A/N: Yes, I realize I haven't updated in about….well, in about a year. I have no idea why I let this sit around for so long…but I promise I will be updating often from now on! This chapter's a little short because I decided to rewrite a lot of chapter 3, but much, much more is on its way!
The Unknown Warrior
Chapter 4: Wizards and Weasleys
Lily walked through the archway to Diagon Alley in delight as wizards bustled around her in cloaks and shops were lined with the most unimaginable items and things ever. Hagrid seemed unimpressed by these things and steered Lily towards a store called Madam Malkin's, while he headed off to Flourish and Blott's, a bookstore. "Now your jus' get yer robes and I'll be back with yer books," Hagrid said, walking away from her down the bustling alley.
"Howarts, hun?" came a voice from behind her. She looked up into the eyes of an extraordinarily large woman with sleek black hair. "Er, yes. Is this where I get my robes?" Lily asked, unsure.
"Of course! Now, just step up there and I'll get you fitted. Lucius, the boy right there will help you," she said absentmindedly, bustling to the back of the store.
Practically panicking, Lily slowly slid to the back of the store. What if she had to take off her clothes? She would be discovered and then she and her parents would be murdered by the evil psycho man! She stepped up onto a low pedestal next to who she supposed was Lucius, her hands shaking uncontrollably. He was a thin blonde boy with sharp grey eyes and a sneer on his face.
"What, you got a tick or something? You really should get that checked out sometime. People will think you inadequate," he said coolly, he face still twisted into the sneer.
Madam Malkin came bustling back in with robes and she promptly began checking the hem on Lucius's robes.
"I'm assuming that you're going to Hogwarts, too," Lucius continued, not giving Lily a chance to contradict his previous statement. "What's your name, anyway?" he wanted to know. "Higher. The hem must be higher!"
Madam Malkin glanced up at him as he ordered her around.
"Li………er, Liam. Liam Weasley," Lily replied, her voice wavering. She had come to the conclusion that she officially hated this boy.
"Weasley?" Lucius laughed snidely. "God, I shouldn't even bother talking to you. Everyone knows the Weasleys is the family that gives us purebloods bad names, at least since that Muggle-lover Arthur came along. I feel very, very sorry that you should be born into a family like that. Although you're probably the same as all of them. Worthless," he said casually, his eyes wandering down to brush a spot of dust off his new robes.
Lily's face heated up. "Is that so? Then why are you standing here talking to me if I'm so worthless? Apparently I'm not fit to stand in the same room as you, so maybe you should consider leaving since it seems you have such a problem with my family?" she said, her fists clenched at her sides. Lucius gave her a sharp look and was still for a moment
"Oh my," came a voice from below as a tearing sound was heard. "Lucius, the hem on your robes just ripped. You'll have to stay a few minutes longer. Liam, dear, you're free to go though," Madam Malkin proclaimed as she brandished her wand to fix the rip. Lily could have sworn that the large woman winked at her before bowing her head to busy herself in her work.
Lily quickly stepped off the pedestal, wanting to get out of that place as fast as she could. As she walked out the door, she tried to ignore the incessant complaining she heard coming from Malfoy about the length of time that it was taking the woman to fix the tear.
Hagrid met her outside the shop with an armful of books. "Alrigh', I've got yer books, and I also stopped past some stores to get yeh yer supplies, so I guess now all we've got left is yer wand," he said, carrying the texts as if they weighed nothing. "And then soon enough, yeh'll be off to Hogwarts!" He exclaimed. "Greatest place on Earth if I do say so meself."
After encountering Mr. Ollivander (who stared at her strangely for a moment until she found her wand, and then a dawning look of comprehension came over his face), Hagrid took a very unsettled Lily back to the Leaky Cauldron and into her room.
"Well, here are yer rooms, Liam. The Weasleys will be comin' up in a second ter meet yeh, so I expect they'll be knockin' on yer door sometime soon. They'll explain everything from there!"
"Thanks Hagrid!" Lily said, running up and giving him a hug.
Hagrid hugged her back and then put his massive hands on her shoulders. "Now, be good, and I'll be seein' yeh tomorrow at Hogwarts!"
Lily watched his massive form duck through the doorframe, and then turn around to wink at her before closing the door behind him. Turning from the door, Lily surveyed her surroundings. Her trunk and newly bought school supplies had been deposited at the foot of her massive canopy bed. The room was clean, but it had that feeling of being very, very old. The floorboards beneath her feet were warped with age, and the hangings on her bed had holes in some parts of them. Interesting that there would be such flaws in a wizarding hotel. She had seen many people doing magic in Diagon Alley, and it seemed so simple to just wave a wand and fix the problems. For the first time in a day, she had nothing to do. She sat on the bed for a moment and played her hair, looking at the door. When no knock came, she got up and stooped down to her school things and found a book to read. "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, by Miranda Goshawk," she read to herself, cracked open the massive book, and began reading.
She was reading about Doxies when a sharp knock on the door made her jump from the edge of the bed. She replaced the book to her things and walked excitedly to the door, which she opened to find a hallway full of freckled, red-headed people.
The moment she opened the door, the tall, middle-aged woman walked right up to Lily and gave her a huge hug. "You must be…Liam" she said, releasing her. "I'm Ginny Weasley, Liam's mother." A shadow passed across her face when she said Lily's new name. But before Lily could say something, Ginny had surged forward. "I guess I'm you new mother. Welcome to the family!" And with that, she found herself enveloped by a wave of redheads.
A/N: Yes, I realize I haven't updated in about….well, in about a year. I have no idea why I let this sit around for so long…but I promise I will be updating often from now on!