Disclaimer: You know whose it is but just in case . . .Everything here is owned by J.K. Rowling except for my original characters, oh, and the story's plot!
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New at Hogwarts Chapter 7 The Leaky Cauldron and the potions masterThe cab pulled up at an old, shabby,grubby-looking pub.
"You sure this' the place?" He asked glancing sideways at Mr. Kevingston.
"Oh, yes. The hotel is a bit further ahead but we love to walk." He simply replied.
The driver frowned but said nothing else. 'Surely this people must be mad', he thought as he got off and started unloading the Kevingston's luggage.
Standing on the streetwalk Alex stared at the small and dark building before her.
'I guess dad wasn't kidding when he said we'd walk!'
"Mom, why do we have to walk to the hotel?"
"Don't be silly, your father just said that the muggle would stop asking questions." Her mother replied.
'muggle' Alex thought dimly. Whenever her mother or father said that word, she couldn't help but feel a bit of animosity towards her parents. Had they forgotten that her best friends were muggles as were all the people Alex knew?
"Alex, what's wrong? You're frowning." Her dad asked looking at her. He'd just paid the driver who had set off so quickly it seemed like he had vanished.
"Nothing dad, I'm just nervous" (Yeah, nervous my ass!) the pesky voice retorted.
'Well, it's not like I'm lying, you know? I am nervous. I simply left out the other thing that was bothering me!' Ahe defended herself. (You keep telling yourself that). Alex was now really starting to hate that voice.
An old man came through the pub's door and made a reverence.
"Mr. And Mrs. Krvingston -Oh, and young miss Kevingston too! How delightful to have you back! I've got room twelve ready for you." He truly appaeared to be truly fascinated by the fact that the three of them were there. "This way if you'll follow me please!" He said and went back through the old pub's door, the Kevingstons behind him.
"Mom, who is he?" Alexandra whispered.
"He's the bartender of the Leaky Cauldron", was the short reply.
'So this place's name is the Leaky Cauldron? Zero imagination poor guy! I mean c'mon, you can't seriously name a bar like that!'
"Alex . . ."
"What mom?"
"Are you going to stay there all day? Because I'd really like to sit down or a while."
Alex apologised to her mother and stepped into the room.
"So, when are we going to get all my school stuff?"
"Well, dear, first we need to know what it is that you'll be using."
"Oh . . .so, how do I find out what I need?"
"I've already sent Dumbledore an owl. We're waiting for his reply."
Sitting on an armchair by the fire, Alex thought she'd die of boredoom when her father spoke up.
"Why don't you take a walk?" He suggested and shot a warning look at his wife, who was about to open her mouth against the idea.
"Alone? In London? Cool!" Alex's mouth was hanging open. She couldn't believe her luck.
"Well, actually-" Robert started.
'Oh, no, he's going to say no!'
"-not in muggle London."
"Huh?" Alex couldn't be more confused.
"There's a special place wizards go to when they need to get things. Come, I'll show you!" And with that, he left the room, Alex right behind him.
They descended the stairs and made their way to the other end of the pub. Alex, who had not realised the place was so packed before, was turning around in every direction. Witches and Wizards of all ages, some wore dark robes other bright ones that were full of what alex supposed were ammulets sat at the little tables in the pub. Some were alone, others chatted happily with their group. Alex had never seen people so strange.
'No wonder they find people like my friends strange!' She exclaimed in her head.
Glancing backwards, towards the stairs, she noticed a tall man all dressed in black. He had his straight black hair cut barely above his shoulders. Alex couldn't see his face as his back was facing her. For some reason she had supposed him to be young, around her age. Her daydream crumbled down when he turned around and saw that the guy was probably around her father's age. 'Still . .' She thought 'he's quite gorgeous . . . Whoa, hang on . . .where did that come from? He could be my father!' But Alex ramblings were cut short when their eyes connected. Turning around faster than lightning, she could have sworn, her face beat red, that that man had read her mind.
Going through a back door into a small, walled courtyard, her father glanced at her.
He had been about to draw out his wand when he noticed his daughter's face.
"Alex, are you allright?"
Trying not to go even redder, she lied once more " Nah, everything's fine dad. It was a bit hot inside, that's all."
