p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;""Life doesn't always turn out how you hope." A woman with pale hair and swarthy skin stepped out of the green flames and over the hearth into the Leaky Cauldron. She was speaking to the eleven-year-old girl who had arrived a moment before her, looking very much like the youthful doppelganger of the woman. She continued morosely, "I wanted to be the one to go with you to do your first-year shopping, but you know how much of a burden I am when I have my migraines. You have your list, and the purse. You should be fine." She seemed to be saying this more to console herself than the girl. The girl sidestepped toward the open doorway of the pub and into a narrow courtyard with weeds creeping up a musty rubbish bin./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanspan style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Miracle I was able to drag myself out of bed today, really." The woman tapped a brick three up and two across and the bricks folded back to reveal an archway to a thoroughfare. "You'll be better off on your own, won't you?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Yes, mum. I'm fine." The girl raised her hood and turned away to survey the crowded street before her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Keep track of your spendings, and don't go near Knockturn Alley—"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I know, mum, I'm not a baby."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe woman sighed in an affronted way. "Now really, Jezebel, I wouldn't leave you here if I thought you were a baby. You know how my headaches get. I'll be much better this evening, given some rest…" She patted her coiffed hair./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanJezebel pulled out a letter from the pocket of her robes and pretended to look over the supply list, as though she hadn't read it enough times to have it memorized./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You know where to get all your things?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanShe nodded curtly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Well…you have your floo powder." She pulled a handful from her own pocket. "Bye for now, Bel, darling."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"The woman stepped back into the fireplace and with a toss of her hair, vanished into the green flames./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanNow that she was left alone, she really had not the faintest idea where to begin. She felt a little foolish to have worn school robes, and hand-me-downs at that, once she saw a gaggle of other school-aged witches and wizards in street clothes. She walked decidedly in their general direction, as though she knew what she was doing. She stopped and pretended to read her list again while trying to decide how to best do her shopping without looking daft./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Hi!" A cheery voice nearly made her jump. "You must be getting ready to start at Hogwarts Schools of Witchcraft and Wizardry too?" A stringy-haired girl bedecked in a broad grin and Hogwarts robes stood beside her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Erm—"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'm Rowan Khanna," she said with a friendly air, but one that seemed to expect the other party would recognize the name./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Yeah…Hogwarts. My first year."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"First year! Well that's same as me! Have you gotten any of your supplies yet?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Er, no…I just got here. Diagon Alley's rather large, isn't it? I'm deciding where to start."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I can help! I've been reading emHogwarts: A History/em in anticipation of my first year, so I'm something of an expert on Hogwarts. You should start by finding all of the books you need at Flourish and Blotts!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanJezebel looked at the storefront behind them. Rather glad to have an excuse, she muttered a thanks and slipped into the bookstore./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanA dusty-looking witch popped her head over the counter at the ding of the bell. "Any help, dearie?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"No, thank you," she said as she looked at the massive shop in front of her. Every inch seemed to be covered in books. Every wall was lined with shelves, and every flat surface seemed to have a book or two stacked on it. She passed a wall of volumes that looked to be bound in dragon hide of varying colors, and another shelf which the books hopped off and attempted to insert themselves into her unwitting hands. Swatting at them, she saw to her right a group that could have been Hogwarts students. She wandered casually over to where they stood, and noticed a placard that showed a trotting warty pig, with the words "HOGWARTS STUDENTS! ONE STOP SHOP FOR ALL YOUR REQUIRED READING!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanBreathing a sigh of relief, she saw the required reading was divided by year. She quickly filled her arms with her books for Charms, Transfiguration, and History of Magic, as well as the other books. But mentally reviewing her list, she noticed her potions books to be missing. She saw a copy resting in the middle of a stack on a nearby table, and slipped them into her arms as she went to pay./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanemMaybe I shouldn't have brushed off that Rowan girl so quickly,/em Jezebel thought with a shrug, but too soon, because outside Rowan was there again./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Look who has a yearning for some learning," said Rowan jauntily, pretending to peer over the stack./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Thanks for your help, Rowan. I was able to get all of my books."span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Cool! I realized I'm so excited for Hogwarts that I forgot to ask your name…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"My name is Jezebel, Jezebel Gaffney." It was said with quite the opposite air of how Rowan had introduced herself./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Pleasure to meet you, Jezebel," smiled Rowan. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You too. I couldn't be more excited to go to Hogwarts, and just…get away from it all."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I know! I haven't stopped staring at my acceptance letter! Can I see yours?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanJezebel was slightly surprised by the request, but also curious—wasn't everyone's the same? She wasn't held to a different standard already, was she? The thought didn't cross her mind until Rowan had asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Sure," she shoved the dog-eared paper into Rowan's hands and watched for her reaction./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I already got my supplies, but my mum gave me just enough to buy something special for school," she said as she handed back the letter and pushed up her browline-framed glasses. "I want to let everyone at Hogwarts know that I'm a serious intellectual who is well on her way to becoming Head Girl."