.-~"‾‾'~:Darkening Horizons:~'‾‾"~-.
By Fizban Hat
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Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any associated characters or places. I am merely borrowing them for my own amusement. I do not own the names Kalten or Bevier, I am merely borrowing them because I love them.
.-~"‾‾'~:Chapter Two: Diagon Alley:~'‾‾"~-.
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For Lily Wednesday could not have taken any longer to get here. She knew that Celeste was at least as impatient as she was. Zan on the other hand however, seemed just to go with the flow of things. Zan knew that Wednesday would get here when it would and she had much better things to do with her time than wait impatiently for it to get here. The days seemed to pass by at an agonisingly slow pace. But Wednesday did get there… eventually.
"It's Wednesday!" Lily shouted running down to the kitchen at top speed.
"And what is so special about Wednesday?" Petunia asked half sarcastically/ half curiously.
"What?" Petunia asked incredulously.
"Petunia dear, Lily's going to Hogwarts. So she can be a witch. Remember I told you." Rose Evans said, smiling proudly at Lily.
"What?! You never said anything about Lily being a freak." Petunia shrieked. "A witch? Excuse me." She finished tightly. Petunia left the room with that, avoiding Lily like the plague. A few moments later they heard her bedroom door slam shut.
"Oh I must have mentioned it to her." Rose said thoughtfully, "Don't worry dear, she'll come around." She told Lily soothingly.
Lily nodded and smiled for her mother but she doubted Petunia would come around. She hated anything unnatural. Even lucky four leafed clovers. Petunia desperately wanted to fit in and be liked. Lily's 'unnaturalness' wouldn't help with that. Lily ate her breakfast in silence.
"Lily get your butt out here!" Zan shouted letting herself in. Lily was halfway out of the kitchen when her father stopped her.
"Wait a minute young lady. You're going to need this. It's check for a thousand pounds which should start you off." Her father said, handing her the check. "Don't lose it."
"Thank you!" Lily said, hugging her parents.
A door slammed loudly. "Boy Petunia certainly is cheery this morning. She looked torn between, ripping me to pieces and fainting. Interesting mix." Zan said. "Hurry up, Lily, or Celeste will eat us alive."
"Come on girls." A male voice called from the apparently open doorway.
"Zan did you forget to close the door again?" Warrick Evans asked smiling. Zan coughed.
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Lily, Zan and Celeste spend the drive to London questioning Danny about Hogwarts and the magical world. After what seemed only a few minutes, they arrived in London. Danny wasted no time driving towards the Leaky Cauldron. The girls were fascinated by the fact that no one but them appeared to see the old fashioned pub. Danny explained to them that muggles couldn't see it.
"What is a muggle?" Zan demanded, after hearing the word for the umpteenth time and still not knowing what it was.
"A non-magical person, Zan." Danny explained. "All right girls, come on. Let's get going lot's to do."
Lily, Zan and Celeste followed Danny across the street and into the Leaky Cauldron. The inside of the building had a dark place with a lot of 'interesting' characters. They were halfway across the Leaky Cauldron when a good-looking guy Danny's age stopped them. "Danny boy, I wondering when you'd show up." He said. "Who are they?"
"Hey Rom, this is my cousins and their friend, I gotta help them get their stuff. Where's Derrick?" Danny asked.
"Watching Jania and Remus, while 'the mums' all get together for a chat." Romulus said grinning. "I escaped, saying someone needed to wait for you."
"Poor Derrick, his cousin is a handful." Danny laughed. "For her father being who he is, she sure ain't diplomatic."
"You can say that again." Rom said. "You taking them to Grignotts first?" Danny nodded. "After that let's head to Madam Malkins, Derrick's trying to get Remus and Jania there as it is. So by the time we finish up at Grignotts, they should be there."
Lily and the twins followed Danny and Rom out into the alley behind the Leaky Cauldron. Lily looked about for the entrance into Diagon Alley, she didn't see one.
"Hey! You said you were taking us to Diagonal Alleyway!" Zan said.
"It's Diagon Alley, and hold up a minute will you." Danny said.
Lily watched as Rom tapped a brick and the whole wall started to move. Then suddenly Diagon Alley was in front of them. Lily gasped as she looked about, there were witches and wizards everywhere. She looked in awe at the all shops and interesting items she could make out.
"Well don't just stand there, come on." Danny said.
