In which Angeline journeys to Diagon Alley and meets an Owl

"Good morning Miss Portur! How did you sleep?" Ms. Kimberlyn asked as she burst into the guest bedroom of the Greyheart home. At the conclusion of the summer, Angeline had traveled to England with her relatives. She was not worried for her aunt, as Mr. Riley had slowly inserted himself and his handful of household staff into Marinthana's home. She knew her aunt was in capable hands. As for Rochester, he had been moved by magical means, already upon the grounds of Hogwarts.

"Wretchedly," Angeline answered as she finished buttoning her shirt. She had chosen a riding outfit today, for the mobility of pants. There were light circles under her eyes, and her braid was a tad sloppier than usual. "I do not understand how anyone could sleep with this much noise."

"Ah, well, you get used to it," Ms. Kimberlyn said, smiling brightly. Angeline sighed, crossing her arms as she faced the Ministry agent.

"So, why are you here?" she asked. Ms. Kimberlyn chuckled.

"We have to go shopping for your school supplies," she said. "The Greyhearts have offered to cover the cost-"

"No need," Angeline said, pulling a note from her pocket and holding it up. "Aunt Marinthana gave me this note, saying I have full access to her account at Gringotts."

"Oh, my, how absolutely splendid!" Ms. Kimberlyn said. She turned, offering Angeline her arm. "Well, then, shall we be off?"

"This is a wall," Angeline said. Ms. Kimberlyn chuckled.

"Indeed 'tis," she said. She then proceeded to pull out her wand, the longest Angeline had seen by far, and tapped one of the stones on the wall three times. With a creaking sound, the wall pulled back like a curtain. Angeline stared, wide eyed at the scene beyond.

There was a bustling market place, full of people in all forms of dress. There were stores she had never heard of, items that couldn't possibly be real and yet… there they were. Angeline turned her head as Ms. Kimberlyn stepped in front of her, holding out a hand.

"After you," she said, smiling as Angeline snorted. The girl breezed past her, though her step slowed as she and Ms. Kimberlyn joined the crowd, wall closing behind them. "First stop, Gringotts."

They made their way through the crowd, Angeline staying close to her guardian. The girl had never seen so many people in the entirety of her thirteen years, and, although her pride would not allow her to admit it, she was rather intimidated. Ms. Kimberlyn, being the remarkably perceptive woman she was, made no comment as the girl gingerly took her hand. However, as they crossed into Gringotts, the hand was dropped.

Angeline glanced around her as Ms. Kimberlyn strode done the walkway. The girl's face was blank as she looked over the goblins pouring over their work, a skeptical brow the only indication of her disbelief. When they reached the high desk at the far end, Angeline's gaze travelled to the goblin sitting there.

"We'd like to access the vault of Marinthana Corinne Greyheart," Ms. Kimberlyn said. "Angeline, your note, please."

Angeline handed Ms. Kimberlyn the note, watching as she handed it to a goblin, who in turn took it to the goblin behind the desk. He read it with a sneer. He then turned.

"Vault 894," he said, and Ms. Kimberlyn briskly followed another goblin, Angeline a step behind. Walking through a back door, they stepped up to a trolley, which glided much faster than Angeline felt it had a right to.

"Vault 894," the goblin said, placing two fingers on the door. Angeline scoffed, but the door opened a moment later. The girl blinked at it, then frowned as she followed behind Ms. Kimberlyn. When she entered the room, however, she gasped.

There were too many galleons to count, alongside treasured artifacts of gold and silver. There was a long mirror in one corner, and even a crystal chandelier hanging from the stone ceiling.

"Did your aunt ever mention what business she was a part of?" Ms. Kimberlyn asked, looking quite amazed herself. Angeline shook her head.

"I was not aware she had one," she said, slowly examining the shelves of the room. Then she started. "Oh, but she gave me a list."

"A list?" Ms. Kimberlyn asked, turning. Angeline nodded, digging said list from her pocket.

"She said they were items which I would find useful," she said. The girl scanned her aunt's neat, open handwriting. "Let us see… a carry-all bag, which is a black messenger's bag…"

"Ah! Here 'tis!" Ms. Kimberlyn said, plucking the bag from a handel and handing it to Angeline. The girl nodded her thanks, slinging the bag over her head to rest on her shoulder.

"Next is… ah. A mirror with silver roses on the back," she said, picking up said mirror and placing it in her bag. "Then a… sneakoscope?"

"Right here, hun," Ms. Kimberlyn said, bringing it over. Angeline nodded, also placing it in the bag.

"Then a necklace set with a black stone…" the girl wandered, examining the shelves until she found the necklace. This she put on, slipping it under her collar. "And last is a pocket watch."

"Really?" Ms. Kimberlyn asked. Angeline frowned, confused by the woman's surprise.

"Yes, a silver pocket watch with gold vines and pink roses," she said, walking down the shelves until reaching the end. The pocket watch, a true work of art, rested in a black-velvet lined box. Angeline removed it reverently, attaching the chain to a button and placing the watch in her pocket. She then turned to Ms. Kimberlyn. "What else do we require?"

