A/N: Another day without wanting to do something productive, another chapter for you. Hope you guys are enjoying this story so far. It's a lot of work to write these things. Especially with all the college crap I have going on. Story of my life though. Who cares.
Disclaimer: Please refer to chapter one. I hate repeating myself.
On to the chapter!
The next day Professor Snape and Madame Pomfrey woke me up earlier than usual. I groaned. "What's up?" I sat up and rubbed the sleep from my bleary eyes.
"Albus is madder than hell about what happened yesterday," Snape replied shrinking a suitcase. "So Poppy and I are taking you to our house so that Albus won't be tempted to do anything irrational."
Pomfrey handed me my clothes and drew the curtain around the bed so I could change. It took me less than two minutes to change. I opened the curtain and sat down on the edge of the bed. "Are we still going to Diagon Alley soon," I asked. I really wanted to get my new books so that I wouldn't be completely ignorant when I started school with kids from wizarding families.
"We're stopping there on the way," Pomfrey said beckoning me to the fireplace. "Now we're going to be travelling by Floo powder so I want you to watch what Severus does very carefully."
I nodded and focused on Snape. He took a handful of glittering green powder from a jar on the nearby table, stepped into the fireplace, shouted out 'Diagon Alley' and when he threw down the powder he disappeared in a flash of green flames. "Bloody hell," I breathed. "I can't do that."
Madame Pomfrey nudged me towards the fireplace. "Now remember," she told me, "just like Severus did. Stay calm, keep your arms by your side, and don't open your mouth."
I nodded dumbly and forced my legs to walk into the fireplace, taking a handful of green powder as I went. I took a deep breath to calm myself. "Diagon Alley," I cried as I dropped the powder. Green flames burst forth and to my surprise didn't burn me. I was spinning around and around, the exits of other fireplaces zooming past my eyes. I closed my eyes from the dizzying sensation. All of a sudden I stopped and fell. I threw my arms out ready for impact when I was caught by Professor Snape.
"You get used to it," he stated setting me upon my feet.
I scoffed," I'm apparently going to get used to a lot of things." I brushed the soot off my emerald green t-shirt; Snape had bought me some new clothes and had immediately burned Dudley's old ones. As I dusted off my dark denim blue jeans I heard a whoosh from the fireplace. I went over and took a firm hold of Pomfrey's hand. "I'm not getting lost this time," I said stubbornly.
Our first stop was Gringotts, the bank, where I found out just how much money I had. The cart ride to the vault was exhilarating and I experienced the same sensation of freedom as I had yesterday running. The Potter vault was heaping with vast piles of coins. Little bronze ones that I found out were called knuts, silver ones called sickles, and big gold ones called galleons. I scooped up a fair amount into the leather pouch that Poppy handed me. A fast cart ride back to the surface and I didn't know where to head first with the small fortune I know held in a leather bag.
"This way, Harriet," Poppy directed leading me to a narrow, two storey shop. The sign across the front addressed the place as Flourish and Blotts.
"Wow." As I walked into the shop I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of books in the place. I was immediately drawn towards the section on transfiguration and animal transformations. Severus pulled me away from my perusing and helped me to find all the books I needed for school. Poppy was over in another section choosing books that she said would help me accustom to the magical world. Throughout the store there were several other Hogwarts aged kids picking out books with their parents. Seeing their happy, content faces made me wonder what it would be like to have my parents back. I didn't let anyone see my downcast eyes as I paid for my school books. Severus insisted on paying for the other books.
Once we had left the shop Severus took my parcels and shrunk them so I could carry them in my pockets. Next stop Madame Malkin's Robes for all Occasions. The shop was full of different colours and styles of robes. I was measured and my robes were bought and paid for in the blink of an eye. I saw Snape whisper something to the shopkeeper as Poppy dragged me from the store. My curiosity was aroused when Madame Malkin nodded and winked discreetly. Once we had left I asked, "Where now?"
Severus replied, "You still need potion ingredients, a cauldron, phials, scales, and a telescope. Oh, and a pet if you want." He and Poppy started towards the apothecary up the street.
