I APOLOGIZE FOR ANY WRONG GRAMMARS OR SPELLINGS. ENGLISH IS NOT MY FIRST LANGUAGE AND I DO NOT HAVE A PROOFREADER.
The Jones Family, and Snape traveled to Diagon Alley around 4 in the afternoon. It took Alice 7 hours apparently to unfreeze and when she finally snapped out of it, she was now smiling like she had discovered the secrets of the universe.
"But what about Cambridge?" her father reminded her, "You had the scholarship and all."
"No." said Mrs. Jones firmly, "I'm not wasting the opportunity for Alice to hang out with children .She's not going to a school with a bunch of people twice her age."
"the only reason I wanted to go to college was that it had better lab equipment than the ones I have here. College can wait. Once I master magic…I would soon be researching it." Alice said. The discussion was over and they drove off to the address that Snape gave them.
Snape tapped three separate bricks on the wall and it opened. There Diagon Alley was still teeming with shoppers, students here and there purchasing their supplies and little children admiring broomsticks. Mrs. Jones' demeanor was filled with wonder when she laid eyes on it. Her husband and daughter on the other hand….
"It's sooo…." Alice drawled.
"Medieval?" Mr. Jones offered.
"I was going to say dingy and old, but that works too, Dad," she said.
"Where to first, Proffessor Snape?" Asked Mrs. Jones.
"That would be the bank. You need to convert your Muggle money into wizarding money," Snape replied.
Alice trotted ahead until she was now beside Snape. "Why do they call non-magical people muggles anyway? It sounds like we are drug addicts," she stated.
Snape didn't answer her. They continued walking until they were at bank. Along the way, Alice acted like a hyperactive 8 year old in a candy store. Even though she stated that she thought Diagon Alley was old and dingy, she seemed amazed by the magic, intrigued by the item flying around the place, she laughed at the broomstick, the cauldron and the wand; finding them so stereotypical, apparently. Her face showed wonder but her eyes were calculating. She looked more like she was assessing a study on the place.
When they arrived at Gringots, Alice gasped when she saw the goblins. They approached Griphook who gave them a vault and converted their money in no less than 20 minutes. Alice thought wizard currency was complicated. Snape noticed that Alice was now staring more intently at the goblin.
"Can I have some of your blood?" she blurted out.
"I beg your pardon," Griphook said.
Her mother intervened and let out a nervous laugh, "Ha-ha…My daughter. Such a joker," she said, ushering her daughter as far away from the Griphook who looked rather murderous.
Alice squirmed from her mother's grip, "But mom! I only wanted to see his DNA," she protested. Mrs. Jones shushed her. The family exited the bank. Alice was now sulking heavily.
"We discussed this, Alice. You're not allowed to mix science and magic together," Mrs. Jones scolded, waving her finger. Alice puffed her cheeks which made it pudgier. Mr. Jones smiled at Snape and said, "Where to next?"
"Wands," he stated.
"Ooo…I get my own pointy stick," Alice chimed.
Mr. and Mrs. Jones remained outside as Snape and Alice walked inside the store. The bell rang and they were greeted by Mr. Ollivander, "Ah! Severus Snape, 14 and ¾ inches, ebony, unicorn tail core, very strong, good for transfigurations,"
"Mr. Ollivander, this is Alice Jones. She needs a wand," Said Snape.
"Ah," Mr. Ollivander said again, he bent slightly, examining Alice who in return did the same. He pulled out a long strip of measuring tape from his pocket and said, "Which is your wand arm,"
"I'm ambidextrous," Alice stated casually. Ollivander looked confused for a moment, "It means I'm dominant in both arms,"
A smile quirked up from Ollivander's lips, "Fascinating. How very lucky of you then, you get to choose which one,"
"Left then," Alice decided. She held out her hand. Ollivander then began measuring it from shoulder to the tip of her fingers.
