Fight Against Darkness
Title: Diagon Alley
A.N. Can someone tell me how to put this in HTML format?
"talking"
~thoughts~
(author notes)
*something happening*
_italic_
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Last Time:
The headmistress nodded, smiling. "Of course. Is it okay if I drop you off and come back for you in about two hours?"
Serena nodded her head enthusiastically. "Yes!" she said, "That would be great!"
"Thank you, Ma'am!" They both said before closing the door.
The headmistress sighed, shaking her head while putting on her reading glasses and returning to her work.
Squeals of delight could be heard throughout the orphanage for the rest of the day.
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"So I'll get you at 5:00?" The headmistress asked from inside the car. She was just dropping them off at a bookstore in London.
"5:00 is fine, ma'am!" Serena said promptly, clutching the Hogwarts letter and key in her robes. The headmistress nodded and drove away.
"So, this is the Leaky Cauldron?" Lita asked, looking at the place in front of them. People walked by it, glancing from the bookstore to the music store. It was as if they couldn't see it and Serena thought that they really _couldn't_ see it.
The Leaky Cauldron was a grubby looking place. Cautiously, they both went inside, Serena unconsciously wringing her hands. They walked up to the bartender.
"Excuse me, do you know where we can find Tom?" Lita asked while Serena looked around the room.
The bartender smiled as Serena turned her attention back to him and she noticed several teeth missing. "I'm Tom."
"Um, well, we're first years at Hogwarts and it says on our letter to ask you how to get into Diagon Alley."
Tom walked out from behind the counter and said, "Follow me."
They followed him into an alley behind the pub. Going to a trash can, Tom pulled out a long wooden stick that, Serena realized, was his wand, and tapped it on the bricks above the trash can muttering, "Two up, three across."
Suddenly, a hole appeared on the last brick that Tom tapped, slowly spreading so that it was large enough for them to enter.
Grinning at their awed faces, Tom said, "This, is Diagon Alley."
Diagon Alley was a cobblestone street full of witches and wizards entering shops and leaving with bags full of amazing things.
"Now," Tom spoke up and Serena tore her eyes away and looked at Tom. "Yeh'll be needin' money so I'd suggest you go to Gringotts, the wizard bank, first."
"Aren't you going to come with us?" Lita asked.
"No, I have to go back and work at the Leaky Cauldron." Said Tom shaking his head. They waved goodbye to him and entered Diagon Alley.
Serena couldn't stop staring at everything. She never knew there was so much to do with magic!
Shops of every size and shape filled the street. Some sold bizarre candy and some sold potions. As they passed by these shops Serena just didn't have enough eyes to take everything in.
Finally, they approached a large marble building that towered above all the others. The sign next to it read Gringotts: Wizard Bank. As they approached the marble doors Serena saw an inscription on them and began to read aloud.
"Enter, stranger, but take heed Of what awaits the sin of greed For those who take, but do not earn, Must pay most dearly in their turn. So if you seek beneath our floors A treasure that was never yours, Thief, you have been warned, beware Of finding more than treasure there."
"I wonder what that means," Serena questioned as she finished. Lita shrugged and pushed open the heavy door.
Serena followed Lita inside and her eyes widened. She felt Lita stiffen beside her. A long row of counters stretched out in front of them, but that wasn't why they were surprised. It's what was _behind_ the counters that shocked them. They were
"Goblins?" Lita whispered.
Serena nodded and, slowly, they walked toward the nearest goblin. He was a small creature that was probably about a head shorter than Serena, and he was currently weighing a large sack of pearls and jewel-bright seashells.
"Um, excuse me?" Serena squeaked.
The goblin stopped what he was doing and looked up. Serena noted that he wore small glasses. "Er, w-we would like t-to take some mon-money from our va-vaults?" She stuttered.
"May I see your keys?" the goblin rasped, his voice like crinkling paper.
The two girls quickly stuffed their hands into their pockets and pulled out their keys. As he examined them, the goblin's eyes widened as he noted the numbers on them.
Giving a loud whistle that startled the girls he called, "Amber!"
A small green creature with long pointy ears appeared at their side in a puff of smoke. She wore a light green dress and knee high dark green boots.
"Take these two to vaults twenty and twenty-four, Amber."
Amber bowed obediently and walked toward a large pair of drapes. Serena and Lita glanced at each other hesitantly before following. Amber pushed aside the drapes and revealed a long marble hallway lit by torches.
Their footsteps echoed as they walked past the enormous doors of the vaults.
"So are you a goblin, too?" Lita piped up suddenly.
Amber shook her head, purple hair falling on her face. "I am not a goblin. I am an elf from the Silver Forest," she said melodically.
Lita's eyes widened. "Really?" she said excitedly. "That's so cool!"
Amber nodded, and stopped walking as she approached a vault with the number twenty on it. Slipping in Serena's key, she turned the lock and opened the vault.
Serena almost fainted. "All-all of that is _mine_?!"
