Harry Potter, Boy who lived, visits Diagon Alley.
Scrunching up her nose in disgust at the moving picture of a scrawny boy waving at the camera with a broad grin, a eleven year old Vinia set the paper aflame with a silent and wandless curse.
"Vinia!" Her mother scolded, looking up from where she was reading one of her fashion magazines. "No burning things at the breakfast table."
"Daddy did," she said, as she glanced to her father who only moments ago had burnt a letter he'd received without even opening it.
"Your father used a spell which produces no smoke or ash, until you can do the same you will do as your mother says and refrain from casting Incendios at the table." Her father drawled, not looking up from the letter he was reading.
Pouting she looked down at her half empty plate which was now covered in ash, annoyed by the sight she pushed her plate away, making a mental note to ask grandpa about the spell her father used during her next lesson.
"If you're done with breakfast, then go get your cloak, we will be leaving to meet Narcissa and Draco in Diagon soon."
Nodding, she slid down from her chair, stopping just before she left the room to look at her father.
"Daddy, can I take Nagi shopping?"
"Nagini, and no. I'll be leaving for Italy after breakfast and I'm taking her with me."
"But Nagini hates Italy, Don't you Nagini, you don't want to go to Italy, you want to stay and play with me."
"Better Italy then freezing my scales off in an alley crowded with smelly people" The snaked hissed at her from it's position in front of the dining rooms hearth.
Giving the snake a glare, she spun on her heel stalking out of the room. She didn't want to play with the stupid fat snake anyway.
—
Entering her room she found Bippity waiting cloak in one hand, and a small box in the other.
Allowing the elf to drape her cloak around her shoulders and fix the silver clasp into place she took the box. Opening it she gazed at the form of a small snake coiled within. The snake was only 3 inches in length, and its body was made of platinum with tiny diamonds forming the scales, with emeralds as the eyes.
Reaching into the box, she ran a finger across the serpent watching as the metal rippled like it were liquid and the snake came to life, curling around her fingers. The snake was the very first construct she'd created with her grandpa, and was her most treasured possession.
Raising her hand, she directed the snake to entwine itself within her hairs braid, and turned to check her appearance in the mirror. Bright blue eyes, the same color as her mothers stared back at her from within the mirror, her mahogany brown hair which she got from her father, was pulled back in a braid which was then curled into a bun at the top of her head. Her green dress was overlaid with silver lace with a full skirt that ended just below her knees, which she paired with a pair of green tights and black ankle boots. The cloak she wore was black, with a silver fur trim.
Giving a little twirl in front of the mirror she watched as her skirt and cloak flared out with a grin, before leaving her room and racing down the stairs to meet her mother in the entry hall.
"Vinia," hearing her mothers scolding tone she slowed her run to a walk, and lifting her chin high pretended she was her uncle Lucius, who was actually her cousin, but it was just easier to call him uncle.
Soft laughter filled her ears, and she grinned.
"Your going to trip if you keep walking around like that," Selena said, shaking her head in exasperation.
"Uncle Lucius walks around like this all the time and he never trips."
"That's because your uncle was born with a wand up his arse and is used to only being able to see the ceiling."
"Grandpa!" Spinning around she grinned at the four armed stone golem who was walking in through the front door.
"Did you finish your project?" She asked, rushing over to wrap her arms around the cold granite torso of the golem.
"Almost, we'll need to run some more tests, but I think we are close. Ole Nick and I think we should have it ready by years end. Then we'll let Marvie take things from there."
Boom.
With a shriek of surprise, she leapt away from the golem whose head exploded.
"Daddy! My dress!" She cried out in dismay, looking down at her dress which was now covered in a powdery dust from the destroyed stone.
"Marvolo! Not inside! The rug is new," came her mothers voice echoing her own.
Rolling his eyes, her father flicked his wand out and the dust which was coating her and the floor lifted into the air in a swirling mass before reforming into a head which settled onto the shoulders of the golem.
The golem gave a creaking groan, shifting its head side to side, before turning to glare at her father with eyes that glowed with a pale green flame.
"Boy, if I hadn't already depleted the magic in the golems core I'd-."
"Be a little more then a pile of rocks," her father said, lips curled in a smirk as the golem began to splutter.
"This is the respect you show me? After all the years I spent raising you?"
"You possess a golem body of the finest stone, with the strongest magic crystals I can create to power it and you say I do not respect you?"
"If you truly respected me, you wouldn't be dithering about here when you should be in Italy getting me the things I need for my work." Her grandpa grumbled, crossing all four of his arms over his chest.
Distracted from watching the two argue by her mothers hand on her shoulder she glanced up into her mothers smiling face.
"Come sweetling, let us depart before the curses start flying. I'd rather not be late for meeting Narcissa, and I know you've been looking forward to spending time with your cousin."
Nodding, she took her mothers offered hand and followed her out to the apparition point in the garden. Whilst they could use the floo to reach Diagon Alley, her parents both preferred to apparate.
