Everyone stared at her as she walked by. She felt like she had an
elephant on her back. Everyone giggled at her and whispered to their
friends. She felt very uncomfortable. She slowly took a dark seat in the
back, and when she sat down, everyone moved away. She felt like a puzzle
piece that just didn't match. This couldn't be good.
The bus started forward very quickly and nobody seemed to notice that they were traveling at almost light speed. She clutched her seat to hang on and everyone else looked as if they were used to it and it was normal for them. She looked out the window to see her past rolling away.
A single tear rolled down her face. She wiped it away so nobody could see, but she was overwhelmed by the emotions. She might never see her friends, her family, ever again.
The ride went on for about five minutes. They stopped in the middle of a block that seemed almost vacant and everyone didn't seem to even see the bus. They all piled off. A medium sized woman of about thirty was standing in front of a small shop that looked abandoned.
"Please wait along here for the students to get off the bus please! "
Everyone got off quickly, and they all looked excited. They were chattering immensely and didn't seem to notice her at all. The woman spoke again.
"Everyone please pair up in twos and follow me into the alley. No touching of any objects until we get into Diagon Alley and I let you all walk around. I expect everyone to be back at out meeting point, in front of Bertie Bott's, at approximately five o'clock. Don't be late! Off with you now!"
She walked into the old pub place and everyone followed. It was a dark place filled with lots of strange looking folk, all wearing long dark cloaks and robes. Kat had thought of something. She needed a partner to shop with. Everyone looked like they were paired up. Everyone started going into shops and she had no clue where she was or what she was doing.
She looked down at her old raggedy and patched overalls. She was never going to get any friends looking like this. She was not going to fit in with this odd crowd.
The leader of the group walked up to her. Her orange eyes sparkled.
"My dear, you must be Miss Aburne. The ministry has provided you with some money to spend on your school needs. You robes were paid for already and they gave me a credit to give to the cashier. If you have any questions, my name is Madam Hooch, dear. "
She handed her a small bag of coins and a small yellow ticket.
"You should have plenty to pay for your books and such."
She began to turn away, then stopped and looked back at her.
"I suppose you will be needing a partner. " She smiled, as if she was making a dumb mistake.
A tall, mature looking girl was looking around, as if she was lost. Madam Hooch seemed to recognize her, and called her over.
"Dear, Anju, right?"
The girl nodded as she looked Kat over.
" This is a new student, actually, new to magic in general. Would you mind taking her around the alley? "
She nodded again and Madam Hooch gave her a pleased smile.
" I will be around if you need me, seeing you at five ladies. "
And at that word, she was off. Kat looked at the girl. She stared right back at her. They exchanged looks for about thirty seconds before the girl spoke.
" I am Anju, Anju Brookshire. "
Kat gave her a troubled look. She held out her dry, pale hand.
" Katarina, Aburne... Kat. "
Anju shook her hand. She was a very pretty girl and sounded very mature for her age. She led her into a small passageway. She tapped a few bricks with a long object, and as odd as it sounds, the bricks began to move, revealing a strange, outdoor type mall, filled with people about her age wearing long robes, as she saw in the pub.
"This... is Diagon Alley, where you will find your supplies."
She started off again toward a tall, fashionable looking shop. She opened the glass door for her, and she held it like it was the world's most expensive diamond.
A slender woman, dressed in fine velvet cloths and large hoop earrings. She looked to Anju and smiled, and then her eyes met Kat. She stood up and greeted her.
"Hello, new student... let's see, do you need size done?"
Assuming that she had pretty much owned the same few pairs of clothes in her life, she nodded. The woman led her to an empty room, and Anju started to wonder around the shop, feeling all the different fabrics and admiring things.
The woman took a long, yellow tape measure and asked her to hold out her arms. She rolled out the tape across her arms and muttered numbers to herself. She muttered to drop her arms, and she did as told. She fussed about, pins in her long robes, and exited, leaving Kat standing there. She returned in a few minutes with an armful of long black cloths. She took her wand out and muttered a few words, including the numbers of her sizes, and the cloth created itself into robes. She grabbed them and boxed them up.
"Anything else, dear?"
Kat shook her head. She took the boxes and left her to a cashier. Kat pulled out the yellow ticket. She handed it to her, and her slim hands took it.
