Chapter 3: An Advancement

Nira rolled out of bed in the early afternoon and ambled down the stairs, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She waved her wand about and the fridge opened, milk floating out and being poured into a bowl that had filled with cereal.

She ate her breakfast slowly and held her hand up to grab her floating cup of warm tea. An owl knocked against her window, startling her. She got up from her chair and opened the window, the owl flying in. It was a letter from her Potions teacher.

I have graded your potions work from class –

The Blood-Replenishing Potion and find it to be most satisfactory.

I was hoping that you might wish to stay after school on Friday to

whip up another batch to send to St. Mungo's. Let me know.

Signed,

Professor Kaylock

Nira turned the parchment back over and scribbled a quick reply that yes; she would stay after on Friday to help make some more of the potion. She sent the owl back off and returned to her breakfast. She was proud that her potion had been prepared so well, and that she could actually use the rest of what she had taken, should the need arise.

Nashira strode back upstairs to her bedroom to get dressed; she didn't have classes today but she did have errands to run. She put on her sleeveless dress with the high-low skirt, her usual outfit, and decided against wearing her robes. This particular piece was actually fashionable right now in muggle London, meaning she wouldn't have to come back and change.

She trotted back down the stairs and grabbed the list she had made earlier of the items she was going to Diagon Alley for.

Potions Supplies

Muggle Groceries

Reading Material (Flourish and Blott's)

Birthday Present for Gen (two days away)

Nira grabbed her smaller bag and slung it over opposite shoulder so it hung across her body; she folded the piece of parchment and put it away, checking that she had enough money and wouldn't have to make a trip to Gringotts. Satisfied, she magically laced her boots and slipped her wand in a skirt pocket before walking outside. When she had reached the barrier of her home's magical enchantments she turned and felt the cool darkness and squeezing sensation that meant she was Disapparating.

She arrived on the threshold of the Leaky Cauldron, where no one could see. She pushed the wooden door open and entered the run-down wizards' pub. She waved to Abbot, the keeper of the Leaky Cauldron, and worked her way around tables and people. It was quite busy today but she didn't have time to stop and ask why. Nira ended up in the alley outside and tapped her wand against the brick that would take her into Diagon Alley.

When she stepped forward into the wizards shopping street she was taken aback by the flurry of movement. Diagon Alley was absolutely packed; she crushed herself against a building to avoid being trampled by a witch delegating her young children on which stores carried what. Looking down at her watch, Nira noticed the date; August 30th. Diagon Alley was packed with the procrastinators; those who had not done their school shopping two days before the Hogwarts Express was to leave.

Nira checked that the coast was clear and stepped into the street; she had to push her way through the crowd to get to the apothecary; upon walking inside she could see the man at the register busy with young students trying to buy exactly what they needed. She waited patiently until he was done.

"What do you need Miss Lestrange?" The owner, Tom Jyn, gave her a toothy smile. She was a regular shopper at the apothecary as he knew, because of her interest and talent at potions.

"Just a moment, I've a list." She looked through her bag before pulling out another piece of parchment with a list of potions ingredients.

"Oh this is very exact Miss."

He read down the list, mentally checking that they had all the ingredients in the store.

Ashwinder eggs

Rose Thorn

Peppermint leaves

Moonstone

Wiggentree roots

Castor oil

Extract of Gurdyroot

Jyn smiled at her before walking into the back of the store.

There wasn't much to look at in the apothecary. The only things on display in the front of the store were potions books that you couldn't get at Flourish and Blotts. Jyn kept all the potions ingredients in the back in case students tried stealing, or worse, playing with them. Many of the ingredients used in potion-making were dangerous when handled incorrectly and legislation passed in the 1800's meant you couldn't have them out for wizards to see.

Nira looked around at some of the new books; a few of the older titles she had bought in previous years, looking for a way to fill her boring summers. She saw a new title and picked it up, running her fingers over the gold embossed title: Advanced Healing Potions and their Uses. She flipped through it carefully and read through a few of the potions. Inside she found the recipe for the Blood-Replenishing potion they had done in class.

Nashira set it down on the counter, intending to buy it, and continued to browse while Jyn gathered her list of ingredients.

"Here we are ma'am." Jyn walked out of the back carrying an armful of ingredients and her parchment. He handed it back to her before beginning to ring up her items. When he reached the bottom and found the book he grinned. "That is an excellent read that is Miss."

"Oh well good; it looked quite interesting." She took her bag of things from Jyn before smiling and walking out of the store. She had always liked him; he was kind and shared her interest in the art of potion brewing.

Nira looked down at her list again before walking into Flourish and Blotts. She had nothing new to read and besides, she loved browsing their collection of books. A few of the students shopping shot her wary looks and she saw parents clutching their child's shoulders tighter. She rolled her eyes and walked away into the back of the store; she went straight to the D.A.D.A. section which was her favorite.

She walked down a few aisles, barely glancing at books when she heard the woman's voice hiss. She grabbed her head and winced.

Go back, go back!

Nira did as the voice told her to. She walked back among the already traversed aisles until the female told her to stop.

There, there! Do you see it?

She touched the spines of a few volumes, wincing when the voice yelled at her for choosing the wrong book. Finally she picked up an old black book that appeared to be very worn.

That's it I think…

She turned it over and looked at the cover. Darkest Magic and How to Use it.

"That's not the best title…" she whispered to herself.

However, at the voice's insistence, she opened it and leafed through. It was indeed what the title had suggested. It featured various jinxes and curses and how to use them. There were also some useful spells about creating a fog, or making an encroaching blackness. The voice was very excited about the book; for what reason Nira couldn't tell but she took the book to the register to buy it.

