Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter!

Tom has never looked forward to shopping as he has today. Today's shopping is brings him one step closer to becoming a full-fledged wizard and to becoming either a Healer or a Magizoologist (Or maybe a Veterinarian? He did like working with animals, be they magical or otherwise…). Whatever his future profession, though, Tom knows that his family would support him, so he isn't worried. He just wants to learn for now as much as he can. Magic is so interesting! So is muggle Science. And Tom is forever finding new things to be curious over, and learning new and interesting things about the world (both Magical and Muggle!).

And today, it all begins! Shopping for the uniform, getting his very own trunk, buying the potions ingredients (most of them being procured by Rubeus), and getting the rest of his school stuff, slowly helps settle the fact that Tom is going to Hogwarts. And the fact that he is finally going to get a WAND! His very own Wand! He can do a little magic without it, but Tom really wants to know if using a wand for magic feels any different from wandless magic. Wandless magic makes him a little tired, but there is no way he is going to stop conjuring bubbles for Mona. At least not until she gets tired of it.

(Long into the future, Mona and Tom babysit their respective grandchildren and entertain them with colorful bubbles. They receive the bubbles with just as much joy as Mona had done.)

Tom knows now that he is different from the other kids. Dad had sent him to a muggle school for a while, when Tom had expressed interest in learning non-magical subjects. Tom had soon realized that his understanding ability and intelligence had far out stripped his age-group. It had been a bit lonely for him to realize that the children his age were willing to put him on a pedestal due to his genius, and both revel and praise him for it (''teachers'-pet'', ''show-off", "awesome", "this must be easy for you, right Tom?"). He didn't like it, but didn't know how to get down from it without losing his personality. He had enjoyed learning non-magical subjects, but the children there made it difficult for him to truly enjoy school.

(It had another point that set him apart, the fact that he enjoyed school for the knowledge he was gaining, and not for the play-time.)

Tom hopes that Hogwarts will be different. He has heard so much about it already, and he can't wait to experience it first-hand. Deep down, he finds himself wishing that there would another by his side as he experiences Hogwarts. He really wants a friend. Mona, his snakes and Rue are wonderful friends, but Tom wants one who is his age, and with whom he can share the things he has read. Mona tries, but she is still seven, and as clever as she is, her interests lie in plants, not animals like Tom. Magical theories also don't interest her, unless they are about Horticulture.

Meeting Minerva is one of the best things that Tom recalls from his shopping trip. He will never admit it, but the meeting even trumps getting his wand. The debate they get into is so interesting, that Tom even forgets to keep a look out for Mona, who seems to be trying to emulate Rue and his hunting. It is a good thing that Aunt Liv is there to distract Mona, otherwise Tom might have ended up carrying Mona over his shoulders and not even notice it (the debate is really interesting, okay? Minerva has some good points that Tom has not even thought of!)

It truly was a spectacular day. Aunt Liv had even deviated from her List!

Mona wants to jump on Tom! She has been watching Rue hunt for his food (even the ones that had been put in a bowl for him), and has noticed how he seems to hide in the shadows before pouncing on his prey (even if said 'prey' is a bowl). It looks like fun, and she wants to do it! Only problem is, Tom always seems to be aware of where Mona is! How can she sneak up on him, if he knows where she is! No fair!

She is also excited about Tom's excitement over going to Hogwarts. He looks so happy, that she is happy by default! She knows he is going to be great at Hogwarts, he is her brother after all!

At the Bookshop:

Yay, Tom is distracted! He is talking to the girl is mowed into, and they seem to be deep in conversation and ignoring the world around them. This suits Mona perfectly! She can finally startle Tom and climb onto his shoulders! She will conquer his ever-knowing-where-Mona-is sense, and be victories! This is a glorious day! Such a good day!

Mona prowls slowly along the shadows of the bookshelves (just because Tom is distracted, doesn't mean she can be noisy), bends her knees in readiness, prepares to jump right onto Tom's back.

Mona leaps… and is caught by her Mom, as she makes her way over to the couple who came with the girl Tom is talking to. Aw Man! I was so close! Mona despairs, even as she gets comfortable in her mother's arms, Soon, big Brother! Soon I shall have my Scare! Muhahahahah!

("I really should stop Mona from reading those muggle comic books", Livia thinks, as she carries her daughter, "she seems to be getting some werid ideas. Oh well, as long as she doesn't hurt anyone, I suppose it's fine." Tom would like to disagree with that.)

Minerva McGonagall is so very excited! She is going to Hogwarts. Though she is worried about her parents and leaving her mom behind to hide Mal's and Rob's magic by herself. Minerva had helped her mother hide her brother's accidental magic from her father for so long now. Minerva knows her father doesn't hate magic, but that he just doesn't understand it. But she also fears his reaction if he were to find out about the less than good side of magic (an unnecessary fear, but then again, fear needs no logic).

She has high hopes for Hogwarts. She has never completely fit in at her local school, she has friends there, but their friendship was always weighed by the knowledge that Minerva would be going to a different school at 11. The fact that she couldn't be honest about the school did not help her friendship. But now! Now she can go to a school where she doesn't have to hide, and that is amazing! She can't wait!

Meeting Thomas Hagrid was a trip! Literally! The boy had run into her at the bookshop, and his apology had come a few seconds too late! It had almost felt as though he had apologized to escape a chore, rather than because he had felt remorseful! She had insulted him and he had insulted her back, and somehow their trading of insults had turned into a debate over books.

Their debate in turn had led to this. A dinner at White's where his family and hers were gathered together at the same table. Minerva is a little confused though, much to the amusement of those around her, when had they come here? It helps that Tom looks just as confused as her!

(Tom is a little arrogant and a lot intelligent. Minerva is the same. It is the start of a beautiful friendship!)

A/N: Thank you for Reading!