Chapter Four: Shopping and Magical Antics
AU & Disclaimer: Only four chapters and still this is a pain to write! Anyway, it's in the first chapter. Hehe. Okay, You might think all this crap doesn't deserve the PG-13 I gave it. Well, soon it will. Soon it will.
When Annis finally manged to quiet her tears, she sighed and climbed onto her bed. Why can't her parents be alive and well? Why can't life be normal and happy? Annis blew a strand of hair out of her face and slipped under the covers. Her mind slowed down as she fell into a quiet sleep.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*The next day...*
"Honey, honey! Wake up, it's time to go shopping!" Aunt Margaret called out, gently shaking Annis.
Annis, who slept quite a bit often, had a hard time waking up. "Szzznnzle," she managed to mumble, trying to pull the covers over her head.
Aunt Margaret frowned, and spoke again, "Annis dear, we're going shopping for your magical school supplies." That did it. Annis shot up, and raised both eyebrows, hoping that it was all a joke. However when she stared into her aunt's face, it held no sign of amusement. Oh well, Annis thought as she slid out of bed slowly, this will be interesting.
~Later~
Annis and Aunt Margaret sat on the bus as it zipped through Surrey to London. London, Aunt Margaret had told Annis, was where Diagon Alley is. Annis said nothing, did nothing. She just sat there in her seat, frowning.
When the bus finally arrived in London, Aunt Margaret quickly paid the driver and hushed Annis out into the streets.
"Well well well," Annis said, glancing around suspiciously, "are there magic shops hidden between the buildings? Are they invisible? And what in pete's sake are muggles?"
Aunt Margaret smiled, and led Annis to an old, fading gray building, so still and quiet that if Aunt Margaret hadn't practically shoved her at the door, she wouldn't have noticed it. "Of course not, Annis. The entrance to Diagon Alley is in the Leaky Cauldron," she murmured, pointing at the old, fading sign, "and to answer your question, muggles are people of no magical signs. No magic in them at all! Isn't that simply dreadful?" She grinned and ushered Annis into the building. The sights Annis saw were much "simply dreadful."
When Annis entered the "Leaky Cauldron," some of the people there were not, well, exactly people. Banshees, Aunt Margaret had explained very, very quietly, were the large women-like creatures who were sipping sherry.
Following Aunt Margaret, the two walked over to an area blocked by a brick wall. Annis started to open her mouth to protest, but Aunt Margaret had already taken actions.
Annis watched as Aunt Margaret pulled a very straight twig out of her jacket pocket and tapped a number of bricks in a peculiar way. But what was more peculiar was what happened next.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The bricks started to rearrange themselves, a few at a time, then more and more. Annis watched with an open mouth as finally the bricks moved so that a large hole stood in a middle. And inside the hole, as a town beyond Annis' imagination.
Diagon Alley, was open. Aunt Margaret had to lead Annis into the entrance way to get her to move. Annis' feet were like statues, as she struggled to get them to walk.
"Come on!" Aunt Margaret hissed, "People are staring! Come on! To that store with the robes!" Annis scanned the area until she saw the shop with the robes, with a sign over it, glittering in ruby red letters "Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions." That must the it. Annis stumbled and managed to get over to the robe shop.
After regaining her sense, Annis glanced over the shop. There were robes of all sorts of pretty colors. But before she could admire them a young woman had finally finished measuring a boy and came over to Annis' and Aunt Margaret's direction.
"Hello, are you for Hogwarts, too?" asked the kind woman, her eyes warm and bright. Even with that, Annis noticed a tired, exhausted expression on her face as well. Aunt Margaret nodded and gestured toward Annis to step onto the stool.
Madam Malkin turned out to be a talkative lady. She chatted and gossiped with Aunt Margaret while she measured Annis. She heard all sorts of talk: "You know, Dippet is quite the fogey these days...." and "Have you heard about the latest Grindelwald news?" That last sentence put Annis' mind on fire. Grindelwald? So it's all true? Omigosh, Annis thought as Madam Malkin entered the curtains to retrieve the robes and such, so I AM a witch? It's not possible! Oh, but it is possible, said a voice within the back of Annis' mind, think of the possibilities! You could kill Grindelwald! Nonsense, Annis thought furiously, I'm not that strong. I'll get killed myself. Sure sure, whatever you say, little one, the nasty voice said, whatever you say.
Again, Annis' mind was shaken when Madam Malkin thrust a bundle of clothes into her arms. Aunt Margaret gave Madam Malkin a handful of gold coins which were nothing like what Annis had ever seen.
Back outside, Annis had a few questions for Aunt Margaret.
"Auntie, where happened to the pounds? And do you have /i else you want to tell me?" she asked, raising an eyebrow again. Annis wanted to know everything. /U everything.
