Fixed the money thing

Chapter Two

For the first time in her life, Kate understood what people meant when they said that the floor dropped out from under them. After almost twelve years of living in an orphanage, of being told she was an orphan, there was solid proof that her mother was alive. Mrs. Parker didn't seem to understand, she smiled and said, "That's wonderful. Now, do you have your school supplies list." Numbly, Kate handed it over. The letter from her mother didn't make her feel happy like she thought it would. It made her said, lonely.

Abandoned.

"Ah, robes!" Mrs. Parker seemed excited, "I love shopping for robes! My son hats it." Kate nodded. "There are two robe stores here. Robes for all Walks, and The Robe Store, though The Robe Store is the Wal-Mart of robe shops, if you know what I mean." Kate tried to smile, but she couldn't. Mrs. Parker didn't seem to notice. "Are you done with your drink?"

"Yeah."

Mrs. Parker pulled out her wand and said something in Latin. At Kate's wide eyes she said, "Well, I guess you've never seen magic before, have you?"

No, we had wizards popping in and out of the CATHOLIC ORPHANAGE I was raised it, she thought viciously. "No, it's cool."

"You'll know far more than that simple vanishing spell by the time your done at Hogwarts."

"Did you say Hogwarts?" A man at the table next to them asked. Mrs. Parker nodded. He shuddered. "That's a cursed place. You-Know-Who and most of his followers were trained there."

"So was Harry Potter."

Kate interrupted, "Okay, I don't Know Who, and who is Harry Potter?"

"Muggle born?" the man asked.

"Something like that," said Mrs. Parker.

"What's a Muggle?"

Mrs. Parker gathered her purse. "We have a lot of shopping to do, Kate." She walked toward the door, knowing Kate would follow her.

Kate didn't let up on her inquiry, though. "What's a Muggle?"

"A person who doesn't do magic. Someone who isn't a witch or wizard." She steered them through the crowded street.

"What's a You-Know-Who?"

Mrs. Parker made an impatient noise. "An evil wizard."

"And Harry Potter?"

"The wizard who killed You-Know-Who." She turned abruptly. "We're here."

"Why is the guy called You-Know-Who?"

"Let's find you some robes, shall we?" An older woman wearing honest to God robes walked up to them, "We need some robes for this girl here."

"Starting your first year?"

Kate nodded.

"East or West?"

"Actually," said Mrs. Parker, "She's going to Hogwarts."

"Hogwarts! I didn't peg you for a Brit! Right this way, please." She led them into a back room and made Kate stand on a stool. "Let me just take your measurements." Three measuring tapes were working simultaneously on her. A clipboard was floating in midair while a feather pen scratched at the paper on it. "I'll have to make the Hogwarts robes specially, when will you be needing them by?"

"Tonight, tomorrow morning at the latest."

The woman raised an eyebrow, "A rush like that will cost you a pretty Knut."

"Cost isn't a problem. Can you do it?"

"Of course."

"Wonderful, what time will they be ready?"

"5:30 tonight, is there anything else?"

Mrs. Parker looked down at the list, "Do you make winter cloaks?"

"Your order will be ready by six." The old witch seemed to be counting her profit in her head.

"Wonderful. We'll be back." They walked out. "Now we need to get you a hat and gloves," she said once they were on the street.

"What's a Knut?"

"You are inquisitive, it's wizarding money, similar to a dollar." She walked briskly, crossing the street once. Kate felt like she was being crushed on all sides by the people on the street, but no one seemed to be touching Mrs. Parker. "Ah, the Accessory Emporium, any accessory you could ever need, all in one place."

"Wouldn't that make this the Wal-Mart of accessories?" Kate asked, now confused at Mrs. Parker's earlier prejudice.

"Oh, no, my dear, this store has quality products. Most American purebloods come here for their accessory needs."

Kate was still confused, "Pureblood? You mean there are different kinds of wizards?"

"Oh, yes my dear, I'll explain later. You need to know about purebloods, and the others, that important information." A salesperson walked up to them, "We need a hat and the finest dragon hide gloves appropriate for a first year witch." Mrs. Parker seemed used to dealing with servants.

"Right away, Miss." The man hurried off in search of her things.

Kate looked around where she was, there was a container that seemed to be moving, slithering around. She walked closer and peered down. It was moving, and it almost seemed to be hissing. She reached her hand towards it. The closer she got, the louder it grew, but she couldn't pull her hand back. Kate felt a hand on her shoulder. "Try these on," said Mrs. Parker, handing her a set of thick leather gloves.

They fit Kate's hands perfectly, like they were made of her. "These are great for new students," the man said. "They'll expand to fit your hand as you grow, and once they prove no longer sufficient for the materials you're handling, you can just buy a new pair. However, these are extremely tough, and, as I said, you won't outgrow them."

"Wonderful, we'll take them. Now, the hat." She plopped it down on Kate's head. "Yes, that'll do. Wrap it up," he nodded and walked to the counter. As Kate looked around, Mrs. Parker went to pay.

