Chapter Two.
First glimpses of the Wizarding world.
She got out of the Knight bus near the King's Cross station, near the end of the Alley and went into it. She used her dad's guide of the alley and soon found herself in front of Gringotts. The building was a bit strange. It reminded her of cheese. But, once she got inside, her impression changed. It was a bank, there was no mistake there, and a very good one. At the tables sat creatures Hailey recognized as goblins and she smiled silently.
The young witch came up to the table: "Excuse me, I want to make a withdrawal from the Potter's vault." The goblin looked up: "And you are?" Hailey blushed: "I am Hailey Rose Potter. Here's my key." The creature took the key and studied it for a few moments: "Ah, so you're Adam's daughter. We wondered when you'd come. This way please." They road a cart to get to the vault and it was really fast, even faster then the Knight Bus, Hailey laughed with glee as they went. The vault was big, but Hailey knew that it was only her trust fund. Hailey took a handful of galleons with her. In five years she would claim headship over the lines of the founders of Hogwarts, but for now she could live a normal life.
Once outside Hailey studied her list of things to buy. She already had all the books possible, so she started with potions ingredients. She read all of her dad's notes on the subject and was pretty good at them, but she had no idea how to choose correctly. She studied them and sighed. A red haired plum woman was studying the same things nearby. Hailey recognized her from one of the photos in her album. The woman's name was Molly Weasley. Hailey came up to her: "Excuse me, could you help me, please?" Molly turned: "Ah, starting Hogwarts, dear? Of course, I'll help you, but where are your parents?" Hailey sighed: "My mom died, giving birth to me, dad was killed by Voldemort, missis Weasley." She blinked: "Oh, so you know me?" Hailey smiled: "No, but you knew my parents. Adam and Rose Potter, I'm Hailey." Molly gave her a sad smile: "Yes, I did. We were good friends. Come on, what do you have left?" Hailey glanced at the list: "Well, I didn't have to buy the books, but I have nothing else so far." She gave the girl a kind smile: "Well, then, you can shop with me and my sons. Bill's in his fourth year, Charlie's in third." Hailey thanked her for the offer and went outside to wait for missis Weasley, after leaving her the necessary amount of money for the ingredients. Outside stood two red haired boys. She came up to them: "Hi, you're Bill & Charlie, right?" They looked at her and smiled: "Yep, that's us, and you are?" Hailey shook their hands: "Hailey Potter, nice to meet you." Bill's eyes widened: "So you know Chris Potter?" Hailey sighed: "Sure do, although wish I didn't." Charlie gaped: "You wish you didn't know the Chris Potter, how can that be?" Hailey rolled her eyes: "Please, he's only 5 and he's already twice as arrogant as uncle James was. Besides, I survived meeting Voldemort just as well. What, if he's got all the fame because of the stupid scar, then guess what, I have it as well." The two snorted: "A lightning bolt scar? Why can't we see it? You're just a jealous cousin." Hailey smirked: "Oh, am I? then what is this?" She lifted her hair from her neck, leaving the scar in plain view. Charlie stared at it: "But… but he killed you-know-who!" Hailey smiled: "That he did and I'm really glad it wasn't me, because when Voldemort returns, and he most definitely will, he'll go after Chris. Then we'll see what the boy-who-lived will do." Missis Weasley emerged from the shop: "Here, these are for you Hailey, now let's go to madam Malkine's robe store. I have to give you, my dear, a fashion lesson." Hailey's hair suddenly became red as she blushed brightly. Bill whistled: "Cool, a metamorph mage, I'll introduce you to Tonks, you'll like her, she's one as well." Hailey scratched her nose: "By Tonks you mean Nimphadora Tonks?" Bill nodded: "Yeah, but she doesn't like being called Nimphadora. She curses anyone who dares to call her that." Molly Weasley chuckled: "Yes, well her mother's called Andromeda, even that's better, but Tonks got her name from her father." Hailey smiled: "Well, mine isn't much better. It has no short form, and it's too much like Harry." They made their way through the Diagon Alley slowly, stopping at nearly every shop. Hailey didn't buy a truck, she decided to use her father's. It had more than enough compartments left.