Aunt Margaret eyed Annis, and sighed. "Alright, alright. In the wizarding world, we use a completely different type of currency. The galleon, the sickle, and the knut. Galleons are gold, sickles are silver, and knuts are bronze. I believe you can figure out the value by what I have told you. And...." Aunt Margaret trailed off, not certain if she should keep going, but she did, "and one more thing. Always be cautious when Fortuna Magika is mentioned. Be very aware." she stopped suddenly, then gestured toward another shop. "Go to Ollivanders for your wand. I need to do some more shopping, so here." She handed Annis some galleons and bustled off.
Annis sighed, and whispered, "Fortuna Magika."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When Annis entered Ollivanders, a chilling shiver went down her back. The shop was dusty and old, and there was merely a counter and tons and tons of thin boxes sitting on rows of shelves. Frowning, she began to sit down. But before she could get the chance, a man stepped from the lurkings of the rows.
"Welcome to Ollivanders! I presume you are here for your wand, yes?" asked the man, who Annis assumed was Mr. Ollivander. She nodded and he smiled.
As he walked to the rows, he murmured, "Ah yes, I remember well. Johnsen, are you? Amelia was an intelligent young one, very intelligent. I remember her wand clearly, ten inches, phoenix feather, oak wood. Very supple, I assure you." Mr. Ollivander chattered on, pulling boxes from the shelves and talked about miscellaneous subjects.
Finally, he climbed down and opened one of the boxes. From the box he held a stick somewhat like Aunt Margaret's. He handed it to Annis. Puzzled, she gawked at him, holding the stick.
"Well, go on now! Wave the wand around, see if it suits you," he said, smiling, and leaned on the counter, waiting for Annis. Feeling like a fool, she waved the "wand" around. Nothing happened.
Mr. Ollivander frowned and said, "Well, birchbark doesn't really suit a Johnsen, anyway. Here. Twelve and a half inches, dragon heartstring, pinewood. Not very bendable, but useful nevertheless." He handed Annis another "wand" and waited. Annis, frowning, gave the "wand" a wave. Suddenly, blue and silver sparks shooted out, giving an impressive mini-fireworks show. Mr. Ollivander clapped.
"Well done! That is quite the wand, Miss Johnsen. Very nice for defense against the dark arts," he said proudly, as he put the wand back into the box and wrapped it up. Defense against the Dark Arts. Something that would prove to be the most useful of all.
AU & Disclaimer: Only four chapters and still this is a pain to write! Anyway, it's in the first chapter. Hehe. Okay, You might think all this crap doesn't deserve the PG-13 I gave it. Well, soon it will. Soon it will.
When Annis finally manged to quiet her tears, she sighed and climbed onto her bed. Why can't her parents be alive and well? Why can't life be normal and happy? Annis blew a strand of hair out of her face and slipped under the covers. Her mind slowed down as she fell into a quiet sleep.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*The next day...*
"Honey, honey! Wake up, it's time to go shopping!" Aunt Margaret called out, gently shaking Annis.
Annis, who slept quite a bit often, had a hard time waking up. "Szzznnzle," she managed to mumble, trying to pull the covers over her head.
Aunt Margaret frowned, and spoke again, "Annis dear, we're going shopping for your magical school supplies." That did it. Annis shot up, and raised both eyebrows, hoping that it was all a joke. However when she stared into her aunt's face, it held no sign of amusement. Oh well, Annis thought as she slid out of bed slowly, this will be interesting.
~Later~
Annis and Aunt Margaret sat on the bus as it zipped through Surrey to London. London, Aunt Margaret had told Annis, was where Diagon Alley is. Annis said nothing, did nothing. She just sat there in her seat, frowning.
When the bus finally arrived in London, Aunt Margaret quickly paid the driver and hushed Annis out into the streets.
"Well well well," Annis said, glancing around suspiciously, "are there magic shops hidden between the buildings? Are they invisible? And what in pete's sake are muggles?"
Aunt Margaret smiled, and led Annis to an old, fading gray building, so still and quiet that if Aunt Margaret hadn't practically shoved her at the door, she wouldn't have noticed it. "Of course not, Annis. The entrance to Diagon Alley is in the Leaky Cauldron," she murmured, pointing at the old, fading sign, "and to answer your question, muggles are people of no magical signs. No magic in them at all! Isn't that simply dreadful?" She grinned and ushered Annis into the building. The sights Annis saw were much "simply dreadful."
When Annis entered the "Leaky Cauldron," some of the people there were not, well, exactly people. Banshees, Aunt Margaret had explained very, very quietly, were the large women-like creatures who were sipping sherry.
Following Aunt Margaret, the two walked over to an area blocked by a brick wall. Annis started to open her mouth to protest, but Aunt Margaret had already taken actions.
