Chapter 2

Diagon Alley

"Katie, are you up? Do you remember that we are going to... What is that place called?"

"Diagon Alley, mom! It is called Diagon Alley! It's not far away from us; we'll get there in no time. As you can hear I'm up!" I quickly flipped the covers over my bed and carefully placed my pillows over it. I ran up to the mirror and brushed my hair, after raised it upwards as fast as I could. Picking my bag from the floor, I ran down the stairs to the kitchen.

My mom was cheerfully cooking breakfast, and the smell of bacon reached my nose. My stomach gave a growl.

"Someone is hungry I see," she said looking towards me. Her silver hair was tightly fastened in a bun. Her blue eyes shined with joy, as she observed me carefully. Her thin lips curled upwards, "You look wonderful. Now, sit down and eat your breakfast, and after we'll run to that Alley of yours. Oh, can't remember the name! Oh well, I can't wait to see what they have done to the place. It must be quite different from the Red Square."

"I can't wait either! Can you imagine what it can look like? It won't look anything like Russia. Here they have the most beautiful school, nothing like my old one. It was small, and so was that old fool who was the headmaster. He didn't care for the kids! All he wanted is a warm place to sit on."

"Watch what you say about your elders," she said giving me a strict look, "well, I don't think this place changed that much."

"What do you mean," I asked her surprised.

"Well, I was born here and finished Hogwarts, so did your father. You were born here yourself."

I looked at her with my mouth open in disbelieve. How could that be? I never knew about it. I always thought that I was born in Russia. I never heard my parents talking English. They didn't even have an accent.

"What are you talking about? How can that be? And if it's true, why haven't you ever told me about it?"

"Well, your father didn't want you to know. He didn't want you asking questions such as why? and how? Besides you were too young. Well, I think it's all right to tell you now, as your father is no longer with us, bless his soul, and you are sixteen and quite suited for such news." She hoisted off the chair and wiped her hands with the apron she was wearing. She came closer to the window and looked out of it at the busy cars that passed by. Her features were tight; she was confident but in the same time scared of something. Her eyes were glazed. They were almost the eyes of a blind man that could see only white light with shadows that fell from many objects about him.

I came up to her and grabbed her hand. It was cold and I covered it within my palm trying to warm it. She frightened me. She wanted to tell me something, I know that for sure, but she hesitated.

"Mama, what's wrong?"

She looked at me with her misty eyes and then they came back into focus, and she smiled while saying, "nothing to worry. Maybe you are old enough to hear, but I'm not ready to tell the tale. We'll wait some more before I tell you. All right?"

She touched my cheek with her wrinkled hand. I was confused, but I wished not to press the matter. She needed her time, so I was willing to give it to her; however, I can't deny the fact that I was also quite eager to know the story that she was hiding from me. It must have been important, if she drove me out of the country and never told me about it.

"Are you done eating?" She asked me.

"Yap I'm done. Are you ready to go?"

"Sure lets go."

As the blocks drifted away from one another, giving an opening toward the Alley, mum and I were talking about all the things we could get. She said we needed a bank account, and that my wand would need to be replaced because I've broken it on the way to England. Mum was furious with me about it. She said I was taking everything lightly and that I didn't care about anything, took everything for granted. She also mentioned how ungrateful I was, but I don't remember anything she said about those topics. The words just entered one ear and flew out of the other. I was really annoyed by her lectures, besides I needed a new wand for a very long time because I outgrown mine already, and it wasn't that good to begin with. The best wands were in Ollivanders, one of the oldest shops in the world, if I might add.

There were two other wizards waiting for the way to open. They looked at us suspiciously. I have no idea why they did that. They were rather strange, but I couldn't get what was so interesting in my mother and me. They were wearing black robes with a green outline that embellished the edges of their garments. I observed that they were wealthy and must have been wealthy for many generations. They must have been pureblooded wizards. I was rather tempted to greed them, but didn't find the courage to raise my hand towards their direction. They probability would have thought I was some kind of a filthy object that should be avoided. I just gave them a faint smile and a node with my head, just to show respect. They did the same and began whispering something between one another.

Finally the way was clear and we presided. Of course I needed new robes, so we entered the first shop that read, Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, but mum didn't stay long.

"Oh, sorry dear, I have to go and get the money transferred. I'll just go to that bank, and you try on some robes. I'll be back soon. Just look at your letter with all the things you'll need in here and then buy a dress for the special occasions." She looked quite cheerful compared with her distant look that very morning. I couldn't hold the laughter that was pressing my shut lips.

