Chapter Six
Lavina Potter
"'Morning Mother." Zerial said running down the stairs into the pub.
Good morning Zerial. would you get the order of those people there?" mother asked, her arms full of food trays.
"The ones that just came in?" Zerial asked tying the apron over her light blue robes.
Mother nodded as she went into the kitchen.
"Hello. What will it be?" Zerial asked taking a notepad out of her apron pocket.
The family of five sat at the table looking at their menus. Zerial couldn't quite find a word for these people. But mean was the closest thing to what she wanted. All but one. The boy in the middle. he looked like the rest of his family, same basic features, the blond hair and gray eyes. Except, his eyes weren't cold like the others. His were friendly.
The boy looked up from his menu and smiled at her. The other four glared. "Just peppermint drinks. Five."
"Okay. Anything else?" Zerial asked ignoring the mans rudeness.
"No. JUST peppermint drinks." The man snarled.
"Okay, I'll be right back with them." Zerial said looking at the friendly boy who smiled apologetically. Zerial smiled back and walked into the kitchen.
Zerial by now was used to the staring from boys but she still hated it. This boy, whoever he was, didn't gape at her however. And he seemed nice. But boy was his family rotten.
"JUST five peppermint drinks." Zerial told her mother.
Mother laughed while she pulled five cups from the cabinet. "Met Mr. Malfoy have you?"
"You know that cretin?" Zerial asked bemused.
"Zerial don't call people that. Its not nice." Mother reprimanded.
"Well," Zerial said searching for something to say. "Neither is he."
"Doesn't matter." mother said handing Zerial a tray with five glasses on it. "Though if I remember right, the boy is nice."
"Yes," Zerial agreed. "He didnt stare."
Mother laughed at her. "Well I would tell you to keep the tip, but I don't think you will get one."
This time Zerial laughed. She walked back into the pub with the peppermint drinks giving off a pleasing aroma. She handed one drink to each of them and said, "Thank you for coming."
Mr. Malfoy snorted and haded her five sickles. Mother had been right. No tip.
Zerial took of the apron and hung it on a nail by the others. She put the sickles into the cash register and went back to her mother.
"I'm gone." She said kissing her mother on the cheek.
"Have fun!" Mother called after her.
Once inside Diagon Alley, Zerial Headed Straight for Kwinkleton's Quartet Robes. This time she was going to buy a dark blue pair and a yellow pair. For, those were her favorite colors.
"Ah, Zerial!" Mr. Kwinkleton greeted her jovially. "I see you took my parting words to heart."
"What?" Zerial asked confused. and when she understood, she gave him a grin and said. "Oh. Come again."
"Exactly," Mr. Kwinkleton said still smiling. "What will you be buying today? Perhaps a light shade of pink?"
"No," Zerial said firmly. "I want dark blue and yellow please."
"Very well, what shade of Yellow? We have every shade, from to canary yellow to gold as a galleon yellow."
"Um," Zerial said looking at all of the colors. "How about that gentle one there?"
"Ah yes, daffodil yellow," Mr. Kwinkleton said as the hanger disappeared off the non-existent rack.
"Daffodil yellow?" Zerial asked. "But those are white."
"Yes. They are." answered Mr. Kwinkleton.
"Then --" Zerial began.
"The center is yellow." Mr. Kwinkleton grinned. "And as for the blue?" He asked walking up the stairs to the blue non-existent racks.
"That midnight color there." Zerial said pointing.
"Alright," He said and took the robes of of the hanger. Zerial Watched the hanger disappear. "Need I explain that color as well?" Mr. Kwinkleton asked amused.
"No," Zerial smiled. "I'll just pay for them. How much?" she asked pulling out her bag of coins.
He thought for a moment. "For you? Five galleons."
"Okay. Thank you." Zerial said.
"Don't feel too special. I only took off the extra knut." He assured her.
Zerial laughed and waved goodbye as she left the store and headed to Mrs. Mimi's for some ice cream.
On her way to Flourish ans Blotts, she watched everyone around her. Her last time here she has seen mostly adults. Now however, there was a great assortment of ages. From toddlers up.
All of the boys her age gaped at her as she walked by them. She didnt really like it, but it was entertaining every now and then. One boy had been so entranced that he walked into a man carrying a bucket of slugs and was covered with them when the bucket spilled on him.
Then she remembered the boy she had served in the leaky cauldron. He hadn't gaped, but smiled. Maybe they would be coming into Diagon Alley and she would get to talk to him. She hoped he was going to Hogwarts.
Zerial had high hopes for Hogwarts. But more than anything, she wanted a friend. And she could tell the boy she served this morning would be a good friend to have. However sour his family might be.
As Zerial entered the Flourish and Blotts the tinkling bell on the door sounded and the woman at the front desk looked up at Zerial. "Hello, dear. Your getting supplies for Hogwarts are you?"
"Uh, no I"m not." Zerial said. "I'm here browsing."
