A/N: This chapter is in Cypress's POV.

The face-claim to Tanda is Amber Midthunder.

Chapter 2: Diagon Alley

It took the start of summer vacation for the Dursleys to lift their grounding of them. Cypress woke up an awful stench wafting up the staircase, which was a horrible way to wake up.

She was glad that Harry was staying in the shed because he didn't have to smell whatever was in the house. She walked down the stairs and happily greeted Tristan who left the cupboard.

"What's decaying in the kitchen?" asked Tristan.

"I'm not sure, but I'm wondering how you know what death and decay smells like," Cypress responded. They walked in the kitchen, where Harry was at, looking in a tub that was in the sink, where Aunt Petunia was stirring something.

"What's in there?" asked Tristan.

"Yours and Harry's school uniforms. I'm dyeing Dudley's old clothes grey for Stonewall High," said Aunt Petunia.

"What about mine?" Cypress asked.

"I'm getting yours second-hand," said Aunt Petunia. "And don't ask questions."

That was one of the Dursleys' golden rules. Cypress remembered being told the same exact thing when she asked how she got her scar. She was told she was too young to understand. When Tristan was in the hospital because of the infections in his legs, she asked Aunt Petunia again. Aunt Petunia said that an evil woman gave her the scar but refused to elaborate on it and told her not to ask questions. Cypress still didn't understand why a woman would carve a lightning-shaped scar on her neck though.

"C'mon," said Harry. "We should sit down before Reese's legs start hurting."

Reese was a nickname for Tristan and her brothers call her Essie.

Apparently the infection in Tristan's legs caused minor nerve damage, so that was the reason why Tristan's legs hurt when he stands for long periods of time. Cypress knew that if Uncle Vernon took it a little more seriously, Tristan wouldn't have slightly damaged nerves.

They went to the table and sat down. Dudley came in waving the Smeltings stick round and Harry shoved Tristan out of the chair closest to Dudley, so he could sit down.

When Dudley found out that Tristan's legs still hurt, Dudley had taken to hitting him in the legs with it, to cause as much pain for Tristan as possible.

Cypress had hidden the Smeltings stick, but Dudley had a tantrum, so she had to give it back.

Harry grimaced when Dudley, presumably, hit him in the leg.

There was a click of the letter-box and the sound of letters hitting the doormat.

"I got it," said Harry quickly, getting up and running for the post.

Cypress and Tristan looked at each other, confused.

Was Harry expecting something? If he was, why didn't they know about it?

Harry returned with a postcard from Aunt Marge (Cypress really hated that woman) and a brown envelope that was a bill. He passed the letters to Uncle Vernon who looked at the postcard and said, "Marge is ill…ate a funny whelk."

"Poor thing," muttered Tristan.

Breakfast went off without much of a problem. Dudley went to hang out with Piers, Malcolm, Dennis, and Gordon.

"Look, something strange came in the mail for us," Harry whispered. He opened the door to Tristan's cupboard and picked up three envelopes.

"Let's go to my room," whispered Cypress.

"How about Mrs Figg?" whispered Harry. "The Dursleys would get suspicious and they'll demand to know what we're doing and they'll see the letters and take them from us."

Cypress had to admit that it was a good plan.

"Let me get my bag," said Cypress and went to get it, since it had pain-killing tablets in it.

When she got down, Tristan had put on his favourite light blue jacket and she tucked the letters in her bag, before nodding at them, and they started off to Mrs Figgs's house.

They ran into a bit of trouble when Dudley noticed them.

"Where are you two and the Cripple going?" demanded Dudley.

Cypress noticed that Tristan rolled his eyes. He didn't really care about being insulted because he knew it wasn't true.

"He's not psychically disabled, you prat!" shouted Harry, glaring at Dudley. "And don't insult people by calling them 'cripple'. It's disrespectful, but I doubt you know what respect is, because no one respects you. There's a difference between fear and respect."

They took off running to Mrs Figgs's house.

There were times when Cypress noticed that Harry seemed to talk like he was older than he actually was, but she chalked that down to him being an academic.

Mrs Figg answered the door, (she broke her leg when she tripped over a cat) and seemed surprised to see them. "I didn't know I was babysitting you three."

"We're here for something else, may we please come in?" asked Harry breathlessly. He looked over his shoulder and Cypress heard the sound of people running on the sidewalk.