The area they arrived in was a large courtyard with a bubbling fountain at the centre, the statue on the fountain made her crinkle her nose in annoyance. The fountain was called 'Hero's triumph' and depicted an old man with a long beard standing with a young boy wearing glasses and a lightening shaped scar.
Honestly she was sick of how everyone fell over themselves in worship of Albus Dumbledore and his ward. The boy hadn't even done anything aside from be chosen by the old man as his fake hero. Her father had told her the truth about Lord Voldemort and the boy who lived several months ago once she'd proven her mental shields were strong enough to withstand intrusion.
It had taken her several days to come to terms with what her father told her, and the knowledge that she hadn't been born who she now was. Though after she'd seen the rune schematic her father used to adopt her, and even seen the memories of her infant self cocooned in the womb of magic it created, she knew that even though Ravinia Belphoebe Morte wasn't who she was first born, it was who she truly was after being reborn in blood and magic.
Blood and Magic were the most sacred things in their world, and she wouldn't dishonor it by thinking herself as anyone other then Ravinia Belphoebe Morte. Harry Potter died the moment she entered that magically formed womb, and she lived from the moment she emerged from it. Or at least that's what she tried telling her father when she decided she should get two birthdays instead of one.
"Selena, Vinia." The silky sound of her aunts voice broke her away from her fantasies of blowing up the fountain and she turned to see the woman approach with her cousin.
"Dray," smiling at the boy who gave her a small smile in return, she released her mothers hand to hug her cousin lightly.
"Morning Vini," the silver haired boy said as she pulled back from him.
Seeing his proffered arm, she slid her hand through the crook of his elbow to rest her hand lightly on his inner arm, allowing her cousin to escort her along behind their mothers who were leading the way into the alley.
Glancing at her cousin, she was happy to see he was wearing the small platinum dragon construct, with the dragon acting as a cloak clasp. The magical construct was one she crafted especially for her cousin and given him the week before at the ball held to celebrate her cousins eleventh birthday. Much like her own magical construct hiding in her hair, the dragon was packed to the brim with protective runes and enchantments, along with a lethal amount of poison.
"Looking forward to getting your wand?" She asked, looking around the alley with barely concealed boredom.
Diagon Alley was rather dull compared to the wizarding markets in France and Egypt.
"Yes, though I am still annoyed it must be one of Ollivander's creations, there are many other wand makers with much better craftsmanship." Her cousin drawled, and she nodded in agreement,
"Daddy says I can get a better wand for home later, but our first have to be Ollivander wands so that it can be registered." She said, pouting a little at the memory of her lost argument over not being allowed to have a custom crafted wand.
Arguing had only ended up causing her father to refuse to allow her to buy the wand after her birthday in may, and instead telling her she would need to wait for her Hogwarts letter to arrive.
Fortunately, her mother had managed to convince him to allow her to come with Draco and get her wand today, using the argument that the alley would be unbearably busy once the Hogwarts year ended and the incoming first years got their letters. The letters would be sent in the first week of July, which was the week after the older students returned from school. Luckily, the basic requirements didn't change every year so her and Draco would be able to get most of their things today.
As they followed their mothers down the alley, she found her eyes drawn to her favorite store. Sitting on a perch in the window of the Magical Menagerie was a small fluffy looking bird, with bright green feathers and a long trailing tail. Letting go of her cousins arm, she rushed to stand in front of the window staring in awe at the gorgeous Fwooper.
Reluctantly pulling her gaze away from the bird, she turned seeking out her mother, who was conveniently standing behind her.
"Mama," she began, staring up at her mother with wide pleading eyes.
"Owl, cat or toad." Her mother said, lips twitching and she scowled.
"Jezebel Fawley has a Augurey, and I know there are other students who have lizards, rabbits and some Hufflepuff even has a Knarl. Marcus Flint told me about how the Hufflepuff sat on it by mistake and had to go to the hospital wing." She said, pouting.
"It is true that rule has been relaxed somewhat over the years to allow additional pets and some creatures in the XX category, along with a select few from the XXX category if the students have the correct license." Her mother said, and she grinned spinning to head towards the stores front door.
"But I'm afraid you don't have a license for any of those creatures," she stiffened, her grin falling from her face as she turned back to her mother.
"What will it take for me to get such a license," she asked softly, not liking the look in her mothers eyes one bit.
"Magenta's is down the street." Her mother crooned, and she bit her lip, glancing at the pretty green Fwooper with a mournful look. It stared back at her, eyes seemingly pleading for her to take it home.
"Thirty minutes." She offered staring at her mother with her best attempt to mimic her fathers stern gaze.
"Three hours," her mother responded, and she shuddered.
"An hour, no more."
"Two hours and forty five minutes."
"An hour."
"Then I guess you don't want that Fwooper after all." Her mother purred and she scowled.
