Author's Replies and Notes:
Ashley*CB: thank you for your kind kind kind words~! (I'm crying with tears of joy~!) I'm glad my OC is alive and doing well. (I know the feeling, a lot of OC's are too perfect, no flaws whatsoever. They tend to get annoying. I was afraid Neoma might seem exaggerated.... maybe she is? *crosses fingers* I really hope not.) As for Snape's past? I'm enjoying writing them too. ^_^ I guess it's a win-win situation. I am also looking forward to bring in other main characters from the HP series into Snape's life. You know someone's going to make Snape-the-bastard appear in his school days! *grins wickedly* Ahhh! How I'm looking forward to write that!

misy morcant,29, history of magic sub: neat-o name. hmm.... makes me want to bring in Professor Binns... although I never really considered it.... I wonder if he would sit at the head table even though he can't eat? hmmm.... ^_^ I'm glad people are liking the innocent and indifferent child Snape I've created so far. I hope I will continue to write a satisfactory Snape. Your short and sweet review encourages me. (I have a sudden urge to hurry up and get to chapter 9!)

Sorry for the delay, I have a large paper due on monday. O.o I finished writing this chapter out by hand on tuesday, I just didn't have time to type it up until now.

I'm still shocked about the number of chapters! Does ff.net allow 50 chapters? (If not I'll do an ending half/sequel!!!) _ This thing's been going on in my head since October! I'm going to get it finished if it's the last thing I do!

Chapter 6: Diagon Alley

Our father owned an Apothecary in Diagon Alley and in the afternoons my brother Jiei and I would give kisses to our mother on her cheek and wave from the fireplace, thrusting Floo Powder into it and tumbling out into the back room of the shop. Jiei first, then me. We would brush the soot off ourselves before rushing off to the counter and help our father with his customers.

The shop was never really filled but business was tolerably well. The shop was covered in shades of tans, browns, and oranges. Unlike most of the other apothecaries nearby that were self-serve, our father stored his supplies in the back and had the various witches, wizards, goblins, and elves wait at the counter or one of the few chairs in the room. The room was mostly devoted to my father's potions. One wall was covered in a netlike array of shelves filled with liquids and powders of different colors, textures, and consistencies. Some were the most basic of potions but our father knew many did not have patience to brew their own potions when, for a little money, they could buy already made potions quickly.

When my brother could hold his hand steady our father brought him to the back room, teaching him how to dry, grind, refine, bottle and cork. What used to be the sad song of one mortar and pestle became a harmony, a duet. We spent countless hours preparing, labeling, and rearranging ingredients. We would quiz each other often on each ingredient and its uses, sometimes resorting to our father to settle our arguments. Our father tried to teach me how to prepare some of the potions but I would usually end up with sad excuse of a potion, once I melted a whole cauldron and ruined a good number of potion ingredients I had prepared that day. When I was of 9 years of age I could finally mix potions without destroying anything but they were of the simplest kind. My brother was showing more promise as he had matched my skill of potions when I was 9 at his age of 5. I, however had fine tuned my skills at the workbench preparing the ingredients my brother could not refine. Our father would laugh and said we would go far together. Jiei would show a toothy grin and laughter would sparkle in his amber eyes.

My brother and I would take breaks by going to the Leaky Cauldron and eat peanut butter and honey sandwiches on the bar stools. Jiei would talk with the bar tender about his wild adventures or a new potion our father was showing him how to brew. I would watch him as the bar tender listened as Jiei told his stories with excitement, his eyes like dinner plates, and I would smile trying to get the peanut butter off the roof of my mouth.

Other times we would walk around Diagon Alley peering into shops and nibbling on whatever we had. I would always have my robe pockets filled with various candies for Jiei; he especially took delight in the tangy lemon sherbet candies that would make his tongue various colors. He also enjoyed the joke shops, our father and myself being his unsuspecting victims. I remember he put a slip of paper in my coat pocket once that had the boys around me recite poetry and ask me to marry them. Well, he got his just deserts the next day when he got the same piece of paper in the pocket of his jeans. He tickled me to death when we got home from school, shouting that I should have made it so at least the GIRLS would fall in love with him.

