A/N: I sincerely apologize for the lack of updates. Writer's block and
work conspired against any earlier updates. But now I think I might be
updating with more frequency. I actually think I know where this story is
headed so hopefully it will force its way out of me. Thank you for the
reviews and please keep them coming they give me warm fuzzies.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Leigh's summer carried on much as it had in the past, she volunteered with various organizations and traveled across England. She had saved up quite a bit of money over the years and took short trips over the summer using some of her savings. She enjoyed being able to get out over the summer and see the country that she had come to love so much.
Leigh had been hesitant to tell her school that she was not returning the next year; she enjoyed this school and was really going to regret having to leave it. Unfortunately she had almost outstayed her welcome there. She had worked there for five years and people were beginning to notice that she seemed the same as when she started there. It usually began happening about this time, she had never stayed in one place for more than seven years.
They also had become suspicious about her lack of friends. She tended to avoid becoming close to the other teacher for fear of them finding out things. She found it was easier to be simple acquaintances than to become friends. She feared she might let something slip if she got too close to anyone.
Towards the end of June she received another letter from Hogwarts, again delivered by owl. This one welcomed her as a new teacher and told her that someone would take her shopping in early July and to the train on the day she was to leave. They had worked out an arrangement and she and another teacher would be riding the Hogwarts Express to school with the students.
Leigh felt excitement growing in her as she thought about this train that no Muggle had ever seen. She also grew very excited when she thought of the shopping that had been mentioned in Diagon Alley. She did not know where that was but felt sure it was another mysterious Magical place.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Leigh awoke to the sun in her eyes, the summer heat already becoming stifling. She lay there thinking about the day ahead of her, she was going shopping in Diagon Alley. This thought brought a smile to her face; this was going to be an exciting day. She didn't know who would be taking her shopping; she was hopeful it would be someone new from the school. She wanted so badly to meet more Magical people.
She got herself ready quickly, putting on conservative black pants and a light blue blouse and pulling her hair back in an easy chignon. She was sitting around waiting for her escort when she suddenly heard a loud knock at the door. She walked quickly to the door, not knowing what to expect. When she opened the door she saw a very normal looking man dressed again in robes. He had bright red hair and his face was very red from the heat of the sun that stood directly overhead.
"Miss Intinn?" He said somewhat timidly. "I am Arthur Weasley."
"Please come in." She said smiling quickly. The man was very anxious and excited. He glanced around the house as he stepped inside and then turned his gaze back to her. "Please sit down Mr. Weasley, would you like something to drink?" She said kindly.
"Oh no thank you, actually we best be on our way." He said staring transfixed at the television just visible from the small entrance.
"Of course. I will get my bag." She turned and grabbed her purse then turned quickly back to him as a thought occurred to her. "Mr. Weasley, how am I too pay for the supplies I will buy today? I am under the impression that you do not use Muggle money."
He tore his gaze away from the television and apologized, "Oh I'm so sorry, Dumbledore has sent along an advance of your wages that should be enough for all that is needed." With that he reached into his robes and pulled a small bag out that jingled with the sound of many coins.
She rewarded his with a brilliant smile, "Thank you." She said sincerely as she placed the small bag into her purse. "Shall we then?" She stepped out the door and saw the car sitting on the road in front of her house.
"We shall be using Muggle transportation to Diagon Alley." He said at her surprised look.
The car was old but ran smoothly and the trip was mostly comprised of Mr. Weasley fighting the urge to berate his Muggle companion with questions and Leigh trying not to laugh at the questions that came to his mind. She liked him, he seemed very nice, he was certainly trying his best to be polite and not interrogate her.
When they arrived in the middle of London, Mr. Weasley parked the car and led Leigh up the street to a place with a dark sign in front that said "The Leaky Cauldron."
"Here we are." Mr. Weasley said as he held the door open for her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Leigh's summer carried on much as it had in the past, she volunteered with various organizations and traveled across England. She had saved up quite a bit of money over the years and took short trips over the summer using some of her savings. She enjoyed being able to get out over the summer and see the country that she had come to love so much.
Leigh had been hesitant to tell her school that she was not returning the next year; she enjoyed this school and was really going to regret having to leave it. Unfortunately she had almost outstayed her welcome there. She had worked there for five years and people were beginning to notice that she seemed the same as when she started there. It usually began happening about this time, she had never stayed in one place for more than seven years.
They also had become suspicious about her lack of friends. She tended to avoid becoming close to the other teacher for fear of them finding out things. She found it was easier to be simple acquaintances than to become friends. She feared she might let something slip if she got too close to anyone.
Towards the end of June she received another letter from Hogwarts, again delivered by owl. This one welcomed her as a new teacher and told her that someone would take her shopping in early July and to the train on the day she was to leave. They had worked out an arrangement and she and another teacher would be riding the Hogwarts Express to school with the students.
Leigh felt excitement growing in her as she thought about this train that no Muggle had ever seen. She also grew very excited when she thought of the shopping that had been mentioned in Diagon Alley. She did not know where that was but felt sure it was another mysterious Magical place.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Leigh awoke to the sun in her eyes, the summer heat already becoming stifling. She lay there thinking about the day ahead of her, she was going shopping in Diagon Alley. This thought brought a smile to her face; this was going to be an exciting day. She didn't know who would be taking her shopping; she was hopeful it would be someone new from the school. She wanted so badly to meet more Magical people.
She got herself ready quickly, putting on conservative black pants and a light blue blouse and pulling her hair back in an easy chignon. She was sitting around waiting for her escort when she suddenly heard a loud knock at the door. She walked quickly to the door, not knowing what to expect. When she opened the door she saw a very normal looking man dressed again in robes. He had bright red hair and his face was very red from the heat of the sun that stood directly overhead.
"Miss Intinn?" He said somewhat timidly. "I am Arthur Weasley."
"Please come in." She said smiling quickly. The man was very anxious and excited. He glanced around the house as he stepped inside and then turned his gaze back to her. "Please sit down Mr. Weasley, would you like something to drink?" She said kindly.
"Oh no thank you, actually we best be on our way." He said staring transfixed at the television just visible from the small entrance.
"Of course. I will get my bag." She turned and grabbed her purse then turned quickly back to him as a thought occurred to her. "Mr. Weasley, how am I too pay for the supplies I will buy today? I am under the impression that you do not use Muggle money."
He tore his gaze away from the television and apologized, "Oh I'm so sorry, Dumbledore has sent along an advance of your wages that should be enough for all that is needed." With that he reached into his robes and pulled a small bag out that jingled with the sound of many coins.
She rewarded his with a brilliant smile, "Thank you." She said sincerely as she placed the small bag into her purse. "Shall we then?" She stepped out the door and saw the car sitting on the road in front of her house.
"We shall be using Muggle transportation to Diagon Alley." He said at her surprised look.
The car was old but ran smoothly and the trip was mostly comprised of Mr. Weasley fighting the urge to berate his Muggle companion with questions and Leigh trying not to laugh at the questions that came to his mind. She liked him, he seemed very nice, he was certainly trying his best to be polite and not interrogate her.
When they arrived in the middle of London, Mr. Weasley parked the car and led Leigh up the street to a place with a dark sign in front that said "The Leaky Cauldron."
"Here we are." Mr. Weasley said as he held the door open for her.