Audrey knelt in front of the cupboard under the stairs, rummaging in her trunk of magical items. She pulled out several of her old robes, and Natalia tutted in disapproval. Evidently, wizard fashion had evolved since the last time Audrey wore it, but she selected sky blue robes and went upstairs to change.

Audrey's bedroom was the smallest in the house. The guestroom was really the master bedroom, but Audrey couldn't bear to move into it after her mother died. She remained in the room of her childhood, which consisted of a large bed, a wardrobe, and several posters of Muggle rock bands. After she pulled the robes over her head, she examined herself in her full-length mirror. This was her favorite outfit years ago because the blue matched her eyes. Now she felt as silly as she had when she was eleven and trying on Hogwarts robes for the first time. It contrasted so distinctly with the Muggle styles she was used to.

When Audrey went downstairs, she saw Natalia paired her usual scarves with sleek maroon robes. Natalia surveyed her over her glasses.

"Not as bad as I thought, but our first stop should definitely be Madam Malkin's."

"No, Gringotts first," Audrey corrected. "I've got to exchange this Muggle money."

"As you wish, m'lady." Natalia bowed. "We can Apparate now that you're on board with magic again, right?"

"Naturally," Audrey said.

Natalia held her arm out to Audrey with a grin. "Well, then allow me."

Audrey grabbed onto Natalia's sleeve and immediately felt the suffocating, sliding sensation of Apparition. She blinked and found herself no longer in her landing but on the bustling street of Diagon Alley. In front of them stood Gringotts Wizarding Bank, massive and made from white marble.

"I wonder if we'll see Bill," Natalia said as they climbed the steps to the building.

"I doubt it," Audrey responded. She was still having a hard time grasping the idea that she was borderline friends with Bill "Head Boy" Weasley. "I've only ever seen goblins working the desks."

Sure enough, as they passed through the double doors and into the wide bank lobby, short goblins with long fingers and sharp teeth peered at them over their high desks. There were no human employees in sight. Audrey approached the nearest goblin and did her transaction quickly. Goblins always looked at her with such distaste that she tried to spend as little time in Gringotts as possible. The grim anti-thieving message posted by the door was unsettling as well, though Audrey had no intention of venturing into a vault that wasn't hers. She was relieved when she and Natalia were outside, trekking toward Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. They entered the shop to see Madam Malkin fussing with a teenage boy with white-blond hair and his petite, equally blonde mother.

"He has to have grown six inches over the past year," the mother explained to Madam Malkin. Her voice was lofty, and her nose seemed to be permanently in the air.

"No matter, I can whip up new robes for Hogwarts in a jiffy," Madam Malkin said. She looked up at her new customers. "Can I help you women with anything?"

"We'll take a look at these styles over here, no rush," Natalia told her. She guided Audrey across the store to a wall of fabrics featuring every color and texture Audrey could imagine.

"Ooh, look at this, Nat!" She snatched a swatch of deep purple velvet. "Velvet is very vogue in the Muggle world."

Natalia laughed loudly, and Audrey saw the blonde woman snap her head in their direction.

"I think that's why Madam Malkin stocks it, to please Muggle-borns like you," Natalia said. "I've never seen anyone actually wear velvet robes."

"How about this?" Audrey bit her lip to stop from laughing as she held up a denim swatch. "Denim robes? I like denim for a pair of jeans, but this seems ridiculous."

Natalia cackled, and the woman gave a great sniff of disapproval.

"A man I work with came in wearing denim robes once. Thought he was ahead of the fashion curve, I reckon. Oh, we were roaring laughing at him. Hasn't worn anything remotely bold since. No, it's classic black cuts for old Daryl Shepps from now on."

"Is Daryl Shepps the one who set the cauldron fire last month?"

"That's your man," Natalia said. "Shame it didn't happen on the day he wore those robes. He'd have lost something better than his eyebrows, but I don't think anyone misses his dreadful goatee."

Natalia mimed the bizarre triangular shape of it at her chin, and Audrey couldn't restrain herself any longer, letting out a loud laugh. Natalia joined her. They hushed up quickly at the sound of Madam Malkin's sharp voice.

"Ladies, if you don't mind!"

Audrey and Natalia bowed their heads like repentant schoolchildren who just got scolded by their teacher. Satisfied, Madam Malkin continued her work on the boy's robes, but the boy sucked his teeth.

"Can't expect much more from a Muggle-born and her little friend," he sighed. It was impossible to miss the disgust in his voice.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Audrey was aghast. She almost thought she misheard the kid.

The boy turned to face her with a sneer. "I don't believe I was speaking to you, Mudblood."

"Language!" Madam Malkin put a hand over her chest in shock at the offensive word. She looked to his mother, expecting some kind of discipline at the boy's boldness, but the woman remained cool and impassive.

For a moment, Audrey thought Natalia was going to slap the kid. She marched across the store but then froze, glaring between the mother and her son.

"Apologize," Natalia demanded. "Now."

"I don't think I will." The boy's eyes danced with delight at the fury he inspired. "What are you going to do about it?"

Natalia's chest swelled with anger, and then the mother finally spoke.

"Come now, Draco, no need to waste energy with this pathetic pair."

Natalia glowered at her. "That's a fine way to raise your son, speaking like that."

