The day for taking the transfers to Diagon Alley had arrived, and Lizzy found herself less than pleased with who she and Jane had been made responsible for.

"This shall be a merry party!" Mr. Bingley declared in the entrance hall, approaching the Bennet sisters while escorting his own.

Lizzy was able to smile at Mr. Bingley genuinely, but her smile took on a decidedly forced air when her eyes turned to Miss Bingley. In the past days, Miss Bingley had done nothing to endear herself to Lizzy, or to any person at Hogwarts. Rarely did she open her mouth without comparing Hogwarts to Beauxbatons, and Hogwarts always seemed to be lacking.

"Surely we could go about Diagon Alley on our own, Charles?" Miss Bingley asked. "I'm sure Miss Bennet and Miss Eliza have better things to do than attend us."

Lizzy rather agreed. She did have better things to do than listen to Miss Bingley whine and complain for the next several hours, and especially better than hearing herself referred to as "Eliza" for the day. Lizzy positively detested the shortened version of her name.

"I am sure you are familiar enough with Diagon Alley, Miss Bingley, but Jane and I do have a better understanding of the exacting standards of our professors, and can make sure you get precisely what is required for their classes," Lizzy managed to say diplomatically.

Mr. Darcy joined the group, greeting everyone civilly, if not pleasantly.

Elizabeth only barely refrained from huffing at Mr. Darcy's arrival. To say she was irritated was an understatement. Technically, Jane was responsible for the Bingleys and she had been made responsible for Mr. Darcy. Why her professors had believed that to be a good idea, she knew not. Regardless, she would carry out her duty, which would be made more tolerable by the fact that she could stay with Jane without arousing any suspicions.

Jane led the way to one of several fireplaces lit especially for the day's trip.

"Surely we are not travelling by floo powder?" Miss Bingley asked, clearly offended.

"I assure you the shopkeepers will think nothing less of you for having a spot or two of ash on your robes, Miss Bingley," said Elizabeth drily. She strode forward, took a pinch of powder, threw it into the flames, and disappeared.

Lizzy grinned as she took in the sights before her, pleased for a moment by herself to absorb the grandeur of Diagon Alley. She was pulled from her happy reflection by Mr. Darcy coming out the grate behind her.

"Where should we be off to first, Miss Elizabeth?" Mr. Darcy asked.

"I thought we might consult the rest of our party before making a decision, Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth coolly replied. She turned to the grate and waited, arms crossed, as Mr. Bingley, then Miss Bingley, and finally Jane came through.

Miss Bingley delayed the group's progress for a full five minutes, insisting on beating all the ash out of her clothes before proceeding.

"I should hardly think we need make a set plan of attack for today," said Mr. Bingley cheerily when the question was raised. "I suggest we simply begin walking. We have no set time that we are required to return. We will come across all that we require through our wanderings, I am sure."

Elizabeth would normally have agreed with Mr. Bingley's plan, but was eager to be rid of the company of Miss Bingley and Mr. Darcy, and so wished to employ some amount of strategy. Before she could find a way to say as much diplomatically, Mr. Darcy agreed to Mr. Bingley's scheme. Jane said she had no objection, and so the group set off at a leisurely pace down the street.

Before long, Mr. Bingley offered his arm to Jane and Miss Bingley attached herself to Mr. Darcy, leaving Elizabeth trailing slightly behind the group on her own. When Mr. Darcy attempted to offer his other arm, Elizabeth declined, stating the busy street as her excuse.

In the Muggle world, Elizabeth might have felt slighted and concerned at being left by herself, clearly the odd one out of the group. In Diagon Alley, however, she felt no such scruples. She cheerily greeted those she knew as she followed the two pairs before her and held her head high. Why should she care she was on her own? She had no need of another person to see to her needs, be it long or short term. The magical world provided her the freedom and independence she so desired.

Though it was the group's intention to wander aimlessly from shop to shop, they agreed they should at least purposefully visit one place before any other – Gringotts.

