A/N: Thanks to my beta Azzie for looking this over! This chapter is dedicated to LivingInTheClouds and AnironMor for reviewing! :) It means a lot to me!
Chapter Three: Diagon Alley:
Melody was waiting by the front door when Dumbledore appeared. She jumped down the steps and went to meet him, looking confused. "He had some work to do today, as school let out just recently." Dumbledore explained.
"He's a teacher?"
"Yes."
"Oh. What does he teach?"
"He would like to answer your questions himself. I believe he is scared of what I may disclose if left to my own discretion." the elder replied, eyes twinkling merrily. Melody smirked.
"Of course." she muttered.
"Shall we?" He offered her his arm. She looked at it blankly.
"What?"
"I believe it will be faster if we Apparate. That is, to appear directly where I wish in moments."
"My stuff...?" Melody trailed off as she looked back to find her things gone.
"Waiting in the castle."
"Castle?"
"School." he explained, smiling again. Melody grinned and took his arm.
"I like this school already!"
Melody opened her eyes to a busy city rumbling by. She blinked, suddenly dizzy and nauseous, and closed them again. "Does it always feel this bad?" she mumbled uncomfortably, keeping as still and calm as possible until it passed.
"You get used to it after a while." Dumbledore said cheerily. "When you are ready...?"
"I'm okay." she replied a little more clearly, opening her eyes again as the feeling receded.
"Good. This way." He led her along the street for a bit before stopping in front of a rather shabby-looking building. The people walking by didn't even look at it. Melody had a nagging suspicion only those with magic could see it.
She let Dumbledore lead the way inside, and paused just inside the doorway to let her eyes adjust to the sudden dimness. "Hello, Albus." someone called, and they spent a few minutes on greetings and introductions. Tom seemed nice enough, Melody reflected. She looked around as they talked for a moment.
All the pictures moved. Even on the newspaper one lady was reading. Coffee stirred itself next to one man's hand, glasses cleaned themselves over by the counter, and bronze, silver, and gold coins lay on a nearby table next to some dirty dishes.
Dumbledore gently laid a hand on her shoulder. "Well, we had best be going. Nice seeing you, Tom."
"And you." the man replied, going back behind his counter. Melody swept her eyes over the room one last time as the headmaster led her to the back, into a blocked-off little alleyway.
"What...?" she began, then stopped as he started tapping bricks with a wand, humming quietly to himself. The bricks rearranged themselves loudly, opening a clear view of what lay beyond. Melody gasped.
It was like a magical strip mall. People filled the streets, signs hung over the cobblestones, magical products lined the display cases, jumping, flashing, whirring, and making all kinds of noise.
"This way." Dumbledore said gently after a moment, guiding Melody down the cobblestone street. She stayed close to him, but kept turning her head to stare at everything. It was a wonder she paid him any attention at all.
"Here we are." he said pleasantly, to draw her attention back to him. They now stood at the foot of the sweeping staircase leading up into Gringotts. Melody read the name of the building and panicked.
"I don't have any money!" she exclaimed.
"Your mother left you an account with a reasonable amount in it, and your father has agreed to support the necessary expenses so that you may save your money for things you want, rather than need." Melody sighed in relief, and nodded. It seemed fair.
She let the older wizard lead the way inside, trailing behind him as she absorbed the high ceiling, white marble, and gold and gems surrounding her everywhere. "Are those all real?" she asked in a hushed voice.
"Yes. But do not-" Dumbledore began, trying to warn her about thievery in Gringotts. She wasn't listening anymore, but she backed away from the counters all the same.
She let him handle the transaction until they reached her vault. He'd explained the money system on the way down, so she knew which coins were which, but not how much to take.
"Keep in mind this is only spending money for yourself. Your father will cover all school expenses." Dumbledore reminded the girl. She nodded, and took a small handful of each type of coin. Dumbledore nodded in approval and led the way out.
By the time they reached daylight once more, Melody's stomach was growling rather loudly, however much she tried to hide it, so he took her to Florean's first. Like any teenage girl, she went chocolate-crazy, but the strawberries surprised him a bit. He laughed as he remembered her parents' tastes. She really is their child... The thought seemed a miracle. He could only imagine a fraction of what her father felt.
After they ate, he gave her her letter and list, excusing himself by saying he had some errands to run.
"Will you be all right on your own?" he asked. Melody nodded.
"Sure." She turned and walked off, scanning her list and then the signs on the street. Dumbledore had given her a bag of coins to cover school expenses, and she was careful to differentiate between the two as she wandered down the alley. She naturally veered towards the cheaper selections of the stores the professor had recommended, and ended up with lots of extra money.
By the time she finished, it was late, and Dumbledore was nowhere to be found, so she lugged her bags back to the Leaky Cauldron and got herself a snack while she waited. Dumbledore appeared briefly, deep in conversation with another, important-looking wizard. Melody waved slightly, and he nodded.
"Go on. I'll watch your bags." he told her as they took over the table. The younger wizard nodded at her and she gave him a quick, shy smile before darting out of the building for the freedom of the alley.
She bought some games in the hope that she would find friends to play with, some interesting, non-curricular books, and spent hours looking at broomsticks. Eventually she noticed that it was almost pitch-black out, and ran back to the Leaky Cauldron, bursting in out of breath and in a terrible disarray.
"Relax." Tom told her. "He's still here." Melody gulped for air, making sure she could breathe properly again before thanking the barkeep and making her way back to the table. Dumbledore said goodbye to his companion before turning to Melody.
"Ready to go?" the elderly wizard asked. Melody nodded, grinning. Her heart pounded with excitement. She skipped out the door ahead of the professor, only to stop dead on the sidewalk outside and stare up at the stars, wondering where her adventure would lead her next.