"Oh shut up Danny." Zan muttered as they followed the two older boys into the alley. "Where's this gringo place?"
"It's Grignotts, Zan. Grignotts. You better watch your pronunciation or you'll spend most of your time in the Hospital Wing. It's at the end of the alley, and stay close. I don't want to explain to your mums how I lost you."
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"Well, well, what have we got here?"
Jania looked up to see a boy about her age, with dark hair and blue eyes, he was grinning. Beside him was another boy with dark hair and dark eyes and glasses. Jania frowned. "Trouble." She muttered getting to her feet.
"Kalten, we have to go Madam Malkins, or else!" Remus said coming up. He looked from Jania to the two boys. "Uh…"
"Sirius Black." The grinning boy said, holding out his hand. "And that's James Potter."
Remus eyed his hand suspiciously. "Remus Lupin, and that's Kalten."
Kalten who was scuffing her toe on the ground, looked up suddenly. "My name is Jania Kalten, not just Kalten."
"Whatever you say, Kalten." James said and pounded her back.
"Oomph." Jania gasped. "Let's get to Madam Malkins then."
"Great we'll come along. Our mums are waiting for us there anyway." Sirius announced cheerfully. Jania groaned.
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"Well, well, well, if it isn't the Head Boy Derrick Kalten." Danny said grinning as he ushered Lily, Zan and Celeste into Madam Malkins. They had finally got done setting up accounts for the girls at Gringotts.
"Danny-boy Brash! How was your summer? Your mum told me you were working with Hipogriffs." A tall boy with dark good looks and an infectious grin answered.
"Now who needs robes?" Madam Malkin asked in her grandmotherly tone, as she bustled into the room. "My, my, you three have grown over the summer."
"These three are the ones that need robes." Danny laughed.
"Well up on the stools you go." Madam Malkin ordered. The three girls climbed onto the stools, listening to Madam Malkin talk as she measured them.
"And where's little Jania, Derrick? And Remus?" She asked.
"Remus went to find her; she wandered off while I wasn't looking." Derrick said, looking a bit embarrassed.
Madam Malkin clicked her tongue. "Never listens to anyone that one does. I bet she'd get along great with -"
"Our sons." Marie and Lydia said as they walked into the store. Madam Malkin nodded, while she continued to measure the girls and fit their robes. "Derrick your aunt said you're stuck with Jania for the rest of the day. Something came up and she had to leave. And Romulus, your mother is helping Mrs. Pettigrew with her son, so you're to look after Remus. Where are James and Sirius? We told them to be here fifteen minutes ago."
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James ran through the door of Madam Malkins first, followed closely by Jania, Sirius and Remus. All four of them were laughing their heads off, while casting glances over there shoulder into the alley. The four were brought up short by Jania's cousin.
"And where have you four been?" Derrick asked in his 'Head Boy' voice. The four started guiltily. Derrick looked past them at the street, and saw two boys covered in the after effects of a dungbomb. "And I was hoping you would have learned to behave."
"Done." Madam Malkin told the three girls, and the gratefully got off the stools. "You four, up on a stool."
The four reluctantly got up on the stools and stood as still as they were capable of while they were fitted. "And where are your shoes Jania?" Madam Malkin asked. Jania shrugged.
"She won't wear them," Derrick explained, "no matter how many times you put them on her; she takes them off and loses them."
"Tsk." Madam Malkin clucked. "The floors at Hogwarts are cold."
Lily looked at Jania, who was the first girl they had seen their age, so far. She had dark blackish hair, and brown eyes that looked red instead. Her hair was pulled back into a braid, and she appeared not to care for socks or shoes.
"Hello, I'm Lily Evans, and this is Zan and Celeste Cailleach." Lily said introducing herself. The girl on the stool opened her mouth.
"That's Kalten." The three boys said before she could get a word out. Jania growled.
"I'm Sirius Black and that's James Potter, and Remus Lupin." Sirius said grinning, as he pointed to the other two boys in turn.
"Nice to meet you." Lily said.
"She won't think it's so nice once she gets to know them." Marie muttered quietly to Lydia.
"Alright, you're all done." Madam Malkin announced, "Give me a minute to wrap these up and you'll be on your way."
The adults paid for the robes and the group left the store. "Derrick, do you mind taking Sirius and James with you?" Mrs. Potter asked.