"Mother, just because you got you're hands upon the money from dad, it doesn't mean you have to start and spoil me with useless things."

"Oh, I'm not spoiling you at all! You'll need it, trust me." With that she left me alone in the shop. There were few people waiting before me, and they eyed me, each one of them, but then turned back to whatever they were doing moments earlier. I came up to a squat woman that had short silvery hair that lay very untidy upon her head. She turned around and greeted me with a warming smile. Her dress was inviting, of lilac color, which matched her eyes.

I couldn't believe that there were purple eyes, and I couldn't resist but ask, "Are those your real eyes?" And immediately felt embarrassed. I could feel the blood rush up to my face, and go a little red.

She laughed at my question. Her voice rang like a bell. It was flawless.

"Of course dear, what did you thing?"

"Well, I never saw purple eyes before, especially that of yours. They are beautiful."

"You have quite beautiful eyes yourself, dear. That dark blue is even frightening. I know another person that has such beautiful eyes like you."

"Really? I never though my color was natural either. Kids at my school always tried spells on me to remove whatever charm I had put to make my eyes this blue. They were always angry with me that I never told them the charms that I used. Even my friend got a bit harsh with me at times."

"Well, Lucius Malfoy has your eyes. I thought you would know. You look quiet like him. Although his son is very charming and is an unmistakable Malfoy, his eyes are of his mother, light gray but cold they are. Yes they are."

"I'm sorry, I never heard the name. Why do you think I should know him?"

"Well, you're a Malfoy of course, are you not?" She asked me quickly. I had no idea of whom she was talking about. For a moment I thought she was crazy. I looked at her in surprise. Unwillingly I shook my head letting her know that I'm not.

"Oh bless my soul, who are you then? I can't believe you're not a Malfoy. Are you sure you're father was not one of the three sons from that family? It's unbelievable!"

"Well, sorry to disappoint you, but I came here from Russia or not that far from it. My parent's were from a muggle family, both of them."

She looked very disconsolate, and I even thought I said something wrong. I couldn't understand what I could have said. I retraced our conversation, but found nothing that could have offended the woman.

"Pity," she said, "well, what do you need?"

"Oh, I'm going to attend Hogwarts this year, and I need some robes, a hat, gloves..."

"I know dear, I've been running this shop for a very long time." She cut in and now her voice was harsh, like I insulted her beyond any recognition.

"I would also like a formal dress," I added.

"Oh, yes a dress for the ball that the seven years attend. We have wonderful dresses out in that corner, if you like go and look at them after I get your measurements."

I smiled at her but she looked at me indifferently. I didn't know what to say to her, so I dropped the topic.

She waved her wand to the measuring tape and a quill that started recording my sizes. It was done significantly fast, and I was happy about it. I couldn't wait to look at the dresses in the back corner. I came down from the chair and began walking down to the far side of the shop when a dark blue, velvet clock caught my eyes. It was wonderful, incredible. A pretty little thing it was and mighty expensive.

"It would look beautiful on you," I heard someone say behind me. I turned around to see a blond boy that was a head taller then I. He was well build, not too big or small. He had the softest facial lines that I have ever seen. They were not rough like many boys have at their age. His lips were of light pink color with a tint of blue. His skin was pale. He was wearing black robes with a serpent drawn on the upper corner, just bellow his left shoulder.

Two boys accompanied him. Both of them had vague expressions on their faces. They were much bigger then the blond boy that was standing in the middle. One of them had a square body. His face was like a large balloon, quite pink if I might add. His nose was slightly lifted at the tip, and his lips were so thin that I thought he hadn't any. The other one was way taller then the rest. He had curly brown hair. His lips were kind of puffy, like from an insect bite. His eyes were expressionless; they did look mean, however. They also wore black robes with the same serpent as the blond boy.

I studied them carefully, and they did the same. I don't know what they were thinking of, and honestly didn't care. They were strangers to me, and I didn't want to be friends with them, no matter what.

However, I didn't wish to be thought ill mannered, so I answered, "thank you."

"Draco Malfoy and this is Crabbe and Goyle."

"Nice to meet you," I studied the boy carefully; he was a Malfoy. I saw some similarities between him and myself, but they were not that strong to link myself to his family.

"Aren't you going to introduce yourself?" Draco asked me, and the other two grinned at me and eyed me with their pig like eyes.

"Should I? Why do you wish to know my name?"

"Well, I gave you mine."

"I didn't ask for it."

"Oh, you're a tough smart mouth girl. How funny, a muggle you must be, if you don't know who I am."