The man ringing her up gave her a strange look but didn't say anything about her purchase; indeed he looked almost…frightened at the idea of her being in his store. Nira gave a polite 'thank you' and taking her bag left the store. She still had to decide what to get Gen for her birthday when she passed Ollivander's.

Seeing Nira through his store window, and not being with a customer at the time, he ran outside to greet her.

"Miss Lestrange how wonderful!" Taken by surprise, she allowed herself to be ushered inside his shop. As far as she knew he didn't often accost his previous customers in the street and ask them how they were.

"Mr. Ollivander hello; yes it's so nice to see you."

"Yes dear yes; I trust your wand has been holding up alright for you?"

"Yes it's wonderful; couldn't have chosen a better one." She smiled, knowing he was about to disagree with her.

"You know, I've always said it's the wand that chooses the wizard. Or witch." He added with a smile at Nashira's raised brow. "I still remember the day I sold it to you. Only had to try out two wands and then this one just chose you; Ahh so magnificent. I love happy endings."

"Yes Mr. Ollivander. Well I did buy from the best wandmaker in Great Britain."

"I remember crafting it myself. 11 ¾ inches, made of furze, dragon heartstring core, very supple if memory serves me."

"Memory always serves you."

"Speaking of memory…" Mr. Ollivander rubbed his hands together in a nervous fashion. "I'm…I'm so terribly sorry Miss Lestrange."

"Sorry about what?" She had noticed that his lips had tightened around the word 'sorry' and that he seemed to be lying.

"I'm sorry about your mother…" He trailed off, seeing her bewildered expression. "Oh dear; perhaps you should read this morning's Prophet…"

"Why?" Nira demanded, fighting the urge to stomp her foot.

"Dear I really think you should just read the paper…" Mr. Ollivander showed her to the door. "Just go dear." He told her before she could say anything.

She raced outside, elbowing people out of her way and clutching her bags close to her. She raced down the street to the Daily Prophet office and pushed her way in; she closed her fingers around the edges of a paper and grabbed. She slammed three knuts down on the counter and marched back outside. She found a quiet café table to sit down and read the paper. She found what she was looking for on the front page headline:

Break In at Lestrange's Tomb: Ashes Stolen

Earlier today the Lestrange tomb, that houses the remains of Bellatrix Lestrange

and her husband's families remains. (Rodolphus himself remains in Azkaban.

Upon inspection by Ministry of Magic officials (none of which who were available for comment), they discovered that the tomb where Bellatrix Lestrange's ashes lay was broken into and her remains were taken as was her wand. Bellatrix was killed in 1998 by Molly Weasley at the Battle of Hogwarts; Bellatrix was the last standing Death Eater to be fighting under Lord Voldemort. The Ministry of Magic released a statement just before this article was printed stating that they were not sure why the tomb was broken into and it is not the Ministry's first priority to discover the culprit.

Nashira let out a strangled cry as she finished the article. Passerby stared at her strangely, however she shot them dirty looks and they shuffled off. The voice inside her head however was giving off the general sense of happiness. She didn't say anything but Nira could tell that whoever she was, she was joyous.

Nira turned around in her chair and Disapparated with a crack. Nira walked inside and put away all of her things carefully before heaving a dry sob. Her mother's remains had been stolen – and this thing that was speaking to her loved it. She pushed her feelings back; she had things to do today and she wasn't going to let her emotions get in the way. What would her mother say? Her Occlumency teacher would have scolded her for it but she had dropped out third lesson – she was no good at it.

She Apparated to an alley outside a grocery store and waited until she was alone to walk in. In the bustle of Diagon Alley she had forgotten all about getting Gen a birthday present – she would have to make another trip later. There was no way she'd get her a muggle present; Gen wouldn't understand how to use it. Living alone meant she didn't have to buy much except for what she would eat in a week.

Nashira finished her shopping rather quickly and stepped outside the store, holding a few bags. It was a clear day and she needed some fresh air after what she had read about her mother. She wandered down the street and wasn't paying attention to where she was going; it was after all muggle London.

She rounded a corner and stopped short when she saw two men advancing on another one. She ducked behind a corner and poked her head around so she could see. She craned to hear what the men were saying. One of them was obviously cowering in fear, while the other two advanced upon him, laughing.

"Do you think he'll reward us for killing a muggle?" The one on the left sneered.

"No; but it'll be fun anyway!" The one on the right laughed back.

"Oh to be out and about again…"

"Doing a Dark Lord's deed…"

"You remember he'd much rather we say his name for all to hear; unlike the Dark Lord. Morgan Sinnet wants us to say his name…he doesn't want us to fear him."

The two men smiled maliciously at each other before pointing wands at the muggle and a flash of green light erupted from their wands. Nira let out a gasp as the muggle crumpled to the ground, dead. The men whirled around, their wands pointing.

"Who's there?" They crowed, clearly excited about their kill.

Nira ducked around the corner and turned, Disapparating. She ran inside and threw her groceries in the kitchen before running back outside, her wand held high, tracing shapes in the air as she muttered incantations under breath. She staggered back, clutching at her chest when she was done. Her breath came out in a wheezing gasp.

She ducked back inside and cut her wand across the air, locking her door and sealing it as she stumbled into the kitchen. She fell back against the cabinets and slid to the floor, holding her head in her hands, sobbing.

"That…that was the killing curse." She whispered to herself, trying to get some comfort from hearing something spoken aloud. "No good wizard would do that…" She was startled as she heard the voice in her head cackle with delight. The woman's emotion was so strong Nira felt a haze of euphoria overcome her being as well.

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