"No, I don't mind. I've got Danny and Rom to help me watch them. Hopefully Diagon Alley will still be in one piece at the end of the day." Derrick said, as the two women handed him money for the rest of James and Sirius' supplies.
"Alright, let's get your books next, then potions supplies." Derrick ordered herding them into the bookstore. Once they entered Flourish and Blotts the kids ran off. "Why do I always get stuck babysitting" Derrick groaned.
"Why'd you have to rope us into it?" Rom asked. "I planned on 'bumping into' Sally Graham."
"Misery loves company." Derrick said as a bang was heard in the back of the bookstore. "We'd better get them before anything too bad happens."
When the three got to back of the bookstore, James was blinking, as the others laughed at his singed eyebrows. Derrick, Danny and Rom laughed too when they saw James. "I want this book Derrick." Jania said shoving two books at him.
"Fine. Fine. But only if you eight go and get your school books with no more shenanigans." Derrick said.
As the kids went to get their school books, Zan tripped. Zan blinked to clear her head; she couldn't see what she tripped on. "You must have tripped on The Invisible Book of Invisibility." James said.
"Nice save." Danny muttered to Rom as Derrick accepted that answer, apparently he hadn't noticed Sirius' foot shoot out and trip Zan.
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The eight first years sat around a table eating ice cream at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour. Sally Graham and her two friends were talking to Rom, Derrick and Danny. They had finished getting all their supplies with no incidents that could be blamed squarely on them. James had even convinced Derrick to take them to Gambol and Japes as well as the Quidditch shop. Derrick had decided that after being in Ollivanders for two hours, getting wands, they all needed a break.
"Does your older brother always use you to pick up girls?" Lily asked Jania.
"Derrick's my cousin. Rom is Remus' brother. No, they don't usually pay any attention to us, unless it's to get us to fetch something for them." Jania said.
"It's so good of you to look after your little cousins like this." Sally said, putting a hand on Rom's arm.
"Heh heh, you know us, we always like to help." Rom grinned. Remus made gagging noises. After fifteen more minutes of that, Jania threw a spoonful of her ice cream at Derrick, it hit Billy Waters instead, a very nice seventh year Hufflepuff and good friend of Sally's. Sirius smacked her shoulder. "Good one, Kalten."
"My shirt!" Billy screeched. Derrick muttered a charm that removed the ice cream before turning around.
"Jania, why did you do that?" He demanded in an unnaturally reasonable voice.
Jania looked around the table quickly before meeting her cousin's eye. "James wanted to try to my ice cream, so I shot a spoonful at him, I missed him and it hit your girlfriend."
James who happened to be sitting beside Derrick nodded at this explanation. "Okay, but I would like you apologise to Billy, now. Or no Gambol and Japes."
"Err… Sorry Billy." Jania said.
"Apology accepted." Billy said before turning back to Derrick. "We have to go anyway; we've got a train to catch. See on the Hogwarts Express."
"Sit with us?" Danny called after them. The girls giggled, turned and nodded before heading towards the Leaky Cauldron.
"Okay, let's go to Gambol and Japes, we have a few more things to do before we leave." Derrick said, paying for the ice cream. "Jania, did it ever occur to you to pass the ice cream?"
"No."
After half an hour, Derrick dragged them out of Gambol and Japes, yelling at them for spending so much on junk. Derrick, along with Danny and Rom was a Ravenclaw. Derrick reluctantly let them look at the brooms and items in the Quidditch shop for fifteen minutes, reminding them they couldn't have a broom in their first year anyway, before taking them to Magical Menagerie.
"Now, whoever wants a pet, go and get one. If not just stay here with us." Derrick said. The children all left to find a pet. Derrick turned to his friends. "What house do you suppose they'll get."
"I'm betting Gryffindor will get the lot of them." Danny said. "I don't think they have the sense to be afraid of anything."
"Gryffindor will probably get the lot of them. Last year it was Hufflepuff who got the most and the year before Ravenclaw, and before that Slytherin, so I wouldn't be surprised." Rom pointed out.
"Uncle Michael won't be too awful happy if Jania gets sorted into Gryffindor; she'll be the first one in two centuries to get a house besides Ravenclaw." Derrick said. "But I think it'd be better for them all to get in one house. That way, only one Head of House will have a headache."
