I'd like to say welcome and thank you to the first two followers of After Lily Came the Star, welcome FonxFan and Rosemary Lily Marie! Thank you both! I hope you both enjoy the newest chapter! ~Arianna

Turning back to the room I try to think of anything else in the house I needed to pack. "Aceo Astrology Equipment" I said to the open door and all or my charts and my telescope come wizzing down the hall. I sent them into the trunk with all my books in it and close the lid. Striding down the hall I looked into the small living room, with it's now empty bookcase and checked to make sure nothing escaped my summoning charm. "Oops" I said aloud as I realized what was still sitting on the mantelpiece. I snatch up my Sneak-O-Scope and sent it flying into my room and into the second trunk. Exiting the room I walked down the hall and into the kitchen. I would pack my cauldron though I am no pro at potion making. Anything else I needed I could always come back and get if I had real need of it. Striding back into my room I closed the second trunk and Cleopatra, being the brilliant owl she is, flew past me into her cage as I went to take it off the trunk I had full of heirlooms on the floor at the foot of my bed; I'm not bringing any of them. Pausing, I folded the letter from Dumbledore and placed it in my pocket and taking a last look at my room. Pulling both trunks next to me and placing the broom and cage on top of them I turned on the spot and was pulled into the suffocating darkness, pulling my things along with me.

Diagon Alley is never busy in the mornings. However, as it is only two weeks to the start of term it is chocked full of people rushing around buying new spell books and wands. I decided to leave my trunks and things in the Leaky Cauldron behind the bar; Tom was happy to help. Stepping into the alleyway I was bombarded by sound. Owls screeching, people chatting, a pile of old robes outside Madam Malkums howling in pain. Walking down the street to Gringots I saw many new Hogwarts students; all of them looking scared and awed to be here. I smiled as I remembered how I felt after I got my letter. I had jumped up and down until my parents told me I wouldn't go if I didn't shut up. When I arrived at Hogwarts I was a lot more subdued due to the fact that I had been told on the train by an older student that I would have to duel the headmaster for a test. When I saw Professor Dumbledore for the first time I though "Maybe this won't be so hard" and then I tried on the Sorting Hat and I never had to duel anybody. I got that older student back big time; he couldn't sit without wincing for months.

After extracting 25 Galleons, 49 Sickles, and 30 Knuts form my Gringots volt I set off to my favorite store in Diagon Alley; Florien Fortiscues Ice Cream Parlor. Florian was a good friend of mine and I was a very good friend of his ice cream! Raspberry and walnut flavored ice cream is my favorite! After visiting Florian and buying the largest raspberry, walnut ice cream I could, after much arguing over money, I walked down the street to Flourish and Blots. Slipping into the Astrology section I picked out two new books I had been waiting to come out; Star Reading: How the Ancient Muggles Got It Wrong and Stardust from Around the World. I paid for my books, the sales clerk looking none too happy to see me with an ice cream, and walked further down the road. I stopped at the Owl Emporium to pick up owl treats for Cleopatra and then moved on to Astrological Assortments. Astrology equipment here may be way over priced but most of the things in this shop were hard to find anywhere else. I looked around the shop for a while, coming back to a miniature solar system with moving planets and constellations multiple times. It was 15 Galleons and 10 Sickles, quite a bit of gold, but well worth the money and the wonder and awe it would bring to my new students. Finally I broke down and bought it, along with a large wall chart and a small bag of purple stardust. I rounded off my trip with a large purchase of quills, ink and parchment.