And then we discovered Ollivander's.

My brother would and for hours and talk about owning a wand and performing all feats of magic. I would just stand there in front of the shop and stare at the wand in the shop window, thoughts and memories drowning me. While my brother was reminded ot our uncle and aunts using magic to make fountains squirt juice and wine at their garden parties, all I could remember was that small boy lying on the ground. I accepted ever beating since then because I was afraid that I would act the same way, cause another accident. I didn't want to be powerful... I didn't want to hurt anyone anymore.

Then I received my letter from Hogwarts.

I had made sure not to let my emotions grab a hold of me or get into any dangerous situations and had never thought of using magic for any solution.

But they knew. They knew I was a witch. They knew of my sinful act.

My father and brother were thrilled. They spent countless hours in Diagon Alley debating whether to by a pewter or brass cauldron, finding my textbooks, and other things at the best prices.

I was silent for the last month since I had received my letter. My brother was too excited to notice my fear but my father saw right through me. He took me in his arms one night and assured me that I would learn only magic that would help me and help those around me. I only wanted to control it. He told me that wands were like lenses that would concentrate all our power into a small area and make us both powerful and able to control our magic. He assured me that Hogwarts would not fail me and told me of his youthful days spent in Hufflepuff house. He told me of the talking and moving portraits, the great hall with the enchanted celling, the large library, the moving staircases.....

We went to Ollivander's the next day leaving my brother to tend the shop. He would keep the customers amused at the age six, if he could not help them. I let my father lead me into the shop while I looked at the ground, my bangs covering my unsure and fearful face.

I heard a bell sounding in the back of the store when we walked in, the sound of a sliding ladder hitting the end with a small and a moment of silence before a voice filled with mirth and fascination exclaim: Ahh! I was wondering when you would come in! I think he was talking to me but I wasn't sure. Ah Briar! So nice to see you! So this is your daughter! I've heard of your son being quite popular around here but I it seems his sister is quieter. He was talking to my father. The shop owners knew each other pretty well.

I looked up to meet his gaze and he said quietly, maybe for only my ears to hear, with a sad smile on his face But sometimes knowing when not to speak is a talent that will take many far. I gave him a sad smile in response, appreciating this man's compliment and honesty. This man had a wonderful talent of reading people and was suited well for any job, but this was probably the most entertaining for him.

he huffed, his voice all business. Let's see what we've got! and he headed towards my direction and shooed my father off to the side, a chair nearby. The man measured the dimensions of my right arm to it's fullest extent and headed towards the back of the shop muttering numbers. We went through about five different wands before we came to my wand.

11 inches, willow, sturdy, unicorn hair.

It didn't feel any different from the rest at first. But I felt calm this time, unlike the other times when fear and shame racked my brains. The wand soothed me, calmed me with it's cool surface.

Go on, give it a swish. the shop owner seemed anxious, I think he realized that I was meant for this wand too.

I swished it once, gently across the room, and the room burst into budding blue roses that slowly began to open. They were the bluest of blues, the color of the sky on a spring day, and dew decorated each rose, gently kissing the petals.

The shop owner and my father looked over my work of art, amazed themselves, the shop owner with a twinkle in his eye.

I smiled ever so faintly, not a smile to cover up my true emotions like I had done for years, but a smile of hope.

I had created something beautiful with those tarnished hands.

A tear slid down my cheek, hit the floor and the roses vanished. I quickly wiped away the traces and handed the wand back the shop owner.

He was smiling too.

AN: Reviews are always welcome! I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Another good sized chaper! *pats self on the back* Keep your eyes on Jiei, he'll play a valuable part later on. ^_^ I'll be busy with that paper over the weekend. I'll update the story as soon as possible. Until then... send in more reviews! I appreciate them greatly!

and since I will probably have an extended absense.... Snape, Remus, Anime lovers unite! I give you..... The silver Love Triagle (EXTREMELY FUNNY!!!!)



(this is not mine.... but my goodness! I love it!)

I tied looking at the link through the preview option and it didn't show. If it still doesn't show I will post it in the reviews section. (don't miss out!!!!!)