Inside were mountains of diamonds, crystals, sapphires, rubies, and any other known and unknown jewels covered half of the vault. The other half consisted of gold, silver, and bronze coins. This left a small pathway through the center at which a pedestal stood at the end.
Serena entered in awe as the coins and jewels sparkled around her.
"_Dang_ Sere!" Lita exclaimed, punching her playfully in the arm. "Who knew you were so rich!"
Serena nodded and, as if in a trance, walked over to the pedestal. On it laid a glass box. Inside was a golden crescent moon locket on a silk cushion. Picking up the box, Serena shakily clutched the locket and took it out. Opening the locket, she saw a picture of herself as a baby along with a woman with silver hair in a style that she currently wore. They were laughing and hugging each other. ~....My mother?~ Tears came to her eyes as mixed emotions went through her: happiness that she finally got to see what her mother looked like, and sadness because she couldn't remember her.
Putting on the locket, walked back to her friend as Amber spoke.
"....gold ones are Galleons. The silver ones are Sickles and the bronze ones are Knuts. Seventeen Sickles to a Galleon and twenty-nine Knuts to a Sickle. It's very easy to remember."
Serena nodded and took out her silver pouch. Grabbing a few handfuls of each type, she stuffed them into her pouch and stood up. Once they stepped out of the vault, it slammed shut, making Serena shriek and jump a foot into the air.
Amber smiled. "Sorry, it does that," she said to Serena (who was clutching her heart and breathing deeply). Lita giggled. They walked a few more feet until they reached vault fifteen, Lita's.
Amber stuck the key into the lock and turned. For a second Serena thought she had walked into a green sea. Emeralds covered half of the vault along with a small pile of other gems. Lita stood there, gaping. Numbly, she walked over and stuffed her bag full of wizard money. Spotting a pedestal a few feet away, she walked over and looked inside the glass box. Inside the glass case laid an emerald locket shaped like flower.
She opened it and saw one side of it with a picture of her as a baby and the other side had two chestnut-haired people.
Lita frowned. Those weren't her parents. Nevertheless, their smiles warmed her heart and she put the necklace on.
They walked out, the vault swinging shut as they left. Other than wincing slightly, Serena gave no attention to it.
They said goodbye to Amber at the entrance and skipped into the sunlight, each looking excitedly from one shop to another. Serena just wanted to bound into each shop and buy everything in sight, but she knew that she had to get her school supplies.
"What's first on the list?" Serena asked. Lita pulled out the parchment and read it.
"Lets get our books first," she said.
"Okay!"
They looked at each shop name, trying to determine which one might carry books.
"I found it!" Serena cried triumphantly. She pointed at a store called Flourish and Blotts. "Sounds like we can get our parchment, ink, and quills there, too."
They entered the store and gaped at the towering stacks of books. Walking up to the counter Lita asked for the appropriate books and some other supplies. While they were waiting Serena explored a bit.
She put her fingers on the shelves and began walking, letting her fingers travel across the bindings. Suddenly she felt her fingers snag onto one of the books and jerked back. Walking back a few steps she saw that her fingers were stuck to a silver book. Pulling it out, she glanced at the cover.
Palace of the Moon Kingdom: History of the Tsuki No Himes
The letters were the color silver-blue, almost blending in with the background unless you put it in the light. Opening the book Serena was amazed to see the picture of a beautiful palace. A sparkling fountain stood just outside it and if she put the picture directly under the light, the water looked like it was simmering.
Hugging the book to her chest she put it on the growing pile on the counter. Finally purchasing their books (which took up a whole bag combined) they walked out of the store and into a new one. Upon entering the Apothecary, the girls stopped in their tracks and ran outside, gasping for breath.
"Ugh!" Lita choked, slightly green. "It really _stinks_ in there! I really like cooking stuff, but I wonder how it's going to end up smelling if I use those!"
"Yeah," Serena replied, taking in deep breaths.
Preparing themselves, they walked in. Quickly gathering ingredients, they paid for them in choked voices before exiting the store.
"Okay," Lita said, after she finished breathing in fresh air. "Lets get our clothes next."
Walking around the street, they finally decided on which store to enter. About ten minutes later they exited the store with another bag. Now, they had all of their supplies except for
"A wand. Where can we get a wand?" Serena gave a frustrated huff. She sat down on the stone steps of a shop, putting her head in her hands and groaning.
"Um, Sere?"
"What?" came the muffled reply.
"Look up."
Serena looked up. The only thing to see was a sign that read Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C.
"Oi...." Serena sweatdropped. "Eheh, I guess this is it."
Walking into the shop, they waited in a dusty room with shelves upon shelves stuffed with boxes. A distant bell rang from somewhere within the shop as they sat down.
"Ah, I've been wondering when I'd see you," whispered a voice.
Serena sprang out of her seat as Lita fell out of hers.
An old man had suddenly appeared out of nowhere and Serena had not heard him coming. His silver eyes stared at hers, as if looking into her very soul.
