Harry Potter and the Junior Order
By: Lawrali
Disclaimer: J. K. Rowling owns Harry Potter and characters. New characters will be introduced in further chapters.
Chapter Two
The London streets bustled noisily earlier than usual. Outside, if passerby were to look at a particular building they would see nothing but a sign on the door saying "Closed for Business." Above the door was an ancient wooden sign with an imprint of a cauldron. No one paid attention to the deserted place; they merely went about their business.
Two floors up, in a window facing the street, stood a young girl. Her appearance alone would turn the heads of Muggles in any town. Her black hair hung loose past her shoulders and was extremely straight. Her pale complexion made her look as if she'd never been exposed to sunlight. As she stood in the window, her dark eyes watched the business merchants passing by in quick, hurried movements.
"Darling, about ready?"
She could see the woman even behind the door. She could picture her dark hair, always-tied back, framing her softly tanned face. Her brown eyes fixated with their usual loving sparkle. She could even see the white dress with the pale pink roses she knew her mother would be wearing. Even through the closed door she could clearly picture her loving mother, which she held a particular close bond.
"I'll be down in a moment, Mother."
She heard her mother move away from the door and progress down the hall toward the stairs. From inside her room she could hear her mother's muffled voice speak to passing maids and tenants. Her mother had been the only person who ever truly understood her even those many years ago when her life was turned upside down. Her mother had stayed by her side when others would or could not. She always thought of her mother as an angel. The one being who would love her for eternity.
The girl, Sydney by name, turned away from the window and crossed the room to the small table in the corner and picked up several papers with the Hogwarts crest imprinted on the top. Transferring to Hogwarts in her last year had not been the easiest transition however she hadn't fit in at her previous school. She looked down at the papers, which included her book list and supply list. Sighing, she picked up her wand and tucked it into the front pouch of her sweatshirt before leaving room eleven.
As she stepped off the last stair, she noticed Tom, the innkeeper, flirting with her mother. Syd had to keep the grimace to a minimal as she witnessed Tom offering the older woman some tea. He was muttering something about making it special just for her. Syd couldn't blame him. Her mother was quite the beauty. Her dark hair also hung just below her shoulder blades, looked but tame. Her eyes were of a soft brown color, which calmed the most hostile of creatures. The complexion was slightly darker than her daughter's.
As Sydney sat down she caught the eye of Tom. She narrowed her eyes to thin dark slits. Tom smiled nervously and swept off suddenly, talking loudly to a plump witch who had just walked down from her room.
"Mother?"
"Don't fuss, dear. He's a lonely old man."
The two had a way of reading each other's expressions and knowing exactly what the other was thinking.
"How lonely could he be with a hotel full of people?"
Sasha waved off the question as their breakfast arrived. As a tall slender woman placed a plate in front of each girl, an elderly woman entered the Cauldron. The door shut, and with the blinding sunlight gone, the woman glanced around for a moment before spotting Sasha and Syd. She smiled to herself and walked to their table.
"Sasha, I'm so glad you made it safely. The trip was nice, I take it?"
Sydney's mother had immediately stood and embraced the stern but warm woman. Syd watched as the two women spoke softly about their trip from France. Minerva spotted Syd and her smile diminished slightly.
"This most certainly can not be Sydney."
This strange woman knowing whom she was and that she didn't believe she was who she was took Syd back.
"Unfortunately, Ma'am, I most certainly am Sydney. I have always been Sydney and will always be. Furthermore, I question myself how you think it polite to enter a conversation without an introduction."
Minerva McGonagall was shocked at the outburst from the girl. Sasha too was shocked.
"Sydney Kay Black! You will apologize and exercise your own manners with Professor McGonagall."
"No, no Sasha. She's quite right." McGonagall began waving her hand to seat Sasha. "Sydney Black, you are quite like your mother. My name is Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts."
McGonagall, thought Sydney. Why did that name sound so familiar?
Sydney rose slightly from her seat as the Professor sat next to her mother. She opened her mouth to speak again, softer and calmer.
