now though can we just go back to being excited?" My Dad sounds exhausted, and although I'm desperate for answers I don't push it.
A resigned sigh pushes it's way from my lips, all of my anger evaporating into the air alongside it. "Fine, can I get a wand now?" I smile, a huge grin that splits my face and lights up my eyes.
"Sure Munchkin to Ollivanders it is," My Dad directs me back onto the busy main street, and pushes me through the crowds of brightly dressed witches and wizards. We keep walking until we reach an old chipped shop with a rotting sign.
"Here we are," My Dad pushes the door open sparking off a little bell above the door. The bell's jingle must fill the entire shop because less than a minute later an old bearded man appears, fixing me and my father with an oddly calculating look over the top of his glasses.
"We're here to buy my daughters first wand," My Dad says, confidently patting me on the shoulder.
"And your daughters name is?" He asks coldly still looking at me over his half moon glasses.
"Lily Black," I cut in before my Dad can answer. "My name's Lily Black and I can speak you know," I say defiantly.
Mr Ollivander laughs "Ok then Lily Black, I will be back in a moment," and with that he swooped deeper into the shop.
A few moments later he returns with three long dusty boxes. He opens the first box to reveal a long wooden object that to me looks like nothing more than a stick. "Chestnut and unicorn hair, 11 inches, slightly pliable, good for charms work," He says as he hands it to me as though those words mean anything to me.
I quickly wave it in expectation of something amazing when in fact all that happens is me blowing up one of the old books sat by the desk. My eyes widen and I quickly place the wand back on the desk and step back, on the other side of the room I hear my Dad snort with suppressed laughter. This could take a while.
Ok so thats chapter 2! I am super sorry that it took so long, but I started my GCSE's this year, and I got a main part in my school's production of Grease, and on top of that the new season of Glee came out (R.I.P Cory Monteith.) and if that didn't make me busy enough on Tuesday I had a totally free day and was planning write some, but my copy of Allegiant came, and I was in total shock for a few days after that. Anyway sorry about that, and all my excuses (you probably dont care!)
Thanks for taking the time to read this, leave me some feedback and review please!