"Galleons," the woman said, waving a hand at the piles. "Just grab some of them."

"Alright," Angeline said, and did as instructed. After sliding the coins in her bag for a few moments, she paused, looking down at it with a frown.

"It's an enchanted bag, hun," Ms. Kimberlyn said. "It will hold anything you want it to."

"I see," Angeline said, straightening her bag. She looked up at Ms. Kimberlyn. "Shall we be off, then?"

"Certainly," Ms. Kimberlyn said, and they turned to the door.

The first stop on their shopping adventure was Eelyops Owl Emporium. Angeline sniffed as they entered, frowning at the mess of the shop as Ms. Kimberlyn approached the seller. The girl walked around the narrow space, squinting in the dim light. Then she stopped as something caught her eye. Turning her head slowly, she took in the pitiful sight before her.

It was a barn owl, perched on one foot. He sat proudly on top of a cage, despite his disheveled feathers and the scar down the left side of his face. He was large, and rather ugly for his kind. Rather than the typical brown feathers of his fellows, his wings and head were dusted with gray, his beak and the rim of his face closer to black. He was large for his kind, and his functional icy blue eye watched the girl before him. Angeline approached him slowly, tilting her head.

"Well, you are a right mess, are you not?" she said. The owl twisted its head horizontally and cooed softly. It seemed almost to agree with her. "I meant no offense, of course. You are still a noble creature, all things considered."

"Whoo," the owl said, tilting it's head to the other side. Angeline rolled her eyes.

"I am quite sincere, sir. I wonder, though, can you still fly with your wings in that state?" she asked, taking a step back and offering her arm. The owl gave an indignant whoot, then dove from the cage, taking a sweep around the room before gracefully landing on Angeline's forearm. The girl smiled, running her fingers gently through the stiff peregrines. "My, you are magnificent, sir."

"His name be Brutus," Angeline flinched as wizened old man walked up to her. "He was once owned by a grea' wizard, who fell in battle many eves ago. I've never seen 'im take a shine ta any'un before, 'specially not a woman. Some said 'ed never take to another wizard agin."

"Well, it might help that I am not a wizard," Angeline said, giving Brutus a rueful gaze. He blinked at her with his good eye, and seemed to croon mischievously.

"Well, aye, ye be a witch o' course," the man said. Angeline snorted, letting Brutus move to her shoulder as she crossed her arms.

"No, I am not," she said. The man eyed her strangely. "I-"

"Angeline, we'll be going now," Ms. Kimberlyn said, steering the girl away. The agent nodded to the man, herding Angeline back to the street. Once outside, she sighed, and Angeline turned to face her.

"What was that?" the girl asked, looking rather miffed.

"Listen, love, not everyone is going to be happy about… well, about you being a muggle and all, so we want to try and keep this as quiet as we can, for your own good. Understand?" Ms. Kimberlyn said. Angeline rolled her eyes.

"I see. Even in the magical world there is bias," she said. Ms. Kimberlyn rolled her eyes as well.

"You act too old for thirteen," she said, beginning to lead.

"Hold on, what about Brutus?" Angeline asked. Ms. Kimberlyn smiled gently back at the girl.

"He's yours, hun," the agent said. Angeline looked at the owl out of the corner of her eye. He puffed up next to her, and she giggled as she followed Ms. Kimberlyn.

"Do not worry," Angeline said to the owl. "I do not believe in owning animals."

"Churp," Brutus said approvingly.

The rest of the day was spent finding various supplies Angeline required; books, materials and other odds and ends. In the afternoon, Ms. Kimberlyn stopped at an ice cream parlor, insisting on buying Angeline ice cream as well. They girl took it with a brave face, although she protested that it made her seem like a child. After which, Ms. Kimberlyn received a message, asking that she speak with one of her overseers right away. Asking Angeline to remain put, the agent had gone off with the messenger to do as asked.

Angeline had had every intention of staying right where she was. Brutus, however, had other ideas.

The owl moved from the girl's shoulder to her arm after she had finished her ice cream, then gently bunched her sleeve in his foot and began flapping up, pulling her.

"What on earth are you doing?" Angeline asked, rather distressed as she was pulled along. There were some in the crowd that stopped to laugh at her, and Angeline felt her face color. "Stop this, Brutus! I demand that you stop!"

"Whoo!" Brutus said, a tad indignantly as he continued to pull the girl along.

"Stop! Brutus! I said-" at that moment, Brutus gave an extra tug and let go of Angeline's sleeve, causing the girl to fall to the ground. She huffed, blowing an errant strand of hair from her face as she picked herself up. Brutus, looking satisfied with himself, was perched on a sign post. Angeline glared at him, then looked up at the shop she had fallen in front of.

The sign read 'Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes' in bold print. Angeline gave the shop a once over, taking in the colorful display windows, then looked up at Brutus. The owl seemed to shuffle his wing in a manner indication the girl should enter. Angeline snorted.

"Fine, but no more of this foolery out of you," she said, ignoring the owl's self satisfied coo as she hesitantly pushed open the door.