"Actually, Mother isn't as outspoken as I can be. She says I'm a complete replica of my father."
Sasha bounced forward and began another conversation. Having been excused from the table talk, Syd quietly finished her breakfast thinking of the venture she was about to embark upon. From what Syd could see of Diagon Alley from her room it was rather busy. Syd began to worry about finding all the shops she'd have to visit that day. She began to browse over the list of items she needed, trying to get a vague idea of an order in which to buy.
As breakfast was winding down, Syd gathered her school list and moneybag. The three women stood, wished Tom a pleasant morning and left out the back to the secret entrance. As the gateway opened, Syd marveled at just how many people were rustling around. Syd saw witches and wizards of all sizes, ages and skin color.
"If I may make a suggestion, Miss Black. How about you go get your wand serviced and your mother and I shall meet you at Madam Malkin's. She and I have some business we must speak of."
Syd began to get suspicious of why the elderly witch needed to speak to her mother. She supposed it had to deal with Syd moving schools her last year. Or possibly just catching up from the years it had been since Sasha had been at Hogwarts.
Sasha pointed to a small shop down and on the right. Syd departed from her mother and the professor, who quickly ushered Sasha into the nearest shop. Syd glanced at the Ollivander's sign and took a brief moment of awe at how long the shop had been in business. She opened the door and walked into the dark shop. A tiny old man was standing behind the counter labeling several boxes with the Ollivander's logo.
"Ah, greetings and good morning. Hogwarts, I presume."
"Aye, Monsieur. I'm in the need of a wand servicing. It is birch with unicorn hair core."
Syd handed over her wand and with a quick glance around the shop she watched as he took a long look.
"Birch, it is. Not many wands made of birch. It's light, you see, and many believe that it is easily breakable for that reason. 9 ½ inches, strong. Very good for Transfiguration and Charms. Yes, indeed, you have yourself a very good wand. Three hairs are encased in your wand. Very powerful. It is said that those with unicorn cores are exceptional students when they apply themselves. Yes, Miss Black, your wand is one of a kind. Shorter and sturdier than your father's; more powerful than your mother's but a necessary balance of both."
Syd was quite surprised that the old wizard knew anything about her wand. However, she discarded the info just the same. As Mr. Ollivander began the necessary measuring of her wand and other services Sydney browsed the shop. Everywhere she looked were tiny boxes, presumably with wands inside. Syd tried a rough estimate of the amount that covered the walls from the floor all the way up to the ceiling and several stories high. Once she reached a quote of 760, she gave up. She'd only roughly counted a single story five-foot section.
"All right, Miss. Let's test."
Syd took her wand and looked around. She spotted a box near the top of the shop just above the door. She muttered a charm and the box flew out and landed into her hand and promptly turned into a bronze franc.
"Ah wonderful. It'll be two sickles."
Syd paid the man and continued on to the next store, Madam Malkin's. As she walked through the door she immediately found her other talking to Professor McGonagall. Sasha was fidgeting, looking down and shaking slightly. Sydney at once became worried and rushed forward to calm her dear mother. Just as she was about to jump into the conversation Minerva spotted her and suddenly changed the subject.
"Sydney, wand all serviced? Very good, well if you don't mind, some accompaniment?"
Sydney was still weary of the professor who was upsetting her mother so much. Syd wanted to tell the woman that her attendance was no longer needed or wanted; however, her mother answered the question for her before she could say a word. Sydney relented and kept her comment to herself. Her mother had wanted the professor around and Sasha had pointed out that Minerva could practically steer Sydney to exactly what she needed.
Syd followed her mother around the shop looking at the various colored robes. She referenced her supply list and began looking around for black robes.
"A dress. Syd will need a dress for the Ball." Professor McGonagall commented.
Syd looked up at the woman with new light. A ball, as in a dance, at her school? This was something that was foreign to her. Beauxbaton had never done something extra, unless you counted Dueling Club and Quidditch.
"Ball?" Syd questioned.
