Chapter 3: Diagon Alley

After calming down, Ellexia had noticed quite a few people standing around her and Professor Snape, looking at them with a mixture of facial expressions. "Where are we?" Ellexia muttered still in a bit of a daze, after experiencing the previous emotional roller coaster ride.

"We are in Diagon Alley to pick up your supplies." Snape stated, with some of the coldness back to his voice, while glaring at the surrounding passerby. "I think we should make a stop by the Leaky Cauldron first, get something to eat, reserve our rooms, then we can continue this wonderful little adventure of ours," talking so sarcastically, Ellexia started feeling guilty about her episode. She nodded wearily and decided not to speak until she had to, trying to avoid annoying him further. She was worried that with how quickly Snape's attitude had went from crass to caring, that it could just as easily go from annoyed to furious. With this thought Ellexia decided it best not to test that theory, and to try and stay on his good side; well, tolerant side anyway.

They had apparated into one end of Diagon Alley, near a shop called Ollivander's. After Snape had helped Ellexia off of the ground, they walked silently all the way to the other end, where the Leaky Cauldron was. They ordered lunch and requested rooms from the barkeep, named Tom. Not saying a word to each other throughout their meal, once they were done, Snape finally broke the silence. "So, what classes do you wish to attend this term?" He sat waiting for a response, hoping she did not think he was actually interested in her choices, but had to know them before purchasing her supplies.

Ellexia was a little stunned by this sudden interruption of silence, but hastily answered in order to avoid her professor getting more agitated. "Arithmancy, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Charms, Astrology, and..." trying not to forget the last course, blurted "Potions."

With her final choice the Professor perked up, "Potions?" he repeated back to her, "you want to take Potions?"

"Yes, is that a problem, professor?" Ellexia returned, making sure to address him appropriately.

"Well that depends. Did you get an 'Outstanding' for you Potions OWL? Because if you did not you must pick something else, for I teach Potions and I only accept the best of the best for my NEWT classes." Snape replied with a sneer.

"Actually, I did." Ellexia replied feeling slightly better about herself for doing something right in her past life.

A little thrown off, Snape shot back, "So, you think you're the best of the best, do you?"

"I don't know about that," she tossed back. "I've always done well at it and it is one of my favorite courses."

Snape looked back at her a little impressed with the confidence the girl conjured up while being interrogated. "Well, we'll just have to see about that. I will accept you into Newt potions, but only on a trial basis, and if you do not perform above par you will be rejected. Do you still want to take Potions, Miss Baine?" He was sure she would fold under the pressure.

"That sounds fair. I will do my best." Ellexia proclaimed confidently, I doubt it is as tough as he makes it out to be. Ellexia thought to herself. He probably just wants to get me out of his hair. I'll show him want I can do. Ellexia was surely in for a rude awakening...

"Let's get this over with." Snape stated, standing up from the small, round, wooden bar table. "You can leave your things in your room, and then we will go."

Noticing the two getting up from their table, Tom the barkeep hurried over and offered to show them their rooms.

"We are leaving now, but you can take this girl's things to one of the rooms for her." Snape instructed."Let us leave now, Miss Baine."

Tom nodded to Professor Snape picked up Ellexia's luggage, and took it to her room. Then Ellexia stood up from the table and followed her professor out of the Leaky Cauldron and back out onto the bustling street of Diagon Alley. Once outside and now feeling much better, Ellexia took the chance to look around at this strange and exciting place. The only wizarding place she had seen before was her previous school, other than that, both of her parents were muggles, she lived in a muggle city, and had no friends. So she knew very little of the wizarding world. As she looked around, she took in as much as she could, watching the people, looking at the storefronts, and listening to conversation. Snape stopped and turned toward her to ask her a question, then noticing how awestruck she was, interjected, " Miss Baine, by the look upon your face I could assume that you have never seen a witch or wizard in your life."

At the sound of his voice Ellexia snapped out of her observant awe. "Oh, sorry professor, the only magical people I have been around were at Eagleseye, and they were nothing like this. Everyone there was so stuck up and thought they were better than everyone else. I just cannot believe how different things are here. I knew there were wizarding communities, but this... this, is just... just so...amazing" She replied falling back into a daze.

Snape just stood there with a slightly shocked look on his face. He couldn't believe how much this girl seemed to have changed in just the hour or so he had known her. He knew calming droughts could work wonders, but this was insane. He just stood there and watched her not wanting to interrupt her amazement, afraid of putting her into another frenzy.

After a minute she finally came out of it and looked at Snape, seeing a hint of shock on his face, realized how much she had just said to him. She reached her hand up to her throat surprised at how easily the words had come out.

Snape cleared his throat, now that she was looking at him. "Since transferring from a new school, I assume that you need almost everything but a wand, do you have any potions ingredients, or other items I can check off the list?"

"I don't have anything." Ellexia muttered, looking down at the ground. "I didn't have money, so I used mostly the schools supplies, and when I was expelled the headmaster broke my wand in two." She spoke with an air of hatred to her voice.

"I see, well this is going to be a long day. Let's just start at the other end and work our way back, so I can get myself a drink as soon as we are finished." Snape drawled, with a look of dread in his black eyes.

They walked all the way to Ollivander's wand shop, on the opposite end of Diagon Alley. Snape sat near the door and waited for Ollivander to help her find a wand. Wands weren't cheap at Ollivander's but anything less would have been nearly useless. It took seven different wands to find just the right one. After over an hour spent in just one shop, Snape thought in best to split up if they were to ever going to finish their shopping. He left Ellexia a couple of shops down at the second hand robe shop and went to the Apothecary and cauldron shop for her potions supplies, he also had found her a large chest and had it sent to her room. Ellexia finished shopping for robes a few minutes before Snape arrived back for her. She took the time to stand outside and watch the other shoppers going about their business. Snape returned and led her to Flourish and Blott's to get her course books. Within five minutes Snape was ready to leave, with his arms full of everything she needed, and had to practically drag her from the bookstore, because she was so enthralled with all of the interesting reading material that lay before her. They returned to the Leaky Cauldron and Snape sent her strait to her room having Tom take her food, and told her to stay there and pack, and that he didn't want to hear or see anything from her until he came to get her in the morning. He then went straight to the bar to drown himself in Fire Whiskey.

AN: Thanx for reading, please review or comment. Phoenix Bride.