Disclaimer:
All things not Allosia and Gabriel belong to JKR.
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Not having had the pleasure of having visited Diagon Alley in some time, it reminded Allosia, even more than usual of her trips there as a student. With start of term barely more than a week away now, the streets were already packed with students fetching their school supplies. Perhaps her love of such trips had been the most obvious sign that she would become a Ravenclaw.
While none of her errands were strictly necessary, she did think it would be great fun to bring packages home for her and her family. In part as a reward to them for putting up with her going on this trip, and in part as a reward to herself, for having been willing to fight her husband over it.
And so with thoughts of toys and picture books for her son, unusual parchments and quills for the house and perhaps a side trip to Knockturn Alley to find some unpleasantly peculiar trinket for her husband, Allosia Hemrand went to Gringots, withdrawing funds for the first time as a member of the Snape family.
That in particular, had been a singularly peculiar experience for her. Presenting the letter from her husband and pulling her cloak aside to show the pendant she wore that marked her as his, as surely as he was marked as hers by its matching talisman, was just one more small thing making their marriage suddenly real to her. As if the boy and the shared rooms were not enough.
She wondered at the way the goblin had looked at her then, if she sensed disdain or curiosity from him correctly. He was a goblin, but her husband's name could also have that effect, the Snape family having a long and colorful history with much strange blood and dark magic running through it. It was why they had agreed she would do well to remain separate from the name so that she would not be confused with one of his many distant relations to carry the blood of veelas, elves or other nearly human rarities. Blood that Allosia suspected he himself carried in small fraction. He was a pureblood wizard, and beyond that, always refused to say more, noting merely that he had little interest in the breeding experiments too popular amongst most Slytherins and their genealogically obsessed whores.
The ride down through the bank's caverns to their vault had quickly thrust the entire thought process from Allosia's head. She did better with the ride than some, loving taking to the air as she did, but she had to will herself not to be nauseous or nervous in these subterranean caverns. She could imagine her husband, jaw set grimly on so mercenary a rollercoaster. She would want to hold his hand, but that was not something they did in public. She wasn't sure if it was because they lived at Hogwarts or not.
Having acquired her funds and regained her equilibrium, Allosia began her shopping at Flourish and Blotts. There she picked up parchments in full sheets to sixteenth cuts in a range of materials and textures, including some of the more unpleasant animal gut stuff that Snape invariably found uses for even if merely to send nasty letters to the parents of particularly objectionable students. The man could practically will a child to get a howler with a few well-placed sentences. She also grabbed quills by the handful, mostly of the practical variety, but fetched a few as well with dark and unique feathers for her and Snape. They shared certain aesthetic preferences that managed to unnerve many people, for no other reason than it hinted at information others were locked out from. Additionally, she acquired a few false quills with thick stems and sturdy nibs for Gabriel to begin practice with. Snape was eager to teach him far too many alphabets.
Afterwards, carrying her boxed goods wrapped in paper and twine Allosia popped her head into Olivander's merely to say hello to the old fellow. He remembered her wand and the house she was sorted into and mentioned that he had heard she became and auror. He was most amused to hear she was now stationed at Hogwarts and had married its most feared teacher, whose wand he also remembered and discussed with her in great detail. One day, she would bring Gabriel to him, and that would be quite a moment indeed.
Heading further up the narrow and perennially crowded street, Allosia passed shop after shop of wizard's robes and supplies, many of which she had to stop herself from going into just out of a desire for more packages. How lovely it was to be able to stroll in the middle of the day with no other immediate obligations at hand.
Reaching the end of the street, Allosia made sharp left and turned onto Knockturn Alley. While she knew Snape would have a fit had she told him she planned to come here, she also knew she'd get off with some mild grumbling and a large smile if she could find an esoteric enough gift for him here. While one had to be careful along this street, there was much of interest, regardless of whether one had a personal or professional interest in the Dark Arts or not.
