Change is Inevitable

I grabbed my cloak and threw a few toys into a bag before gathering up Michaela. I apparated to the shop since I was not feeling up to the walk this morning. Mrs. Collins, the owner, visibly jumped a foot off of the ground when I appeared.

"Oh dear," was all she said before sinking into a chair.

"Mrs. Collins, I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you."

"No, no, it's quite alright dear. I'm just use to you walking, and we're all a little jumpy today."

I set Michaela down in her playpen and set her toys next to her. I quickly put on an apron and then went to the front door and tapped the sign three times with my wand. As it changed to open, I glanced out at Diagon Ally. It was deserted.

I sat quietly behind the counter for most of the day. One or two customers came in, but they were in a hurry and did not stay long. I had a lot of time to think. I could pack all of Micha's belongings, along with my own in less than two hours. I'd send Dumbledore an owl before I started packing, so maybe his reply would come before we left. Then again, he would probably be very busy. I'd just have to go a trust that what I was planning would be the right thing. I would head towards the village of Ottery St. Catchpole. There was an inn there where I could spend the night. From there I would head north. My goal would be to get as far away from London as possible. I would go from small village to small village, never staying long. I'd try to find a days work along the route and blend in with the muggles.

By noon I had my plan ironed out, and it was a good thing. When we closed for noon break, Mrs. Collins approached me, stealing herself against something she didn't really want to do.

"Nadira, I know things are hard for you right now, and I really did not want to have to do this," she sighed as she paused for a moment, "I'm going to have to let you go. With shopping down, the store can't afford.." I cut her off. I didn't want to listen to the excuses. I knew the reasons.

"It's ok, Mrs. Collins. I understand." I picked up my cloak from the rosewood chair where I had laid it. Mrs. Collins went into the office in the back as I packed up Michaela's toys and the worn blanket we always left at the shop. Michaela thought it was a game as she tried to cling to each toy.

"Micha, dearest…" I murmured, shaking my head. As I picked Michaela up and prepared to leave the store, Mrs. Collins came back out from the office.

"Nadira, wait!" she called. I paused and turned. "Here, I want you to take this." It was a small leather pouch that jangled as I took it.

"Mrs. Collins, I can't take…"

"It's ok. It's your pay from the past week, plus just a little extra. I want you to know I wouldn't let you leave if I didn't have to."

"I know," was my only reply. She stepped back teary eyed. I tightened my grip on Michaela and left through the front door.

I looked up and down the street. There were two older witches going into an apothecary, and a few wizards and witches down the street close to Gringotts. The rest of the street was deserted. I crossed the street quickly, keeping my head down and watching both directions. Three store buildings down was the owl emporium and I made my way straight there. The clerk jumped when the bell rang and his wand was out in a flash. When he saw that it was me, he lowered his wand, but didn't put it away.

"Nadira, what are you doing out on a day like this, and why is Michaela here?"

"I was working this morning, but I had to run a few errands." I didn't want to clue him in that I was leaving town. "Do you have any specials today?"

"You're looking to buy an owl?"

"Yes, I figured it was about time for me to get one. I haven't had one since the last one vanished."

"Yes, yes, well that does happen." He seemed wary of me, even though we had gone out to tea a few times together. "Well, we do have one bird that Mr. Franklin has been wanting to get rid of." Mr. Franklin was the owner of the emporium. "Right this way, Nadira."

I followed him at a small distance. Michaela kept reaching out, trying to touch the birds that we passed. "No, Micha" I told her, and she pouted and squirmed in my arms. Close to exasperation, I was glad when he stopped at a small plain cage at the back of the store. Inside was a small, pure white, albino owl.

"Can it still see? It's perfectly healthy?"

"As far as we know. Sold as is though, owner's rule." The owl turned it's head and fixed me with it's wide pale pink eyes. It hooted softly, forlornly.

"I'll take it; how much?"

"3 sickles." I nodded and Micha clapped her hands.

"Owl!" she said earning a weak smile from me. The clerk carried the owl to the front of the store for me, took the three silver coins, and then bid me good day. I didn't have enough hands to carry the cage, Michaela, and the bag of toys and things, so I strapped the bag to my back.

Once I was back on the street, I hurried towards the large white building that was the focal point. Gringotts. I didn't have a lot of money, but I would need some to finance the journey. I would also need to exchange some for muggle money. The goblins at the front door looked fiercer than normal, and the wizards and witches I had seen down this way were gone. I hurried inside and approached the desk.

"I'd like to make a withdrawal," I told the goblin.

"Do you have your key?" I set the owl's cage down, and fumbled for a moment with a small pouch at my waist. I pulled out the small silver key and showed it to the goblin. "Very well."

I kept a tight hold on Michaela as the cart zoomed down the dark inner paths of the bank. She wanted to lean over the edge, as all small children do. When they reached a small vault on a side corridor, the goblin got out and took the key I handed him. When the door opened, I looking into the vault, and it was exactly how I had left it the last time. There was a small stack of wizarding money on one side of the vault, along with a couple jewelry boxes. That was the inheritance my mother had left me. On the other side was a small stack of sickles and a few gold galleons. I gathered all of these up, grimacing, and placed them into my pouch. I turned to leave, but turned back again with a reluctant sigh. I took five gold galleons from the top of the inheritance stack. I knew I would probably have need of more money than that, but I refused to let myself take it. It had to be there for Michaela's future. We would manage with what I had and what I could earn on the road.

On the ride back to the entrance hall, Michaela jabbered to herself and tried to reach inside the owls cage, which I had placed on the floor of the cart, to pet the albino owl. The entrance hall was almost empty when we reached it. I stopped the goblin who had led us to the vault before he could wander off. "Where can I go to exchange our money for muggle money?"

The goblin grunted and just pointed to a desk on the left side of the hall. He hadn't been a very talkative goblin at all.

I hurried over to the desk, leading Michaela by the hand. A very helpful goblin explained the exchange rate to me and then took the handful of silver and bronze coins I handed him. I also placed two galleons on the desk hesitantly, which he gathered up as well. He stacked the coins neatly and took them into a small room behind the desk. While he was gone, I took the opportunity to glance around the hall. A tall, slim man, talking to a goblin three desks down, caught my eye. He had bright red hair, and wore a dragon fang in one ear and his clothing was unique to say the least. He turned, catching me watching him, and I quickly turned back to the desk. The goblin had returned carrying muggle money for me. I thanked the goblin and put the muggle cash into my pouch. I picked Michaela up, and headed for the exit.

As I passed the man with the red hair, he started towards me, as if to say something, but he stopped as I continued walking. I stepped outside into the lukewarm spring air, but I still felt cold. Clinging tightly to Michaela and the packages I quickly apparated home.