Alright, so I've had about five complaints of short chapters in total through reviews and emails. Erm... I don't quite know what to say other than, I enjoy writing chapters that reveal only a little bit, and I'm afraid that if I write longer, I'll wander off into a random abyss of fact and fiction, and not the point of the chapter. I could combine chapters if you would like, but it would take a long time, and I can't garuntee fast updates. On the other hand, at about chapter fifteen (or is it sixteen?) I've written a ten page chapter which I found tough to seperate, which you'll probably soon predict to be a great, wonderful, evening chapter- I've said to much! So continue on with this double post! I'll probably post Once more before Monday.
Chapter 9
Hermione, Ginny and I walked arm in arm down Diagon Alley. Remus walked behind us. Ginny and Hermione were chattering away, seemingly feeling better than they had been. I was amazed at the shops and busyness of the lane.
Ginny's change in attitude shocked me, and I found myself questioning what she said, did, and implied. I knew she noticed my suspicions, but thankfully, didn't comment on them. I was almost convinced by the better part of the morning, that someone had spoke to her. Every time the topic of Harry came up, she got strangely quiet, or forced a laugh after something truly not funny.
Remus strolled up beside me and pointed to a small packed in shop to my right. I tugged on Hermione's arm and she tugged on Ginny's and we made a sharp right.
I stepped into the shop, dislodging my arm to cover my mouth. It was extremely dusty, and filled with shelves upon shelves overflowing with tiny boxes. A young woman with cropped gold hair and small wire framed glasses stepped out from behind a shelf.
"Hello, welcome to Ollivander's," she said. Her thin lips compressed into a friendly smile. "Which one of you should be needing a wand?" she asked walking forwards.
"Me," I said with a grin. She looked me up and down and made a little thinking noise.
"One moment," she said, and disappeared behind the ten-foot tall bookshelves. I looked at Remus who gave me a nod of encouragement. Hermione and Ginny seemed quiet to my left as I waited.
She came out with four thin boxes, and placed them down ever so gently on the oak desk we were standing behind.
"Try this one. It's Birch and contains a string of Unicorn hair. Nothing to violent mind you," she said eyeing up my face. I knew she was looking at the disfigured part and looked down. She pulled out a wand that seemed a little short. I took it from her long fingers and pointed at the small flower vase in the window.
"Wingardium Leviosa!"
Nothing happened. "Erm, Accio Vase!"
It was quiet.
"Let's try the next one then," said the lady. "Here this might work, it's twelve inches which is quite a change from the other one. Made of maple, so it's quite flexible. Good for charm work." The wand had expert engravings throughout the handle and something that looked like a string of roses up the shaft.
"Accio Vase!" I pointed the medium colored wand at the vase, which made its way half way to me, then disappeared in mid-air.
She walked back to the shelves twice and I went through roughly eight wands, before she disappeared once again after I had shattered the window. Thankfully, Remus fixed it with a swish of his wand by the time she came back.
"Try this," she held up a light colored wand with small flickering markings in the handle. "A mix of ebony and pine, eleven and a half inches. This is a strong one, good for channeling power. A little bit rigid however. Give it a whirl."
I looked around the room, and seeing nothing to cast a spell upon, I came up with another solution.
"Avis!" With a pop there was suddenly a small flock of birds fluttering around the room. The small pink birds flew in a circle around my head before disappearing out the open window.
"I think we have a winner!" exclaimed the lady. "That's wonderful. Well, it appears to suit your hand much better I think. I should've looked closer. Your hands are tiny! Essentially it contains a strand of the substance used in a Fairy's wing. It was given willingly and as a result the wand shimmers like it does."
The wand fit comfortably in my hand and felt right. The gold twinkle was hypnotizing. "Thank you," I said. "It's wonderful." She smiled.
"Alright, the total on that comes to nine galleons." Remus stepped forwards.
"Wait for me outside girls. I'll be right there."
Hermione, Ginny and I left the shop and stood underneath the stoop.
"Can I see it?" asked Ginny. I handed it across. She looked at it admiringly. "It's too bad you never met Mr. Ollivander. I think that's his daughter from his second wife. That's what it said in the paper anyway. He gave all of us our first wands." She handed it back.
"What happened to him?"
"Captured by Voldemort—" my stomach knotted, "They used him to make all their wands stronger. He was worked to death. He was a great guy."
It was reminder of the constant guilt that we were alive while so many others were dead. Something tugged at my heartstrings, but other than guilt, I couldn't quite name the feeling. The closest I could come to, was recognition. On that somber note, Remus walked out of the shop, tucking his wallet into his jacket.
"Thank you Remus," I hugged him tight and then presented him the prettiest smile I could.
"No problem. Now, as I understand it you lot would like to get to Gringott's? And then do some shopping?"
We nodded our heads enthusiastically. And Remus proceeded to take us down to the large wizarding bank at the end of the street. I tucked my wand into my back pocket and walked with them.