Lastly they went to Olivander's wand shop. Hailey had a feeling that her search would be a long one. Then came the standard question: "Which is your wand hand, miss Potter?" She said: "I can use both hands." That was rare, but not very, it only meant that she'd have two wands. One had to be custom made, and the other was found after 3 hours of searching. It was 13,5 inches holly and a phoenix feather, Voldemort's brother wand. While Olivander was searching, her second wand was ready as well. It was only 7,5 inches, mithril with a griffin feather dipped in basilisk venom and shadow phoenix tears. Molly gasped, when Olivander said what wands they were. Hailey simply fainted. She woke up at the Burrow, the Weasley's house. She got up and blinked: "Where am I?" Molly gave her a cup of cold tea: "You fainted in Olivander's store, so we took you to our home." She groaned: "Fainted… just great! What's the time?" She glanced at the big watch on the wall and smiled: "Just 4 pm. You're not in a hurry, are you?" Hailey shrugged: "Well, I wanted to buy a pet and I have to be at the Dursleys by 6 pm." Molly frowned: "The Dursleys? You're living with muggles?" Hailey nodded: "Yeah, although I wish I didn't. I swear, Chris' arrogance is much worse then the Dursleys' hatred. That boy never thinks about anything, except himself. Harry has to do his chores for him. Please, I am Chris Potter, the boy-who-lived. I saved your lives and now you have to do all I tell you to. It's disgusting." Molly's frown darkened: "Well, that won't do. Don't your aunt and uncle discipline him? What about Harry?" The young witch snorted: "Harry? Well, that one has no will at all, he does everything people tell him without even thinking. They are only five years old. Those two don't even look like twins."
Hailey picked up her stuff, which missis Weasley shrunk so that it fit into her small bag. She picked up some floo powder and shouted: "Diagon Alley!"
She made her way to the magical menagerie searched for a creature she'd like to have. At first she considered having a snake, because she could talk to snakes, but decided against it, because it was impractical. An owl would be too noisy, a toad wasn't even an option. She wandered between the shelves when she felt drawn to one of them. She went closer and read the sign: 'phoenix eggs'. It was what she wanted. Hailey waved her hand above the eggs, feeling, searching. All of the eggs were golden, only one had silver spots. It was the one. She picked the egg up and it felt very warm. It broke and on her hands was a tiny bird – a shadow phoenix. She brought her new familiar up to the owner of the shop. "She finally found herself a mistress. I don't need any money for her, dear, just take care of her. She's special, even among her own kind." Hailey caught the Knight bus once again and got back to the Dursleys with no trouble just on time to cook them dinner.
She moved her trunk a bit, so that the perch would fit and put all of her new things into the trunk. As soon as they touched the trunk they returned to their normal size. Hailey put the ingredients carefully into a special compartment, together with all the Potions stuff. The robes and other wizarding clothes went into the second cloth compartment. Everything had a place. She put her new friend on a fire resisting fluffy pillow in an old shoe box.
Hailey cooked dinner quickly that evening and spent the rest of the evening on the roof, watching the stars through a telescope she bought for Astronomy. It was fascinating. She always loved it, but a wizarding telescope brought stars much closer. Hailey suddenly heard her uncle's shouting:
- What do you mean you won't, you lazy, ungrateful brat? Your cousin was kind enough to spend some of her birthday money on food for you and you don't like it?
- Well, yes, that's exactly what I mean. She should serve only the best.
Hailey pursed her lips and stormed downstairs. And indeed, there was Chris, not wanting to eat what she cooked: "Listen up, you spoilt little brat, I spend a lot of time on this kitchen cooking for all of you. I do it for them, because they offered us shelter and didn't send us to an orphanage, but if you don't like what I cook, you're free to do it for yourself. I wonder how you'll like that." Chris stuck his nose high in the air: "I'm…" Hailey went over to him and slapped him on the face: "You finished? Good. Now I hear one more shout, you'll be doing all of your chores on your own!"
Harry stood behind the door and thought: 'Why does she treat him like that? Is she just like Dudley? No, she's just hurt, I guess, she is good at cooking.' The boy was always the quiet one. He did everything he was told to do and no one could make him raise his voice, it was nice, but after five years it annoyed Hailey just as much as it annoyed the Dursleys.
Hailey spent the rest of summer in a very good mood, she even paid no attention to Chris. And finally it came. The 1st September.