Disclaimer: I do not own any of Rowling's characters, settings, ect.
Note: Kenneth MacAndrews is fashioned after a very old and very dear friend of mine, my pseudo brother. I hope you enjoy him!
Oh, and thanks go out to KattyKoo, for her great reviews! Wow, that rhymed…
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After Olivia and Robert had read the article all the way a few times, they realized that the news it contained wasn't exactly dire. All that had happened was a woman glimpsing who she thought was Grindelwauld. Nobody else had seen him, so her story couldn't be confirmed.
"Blimey!" said Robert, looking slightly annoyed that a murderer didn't really seem to be close by after all. "Why do you think Dumbledore bothered sending you that rubbish? The whole thing doesn't seem terribly significant to me."
Olivia looked troubled. "I don't know, Robert. I know that the woman's story is wooly at best, but I think Dumbledore just wants me to be on my guard. He's never steered me wrong before, so I'll trust him on this, too. I'm just going to have to be careful, that's all."
"Er, right." Robert replied, already bored with the whole thing. "C'mon, let's go play Quidditch. We mustn't let up on your training regimen-the trials are only in a few weeks!"
Pretending to groan in annoyance, Olivia put her porridge bowl in the sink, where a sponge immediately cleaned it. Robert did the same, and then they walked outside, breathing the summer air gratefully. "You know, Twitch," said Robert thoughtfully, "I think I might envy you a little bit."
Olivia thought that Robert might possibly have gone a little mad. "What, been hit with a Bludger too many times? Where do you get off being envious of me?"
Robert shot a withering look at his friend. "I'm going to miss being able to go to Hogwarts, you little goose." He sighed, and suddenly the moment became very serious. "It's going to be terribly different. I'm not leaving the magic world or anything, training for an Auror. Still, at Hogwarts the most you got for messing something up was losing points and a detention. If I mess up being an Auror, I could lose my job. Hell, I could even make someone lose their life. That's a heavy burden to carry, Livie."
She didn't know what to say. "Robert…I guess that's the whole point of being an adult, isn't it? Someday I'll leave school, and it's not like I'll be able to play jokes on Malfoy or anything idiotic like that. But that's what's Hogwarts been getting you ready for, isn't it? I mean, all those years at Quidditch captain taught you responsibility. After the N.E.W.T.'s, you know how to study. You have all the tools to be an Auror, Robert, and Hogwarts gave them to you. You'll make us proud, I know it."
"My little encourager, that's what you are, Twitch. What would I do without you?" asked Robert, punching her lightly on the arm.
She punched him back, hard. He groaned and pretended to grab his arm in pain. "Well, I'm sure I don't know." Olivia jumped away from Robert and leapt onto her broom, hovering just over his head. "Come on, I want to see you try and pull the Wronski Feint on me. Bet you won't be able to get past me!"
Accepting the challenge, Robert jumped onto his own broom. Soon, they were zipping around in the air, Olivia furiously batting at the heavy Bludger with her bat, and Robert always trying to get past her.
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The next morning at breakfast, Mrs. Potter addressed Olivia. "Livie, I thought you and I could go to Diagon Alley today and pick up your school things. Your aunt and uncle will be back tomorrow, and it would be nice if all of that were taken care of. Then you wouldn't have to worry about it."
"Thanks, Aunt Elise! That would be marvelous," Olivia said, shoveling her porridge into her mouth so that she could go get ready for the expedition.
"Hey!" said Robert indignantly. "Don't I get to come as well?"
"Why, Robert, I'm surprised! I didn't know you would be interested in robes and school books. I guess you never truly know a person…"
"Oh, get along with you, Twitch," said Robert, pulling a superior look onto his face. "I was actually thinking that I might get lost in Quidditch World while you girls bought all the boring stuff. Then we could all go visit the joke and pet stores together."
"That's a fine idea, Rob! Well, then, you two had better go get ready. We'll meet in the den in ten minutes, all right?" Mrs. Potter bustled off, the dishes being cleaned in one swift flick of her wand and the broom beginning to sweep the kitchen with another flick.
Hurrying to do Mrs. Potter's bidding, Olivia and Robert thundered up the stairs. Pulling off her worn skirt and jersey that she had intended to play Quidditch in, Olivia ran over to her trunk. She reached into its depths, and pulled out an attractive black skirt and a deep plum blouse, which made her emerald eyes sparkle and snap. A black belt encircled her trim waist. She smiled, knowing that while she would always be small for her age, she could still look grown-up. Because she was nearly thirteen, she carefully pinned her riotous red curls onto the top of her head in a flattering style, and finished off with plain black shoes. She grabbed her Hogwart's black cloak with its Ravenclaw patch and patted Winnie's head before she thundered down the stairs. She could hear the cat's pleased purring all the way down.
Robert was already waiting, dressed in a plain brown suit and a blue cloak. "You look nice, Liv," said Robert, more because it was the polite thing to do than because he actually believed it.
