Disclaimer: Yeah…right… I wish!

Author's Notes: Sorry for taking so long once again. I had to get ready for Prom, and then there was Prom itself this past weekend. I'll try to up-date on a regular bases once things get back to "normal" (yeah right!). Just so you know I tried to keep writing between hair, make-up, tanning (or baking as I like to call it), getting dressed, dancing (or making a fool of myself), changing, going to After-Prom, making a fool out of myself (again), sleeping until 5 pm, parting Sunday night, and sleeping all day Monday (in honor of Senior Skip Day), working, and visiting a little place I like to call HELL (aka: my senior year of High School)! So without further adieu: here it be!

Pastures New

Chapter 3: Diagon Alley

Dear Albus,

Headmistress Ellis may have said that Miss Parker is "exceptionally gifted" but that was an understatement if I have ever heard one. She is unbelievable, simply unbelievable. I have never met a thirteen year old with this much talent. In fact I don't think that there are too many of our seventh years that are as talented as her. I think you may want to meet her before the start of term so you can see exactly what I mean. I don't think the staff would believe me if they didn't meet her as well.

We will spend tomorrow in Diagon Alley to get Miss Parker's school things. The day after, we will be the train to Hogwarts, with your blessing of course. I know that you will be as impressed with Miss Parker as I am.

Always,

Minerva

Headmaster Albus Dumbledore read the owl from his Deputy Headmistress and chuckled.

Minerva,

As if I would ever not give you my blessings, my Dear. If you are this excited about our new student then I must agree and insist that you bring her to Hogwarts at once.

I will see you soon. Have a safe trip.

Yours Truly,

Albus

Minerva read over the owl that Albus had promptly sent back to her and smiled. She hoped that the other Professors would agree with her as quickly and without question as her employer did, but she knew that was not likely. She had been chosen out of many candidates to be the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts, and that had made several Professors that had applied for the position angry. Even though it had been four years since she had been appointed to the position, there were some that still thought that she was not cut out for the job. Well, to be honest there was only one person that still seemed to hold her position against her, and of course, it was a Slythern.

Minerva crossed her private room to a mirror by the door to make sure her hair was still in place. After they had finished with their tea and their talk of the up coming year, Minerva had suggested they take a break until dinner at half past six. Seeing that it was only a few minutes until then, Minerva had thought she would go down stairs and see how crowded that Leaky Caldron was. As she shut the door be hind her she was met by Elizabeth in the corridor as she was walking to the staircase.

"Good evening, Miss Parker."

"Good evening, Professor." Elizabeth replied.

They descended the stairs and were seated at a table before they spoke again.

"I owled Professor Dumbledore after we spoke," Minerva began. "If you don't think your parents would mind you settling into Hogwart early, we both agree that the staff would like to meet you before classes begin. Seeing that your transcripts have not yet arrived the other Professors might want to make sure that there isn't something more you could learn before we declare you done with any one subject." Elizabeth only nodded, so Minerva continued. "I doubt that it will take too long. Most will just want to talk with you, see what level you are at, one or two may want to test you. It shouldn't be any more taxing than OWLs or NEWTs.

Tom, the Leaky Caldron's new innkeeper, took their dinner orders, bowed, and then left them to talk.

"That sounds fine, Professor. If nothing else, it would be nice to acquaint myself with the castle. From what I've read in Hogwarts, A History, it sounds as though it can be quiet over whelming at first." The corners of Elizabeth's mouth curved up slightly into a small smile that did not reach her eyes. Minerva started to wonder if Elizabeth was nervous or just did not like to smile very much; she herself was guilty of that from time to time.

Well if your parents agree, then we can leave on the Hogwarts Express the day after tomorrow. They can just send your trunk straight to Hogwarts. After dinner we should owl your parents to let them know." Minerva continued.

Minerva noticed how Elizabeth's jaw tightened again at the mention of her parents. It reminded her of Elizabeth's reaction when she mentioned her previous Headmistress, Catherine Ellis.

"I have everything with me, Professor. I was planning on staying here until September First. This arrangement, however, would be better. My parents," there was a hint of disgust in both her voice and face, "will not care either way."

Minerva did not know exactly how to respond to the young woman who sat before her. Luckily, before any uncomfortable silence could set in, Tom brought their dinner to their table, bowed once more, and then disappeared. They ate in silence.

