Eyes on Fire
Chapter 2: Essence of Ginger Root & Dragon Scales
Please enjoy!
I woke up the next morning with the usual tears lining the ends of my lashes as I forced my eyes open, making the rather depressing images leave my mind. I sighed and lay there for a while, my thoughts blanking as I felt the familiar numbness over my body, materializing at my chest. I let out a sigh and pushed my body onto its back, staring up at the ceiling as I reached up, wiping the crusty tears from my eyelashes. I clenched my eyes shut before pushing my body up, sitting up and wrapping my arms around my knees and staring down at my feet. Only the bottom half of my body was covered with the comforter and I could only see the outline of my legs as I subconsciously wiggled my toes. I forced my mind to close and thought about the other night's events; supposedly, I belonged to the house of Gryffindor at Hogwarts and get to go school shopping today, with my grandparents of all people. I was hoping they'd just set me off but they told me last night they wanted to go with me, like it was some sort of tradition.
I sighed and swung my legs off the bed, groaning from the sudden clap of cold wind hitting my bare legs. I yawned and stretched my back upwards, smiling when I heard a satisfying pop echo from my spine. I allowed a sleepy growl to mutter in my throat as I made my way slowly to my bathroom, shutting the door with my foot and yawning once more. I stripped of my pajamas and decided to take a quick, warm shower just to wake my body up. My muscles loosened as the warm water hit them and I blocked my mind from images I didn't want to see so early in the morning, washing my hair and body quickly and heading out. I wrapped a towel around my head, wrapping my hair up in it and took another for around my body, heading to the mirror and beginning the morning ritual.
I sighed, staring at myself in the mirror, wanting nothing more than my mother to poke her usual smiling face in the doorway and greeting me with a plate of warm toast and runny eggs and bacon. I allowed a tear to seep out before wiping it away and sucking it up before my other eye could catch up. I strolled back into my bedroom and froze, my eyes blinking when I saw a rather cute four legged creature sitting on my bed, wagging its thick tail and its tongue sticking out. A large, red bow was strapped to its neck and it had bells hanging off, which jingled.
I glanced around, confused before walking up to the small muggle animal called a puppy and patted its head before drying off, choosing a pair of loose fitting jeans and a white shirt for today's extravaganzas. I stared back over at the puppy, who was staring at me and I narrowed my eyes, walking over and sitting beside him. Instantly, the puppy stood and jumped up on me, trying to lick me. I pushed on the puppy's chest and giggled when its warm tongue slapped against any skin it could grasp. I shoved it away, still giggling, and shook my head, petting the puppy whose tail just kept wagging. I looked at my door and sighed, smiling slightly. I knew one of my grandparents was standing on the other side of that door, seeing my reaction. I tucked the puppy under my arm and headed toward the door, opening it and revealing both my grandparents trying to scurry away, in a very obvious way. I pulled the pup to my face and pet under his neck before saying, "Thanks…" They turned around and both were smiling happily. I looked away as my hand kept petting my pup and my grandmother stepped forward, reaching up and petting the pup as well.
"Are you ready to go to Diagon Alley, now?" she asked and I nodded. She smiled and glanced over at her husband, causing him to smile. "Give us fifteen minutes and we'll be leaving." I nodded again and headed back into my room, loving on my pup. I stared down at him and tilted my head to the side. He was yellow in color and had a rather thick, soft coat. His eyes were a dark blue and his tongue hung out the side of his face as his body rocked along with his wagging tail. I chuckled and set him on the bed, staring at him.
"I guess I have to give you a name, huh?" He just kept staring at me. I stared back and leaned more on my right side, tucking my hand under my chin. I contemplated silently as I stared at my new pup. He just kept staring at me, his body shaking with excitement; I knew he'd rather be sitting in my arms. I smiled and sighed, shaking my head and sitting beside him. Instantly, he attacked me and tried crawling into my arms, to try to get to my face. I laughed and pushed him away as he slightly grunted. "I think I'll name you Wesley… How's that?" The pup didn't seem to care as he kept wagging his tail as I held him back. I stood and he whined as I left him to grab my purse, staring inside to see a couple galleons I inherited from my parents' fortune. It was left over from the last time my father lent me money. They had more in the Gringotts bank; that bank was international. I glanced back at Wesley and smiled as he struggled and whined to jump off the bed. I rolled my eyes, smiling, and walked toward him, picking him up and tucking him under my arm. His tail kept wagging and it kind of hurt, slapping against my back every once in a while. I walked out of my bedroom and down the stairs, where I walked toward the living room, the visions of last night shooting through my head. Hogwarts seemed alright, but it was no Salem. Salem hardly had any rules and it was pretty lenient on things. Knowing England, they were probably strict on a lot of things.
"There you are…" my grandmother's voice stated and I turned, sighing. She smiled at me and pet Wesley. "Is he coming with us or are you going to leave him here?" I shrugged.
"I think I'm going to leave him here. I don't want him to get any diseases or whatnot, if he can," I answered and my grandmother nodded, her eyes flicking to the right nervously as I walked passed her and toward the small backyard they had fenced in the back. They had a large backyard but only a little bit was fenced in, for when I was younger. They didn't want me running off. I placed Wesley on the ground and patted his head, pushing him back and bolting inside before he could follow. His body slammed into the windowed door and he whined, staring at me like I just killed him. I frowned and placed my palm against the window. "I'll be back, Wesley. I just have to go where you can't," I stated and he whined again, raising on his hind legs and pushing his paws against the glass. I frowned and stood, walking away. Wesley began howling.