Upon setting foot into the bank, the party split into three groups. Mr. Bingley and his sister were seen to by one goblin and escorted off to their moderate vault. Mr. Darcy, to Elizabeth's surprise, was greeted by name and returned the greeting. He then was whisked away to his family's vault. Elizabeth could only suppose it to be very grand and deep, welcomed as he was by the usually caustic goblins.

Lizzy and Jane hardly took any time gathering their funds. When they had first gone to Diagon Alley, before beginning their first year, they had created a joint account. Every year they used the funds provided by their father wisely, and so were able to store some extra money away to gather interest. In the past two years, Jane had started earning some extra coin by doing work in the hospital wing for Madam Pomfrey. She made various potions and occasionally sat watch overnight with particularly needy cases. Lizzy contributed to the growth of the account as well, often tutoring other students and, though it was kept very quiet, helping Hagrid with the occasional forest incident.

"With all that we've saved, Lizzy, perhaps we might treat Kitty and Lydia to new robes," Jane suggested with a smile.

"Certainly not," Lizzy flatly refused. "They shall have second-hand, just as we did. They'll hit growth spurts soon enough, and I'll not see our hard-earned money wasted on their frivolity."

Jane sighed. "I wish you would give them some credit, Lizzy."

"When they prove they are capable of sense, I shall give them some credit, and not before," said Lizzy unapologetically. "We agreed long ago that, when the time came, we would not spoil them as our parents have done. Kitty and Lydia will be made to show themselves as reasonable, polite, and hard working. Once they recognize the value of what they already have been gifted, instead of always crying for more, I will consider getting them something that is truly new."

Jane looked as though she might make a reply, but instead pursed her lips and grabbed a fistful of coins. She knew better than to try to argue with Lizzy when her mind was so decided. In the long run, she supposed, it would be best for Kitty and Lydia to begin as she and Lizzy had done.

Lizzy and Jane soon joined Mr. Bingley and his sister in the lobby. It was another fifteen minutes, at least, before Mr. Darcy emerged from the vaults.

"Shall we pop into the apothecary?" Mr. Bingley asked as the group began moving through the streets once more. "I'm in need of a new cauldron."

Elizabeth readily agreed.

"Well, if it isn't Miss Lizzy Bennet!" exclaimed a voice that had become familiar when the group entered the shop.

"Mrs. Thomas!" Lizzy greeted, a grin on her face. "How good to see you!"

"Have you been keeping Zebulon in line this past week?" Mrs. Thomas asked. She, along with her husband, ran the most successful and well-stocked apothecary in Diagon Alley.

"Your son has been mostly well-behaved, I assure you," Lizzy answered.

"Only mostly?" Mrs. Thomas asked with a quirked brow.

"Must you always feed my mother a bunch of lies, Lizzy?" asked Zebulon, having just entered the shop with his own transfer.

"I've never lied to your mother, Zebulon," said Lizzy, raising her chin slightly. "I respect her far too much."

"And how deserving of that respect she is," said Zebulon, kissing his mother on the cheek affectionately.

Mrs. Thomas smiled at her son appreciatively. "Go along to the back, the lot of you. Zechariah has set aside some things especially for you."

Zebulon led the way, happily chatting away to the transfers about various aspects of the shop.

Elizabeth found her pleasure at being in the Thomas's shop reduced when she was squished beside Mr. Darcy as everyone made their way to the back.

"Your friend seems very proud of his family's legacy," said Mr. Darcy in his characteristically haughty tones.

Elizabeth immediately felt affronted. Was Mr. Darcy insinuating that Zebulon ought to be embarrassed because his parents kept a shop? "Yes, Zebulon is immensely proud of his family. His father started here when he graduated from Hogwarts, and it was the exact opposite of what it is now. Mr. Thomas is a highly intelligent and dedicated man that has seen to it his family never wants for anything!"

Mr. Darcy nodded, but did not say anything more.

Mr. Thomas, a man just entering his fifties, was incredibly robust and animated. He greeted the group of Hogwarts students when they entered the back of the shop, taking care to ask Elizabeth if Zebulon had been behaving himself. Zebulon pretended to be affronted.

"Come now," said Mr. Thomas, waving the students over to a table heavily laden with supplies, "grab whatever you need. I'll have no talk of payment from the lot of you."