"Come in, come in," said Mrs Figg. She allowed them inside and closed the door. Tristan peeked outside the window as Mrs Figg spoke, "I'll make you some tea."

"Thank you," said Cypress.

"They took off," Tristan noted, "Probably going to the park to break another swing."

Cypress took out the envelopes that Harry handed her and handed them the envelopes. She looked at the address:

Miss C. Potter

The Smallest Bedroom

4 Privet Drive
Little Whinging
Surrey

"Is this a joke?" asked Tristan, who had opened his letter and was looking at a piece of parchment. "I'm…a wizard?" He looked at his siblings. He laughed.

"It is the truth, Tristan," said Mrs Figg, walking in with a tray that had a bowl of sugar cubes, milk, and three cups of tea. "You and Harry are wizards and Cypress is a witch."

Tristan looked like he wasn't sure if he believed it.

"Remember how you came here all the way from the school?" asked Mrs Figg pouring cups of tea.

"Or when Ripper's fur turned yellow?" asked Harry.

"Does that explain why when my skirt ripped and somehow it fixed itself?" asked Cypress.

Tristan took a cup of tea and added some milk to his tea before looking at Mrs Figg and asked, "You knew?"

"I knew," said Mrs Figg. "Professor Dumbledore made sure that I watch the three of you."

"Why didn't you tell us?" asked Harry.

"I wasn't supposed to tell, Harry," said Mrs Figg. "You three were so young. I'm sorry for making you three miserable, but if the Dursleys knew that if you liked it here, they wouldn't allow you to come here. I think it's time to place a call."

She took a jar off the mantelpiece and took a pinch of dust and tossed it into the fire. Tristan jumped as the flames turned green.

Harry reached over and grabbed Tristan's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.

Cypress felt horrified as Mrs Figg stuck her head into the fireplace. "What are you doing?"

Mrs Figg took her head out of the fireplace and said, "Professor McGonagall would be here shortly."

"Who's Professor McGonagall?" asked Tristan.

"She teaches Transfiguration at Hogwarts," said Mrs Figg.

"Transfig…what?" asked Harry.

"Transfiguration," Mrs Figg said. "It's a class taught at Hogwarts."

"Do you have magic?" asked Tristan.

"Sadly, I do not." Mrs Figg explained, "I was born in a family of witches and wizards, but I do not have any magic myself."

"That's terrible," said Harry.

"Its fine," said Mrs Figg.

Professor McGonagall stepped out of the fireplace, scaring Tristan. Tristan nearly climbed over the back of the couch in fright.

"Sit back down, you weirdo," said Harry, grabbing Tristan's hood and yanking him back down.

"Sorry about our brother, Professor," said Cypress. "He…startles easily sometimes."

"You just walked out of the fire," said Harry, "Without getting burnt or anything."

"Yes, that's one of our modes of transportation," said Professor McGonagall.

"Using the fireplace is a mode of transportation?" asked Cypress confused.

"You need Floo Powder," said McGonagall, looking at the triplets. She looked at Harry, "You look so much like your father." She looked at Cypress and Tristan, "And you both look so much like your mother." She spoke to Cypress, "Except you have your mother's eyes, and they have their father's eyes."

"I thought our mother had green eyes," said Harry confused.

McGonagall looked confused, "No. Did they tell you differently?"

"I just assumed, that's all," replied Harry. "They never said anything about our parents, other than that they were freaks and that Lily is Aunt Petunia's sister. Aunt Petunia also said that our mother has red hair and that's all."

Tristan nodded in agreement.

McGonagall looked a little sad at that.

"Did you know our parents?" asked Harry. "I mean, you know that we resemble our parents."

"Yes, they were my favourite students," said McGonagall. "I think we need to go on a shopping trip."

"Wait, let me finish my tea first," said Tristan. He grabbed his teacup and downed his tea. A few droplets escaped from his mouth and he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Okay, to use the Floo Network, you take a pinch of Floo Powder, throw it into the fire, and clearly say the name of your destination," said Mrs Figg. "Make sure you get out at the right grate."

"How do we know which is the right grate?" asked Tristan.

"You'll see me at the grate," said McGonagall.

Mrs Figg took a pot down and passed it to McGonagall, who took a pinch of powder.

"Leaky Cauldron," she called out, before tossing it into the fire. She stepped in the green fire.

"Who wants to go first?" asked Mrs Figg.