The three laughed as the kids brought back their pets. Everyone had an owl of some kind except for Remus and Celeste who both had cats. Remus had a small long-haired grey kitten, and Celeste had a huge fluffy tan and brown ragdoll cat. They paid for the animals and left the shop. Lily was jumping about excitedly, making her owl howl in protest.
"There you are. Time to go." Lydia Potter said as she saw the group. With her were Mrs. Lupin and Mrs. Black.
"Bye guys, see you on the train." James and Sirius shouted as they followed their mothers to the floo conduit.
"I'll take Jania home for you Derrick." Mrs. Lupin said, "Romulus you get home at a reasonable hour."
"Thanks, Mrs. Lupin." Derrick called to Mrs. Lupin as she herded Remus and Jania towards a floo conduit.
"I better take these three home too." Danny said. "I'll be back. Meet at the Leaky Cauldron?" Derrick and Romulus nodded at Danny before he led Lily, Zan and Celeste, out of Diagon Alley.
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The month and a half later, Lily, Zan and Celeste were at the swimming hole, looking through their schoolbooks. They also brought their pets with them. They were reading 'A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot' and fiddling with their wands. Suddenly Zan looked up as a golden Hawk Owl, swooped down on them and waited patiently for them to untie a parchment letter from his leg.
Girls,
10:30- Station. Meet.
I'll meet you at the King's Cross Station tomorrow and show you how to get in. Remus and I will be there at 10:30.
Kalten
P.S. - This is Tynian. Send your letter back with him.
P.P.S. – I made her rewrite it. – Remus
"She doesn't waste words, does she?" Zan observed.
"Apparently not." Lily said, while grabbing a parchment from the pile they were using to write notes on.
Dear Jania and Remus,
We'll be there for 10:30 to meet you. I like your owl's name.
Lily, Zan and Celeste
Lily tied the parchment to Tynian's foot and off he went. Zan watched him fly out of range before turning to Lily and Celeste. "What should we name our pets? We haven't named them yet."
After a moment's thought, Lily announced that she would name her Tawny Owl, Thor. Celeste said that her cat's name would be Taurus. "What are you naming your owl, Zan?" Lily asked.
Zan thought about it for a few minutes, while she considered her Great Horned Owl, "I think I'll name him Excalibur."
They spent the rest of the afternoon studying, and at Lily's insistence taking notes. Before they left to go home, they promised to meet up in the morning before their parents' drove them to King's Cross station. Lily lay awake that night, too excited to sleep, thinking about what Hogwarts would be like. Just before dawn she drifted off.
"Lily! Wake up! It's time to get ready, dear." Rose Evans called to her youngest daughter. Petunia was already up and announced that she was going over Marge's, as she wanted nothing to do with Lily and her 'unnaturalness'.
"Coming mum!" Lily shouted as she hurriedly got dressed and dashed about her room, packing a few knick knacks that she wanted to take with her. After double-checking that she had everything in her trunk she needed, she rushed downstairs lugging it behind her. She ran into the kitchen and came to a sudden stop in front of her mother. "Hurry, let's go!" Lily said.
"Eat your breakfast first, dear." Rose said, pointing to the kitchen table. Lily sat down beside Zan and Celeste who had arrived a few minutes ago. She ate her breakfast while her mother talked to the twins mum, Jean. The telephone rang, unexpectedly. Warrick Evans answered it. "It's for you Jean." He said after a moment. Jean went and talked for a few moments on the telephone, before placing it back in its cradle.
"Rose, could you and Warrick take Zan and Celeste to the station with you? The Roger's mare has started to foal early and it looks like it's going to be a difficult birth." Jean asked.
"Of course we can." Rose said.
"Thanks, now you two girls behave yourselves. I'm so sorry I can't see you off, but I promise I'll pick you up for winter break." Jean said grabbing her car keys and rushing out.
"Well girls, finish up your juice, wash up and we'll be on our way." Mr. Evans said.
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They arrived at the station an hour and half later, Lily, and the twins put their trunks onto trolleys and followed Lily's father two the area between platforms nine and ten. The girls looked around for Jania, Remus or even Sirius and James.
"Excuse me, young lady, you have to wear shoes in this building." A man said officiously. Lily turned to see Jania, walking with Remus and their trunks towards her.
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.-~"‾‾'~:END OF CHAPTER TWO:~'‾‾"~-.
Post Script:: Quis- And read more of it you shall. ;), aijah- Thanks for reviewing my story, I hope you read this chapter too.