And so began a delicate dance between Mr. Thomas and Elizabeth that had occurred many, many times before. She insisted she and Jane offer some sort of payment, be it working a few shifts in the shop, or at least paying a fraction of what the products were worth. Mr. Thomas stoutly refused, saying it was his genuine pleasure to supply such deserving Hogwarts students with what they required to succeed. Elizabeth was eventually forced to bend to Mr. Thomas's demands, and so she and Jane began sifting through the contents of the table with everyone else.

"I'm afraid I must insist on paying you, Mr. Thomas," said Mr. Darcy. After Elizabeth had abandoned her argument, he seemed to wish to take it up.

"I'll not have you fighting on," said Mr. Thomas with the wave of his hand. "Darcy, is it?"

"Yes," said Mr. Darcy. "Surely, you are aware – "

"I know precisely who you are, Mr. Darcy," said Mr. Thomas, still with a great smile on his face. "You're a student starting at Hogwarts and seem to be part of the group my son and the Bennets have taken under their protection. Therefore, I wish to gift you your potion supplies. Surely you won't deny me this pleasure?"

After trying a few more times, Mr. Darcy bowed and thanked Mr. Thomas for his generosity.

Once all the rest of the students were thoroughly enthralled, at least she thought them to be, Elizabeth approached Mr. Thomas again.

"What can I do for you, Lizzy?" Mr. Thomas asked. "Are you planning on trying something particularly advanced this year? Did I not put out something you'll need?"

"Far from it, Mr. Thomas," Elizabeth said with a smile. "I've no intention of sticking my neck out in potions this year, and I've got more than I'll need set aside now. I have an entirely different matter to discuss with you."

Mr. Thomas's smile faltered. "We've been over this, Lizzy."

"Mr. Thomas, please!" Elizabeth said urgently, though at a whisper. "You simply must allow me to pay you back for the broom you bought me! Every time I'm out on it, I can't help but think it is not yet truly mine!"

"But it is yours, Lizzy!" Mr. Thomas countered. "Letitia and I bought it for you, gave it to you, so you could have the opportunity to play for Gryffindor like you so very much deserved."

"You and Mrs. Thomas were very kind to do so!" Elizabeth conceded. "But now I am in a much better financial state, and I must insist on repaying you for your kindness."

"Consider it an investment on our part, then, instead of a gift," said Mr. Thomas, his smile beginning to regain brilliance. "We knew that, in the long run, putting some money into you would do us and the rest of the world some good."

Elizabeth was forced to accept his terms. When he was distracted by Zebulon calling him, though, she quickly dug into her pocket and stuffed a few galleons into a nearby plant. She turned back to her group to find Mr. Darcy staring at her. She raised her eyebrow at him challengingly, but he was not intimidated. Instead, he calmly walked over and retrieved the galleons, holding them out to her.

"I do not think Mr. Thomas would take kindly to your refusal of his gift," said Mr. Darcy.

Furious that he had been listening, and even more so that he had interfered, Elizabeth took the coins back from Mr. Darcy and threw them into her pocket before heading back into the main shop.

The next several stops were not nearly so eventful. After the apothecary, Zebulon took his transfer off to their next planned destination, leaving the Bennet sisters with their own charges to continue on.

Elizabeth simply went through the motions at many of the stores. She checked her list, grabbed what she needed, consulted with Jane on what to get for their younger sisters, paid, and left. When Miss Bingley declared she needed a new owl so she could write to Mrs. Hurst, however, Elizabeth's interest piqued.

Elizabeth stepped into the owl emporium with barely concealed awe. She so desired to have an owl of her own. As soon as she had a job, it was the first thing she planned to buy. As things were currently, however, she could not justify the initial expense, nor the cost of the animal's keep. She eyed a barred owl, perched just out of her reach and sleeping peacefully.

"Have you no owl?"

Elizabeth felt her shoulders tense and she just barely turned her head to answer Mr. Darcy. "My sister and I have found the school owls to be sufficient on the occasion that we employ their services."

"It is not quite the same as having an owl of your own."