"No, I'm not a muggle, and I have an idea of who you are, but I still do not wish to talk to strange boys. Further more, I do not wish to talk to people that are too in love with their own selves."

He looked at me with perplexity, and I saw his pale cheeks grow red with embarrassment. How easy it is to embarrass a teenage boy. One should only show indifference towards him, and they boil with anger.

He looked at me for quite some time, and the two guys besides him snicker.

"Shut up!" He shouted at them and then back on me. His eyes shown anger, and he was going red. From the corner of my eye I saw Madam Malkin coming up to us, smiling her warm smile.

"Oh young Master Malfoy! How are you? What can I do for you today?"

"Oh, I need new robes for school."

"Ah, outgrown the ones you bought last year? This young lady is buying her own robes as well." I wished she would hold her tong out of my business. Why did she have to mention it? I gazed at her with amazement and quickly shifted my gaze at Draco.

"I never saw you at Hogwarts. Are you new?" He asked me, "are you a first year?" He added quickly smirking at me. I didn't answer, as I saw mum entering the store.

"Are my cloths ready?"

"Yes dear, they are at the counter over there. Would you like anything else?"

"I would like this clock, in green if you have."

"I'll get it for you, just wait for me by the counter."

"Thank you," I told her, as she turned around to the back of the store. "I'll see you later." I told the boys and walked passed them towards mum. She waved at me and smiled. I love her smile, it's comforting, and makes me feel relaxed.

Moments later we were out of the shop, and began our adventure through Diagon Alley. There were many wizard, witches, and their kids. All of them ran from store to store, buying books, quills, parchments, and other things.

We finally reached Flourish and Blotts; mum opened my letter and observed the books that I would need.

"Well, you have most of the books already. All you need is The Oldest Potions Ever Known by Mart Vandal. It's a very good book to learn the most useful potions. Your potion professor must be an interesting and smart man. When I was in school, I loved potions. They are very useful even if you're not good with normal, wand magic."

"Mum, you know I hate potions. Lets just get it and go on. I want to go back to Madam Malkin's and get that dress for the ball."

"Why didn't you get it the first time you were there?"

"It was nothing, some annoying boy was bugging me and I wanted to get out of there as fast as I could."

"Well, I'll go get the book, and we'll head that way."

She left me by the entrance. I stood there for a while, but I got bored, so I walked to the closest shelf of books. All of them were about magical creatures and different kind of charms. I went a bit further into the shop, potions, spells, goblin history, muggle studies, wizard art, music, and costumes. Finally I came into a dark room that was illuminated by candles. I picked up a book covered in leather. Control One's Mind With the Help of Potions, it read. I couldn't find the author, so I decided to flip through it. The book contained the most complex potions that I have ever read.

"Didn't I tell you to wait for me by the entrance?"

"Oh, sorry mum. I got carried away by the books."

We took leave from the bookstore and were heading back to Madam Malkin's. The alley was clearing; it was getting dark. We spend most of the day shopping, and our legs were tiered. We reached the shop, and as we entered the bell rang. Madam Malkin's head pocked out from the office room.

"It's you once more! Have you forgotten something?"

"Yes, the dress."

"Ah yes, the ball. Well, come over here. We have the most gorges dresses. Witch color would you like?"

"Light blue."

"Honey, don't you think pink or mauve would look good on you?"

"Mum, I don't want to be pink. I want to have green or blue."

"We have this dress over here." She pointed to a light blue dress that was off the shoulders. It had an open back and a sun skirt. It was gorges, just like she said. It was made of silk with rays of see through material that I couldn't name.

"How much?" My mother asked. I was holding my breath; I really wished to have it.

"I'll give you a discount. One hundred Galleons."

"One hundred!" I exclaimed.

"We'll take it." I looked at mother as if she was crazy. We wouldn't be able to pay for it. I watched the storeowner wrapping the dress and putting it into a bag. My mother carefully opened her wallet and took out a checkbook. I never knew wizards had checkbooks. I always thought it was a muggle creation.

"Mum, where did we get so much money?" I've asked her as we waited the gait to open towards the muggle world.

"Your father, dear." She answered plainly.

"Where did he..."

"Don't ask questions. You got it, so be happy about it."

The gate finally opened, and we stepped out. Suddenly I remembered that we forgot the most important thing.

"Mum, we forgot to get a wand!"

She looked at me with irritation and annoyance.

"What is going on in your head? Seriously, I think that all you have in there is wind. Here," she handed me 20 galleons, "I think it will be enough for a very dissent wand. I'll wait for you in the car. Be quick!"

I took the money and went back to Diagon Alley.