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Hermione had to drag her sister away from all the windows displaying brooms, cauldrons and all sorts of other magical objects as they walked down Diagon Alley, but she could remember her and her parents being exactly the same on their first visit. They had wanted to see everything. It had all been so strange, so new, and it had taken them hours to get everything she had needed.

"Robes next? Hermione asked, taking the list from her sister.

"Yes please," Ariella answered, still gazing at the shiny new brooms displayed in Broomstix. "Where do we go for those?"

"Madam Malkin's. It's just around the corner here."

"Alright."

This shop was spotlessly clean, unlike Olivander's had been. Robes of all different colours and sizes hung from racks all over the room. There was a whole corner of black ones that Ariella supposed were the Hogwarts' robes, but before Ariella could move over to them, Hermione called out.

"Hello? Madam Malkin?"

"Ah, Hermione what can I help you with?" asked a plump lady dressed all in mauve, hurrying out from behind a rack. Ariella assumed she must be Madam Malkin.

"My sister is starting Hogwarts and–"

Hermione didn't need to say any more, Madam Malkin knew exactly what she was doing as soon as Hermione had said Hogwarts. She turned to Ariella and stopped short.

"Have you been here before? You seem familiar," Madam Malkin inquired, narrowing her eyes at the young girl.

"Um, no, this is my first time to Diagon Alley," Ariella replied, frowning. Mr Ollivander had been startled when he first saw her and now Madam Malkin too. What was going on?

She shrugged. "Ah, well, Miss Granger, if you'd come here and be measured please."

This time Ariella wasn't shocked when the tape measure starting measuring her by itself, but it still looked strange, as she was just so used to muggle things.

"Right, I'll just be a minute. Could you just step on this stool please, dear," Madam Malkin asked. Ariella did as she was told whilst Madam Malkin bustled off to find a robe.

"After this, we'll go fetch our books from Flourish and Blotts, alright?" Hermione told her sister.

"Yes," said Ariella excitedly, thinking about all the wonderful spells she could research in there. Then she realised this would be a good time to bring up the unusual glances she kept getting. "Mione," she started slowly. "Why does everyone seem to recognise me here? Mr Ollivander did the same what Madam Malkin just did, except he never said anything. He just looked at me strangely."

Her sister frowned, biting her lip thoughtfully. "I'm sure they just recognised you because of me, perhaps we just look alike?" she suggested, but Ariella wasn't convinced. Everyone had always told her that they look nothing alike at all. Her hair was platinum blonde, nothing like the rest of the Granger's mousy brown hair, and her eyes were dark and mysterious, again, nothing like her family's hazel ones. Her mum had told her that she took after her grandma, one who had died before she was born, so how could she be being recognised because of her likeness to her sibling? She shrugged it off, instead letting her thoughts wander back to the amazing sights she had seen outside.

"Can we look around after Flourish and Blotts? I want to see the sweet shop and try some of those Bertie Bob's Every-Flavour Beans."

"You mean Bertie Botts Every-Flavour Beans, and yes, but only if we have time. Also, don't say I didn't warn you that they mean every flavour. Not only is there strawberry, toffee, cola and apple, but chicken, sprouts and I think Ron said he had an earwax flavoured one once."

"Ew! Earwax?" Ariella cried, shocked.

That made Hermione laugh. "Harry told me that Dumbledore was put off by them because he had a vomit flavoured one in his youth."

"Ew!" Ariella repeated.

But before she could ask any more questions, Madam Malkin came back with a robe and a pot of pins.

"Here, pull this over your head, would you, dear?" she said, passing Ariella the robe.

Ariella obliged at once, with a little help from Hermione to find the arm holes.

"Now, let me see… the sleeves are a little too long. Perhaps we'll just take them up a bit…" Madam Malkin pondered allowed, examining Ariella.

"I'll just step outside till you're done. I don't want to be in the way" Hermione said, and stepped out of the shop, leaving her sister to endure the pin sticking alone.

After paying Madam Malkin for the robes, the cloak and the hat, they headed to Flourish and Blotts for their books. Ariella got out the list.

"That's a lot of books isn't it?" she asked, seeing that there were about ten listed.

"Yes, well, you need a book for each subject. The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection Theory is for Defence Against the Dark Arts, Magical Drafts and Potions is obviously Potions, One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi is Herbology. I'm sure you can guess what the rest are for."

"Oh, right."

"Hermione!" Ariella heard someone call, and looked round. "Hermione!" She looked at her sister, who still hadn't heard her name.

"Mione," she said, tapping her sister on the shoulder. "I think someone's calling your name."

"What?" Hermione looked round. "Oh, Ron!"

"Finally, Hermione. I've been calling you for ages!"

"Sorry. How are you? I haven't heard anything from you all summer!" Hermione exclaimed.

"I know, we've been a bit busy. Who is this?" he asked, indicating to Ariella.

"That's Ariella, my sister," Hermione answered before Ariella had a chance to speak.

"Ah, of course. It's nice to meet you at last, Ariella."

"Please, just Ella. I've heard so much about you."

"You have?" Ron looked confused, making Ariella giggle.

"Yes, Mione talks about you and Harry all the time," Ariella said mischievously, her eyes glinting. "She tells me about all your adventures and everything. It sounds so much fun!"

"Hermione?" Ron asked, only to see Hermione blushing furiously. "Is this true?"

"She–"

"Shut up, Ariella!" Hermione shouted, making Ron and Ariella laugh even more.

"You'd get on well with my sister, Ginny. You know, you should come and stay with us for the rest of the holidays, Hermione. We're not at the Burrow. I can't say any more on the street, but I'll come and collect you two tomorrow with Fred and George if you want. I'll send Pig and you can tell me if you can or can't come."

"Only if your Mum is alright with it. We wouldn't want to be a burden."

"You know my Mum, she'll be pleased to see you. If you can come, we'll be there at five tomorrow, is that alright?"

"That sounds like fun!" Ariella exclaimed, earning her a dirty look from Hermione.

"We'll have to ask our parents first," Hermione butted in, still glaring at Ariella. "But otherwise, that sounds good, thanks Ron. We best be off now, we still have a lot to do. I'll hopefully see you tomorrow."

"Yeah, alright. See ya," Ron grinned.

Hermione smiled at him before walking into the book shop. Ariella turned to follow her, but not before winking at Ron, who laughed and shook his head before walking away.