Hello people! Here is Chapter 7 and chapter 8 is on the way. Just a quick
note-the Savage Garden is not a reference to the 1990's Australian band,
but a reference to Anne Rice. Thanks again to everyone who reviews and
thanks to my beta Thorn
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Disclaimer: I own nothing, nada, zilch, zero - you get the point.
Spoiler: Finish book 5 first
Chapter 7
The next morning was a beautiful, sunny Tuesday. The Weasleys, Hermione, and Harry all awoke early for their trip to Diagon Alley. They got dressed in full muggle gear, ate breakfast, and set out on their way to muggle London. They were met at the bus stop by Tonks, disguised as an elderly woman, and Moody, dressed in slacks, jumper, and a brown bowler hat. They took the bus into London and in pairs they surreptiously entered the Leaky Cauldron. Inside they found Meredith and Nicholas finishing their breakfast.
"Good morning all," Meredith said cheerily.
She quickly rose from the table and she said, "I have asked Tom for a private parlor in the back so I can have a word with the kids before we go shopping." She led the way to the parlor. She closed the door behind them and gestured for them to sit down. "I just wanted to let you know what is going to happen this year, so you are all well-prepared. Dumbledore and I have decided that no one will know that I am Nicholas' mother. We thought that it would also be best for him to have a false last name. No one outside the order is to know that he is Sirius' and my son."
She turned to the kids. "If anyone asks, his parents sent him here from America. His last name is Steele. If questioned in Diagon Alley, simply say I am taking him around on Dumbledore's request to help him get new supplies for the year. Albus and I decided last night that it would be better for Nicholas to fit in if he had some anonymity. Okay?" She looked around at all the kids' nodding faces. She smiled. "Great! Where should we start? Gringotts?"
"Yes. We need to get some money from our vaults and Hermione needs to get some money exchanged." Said Molly.
So the Weasleys, Harry and Meredith got money out of their vaults while Hermione exchanged hers and then they all split up. Mad eye, Arthur, George, and Fred headed back to the Leaky Cauldron for a drink; Molly, Tonks, and Ginny went to Madame Malkin's for some new robes for the constantly growing Ginny; and Hermione, Ron, Harry, Nicholas, and Meredith started towards the apocrathy shop for potion-making supplies.
Anastacia's Apocrathy was at the corner where Diagon Alley met Knockturn Alley. Anastacia was an old school friend of Meredith's. After graduation she came to Diagon Alley to open her shop.
They were almost at the door when a tall, willowy witch, who had been looking in the window of the apocrathy blocked their path.
"Well, well, well... if it isn't Fairbanks," the witch said, her golden brown eyes shining.
Meredith visibly stiffened. "Kids, why don't you run ahead and get your supplies? I'll be in a couple of minutes."
"But." Nicholas started to protest.
"Just go now." Her eyes flashed dangerously.
The kids scurried into Anastacia's.
"Thorn Adams. Long time, no see." Gesturing to the window, she said, "Sorry if we interrupted you from admiring your reflection. If you'll excuse me." She tried to side step past Thorn.
Thorn moved again to block her path.
"So the itty-bitty scaredy cat has come back home," Thorn mocked. Her tone turned dark and menacing,
"And why has she? There is nothing here for you. All your friends and family are dead now. Why don't you go back to where you were hiding?"
Meredith moved closer so she was nose to nose with Thorn. "I'll remind you, Adams, that we are no longer in school, hence it is no longer illegal for me to curse you. Speak any ill of my family or friends and I will curse you all the way to Hades and back."
Meredith pulled out her wand and stepped back. "I am back in London because I have been asked to fill the position of the defense against the dark arts teacher at Hogwarts. Now if you'll excuse me." This time she was able to move past the shocked witch and into the apocrathy shop.
Thorn was left seething on the sidewalk.
'What?!' Thorn thought to herself as she came to her senses and headed back to her magical herb shop in Knockturn Alley.