"Each wand is special, Miss Jones. And every wand is unique. You'll never find two wands identical to each other. There is a certain type of magical wood that needs to be used and each wand has a core. I primarily use cores of Unicorn hair, dragon heartstring and phoenix tail feather," He stopped and dawdled around, pulling the boxes from his shelves. He opened one and handed the wand to Alice, "here we go, Sycamore, 10 and half inches, unicorn hair. Well, go on, give it a wave," Alice shrugged her shoulders. Snape figured that she found it rather stupid. Perhaps she wasn't quite accepting about the whole magic thing yet. She waved the wand and then Ollivander's robe caught on fire.
"Auguamenti," Snape said, pointing his wand on the fire. A stream of water burst out from the tip and the fire died out. There was a mixture of expressions on Alice's face. At first her eyes widened in amazement then she looked up and smiled at Snape after that, she appeared to have realized something and then she frowned in confusion and mumbled impossible under her breath. Snape supposed that she was still finding for a scientific explanation.
"There are some things that can't be explained by science, Miss Jones," Snape told her.
"Yeah," She mumbled, looking rather disappointed, "I need to learn to accept that, I guess,"
"Thank you, Proffessor Snape," Ollivander said. He looked round at Alice, took her wand and said, "No, no. Definitely not," he said. He opened another box, took out the wand and then gave it to Alice, "birch, 9 ¾ inches, dragon heartstring, swishy" Once again, Alice gave it a wave, it was Snape's robes that were on fire this time. He casted the Water-making charm again and put out the flames. "You just seem to enjoy setting things on aflame, don't you, Miss Jones," Snape sneered.
"I'm not doing it on purpose!" she defended, "Besides, it could have been worse,"
"No again. Ooo~, this is very interesting. Very interesting indeed," Ollivander said, in an excited tone. He trotted back to the shelves again, pulling out several boxes and placing them at the counter. He opened one and gave it again to Alice, "Try this one. Red oak, 11 inches, dragon heartstring, give it a wave, dear," Alice took the wand from Ollivander's bony fingers.
"Fine, but if the place blows up, it ain't my fault," she said. Alice flicked the wand to the side. Snape was relieved that nothing caught on fire. The vase by the window however, disintegrated into ashes.
"No. Perhaps not," Ollivander said, shaking his head.
"Sorry about your vase," Alice said, "Would it be alright if I go ahead and pick my own wand,"
"Pick your own wand! No, my dear. I'm afraid it doesn't work that way," Ollivander chuckled, he trotted back to the counter and opened another box, taking out the wand and holding it in his pale and bony hands, "the wand chooses the wizard, Miss Jones,"
Alice frowned. Her eyebrows knitted in confusion, "That doesn't make any sense. It's just a piece of wood," she said.
Ollivander seemed charmed by her doubt but he answered her, "It's never clear why, Miss Jones. From the moment a wand finds its ideal owner, it will begin to learn and teach its human partner,"
"So wands are at least sentient beings huh. I can deal with that," Alice said.
Ollivander grinned, "Here, try this, cedar, 12 ½ inches, dragon heartstring, nice and supple," Alice took the wand and then gripped its black handle, she didn't need to wave it; as soon as her fingers wrapped around it, it produced a burst of green sparks along with a gust of wind that came out of nowhere which smelled like fresh rain.
"Whoah!" Alice gaped, "that was…unexplainable,"
Ollivander looked absolutely giddy, "Marvelous, truly wonderful," he said, clapping his hands, looking at Alice like a rare specimen, "It's so rare to find cedar owners nowadays. Cedar, my dear, like my father always says, 'you will never fool a cedar carrier,' the cedar wand always finds its home where there is perspicacity and perception," At this, Alice smiled and straightened, "My father has never yet met an owner of a cedar wand who he would cross. The witch or wizard who is well-matched with cedar carries the potential to be a frightening adversary, which often comes as a shock to those who have thoughtlessly challenged them," Ollivander explained.
"Huh," Alice said, examining her wand, "I like this one. I'm naming him Cedrus,"
"Why, never heard of wizard naming his or her wand before," Ollivander remarked.
"What a poor name," Snape commented.
"I'm not good at names. I couldn't think of anything so I named it after its genus," She said.