Annis watched as Aunt Margaret pulled a very straight twig out of her jacket pocket and tapped a number of bricks in a peculiar way. But what was more peculiar was what happened next.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The bricks started to rearrange themselves, a few at a time, then more and more. Annis watched with an open mouth as finally the bricks moved so that a large hole stood in a middle. And inside the hole, as a town beyond Annis' imagination.
Diagon Alley, was open. Aunt Margaret had to lead Annis into the entrance way to get her to move. Annis' feet were like statues, as she struggled to get them to walk.
"Come on!" Aunt Margaret hissed, "People are staring! Come on! To that store with the robes!" Annis scanned the area until she saw the shop with the robes, with a sign over it, glittering in ruby red letters "Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions." That must the it. Annis stumbled and managed to get over to the robe shop.
After regaining her sense, Annis glanced over the shop. There were robes of all sorts of pretty colors. But before she could admire them a young woman had finally finished measuring a boy and came over to Annis' and Aunt Margaret's direction.
"Hello, are you for Hogwarts, too?" asked the kind woman, her eyes warm and bright. Even with that, Annis noticed a tired, exhausted expression on her face as well. Aunt Margaret nodded and gestured toward Annis to step onto the stool.
Madam Malkin turned out to be a talkative lady. She chatted and gossiped with Aunt Margaret while she measured Annis. She heard all sorts of talk: "You know, Dippet is quite the fogey these days...." and "Have you heard about the latest Grindelwald news?" That last sentence put Annis' mind on fire. Grindelwald? So it's all true? Omigosh, Annis thought as Madam Malkin entered the curtains to retrieve the robes and such, so I AM a witch? It's not possible! Oh, but it is possible, said a voice within the back of Annis' mind, think of the possibilities! You could kill Grindelwald! Nonsense, Annis thought furiously, I'm not that strong. I'll get killed myself. Sure sure, whatever you say, little one, the nasty voice said, whatever you say.
Again, Annis' mind was shaken when Madam Malkin thrust a bundle of clothes into her arms. Aunt Margaret gave Madam Malkin a handful of gold coins which were nothing like what Annis had ever seen.
Back outside, Annis had a few questions for Aunt Margaret.
"Auntie, where happened to the pounds? And do you have /i else you want to tell me?" she asked, raising an eyebrow again. Annis wanted to know everything. /U everything.
Aunt Margaret eyed Annis, and sighed. "Alright, alright. In the wizarding world, we use a completely different type of currency. The galleon, the sickle, and the knut. Galleons are gold, sickles are silver, and knuts are bronze. I believe you can figure out the value by what I have told you. And...." Aunt Margaret trailed off, not certain if she should keep going, but she did, "and one more thing. Always be cautious when Fortuna Magika is mentioned. Be very aware." she stopped suddenly, then gestured toward another shop. "Go to Ollivanders for your wand. I need to do some more shopping, so here." She handed Annis some galleons and bustled off.
Annis sighed, and whispered, "Fortuna Magika."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When Annis entered Ollivanders, a chilling shiver went down her back. The shop was dusty and old, and there was merely a counter and tons and tons of thin boxes sitting on rows of shelves. Frowning, she began to sit down. But before she could get the chance, a man stepped from the lurkings of the rows.
"Welcome to Ollivanders! I presume you are here for your wand, yes?" asked the man, who Annis assumed was Mr. Ollivander. She nodded and he smiled.
As he walked to the rows, he murmured, "Ah yes, I remember well. Johnsen, are you? Amelia was an intelligent young one, very intelligent. I remember her wand clearly, ten inches, phoenix feather, oak wood. Very supple, I assure you." Mr. Ollivander chattered on, pulling boxes from the shelves and talked about miscellaneous subjects.
Finally, he climbed down and opened one of the boxes. From the box he held a stick somewhat like Aunt Margaret's. He handed it to Annis. Puzzled, she gawked at him, holding the stick.
"Well, go on now! Wave the wand around, see if it suits you," he said, smiling, and leaned on the counter, waiting for Annis. Feeling like a fool, she waved the "wand" around. Nothing happened.
Mr. Ollivander frowned and said, "Well, birchbark doesn't really suit a Johnsen, anyway. Here. Twelve and a half inches, dragon heartstring, pinewood. Not very bendable, but useful nevertheless." He handed Annis another "wand" and waited. Annis, frowning, gave the "wand" a wave. Suddenly, blue and silver sparks shooted out, giving an impressive mini-fireworks show. Mr. Ollivander clapped.
"Well done! That is quite the wand, Miss Johnsen. Very nice for defense against the dark arts," he said proudly, as he put the wand back into the box and wrapped it up. Defense against the Dark Arts. Something that would prove to be the most useful of all.