She came back with no bags. "Are we picking the stuff up later?"

Mrs. Parker laughed, "I've shrunk the packages, they're in my pocket, I'll simply enlarge them when we need them." Kate nodded. "Now for books. Grimiores is the place." She led them across the street again and into a bookshop unlike one Kate had ever seen. Even on television. Barnes and Noble, this was not. "Sit here, I'll take care of this, and don't touch anything." She walked up to the counter and handed a list to the man seated behind the wooden structure. A few minutes later, he came back with a stack of books, and in the blink of any eye, they shrunk to fit in Mrs. Parker's pocket.

Mrs. Parker returned. "We just have one more stop where we can get everything but your wand. That we'll pick up tomorrow. The store is a bit of a distance. Come now, we need a cauldron, a set of crystal phials, a telescope, and a set of brass scales." Again they went through the same routine, Mrs. Parker led them to the street, and to a store where she told the salesperson what she needed, then she received the stuff, paid with Kate's money, shrunk it and stuck it in her pocket. "I don't know about you," she said once she was done, "But I am beat. Let's go to The Inn and get a good night's rest. Tomorrow we'll get your wand, and then it will be off to Hogwarts."

Kate nodded numbly. She, too, was tired. They headed to the hotel, aptly called The Inn and settled into their room for the night. By eight-o'clock, Kate was sound asleep.

"Rise and shine," Kate heard someone say distantly. "We have a long trip ahead of us, come now." It was Mrs. Parker. Why was she so chipper. Kate opened her eyes. "Once you're ready, we'll eat breakfast and head out. Be quick, though." Kate looked out the window, by the sun's place in the sky, it was really early. She dressed quickly and ate a bagel afterwards.

"Where are we going?" Kate asked as they finished they're breakfast.

"England," Mrs. Parker said like it was an everyday occurrence for orphans to take transatlantic trips at the drop of a hat.

Kate spit out her bite of bagel. "Did I hear you right? Cause it sounded like you said England."

Now, Mrs. Parker was condescending, "Well, when did you think you'd go to school?"

"It's just really sudden."

"Don't worry, it's not so bad. Travel by portkey it so quick, you hardly know it happened."

"Portkey?"

"I'll explain later." Of course she would. Once they were done she led them out of The Inn and to what looked like a train station. "Portkey travel is heavily regulated, wouldn't want to land on a Muggle and have all of the those questions pop up. We're taking the 8:30 AM to London. That means that we'll arrive in London at roughly 2:31 PM London time."

"What's the time difference?"

"Six hours, why?"

Kate thought about if for a second, "We'll be traveling for a minute? You must have the time wrong."

"We're magic folk, Kate. We do things differently." They sat on a bench for a few minutes until they're transport was announced. In that time, Mrs. Parker explained Portkeys to Kate. Finally they were ready to go. "Remember, you don't have to touch the object, just me." The object in question was a day old London newspaper. Kate grabbed Mrs. Parker's hand. Suddenly, she felt a tugging sensation near her navel, and then, it was done. She was sitting on the ground, in the middle of another, completely different Portkey Station. "Well," said Mrs. Parker. "We're here. Let's get your wand."

They walked out onto a street called Diagon Alley. Mrs. Parker didn't have to explain what it was. Kate was eleven, she wasn't stupid. They walked to a store, Ollivander's: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C. "Just go in there, I have to pick up some potion supplies, I'll be back soon." Kate nodded and walked in.

"Good afternoon," said a creepy man who looked strangely like David Bowie, except a lot older.

"Hi," Kate said nervously, "I need an, um…" she felt silly saying it.

"A wand, of course."

"That's the one."

"I'll need your name, I can't place you, who are your parents?" He seemed truly curious, not just polite.

"Trust me, sir, that it the question of the week. I'm Kate Singleton."

"I've never heard the name. Are you a Muggleborn?" Now he was prying.

"That's another of those questions."

"It's of no matter." He walked in back. A few minute later he walked back, carrying several boxes. "This is a beautiful wand, eleven inches, ebony, unicorn hair core. Give it a try." She flicked it around. Nothing happened, "No, here. Seven-and-a-half inches, yew, with dragon heartstring." Again nothing. They went through several more until he handed her, "Oak, twelve inches, dragon heartstring, very sturdy." The wand felt warm in her hand. She flicked it around, blue sparks shot out from it. "A very nice wand, seven Galleons and three Sickles."

"I have to wait for Mrs. Parker to get back, she has my money."

"Very well."

She sat down on a stool. A few minutes later, Mrs. Parker came back. She paid. As they headed out the door, Mr. Ollivander called after them, "Good luck, Miss Singleton. That wand will help you do great things."

Kate just nodded. Mr. Ollivander seemed a little crazy, but she'd humor him.

Ah, yes, now time for the reviews.