All things not Allosia and Gabriel belong to JKR.
--------
Not having had the pleasure of having visited Diagon Alley in some time, it reminded Allosia, even more than usual of her trips there as a student. With start of term barely more than a week away now, the streets were already packed with students fetching their school supplies. Perhaps her love of such trips had been the most obvious sign that she would become a Ravenclaw.
While none of her errands were strictly necessary, she did think it would be great fun to bring packages home for her and her family. In part as a reward to them for putting up with her going on this trip, and in part as a reward to herself, for having been willing to fight her husband over it.
And so with thoughts of toys and picture books for her son, unusual parchments and quills for the house and perhaps a side trip to Knockturn Alley to find some unpleasantly peculiar trinket for her husband, Allosia Hemrand went to Gringots, withdrawing funds for the first time as a member of the Snape family.
That in particular, had been a singularly peculiar experience for her. Presenting the letter from her husband and pulling her cloak aside to show the pendant she wore that marked her as his, as surely as he was marked as hers by its matching talisman, was just one more small thing making their marriage suddenly real to her. As if the boy and the shared rooms were not enough.
She wondered at the way the goblin had looked at her then, if she sensed disdain or curiosity from him correctly. He was a goblin, but her husband's name could also have that effect, the Snape family having a long and colorful history with much strange blood and dark magic running through it. It was why they had agreed she would do well to remain separate from the name so that she would not be confused with one of his many distant relations to carry the blood of veelas, elves or other nearly human rarities. Blood that Allosia suspected he himself carried in small fraction. He was a pureblood wizard, and beyond that, always refused to say more, noting merely that he had little interest in the breeding experiments too popular amongst most Slytherins and their genealogically obsessed whores.
The ride down through the bank's caverns to their vault had quickly thrust the entire thought process from Allosia's head. She did better with the ride than some, loving taking to the air as she did, but she had to will herself not to be nauseous or nervous in these subterranean caverns. She could imagine her husband, jaw set grimly on so mercenary a rollercoaster. She would want to hold his hand, but that was not something they did in public. She wasn't sure if it was because they lived at Hogwarts or not.
Having acquired her funds and regained her equilibrium, Allosia began her shopping at Flourish and Blotts. There she picked up parchments in full sheets to sixteenth cuts in a range of materials and textures, including some of the more unpleasant animal gut stuff that Snape invariably found uses for even if merely to send nasty letters to the parents of particularly objectionable students. The man could practically will a child to get a howler with a few well-placed sentences. She also grabbed quills by the handful, mostly of the practical variety, but fetched a few as well with dark and unique feathers for her and Snape. They shared certain aesthetic preferences that managed to unnerve many people, for no other reason than it hinted at information others were locked out from. Additionally, she acquired a few false quills with thick stems and sturdy nibs for Gabriel to begin practice with. Snape was eager to teach him far too many alphabets.
Afterwards, carrying her boxed goods wrapped in paper and twine Allosia popped her head into Olivander's merely to say hello to the old fellow. He remembered her wand and the house she was sorted into and mentioned that he had heard she became and auror. He was most amused to hear she was now stationed at Hogwarts and had married its most feared teacher, whose wand he also remembered and discussed with her in great detail. One day, she would bring Gabriel to him, and that would be quite a moment indeed.
Heading further up the narrow and perennially crowded street, Allosia passed shop after shop of wizard's robes and supplies, many of which she had to stop herself from going into just out of a desire for more packages. How lovely it was to be able to stroll in the middle of the day with no other immediate obligations at hand.
Reaching the end of the street, Allosia made sharp left and turned onto Knockturn Alley. While she knew Snape would have a fit had she told him she planned to come here, she also knew she'd get off with some mild grumbling and a large smile if she could find an esoteric enough gift for him here. While one had to be careful along this street, there was much of interest, regardless of whether one had a personal or professional interest in the Dark Arts or not.