The woman raised an eyebrow. "You dare criticize my parenting? Do you know who I am?"

"No, and I don't care to know," Natalia said. "You think you're better than us? See how far your old prejudices get you."

A bemused smile played at the woman's lips and then she addressed her son without taking her eyes off Natalia. "Come, Draco, it's time we took our business elsewhere. This place is infested with vermin."

With a smug look of triumph, Draco flung the half-finished robes over his head and marched to the door with his mother. Both had their noses in the air and refused to look back as they exited the shop.

"Well, I never!" Madam Malkin said, rushing to collect the robes from the ground. She panted with the excitement of the moment.

"Can you believe those people?" Natalia stared at the door, as if its wooden exterior had offended her and not the two snobs that left through it.

"You shouldn't have argued with them," Audrey said, though she was still shaken from the event.

"Too right," Madam Malkin added. "That woman was Narcissa Malfoy. Her husband, Lucius, has extensive ties with the Ministry. It doesn't bode well to get on her bad side."

"Does she have a good side?" Audrey said warily. She began to fear for Natalia's safety. A woman like Narcissa Malfoy wouldn't forget an affronting face, and her sentiments eerily echoed You-Know-Who's preaching. Perhaps she was being paranoid, but she couldn't forget the tone of her bratty son. His face contorted with hatred just looking at her, a Muggle-born. These were old-fashioned ideas that she thought were extinct after the fall of You-Know-Who. In fact, she'd never been called "Mudblood" to her face with such loathing behind it in her entire life. Seeing such passion from a young boy felt twisted and wrong, and Audrey felt ill thinking about it.

Natalia noticed Audrey's unease and softened. "Hey, want to get out of here? Let's head to Fortescue's and grab some ice cream."

Audrey nodded, though she doubted ice cream would undo the strange knot in her stomach. As they left, Madam Malkin seemed exasperated that she had no paying customers to show for the morning's drama.

At Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, Natalia insisted on paying and ordered two cones, a chocolate one for Audrey and a raspberry one for herself. They sat at a table outside and ate quietly.

Natalia broke the silence. "Anywhere else you want to go today? How about the Magical Menagerie? You could get that cat you've always wanted."

Audrey let a smile cross her face. She'd wanted a cat since her Hogwarts days when their roommate, Nancy Channing, brought one to school with her during their third year. "I have enough trouble taking care of myself at the moment, let alone a pet."

Natalia threw her hands up in mock defense. "Thought I'd toss the idea out there. There's always next time."

"It's going to have to wait until next time," Audrey said, glancing at her watch. "It's half twelve already."

Natalia, who had just bit into her cone, gasped. Then she cringed as the ice cream gave her brain freeze.

"Put your thumb on the roof of your mouth," Audrey told her.

Natalia obeyed. Then she practically shoved the rest of her cone down her throat and stood quickly.

"Thanks for the heads up," Natalia said. "I've still got to stop at my flat before I head to work."

She stared at Audrey for a moment and then took her hand, giving it a squeeze.

"Don't let the prats get you down," she said with a small smile. Then she took off down the street.

"Don't forget to eat lunch today!" Audrey called after her. "Ice cream is not a meal!" She didn't know if Natalia heard her or not because she disappeared around a corner.

Audrey sighed and finished her ice cream. The clouds above her grew darker as the threat of rain loomed. Without Natalia, she was not enthusiastic about shopping, so she Apparated home, ensuring she landed in her living room rather than outside her house. She didn't want any repeats of the previous night with Paul witnessing her, or any of her Muggle neighbors for that matter.

Once comfortably surrounded by her beige walls, she grabbed her phone receiver and dialed Paul's office number. His distressed face from the last time she saw him kept flashing into her mind. She hoped his voice would alleviate some of her guilt.

Sure enough, her heart stuttered at the sound of his drawling voice on the other line. "Hello?"

"Hey, babe, it's me," Audrey sighed.

"Audrey, my love, enjoying your day off?" His mood was so chipper, as if the strange night had never happened.

"Of course," she smiled. "It would be better if you were here with me."

"Would if I could, love," he said. "But boilers don't fix themselves, you know."

"I actually wanted to let you know that I had to switch shifts with Betty, so I'm working a double tomorrow."

"Just your luck, right after your day off," Paul commented. "But does this mean you're out of your other shift? Are you finally free on a Saturday night?"

"Er, yes and no," Audrey said. "I'm not working, but Natalia's dragging me to a meeting in London that night."

"That's too bad because I can think of a lot of things we could do with a Saturday night," Paul crooned. Audrey bit her lip. She was relieved he didn't ask for more details about the meeting but she also hated that she wouldn't get to spend time with him.

"What's there to do on a Saturday night that you can't do in the middle of the day?" Audrey teased. Day or night, she was looking forward to having Paul's long arms around her.

"That day will have to be Sunday," Paul said somewhat regrettably. "I'm helping Andy move Saturday, remember?"

"Sunday it is," she said. "I'll be waiting for you, Mr. Clark."

As she hung up the phone, Audrey was reeling. She couldn't believe how lucky she was to be with such an understanding, wonderful guy. The added complications of her life that unfolded over the last 24 hours seemed to evaporate with the comforting tones of his voice. She worried about hiding her double life from him, but she looked forward to seeing him even more. Sunday seemed ages away, but Paul was worth the wait.