Not entirely conviced, Robert Kevingston let it go. His daughter had been more distracted since the owl had arrived, but he thought it was only natural that Alexandra was still a bit shocked.
He tapped a brick above the trash can three times and soon, where there had been a solid wall, was an arch leading to a very busy street, which was packed with people.
"Well, Alex, here we are. Diagon Alley. Here you'll find any store you can imagine."
"So, you're coming with me?" She asked a bit hopeful. The thought of getting lost here was not too pleasant.
"Of course not, honey, I promised you you could go alone!" He said with a smile, not getting the hopefulness in his daughter's voice. "Bye!- Oh, and before I forget, be here around six. Have fun!" And with that, the archway closed again.
"Great!" Alex muttered. She'd realised her watch had stopped working. "Now how am I supposed to now when to get back?" She wondered out loud and started walking down the street.
There were many extraordinary shops full of glass objects of different sizes and colours, or with piles of books that seemed to go on forever. There was even one that had broomsticks that flew! But what really caught Alex's attention was a little shop in a corner that had a small black sign.
"Apothecary" She read. 'Apothecary? What on Earth is that?' Filled with curiosity, Alex pulle the door open, stepped inside and . . .
"OUCH!" She fell down on her rear and rubbed her forehead. "That hurt", she whined.
"If I were you, I'd watch where I'm going" A deep voice said. "Unless, of course, you are applying for a job as a rug."
Standing up and looking at the owner of said voice more clearly, she realised it was the same man from the Leaky Cauldron. If she ever had the illusion of this man being kind and sweet, this encounter shattered the hope.
"And if I were you I wouldn't be as rude." She said and went exactly the opposite way she was going. "You know, I was going to say I'm sorry but I don't think I will now." She shouted, turning around in a fury and added "Oh, and if I were you, I'd wash my hair more frequently!" She didn't know why she had said this last, there was nothing wrong with his hair. Maybe because she was so angry at the man for being that impolite.
As he watched her go, his fists contracted in anger. Too many people had said something like that in his life.
"Thank God that brat is not a student of mine!" Severus Snape thought heatedly, though keeping moderately cool on the outside.
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Half an hour later, Alexandra was sitting down at a table, eating some ice-cream.
'I didn't know there were flavours like plastic or glass . . . maybe I'll try them someday' She happily thought as she ate a spoonful of strawberry and mint with little chocolate chips.
"Alex! Alex! Where are you?"
Her father was runing down the street like a mad man, yelling her name at the top of his lungs.
"Dad? What are you doing here? Is it already six? 'cause my watch stopped working and I-"
"Alex, thank God you're okay! Come, hurry up. We have to get to the Leaky Cauldron right now!"
They ran towards the archway through which tons of witches and wizards were trying to get.
"Dad, what's wrong? Why is everyone trying to go to the Leaky Cauldron?"
"Alex, I'll answer everything once we're safely inside.
Inside, they spotted Anna Kevingston sitting down at a table close to the bar.
"Robert, there you are! Are you two okay?"
"Don't worry Anna, everything's fine."
"Thank God!" She said but the relief was washed away from her face as soon as her daughter sat down on the chair opposite to her own.
"What's happened to you Alex? You have a huge bump on your forehead. . ." Her mom asked getting worried. "Robert, you said nothing had happened!".
Placing a hand on his wife's shoulder, Robert looked at his daughter. "Alex?"
"Calm down mom. I got this earlier today. I was about to get into someplace called 'Apothecary' or something like that when I bumped into a man, a very rude man actually I-" But Alex was not able to finish the phrase as said man had just walked through the door. "That's him!" She exclaimed quite loudly, pointing an accusing finger in his direction.
"Alex, keep it down." Her father hissed as he grabbed his daughter's arm. "And don't point!"
"Oh, Alex, I surely hope you kept your temper at bay?" Her mother told her in a somewhat concerned voice as Alex stared and frowned at the man who was now drinking at the bar. "Trust me, Severus Snape is not a teacher to cross."
"Teacher?" She repeated dumbly. Snape was now looking back at her.
'Why do I always have to screw things up so badly?' She desperately thought
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