"Welcome to my shop. I am Ollivander. Now, Miss Moon, which arm is your wand arm?"
Serena shakily stuck out her right arm. ~How does he know my name?~ she thought, confused.
As he took out a tape measure (that promptly began measuring on its own) Ollivander stepped into the very back of the shop. Serena could hear him rummaging around as the tape measure measured her left ear. Ollivander reappeared carrying a long silver box with a gold crescent moon on it. He also carried an emerald box with a pink number four on it. As he set the green box on the table he opened the silver box, revealing a long, golden brown wand with a silver tip.
"Starwood, 8 inches. Made up of moondust and a strand of moonlight. Its core is an unknown crystal," Ollivander said as he handed Serena the wand while she stared in awe as it seemed to glow in her presence.
As she gripped it Serena felt a strange warmth begin to spread from her fingertips throughout her body. Waving the wand, a beam of light shot out, forming into a giant crescent moon and brightening the whole room. Ollivander smiled as he moved onto Lita. Opening the green box, he revealed a pinkish brown wand with an emerald tip. "Rosewood, 11 inches. Made up of an unknown flower. Its core is a strand of lightning.
Lita gripped the wand and waved it. A giant lightning bolt appeared and made a loud crack, showering them in pink petals.
Ollivander began to clap, still smiling. "Your mothers left me those wands. They seemed to know that you would one day use them. That will be twenty galleons total."
They paid for their wands and left, Serena stretching her arms in the sun.
"All I need to now is get Harry a present," Serena said, walking ahead. She stopped when she noticed that Lita wasn't following her. "Lita?"
Lita was staring at her wand with a strange look. "Do you really think our Mums' left these wands to us?"
Serena shrugged uncomfortably. "He had no reason to lie to us, so I'm assuming he was right." Lita continued to look depressed. Serena suddenly had an idea.
"Hey, c'mon! We both have a whole bag of wizard money, lets buy us something!"
Lita seemed to think about it for a moment before smiling. "Ok!"
They walked down the cobblestone street, their eyes sliding from one store to another. "How about that one?" Serena asked, pointing at a shop called Wizard Watches.
Lita stared at the shop curiously before nodding and following Serena into it. The first thing Serena saw when she stepped inside the shop was a giant grandfather clock (Hey, I rhymed! ^_^). It began to chime as they walked a few feet inside.
"How may I help you?" a soft voice asked.
Serena spun around, startled. She was very surprised to see a middle aged woman. ~I didn't even hear her!~ she thought, surprised. ~Does everybody in the wizard world make no sound when they move?!~
"Oh, er, we're just looking for something to buy," said Serena, glancing at Lita beside her. ~Way to state the obvious,~ she thought wryly. "Erm, could we look around?"
The woman smiled and nodded. Stepping aside, she guided them through the boxes upon boxes of watches. Serena and Lita looked around in awe. Gold watches, silver watches, ruby watches, and pearl watches were stacked up in a corner. One watch showed when the next full moon was. Serena stopped as a glint of light caught her eye.
Walking over to a small table, Serena looked at the strange assortment of boxes. There were nine of them lined up in a row in their own boxes. Each of the boxes had a different color. The first one was silver, then blue, orange, red, green, purple, gold, turquoise, and garnet.
Serena gently traced the outline of a crescent moon on the silver box, feeling drawn to it. She opened the box and gazed at a little white watch with a small, round silver lid engraved with a crescent moon.
"What'cha lookin' at?" Lita asked, snapping Serena out of her trance. "Wow, cool watches!" she exclaimed, picking up the lid of the green box to reveal a similar watch to the silver one.
The witch walked up to them. "Ah, I see you've found the communication watches," she said, gesturing toward the boxes.
"Communication watches?"
"Yes. These nine watches can all communicate with each other by talking into the watches and pushing one of the buttons. It comes quite handy among friends. I've already sold the blue, orange, garnet, gold and turquoise ones," she said, pointing at the 5 empty boxes.
"Then I'll take this one, " Serena announced, holding up the silver box.
"And I this one," Lita said, clutching the green box.
"Can we test them out?" Serena asked eagerly. The shopkeeper nodded her approval as they quickly opened their boxes. Pulling the watch up to her face Serena opened the little watch to reveal a small screen on the back of the lid. On the bottom part of the watch were a set of colored buttons and a small rectangle above it telling the time. Serena pressed the green button (who she assumed was Lita's) and heard beeping near her. All of a sudden Lita's face appeared on the screen.
"This is so cool!" Lita squealed, her face glowing with excitement. "How much are they?"
"2 galleons total," the witch informed them, gliding back to the counter. They paid for the watches and stepped outside. Serena glanced at a sign nearby.
"D'you wanna buy a pet?" she asked curiously, pointing at the sign that read Magical Menagerie.
"Nah, that's ok," Lita replied, shaking her head. "I'll wait outside."
