(A/N Harry Potter and the associated characters, etc. belong to J.K. Rowling, not to me. The only things that belong
to me are the plot of this story, and the characters: Christina, Gavin, Fiona, Alex, and Savana Walker, as well as
a few others.)
Harry Potter and the Staff of Time
Chapter 4
Stellaluna
The remainder of Harry's summer holiday passed uneventfully. He went with the Weasleys to watch a Quidditch match, featuring the Chuddley Cannons. The Cannons eventually won, after three days,and nights of intense play.
Their annual trip to Diagon Alley, for school supplies, etc., had been rather entertaining..... Harry, Ron, and Ginny had gone into a magical creatures shop to find an animal for Ginny to bring with her to Hogwarts. (She had not inherited an animal, as her brothers had. And they had discovered a few years ago that the rat, which Ron had inherited from Percy, was actually an animagus.)
When they entered the shop, they saw tanks and cages, filled with various animals, lining the walls of the shop and set up in displays. They enjoyed themselves, admiring the various creatures: a white rabbit,who changed into a top hat and back; a cage of magic rats,who were involved in some type of game;1 a talking iguana,who sat behind the register making comments; and a pair of large Asian fruit bats, hanging by thier feet in a dark corner.
"What kind of animal were you thinking of getting, Ginny?" Harry asked.
"I don't really know yet." Ginny answered. "Something small and inexpensive. I don't have much money to spend, even though I've been saving everything I've gotten. I'd like something furry, though, no toads, turtles, or anything like that. I want something I can relate to."
"I know what you mean." Ron said. "I kind of miss Scabbers, even if he did sleep most of the time. He was a pretty good pet, at least while he was a rat. It's too bad he turned out to be a sleezy wizard."
"Why don't you get a cat? Crookshanks is getting a little lonely." Piped a familiar voice.
"Hi, Hermione! How did you find us in here?" Harry asked.
"I saw you go into the shop." Hermione explained, while examining a small, round, ball of fluff nestled in a box by the counter. "What are these?"
"They're dust bunnies." The clerk informed her.
"Oh, they're cute!" Ginny gushed, while stroking one of the dust bunnies. It began to make a soft cooing sound, which they all found to be relaxing. "But I was thinking of something a little more active." She added while continuing her search.
"Hey, Ginny! How about one of these?" Harry teased, while he indicated the bats.
He was shocked when Ginny looked wistfully at them and said, "I wish I could afford one. I've always wanted a pet bat. I think they're amazing creatures." She walked past the astounded Harry and spoke quietly to the bats.
"Close your mouth, before a bug flies into it, Harry." Ron chuckled. "Ginny has been crazy about bats since she was about three years old. None
of us have ever understood the attraction."
"Didn't I just hear you say you missed your rat? A lot of people think they're pretty gross." Hermione said archly.
"They just don't know any better. Rats are actually extremely intelligent, as well as very personable." Chimmed in a new voice. "Please, forgive me for interrupting. I couldn't help but to overhear your conversation. My name is
Alex Walker, and this is my sister, Savana." He continued, indicating an auburn haired teen with a hawk perched on her forearm.
"Whoa! Harry, look at that hawk!" Ron exclaimed.
"Wow! Where did you get him from?" Harry asked Savana.
"I've had HER since she was very young." Savana replied, rather cooly.
"Savana..." Alex gentley cautioned her. Then he continued, directing his message toward Harry and the others. "We're both still suffering from culture shock and jet lag, sorry."
"We found her near our school a couple of years ago. She had been injured, shot by someone, and couldn't fly or take care of herself. So, we nursed her back to health.She refused to leave us when she had healed and we tryed to re-introduce her to the wild, however. She was always rather partial to Savana, so my sister kept her as something as a pet"
"What kind of hawk is she and what is her name?" Asked Hermione.
"She's a Cooper's hawk. They're native to northern Minnesota, where we think our school is located. We named her Mariah,2 which is the name for the wind, according to an American song." Explained Savana.
Alex pulled Ron aside during this explaination. "I have a question I want to ask you." Alex whispered to Ron. "Savana and I are here because the shop owner wanted me to take a look at an orphaned Flying Fox, a type of fruit bat. She's not old enough to sell or to make it on her own, so, he wanted me to take her and raise her. However, my parents will probably disown me if I come home with another animal. You see, I have a history of bringing home animals, many of whom need care of some sort or another. They aren't always the perfect house guests, and my mom, especially, has had it! To make matters worse, I'm new here and really don't have anyplace to live yet. So, you'd really be doing me a favor if your sister could take this little bat home with her." Alex finished while looking at Ron hopefully.
"Hey, Ginny!" Ron said quietly while pulling at her shoulder, to get her attention. "Alex, here may have the answer to your prayers." Then he told her about the orphaned bat and Alex's prediciment.
"Wow, really!" Ginny breathed with excitment shining in her eyes. "That would be absolutely brillant! Can we get it now?" She asked, jumping up and down with excitment.
"The owner is putting her in a carrying case for me now. We'll take her to your parents together, so, I can explain everything to them." Alex offered.
Just then, the shop owner appeared, carrying a small, covered cage which he then handed to Alex. "Best of luck to you." He said.
They were startled by a huge racket where the rest of the group had been standing. As they watched with various expressions, which ranged from horror to delight, they saw Crookshanks leap from his basket and tear out the door. He was being pursued by Mariah, who appeared to be in full attack mode. Hermione dashed out the door followed closely by Savana and the rest of the group.
