March 24, 1991

Sunday had arrived, Minerva already came and was waiting in the lounge while drinking white tea. Stephen finished dressing up so he started breakfast first, he look rather expensive with the old money outfit his wife picked for him.

Charlotte is having a hard time choosing between the expensive outfit that matches her husband's or the prettier one, she realised the prettier outfit is not thick enough to protect her from the cold weather so she chooses the other.

In Catherine's room, Evelyn is playing dress up with a doll, and the doll is Catherine.

The young woman gasps at the preppy dress she picked up, "Kate! These clothes are so beautiful! It will definitely fit you great!"

"I know, Evelyn." Catherine responded with a monotone voice, Evelyn had changed her outfit for the 7th time now.

Evelyn picks up another dress, it reminded Catherine the dark academia outfits she sees in the internet in her previous life.

"I want that." She points at the dress on Evelyn's hand.

"Oh this, okay." Evelyn hands the dress to the girl and returns the other clothes they tried earlier, she then searches for winter tights, mittens, and scarf that will go with it.

Catherine wore all the pieces, only one left.

"Shoes or boots?"

"Shoes!"

"Then Mary Jane are the perfect shoes for you."

The girl wore the shoes, the outfit is complete but she feels like it's lacking something, it's not entirely complete yet.

"Can I have a beret?" Catherine requested.

"Sure! That's a good suggestion." Evelyn hands her a beret that goes with the outfit.

"I think a double ponytail will look good on you." The young woman added.

"You're right! But I want it low, I only wear low ponytails in my hair, right?"

"If that's what you like, then okay."

Catherine is now complete, it really looks like a perfect dark academia outfit. She walks out the room and down the stairs, her mother's eyes lights up.

"You're so beautiful, dear. The outfit is great, Evelyn"

"Actually, Kate here picked the dress and beret, I did the rest. Basically, we worked together."

"That's great!"

They all finished eating breakfast, the family finally meets Minerva in the lounge. The old woman looks at them and sees a nicely dressed wealthy family.

"We're sorry for making you wait, Minerva." Charlotte apologised.

"Oh it's fine, I quite enjoyed the white tea you served me earlier while reading these muggle newspapers, it's fun knowing what's happening outside our society."

"We're delighted you enjoyed your time while waiting, but I'm guessing it's time to go now." Stephen said.

The family and Minerva boards the car with Stephen driving, his wife on the passenger seat, and the rest on the back seats.

"I've been in a car before, but it looks far from this." Minerva commented.

"When was the last time you rode a car?" Stephen asked.

"I think 1935, I was 46 at that time. It was Yule and I was walking around London, I saw the identical looking cars with different people boarding them."

Charlotte: "You mean a hackney? Or a taxi, depends on where you live."

"The man said it was a hackney."

Charlotte: "It's a passenger car, different people pay them to travel around London."

"Oh, that's why I paid with my muggle money when I rode one of them."

"That's cool." Catherine remarked.

Stephen: "You're born in 1889?"

"Yes." Google says she's born in 1935, but I prefer her older (like I prefer men /j)

"I thought she was born in 1935? Maybe this is her canon age." Catherine thought.

Stephen: "So you're 102 years old now?" That's crazy."

"It's normal for wizards and witches to age older than 100 years, we consider 60 year olds as middle-aged. Oh and.. I'm only 101 years old, I'm born on the 4th of October."

Charlotte: "If Kate is a witch, will she age like other witches.. like you?"

"Yes Charlotte, it's pretty common for muggle-born wizards and witches to live longer than their families like siblings or cousins, especially parents."

"Woah.. maybe I'll kill myself with that unforgivable curse you told us about if I ever get bored of my life when I get older than 100." Catherine said.

"Kate! Don't say that." Charlotte told her daughter, also shocked at her words.

"Sorry mummy, but I'm just telling the truth."


They arrived at the Cambridge Train Station and payed for the whole day parking of their car, they boarded the train going to London and sat on the cushioned benches. The couple sat together with Stephen beside the window, Catherine sat in front of her father also beside the window with Minerva beside her who's across Charlotte.

Catherine pulled out a Game Boy from her bag and started playing Tetris.