Serena nodded and entered. It was a small shop filled with tons of animals. What she thought was a banana turned into a monkey with the sound of a whip. Silver foxes were in a large tank in front of the window. Serena wondered why they were in a tank and not a cage when suddenly one of them turned into a puddle of silver water.
She kept on walking until she neared the back of the shop and stopped at a cage with a black cat in it. Stopping down, she smiled at the cat. Immediately she began to frown as she saw how sad it looked.
"Hello little neko," she said softly, trying not to scare it. "Do you miss someone?"
The cat looked up and Serena was startled when she saw a golden crescent moon on the cat's forehead above its red eyes. Serena blinked. Did the cat just nod?
"Would you like to come with me?" She asked, slipping her fingers past the bars and scratching the cat behind the ears. The cat purred and rubbed against her hand as Serena giggled. "Heehee, that tickles!" she laughed as the cat licked her hand. "Then it's decided," she declared, opening the cage. "You're coming with me!"
Placing the cat on her shoulder, Serena walked to an aisle of food while the cat licked its paws. "What do you want?"
The cat jumped off of her shoulders and padded across the floor, stopping in front of a bag of barbecue kitty treats and star candy.
"Okay, I'll get you that, but don't blame me if you turn fat!" Serena joked, bending down to pick up the cat and two bags each of the kitty treats. Paying for everything at the counter, she walked up to Lita grinning.
"Awwww! How _cute_!" Lita cooed, stooping to pet the cat.
Serena sweat dropped. ~Gee, am I so short that she has to stoop?~ "I know, isn't she?" Serena said, reaching up to pet the purring cat. "I think I'll name her Luna for that crescent mark on her forehead." ~I seem to be seeing a lot of crescent moons today,~ Serena mused.
"Very creative, Sere," complimented Lita.
"Thank you! Now, after I buy Harry's presents, lets head on out!"
They shopped for ten more minutes before Serena found the right things to give Harry. Coming out of Diagon Alley and the Leaky Cauldron, they arrived back in London to find their headmistress in the car.
"So how goes the shopping, girls?" she asked, bending over to open the door.
"Great!" Serena replied, helping Lita piled their things into the trunk. " I hope you don't mind me having a cat," she said apologetically, pointing at Luna.
"Not at all," the headmistress reassured. When Serena turned to grin at Lita she winked at Luna who nodded back at her.
Locking the doors she shifted the car into drive and headed back to the orphanage. Her garnet eyed swept onto the rearview mirror and looked at Serena, laughing with Lita as Luna climbed onto the top of her head. ~You're growing up so fast....Hime.~
Upon entering the orphanage Serena ran upstairs (leaving Lita to glare at her angrily in the dust, left to drag the bags inside), past the screaming crowd of children and into her groups room. Jumping onto her bed, she took out Harry's presents. Luna purred and settled down on her pillow. The presents she was getting Harry were a large slab of chocolate (he told her he had never had any before) and a small locket in the shape of a sun with a small emerald jewel in the middle of it.
The locket played a gentle melody when opened and she sighed contentedly as it played*. Putting the locket back in it's box, Serena wrapped it all up in a silver parcel. Getting out a piece of parchment, quill, and ink that changed depending on her mood (currently silver: serene). She began to write.
To Harry,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I know that this is your first official Birthday present ever (not including that pair of your Uncle's socks) so I hope you enjoy it! You'll never guess what I found out: I'm a witch! Isn't that so cool? But it's a secret so don't tell anybody! ^_~ Thank you so much for being my friend when nobody else would, I really appreciate that. You're a wonderful friend that I hope to never lose! Hope to see you soon!
With love from your high and mighty friend (all shall bow down!)
Serena ^_^v
~Silver Moon Princess~ Awwww, isn't that letter cute? Sorry this took so long!
*-The music from the locket is the song My Dearest by Ayumi Hamasaki played in a slow tune.
Hime= princess Neko= cat
Once more, can anyone tell me how to put this in HTML format? I mean, I know I have to save in HTML but do I have to put the codes in stuff or just use the tools on Microsoft word?
Kitty Kat-chan - Yup! I Sure did!
ChibiChibi Serenity rules - Yeah, wait till you see what happens in the next chapter when they get on the train! Heheh *cough*Malfoy*cough*
Rose - Yep yep yep!
Funness - *gasp!* No way! He could never-ok you're kind of right. ^_^; But I still like Harry better! *glares at Mamoru who runs away*
rockerbaby150 - There you go! Now you know who the headmistress is! (or at least I hope you do) :P
Destruxion - Well, the friendship might get a bit rocky, but they probably will just have a fight and get over it. Serena and Lita are both going to Gryffindor so Harry stays there too. Can't answer your next question, secret! ^_~
Water Angel1 - Thank you thank you thank you!!! *Bows deeply* ^_^
Fallen Dragon - I sure did!
Blood_Rose077 - Heehee, thanx. Wow, 3 reviews. Must write more!
Remember one vital thing:
REVIEW!