'Another do-gooder Gryffindor on the staff at Hogwarts is the last thing they need. Poor Severus! I'd better owl him tonight in case he doesn't know. Just wait until I tell Lucius.' Then she remembered he was still in Azkaban. 'I'll have to tell him when he escapes.' She stepped back into her shop, The Savage Garden, and came across Draco Malfoy.
Draco was standing by the free sample bin, gnawing on a leaf.
"Draco! That leaf is for smoking, not eating," Thorn joked.
Draco dropped the leaf and smiled a wide smile.
"Aunt Thorn!" He crossed the room quickly and gave her a huge hug.
"How are you dear?" she asked.
"Okay. I wish I had more time to go see father before I go to school, but oh well", he shrugged his shoulders.
"Don't worry dear, he'll be out soon. How's your mother holding up?"
"Not bad. She's around here somewhere" he gestured outside to Knockturn Alley. "She didn't want to come in here with me.'
Thorn snorted to herself. She wasn't surprised in the least. She and Narcissa didn't get along very well. Narcissa knew that if her and Lucius' marriage hadn't been arranged at birth, then he would have married Thorn. Lucius and Thorn were still too close for Narcissa's liking.
"Well Draco, what is it are you in need of or is this just a social call?" Thorn asked as she draped her arm around him in a motherly fashion.
Meanwhile..
Meredith had entered Anastacia's shaking with anger. The owner, Anastacia Zabini, was a short woman with red hair and blue eyes. She had been a Slytherin at school, but she and Meredith still had an amiable acquaintanceship. It turned to friendship in their seventh year together, because unlike her fellow Slytherins, Anastacia did not join up with Voldemort. She had found solace and friendship with Meredith.
She brought a cup of tea to the shaking Meredith.
"Was that Thorn Borgan's voice I heard?"
Meredith looked up from her cup. "Borgan?"
"Oh. That's right you weren't here. Well when Lucius married Narcissa, Thorn accepted Mychel Borgan's proposal of marriage. She had been working in his father's shop during school breaks and met his son Mychel when he was home from Durmstrang. Little do Mychel and Narcissa know what happens when Lucius and Thorn are alone together." She giggled.
Meredith laughed too. "Watch it. There are kids in your shop." She cast a furtive look at the kids. They were engrossed in a jarred bezoar.
Anastacia waved her hand, dismissing them. "Oh, they are too busy looking at stuff. So what are you doing here?"
Unlike before, this question was asked out of excitement and elation.
"I'm the new defense against the dark arts teacher at Hogwarts."
"Oh excellent! Then you are here to stay in England, yes?" Anastacia asked happily.
Meredith nodded, "So what have you been up to?"
"Just running the shop, you know. What about you?"
"I'm getting set for the new year. Dumbledore asked me to take a new student to get his supplies since his parents couldn't come with him."
The kids walked over to the register to check out.
"Oops. Looks like they are all set. Well it was great seeing you. Please visit soon." She gave Meredith a quick hug.
"I will, I promise." Meredith replied.
After Anastacia checked them out, the kids separated from Meredith to purchase their books and Meredith walked around Diagon Alley.
Everyone met back up at the Leaky Cauldron for dinner at 5 o'clock. Professor McGonagall was there waiting for them.
"Good evening Minerva," Arthur said.
"Good evening. I was sent by Albus to collect Nicholas Steele so that he can be sorted. Albus thought it would be best to be done in private instead of with all the first years. Is Mr. Steele here?"
Nicholas stepped forward, "I'm Nicholas Steele."
McGonagall peered at him over her glasses. "Of course you are. You're the spitting image of your father." She winked knowingly. "I'm Professor McGonagall, the transfiguration teacher and head of Gryffindor House. Well shall we be on our way?"
"Okay I guess," Nicholas said. He turned to Meredith.
"Go ahead. You'll be back in a couple of hours. When you get back, I'll be gone. I have to spend tonight at Hogwarts. You'll go with the Weasleys, Harry and Hermione tomorrow to muggle London to catch the Hogwarts Express. I'll see you at the banquet tomorrow, okay?"
When he nodded she gave him a quick hug and a loving prod in the back for him to follow McGonagall.