"Very good. Have fun at Hogwarts dear." And at this she was back off into the rows of fabric. Kat took the package off the table and spotted Anju talking to a short, blonde boy. She walked up to them and looked at Anju, curious to meet this person. The boy looked up at her like she smelled of rotten eggs. She gave him an agitated look.
"Who is this mud?" He spat.
"She isn't a mud Draco! This is Kat, she is really cool. Kat, this is Draco, Draco Malfoy.
"Malfoy--! " He spat out again. Anju gave her a look like she hated him.
" Well, I'll be seeing you at Hogwarts someday..." he stormed off, his black robes lined with shiny green flew behind him as he walked.
" And that was--?" Kat asked.
" Malfoy, the worst magic family, they are pure evil people."
Anju started off again, toward another shop. Kat held her packages like there was the worlds most expensive, most breakable, piece of glass. She walked slowly and steadily.
They entered various other shops, buying a cauldron, and her schoolbooks. Anju paused for a moment in the street.
"A wand... and that's it. "
"Oh... okay " Kat sounded nervous when they entered an ancient looking shop. Ollivander's was written across the top. They walked in, and it smelled like a wood shop classroom and a barn. They walked up to the counter.
A tall, old man walked up to the front, dressed in purple robes with a white shirt underneath.
"Good day, ladies, ahh! Miss Brookshire, Phoenix, holly, 10 inches, good day to you, and your lovely friend, come to buy a wand? "
Anju nodded.
" It's for her, she is new to the magic world. " She pointed at Kat, who was looking very nervous. The man paced down a long aisle of small boxes, and muttered to himself. He pulled a small claret box from the shelves and walked back up to the counter. He took a long stick out of the box and handed it to her backwards, handle pointing to her. She held it a second, then her arm started to glow red like the box. Her eyes widened and she put the wand back on the counter.
" Ah! That is yew, 11 inches, and strung with a red unicorn hair, very, very unique! My daughter, Julie, had recommended it to me. The only ever existing red-tailed unicorn. Very amazing. "He took the wand and put it into the box, and wrapped it up for her. She stared down at the odd looking coins Madam Hooch had given her.
Anju smiled. She took the coins and showed her how the system works. She soon paid and they were off again.
Anju looked around the alley and spotted a tall girl and ran over to her. Kat, with her many packages, was trying to keep up, but eventually lost her. She spotted a glimpse of the chestnut hair and ran toward it, not looking where she was going. A tall, brown haired boy about her age was also running. She didn't see him in time and...
Boom. They collided, sending her packages everywhere, and knocking her to the ground. The boy jumped right back up and held out his hand to her to help her up. She grabbed his hand, and she felt really strange. She felt her heart feel warmer. His strong arms pulled her to her feet.
She stared at her hand as he picked up her packages. He spoke in a very fluent Scottish accent.
"I am terribly sorry i ran into you, I wasn't paying attention to where I was headed."
She looked at his brown eyes. They almost seemed to sparkle.
"Oh! It's quite alright!" She felt very ungraceful and indelicate as she spoke in her American and slightly English accent. He smiled at her as he handed her the parcels. He looked at the box.
"Hogwarts! Me too. Everyone in my family has been Gryffindors.What house do you think you want?"
She looked at him, trying to sound impressive and well-adjusted to the magic world, she replied:
"Oh, I want Gryffindor too!"
He smiled again. She felt her heart warm again.
"Well, I'd best be off, hope to see you this year in Gryffindor!"
He stared at her for a moment before starting in the other direction. Kat had wondered if he felt it too. Anju appeared behind her.
"I have been looking for you!"
"Anju, who was that who I was just talking to?"
"Oh, that's Oliver Wood. He is obsessed with quidditch and stuff. Come on or we will be late!"
Kat thought to herself. Oliver Wood... it had a nice sound to it. She started off again with Anju and they joined the crowd in front of Bertie Botts. She looked overhead and spotted thousands, thousands of owls flying fast all in different directions. The group was led back into the Leaky Cauldron, now almost empty. A tall, blonde woman with emerald eyes was standing by the fire, apparently, waiting for someone. Anju walked over to her and started to talk to her. Madam Hooch walked to the woman and began to talk, leaving Kat, completely left out.
The woman smiled and nodded at Madam Hooch and Madam Hooch walked over to Kat.
"You will be staying with the Brookshires until the term begins. Mrs. Brookshire is a very kind woman like her daughter, you will have fun."
Kat nodded. Anju walked over to her and took her hand. She led her over to the fireplace.
"We live in America, in New York; we are going there by floo powder."