Harry went first, taking a pinch of Floor Powder. He threw it in, saying, "Leaky Cauldron." He walked in and disappeared.

Tristan seemed fearful, but took a pinch of powder, "L-Leaky Cauldron."

"Speak clearly before you end up in a chimney or in the wrong place," said Mrs Figg.

"Leaky Cauldron," said Tristan, tossing the powder in the fire, watching as it turned green. He walked in the fire and disappeared too.

Cypress felt a chill and took the powder, said 'Leaky Cauldron', walked in, and too disappeared.

She swallowed a bunch of soot and ash as she fell out of the fireplace.

"Are you okay, Essie?" asked Harry, going to help Cypress up.

Cypress went to the nearest rubbish bin and threw up in it. Tristan ended up holding Cypress's hair back and Harry rubbed her back.

"Are you okay, Miss Potter?" asked McGonagall.

"Yeah," replied Cypress, hoarsely. "I swallowed a bunch of soot and ash."

McGonagall went to the bartender to get her a glass of water.

Cypress swished the water in her mouth, spitting it out.

"I'm good now," said Cypress.

They ended up in a courtyard that only had a few weeds and a rubbish bin against the brick wall.

"Is this a joke?" Tristan whispered to Harry and Cypress.

"Maybe," whispered Harry. He took Cypress's hand and Cypress grabbed Tristan's hand. It was a mutual hand squeeze.

McGonagall tapped the brick wall with the tip of her wand and the wall started trembling and an opening grew, arching high above them, growing to the size of where a giant could fit through.

Tristan's mouth dropped open at the sight of the arch.

Cypress was more stunned at the sight of Diagon Alley, staring open-mouthed at the market place that was beyond the arch. Cypress said, "Someone pinch me, I might be dreaming." Tristan pinched her arm. "Ow! Thanks, Reese. Not a dream."

Harry seemed amused at the interaction.

"Welcome to Diagon Alley," said McGonagall, looking like she was smiling a little at the reactions that the triplets were having.

"Oh crap," said Cypress right as she sneezed.

It kind of ruined the moment of wonder and Harry laughed.

They had gotten coins from Gringotts, a wizards' bank. The gold ones were Galleons, the silver ones were Sickles, and the bronze ones were Knuts. Apparently seventeen Sickles made up a Galleon, and twenty-nine Knuts made up a Sickle.

McGonagall had given Cypress the key to hold onto since she had a bag.

They had gotten their robes first and Cypress could see that Tristan was beginning to hold back a grimace of pain. Finally after Cypress and Tristan got their robes, Harry got his. Tristan looked at the clothes that were on clothing racks in Madam Malkin's. He was moving around was to get his legs to stop hurting.

"Professor, what's with the striped ties?" Tristan asked.

"Those are the ties for the houses that you will get sorted into when you get to Hogwarts," explained McGonagall.

"Sorted?" asked Tristan.

"Yes, you get sorted when you get first get to Hogwarts," McGonagall explained. "The fours Houses are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin, and Hufflepuff. The red-and-gold ties is for Gryffindors, the bronze-and-blue ties is for Ravenclaws, the green-and-silver ties is for Slytherins, and the yellow-and-black ties is for Hufflepuffs. The plain black ones are for you since you haven't been sorted yet."

"Oh," replied Harry. "What House were our parents in?"

"Your mother was in Ravenclaw and your dad was a Gryffindor," McGonagall said.

"Oh," replied Tristan.

After getting their uniforms, they went to Flourish and Blotts, which had stacks of books of every size, books that were blank, books that were written in strange symbols, books that were bound in leather…lots of books.

Cypress went to find the books that were on her list. After gathering a couple, she went to find Harry, who was talking to a tanned girl that looked older than them.

"Going to Hogwarts too?" asked the girl. She sounded like she had a mixed accent. Yorkshire and possibly American.

"Yes, my siblings and I are, actually. We're triplets," said Harry. "We just found out that we have magic."

"You're Muggleborns?" asked the girl.

"What's a Muggleborn?" asked Harry.

"Someone born with magic to parents who don't," said the girl.

"W-who are you?" Harry asked.

"I'm Tanda," said the girl. "I'm in my third year at Hogwarts."

"Oh," said Harry. "What House are you in?"

"Ravenclaw," said Tanda.

"Oh," said Harry.

"If you're starting Hogwarts, here are some books for you to get started on," said Tanda. She looked at the shelves and took some books down, looking at the covers, before passing them to Harry. "See you at Hogwarts, Harry."