"That would be 7 galleons," Ollivander said. Alice fished the exact amount from her pocket. They were good to go, but Alice was clearly not ready yet. She was much more preoccupied of answering the questions that were going in her head.
"Mr. Ollivander, correct me if I'm wrong, so basically, you can tell a lot of person from the wand he or she carries," she asked.
Ollivander nodded, "Yes. Precisely,"
Snape briefly saw a smirk plastered on her face, "Is there a book about wand lore I can borrow or purchase,"
"My! This is a first. A first year interested in the wonders of wand lore. I have just the book Miss Jones. In fact because I am charmed with your curiously and thirst for knowledge, I'm giving you a copy of my notes. Now its somewhere here I suppose,"
Alice's face glowed but Snape had the feeling that she was merely faking it, "Really! Thank you so much, Mr. Ollivander. It would really be useful for me adapting to the wizard world," she chipped.
"And why, May I ask you want to learn about wand woods?" Snape asked.
"Oh, no reason~" she sang. There was another smirk plastered on her face. Snape had the feeling she wasn't doing it because she was curious.
Ollivander came back, carrying a thick, leather bounded book. He handed it to Alice, "Here you go. You'll find everything that you need in there," he said, patting the book gently.
"This really helps, sir." She said.
"Use it wisely," Ollivander winked.
"Oh, I will," she said. Her voice deep and serious. For a moment of seemed much more malevolent. Snape opened the door, "I expect that you'd be in Ravenclaw, dear girl," Ollivander called out happily.
As soon as they were out, Alice quickly shoved the large book unto her father's chest. "Look, mom! I got my own wand," said Alice beaming.
"Well, watch where you point that thing," her father warned, struggling the heavy book on to his hands.
"I think I'm going to test it out," Alice said.
"No. You're not a student at Hogwarts yet. Using underage magic is forbidden. Moreover, I don't think you can cast a simple levitation charm without learning the incantation first," Snape explained.
"You heard the man. Illegal," said Mrs. Jones, giving her daughter a warning glare. Alice pouted.
"You know she's going to do it anyways, Lucy,"
"Yup. Aguamenti!" Alice mimicked the spell, following Snape's wand movement from a while ago. A jet of water burst out from the tip unto her mother's freshly pressed dress.
Mrs. Jones gasped, "Alice," she said in a warning tone. Alice smiled guiltily. Mrs. Jones snatched the wand from her daughter, "You're not getting this back until the start of the term,"
"Impressive. That was an N.E.W.T. level spell, taught for 6th years, Miss Jones," Snape remarked, blinking.
"Haha, make that 6 months," she said.
Pureblood or not, this girl could be a valuable student in Slytherin. He considered the possibility that she could at least have a good chance to be at his House.
They were off to settle the rest; Alice was fitted for robes which she found lame, and then the hats (Ooo~pointy!) next were the quills and parchment (you know, there's something we call a pen. Much more practical), then the Apothecary. In there, Alice wasn't the very least frightened about the place. She looked more excited and clearly stated that she wanted to buy every single ingredient.
"The possibilities!" she exclaimed happily. "Do you know what this means, Professor?" she said, eyes gleaming at him, "I'll never be bored! Never ever, ever!" she ran around the place, constantly poking the dragon livers and eyeing the eel eyes like they were lollipops.
"Oh dear," said Mr. and Mrs. Jones somberly.
"I'll warn the neighbors and make sure to have fire station on speed dial," Her father noted. Mrs. Jones was having none of that. She chided her daughter that they were here to buy the exact amount of her materials only. Mrs. Jones absolutely forbade her to buy the dragon's blood and the Eel eyes.
"But, mom!" Alice protested.
"No."
"Dad!"
"Listen to your mother – ugh this place is creeping me out. I'll go wait outside,"
Alice was pouting throughout their stay at the Apothecary, refusing to speak to her mother.
"I'll expect you to do well in my potions class, Miss Jones," said Snape sternly. He picked out the best yet more expensive ingredients. At the counter, the shopkeeper greeted Snape. Mrs. Jones paid for the ingredients, reluctantly carrying it.