Before she could answer, Mrs. Potter came bustling up behind them, dressed in a lavender sweater set and brown skirt. "Well, ready, are we? I don't want to Floo to Diagon; if there's anything I hate, it's walking around in shops with ash on my shoulders. Rob and I can both Apparate, so that's not a problem. Here, Olivia, you can Side-Along Apparate with me. We'll be there in a jiffy." Olivia stepped to the older witch's side, and firmly grasped her arm. "Ready, then? Remember, Rob-destination, determination, deliberation!"
"Yeah, yeah, I know, Mum! Come on, let's go!" Robert said, his voice colored with annoyance.
"Sorry, Rob. Okay then, one, two, and three!" Mrs. Potter turned, and Olivia held onto the witch's arm with everything she had. The mind-numbing pressure hit, making her feel like she was suddenly being squashed like a lemon. A moment later with a loud crack! they had landed. Olivia shook her head like a dog, causing a few of her traitorous curls to come loose from their hair pins. They were standing in the Leaky Cauldron. Nobody had even jumped at their sudden appearance, although a few hellos came their way once the occupants of the pub realized who was there. "Hello, Robert! Back, are you?" "Why, Elise! I haven't seen you in such a time! How are you doing, lovey?"
Even Olivia heard her name, and turned to see who was calling it. To her great delight, she saw there Madame Galen. The old nurse's voice was as hoarse as ever, her graying hair still wrapped around her head in magnificent braids. She was wearing rose of cerulean blue, and her eyes sparkled and snapped. Upon reaching her student, the old nurse pulled Olivia in for a warm hug.
"My, dearie, but I am glad to see you! Had a good summer, then?"
Olivia pulled back from the embrace. "Hello, Madame Galen! It's so lovely to see you! My summer was all right-my uncle Peter married Miss Rebecca, and they had a beautiful wedding."
Madame Galen's eyes darkened for a moment. "Yes, I heard all about that wedding. Has anything else happened since then, dear?"
Shaking her head, Olivia replied, "No, ma'am. Everything's been calm and quiet. I've been staying with the Potters, and Robert and I have been having a marvelous time."
"Good! Robert needs a live-in nurse, if he continues to injure himself every other week. Good to see you, lad," she said, as she lightly whacked Robert upside his head.
"Easy, there, Madame Galen! I'll have you know that I haven't broken anything or had to be healed for six months." The boy turned reproachful eyes upon the nurse.
"Don't get upset, boy, I know you haven't. I'm glad that you've been taking care of Livie. So, dear," she said, turning back to Olivia. "Shopping for school, are you? Yes? Ah, I remember your first school shopping trip. You've changed a fair bit since then. Actually, you've changed a fair bit since school ended. Putting up your hair now, are you?"
Olivia grinned. "Just for special occasions. It's too much trouble to do every day, as curly as it is. Don't worry, I'm not grown-up yet."
"Good! Well, I should be off now, dear. I just came to Diagon Alley to pick up some herbs for Professor Delphinium. She's having a fit over the Flutterby Bushes, claims they need some honeysuckle for inspiration."
Remembering the eccentric Herbology teacher, Olivia asked with some trepidation, "So Professor Delphinium is staying for another year, Madame Galen? I thought that she was only coming for a year while Professor Ensley studied in the Amazon."
Madame Galen leaned down and whispered into Olivia's ear, "Well, love, I'm not really supposed to say anything, but I know that you don't go flapping your gums all over the country. Professor Ensley was studying plants one day, when one of her subjects grabbed her from behind and squeezed her hard. Gave her quite a fright, it took her a few minutes to curse it enough to make it let her go. Oh, she's all right, but it seems that she's lost some of her zeal for Herbology. She won't be returning to the school. Professor Delphinium seems to consider this some kind of betrayal to all plants and plant lovers, so she's decided that it's her purpose in life to better educate students on the beauties and wonders of…plants. Though heaven knows who she'd inspire anyone, I think she's cracked, but there you are…"
Olivia didn't know whether to laugh at Madame Galen's joke or groan at the thought of having to endure Professor Delphinium indefinitely. "Oh, well. I guess even Hogwarts isn't perfect. I'll be seeing you soon, then, Madame Galen!" The nurse waved cheerfully and left, whistling as she walked.
"Well then!" said Mrs. Potter briskly, as she finished a conversation with another witch. "Are we ready to go shopping, then?" Robert and Olivia both nodded, and then followed her as she lead the way out of the Leaky Cauldron in the alley behind it.
Magic never ceased to amaze Olivia, and even after watching the entrance to Diagon Alley open before, it still got to her. After being touched by Mrs. Potter's wand, the bricks folded in on themselves and vanished, leaving a wide arching entrance. Mrs. Potter plunged into the crowd without hesitation, and Olivia and Robert followed.
"Quack, quack!" said Robert sarcastically. When Olivia looked up at him in confusion, he whispered, "I feel like we're ducklings, Twitch, following after mum like this!" Understanding the joke, Olivia grinned in appreciation of her friend's wit.