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanJezebel didn't say anything but thought with an inward sigh of relief, emThere must not be anything different from my letter after all. /em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span/span/emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;""What do you think I should get, Jezebel?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"How about a nice scarf?" was the offhand reply./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Great idea! Scarves make anyone look scholarly!" said Rowan, though Jezebel wondered if the reply would have been just as enthusiastic had she suggested a pair of bloomers. "While I get my scarf, what'll you get? Do you have a wand yet?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;""I was just about to," Jezebel answered./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;""You should get your wand from Ollivanders!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe peeling gold paint on the shopfront behind them betrayed the name of Ollivanders and the date of its founding two millennial ago. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"They say the wand will choose you. Isn't it fascinating? I happen to know quite a lot about wands. First thing I did once I got here was buy my own wand, naturally! The Ollivanders are close family friends. They happen to do close business with my parents, believe it or not." Jezebel got the feeling that Rowan had been wanting to say that since they were introduced. "Go into Ollivanders to get your wand, and be sure to tell me what kind of wood it is when you do! I'll just be down the lane at Gladrags! Ta-ta!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanOff Rowan trotted leaving Jezebel to the ancient looking shop in front of her. For being on such a crowded, busy street, the place looked as if it was covered in a layer of dust and mold. The door hinges looked rusted enough she wondered if it would open, but with a push swung inward style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanA bell tinkled as she crossed the threshing floor and looked around. Quite opposite of the book shop, it seemed much smaller that it looked on the outside. Though the windows were large, they were partially blocked by stacks of boxes that Jezebel knew must hold wands. The place looked as if it had been left untouched for ages. She waited for a few muted minutes, when she decided to run her finger over the main counter. A trail was left in the dust, and she wondered if she had come when they were style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Hello," came a voice in a near whisper. She jumped, startled. "Garrick Ollivander is my name…Here to receive your first wand…yes?" A man with wispy gray hair emerged from the back room, staring intently at the girl./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Yes," she said, feeling as though she should have something more to say./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"No need. That's enough," said the man, not to Jezebel, but to the measuring tape that had wound itself around her wrist. It dropped to the floor as he procured a wand. "I have just the thing. Applewood wand…dragon heartstring core…nine inches…rigid. Give it a twirl."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe moment the wand was in her hand, loose sheets and papers from the corkboard flew into the air. She hastily brushed an envelope from her shoulder and attempted to pick up, but with a flick of his own wand Ollivander had banished the papers to their proper place. "Sorry about that," Jezebel murmured./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"It's not your fault. The wand chooses the wizard, and that is clearly emnot/em the wand for you," he said. "I recall your brother exploded my favorite inkpot when we tried his first wand."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You knew my brother?" surprised that he knew who she was to begin with./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I remember every wand I've ever sold," he said this without a trace of vaunt, but delivered it as a fact. "His was maple wood, dragon heartstring core, ten inches. A fine wand. Shame they snapped it in half," –there he looked pained—"when he was expelled."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanJezebel bit her lip, saying nothing, so Ollivander continued: "I understand he ran away from home and has been missing ever since," he said softly, without blinking. "That must have had a profound impact on you…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Expelling him was completely unfair, and it was just as wrong of him to run away without telling us!" she blurted. No one had ever asked how she felt about that before. She composed herself, thinking she had said too much./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Hmm," said Ollivander. He turned on his heel. For a heart stopping second, Jezebel thought she had lost her chance at getting a wand. Instantly he came back with a box and lifted its precious cargo out. "I can tell there's a lot of fight in you. I think I may have just the wand…" he balanced it in his palm. "Blackthorn…a very unusual wand wood. Unicorn hair core, eleven-and-a-quarter inches. Slightly springy and flexible." He proffered it to her. "Take it."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanWhen her fingers curled around the wand, she almost wondered if it had been made to fit her clenched hand. With a glance at the strange wandmaker, she directed the wand in front of her, and suddenly a halo of golden sparks swirled around her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Splendid!" said Ollivander, a smile cracking the otherwise pensive face. He snatched the wand back and placed it tenderly in its coffer. Handing it to her with almost a bow, he said quietly. "I'll be interested to see which path you choose…Go on, now. I look forward to seeing what becomes of you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanShe paid seven galleons for the wand and left the shop, somewhat relieved to be out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAfter getting supplies for her potions class and a telescope and phials, the last thing on her list was robes. She knew her mother likely would not have the gold for new ones in her purse, but she couldn't help but see if there were any in the shop on sale for the sickles she had left./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanRowan found her staring at the windows outside Madam Malkin's./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Hey Jezebel!" She called. "How do you like my new scarf?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanFor a place as trendy as Gladrags, Jezebel was surprised Rowan had found it there. "It…suits you," she said. "You'll look like the most scholarly first-year at Hogwarts."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanRowan beamed. "It was your suggestion! I'll be coming to you for all of my future fashion advice."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanJezebel laughed uncomfortably./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Oh look! The line at Fortescue's has gone down, hasn't it? Fancy getting a sundae?