I ignored the noise and walked up to my grandparents, who were glancing toward the back. I managed a forced smile on my face and they smiled back before leading me to the fireplace. "It's Diagon Alley. I'd say it clearly if I were you," my grandmother stated. I nodded and stepped into the fireplace, grabbing a large handful of floo powder. I sighed before stating the name of the alley and throwing the powder down. The green flames engulfed me and I was flown from another chimney, staring up at aisles and aisles full of candy. I stood and stepped aside, making sure I didn't block anyone from shooting out. I walked out of the candy shop and waited. They'd be apparating here soon.
A soft pop to my right confirmed my answer and I glanced over to see my grandparents straightening themselves out before smiling at me and guiding me down the main street. It was crowded with people wearing weird black robes and I felt underdressed as they passed by me, eyeing me with judgmental eyes. I kept to myself though as we walked along the streets, heading toward a rather large building that twisted upward awkwardly that I knew as Gringotts. "We have to get some money before we begin shopping," my grandmother stated. I sighed.
"I've got money… My parents did leave me an inheritance," I stated, fighting back against the sobs. My grandmother frowned. "I'll go get it. Give me twenty minutes." She nodded, not saying anymore, and I stepped forward, toward the bank. I walked inside and kept my eyes forward, ignoring the little creatures walking around. They irked me so I tended to keep my eyes from wandering in these banks. I walked up to the desk and rose up on my toes, staring at the main goblin. He eyed me.
"May I help you?" he asked; his voice was scratchy and strained. I had to force myself to answer; these things irked me.
"I'm Jennifer Williams, here to make a withdrawal," I stated, reaching into my purse and grabbing a key. The creature looked at me and nodded. "It's in vault 438." He snapped his gangly fingers and another creature came over, attempting to give me a smile I guess. His cheeks rose in an awkward fashion that made my stomach churn. I disliked these things; they were so weird and…different. I followed the creature into the back room and handed him my key. He led me to a carriage and I stepped inside, sitting awkwardly. He jumped in and we raced off. I had forgotten how sick this particular ride made me feel, even if I was a chaser. I closed my eyes slowly and tried to picture riding a broom instead but it didn't work as we twisted around corners and made a rather abrupt stop at vault 438. I let out a slow breath and stepped out, not looking forward to the ride back. He walked up to the vault and slipped the key in, turning it and smiling (I assumed) to me. I pulled the vault door open and walked inside. I frowned and walked to a portion. My parents were compulsive savers with money. If they were muggles, they'd be called "coupon clippers", a term I learned on some muggle movie my friends back home made me watch. I grabbed what I thought would be enough and let it slip into my purse before staring around, frowning. This was my parents' savings…and it was mine now, by some unfortunate event. I turned and walked out, letting the goblin shut the door behind me. I stepped into the carriage again and this time, my mind was so busy I didn't even notice the queasiness of the ride.
When we made it back to the main floor, he led me out and I stepped toward the door, instantly making my way out of the bank. Goblins irked me, to a maximum level. I don't think I've ever met someone who was as freaked out about them as me. I didn't even like saying their rightful name; it was always creatures.
I blinked as I walked outside, the sun splashing over me and I spotted my grandparents, chatting with some younger couple but the moment they spotted me, they bid their farewell and began walking toward me. "Alright, now that we have that, let's go get your school supplies!" my grandfather stated, trying to fight through his melancholy. I appreciated his effort but he didn't have to. I understood his pain better than anyone else.
"I think we should go see Ollivander's first, to get your wand checked out," my grandmother stated, smiling. I shrugged and we began heading to a more cramped place, heading down the alley as people raced by us with their loud chatter and happiness. It made me sick. I shrugged their happy feelings away and thought about my wand. I had it made in the States and it was a beautiful eleven and a half inch wand that was a soft tan color with weavings of ancient inscriptions that I had added on since the States allowed us to do that. It was carved of a plain oak tree but had the essence of ginger root and dragon scales. It was a powerful wand and I loved it. I had so many memories with this wand, so many battles and victories. I loved dueling back at Salem and I was going to sign up for dueling at Hogwarts, if they had it. It could help release some tension in my shoulders and lift the weight of the world, just a tad.
Ollivander's was a very messy shop with wand boxes everywhere and magical jinxs here and there, dusting miserably and papers writing on themselves. My grandparents smiled as they walked in and a sour look appeared on my face; it smelt of old books. A man with stringy hair strolled in at the sound of the bell and he looked at the three of us, a smile breaking over his face. He wore a brown leather apron and had a very wise look to his light eyes. "Mr. and Mrs. Williams," he greeted, smiling and stepping up to the counter. "What can I do for you today?"
"We've brought our granddaughter in to have her wand checked," my grandmother stated. Ollivander nodded and I walked forward, pulling out my lovely wand and setting it on the table. It almost made a light thud and Ollivander picked it up, studying it. I eyed him, making sure he didn't mess up my wand. It was quite a while before he spoke.
"This is a magnificent wand indeed," he stated. "Bearing the essence of ginger root and dragon scales, it's a perfect combination if I do say so myself. I do not own such a wand but whoever made this wand had skill with wand weaving. It must be made in the States, yes?" I nodded, perplexed. How'd he know that? "The States are known for their intricate detailing and combinations of complex essences. This wand needs no tinkering." I smiled and retrieved my wand back, pocketing it. There was no way I'd let this old geezer tinker with my wand. He'd rot if he did that. "I suggest you take good care of that wand, miss," he stated before walking away. I eyed him as he walked away and shook my head. He was weird. I turned to my grandparents and forced a smile as they both stared at me.
"On to the next shop," I stated, walking passed them. I lowered my head as I headed outside. I avoided awkward moments. They were so…awkward.