REVIEW!
REVIEW!
Please! ^_^
Title: Diagon Alley
A.N. Can someone tell me how to put this in HTML format?
"talking"
~thoughts~
(author notes)
*something happening*
_italic_
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Last Time:
The headmistress nodded, smiling. "Of course. Is it okay if I drop you off and come back for you in about two hours?"
Serena nodded her head enthusiastically. "Yes!" she said, "That would be great!"
"Thank you, Ma'am!" They both said before closing the door.
The headmistress sighed, shaking her head while putting on her reading glasses and returning to her work.
Squeals of delight could be heard throughout the orphanage for the rest of the day.
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"So I'll get you at 5:00?" The headmistress asked from inside the car. She was just dropping them off at a bookstore in London.
"5:00 is fine, ma'am!" Serena said promptly, clutching the Hogwarts letter and key in her robes. The headmistress nodded and drove away.
"So, this is the Leaky Cauldron?" Lita asked, looking at the place in front of them. People walked by it, glancing from the bookstore to the music store. It was as if they couldn't see it and Serena thought that they really _couldn't_ see it.
The Leaky Cauldron was a grubby looking place. Cautiously, they both went inside, Serena unconsciously wringing her hands. They walked up to the bartender.
"Excuse me, do you know where we can find Tom?" Lita asked while Serena looked around the room.
The bartender smiled as Serena turned her attention back to him and she noticed several teeth missing. "I'm Tom."
"Um, well, we're first years at Hogwarts and it says on our letter to ask you how to get into Diagon Alley."
Tom walked out from behind the counter and said, "Follow me."
They followed him into an alley behind the pub. Going to a trash can, Tom pulled out a long wooden stick that, Serena realized, was his wand, and tapped it on the bricks above the trash can muttering, "Two up, three across."
Suddenly, a hole appeared on the last brick that Tom tapped, slowly spreading so that it was large enough for them to enter.
Grinning at their awed faces, Tom said, "This, is Diagon Alley."
Diagon Alley was a cobblestone street full of witches and wizards entering shops and leaving with bags full of amazing things.
"Now," Tom spoke up and Serena tore her eyes away and looked at Tom. "Yeh'll be needin' money so I'd suggest you go to Gringotts, the wizard bank, first."
"Aren't you going to come with us?" Lita asked.
"No, I have to go back and work at the Leaky Cauldron." Said Tom shaking his head. They waved goodbye to him and entered Diagon Alley.
Serena couldn't stop staring at everything. She never knew there was so much to do with magic!
Shops of every size and shape filled the street. Some sold bizarre candy and some sold potions. As they passed by these shops Serena just didn't have enough eyes to take everything in.
Finally, they approached a large marble building that towered above all the others. The sign next to it read Gringotts: Wizard Bank. As they approached the marble doors Serena saw an inscription on them and began to read aloud.
"Enter, stranger, but take heed Of what awaits the sin of greed For those who take, but do not earn, Must pay most dearly in their turn. So if you seek beneath our floors A treasure that was never yours, Thief, you have been warned, beware Of finding more than treasure there."
"I wonder what that means," Serena questioned as she finished. Lita shrugged and pushed open the heavy door.
Serena followed Lita inside and her eyes widened. She felt Lita stiffen beside her. A long row of counters stretched out in front of them, but that wasn't why they were surprised. It's what was _behind_ the counters that shocked them. They were
"Goblins?" Lita whispered.
Serena nodded and, slowly, they walked toward the nearest goblin. He was a small creature that was probably about a head shorter than Serena, and he was currently weighing a large sack of pearls and jewel-bright seashells.
"Um, excuse me?" Serena squeaked.
The goblin stopped what he was doing and looked up. Serena noted that he wore small glasses. "Er, w-we would like t-to take some mon-money from our va-vaults?" She stuttered.
"May I see your keys?" the goblin rasped, his voice like crinkling paper.
The two girls quickly stuffed their hands into their pockets and pulled out their keys. As he examined them, the goblin's eyes widened as he noted the numbers on them.
Giving a loud whistle that startled the girls he called, "Amber!"
A small green creature with long pointy ears appeared at their side in a puff of smoke. She wore a light green dress and knee high dark green boots.
"Take these two to vaults twenty and twenty-four, Amber."
Amber bowed obediently and walked toward a large pair of drapes. Serena and Lita glanced at each other hesitantly before following. Amber pushed aside the drapes and revealed a long marble hallway lit by torches.
Their footsteps echoed as they walked past the enormous doors of the vaults.
"So are you a goblin, too?" Lita piped up suddenly.
Amber shook her head, purple hair falling on her face. "I am not a goblin. I am an elf from the Silver Forest," she said melodically.
Lita's eyes widened. "Really?" she said excitedly. "That's so cool!"
Amber nodded, and stopped walking as she approached a vault with the number twenty on it. Slipping in Serena's key, she turned the lock and opened the vault.
