Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Potter world. I own only Mia Ferris and Sylas the owl. I wish I owned it, but sadly that's not the case.

Broken Roses: Home Again

Mia got off her boat and started wandering the streets. She had no idea where she was going, only that she would have to find somewhere to go soon. Mia wandered towns and streets, sleeping in alleyways and eating from cheap places. She didn't want to spend all her money. She consumed a whole month doing this, having no idea where to go.

It was one of these days that Mia was in London. Turning a corner, Mia saw an interesting looking place named The Leaky Cauldron. Intrigued by the name, she made her way across the street and entered. Upon entrance, she noticed many people sitting at the bar or at tables talking. Moving to the counter, she asked for a drink and something hot to eat. The bartender looked at her with interest and concern at her dirty clothes, then set to preparing her meal. She had only bought new clothes once, but made sure to wash herself, and the clothes, at least twice a week.

Mia sat down at a table staying as far away from anyone else as she could.

"Here you are. Anything else I can get you?" the bartender said, setting down a steaming mug and some food in front of her. "The name's Tom by the way."

"T-Thank you, Tom. Ummm… do you know of a place that I could stay?"

Tom looked at her and smiled, "This here's an inn. You can have a room, on me."

"Sir, I have money-"

"Just take the room. When you're done eating go on and head up to room seven." With this Tom turned around and tended to other customers.

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Thirty minutes later Mia walked into room seven and set her bag down on the bed. She noticed a pair of nice looking pajamas and smiled. Mia quickly washed up and came back out to her room. As soon as she entered she screamed.

Sitting on her bed was an owl, hold a letter in its beak. Upon seeing her, the owl dropped the letter on her bed and went to perch on her window. Looking down on her bed she saw a letter addressed to her exactly, right down to room number seven.

Mia looked at the owl, then the letter and decided to open it.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL

of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Miss Ferris,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress

Mia looked at the letter one last time before running out the door, then quickly turning around to write some kind of reply saying she'd be there. She then hurried down the stairs, hoping Tom was still awake.

"Excuse… Me… I need… to get supplies… for school… before tomorrow…" Tom looked at her, then smiled.

"I'll wake you up early tomorrow and I'll take you. You should go to bed now."

"Thank you!" Starting up the stairs to go to bed, Mia was stopped by Tom.

"Wait, you never told me your name!"

"Mia. Mia Ferris"

"Goodnight, Miss Ferris."

"Goodnight, Tom, and thanks again!"

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The next morning, Tom woke Mia up at seven so she could be ready to go by eight. While leaving he told her that her breakfast was on the table in her room.

She quickly got up and ate her breakfast then ran to the bathroom to change and brush her teeth. As she left her room she saw a boy that looked about her age with messy, dark hair and glasses walking down the hall.

Maybe he'll go to school with me.

Mia walked down the stairs and told Tom she was ready. He led her to a small alleyway and tapped the bricks in a certain order. She watched as the bricks moved aside to reveal a long, crowded street with many people in robes and pointy hats. She actually wasn't too surprised. After all, she already knew that she was a witch.

"Let's go, Mia. We need to get you a lot of stuff in a short amount of time."

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Two hours later, Mia and Tom had gotten almost everything.

When they went into the first shop, Mia realized she didn't have wizard money. Tom had paid for her things and told her to pay him back later. For the first time in a long time, Mia got new clothes that weren't dirty.

"One more thing left on your list, Mia. You head on in to Ollivander's. Here's some money. You think you can find your way back to the inn? That's a good girl. I'll see you later."

"Thanks, Tom!" He waved at her over his shoulder.

Mia walked the rest of the way down the street and walked into the designated shop. The bell on the door tinkled as it closed behind her.

"Hello, Miss… Ferris, is it? I think I remember you by a different name."

Mia flushed. "Yes, it's Ferris. That's my name."

"Alright, if you insist. Now, you must be seeking a wand."

"Yes, sir."

The man disappeared behind the counter and came back a few minutes later with an armful of boxes containing, what Mia guessed, was wands.

"Here, try this one. Willow, 12 ¾ inches, dragon heartstring." Mia grabbed the wand and stood there for a few seconds before feeling the urge to wave it. After doing so, papers that were on the counter blew away.

"No. That's not it. Here try this one." She took the next wand in her hand and waved it at the chair next to the door. It immediately broke into many pieces and Mia put the wand back onto the counter.

"That's definitely not it." After thirty more wands, Mia was getting tired and very, very irritable.

"Mr. Ollivander, I don't think we're going to find a wand for me. I guess I'll just go." Mia started to turn to go out the door when Ollivander made a sound.

"Wait! There's… one more. Just… one second…" Ollivander turned around and rushed to the back of the store. Mia sat there waiting patiently. At least as patient as someone who had spent forty-five minutes trying out wands to no avail.

"Here. This one might be the one. Rosewood, 10 ¾ inches, bendy, thestral tail hair core." She picked up the wand and instantly felt a warm feeling spreading from her left hand. She felt… complete.

"This is the one, sir. I know it is."

"Remarkable. I never thought this wand would leave this shop."

"And why is that, Mr. Ollivander."

"Miss Ferris, I did not create this wand. This wand was created many, many years ago by a man who is far more experience than me. This wand was once yielded by a very powerful man, and I happened to come upon it some forty years ago during one of my travels."

"Sir, whose wand was this?" Mia was staring at Ollivander with wide eyes, holding her breath for an answer.

"Mia, this wand belonged to Salazar Slytherin."

"Who?" Ollivander looked at Mia like she was crazy.

"Salazar Slytherin was a founder of the school you are about to go to. He was a very powerful wizard. You should be honored to be holding this wand."

Mia looked at Ollivander and then at the wand she was holding in her hand.

"Thank you, sir." She handed him the money and walked out of the shop, heading towards The Leaky Cauldron. She kept staring at the wand that she held in a tight grip in her left hand.