I ran to catch up. "What about my wand?"
Poppy's hand encircled my outstretched hand. "We'll get that as well. Don't worry," she said.
I was so focused on getting my wand that I hardly paid any attention to where we went in the meantime. We bought parchment, quills, and ink from one store and my school equipment from another. There apothecary smelled absolutely disgusting though the ingredients were interesting to look at. Finally we stopped outside a narrow, shabby shop that was in desperate need of a fresh paint job. The peeling letters above the door read 'Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC. In the dust covered window there was a faded purple cushion holding a single wand.
A tinkling bell announced our arrival. The shop was small with boxes stacked from floor to ceiling. The dusty air within the shop seemed to be imbued with magic. My fingertips tingled with power and the hair on my arms stood on end from the magical sensations coursing through my body.
A soft voice startled me saying, "Ah Ms. Potter. I was wondering when I'd be seeing you." An old man stood in front of me his pale eyes gleaming in the dusty gloom. "It seems like only yesterday that your parents were in here buying their first wands." He took a step closer and touched my scar with a long, thin finger. "I sold the wand that did it," Ollivander said softly. He shook his head and to my relief started pulling boxes of wands down. "Now which is your wand arm," he asked.
"I'm right handed," I replied hoping it was the answer he wanted.
"Hmm. Right. Here," Ollivander said passing me a wand he held in his shaky, blue-veined hands. "Mahogany and unicorn hair, 12 ¼ inches."
I stood there with the wand in my hand feeling incredibly foolish. I probably looked just as silly.
"Well give it a wave."
Then I understood. I had to try the wand. Well he never said that how was I supposed to know. Feeling just slightly foolish I flicked the wand, but Ollivander grabbed it back almost immediately. He passed another wand to me saying, "Willow and phoenix feather, 9 ¾ inches. Rather whippy." I waved it and the ink well on the desk exploded. The old wand maker repaired with a wave of his own wand and took away that wand to replace it with another.
I stood there in the middle of the dusty shop for what felt like ages waving wand after wand. I must have tried every single wand in the place but they were all snatched back and replaced with another. My arm was getting tired. How many wands did the old man have in this tiny store? Severus had slipped out after the tenth wand and Poppy had taken a seat on a spindle-legged stool in a corner of the dark shop.
The pile of tried wands grew bigger and bigger and I was well into the thirty count when Severus slipped back into the shop. I glanced over as he stood next to Poppy and he winked discreetly at me. Then Ollivander shoved the umpteenth wand into my hand. "You're a very tricky customer," he said. "I had to delve into my supply of dual cores for a match for you. Elm and a dual core of dragon heartstring and Threstle hair. A powerful wand for a very difficult customer."
My fingers wrapped around the smooth wood and a warm sensation flowed from the tips of my fingers to the tips of my toes. The feeling was like nothing I had ever felt before. It was magical. I flourished the wand and green and silver fireworks exploded from the end, the sparks dancing on the wall.
"Oh, bravo," the old wandmaker cried. He took my wand and carefully wrapped it in a brown package. I paid seven galleons for it and exited the store much happier than I went in. I had a wand. In my opinion that was what made me a true witch. I mean what sort of witch doesn't have a wand. A smile stole across my face and I held my wand close.
"One more stop," Poppy said taking hold of my free hand. Severus led us down the street to a small shop with owls all over the place. The sign read Eeylops Owl Emporium. Why would we have come here? Severus quickly ducked into the shop and made his way up to the counter. When he returned after a few minutes he carried a large cage with a beautiful eagle owl inside.
He held the cage out to me and I gasped, "Is that mine," as I took the offered cage.
"A late birthday gift," the professor replied, smiling. He then took us to Fortisque's for ice-cream. As we ate he asked, "What will you call her, Harriet?"
I smiled. "I was thinking about calling her Petunia."
A/N: Alrighty how was that chapter, eh? Hope you guys are actually enjoying this. I see a drastic difference between the number of readers and the number of reviews I'm getting. Please make my day and press the little review button at the bottom. Just a couple of words to say you love it or hate it.
Dragonrider, signing out