Once outside McGonagall stuck her wand arm in the air and the Knight Bus appeared before them.
________________________________________________________________
Disclaimer: I own nothing, nada, zilch, zero - you get the point.
Spoiler: Finish book 5 first
Chapter 7
The next morning was a beautiful, sunny Tuesday. The Weasleys, Hermione, and Harry all awoke early for their trip to Diagon Alley. They got dressed in full muggle gear, ate breakfast, and set out on their way to muggle London. They were met at the bus stop by Tonks, disguised as an elderly woman, and Moody, dressed in slacks, jumper, and a brown bowler hat. They took the bus into London and in pairs they surreptiously entered the Leaky Cauldron. Inside they found Meredith and Nicholas finishing their breakfast.
"Good morning all," Meredith said cheerily.
She quickly rose from the table and she said, "I have asked Tom for a private parlor in the back so I can have a word with the kids before we go shopping." She led the way to the parlor. She closed the door behind them and gestured for them to sit down. "I just wanted to let you know what is going to happen this year, so you are all well-prepared. Dumbledore and I have decided that no one will know that I am Nicholas' mother. We thought that it would also be best for him to have a false last name. No one outside the order is to know that he is Sirius' and my son."
She turned to the kids. "If anyone asks, his parents sent him here from America. His last name is Steele. If questioned in Diagon Alley, simply say I am taking him around on Dumbledore's request to help him get new supplies for the year. Albus and I decided last night that it would be better for Nicholas to fit in if he had some anonymity. Okay?" She looked around at all the kids' nodding faces. She smiled. "Great! Where should we start? Gringotts?"
"Yes. We need to get some money from our vaults and Hermione needs to get some money exchanged." Said Molly.
So the Weasleys, Harry and Meredith got money out of their vaults while Hermione exchanged hers and then they all split up. Mad eye, Arthur, George, and Fred headed back to the Leaky Cauldron for a drink; Molly, Tonks, and Ginny went to Madame Malkin's for some new robes for the constantly growing Ginny; and Hermione, Ron, Harry, Nicholas, and Meredith started towards the apocrathy shop for potion-making supplies.
Anastacia's Apocrathy was at the corner where Diagon Alley met Knockturn Alley. Anastacia was an old school friend of Meredith's. After graduation she came to Diagon Alley to open her shop.
They were almost at the door when a tall, willowy witch, who had been looking in the window of the apocrathy blocked their path.
"Well, well, well... if it isn't Fairbanks," the witch said, her golden brown eyes shining.
Meredith visibly stiffened. "Kids, why don't you run ahead and get your supplies? I'll be in a couple of minutes."
"But." Nicholas started to protest.
"Just go now." Her eyes flashed dangerously.
The kids scurried into Anastacia's.
"Thorn Adams. Long time, no see." Gesturing to the window, she said, "Sorry if we interrupted you from admiring your reflection. If you'll excuse me." She tried to side step past Thorn.
Thorn moved again to block her path.
"So the itty-bitty scaredy cat has come back home," Thorn mocked. Her tone turned dark and menacing,
"And why has she? There is nothing here for you. All your friends and family are dead now. Why don't you go back to where you were hiding?"
Meredith moved closer so she was nose to nose with Thorn. "I'll remind you, Adams, that we are no longer in school, hence it is no longer illegal for me to curse you. Speak any ill of my family or friends and I will curse you all the way to Hades and back."
Meredith pulled out her wand and stepped back. "I am back in London because I have been asked to fill the position of the defense against the dark arts teacher at Hogwarts. Now if you'll excuse me." This time she was able to move past the shocked witch and into the apocrathy shop.
Thorn was left seething on the sidewalk.
'What?!' Thorn thought to herself as she came to her senses and headed back to her magical herb shop in Knockturn Alley.
'Another do-gooder Gryffindor on the staff at Hogwarts is the last thing they need. Poor Severus! I'd better owl him tonight in case he doesn't know. Just wait until I tell Lucius.' Then she remembered he was still in Azkaban. 'I'll have to tell him when he escapes.' She stepped back into her shop, The Savage Garden, and came across Draco Malfoy.
