Okay, I am so sorry that I haven't been able to update this sooner. I had writer's block, a bunch of stuff to do, other fanfictions to work on, and a baby niece to worry about. I can't say if I'll start updating this story frequently or not. I'd like to, but I might not be able to. Now, this chapter isn't really up to my standards for a Harry Potter fic. However, not all chapters are ever perfect. My next one should be loads better. So, here's Chapter 2. Thank you for sticking with me.
Traveling by Floo powder was easy enough, in theory. One simply took a pinch of powder, threw it into lit fireplace, stepped in, and then clearly shouted the name of the place where they intended on going.
However, it was different in reality. It churned up your stomach, you got covered in soot, and you could very well end up in the wrong place if you weren't careful. It was a very tricky way to travel unless you did it often. Which Alyssa didn't.
"Mum?" Alyssa asked, unwillingly taking a pinch of the glittering powder. "Can't we just drive to the Leaky Cauldron instead?"
Her mother smiled gently, taking a pinch and handing the pot to Olivia, who also looked rather uncomfortable. "This'll be much quicker, dear." she said simply.
"Right." Ellie agreed, throwing her own powder into the fire, turning the flames green. "See you lot tonight." She stepped into the flames and shouted, "St. Mungo's!", disappearing quickly.
Gwendolyn nudged Alyssa forward as the flames changed back to orange. "You first, love." she said, encouragingly.
Alyssa sighed and tossed the powder into the fire, which turned emerald green once again. She stepped inside the fireplace, a warm sensation washing over her, and yelled, "The Leaky Cauldron!"
Suddenly, she was spinning very fast and felt terribly queasy. She quickly tucked in her elbows, waiting for everything around her to stop spinning.
Finally, she thrust out of the fireplace and fell onto a very dirty floor. She could people talking, but she didn't dare stand up until she was sure her stomach had settled. Even then, she didn't stand for a few more seconds, making sure she would be alright.
When she did stand up, she looked around the small pub. Her mother had told her it was very famous. Alyssa wasn't very impressed. It was tiny, dirty, and dark. There was also an awful smell that hung in the air. However, it did seem friendly.
Suddenly, Alyssa felt a push from behind. Livy had just stumbled out of the fireplace and bumped into her older sister. She looked around, also not very impressed with the place.
"This is the famous Leaky Cauldron?" she asked incredulously. Her round, blue eyes scanned the place. "Really?"
Alyssa shrugged her shoulders. "I s'pose so. I mean, we could have ended at the wrong place, but I doubt it since we're both here." She took her sister's hand and led her away from the fireplace.
"Where's Mum? Olivia wondered out loud.
As if in answer to her question, their mother appeared in the fireplace, stepping out gracefully like she had done this a dozen times before. She actually probably had.
"Good." she said, smiling at her daughters. "You both managed to get here all right."
Gwen led her girls to the bar and smiled at the bald, toothless bartender. "Hello, Tom." she said in greeting. "Bet you don't remember me."
The bartender, Tom, stared at her for a moment, his eyes widening in shock and disbelief. "Gwendolyn Weller? Is it really you?"
Her mother chuckled. "It's Gwendolyn Carter now, Tom."
"Well, I'll be." he said, in awe. "These your girls, then?" he asked, smiling kindly at the two of them.
Gwen nodded and placed a shoulder on each of her daughters as she introduced them. "This is Alyssa and the little one's Olivia."
Tom bowed deeply. "Well, they are both beautiful." He picked up a dirty glass and began to clean it. "So, what brings you here?"
Gwen smiled softly at her old friend. "Well, Alyssa's starting Hogwarts. Her father died and I decided to move the girls up here. We're living with my sister, Ellie."
Tom nodded. "I'm sure she'll do fine if she's anything like you." he said kindly as he winked at Alyssa.
Gwen's face tinged pink as she grinned. "Oh, Tom." she said. "I better be going. We've got a lot of things to buy and such little time to do the shopping."
"Good seeing you again, Gwendolyn." Tom called as the three witches walked out the back door and into a dingy alley.
Alyssa wondered how they were supposed to get into Diagon Alley from there. She had only gone once and that time they had Flooed straight into a shop.
She looked up and was about to ask her mother her question, when she noticed where there had once been a brick wall, there was now an archway leading right into Diagon Alley. This was beyond amazing.
"Okay." Gwen said, taking Olivia's hand so she wouldn't lose her. "We'll go get your books and you can go and get everything else." she told her eldest daughter. "We'll meet up at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor later." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a drawstring bag. "There's some money. See you in a while." she said as she hurried off toward Flourish and Blott's.
Alyssa quickly walked off in the opposite direction, happy to be free to do as she pleased. It was a particularly beautiful late summer afternoon. The sun warmed her face, but there was a slight breeze so she kept her jacket on.
