- July 31, 1991-

"I can't believe it! Our first trip to Diagon Alley!" cried Mariela as she spun about her brother.

"Ella, we've been to Diagon Alley before," said Harry.

"Yes, but its our first trip to buy Hogwarts supplies!"

"Mariela, settle down or we'll never get what we need," said Dahlia. "Now, listen. Julian and Jorge, you two stick together and go on ahead. We'll meet you at Flourish and Blotts in an hour. Let's head to Ollivander's."

Waving off Julian and Jorge, who quickly disappeared into the crowd, Mariela and Harry followed their mother to Ollivander's.

The shop was dusty and quiet. As Mariela peered closely at a lopsided pile of wand boxes, Harry looked around. A quiet voice broke the silence.

"Here for Hogwarts?"

"Mr. Ollivander!" said Dahlia. "Yes, these two will be starting Hogwarts this year."

"Your youngest?" ask Ollivander as measuring tape appeared by his side.

"Yes, Harry and Mariela."

Mariela was first, selecting quickly a 9 ¾ maple wand with unicorn hair core. Harry took longer, especially once Ollivander recognized Harry. Harry was all to eager to hear about the wands that had chosen his parents. It was only when the pile of boxes surrounding Harry had grown to knee-height that Ollivander pulled out one, 11" holly wand with phoenix feather core. Harry's excitement dimmed when Ollivander relayed the story of its brother wand. He wasn't sure what to make of it as he followed his mother and sister toward the bookshop.

…

Mariela hummed quietly to herself as she perused the shelves of Flourish and Blotts. The selection was the stuff of her dreams and she was eager to read books she had never had the opportunity to read before. Deciding to be sensible, she searched for The Standard Book of Spells. It took her a few minutes before she spotted it on a shelf above her head. There were two copies and she aimed to grab both for herself and her brother. She had both books in hand when someone snatched one away.

"Oi!"

"I need this," said a pale boy with white-blond hair.

"I need both of them," replied Mariela as she attempted to tug the second book back.

"Why on Earth do you need two copies of the same book?" asked the boy tugging the book toward himself.

"Oh!" cried Mariela as the book slipped out of her grasp. "I needed the second copy for my brother! We're both starting at Hogwarts this year."

"A brother?" asked the boy as he looked around cautiously.

"Yes, my twin brother. We've got three older brothers though. Juan Dalmacio finished Hogwarts last year, Julian will be a sixth year, and Jorge is a third year," explained Mariela. "Are you excited to be starting Hogwarts? I am. I've been waiting for years to go to Hogwarts."

Seeing the boy nod Mariela continued, "I'm worried though, that James and I won't be in the same house. Do siblings usually go to the same house? All of our brothers have been in Gryffindor, our parents went to school in Peru but they seem to be the sort to have been placed in Gryffindor if they had gone to Hogwarts. James definitely is."

"Er- "

"Oh! I'm so sorry. Mamà says I should listen more. I'm Mariela Paredes Lujan, you are?"

"Dra-," started the boy before he was interrupted.

"Mariela, where are you hiding?" asked Jorge as he appeared behind the smaller boy who jumped in surprise.

"Jorge! Look, I found The Standard Book of Spells!" exclaimed Mariela as she showed the book to her brother.

"That's great, but don't we need two of those?" asked Jorge.

"Yes, but-" at that Mariela gestured to where the boy had been standing but realized he had suddenly disappeared. "Oh, well, I figure I could ask Juan Dalmacio for his books since he won't be needing them anymore."

"That's right! Come along, James found a book that you're going to like," said Jorge as he drew his sister close. "Who was that boy you were talking to?"

"Don't know. I never got his name," responded Mariela.

…

Standing behind a convenient row of bookshelves, Draco Malfoy breathed a sigh of relief. He knew, though he had never encountered such a situation before, that older brothers were the unpredictable sort. Mariela Paredes Lujan - the name sounded foreign and familiar to Draco. As he stepped out from behind the bookshelves he caught sight of her speaking quickly to a witch who was clearly her mother. Two other boys were there, the other brothers she mentioned, and he looked around for the fourth.

A hand dropped unto his shoulder and he nearly jumped until he realized it was his mother.

"Draco, why are you skulking around the bookshelves?" she asked as she started him curiously. "Come along, your father is waiting with the rest of your books."

He nodded and followed his mother along to the front of the shop. He caught sight of Mariela as they crossed the shop floor who waved enthusiastically before one of her brothers caught her arm. His mother raised an eyebrow but continued toward his father who was waiting impatiently.

"Come, we need to have you fitted for your robes," said Lucius Malfoy. In an undertone as they walked out of Flourish and Blotts, "It would do well to not consort with savages. One never knows what they might have."

Draco nodded quickly as they continued onto Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions in silence.

…

"So that's the friend you made," asked Harry after he had settled his sister's flailing limbs.

Pulling her arm away, Mariela rolled her eyes and said, "Almost friend. One can only be a friend if you know their name. Now, there was a book on charms I wanted to have a look at before we have to get our robes!"

Sighing dramatically, Harry followed after his sister. His older brother's words still ringing in his ears - "Remember, Harry. We've got to keep an eye on Mariela. We can't have her getting in with the wrong sort." At Harry's confused look, Julian explained, "She's our little sister and as her older brothers it's our duty to keep an eye on her." Harry nodded in remembrance of the words, even as his sister looked at him with worry.

"Are you alright?"

"Of course."

"Are you sure?"

"Weren't you looking for a book?"

Eyes opened wide, Mariela turned back to the bookshelves.