"Perhaps not, but it suits our needs just as well," Elizabeth stiffly answered.

Miss Bingley finally declared she would settle for an eagle owl. Elizabeth found herself feeling pity for the great creature as it was stuffed inside a cage and made to resign itself to Miss Bingley's care.

Mr. Darcy purchased a fair amount for his own owl, which became an item of great interest to Miss Bingley.

"Mr. Darcy, you do take such good care of your owl!" Miss Bingley stated. "You simply must advise me on which treats would best suite my own!"

"I should think the proprietor of this establishment much more able to see to your needs than myself," Mr. Darcy deferred.

"I have always admired how fastidiously you care for your owl's cage," Miss Bingley tried again.

"On the contrary, I rarely do anything with Hootsworth's cage," said Mr. Darcy. "He spends most of his time flying about and chasing vermin, or however he might entertain himself. Rarely is his cage used, therefore it requires little effort from myself to maintain it."

"Hootsworth?" Elizabeth inquired before she could stop herself. It seemed such a ridiculous name for a man such as Mr. Darcy to give to his noble pet.

"My sister, Georgiana, named him," Mr. Darcy explained.

"Dear Georgiana!" Miss Bingley exclaimed, happy to have a new subject to latch onto. "How I have missed the sweet girl! I do declare Mr. Darcy, it seems as though you've kept her away from me very purposefully this past year, at least! I should so love to see her."

Mr. Darcy's back became even more rigid, if such a thing were possible. "My sister has been much occupied."

"How occupied could a girl of six be?" Miss Bingley inquired.

"Very occupied, I assure you."

Elizabeth found herself contemplating the life of poor Georgiana Darcy, locked away by her brother and forbidden to do anything that might bring her joy before tending to studies likely too advanced for her years. Though, Elizabeth supposed, she could not blame Mr. Darcy for wanting to keep his sister from Miss Bingley. If she could do so, she would. As it was, Jane seemed determined to find the best in the vulture of a woman.

The last stop of the day was Flourish and Blotts, which pleased Elizabeth immensely. This was a stop she felt was truly for her. She did not have to get anything for her youngest sisters, as she and Jane had kept all their old books for the express purpose of handing them down. Nor did Elizabeth feel the need to tend to the Bingleys or Mr. Darcy. The shop was large enough, and the needs of each individual so varied, that she was able to strike off on her own without seeming rude.

Lizzy chose her books very carefully. The subjects she took simply as a matter of course, such as Potions, she grabbed second-hand books for. Those classes she truly enjoyed and looked forward to, however, she was sure to get crisp, new books for so she could write all her own notes and observations in the margins. The largest sum she had spent all day would go to her books for Transfiguration, Charms, and Care of Magical Creatures.

When Lizzy came to the aisle that she hoped would hold a Charms book Professor Flitwick had directed her to purchase, she was instantly disappointed by the sight of Mr. Darcy squatting just where she intended to be, looking intently at books in either hand.

"Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth said, alerting him to her presence.

"Ah, Miss Elizabeth," said Mr. Darcy, quickly rising from his position. "Perhaps you might be willing to advise me? Professor Flitwick suggested I get this book, but he did not specify an edition."

Elizabeth stepped closer to look at the title. She felt her blood suddenly run cold. "You're to study dueling with Professor Flitwick?" she asked. He held the very book she had intended on finding.

"Yes," said Mr. Darcy incredulously. "I thought you might have deduced it from that first night."

Elizabeth felt herself blush against her will. "I did not know you were serious in your pursuit." She swooped down and grabbed another copy of each edition, rather than look more closely at the ones Mr. Darcy held. "Professor Flitwick has advised me to get the same book."

"You will continue studying with him this year, then?"

Elizabeth heard a hint of something in Mr. Darcy's voice she struggled to make out. For a moment, she thought it might have been hope, but quickly dismissed the idea. Certainly, Mr. Darcy wished to have private lessons with her no more than she did him.

"I do not know that I will meet with him so often as I did last year," said Elizabeth, "but I will continue to hone my skills, yes."

