Astorias initial wonder at the bustling new world around her quickly faded when the rushing current of busy shoppers threatened to whisk her away and she shrank back into the safety of Pavarti's confidently stomping legs, shuffling along behind. Whilst they were headed to what Pavarti called madame malkins, for her school robes, a strange sounding uniform. She had time to reflect on what Pavarti had said about her appearance worriedly and cast her face down, peeking up at the odd curiosity that caught her eyes through her eyelashes instead of head-on. When they stepped inside the clothing shop She found it bigger than expected from the outside. Divided straight down the middle with two contrasting sides, one adorned with brightly coloured cluttered cloaks, some shapes and patterns even whizzing around across the fabric. Astoria pleaded in her head that she wouldn't have to wear one of these this year. Thankfully Pavarti steered her towards the other side, monochrome in colour covered with black cloaks, skirts, ties and jumpers in all different shapes and sizes. The aging woman behind the counter dressed cheerily saw Pavarti and Astoria stood in the doorway and smiled at them wearily, ringing up the till before bustling over and grabbing Pavarti's shoulder fondly, Astoria noticed that her cheery appearance was contrasted by the weary look set into her face and the absence of 3 fingers on the woman left hand.A measuring tape was coiled around her hand like a snake. "I suppose this is the last of them then my dear? it's almost the start of term. Wow, what a small one this is, she cannot be an eleven year old!" the woman rattled keeling down with a soft smile that was immediately replaced with a scowl. Her eyes however hardened when she met Astoria's. The woman stood up abruptly and stepped back turning her scowl to Pavarti. "You brought one of them here! after everything, Everything! and they're still traipsing around in society!" she said with gritted teeth completely ignoring Astoria's presence. Astoria's stomach dropped in the change in atmosphere and she could see the other woman behind the till peering over at them curiously Her eyes burned with embarrassment and she shrunk back into the doorway further. Pavarti stepped forward her eyes hard, placing her hands on Astoria's shoulders "she's nine years old!." she stated fixing a meaningful stare, and stepping forward into a whisper "and she doesn't know... she's a child Calpurnia!" Pavart muttered angrily staring into the woman's eyes until she relented and stepped back as The woman nodded reluctantly producing a set of robes seemingly from thin air and ringing them up at the till. Astoria noticed that no money was exchanged and turned around gratefully attempting to stride through the door. However just before they turned to leave Madame Malkin took a step forward, talking raised a mangled hand to Pavarti pointing to the cracks running through the ceiling that Astoria had not noticed before and the atmosphere in the room darkened, They webbed through the entire building and the faintly glowed like an unforeseen force was holding the web of stone together. "you and I both have seen what they have done." Madame Malkin stated and Pavarti flinched. The shop was quiet and all of the bustling occupants were now turned towards them. The two turned out towards the street, Astoria's eyes stung.
"The dazed effect the earlier conversation had on the child lasted through their journey through the alley and she struggled to enjoy the amazing sights surrounding her many questions burned in her head, who do think I am?. This was until the steady shuffling of people stopped and whispers started, she stopped dead in her tracks despite Pavartis shuffling forward and the hairs on her arms stood on end, the feeling that accompanied her displays of what she had learned to be accidental magic returned to her and her breathing quickened in panic until Astoria realized the feeling was coming from around her and not static feeling built in the air further as the whispers increased and She only had a brief second to see a flash of white hair storm through the crowd before it disappeared around the corner. The feeling dissipated immediately but the whispers didn't and Pavarti gently grabbed her arm pulling her towards a shop in the direction the figure had left."Now its time for your wand! This is my favorite part" Pacarti grinned attempting to distract the child who now looked so overwhelmed she might collapse, and the pair stepped into a dark shop that smelled old and sweet. Astoria's eyes widened at the thousands of little boxes towering above the shop and she noticed that the cracks from Madame Malkins were here too, maybe an earthquake she wondered. A whispy looking man that reminded her of an owl peered at her from between the rungs of a ladder caught her attention and shyly she walked over to the counter reluctant to make eye contact again. The Old man smiled pulling a box from his pocket without even looking at the shelves around him and shuffled over placing his elbows on the desk and peering over at her a hesitant look on his face as he offered up the box. I wasn't in a simple box like the other wands but was instead in a black leather pouch wrapped in the middle with a braided cord the pouch looked like an antique and Astoria wondered why he was giving her something so old. This was possibly because like Pavarti said in the alley, thanks to something called the Magical estrangement fund set up by a man called Harry Potter, magical children with no wizarding connections, receive free school supplies and also a ministry appointed escort to dragon alley. The wand inside captivated her attention despite it just being a plain black wooden wand, perfectly straight but worn and soft to hold, the only decoration was a small symbol in the shape of a circle with a curved line running through the center. This shape glowed a faint white when she held the wand and Astoria gasped looking up at the man who only nodded looking unsurprised at the outcome. The man stepped forward holding out his hand and Astoria blushed "I'm sorry but I don't have any money" she trailed shyly her cheeks burning and the smirk shaking his head." I only want to clean it, my dear, it has just been dropped off for you, no charge" he said his voice dry and raspy grasping the wand careful with a wary expression polishing it and handing it back. Astoria was stunned turning her head towards Pavarti who eyes were narrowed her lips pursed looking over at the wand as if she recognized it. "Who dropped it off?" Astoria muttered wearily, she was growing tired of her questions not being answered today. Not to her surprise, the man sighed walking around his desk and looking down at her "it's not my place to say I'm afraid" he said apologetically and with that, he wandered back into the shop without casting a backward glance. It wasn't long after this interaction Astoria found herself sharing a farewell with Pavarti, She had come to admire the woman and hoped she would meet more like her. Astoria shuffled reluctantly out of the taxi wary about her experience that day but still optimistic towards the magical world.
The following week Astoria had never felt further apart from her 'parents', their naturally ordinary dispositions clashing horribly with Astoria's new otherworld possessions and questions. As a child who was always told of her status as an orphan, it was hard to connect in a familial way. whilst she loved her 'parents' they had never tried to be substitutes to the mysterious originals and always saw themselves as her caretakers, and thus the days leading up to her departure were as lonely and impersonal as ever. The promise of a wonderful new world was almost unbearably exciting and this was how Astoria found herself packed and a full hour before she was to be dropped off at the station. It was just before her mother and father locked the front door that they turned to her and she could sense their farewell coming. "They will look after you well at the school, you are young but we raised you to be strong and kind." her mother said sincerely gripping her shoulder tightly her father patting her other side she felt tears well in the corners of her eyes at the sentiment and nodded smiling wavily before ducking into the backseat. She stared out of the window silently for the rest of the journey nodding at the tips and advice being listed off to her from the front of the car but not really listening as her stomach rolled nervously. The three shared and small hug before Astoria was led through to the platform by a Student waiting for her at the platform.