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Um, I don't know if—"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"My treat! Mum gave me way too much for everything. I suppose she thought my list called for a golden cauldron!" she chortled. "Figured I'd just spent the leftovers. What she doesn't know can't bother her, eh?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThey left the ice cream parlor to enjoy their treats outside. A sherbet scoop topped with wriggling jelly slugs was Rowan's, while Jezebel had gotten her favorite, pistachio with chocolate. It was a warm afternoon, and summer was lazily ebbing away. They picked a bench under a shady oak./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Wait! Is that a blackthorn wand?!" Rowan exclaimed. Her dark eyes widened looking at the handle that stuck out of Jezebel's robes as she sat down. She hadn't been able to resist taking it out of its package./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Er—yes…how did you know?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"My family's tree farm supplies wood for wands and brooms. They say you can tell a lot about the witch or wizard based on their wand. Blackthorn…that is rare, isn't it? They say you have the heart of a warrior if that wand chooses you. I'm very knowledgeable about wandlore. All kind of magical wood, actually. All the reputable wand and broom makers in the country come to our farm for their wood, and some abroad too. It's a lot of work, but we can't disappoint the customers! They practically demand to use wood from our trees and no one else's. That's why I like staying inside and reading. It keeps me from going outside and farming. That, and the fact that I don't have any friends…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanJezebel gulped. "We can be friends…" the words tumbled out of her mouth./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You don't think I'm too weird? People usually think I'm too weird," she raised her eyebrows quizzically./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanJezebel scuffed her sneaker on the cobbled ground. "People say the same thing about me."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Why would anyone say that about you?" Rowan seemed genuinely shocked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Well…" started Jezebel, "for one, my brother is Jacob Gaffney."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"The same Jacob Gaffney who was expelled from Hogwarts for breaking school rules in search of the fabled Cursed Vaults?" Rowan was on the edge of her seat. "That was a emmassive/em story in the emDaily Prophet/em! Everyone at school will know about that."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanJezebel felt she should shut her mouth, but reasoned with herself that everyone was bound to find out anyway. Ollivander had recognized her for who she was the second her saw her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I know. And they'll all think I'm weird…or something."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanRowan straightened up. "We can be weird together! What should I do if someone gives you trouble over your brother? I mean, not to be a downer, but it's bound to happen!" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I can stand up for myself," Jezebel said, licking fudge sauce that had melted onto her cone. "But…it makes me feel better to know you're on my side." She offered Rowan a small smile./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Understood," said Rowan, as if taking orders from a sergeant. "I'll use my extensive vocabulary to verbally pummel anyone who attempts to besmirch your reputation!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"That won't be necessary—"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I hope not. But I'd like to see them try!" She tossed her empty sherbet cup into a waiting rubbish bin. "By the way, I like your hair! Is that the new platinum shade from Sleakeazy's brand? I've wanted to try it, but mum wouldn't let me. Does it work pretty well on dark hair?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Erm, actually it's natural—hereditary. I get it from my mum's side," she said. She was used to people thinking that she had used a potion or otherwise enchanted her hair. Her hair was the fairest shade of blonde, while her skin was a bold almond hue./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Really? That's not common, is it? Where are you from, anyway?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Well, north of London I suppose. My whole family's born here," she said irritably. She was also used to people assuming she was from elsewhere. She certainly would have stood out no matter where she went. While her skin was deep and her hair light, she had almond eyes set just slightly wide apart. The corners of her eyes were met by the broad bridge of her nose, which narrowed toward its tip. With wide, rounded cheeks, a squared jawline, and full lips, she was often compared to her mother. But her eyes were light hazel, like her father's, and she had freckles that came and went with the sun. "And no, it's not common," she went on. She couldn't be irritated for long. "My grandma told me that her great-great-something-grandma was really beautiful, and her beauty caused the son of the prince of Siam to propose to her when he rode by their village. But there was another higher-born witch that was jealous, and she put a curse on her and all her daughters to have silver hair like old women. She thought this would make the prince not want her anymore, but she was so beautiful that it only made him want her more. I guess that other lady was really jealous because it's lasted all this long. At least, that's the story."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Really? That is fascinating! I've never read of a curse like that in my studies! So does everyone in your family have white hair?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"No, actually. My brother was born with brown hair. And my dad is Irish, so his hair is sandy blonde. It's only the girls."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"All of my family has dark hair," Rowan said. "Not surprising given our heritage is from British India."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Well if you try Sleakeazy's, let me know how it works. Maybe I could get my hair a normal color," Jezebel smiled, tossing her napkin. Just then from across the city, a belltower tolled./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Is it five already?" Rowan exclaimed. "I best be getting home. Can't leave mum waiting!" she said gathering her parcels. "See you on the Hogwarts Express, then?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanJezebel nodded. She felt bad for mentally judging her earlier. "I'm glad we met Rowan," she said, looking at her shoes. "It will be nice to see a friendly face at school. Especially one who knows Hogwarts so well." Glancing up, she noticed Rowan seemed to be standing straighter./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Garamond',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Me too! See you in September!" she trotted off toward the Leaky Cauldron and was gone./span/p