Mrs. Brookshire smiled at Kat and shined her jade eyes on her and she walked closer to the fire, so close she walked into the burning flames.
The bus started forward very quickly and nobody seemed to notice that they were traveling at almost light speed. She clutched her seat to hang on and everyone else looked as if they were used to it and it was normal for them. She looked out the window to see her past rolling away.
A single tear rolled down her face. She wiped it away so nobody could see, but she was overwhelmed by the emotions. She might never see her friends, her family, ever again.
The ride went on for about five minutes. They stopped in the middle of a block that seemed almost vacant and everyone didn't seem to even see the bus. They all piled off. A medium sized woman of about thirty was standing in front of a small shop that looked abandoned.
"Please wait along here for the students to get off the bus please! "
Everyone got off quickly, and they all looked excited. They were chattering immensely and didn't seem to notice her at all. The woman spoke again.
"Everyone please pair up in twos and follow me into the alley. No touching of any objects until we get into Diagon Alley and I let you all walk around. I expect everyone to be back at out meeting point, in front of Bertie Bott's, at approximately five o'clock. Don't be late! Off with you now!"
She walked into the old pub place and everyone followed. It was a dark place filled with lots of strange looking folk, all wearing long dark cloaks and robes. Kat had thought of something. She needed a partner to shop with. Everyone looked like they were paired up. Everyone started going into shops and she had no clue where she was or what she was doing.
She looked down at her old raggedy and patched overalls. She was never going to get any friends looking like this. She was not going to fit in with this odd crowd.
The leader of the group walked up to her. Her orange eyes sparkled.
"My dear, you must be Miss Aburne. The ministry has provided you with some money to spend on your school needs. You robes were paid for already and they gave me a credit to give to the cashier. If you have any questions, my name is Madam Hooch, dear. "
She handed her a small bag of coins and a small yellow ticket.
"You should have plenty to pay for your books and such."
She began to turn away, then stopped and looked back at her.
"I suppose you will be needing a partner. " She smiled, as if she was making a dumb mistake.
A tall, mature looking girl was looking around, as if she was lost. Madam Hooch seemed to recognize her, and called her over.
"Dear, Anju, right?"
The girl nodded as she looked Kat over.
" This is a new student, actually, new to magic in general. Would you mind taking her around the alley? "
She nodded again and Madam Hooch gave her a pleased smile.
" I will be around if you need me, seeing you at five ladies. "
And at that word, she was off. Kat looked at the girl. She stared right back at her. They exchanged looks for about thirty seconds before the girl spoke.
" I am Anju, Anju Brookshire. "
Kat gave her a troubled look. She held out her dry, pale hand.
" Katarina, Aburne... Kat. "
Anju shook her hand. She was a very pretty girl and sounded very mature for her age. She led her into a small passageway. She tapped a few bricks with a long object, and as odd as it sounds, the bricks began to move, revealing a strange, outdoor type mall, filled with people about her age wearing long robes, as she saw in the pub.
"This... is Diagon Alley, where you will find your supplies."
She started off again toward a tall, fashionable looking shop. She opened the glass door for her, and she held it like it was the world's most expensive diamond.
A slender woman, dressed in fine velvet cloths and large hoop earrings. She looked to Anju and smiled, and then her eyes met Kat. She stood up and greeted her.
"Hello, new student... let's see, do you need size done?"
Assuming that she had pretty much owned the same few pairs of clothes in her life, she nodded. The woman led her to an empty room, and Anju started to wonder around the shop, feeling all the different fabrics and admiring things.
The woman took a long, yellow tape measure and asked her to hold out her arms. She rolled out the tape across her arms and muttered numbers to herself. She muttered to drop her arms, and she did as told. She fussed about, pins in her long robes, and exited, leaving Kat standing there. She returned in a few minutes with an armful of long black cloths. She took her wand out and muttered a few words, including the numbers of her sizes, and the cloth created itself into robes. She grabbed them and boxed them up.
"Anything else, dear?"
Kat shook her head. She took the boxes and left her to a cashier. Kat pulled out the yellow ticket. She handed it to her, and her slim hands took it.
"Very good. Have fun at Hogwarts dear." And at this she was back off into the rows of fabric. Kat took the package off the table and spotted Anju talking to a short, blonde boy. She walked up to them and looked at Anju, curious to meet this person. The boy looked up at her like she smelled of rotten eggs. She gave him an agitated look.