"Professor Snape, you teach potions, right. Is it similar to chemistry?" asked Alice, looking up at Snape.
"A bit," he answered.
"My mom told me that you're the head of the Slytherin House. Tell me, what is your opinion of all the houses," she asked.
"I'm afraid I will be biased, but if you must insist…the Gryffindors have a reputation for being brave but reckless and stupid," Snape said with disdain, "Ravenclaws value knowledge above all else though they do tend to be stuck up, Hufflepuffs tend to be incompetent but are hardworking and the Slytherins are cunning and resourceful but they incline to favor purebloods having the reputation of bearing the most Dark Wizards," Snape explained irritably.
"What House do you think I'll be in?"
"Ravenclaw," Snape deadpanned, "But I do hope you'll be in Slytherin,"
"Oh yeah, shell definitely be there." Her mother mumbled while she was looking distastefully at the claw-like hand that was hanging from the ceiling.
Alice ignored her mother's comment and opened her mouth to speak again, "But you said that Slytherin tends to favor purebloods,"
"Muggleborn Slytherin's exist but are extremely rare," he said.
They met up Mr. Jones, who was now eying curiously at the broomsticks, "How do they make it fly? I would pick rocket science between magic any day," he stated.
"True. Rocket science is really easier than explaining why magic exist. Don't worry, dad. I'm sure I'll figure it out," Alice said.
They went to Flourish and Blotts to purchase the book on the list. It took her an hour at most which made Snape even more impatient, and when she approached the counter, she was now carrying books that the supply list never mentioned before: Ingredient Encyclopedia, The Books of Charms and Spells, Curses and Counter Curses, Guide to Advance Occulmency, Theories of Transubstantial Transfiguration, Alchemy, Ancient Art and Science, Alchemical duodecimo, Advance Rune Translation, and Rune Dictionary, a total of 18 books.
"I'm sure that wont fit In your trunk," said Snape. Alice merely shrugged, "It's not like I'm going to bring all of at Pigfarts anyways. Plus, I read about that Undetectable Extension Charm,"
"Miss Jones, you might be able to perform a N.E.W.T. standard spell but the Undetectable extension charm is advance enough that even Hogwarts 7th years have difficulty of casting. It is a tricky spell, Miss Jones. I advise you wait until you're 17," said Snape.
"I'll figure it out. I know the elements of space. Shouldn't be too hard. It's amazing that you wizards managed to perfect transdimensional engineering." She insisted.
Knowing that she had no intention of heeding his advice, Snape simply recommended her Advance Potion Making, Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century, The Rise and fall of the Dark Lord and Potion Opuscule.
"It will be important," he told her.
Mr. Jones was the one who paid for the books. Apparently money wasn't much of an issue for the Jone's family. They paid 88 galleons which in the wizard world cost quite a lot.
It was now time to buy a pet. "How about an owl," Mrs. Jones suggested, "So you can send letters,"
Snape saw Alice pursed her lips. He could almost hear the gears going on her head. She was thinking, "Owls are too obvious," she said.
Snape followed Alice into Magical Menagerie. She lingered around the place, frowning and shaking her head as she looked at the owls, but she regarded the other animals like the poisonous orange snails and the Transforming Rabbit like they were lab rats ready for dissection. Mr. Jones noticed a bald eagle from one of the cages. He insisted his wife to let him buy one for sending letters and packages because and owl will be too small. (Come on, Lucy. A bald eagle! It's so American. We just have to buy it) (No. we are not. I don't know what to feed that thing!) They got into an argument in the corner which Snape ignored completely.
From the corner of his eyes, Snape noticed two cats that were shoved off as far as possible from the rest of the cages; one was big, bandy-legged; ginger-coloured had a squashed head. His face was looked as if he had ran into a brick wall. The other one was about its size had a slender body, gray silver fur with spots. The two looked hostile towards Snape and were glaring at him with their yellow eyes. When Alice passed by that cage, the two cats approached her and were purring heavily, like they wanted her to pet them. The owner of the store, a frail old man approached her looking quite fascinated, "I've never seen them do that before. They're usually hostile, those two," the man remarked.