"Oh, thats lovely. Tell me if you need something dear." The woman said and went back to her news paper.
Zerial examined it. All of the pictures were moving. She had seen the pictures in her books move and even talk to her. But somehow it had never occurred to her that news papers would have live pictures too.
The man in the picture raised his eyebrows and cocked his head sideways in a gesture that clearly said, 'What are you looking at?'
Shocked, Zerial cleared her throat and the woman looked up from the paper again. "Yes? Do you need something dear?" The woman said patiently.
"Actually, yes I do." The woman waited for Zerial to speak. " I uh," Zerial continued. "Do you have Books on Interior Design?"
When the woman gave Zerial a 'what are you talking about' look, Zerial changed her wording. "Do you have any books on, perhaps home decoration or something related?"
The woman nodded and said, "Yes, yes we do. That would be in the back rows there with the charms."
"Thank you." Zerial said as the woman disappeared behind the new paper once more. And while walking off, Zerial read the name of the news paper. It read: The Daily Prophet.
Zerial walked back to the last rows in the back of the first floor where a sign hung from the ceiling flashing in big red letters, CHARMS.
Zerial scanned the shelves for books on her interest. she didnt find much in the way of home decoration, but she did find a small paperback called 'Improve You're Furniture by: Ela Thornton.' And even though it was only eight pages long it cost eight galleons.
"This Better be worth it." Zerial muttered.
"It is," Said a voice from behind.
Zerial turned to see who was speaking to her. It was a girl her age with a brown plait that was laid across the girls shoulder. She had a nice face. she was thin and was holding an arm full of books of all shapes and sizes.
"Is it?" Zerial asked.
"Oh, yes. Mom used it on all our kitchen chairs. And they are so comfortable." The girl said Fervently.
"Well I'll get it then. My mattress is harder than a rock." Zerial shared a laugh with the girl. "I'm Zerial McKinnen. Who are you?"
"Lavina Potter." The girl said.
"I think I saw you at the Leaky Cauldron." Said Zerial, thinking back to when she ate breakfast at the bar. "You ate breakfast there with a tall man with red hair right?"
"Yeah," Lavina said. "My sister was there too. She was tall also, and looks a lot like dad really. I look more like mom."
"I remember you." Zerial said.
"Yes, me too." Said Lavina.
"You going to Hogwarts?" Said Zerial looking at all the books the girl was carrying.
"Oh yes!" the girl said excitedly. "It's my first year there and I can't wait!"
"Me too!" Zerial said equally exited.
Zerial pulled a beginner's cook book off the shelf and sat down on a near by bench. Lavina joined her, setting her pile of books on the floor next to her.
"So where are you from?" Zerial asked.
"I live in Colchester." The girls said smiling.
"Where do you live?" Lavina asked
"I used to live in Amberly. But my mom got a job at the Leaky Cauldron. So we live there now." Zerial said.
"Really?" Lavina said amused.
"Yes." Zerial answered.
"Do you like it there?" Lavina asked.
"I didn't at first. But now I love it." Zerial said turning toward Lavina, engaged in the conversation.
"Oh! you're so lucky!" Lavina said.
"I know! And from my window I can see Diagon Alley. The view is amazing."
"I'd bet on that! Do you know any spells?" Lavina said.
"Just a few. And not any big ones. My mom doesn't want me to use magic until I'm on the train to school." Zerial said.
"My mom is the same way. We should get together for lunch. We are leaving here pretty soon. Want to come with us?"
"I'd love to. Are you sure its okay with you're dad?" Zerial asked. She was so happy to have made a friend.
"I'm sure it is. Lets go ask him shall we?" Lavina picked up her arm full of books and Zerial picked up her two.
Chatting happily and making there way to the transfiguration section, Lavina and Zerial walked side by side, laughing and talking as though they had known each other for years, instead of the five minutes that was reality.
They walked up to two tall people, both with red hair. "Dad." Lavina greeted her father. "This is Zerial McKinnen. Can she eat lunch with us?"
"If her parents agree to it." Mr. Potter said with a warm smile.
"I'm here alone." Zerial assured him.
"Okay. Lavina, Give me your books. I'll pay for them." Lavina handed her father her books and turned to the girl next to her.
"Lexi, this is Zerial." Lavina said happily.
"So I heard. I'm glad you made a friend." Lexi looked at Zerial. "Lavina is always so secluded, reading some book or another." Lexi said. And at this comment, Lavina blushed
"Oh." Zerial said. She felt as though this girl had just described her. "Um, do you go to Hogwarts then?"
"Yes. This will be my fifth year there."
"Oh. What house are you in?" Zerial asked, glad to meet someone who actually attended the school.
"Gryfendore. You should pay for those books if you're planning on coming with us." Lexi said and walked over to her father.
Zerial and Lavina followed her to the front desk to pay.
Author's Note: Through out the story the Quiditch terms get more detailed. Most of the Quidditch information comes from "Quidditch Through The Ages" By J.K. Rowling. If you dont find the information in there its mine.