Serena almost fainted. "All-all of that is _mine_?!"
Inside were mountains of diamonds, crystals, sapphires, rubies, and any other known and unknown jewels covered half of the vault. The other half consisted of gold, silver, and bronze coins. This left a small pathway through the center at which a pedestal stood at the end.
Serena entered in awe as the coins and jewels sparkled around her.
"_Dang_ Sere!" Lita exclaimed, punching her playfully in the arm. "Who knew you were so rich!"
Serena nodded and, as if in a trance, walked over to the pedestal. On it laid a glass box. Inside was a golden crescent moon locket on a silk cushion. Picking up the box, Serena shakily clutched the locket and took it out. Opening the locket, she saw a picture of herself as a baby along with a woman with silver hair in a style that she currently wore. They were laughing and hugging each other. ~....My mother?~ Tears came to her eyes as mixed emotions went through her: happiness that she finally got to see what her mother looked like, and sadness because she couldn't remember her.
Putting on the locket, walked back to her friend as Amber spoke.
"....gold ones are Galleons. The silver ones are Sickles and the bronze ones are Knuts. Seventeen Sickles to a Galleon and twenty-nine Knuts to a Sickle. It's very easy to remember."
Serena nodded and took out her silver pouch. Grabbing a few handfuls of each type, she stuffed them into her pouch and stood up. Once they stepped out of the vault, it slammed shut, making Serena shriek and jump a foot into the air.
Amber smiled. "Sorry, it does that," she said to Serena (who was clutching her heart and breathing deeply). Lita giggled. They walked a few more feet until they reached vault fifteen, Lita's.
Amber stuck the key into the lock and turned. For a second Serena thought she had walked into a green sea. Emeralds covered half of the vault along with a small pile of other gems. Lita stood there, gaping. Numbly, she walked over and stuffed her bag full of wizard money. Spotting a pedestal a few feet away, she walked over and looked inside the glass box. Inside the glass case laid an emerald locket shaped like flower.
She opened it and saw one side of it with a picture of her as a baby and the other side had two chestnut-haired people.
Lita frowned. Those weren't her parents. Nevertheless, their smiles warmed her heart and she put the necklace on.
They walked out, the vault swinging shut as they left. Other than wincing slightly, Serena gave no attention to it.
They said goodbye to Amber at the entrance and skipped into the sunlight, each looking excitedly from one shop to another. Serena just wanted to bound into each shop and buy everything in sight, but she knew that she had to get her school supplies.
"What's first on the list?" Serena asked. Lita pulled out the parchment and read it.
"Lets get our books first," she said.
"Okay!"
They looked at each shop name, trying to determine which one might carry books.
"I found it!" Serena cried triumphantly. She pointed at a store called Flourish and Blotts. "Sounds like we can get our parchment, ink, and quills there, too."
They entered the store and gaped at the towering stacks of books. Walking up to the counter Lita asked for the appropriate books and some other supplies. While they were waiting Serena explored a bit.
She put her fingers on the shelves and began walking, letting her fingers travel across the bindings. Suddenly she felt her fingers snag onto one of the books and jerked back. Walking back a few steps she saw that her fingers were stuck to a silver book. Pulling it out, she glanced at the cover.
Palace of the Moon Kingdom: History of the Tsuki No Himes
The letters were the color silver-blue, almost blending in with the background unless you put it in the light. Opening the book Serena was amazed to see the picture of a beautiful palace. A sparkling fountain stood just outside it and if she put the picture directly under the light, the water looked like it was simmering.
Hugging the book to her chest she put it on the growing pile on the counter. Finally purchasing their books (which took up a whole bag combined) they walked out of the store and into a new one. Upon entering the Apothecary, the girls stopped in their tracks and ran outside, gasping for breath.
"Ugh!" Lita choked, slightly green. "It really _stinks_ in there! I really like cooking stuff, but I wonder how it's going to end up smelling if I use those!"
"Yeah," Serena replied, taking in deep breaths.
Preparing themselves, they walked in. Quickly gathering ingredients, they paid for them in choked voices before exiting the store.
"Okay," Lita said, after she finished breathing in fresh air. "Lets get our clothes next."
Walking around the street, they finally decided on which store to enter. About ten minutes later they exited the store with another bag. Now, they had all of their supplies except for
"A wand. Where can we get a wand?" Serena gave a frustrated huff. She sat down on the stone steps of a shop, putting her head in her hands and groaning.
"Um, Sere?"
"What?" came the muffled reply.
"Look up."
Serena looked up. The only thing to see was a sign that read Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C.
"Oi...." Serena sweatdropped. "Eheh, I guess this is it."
Walking into the shop, they waited in a dusty room with shelves upon shelves stuffed with boxes. A distant bell rang from somewhere within the shop as they sat down.
"Ah, I've been wondering when I'd see you," whispered a voice.
Serena sprang out of her seat as Lita fell out of hers.
An old man had suddenly appeared out of nowhere and Serena had not heard him coming. His silver eyes stared at hers, as if looking into her very soul.