"Who is this mud?" He spat.
"She isn't a mud Draco! This is Kat, she is really cool. Kat, this is Draco, Draco Malfoy.
"Malfoy--! " He spat out again. Anju gave her a look like she hated him.
" Well, I'll be seeing you at Hogwarts someday..." he stormed off, his black robes lined with shiny green flew behind him as he walked.
" And that was--?" Kat asked.
" Malfoy, the worst magic family, they are pure evil people."
Anju started off again, toward another shop. Kat held her packages like there was the worlds most expensive, most breakable, piece of glass. She walked slowly and steadily.
They entered various other shops, buying a cauldron, and her schoolbooks. Anju paused for a moment in the street.
"A wand... and that's it. "
"Oh... okay " Kat sounded nervous when they entered an ancient looking shop. Ollivander's was written across the top. They walked in, and it smelled like a wood shop classroom and a barn. They walked up to the counter.
A tall, old man walked up to the front, dressed in purple robes with a white shirt underneath.
"Good day, ladies, ahh! Miss Brookshire, Phoenix, holly, 10 inches, good day to you, and your lovely friend, come to buy a wand? "
Anju nodded.
" It's for her, she is new to the magic world. " She pointed at Kat, who was looking very nervous. The man paced down a long aisle of small boxes, and muttered to himself. He pulled a small claret box from the shelves and walked back up to the counter. He took a long stick out of the box and handed it to her backwards, handle pointing to her. She held it a second, then her arm started to glow red like the box. Her eyes widened and she put the wand back on the counter.
" Ah! That is yew, 11 inches, and strung with a red unicorn hair, very, very unique! My daughter, Julie, had recommended it to me. The only ever existing red-tailed unicorn. Very amazing. "He took the wand and put it into the box, and wrapped it up for her. She stared down at the odd looking coins Madam Hooch had given her.
Anju smiled. She took the coins and showed her how the system works. She soon paid and they were off again.
Anju looked around the alley and spotted a tall girl and ran over to her. Kat, with her many packages, was trying to keep up, but eventually lost her. She spotted a glimpse of the chestnut hair and ran toward it, not looking where she was going. A tall, brown haired boy about her age was also running. She didn't see him in time and...
Boom. They collided, sending her packages everywhere, and knocking her to the ground. The boy jumped right back up and held out his hand to her to help her up. She grabbed his hand, and she felt really strange. She felt her heart feel warmer. His strong arms pulled her to her feet.
She stared at her hand as he picked up her packages. He spoke in a very fluent Scottish accent.
"I am terribly sorry i ran into you, I wasn't paying attention to where I was headed."
She looked at his brown eyes. They almost seemed to sparkle.
"Oh! It's quite alright!" She felt very ungraceful and indelicate as she spoke in her American and slightly English accent. He smiled at her as he handed her the parcels. He looked at the box.
"Hogwarts! Me too. Everyone in my family has been Gryffindors.What house do you think you want?"
She looked at him, trying to sound impressive and well-adjusted to the magic world, she replied:
"Oh, I want Gryffindor too!"
He smiled again. She felt her heart warm again.
"Well, I'd best be off, hope to see you this year in Gryffindor!"
He stared at her for a moment before starting in the other direction. Kat had wondered if he felt it too. Anju appeared behind her.
"I have been looking for you!"
"Anju, who was that who I was just talking to?"
"Oh, that's Oliver Wood. He is obsessed with quidditch and stuff. Come on or we will be late!"
Kat thought to herself. Oliver Wood... it had a nice sound to it. She started off again with Anju and they joined the crowd in front of Bertie Botts. She looked overhead and spotted thousands, thousands of owls flying fast all in different directions. The group was led back into the Leaky Cauldron, now almost empty. A tall, blonde woman with emerald eyes was standing by the fire, apparently, waiting for someone. Anju walked over to her and started to talk to her. Madam Hooch walked to the woman and began to talk, leaving Kat, completely left out.
The woman smiled and nodded at Madam Hooch and Madam Hooch walked over to Kat.
"You will be staying with the Brookshires until the term begins. Mrs. Brookshire is a very kind woman like her daughter, you will have fun."
Kat nodded. Anju walked over to her and took her hand. She led her over to the fireplace.
"We live in America, in New York; we are going there by floo powder."
Mrs. Brookshire smiled at Kat and shined her jade eyes on her and she walked closer to the fire, so close she walked into the burning flames.