… … … … …

"The only things I think you will need would be your school robes. I doubt that you will need any books seeing how you have completed all of your necessary courses, but because you are considered a student you will need to dress like one." Minerva ushered Elizabeth into Diagon Alley as she spoke. Elizabeth's neutral expression changed into one of amazement as the brick wall that was once a dead-end outside the Leaky Caldron shifted into the busy alleyway.

"I never did ask what electives you had taken while you where attending Milgram Thorton Academy." Minerva said as they proceeded down the cobble stone walkway.

"Well," replied Elizabeth, " I took Arithmacy, Ancient Ruins, and Care of Magical Creatures. I received an "O" in each on my OWLs but my NEWTs scores are with my transcripts." Her expression was neutral once more.

"Do you have any interest in Muggle Studies or Divination?" Minerva asked.

Elizabeth shook her head, "I lived in a community that was mostly muggles and I tired to learn the Art of Divination from Seers teaching at both Milgram Thorton and Salem Western but we didn't… see eye to eye. No pun intended, Professor."

"Not at all, Miss Parker." Minerva replied with a smile. "When I attended Hogwarts as a student I too tried to learn Divination, but I soon found that it was not to my liking. I think Divination is…" Minerva held her tong before she said what she really thought of Divination. "Well," she finally continued, "it can be a very unreliable branch of magic if you ask me." She finished matter-of-factly.

"It isn't the Art itself that I find unreliable, Professor, it's the people who claim to be more than they truly are. A true Seer," Elizabeth explained, "is hard to come by, but finding a witch or wizard who is willing to admit that they are not as talented as they want everyone to believe, is almost impossible. No one ever wants to admit that they are weak." Elizabeth finished with a shrug.

"That is very true, Miss Parker." Minerva surveyed the girl that seemed wiser than her years.

A small bell sounded overhead as Elizabeth and Minerva stepped through the door of Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. A kind faced, round woman came out from a room in the back.

"Oh, hello Minerva. How are you doing this morning?" greeted the witch with mild surprise.

"Just fine, Madam Malkin, thank you. And yourself?"

"Never better, thank you. What can I help you with today?" Madam Malkin looked between Elizabeth and Minerva.

"Miss Parker will be starting Hogwarts this year," stated Minerva.

"Oh, of course, or course," she exclaimed going in to the back once more. She came out with a standard Hogwarts uniform. "Go and put this on, it should be the right size, Madam Malkin pointed to the dressing area, "and then we'll make sure everything is the correct length."

Elizabeth thanked her softly then walked over into the dressing area pulling a long curtain closed around her.

"She's very quiet, isn't she," observed Madam Malkin in hushed tones. "Quite thin too."

"Yes, she seems to be extremely shy, but she is very talented." Minerva stated in the same hushed voice.

"You said that she is starting this year, but she's older isn't she, than eleven I mean."

"Miss Parker is thirteen. She has just transferred from a small wizarding school in America." Minerva told the shop owner.

Elizabeth came out of the dressing room looking slightly awkward.

"Very good Deary, just hop up there," Madam Malkin pointed to a small platform on the ground in front of a tall mirror, "and we'll get everything taken care of."

… … …

Fifteen minutes later Elizabeth and Minerva were walking down Diagon Alley towards Flourish and Blotts. Minerva had reduced the robes that Elizabeth had bought at Madame Malkin's and they were now tucked away inside her handbag so they would be easier to carry. Because Elizabeth did not need to purchase any schoolbooks, the only things they left with were a few rolls of parchment, ink, and new quills. They were also reduced and placed in Minerva's handbag.

"Well, we're done a bit earlier that what I thought we would be." Minerva said looking at her watch. "It's only ten o'clock. Are there any other shops you wish to look around in?"

"Actually Professor, I need to find someone to take a look at my wand." Elizabeth stated. "If you don't mind. It's been giving me a little trouble lately."

"Not at all, Miss Parker. We'll just stop at Ollivander's."

… … …

The hinges on the ancient door squeaked as they slowly stepped in to the dim dusty shop. Long thin boxes lined the walls, over flowed from the shelves, and were stacked to the ceiling on any and every once available surface.

"I don't believe we have met," said a man who had just popped his head out from behind a shelf. He was old and wrinkled with white hair sticking out at all angles.

Elizabeth took in a sharp breath but she was happy that she did not jump when he startled her.

"Although," he continued as he walked towards her, "you do look familiar. Are you of any relation to a Miss Isabella Duncan?"

Elizabeth looked into his watery blue eyes in surprise, but looked away quickly. She nodded then cleared her throat. "My grandmother," she replied softly, "Isabella O'Connell."

