Chapter 4 – Diagon Alley
Tali clung hard to Remus' hand as they moved through the crowd. She had never been surrounded by so many people before. Men, women and children were shouting, laughing, jostling and pushing all around her. Only Remus' centered calm kept her from panicking. Ahead of her, Professor Dumbledore moved through the crowd like a stately ship; the people parted before him like water. Tali could sense no magic about it -- just the force of his personality and reputation.
Remus guided her into a dingy, poorly lit store and stood quietly as Albus stepped forward and rang a tiny silver bell. A face surrounded by wild white hair and with two pale watery eyes staring from the center of it appeared and she found herself gazing at the strange wizard with apprehension.
"Ah, yes, Professor Dumbledore." The man ran a hand through his mass of hair, leaving it somehow even messier than before. "Remus Lupin, nine and a half inches, oak with a dragon heartstring." The man nodded to Remus and Tali found herself being led forward.
"Miss Tali here has just come into her powers and needs a wand." Professor Dumbledore said with a slight smile. Tali could see that the wizened old man didn't believe a word Professor Dumbledore said and his sharp gaze made her feel like a mouse being stared at by an unfriendly owl.
"Yes, yes, I see. Hmm. A difficult match this will be."
"Mr. Ollivander, I have no worries that you will be able to find something appropriate." Professor Dumbledore murmured soothingly.
The strange little man began moving around the shop, peering myopically at the long narrow boxes stacked to the ceiling while muttering in an undertone. Tali ignored him and listened to the soft sounds of magic that filled the place. She could hear the voices of creatures and trees singing quietly, but one voice in particular called to her. She reached out a hand and a white box flew from the stacks and landed in her hands.
With deft fingers she opened the lid as the Headmaster sighed, Remus rolled his eyes, and Mr. Ollivander stared at her. Inside she could see a slender wand that hummed to her affectionately. She withdrew it and a shower of soft green sparks drifted from the tip.
"Willow, eleven inches, dryad hair core." Mr. Ollivander muttered and rang up the purchase while giving Professor Dumbledore a meaningful look. Dumbledore simply smiled and ignored the look.
Once outside, Tali wanted to play with the wand but Remus gently explained that it wasn't entirely safe and she relented. The soft music of the little stick was entrancing and she put it away with reluctance.
They went to a clothes shop next. Tali was fascinated by the idea of buying clothes from someone instead of making them yourself. She watched as Madam Malkin measured her and wondered what the notes were that she jotted down.
Professor Dumbledore handed round disks of gold and silver to Madam Malkin and Tali suddenly had more clothes. There were many colors, though Tali mentioned softly that she preferred green really. The woman just smiled and nodded and tossed a burgundy and a navy on the pile as well.
"Trust me; with your coloring you can wear anything." Tali was confused by the statement. What did her coloring have to do with it? Clothing was chosen in colors that denoted status and breeding. She wore green because she was a servant. Of course, now she was free and wife to Remus; perhaps the woman knew something of her status that Tali did not. Burgundy was for ladies in waiting and navy was for wives of nobles, so perhaps that said something about Remus.
He turned and shook his head at her, following her thoughts with amusement.
"Color is personal preference only, love." He chuckled.
"How do you know what everyone's station is then?" she whispered.
"Elegance, style -- the differences are subtler but you will learn to pick it up." He replied softly so that Madam Malkin wouldn't hear. They had not yet become so close that words were not necessary. Though Tali could sense some of what he was saying, the cultural barrier was hindering her ability to understand. Human society was quite alien.
Remus took her arm and curled it around his and they left with their shrunken purchases in his pocket and the Headmaster before them.
They were drawn next to Florean Fortesque's Ice Cream Parlor where the sprightly owner seated them with great deference. He darted away and upon his return loaded them down with several different dishes filled with round blobs of colored snow, drizzled with brown liquid and nuts.
Tali put a tentative spoon into one of the snowballs and stuck her tongue out gingerly to taste it. The snowball was deliciously sweet and creamy. She ate with far greater interest, attacking her mound with gusto. Remus grinned at her enthusiasm and Albus smiled and patted her hand.
"I can see that you and I will have to visit here often." Tali nodded vigorously from around a mouthful. "That is a Chocolate Sundae." He added with a wink. Now that she knew what to ask for, she could order more.
Tali, who had been feeling rather overwhelmed by the day's excursion, was comforted by the sundae. If this world could make such sweet, wonderful things, then perhaps it would not be as hard as all that.
Their arrival at their new home was heralded by a round little woman with bright eyes and a sweet face. Hearing all that Tali had been through, she whisked her off to the kitchen and fed her tea and sandwiches. Tali listened in a state of bemusement as the woman talked non-stop, bustling about the kitchen with great energy. At first, Tali had thought the woman was speaking to her but as she always seemed to answer her own questions, Tali figured she must have simply been speaking to herself.
"Poor dear, you must be all turned about. Of course you are. Stands to reason, doesn't it? Yes, you must be hungry and tired, so you just tuck in and I'll go see to it that Remus' bed has clean linens and that there are towels in the bathroom, because no doubt you'll want a bath sometime. Yes, you will." With that, Molly of Weasley placed the plate of sandwiches in front of her and was out of the room and gone.
Remus came in soon after and settled beside her. She shared her sandwich with him and sipped the tea. He was quiet and still, so unlike Molly. He was restful on the soul. Though there had been something comforting in Molly's self-assurance, she was so full of energy it was exhausting to be around her.
Remus dropped a kiss on her cheek and Tali felt the delightful shiver of pleasure his lips on her skin always gave her. He grinned at her and the image of the two of them in the bathtub came into his mind. She grinned back and they retired to his rooms with alacrity.