"I'll just ask daddy for it." She said, smirking at her mother.
"Your father will be in Italy by now, and by the time he gets back that Fwooper will be long gone. They are highly sort after as pets darling, especially with the new runic band that African runes master created to nullify the effects of their song."
Lips trembling, she stared at her mother with wide eyes, but the woman simply shook her head.
"Two hours, final offer." Selena said, a wicked smile curling over her lips.
She sighed, knowing that every minute of those two hours would be akin to torture. Whilst she loved pretty clothes, and adored the things her mother brought for her, she despised having to actually take part in the process of buying such things. She much preferred her mother take her measurements at home, and then go shopping with one of her friends such as aunt Narcissa. In her mind, There was nothing worse then to be forced into outfit after outfit for hours on end.
"Fine, but I get my Fwooper and wand first." She said, storming away into the shop.
Twenty minutes later the group left the shop, and she had a small green Fwooper perched delicately on her shoulder as they made their way towards the wand makers store. The owner of the menagerie had tried to sell them a cage, but she didn't intend to keep her bird caged, it was a bird and thus needed to be free to fly. She wasn't worried it would fly away, her father had been teaching her the mind arts and it was a simple thing to imprint upon the Fwooper's mind that it needed to stay with her.
She would need to craft a proper delivery band for the fwooper, as while both the menagerie and owl emporium sold the runic bands that were placed on delivery birds, she found the craftsmanship to be lacking. The bands were needed to guide the owls to the letter or parcels recipients, and also to boost their speed and stamina, some of the high quality bands helped to protect the owls from predators and magical interference.
"Ah, welcome, welcome."
Entering the wand makers store, they were greeted by the old wandmaker whom she'd once met during a previous visit to the alley. She was only nine at the time, and had come with her cousin Nolin Rosier when he came to get his first wand. Nolin was currently in his second year at Hogwarts, and was the only member of her mothers family she actually enjoyed spending time with.
"Now then, I see we have the young Malfoy and Morte heirs, ah yes I remember when I helped each of your parents with their own wands-."
Lips curled in disgust she listened as the old man babbled on about their parents wands with annoyance. The old man had no right to speak about such things, even if it was only to them. A wizard and witches wand was a sacred thing, and having someone speak so openly about it was sickening.
Finally the old man stopped talking and actually began doing his job. Shockingly her cousin found his wand after only two attempts, and she stared at him in annoyance as he gave a smug grin rolling the wand between his fingers in a casual manner. His wand was a 10" long hawthorn wood wand with a unicorn hair for the core, a wand which in her hands caused half a dozen boxes to go flying from the shelves.
After what felt like the hundredth wand she was ready to leave and demand her father take her to see a proper wand crafter to custom make a wand for her. When the old man carried out another box, stroking his hand over it in an almost loving gesture.
"This wand was crafted by my father, it was his very last in fact." The old man murmured.
" 9" long and made with wood from a four hundred year old Acacia tree. A rather strange wood, Acacia is. I have found it creates tricky wands that often refuse to produce magic for any but their owner, and also withhold their best effects from all but those most gifted. The core, is the horn from a horned serpent, another tricky component. The most notable wand using such a core belonged to Isolt Sayre the founder of the Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Wands made from this core are exceptionally powerful, and can be rather dangerous to any, but their owner who attempt to cast with them."
Taking the wand from the box she felt an instant connection with her magic, a feeling of power, and challenge flowed through her mind, making her stare down in shock at the wand, as she realized those feelings hadn't been her own, but the wands.
Giving the wand a flick she watched as a ghostly form of a horned serpent appeared in the air before her, and stiffened as she heard its low hissing words before the form disappeared.
"Prove your worth, or die."
Falling to her knees, she cried out as pain wracked her body.
The wand sent shockwaves of acidic power through her body, and she wheezed, tears running down her cheeks. Even the poisons her father fed her small amounts of to build her tolerance did not feel as painful as this, and there had been times when undergoing tolerance training when she'd been sure she would die.
She held tight to the wand, curling her body in on itself with the hand holding the wand pressed tightly to her chest. Distantly she could hear her mother's voice franticly calling out for her, joined by other voices which were unfamiliar.
She didn't know how long she lay there, clutching at the wand as pain wracked her body and her magic battled against that of the wands. She fought with every drop of magic she had, but in the end she began to wane. As the wand continued to assail her body with power, she bit down on her lower lip, the metallic taste of blood coated her tongue, and she pressed her bloodied lips against the wand she held clasped in both hands.
"I am Ravinia Belphoebe Morte, heiress to house Morte, Gaunt and Slytherin. There are none more worthy then ME!"
With those hissed words, she sent a final wave of power towards the wand, using every last drop of magic she had, knowing that if she failed to tame this wand, it would consume her with its acidic power.
Darkness curled around her vision, and in her final moment of consciousness she felt the wand finally submit itself to her. Relief, and triumph filled her as she fell into darkness.