"The Yule Ball? You're still doing that?" Sasha's eyes lit up as memories flooded her mind.
"Yes, dear. It was a ball we had abandoned some years ago. But a few years ago we started hosting it once more. The same year we hosted the Tournament."
Sydney's attitude suddenly changed and she began picturing how she'd look for this Yule Ball. She could almost visualize herself. Her hair, tied high up with several strands loose and framing her face; her make-up, skin toned and flawless.
"So what do you think? Red? Green?" McGonagall was thumbing through a rack. "Something to match your house…."
She had trailed off and Sasha had questioned why McGonagall had mentioned green, neither of her parents had green as a house color. McGonagall stood silent for a moment, her face frozen and her attention focused on an invisible object in front of Syd.
"Well, I'm sure you remember that Sirius was the first in his family to be in a separate house than Slytherin."
Sydney had heard stories about Hogwarts and the separate houses for years. She was quite familiar with the histories of each house. The fact that Slytherin let out more Death Eaters than all other houses combined. That the in school rivalry between Slytherin and Gryffindor was about as lethal as good versus bad.
"Why don't I choose a dress I find appropriate since it is I who will be wearing the dress. I'm sure neither of you see any objections to that, yes? Mother?"
The two older woman looked at Syd with silent almost vacant expressions before they each began laughing. Syd stood with her own startled expression. Her outbursts had never gotten such a reaction as laughter.
"Darling why don't you pick out your dress and collect your books. Minerva and I will buy your Potions ingredients and meet you at Florean Fortescue's for lunch."
Sydney watched the two women walk off laughing. McGonagall stopped to speak with a few younger children before guiding Sasha out of the small store. As the door closed, Syd returned her energy in searching for a dress that fit her style.
After a half hour, Sydney had finally found and paid for her "perfect" dress. She left the store, a smile playing on her lips, and continued down the street until she found Flourish and Blotts. As she entered the store she saw several groups of students of all ages and each wearing black cloaks. She walked further into the store and quickly found the Potions book. Syd picked it up and opened to a random page. As she began lazily skimming the ingredients she snickered. The potions caused the drinker to break out with zits. Syd was hit in the shoulder just as she was thinking of someone she'd like to give it to. She turned to see a group of people walking away. An older blonde man had his hand draped over the shoulder of a girl in dark clothes with straight black hair and fair complextion. The thing that caught Syd's attention was the red streaks in the front.
Syd only knew one person who had red and black hair; it was a girl at her old school. But how could she be in London? She shrugged off the thought, concluding that the von Eldritch's would have no reason to be in England. She put the book under her arm and continued her search.
She had quickly found her texts and went to the counter where she had noticed a cage holding several copies of The Monster Book of Monsters.
"One please," Syd had said as she dropped her stack on the counter.
The wizard at the desk shuddered slightly, picked up a pair of heavy dragon hide gloves and quickly opened the cage door and thrust his hand in and grabbed a book by the front cover. The small, middle-aged wizard wrestled with the book as he reached down and picked up a leather belt and wound it tightly around the biting book as he set it down on the counter and let out a relieved sigh. The man quickly calculated the cost and started wrapping the books up. Sydney withdrew her coin purse and pulled out the Galleons and slit them across the counter.
"Advanced subjects, eh?" the little man commented as he wrapped up the books hastily.
"Yes, sir."
"Don't recall there being Advanced-"
"They have Remedials, do they not?"
The wizard gave a single, small giggle, held up his finger and smiled. "Suppose you're right."
Sydney collected her parcel, thanked the man and left the store. The next shop Sydney came to was a small one with great colorful basket full of sweets in the front windows. Syd looked up at the sign and read aloud:
"Weasley's Wizard Wheezes."
She looked at her watch. It was only half past eleven, way to early for lunch. Syd opened the door and walked inside, setting her packages on the edge of the windowsill. Syd began to look around at the many baskets full of items. The store was completely deserted except for voices coming from a back area. Behind the counter she saw several notices ("All sales final" "Weasley's not responsible for unsatisfactory results") and a large picture frame. Every person in the photo had flaming-red hair and grackles. Syd counted two parents, one daughter and five sons. However, Syd did notice a space in the back between two older boys as if another redhead belonged in the space but had stepped out.