Alice now looked much more interested, "A Somali and something that looks like a hansa Himalayan but…"
"…Yes…"
"They've been crossbred. I just don't know what it is though," Alice said.
"That's quite perceptive of you, girl. Yes, yes. These two felines are half-kneazel. They've been here for quite a while. Especially the one with the squashed face. They tend to be hostile towards those who pick them. This is the first I see them approach someone,"
Alice smirked. She bent down to get a closer look at the two, "What's a kneazle?" she asked the shopkeeper.
"Cat-like animals that are highly intelligent. They also have the natural sense of finding out suspicious persons and frauds,"
"Hmm…" Alice thought for a bit. Both cats seem to like her; they were peering at her with pick-me eyes. She smirked, "Which one of you likes needles?"
The orange one retreated; the Somali wins. "I'll have that one," she pointed. The shopkeeper opened the cage and the cat jumped to her arms. Alice came up to the counter and paid for the pet. She stroked the Somali's fur and it gave out a loud purr. "Wonder what I should name it?" she said quietly. "What do you think Professor?"
Snape glowered at her, "Don't ask such insignificant questions like that, child. Why don't you just name it after its breed?" he suggested coldly.
"Somali," said Alice, testing the name. The cat meowed in approval.
"No, Oliver. I mean it—oh isn't he precious, Alice….please don't do experiments on him—like that rabbit I bought for your 7th birthday—poor Sammy. Died of poisoning," said Mrs. Jones.
"Sammy was already sick, Mom. He died because he had an Inflammation of the brain and brain tissue, not because I injected him with morphine," Alice corrected.
"Well, don't do anything to…what did you name it?"
"Somali."
"Don't do anything to Somali or I'll confiscate your chemistry set." Mrs. Jones pressed.
They got out of the store. Mr. Jones approached Snape, still looking quite defeated because his wife wouldn't let him buy a bald eagle, "Is that all?" he asked.
"Yes. I suppose that's it," He looked round at Alice, "Don't forget…term starts at September 1st, come to King's Cross Station at 10 o'clock sharp. Don't be late," said Snape in a serious tone.
"We'll be there," said Mrs. Jones, "Is there anything you want to say to Proffesor Snape, Alice,"
"I want to be in Hufflepuff!" she blurted.
Snape looked taken aback, "You don't seem to be the hardworking and loyal type. Being in Hufflepuff would be a complete waste of your talents if you ask me," he said. There must be a reason for her to want to join Hufflepuff. With her intelligence and fairly manipulative personality, she'd bound to land in Ravenclaw or Slytherin. Gryffindor might be a possibility but the chances were low if she wanted to be in Hufflepuff, "And may I ask why, Miss Jones?"
"Oh you know~reasons," she said smirking. Snape had the feeling that there wasn't anything good behind that smirk of hers. She'll never be a Hufflepuff with that way of thinking.
"I'm sure Alice will do well whatever House she's in. Best be off then, we'll see you at the station Proffessor,"said Mrs. Jones.
Mr. and Mrs. Jones bade him cheery goodbyes and Mrs. Jones forced her daughter to be polite. (It's not like he's going to appreciate it.) (Just say it, Alice!)
"Goodbye, Proffesor. See you in September," and with that, Snape remained at Diagon Alley, watching their retreating figures and Mr. Jones struggle to push the heavy trolley of all Alice's supplies. He pondered silently for a moment, thinking that today was probably one of the longest days he's ever experienced. It was long but Snape wouldn't lie that he somewhat found the girl intriguing; freezing in place when she found out about magic, learning that she graduated high school at 10; something Muggles found to be quite remarkable and to be able to perform a N.E.W.T. spell in one go just a few hours after she learned the existence about magic, as well as purchasing books that were far beyond her level, and her interest for potion ingredients that first years found disgusting. A prodigy indeed. Snape made a mental note that he would pay close attention to the muggleborn girl. He turned his heel and with a loud CRACK! dissaparated out of Diagon Alley.