They made a raggedy parade as they tore through the labyrinth that made up Diagon Alley. People stared and shook their fists at them as they ran by. Finally, Hermione came to a screeching halt. Crookshanks had crawled into an overturned trash can and was cowering in the back of it, hissing at anyone who dared looked in. Hermione knelt down by the can and began to cajole Crookshanks out, but he would have none of it. In the meantime, Savana had caught up to Mariah and was busy soothing her, as well as, tieing a tether to her legs so she couldn't fly off again.
"I'm really sorry! I don't know what got into her! She never acts like this!" Savana cried, feeling somewhat confused and embaressed.
"Are you insane!? Why isn't that thing tethered?! Look at him!" Hemione shouted at her. "How am I going to get him out of this trash bin?! We can't use magic because we're not at Hogwarts and it STINKS IN THERE!"
Savana sighed and said. "I could go in there for you, and get him out. It was my hawk who chased him in there in the first place."
She handed Mariah to Hermione, who held her as far away from herself as she possibly could. Then she knelt down, and began to crawl forward into the trash can, while speaking soothingly to Crookshanks. Crookshanks simply hissed at her as his fur stood more on end. Just then, Hermione saw Alex, Ron, Harry, and Ginny round the corner and head for them.
"Oh, let me do it! Your hawk doesn't like me anyway, and Crookshanks will probably rake you with his claws." Hermione demanded, pushing Savana out of her way as she caught sight of Alex approaching. Hermione couldn't help herself, she desperately wanted to make an impression on Alex. "After all," she reasoned to herself, "what girl in her right mind wouldn't want him to pay attention to her?"
Savana fumbled with the hawk's tether, as Mariah was hastily thrust upon her by Hermione. Savana sighed, Alex always seemed to have this effect on women.
Alex was about six feet tall; with striking, violet eyes; his mother's dark coloring; and a beautiful, sunny smile which seemed to encompass the recipient in a warm glow. He wore his shining, black hair tied back in a single braid, reminiscent of a Native American. He was very charismatic, as well as handsome and humble, which just added to his attractivenss.
Hermione crawled forward into the can until just the bottom half of her showed. She backed out with Crookshanks clinging to her shoulder and covered with garbage. Bits of slimy, smelly, rotting things were sticking to her hair and shoulders, as well as to Crookshanks' fur.
A familiar, nasty voice said, "Hey, Granger! I just love what you've done with your hair and what do you call that fetching perfume your wearing?! I must get some for my mother!"
"Malfoy! I can't believe Hermione didn't find you in there as well!" Ron said in a cynical manner. "After all, it is your natural habitat."
"It's better than belonging in the gutter, or on the streets, like some poverty stricken, gutter snipes, who shall remain nameless." Draco replied. "After all, we wouldn't want to make a bad impression on these strangers here, would we?" He continued, while indicating Alex and Savana.
"Maybe you'd better leave immediately before I let my hawk get real up close and personal, with your face." Savana growled. "After all, hawks do hunt ferrets, and you certainly bear a striking resemblance to one!"
Draco flushed to the roots of his pale hair with anger at the striking, but smart mouthed, girl before him. He had been attracted to the group, whom he usally ignored, by the lithe, auburn haired, female in their midst. Unfortunately, she clearly was not impressed with, what he considered to be, his clever comment. She kept her angry, cold, aquamarine eyes focused on his, waiting to see who would back down first. Draco decided that, for the moment at least, she wasn't worth the trouble, especially since he would probably never see her again. So, he turned and walked away, with one last comment. "I'd be careful about hanging around such a bunch of loosers, if I were you. It's contagious." And with that said, he strode confindently away.
"The only looser I see around here, is you!" Savana retorted, with a sneer, to his retreating back.
"What sewer did that come crawling out of?" Savana questioned the rest of the group after Draco had left.
"That, my dear... is the one and, THANK GOD, the only!; one of a kind, infamous, Draco Malfoy!" Ron said affecting a snooty accent. "We go to Hogwarts together, fortunately, he is in a differant house then we are."
"It's interesting that you called him a ferret. A couple of years ago, an evil wizard turned Malfoy into a ferret, to teach him a lesson." Ginny chuckled. "It's the only time I've ever found him appealing"
"Are you sure he was an evil wizard?" Savana queried. "That sounds like poetic justice, to me."
"Just be glad you don't have to go to school or take classes with him." Harry stated with a groan. "It's SO enjoyable, especially potions, which is taught by Professor Snape, his house head."
"Professor Snape is bad enough, but, with Malfoy there, it's truely a journey through hell!" Ron added rolling his eyes.
Savana appeared ready to ask for further clairification, but, just then, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley appeared calling for Ron, Harry, and Ginny. "It's time to go home." she said.
"Oh, Alex!" Ginny cried. "That's my mum. Would you please come with me to explain about the bat?"
"Well, Ginny, I see you got some type of animal. What is it?" Mr. Weasley quized his daughter.
"It's a bat!" Ginny sang while she bounced up and down.
"Bat's are terribly expensive, how could you afford it?" Mrs. Weasley asked Ginny.
Alex introduced himself, then launched into an explaination of how Ginny aquired her bat. Then Ginny quietly lifted a corner of the cage cover so they could look at the bat within.
"She's a lovely little bat." Mrs. Weasley commented. "Thankyou Alex, for giving her to Ginny. I know Ginny will take very good care of her."
"What are you going to name her, Ginny?" Harry asked.
"How about Dracula, or Vampira?" Ron teased.
"How about Stellaluna?" Hermione suggested.
"That's a splended name! I think I'll name her that!" Ginny said with excitment.
"Well, Stellaluna, It's time to introduce you to your new home. Let's go everyone." Arthur Weasley said.
And so, everyone headed back to the Burrow. They had had a very full, and exhausting day.
1. Rowling, J.K.; HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN.
2. "They Call the Wind Mariah"; PAINT YOUR WAGON.