"Good morning, ma'am."
A boy about Syd's age came walking out the back closely followed by a twin.
"We are Fred and George Weasley and how may we help your beautiful self this fine morning?" The twin, who had come out last, had thrown open his arms as if a fanfare would sound.
Syd looked at the two with a dumbfounded look. "Who's Fred and who's George?"
The twin who had come from behind the counter and welcomed her, smiled and laid his hand on his chest. "My name is Fred."
"so what kind of shop is this, Fred?" Syd drew out the name somewhat flirtatiously.
Fred smiled and drew her in further by draping his arm across her shoulders and began a mini-tour.
"It's our specialty: a joke shop. Along this wall," he directed her to her right. "These are your random 'just-for-laughs' tricks. We have Ton-Tongue Toffee and Canary Creams, among others. Across from us are your hard objects jokes. Our wands, when used, suddenly burst into unusable items. For instance, the ten-inch brown ones burst into a bouquet of flowers or a rubber chicken. And under the front counter we have an array of Skiving Snackboxes."
Syd had an amused expression plastered to her face as she broke away from Fred's arm and began looking at the cards explaining the usage of the two-toned candies.
"Do these actually work?" Syd held up a Fainting Fancy.
"Our products are guaranteed to work. As a matter of fact, we tested those just last year at Hogwarts." George commented from behind the counter.
At the moment the door behind her opened and several boys walked in. They waved at Fred and George and immediately started loading their arms with Canary Creams, Dungbombs and the fake wands.
"Come on, Neville, just try something." A black boy was pushing a taller, slightly frightened boy towards the left wall.
"The last time I ate something of theirs I turned into a canary."
Syd raised her eyebrows in surprise and looked at Fred.
"Neville, we've been working on something especially for you." George said lifting a box from under the counter.
"I-I don't want it," Neville immediately cried.
Sydney ignored the boys complaining and followed Fred to the counter with her purchase. Fred again struck up conversation.
"So, Hogwarts, then? I don't remember seeing you last year."
"Could possibley be that I wasn't at Hogwart's last year. I'm from France."
"Beauxbatons? What brings you to London?"
"Family." Syd simply replied, ending the subject.
"Well it was nice to meet you-" Fred looked at her expectantly.
"Oh, excuse-moi. Sydney Black." She held out her hand and circled Fred's outstretched hand. "Au revoir."
Sydney turned and slipped by the group of boys who were now laughing at something George was showing them.
The rest of the day had been a blur for Sydney. Lunch hadn't been so bad with the professor. Once she had learned McGonagall taught Transfiguration, Sasha had been booted out of much of the conversation. After lunch Syd returned to the Cauldron, leaving her mother and Minerva to wander Diagon Alley. Sydney had read several pages in most of her texts (except Care of Magical Creatures, of course) and was figuring out some of the wand movements and spells. Once divver had come around she almost had one of the spells perfected. She had eaten quickly (Honey glazed ham, potatoes, green peas, deviled eggs, buttered rolls with butterbeer and raspberry pie for desert) and lazily joined into some table talk before excusing herself and returning to her room. Syd kicked off her clothes with a huge yawn and stretched before putting on her nightdress.
Syd sighed again after expertly packing all of her belongings, including the many old texts from her old school. She finally climbed into bed at quarter past ten and reached across her nightstand to pick up a photograph. Syd lovingly gazed at the two teens. The two were busy laughing, hugging each other with one arm and waving. The girl was herself; the boy was slightly younger with dark untidy hair, wire-rimmed glasses, brilliant green eyes but no lightning shaped scar.
"Good night, Harry."
A/N: I hope you all are enjoying the story so far. Long time until the next update, unless I get a wild hair up my butt. I'd like to thank Vegetasmoon for the mention in her bio. This is for you, Tanya! Told ya I'd write that.