Draco was standing by the free sample bin, gnawing on a leaf.
"Draco! That leaf is for smoking, not eating," Thorn joked.
Draco dropped the leaf and smiled a wide smile.
"Aunt Thorn!" He crossed the room quickly and gave her a huge hug.
"How are you dear?" she asked.
"Okay. I wish I had more time to go see father before I go to school, but oh well", he shrugged his shoulders.
"Don't worry dear, he'll be out soon. How's your mother holding up?"
"Not bad. She's around here somewhere" he gestured outside to Knockturn Alley. "She didn't want to come in here with me.'
Thorn snorted to herself. She wasn't surprised in the least. She and Narcissa didn't get along very well. Narcissa knew that if her and Lucius' marriage hadn't been arranged at birth, then he would have married Thorn. Lucius and Thorn were still too close for Narcissa's liking.
"Well Draco, what is it are you in need of or is this just a social call?" Thorn asked as she draped her arm around him in a motherly fashion.
Meanwhile..
Meredith had entered Anastacia's shaking with anger. The owner, Anastacia Zabini, was a short woman with red hair and blue eyes. She had been a Slytherin at school, but she and Meredith still had an amiable acquaintanceship. It turned to friendship in their seventh year together, because unlike her fellow Slytherins, Anastacia did not join up with Voldemort. She had found solace and friendship with Meredith.
She brought a cup of tea to the shaking Meredith.
"Was that Thorn Borgan's voice I heard?"
Meredith looked up from her cup. "Borgan?"
"Oh. That's right you weren't here. Well when Lucius married Narcissa, Thorn accepted Mychel Borgan's proposal of marriage. She had been working in his father's shop during school breaks and met his son Mychel when he was home from Durmstrang. Little do Mychel and Narcissa know what happens when Lucius and Thorn are alone together." She giggled.
Meredith laughed too. "Watch it. There are kids in your shop." She cast a furtive look at the kids. They were engrossed in a jarred bezoar.
Anastacia waved her hand, dismissing them. "Oh, they are too busy looking at stuff. So what are you doing here?"
Unlike before, this question was asked out of excitement and elation.
"I'm the new defense against the dark arts teacher at Hogwarts."
"Oh excellent! Then you are here to stay in England, yes?" Anastacia asked happily.
Meredith nodded, "So what have you been up to?"
"Just running the shop, you know. What about you?"
"I'm getting set for the new year. Dumbledore asked me to take a new student to get his supplies since his parents couldn't come with him."
The kids walked over to the register to check out.
"Oops. Looks like they are all set. Well it was great seeing you. Please visit soon." She gave Meredith a quick hug.
"I will, I promise." Meredith replied.
After Anastacia checked them out, the kids separated from Meredith to purchase their books and Meredith walked around Diagon Alley.
Everyone met back up at the Leaky Cauldron for dinner at 5 o'clock. Professor McGonagall was there waiting for them.
"Good evening Minerva," Arthur said.
"Good evening. I was sent by Albus to collect Nicholas Steele so that he can be sorted. Albus thought it would be best to be done in private instead of with all the first years. Is Mr. Steele here?"
Nicholas stepped forward, "I'm Nicholas Steele."
McGonagall peered at him over her glasses. "Of course you are. You're the spitting image of your father." She winked knowingly. "I'm Professor McGonagall, the transfiguration teacher and head of Gryffindor House. Well shall we be on our way?"
"Okay I guess," Nicholas said. He turned to Meredith.
"Go ahead. You'll be back in a couple of hours. When you get back, I'll be gone. I have to spend tonight at Hogwarts. You'll go with the Weasleys, Harry and Hermione tomorrow to muggle London to catch the Hogwarts Express. I'll see you at the banquet tomorrow, okay?"
When he nodded she gave him a quick hug and a loving prod in the back for him to follow McGonagall.
Once outside McGonagall stuck her wand arm in the air and the Knight Bus appeared before them.