She walked off deeper in the store.

Harry looked bewildered and looked at Cypress. "I didn't tell her my name."

Cypress frowned and went to find Tristan, who was leaning against a shelf. "Here, let me get you some tablets."

"Just hold on," said Tristan. "I think I saw a café when we were walking."

They paid for their books and they left the store.

"Professor, can we please stop and sit for a moment?" Cypress asked.

"Sure, Miss Potter," said McGonagall.

Tristan practically threw himself in a chair and buried his face in his arms. Cypress took out a foil packet of tablets.

"I'll get you some water," said Harry, going inside the café.

"You carry tablets in your bag?" asked McGonagall confused.

"It's for his legs," said Cypress. "He had a bad infection in his legs last year, and it was so bad, it kind of damaged his nerves. The Dursleys won't take him back to A&E to treat it. It only hurts him when he's standing for a while."

Harry returned holding a glass bottle with something orange in it.

"Is that orange juice?" Cypress asked.

"No, the owner said that it was pumpkin fizz," said Harry.

Cypress was confused, "Pumpkin fizz?"

"I don't like pumpkins," Tristan grumbled, "But I'll suck it up and suck it down." He grabbed the bottle and uncapped it, as Cypress handed him two tablets.

"Here, take this," said McGonagall passing a small glass bottle to Tristan.

"What are you trying to give him?" Cypress questioned.

"It's a potion that'll help with the pain," said McGonagall. "It'll work instantly instead of taking time like the tablets."

Tristan looked between the tablets and the potion. He pocketed the potion. "I'll take it when it really starts hurting."

"It's not bad?" asked McGonagall.

"They know how bad it gets," said Tristan. "This isn't bad, yet."

He took the tablets and swallowed a mouthful of pumpkin fizz, grimaced and offered it to Cypress, who took it and drank the rest.

"Maybe we can go to the Apothecary and get potion ingredients for you, while you wait for us here," said Harry.

"Sure," said Tristan.

Cypress wasn't sure if she liked the idea of leaving her brother behind…all alone…in pain…in a place he didn't even know the layout of...with a bunch of strangers.

"Essie?" prompted Harry.

"Let's make it quick," said Cypress.

They hurried away.

It smelt truly awful in the apothecary and Cypress was jealous that Tristan didn't have to smell it.

They went back to the café that Tristan was at. He was talking to Tanda.

"…just my brother, sister, and me," Tristan was saying.

"I see," replied Tanda. She got up from a car and smiled. "Hello, Professor McGonagall."

Professor McGonagall gave a smile, "Hello Miss Williams."

Tanda looked at Tristan, "See you at Hogwarts, Tristan." She walked away and Tristan looked confused.

"How does she know my name?" asked Tristan. "I never told her my name."

"Well, you three must know…you're famous," said Professor McGonagall.

"Famous? For what?" asked Harry.

"It all started on Hallowe'en night, when the three of you were just one-year-old," started McGonagall. She had the other three sit down at the table. "A very evil woman by the name of Lady Azrael came to your house and killed your parents. She tried to kill Cypress."

"Why?" demanded Tristan. "Why would she want to kill our parents and our sister?"

Cypress felt the lightning shaped scar on her neck, feeling a shiver go down her spin.

"I don't know," replied McGonagall.

"Where is she?" asked Harry. "Lady Azrael, I mean? What happened to her?"

"Most say she died," said McGonagall. "She couldn't kill Cypress and she disappeared the night your house blew up."

"Did she give Essie the scar?" asked Harry.

"Yes," said McGonagall. "It was a dark curse and it left that scar on her neck."

Cypress vividly remembered green light and a cold, high-pitched laugh.

Tristan looked like he was having the same flashback.

"What do you think happened to her?" asked Tristan. "You said that most think she died. What do the others think?"

"Others say that she's out there, waiting for the right moment to strike back," said McGonagall.

"What do you think, Professor?" asked Harry. "I mean, do you think she's dead or if she's out there, waiting?"

"My opinion is not of the utmost important to you three," said McGonagall. "We still have loads to get. It's best if we get a move on. Are your legs okay, Mr Potter?" She was speaking to Tristan.

"Yes," replied Tristan.

"We could get you to St Mungos. They could heal you there," said McGonagall.

"Saint Mangoes?" asked Cypress confused.