She passed Ollivander's, the wand shop, and thrust her hand into her jacket pocket. She curled her fingers around her own wand. Willow and unicorn hair. Nine inches. Her mother had insisted upon an Ollivander's wand.
"Won't find a better quality anywhere." she had said.
Alyssa smiled as she remembered getting it at eleven years old. It had taken a while for Mr. Ollivander to find the one suited for her. She must have tried a dozen before she found the one she was now clutching in her pocket.
She walked on and almost passed by Quality Quidditch Supplies, when something in the window caught her attention.
A large crowd had started to thin some and she could see the display. She walked over and gazed at the latest broomstick model, a Firebolt. It was beautiful- and expensive. No way she could afford that.
She sighed and turned around, smacking into someone. She blinked and heard the person's belongings fall to the ground. She hastily bent down to help gather the bags, most of which seemed to come from Zonko's Joke Shop.
"I am so sorry." she apologized. She grabbed the last bag and looked at the person. He was a cheerful looking boy with dreadlocks. He didn't seem to mind that she had just knocked all of his stuff out of his hands.
"'S' all right." he said, taking the bag from her and shoving something in it. He pointed to the display. "You looking at the Firebolt?" he asked.
She nodded, happy that he wasn't mad at her. "Yeah. Can't afford it though. It's really amazing. Bet it'd be fun to fly."
The boy nodded and then stood up. He held out his hand for Alyssa and then, when she took it, pulled her back on her feet as well. "Bloody brilliant." he said, still talking about the broom. "You play Quidditch?"
Alyssa nodded. "You bet. Uh, I'm Alyssa Carter by the way." She thought it would be polite to introduce herself.
The boy stuck out his hand. "Name's Lee Jordan." he said, shaking Alyssa's hand. "You go to Hogwarts? I don't think I've seen you around."
"Yeah." she told him. "I'm sort of a transfer from America. I'm in fifth year."
"Cool." Lee said. "You'll love it there."
"Oi! Lee!" someone called from up the road.
"I'm coming!" he shouted back, turning his head. He turned back to Alyssa. "Maybe I'll see you around Hogwarts."
"Maybe." Alyssa said, smiling. "It'll be nice to know someone."
He smiled and then waved a goodbye as he headed up the road to meet whoever was calling him.
When Alyssa could no longer see Lee, she turned around and headed towards the Apothecary to get some basic potions ingredients. Potions was not her best subject, but she was required to take it all the same.
In an hour, Alyssa was exhausted and weighed down with school supplies. She made her way over to the ice cream parlor to find her mother and sister eating outside with a couple of bags from the bookstore sitting on the ground next to them.
"Finally finished are you?" Gwen teased, handing her daughter a sundae. "You've been gone an awfully long time."
"Mum." Alyssa said. "I was just looking at the Firebolt. I ran into a kid from Hogwarts. Lee Jordan."
Her mother looked thoughtful. "Hmm." she mused, polishing off her ice cream. "I believe the surname sounds familiar. I can't quite place it."
Livy grinned. "Ooh. Looks like Alyssa has a boyfriend." she cooed disgustingly. Why were little sisters so bothersome?
Alyssa rolled her eyes as her mother said, "Livy, stop teasing your sister." and then gave her a small smile.
"Oh, Mum." Alyssa complained. "At the very most, I'll end up being friends with Lee." While she found him nice, she didn't find him particularly good looking.
After everyone had finished their ice creams, Gwen checked her watch. "Well, come on you two." she said, gathering a few bags and standing up. "We best get going. Alyssa still needs to pack."
Term didn't start for another week, but Alyssa knew her mother was right. The sooner she got packed, the better.
The three of them, loaded down with purchases, headed up the road and back toward the entryway to Diagon Alley.
Once they got back inside the Leaky Cauldron, Gwen bid Tom farewell, promising to come back to the pub for a quick visit as soon as she could.
They walked over to the fireplace, each taking a pinch of Floo powder from the pot on the mantle This time, Livy went first. She cried, "857 Lanchester Road, Upper Flagley!" and disappeared in a flash of green flames.
Next it was Alyssa's turn. Just as she was about to step into the fireplace, a rather large, ugly, ginger cat went streaking past her, giving her quite a turn. She hated cats.
Her mother chuckled softly. "Go on now, love." she coaxed. "It was just a large cat. Nothing to worry about."
"More like a small tiger." poor, disgruntled Alyssa muttered, stepping into the fireplace. She sighed and shouted, "857 Lanchester Road, Upper Flagley!"
This time, the Floo journey seemed to be much shorter. In no time at all, she stumbled out of her aunt's fireplace, dropped her bags on the floor, and dragged herself to the closest armchair.
She closed her eyes and listened to her mother step out of the fireplace and ask, "Who wants to help me with dinner?"
Alyssa, eyes still shut tight, declined. "I don't think I can stand without throwing up." One thing was for sure, Alyssa never wanted to travel by Floo powder again.