Leaving Robert happily ensconced in the Quidditch store, Mrs. Potter and Olivia proceeded to take Diagon Alley by storm. The first stop was, as always, Gringotts Bank, where Olivia exchanged her Muggle notes for wizard Galleons. Once this chore was completed, they headed to The Wizard's Closet. "Lovey, I think you're going to be needing new robes. Even that cloak is several inches too short!"
Olivia nodded, her cheeks coloring a little. "I just had the hem let out last year, Aunt Elise, so I could save that money. That's not an option this year, I'm afraid!" Thankfully, it was wizarding shop, and soon Olivia's purchases of a whole new school wardrobe were completed quite painlessly.
"Phew!" said Mrs. Potter after they had told the clerk to send Olivia's robes back to the Potter's house. "That's the worst job, anyway. Why don't we go get your books, and then we'll pick up Robert for lunch? After that, we can get your parchment, inks, cat food, and potions supplies."
Olivia agreed, and this was soon done. They ended up eating lunch back in the Leaky Cauldron, Tom serving them steak and back potatoes, with ice cream for dessert. Robert put up a heavy fuss about having to go back into the potions supplies shop. "Good grief, Mum! Do you know how many years I've waited to get of that drafty old dungeon that they call the Potions classroom? I certainly don't want any reminders of it."
An evil gleam came to Olivia's eye. "Well, if going in there bothers your feelings, Robert, then you should probably wait outside. You're such a sensitive boy, right, Mrs. Potter?"
Elise Potter caught the gist of the conversation. "Oh, he was sensitive, without a doubt, Olivia! He used to cry so hard when he was a little boy, when his cute little bum got wet…"
"All right, all right, shut it, both of you! Good grief, no wonder witches have such a bad reputation!" Robert stomped into the nasty smelling shop, grumbling and muttering things under his breath that Olivia was sure that she didn't want to hear. Mrs. Potter threw Olivia a furtive wink, and then sailed into the shop with her head held high.
Olivia wasn't repulsed by the shop as she had been as an eleven year old. She fearlessly put her hand in barrels and drew out dead spiders and beetle eyes, and even dared to shovel crocodile hearts into her potions kit. Even Robert looked mildly impressed. "Blimey, I never would have thought you'd do that without gloves!"
Arching an eyebrow at her friend, Olivia sighed heavily. "Were you always too squeamish to do it yourself, Rob? That dear sensitive spirit, coming out again…"
He snorted and walked away, ignoring her delighted laughter. Score! It wasn't often that she could find something that would nettle Robert. This should be good for a while.
That night, weighed down with package after package, they wobbled their way back to the Leaky Cauldron. "Oomph!" said Olivia, as her packages tumbled to the wood floor. Robert grunted while he set his down. Mrs. Potter pulled out her wand.
"I certainly don't want to Apparate with these on our backs." With a wave of the wand, the packages disappeared. "There we are! Already back home. Now, then, we should join them! Olivia, dear…" The younger witch stepped to Mrs. Potter's side. "All right, one, two, th-"
"Miss Price! My lady!" A voice broke through Mrs. Potter's words.
"Rats," exclaimed Mrs. Potter. "We almost got away that time…" They turned to see who had been calling Olivia's name, and found that a young boy was running towards them.
"Miss Olivia Price?" he asked as he drew near. When Olivia nodded, he actually bowed low. "Good evening, fair lady! Allow me to introduce myself: I am Kenneth Brendan MacAndrews. I have been sent upon a quest to find you, and present you with this missive."
The looks upon Mrs. Potter and Robert's faces were of pure befuddlement. Who did this kid think he was? Olivia, however, was just tired enough to play along with him.
"Why thank you, kind sir! You have acted most nobly on your crusade. I wish you well in this, and in all thine quests." She curtsied to Kenneth, who looked thrilled.
Then, heaven helped him, the kid kneeled. "If I might be so bold as to ask a boon, my lady?"
Ignoring Mrs. Potter's annoyed muttering behind her back wasn't easy; Olivia tried to put a serious look on her face and answered, "What is thy bidding, young squire?"
Kenneth looked up at Olivia with a longing and devoted look upon his face. "I am to begin my training at Hogwarts this year, my lady. I would ask that you would allow me to name you as my lady, and to let me by your squire. I will do whatever you ask of me."
This was getting slightly out of hand; the game was getting old, now. Gently raising the boy from his knees, she replied kindly, "When the years are full upon thy brow, squire, we shall see. As of now, it is your task to perform admirably at your education, and to act honorably towards your fellow students. You must follow the guidelines of chivalry. Will you take up this act of bravery and make it thine own?"
Kenneth's eyes were shining brightly. "I do take up this act, my lady. May God and my sword preserve you and your interests!" With another bow, the boy ran off.
"Blimey!" exclaimed Robert incredulously. "What was that all about?"
Olivia shook her head at him. "It was about a boy with some imagination, oh Sensitive One, which you know nothing about!" She examined the note. "It's from Professor Dumbledore. I'll open it when we get back to the house, it doesn't seem to be urgent. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."
Mrs. Potter shook her head in a futile attempt to wipe away the blank look that was there. "Oh, it was no problem, lovey. Come on; let's go before someone else waylays us!" With a flash of light, the group disappeared.