§
As I had predicted, without a last name I was not allow to withdraw savings from my account. I sat in the front hall in a seating area they had while the other three went in. The break was all right with me, and after seeing them come out, I was glad I had not gone along. Although their purses looked to be bulging at the seams, so did their faces.
"Ugh, I think I'm going to be sick," said Hermione.
"I second that," said Ginny. Remus didn't say anything and his face blanched. I laughed at the sight of them and asked them what next.
"Well, there is a lot of money there," said Ginny. "So let's go spend it!"
Remus gave me a hand and then discreetly handed me a bag of coins. I immediately pressed it back and watched Hermione and Ginny walking forward.
"Take it. It's not charity. When you're able you can pay me back—if you really want to. I don't want you to, but you can. Alright?"
"I-I can't accept it. I don't…" He pressed the bag into my hands.
"I want you to. Go get some things."
Hermione yelled from up the street. "Are you coming Beth?" Ginny stopped and looked too.
I looked from Remus to Hermione and put the small sack into my pocket.
"Fine. But you have to promise to let me pay you back." Remus looked at me.
"Fine. But don't give it to me. It's from Harry."
§
Four hours, three bags and a hair cut later Hermione, Ginny, and I made our way back to Grimmauld Place.
The sensation of apparation was unfamiliar to me, and as I groped for breath when I landed I discovered I had dropped my bags and was on my knees. Ginny was right beside me and we laid on the sidewalk for a moment while Hermione stood above us, her newly layered hair fluttering in the breeze.
"Talk about shop till you drop," said Ginny.
"I don't like apparation," I said. "I feel as if I've been made into a pencil, and then into a human again in a matter of seconds."
Hermione stood for a moment before picking up her bags.
"Come on ladies. It's just up the street." She gave me a hand, and then Ginny. We walked slowly towards the house. Hermione knocked on the door and Molly opened it up.
"Did you girls have fun?" she questioned with a small smile. We nodded our heads. Then she saw Ginny's tresses. "Ginny! What did you do? Your beautiful hair!"
"Relax Mum, it's still there! Just a little shorter!" It was true. Ginny's hair, which had been down to her back had been cut into a modern, stylish chin length bob and streaked with a lighter red and blonde. Her bangs sat sideways on her face and it framed her cheeks nicely. I rather liked it.
We all had our hair cut. I had mine styled so that bangs were angled across my forehead, covering up my gash on the left side. I daresay that my hairdresser was much too curious for a muggle, so when I told her I had been in a fire, I found her to be nosy by asking even more questions. However, my hair looked good so I didn't get snappy. I left it long and got it layered. Hermione's had also been cut a little shorter, but was still long enough to tie it into a ponytail.
"Well, it looks good. It just surprised that's all—your hair…" Molly shook her head and opened the door all the way. We walked through the front hallway quietly avoiding waking up Mrs. Black. I had never actually heard her scream, and if she lived up to her reputation, then I didn't want to.
I limped up the stairs and placed my bags in my room, my body sore from movement all day. Hermione and Ginny continued to their room as well, presumably putting their new things away as well.
I placed my three new robes on the few hangers in my closet. My new shirts and pair of jeans, which we had bought at a muggle boutique, I folded nicely in my drawers. My fresh pair of blue and pink trainer's I placed in the floor of my closet, and allowed myself to try on the purple slippers Hermione had convinced me to buy along with my pajama's and undergarments.
I placed all my new personal belongings, such as a pair of earrings, in my top drawer along with some hair elastics, clips, and my old hair brush from the hospital.
A knock came on the door and Ginny walked in. She carried a small bag.
"I bought this by accident," she said. "You should have it."
I opened up the bag and found a small compact of make up inside, as well as some polka-dotted flip-flops. The make-up was tiny, but allowed you to magically refill and choose colors all out of one base. It was entirely too expensive for me to buy at this time, and I had admired it from afar.
"You saw me try these on!" I said holding up the flip-flops, outraged. "You didn't have to do that!"
She grinned mischievously and left the room. I looked at the gift as a peace offering and vowed to find out why she had been so miserable.
However, until I did discover why she had been bitter, I would hold my compact in the top drawer and the sandals beside my trainers.
§
"I'd like you to know that you didn't have to do that."
Harry looked up at me from his bed where he was reading a book on Quidditch, and then turned his eyes back to his book.
"I want it back then," he said.
"I said that you didn't have to do that, not that I didn't use it."
"You got some stuff then?" He turned the page in his book.
"Yes I did. And it's nice stuff. And I got a wand."
"That's good." He looked up and then back at his book. "Nice hair."
"Thank you." There was a pause in the sharp conversation and I leaned on the doorframe. "I'm paying you back as soon as I can. Every single coin, down to the last knut."
"Fine with me."
"Good."
I turned and walked out of the room. Damn him!