"Welcome to my shop. I am Ollivander. Now, Miss Moon, which arm is your wand arm?"
Serena shakily stuck out her right arm. ~How does he know my name?~ she thought, confused.
As he took out a tape measure (that promptly began measuring on its own) Ollivander stepped into the very back of the shop. Serena could hear him rummaging around as the tape measure measured her left ear. Ollivander reappeared carrying a long silver box with a gold crescent moon on it. He also carried an emerald box with a pink number four on it. As he set the green box on the table he opened the silver box, revealing a long, golden brown wand with a silver tip.
"Starwood, 8 inches. Made up of moondust and a strand of moonlight. Its core is an unknown crystal," Ollivander said as he handed Serena the wand while she stared in awe as it seemed to glow in her presence.
As she gripped it Serena felt a strange warmth begin to spread from her fingertips throughout her body. Waving the wand, a beam of light shot out, forming into a giant crescent moon and brightening the whole room. Ollivander smiled as he moved onto Lita. Opening the green box, he revealed a pinkish brown wand with an emerald tip. "Rosewood, 11 inches. Made up of an unknown flower. Its core is a strand of lightning.
Lita gripped the wand and waved it. A giant lightning bolt appeared and made a loud crack, showering them in pink petals.
Ollivander began to clap, still smiling. "Your mothers left me those wands. They seemed to know that you would one day use them. That will be twenty galleons total."
They paid for their wands and left, Serena stretching her arms in the sun.
"All I need to now is get Harry a present," Serena said, walking ahead. She stopped when she noticed that Lita wasn't following her. "Lita?"
Lita was staring at her wand with a strange look. "Do you really think our Mums' left these wands to us?"
Serena shrugged uncomfortably. "He had no reason to lie to us, so I'm assuming he was right." Lita continued to look depressed. Serena suddenly had an idea.
"Hey, c'mon! We both have a whole bag of wizard money, lets buy us something!"
Lita seemed to think about it for a moment before smiling. "Ok!"
They walked down the cobblestone street, their eyes sliding from one store to another. "How about that one?" Serena asked, pointing at a shop called Wizard Watches.
Lita stared at the shop curiously before nodding and following Serena into it. The first thing Serena saw when she stepped inside the shop was a giant grandfather clock (Hey, I rhymed! ^_^). It began to chime as they walked a few feet inside.
"How may I help you?" a soft voice asked.
Serena spun around, startled. She was very surprised to see a middle aged woman. ~I didn't even hear her!~ she thought, surprised. ~Does everybody in the wizard world make no sound when they move?!~
"Oh, er, we're just looking for something to buy," said Serena, glancing at Lita beside her. ~Way to state the obvious,~ she thought wryly. "Erm, could we look around?"
The woman smiled and nodded. Stepping aside, she guided them through the boxes upon boxes of watches. Serena and Lita looked around in awe. Gold watches, silver watches, ruby watches, and pearl watches were stacked up in a corner. One watch showed when the next full moon was. Serena stopped as a glint of light caught her eye.
Walking over to a small table, Serena looked at the strange assortment of boxes. There were nine of them lined up in a row in their own boxes. Each of the boxes had a different color. The first one was silver, then blue, orange, red, green, purple, gold, turquoise, and garnet.
Serena gently traced the outline of a crescent moon on the silver box, feeling drawn to it. She opened the box and gazed at a little white watch with a small, round silver lid engraved with a crescent moon.
"What'cha lookin' at?" Lita asked, snapping Serena out of her trance. "Wow, cool watches!" she exclaimed, picking up the lid of the green box to reveal a similar watch to the silver one.
The witch walked up to them. "Ah, I see you've found the communication watches," she said, gesturing toward the boxes.
"Communication watches?"
"Yes. These nine watches can all communicate with each other by talking into the watches and pushing one of the buttons. It comes quite handy among friends. I've already sold the blue, orange, garnet, gold and turquoise ones," she said, pointing at the 5 empty boxes.
"Then I'll take this one, " Serena announced, holding up the silver box.
"And I this one," Lita said, clutching the green box.
"Can we test them out?" Serena asked eagerly. The shopkeeper nodded her approval as they quickly opened their boxes. Pulling the watch up to her face Serena opened the little watch to reveal a small screen on the back of the lid. On the bottom part of the watch were a set of colored buttons and a small rectangle above it telling the time. Serena pressed the green button (who she assumed was Lita's) and heard beeping near her. All of a sudden Lita's face appeared on the screen.
"This is so cool!" Lita squealed, her face glowing with excitement. "How much are they?"
"2 galleons total," the witch informed them, gliding back to the counter. They paid for the watches and stepped outside. Serena glanced at a sign nearby.
"D'you wanna buy a pet?" she asked curiously, pointing at the sign that read Magical Menagerie.
"Nah, that's ok," Lita replied, shaking her head. "I'll wait outside."
