Chapter 3

I walked, nervous that everyone was going to reject me...they were going to send me home...or just claim me a muggle...my heart skipped a beat at the thought of having to leave before I had even had the time to memorize this all for myself. I focused on putting one foot in front of the other, balancing my breathing. I walked, curiously, with my head held high as I entered the Great Hall. I couldn't help but stare in awe and wonder at the beautiful blued ceiling. The clouds were swirling perfectly, like giant cotton balls on a flat blue ocean. the effect was strange with the candle hanging everywhere, suspended in mid-air. There where four long tables in the hall...one of which I would be seated at in just a few short hours.

I walked in front of Dumbledor to where four teachers stood at the head of the room. The heads of houses looked at me curiously, Snape, I could tell, quickly read through my head once more, probably confirming what he had seen the first time he read through it. McGonagall looked at me wearily, her eyes squinted behind her square glasses, possibly wondering what exactly I was doing here. Flitwick seemed suspicious, bobbing nervously around on his tiny feet. Sprout smiled kindly, narrowing her eyes slightly as I walked up in front of them.

Dumbledor put a reassuring hand on my shoulder when I stopped in front of the professors. "This," he began, addressing the others in the room. "is Niekyra Ridgewood. She has no family, and will be attending school here this year. She only found out that she would be attending but a short hour ago. So I will need you, McGonagall, to go with her to London. Find some clothing for her, with the muggle money I had given you for these exact strange circumstances. And then you will escort her to Diagon Alley, where you will get her he wizarding supplies. Once you return, Niekyra is to go to Hagrid's cabin, and walk with him to the Hogsmead station. I would advise you do not ask questions. I will explain when given the time." then, with that, Dumbledor turned and seemingly floated out of the room.

McGonagall seemed to hesitate, then she took a step forward and said, through her tightly pursed lips, "Niekyra? Would you follow me to the schools gates."

I nodded, not speaking, and, with all eyes in the room on me, turned around and followed her from the room into the hall.

She turned and looked at me suspiciously. "Have your parents attended Hogwarts?" she asked.

"Erm... no...they did not." I said awkwardly.

"Okay...that would be why I do not recognize your name." she said simply, then entered the grounds.

We walked briskly, she seemed to not want to stop for a second to enjoy the fresh air. It took only a couple minutes, in which I became extremely winded because of the increasingly fast pace.

The exact second we crossed the gate, McGonagall turned and grabbed my arm. Then, all at once, the world seemed to squeeze around me, suffocating me. I gasped, my eyes wanted to bulge out of my skull. My breath was having issues catching anything. I wanted it too end. It seemed too uncomfortable to last. Then it stopped and my feet where on hard concrete instead of the soft dusty dirt it had been a moment ago...I HAD JUST APPIRATED FOR THE FIRST TIME. I smiled a huge ridiculous smile to myself.

McGonagall was already entering the Leaky Cauldron by the time the world stopped spinning. I ran to catch up. She entered, and looked extremely out of place standing in the middle of the slightly emptied pub, in her long green robes and very sophisticated expression. The bartender who's name I couldn't remember from the books) smiled up at us as we passed.

McGonagall hurried past into the alley way and tapped the bricks with her wand, as if impatient. The bricks seemed to almost roll back. We walked into the mostly deserted street, nobody was there due to the students having left several hours ago, and their families not needing much after just recently being at Diagon Alley. McGonagall turned to me, handed me a bag that made a jingly sound as it fell into my palm, then she said "I'm going to find clothes for you. you know where to go, and who to talk to. Here's your book list." she said, handing me a thick piece of parchment. Then she turned and left me, in nothing but a too big of robe and no shoes. I shivered slightly at a cool breeze. I hesitated before continuing down the street. I hesitated before entering Ollivanders. I didn't know what was going to happen when I spoke to him...I already knew a lot of magic, and I had never even used a wand.

I walked in after a deep breath, worrying before hand. The small shop appeared to be empty. It was very filled with shelves and boxes, cramping me to feel twice as small. After a second of staring up at the seemingly monstrous shelves, Ollivander bustled around the corner, putting away what looked like brand new wands. I cleared my throat and he jumped.

He at first looked surprised, then confused, and he said. "You are very late...for a student. What is it you are looking for today?"

"I...um...a wand." I said hesitantly.

He pulled out a tape measurer and without much thought, began to measure my forearm. "Well...you do look of appropriate age...I guess if you pay the galleons..." He said, setting his boxes down in front of me. "Why don't you try these knew ones. Made them just this week."

I opened the top box and pulled it out. It was a very dull color of brown, but very smooth.

"That one is evergreen...eight and a quarter inches...flexible and unicorn hair core." he said, acting almost indifferent.

I gave it a flick, thinking a simply indoor rain spell, and it began to slowly drizzle.

"Do you already know magic!? They are only suppose to spark!" I had definitely got his attention now.

"Yes. This one feels funny though...like it isn't listening on cue.." I said sadly, setting it on the desk.

"Well it is definitely amazing you know any magic. How about this one...I made it only hours ago. Difficult wand, I can tell you. Snakewood and fair wing core, little to no flexibility. 13 and a half inches." he said, handing me the wand.

It was obvious why it was snakewood...the wood had spots that appeared to be straight off of a snakes skin. It was a beautiful almost bloodwood color, with the darkened outline of the spots. I flicked it at a wilting flower. The flower immediately blossomed.

"I like this one." I said simply, pulling a couple galleons out of my small bag. He took them without a word.

I entered back out of the street and to the book shop.

I apologize for the long wait on this chapter. I have school and stuff. I tried to add a little more detail to this one...the last few chapters I have just been trying to get the new plot across. Now I can slow it down a little. No one has left any comments or anything...so maybe it DOES make sense and is actually okay? idk. I would appreciate any help! Thanks!