"Professor Flitwick mentioned your attention would be much absorbed in studies with Professor McGonagall," Mr. Darcy ventured. "You are hoping to become an Animagus?"

"Yes," said Elizabeth simply. She turned the books over in her hand before looking at the first pages of each. Finally, she set one of the books back on the shelf. "This earlier edition, I think, will be more to Professor Flitwick's liking. He does not think particularly well of the philosophies of one of the new editors brought on for the latest printing."

Mr. Darcy kept the recommended edition and set the other back in its spot. "You speak often with Professor Flitwick on philosophical matters?"

Elizabeth shrugged. It was a gesture she greatly enjoyed, as it was one of many she would be scolded for in the Muggle world. "In the course of my lessons, philosophies have been delved into on a regular basis, of necessity. I do not necessarily seek them out with Flitwick, as we have some firmly opposing beliefs, but I enjoy them none the less."

"And here I thought you enjoyed discussions with opposing views," said Mr. Darcy. "You seem to take the opposition of whoever you are speaking with at any given time. I'm sure I've seen you argue to the positive of a subject with one person, and then decidedly flip to the negative when speaking with another, simply because you could. Or so it appeared."

Elizabeth found herself saved from the trouble of coming up with a reply to the unexpectedly poignant observation of Mr. Darcy's by the appearance of Miss Bingley.

Elizabeth quickly excused herself, claiming she had only just remembered her promise to find a book for Mary. It was not precisely a lie. She did intend on getting a book for Mary. She had simply decided to "remember" at this opportune moment.

Lizzy had turned, feeling freed, and started in her desired direction when she froze, hearing footsteps behind her.

"Do you mean to intimidate me into replying to your earlier challenge by following me, Mr. Darcy?" Elizabeth asked, turning on her heel and finding herself quite closer to the object of her speech than she had intended.

"Forgive me," said Mr. Darcy, hastily taking a step back to maintain even a Muggle's sense of propriety. "I confess curiosity. I've heard your sister, Miss Mary, studies Legilimancy."

"She started last year," Elizabeth said cautiously.

"May I accompany you to that section of the shop?" Mr. Darcy asked.

Elizabeth could find no legitimate reason to deny the request, and so she was forced to agree. She made quick work of finding Mary's book and added it to her basket. When Mr. Darcy asked if he might carry her books for her, Elizabeth stoutly refused and made her way back toward the register. She was unsurprised to find the rest of the party waiting. Jane always finished finding books before her sister. Mr. Bingley admitted to not being a great reader. Miss Bingley's interest in books extended only as far as she could hold Mr. Darcy's attention with them.

Having found everything they needed and being quite tired from the day's adventures, the party agreed to return to Hogwarts just in time for dinner.

"I trust you found the book I told you to get while you were out today?" Professor McGonagall asked in her office, Lizzy sat across her desk.

"Yes, of course," said Lizzy, drawing the book from her bag. "I had hoped to glance through the first chapter during dinner, but Jo was insisting we exchange all details from the day."

"Yes, I believe Miss Prewett to have been very greatly entertained by Mordecai Beckett," said McGonagall knowingly.

"I think that's a fair assessment," said Lizzy with a smile. "Who came up with the assignments for today, might I ask?"

"I did with Professors Flitwick, Sprout, and Slughorn," McGonagall answered.

"Might I be so bold ask to ask why you chose to place Mr. Darcy under my care?" Lizzy dared to ask.

If Lizzy did not know better, she would have thought McGonagall's lips had twitched as if to smile.

"We've observed that your sister and Mr. Bingley seem to be becoming great friends, so it made sense to pair them. Naturally Miss Bingley should go with her brother, and you would want to be with your sister. Seeing as Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy are great friends, it made sense to put him with you. Was there some sort of issue?"

"Mr. Darcy and I are not particularly fond of each other," Lizzy said after a moment of debate.

"Oh?" McGonagall asked lightly. She did not elaborate, nor did she give Lizzy the opportunity to delve further into the subject, instead beginning to question the girl on a number of things.


Author's Note

Oh, Darcy... you delightfully awkward dope.

Please let me know what you enjoyed or what you think could do with adjusting in the future! Happy Friday!