Serena nodded and entered. It was a small shop filled with tons of animals. What she thought was a banana turned into a monkey with the sound of a whip. Silver foxes were in a large tank in front of the window. Serena wondered why they were in a tank and not a cage when suddenly one of them turned into a puddle of silver water.
She kept on walking until she neared the back of the shop and stopped at a cage with a black cat in it. Stopping down, she smiled at the cat. Immediately she began to frown as she saw how sad it looked.
"Hello little neko," she said softly, trying not to scare it. "Do you miss someone?"
The cat looked up and Serena was startled when she saw a golden crescent moon on the cat's forehead above its red eyes. Serena blinked. Did the cat just nod?
"Would you like to come with me?" She asked, slipping her fingers past the bars and scratching the cat behind the ears. The cat purred and rubbed against her hand as Serena giggled. "Heehee, that tickles!" she laughed as the cat licked her hand. "Then it's decided," she declared, opening the cage. "You're coming with me!"
Placing the cat on her shoulder, Serena walked to an aisle of food while the cat licked its paws. "What do you want?"
The cat jumped off of her shoulders and padded across the floor, stopping in front of a bag of barbecue kitty treats and star candy.
"Okay, I'll get you that, but don't blame me if you turn fat!" Serena joked, bending down to pick up the cat and two bags each of the kitty treats. Paying for everything at the counter, she walked up to Lita grinning.
"Awwww! How _cute_!" Lita cooed, stooping to pet the cat.
Serena sweat dropped. ~Gee, am I so short that she has to stoop?~ "I know, isn't she?" Serena said, reaching up to pet the purring cat. "I think I'll name her Luna for that crescent mark on her forehead." ~I seem to be seeing a lot of crescent moons today,~ Serena mused.
"Very creative, Sere," complimented Lita.
"Thank you! Now, after I buy Harry's presents, lets head on out!"
They shopped for ten more minutes before Serena found the right things to give Harry. Coming out of Diagon Alley and the Leaky Cauldron, they arrived back in London to find their headmistress in the car.
"So how goes the shopping, girls?" she asked, bending over to open the door.
"Great!" Serena replied, helping Lita piled their things into the trunk. " I hope you don't mind me having a cat," she said apologetically, pointing at Luna.
"Not at all," the headmistress reassured. When Serena turned to grin at Lita she winked at Luna who nodded back at her.
Locking the doors she shifted the car into drive and headed back to the orphanage. Her garnet eyed swept onto the rearview mirror and looked at Serena, laughing with Lita as Luna climbed onto the top of her head. ~You're growing up so fast....Hime.~
Upon entering the orphanage Serena ran upstairs (leaving Lita to glare at her angrily in the dust, left to drag the bags inside), past the screaming crowd of children and into her groups room. Jumping onto her bed, she took out Harry's presents. Luna purred and settled down on her pillow. The presents she was getting Harry were a large slab of chocolate (he told her he had never had any before) and a small locket in the shape of a sun with a small emerald jewel in the middle of it.
The locket played a gentle melody when opened and she sighed contentedly as it played*. Putting the locket back in it's box, Serena wrapped it all up in a silver parcel. Getting out a piece of parchment, quill, and ink that changed depending on her mood (currently silver: serene). She began to write.
To Harry,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I know that this is your first official Birthday present ever (not including that pair of your Uncle's socks) so I hope you enjoy it! You'll never guess what I found out: I'm a witch! Isn't that so cool? But it's a secret so don't tell anybody! ^_~ Thank you so much for being my friend when nobody else would, I really appreciate that. You're a wonderful friend that I hope to never lose! Hope to see you soon!
With love from your high and mighty friend (all shall bow down!)
Serena ^_^v
~Silver Moon Princess~ Awwww, isn't that letter cute? Sorry this took so long!
*-The music from the locket is the song My Dearest by Ayumi Hamasaki played in a slow tune.
Hime= princess Neko= cat
Once more, can anyone tell me how to put this in HTML format? I mean, I know I have to save in HTML but do I have to put the codes in stuff or just use the tools on Microsoft word?
Kitty Kat-chan - Yup! I Sure did!
ChibiChibi Serenity rules - Yeah, wait till you see what happens in the next chapter when they get on the train! Heheh *cough*Malfoy*cough*
Rose - Yep yep yep!
Funness - *gasp!* No way! He could never-ok you're kind of right. ^_^; But I still like Harry better! *glares at Mamoru who runs away*
rockerbaby150 - There you go! Now you know who the headmistress is! (or at least I hope you do) :P
Destruxion - Well, the friendship might get a bit rocky, but they probably will just have a fight and get over it. Serena and Lita are both going to Gryffindor so Harry stays there too. Can't answer your next question, secret! ^_~
Water Angel1 - Thank you thank you thank you!!! *Bows deeply* ^_^
Fallen Dragon - I sure did!
Blood_Rose077 - Heehee, thanx. Wow, 3 reviews. Must write more!
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