"Yes, yes. Mathew O'Connell, I believe." Elizabeth nodded once more still not meeting his piercing eyes. "Yes, yes," he continued. "Maple and Dragon Heart-string, quite stiff, perfect for Charms work. Your grandmother, however, preferred Willow and Unicorn Hair, very swishy. But the wand chooses the wizard, of course."

There was silence for a second or two. Minerva watched Elizabeth with a worried expression. She had not looked up since the mention of her grandmother.

"Well now," the man began again, "my name is Ollivander, and you would be…?"

"Elizabeth Parker." She finally looked up, but her voice was still soft.

"Well Miss Parker, it is nice to meet you. What may I help you with?"

Elizabeth cleared her throat once more, "I've been having some trouble with my wand. It doesn't seem to be as strong as it once was." She pulled her wand out of the pocket of her blue jeans and placed it in Ollivander's out stretched hands.

"You've had it for… four years, correct?" Elizabeth nodded.

"You don't use it very often, do you? Especially not in the last year."

"No, sir." Elizabeth looked slightly confused. 'How can he know that just by looking at my wand,' she thought.

"Yes, yes, I thought as much. You've been practicing wandless magic I assume." Ollivander walked over to the counter and cleared off a small area.

"Yes, sir. I have been." ' How could he know that," she wondered.

Ollivander did not look up from inspecting the wand in front of him. "It is rare, but sometimes when a witch or wizard becomes more powerful with the knowledge they have learned, their inner power exceeds the power of their wand's core. You see Miss Parker, when a wand chooses an owner it knows the amount of power that witch or wizard has and will one day posses once they have been trained. It doesn't happen very often and when it does it is rather amazing. I wonder, Professor McGonagall, do you still have your first wand?" He looked up and acknowledged Minerva for the first time. He wore a monticule that made his right eye look at least five times larger than his right.

"Yes Mr. Ollivander, I do." Minerva replied.

"Redwood and Unicorn Hair," he said shifting his piercing stair to Elizabeth, "strong and supple. It is quite powerful for someone so young, and yet not powerful enough. Curious." He started searching and after not finding what he was looking for in the front he disappeared to the back.

Minerva and Elizabeth waited in silence. Elizabeth tapped her foot every few seconds while she glanced around the old shop. She turned to look at Minerva with wide eyes when the sound of about one hundred boxes crashing to the ground came from the back. Minerva gave her a hopeful smile and continued to stand in near the front window. A second later Mr. Ollivander came out with a stack of boxes that reached over his head.

"Now," he said setting down the boxes without dropping one, "which is your wand hand?"

… … …

An hour later Elizabeth and Minerva were sitting in the Leaky Caldron having a light lunch. The dim coolness of the dinning room was a welcomed comfort from the heat that had begun to take over the summer day. All of Elizabeth's purchases had been restored to their original size and placed in her room along with her new wand; Oak with a core of Dragon Heart-string and a Phonics' Feather.

"Professor," Elizabeth began, "I've been thinking. If I everyone agrees that I don't need to attend classes, then what will I be doing at Hogwarts?"

"I've thought about that as well, Miss Parker. There might be a chance that you could become an apprentice. That is, if teaching is something that interests you. You could spend the school year working with a professor, help tutor some younger students, and you may even have a chance to teach an few lessons."

"What subject would I be able to apprentice?" Elizabeth asked after taking a drink of water.

"That would be up to you, and of course the professor that teaches the subject you would be interested in." Minerva studied her as she thought it over. Elizabeth had become withdrawn after they had left Olivander's wand shop.

"I think I might like the opportunity, Professor. My grandmother always told me that I should become a teacher, but I think that was just because she was one herself." Her small smile turned sad before she looked back down at her plate and started to push her food around with her fork.

"What did her teach?" Minerva asked softly.

"Astronomy mostly, but she had taught every subject at one time or another before she retired." Elizabeth replied, still looking down.

"Did she start teaching you when you were younger, before you started at Milgram Thorton Academy?"

"She taught me to read when I was very young and I spent most of my time in her study going through old text books she owned. I think it took her a while to realize that I had been practicing practical magic. I only used her wand when I had to so she wouldn't notice." Elizabeth explained.

They sat in silence for a few minutes before Elizabeth spoke again. "May I be excused, Professor? I want to make sure I have everything packed for tomorrow."

"Of course, Miss Parker," Minerva replied. "We'll be leaving at half past seven to catch the eight o'clock train tomorrow morning."

Elizabeth nodded, "Good night, Professor."