"Mungos," corrected McGonagall. "It's a hospital for witches and wizards. They heal all sorts of injuries."

"I'll think about it," said Tristan.

After getting writing implements, Cypress picked pastel red ink, Tristan had taken some plum purple ink, and Harry preferred some twilight blue ink. They got their cauldrons, and their other school supplies, the last thing they needed was their wands.

When they walked in, Cypress felt her skin tingle like she walked in a magical library. It was a strange feeling.

"Good afternoon," said a voice, causing Cypress to jump in surprise.

Tristan had stumbled backward, right into Harry's arms, nearly sending the both of them to the floor.

"Reese," grumbled Harry, dropping his brother onto the ground.

The man, Mr Ollivander seemed somewhat amused. Cypress glanced at McGonagall, who seemed to fighting back a smile of her own.

"Hello," Harry said awkwardly. Tristan got back up.

"Ah yes," said Ollivander. "Yes, yes. I thought I'd be seeing you three soon." He said, "Cypress, Harry, and Tristan Potter." He looked at the three of them, speaking their names. He looked at Cypress, "You have your mother's eyes." He looked at the boys, "And you two have your dad's eyes. I remember it like it was yesterday when they were buying their wands. Your mother favoured a wand that was ten and a quarter inches long, swishy, made of willow. Nice wand for charm work."

Cypress smiled.

"Your father, on the other hand, favoured a mahogany wand. Eleven inches. Pliable. A little more power and excellent for transfiguration. Well, I say your father favoured it – it's really the wand that chooses the wizard, of course," explained Ollivander. He stood closer to Cypress and touched the side of her neck.

"Don't touch her!" snapped Harry.

"Sorry, Miss Potter," said Ollivander, stepping back. "I sold the wand that created that scar. Thirteen and a half inches. Yew. Powerful wand, very powerful, and in the wrong hands…Well, if I'd known what that wand was going out into the world to do…"

"You didn't know," said Harry. "A knife in the wrong hands is a weapon. No one can possibly know what was going to happen when you sold it to Lady Azrael."

Ollivander gave Harry a small smile, "Wise words from one so young, Mr Potter. But you're not here to listen to me, you're here for your wands."

Cypress ended up with a Blackthorn wand with a phoenix tail feather that matched the core with Lady Azrael, or as Ollivander called her, She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. According to Ollivander, Blackthorn was suited for a warrior.

Harry ended up an Ebony wand that too had a phoenix tail feather in it. According to Ollivander, Ebony was best suited for combative magic and Transfiguration.

Tristan had gotten an Aspen wand, which was apparently suited for martial magic, and that the proper owner of the wand is often an accomplished duellist or destined to be so.

"How can I become a accomplished duellist when I can't even punch Dudley in the face?" Tristan asked his siblings as they left the Leaky Cauldron.

Cypress shrugged.

"Can I get an owl?" Harry asked McGonagall.

"I want a cat," said Cypress.

McGonagall nodded and they went to the Magical Menagerie first.

Cypress got a fluffy tuxedo cat that Tristan named Halloween.

Tristan decided to settle on a guinea pig that Cypress named Juniper, in retaliation of him naming her cat. Harry told them that they should swap pets but they declined.

They went to Eeylops Owl Emporium and Harry got a female snowy owl.

They went back to the Leaky Cauldron for dinner.

The dread crept up on them when they realised that they had to go back to Privet Drive.

McGonagall asked, "Are you three okay?"

"Do we have to go back?" asked Tristan.

McGonagall looked shocked, "They're your relatives. They're probably worried about you three."

"Not really," said Harry. "They don't care. If they cared about us, we wouldn't have gone to Mrs Figgs's house with our letters."

"I sleep in a cupboard under the stairs," said Tristan.

"And Harry sleeps in the shed," said Cypress. She took out the envelopes that she stuck in her bag and handed them to McGonagall, who took them. "They wear Dudley's hand-me-downs and I get second-hand clothes."

"They didn't even take Tristan to the hospital for the infection in his legs until it got worse," Harry reminded her.

"And they don't feed us regularly either," Tristan said. "They only started feeding us a little bit more because a doctor said that Harry and I were underweight."

McGonagall looked shocked and then said, "I'll see what I can do."

A/N: I'd like to point out that yes, I know Lily is a Gryffindor and her eye color is green, but since this is an alternate universe, I feel like some minor things had to be changed, along with turning Voldemort into a female.