"What is that picture box you are playing?" The old woman asked lightly.

"Picture box? OH!" The girl thought, "This?" Catherine paused the game and showed the screen to the professor.

Minerva nodded, "This is a Game Boy, it's a handheld game console." The girl explained.

"Console?" Minerva asked clearly confused.

"Oh you don't know ermm.. it's a muggle electronic device. You control it like this using these buttons, a console means a control panel or that's just what I remember." Catherine explained further while demonstrating the device.

"That's incredible! What does the blocks mean?" Minerva asked once more, she's starting to get curious.

"These blocks in the screen? It's the game I'm playing, it's called Tetris! What you want is to stack these blocks cleanly then you clear them by completing the row." Catherine unpaused the game she was playing to show the actual game.

"What else can it do?"

"That's actually it, it's all what Tetris can do, but it gets faster the longer you play. You lose when you failed to clear the row and the blocks reaches the top here." Minerva nods in understanding.

"But there's more games you can play in Game Boy, not just Tetris. There's Super Mario Land, Dr. Mario, Gargoyle's Quest, The Final Fantasy Legend, and more."

"Wow, that's a lot of games. I may want to buy one for my self, where can I buy that?"

"I can't believe Mcgonagall wants a game boy."

"We bought this in London last year, it's when it was released! Japan released it in their country first in 1989, understandable because they made it. They shipped worldwide months later, but North America got it first. Just last year in 1990, like I said they started selling this in Europe."

"The Japanese made this?"

"Yes! They've been inventing these game consoles years ago, they are called Nintendo." Minerva nodded in understanding, she stopped asking to let the girl play.

Catherine continued playing and Mcgonagall stared at the window.

34 minutes later now half-way through the ride, Catherine pulled out another rectangular shaped thing from her bag, that thing is a sketch pad; she also took out a metal case with 9B-H pencils.

The girl positions toward her side to face the old woman beside her, she then pulls out a 6B pencil from the case and begins her sketch on the blank page of the pad.

"Mcgonagall is going to be interesting to draw, her resting expression is still a stern face. She's.. old, 'cause drawing wrinkles is a new thing for me. Greying hair is really cool too, her hairstyle which is a bun, adds up."

Catherine starts drawing the frame of her head, she's looking at Minerva's mid-side profile because she's slightly facing the window. After the frame, she sketches the basic shapes like the fluffy hair, her diamond-shaped face, and the rest of her face features.

The girl pulls out a piece of grey clay, she kneads it and shapes it long like a snake. The snake clay was rolled on the drawing and lightens it, the clay is a kneadable rubber.

Catherine puts her 6B pencil back and picks out the HB pencil, it's harder and lighter, she proceeds to refine the features. After that process, Catherine cleans it out again with the kneaded rubber and replaces the HB with a 2B pencil, she then started the shading process.

The sketch is almost finished, with a little bit of lightening some parts with the kneaded rubber, highlighting with a normal rubber, darkening the most important details with a 9B pencil, and signing it; the sketch is done.

"Done." Catherine slowly says while placing the 9B pencil back to its case. She didn't know that Minerva heard her.

"Merlin's Beard, that is impressive!" Minerva gazed at her portrait.

The couple noticed and realised what has happened, they smiled indicating how proud they are.

"Thank you, Professor." Catherine grinned.

"Is that me looking through the window?" The old woman asked.

"Yeah! I was bored and I really wanted to draw you, because you look quite.. sophisticated."

Minerva chuckled at the girl for describing her looks as 'sophisticated'.

"Okay, but that piece of yours is really impressive, when did you start drawing?"

"When she was a year old!" Stephen barged in the conversation.

"One? My goodness, you quite have the talent miss Clifford."

"Even us couldn't believe it. She managed to draw the 3D model of her table as an infant!" Charlotte explained.

Catherine smiled to all the praises she thinks she didn't deserved. "Thank you so much, but you don't really have to compliment me that much, it's not like I'm really good."

"Kate, it's because you deserve the compliment, you are an amazing girl." Her mother reassured.

"Thank you, mummy."

"I'm sure there's a wonderful future waiting for you." Minerva remarked.

"Thanks, but I really need to colour this first." The girl apologetically said.

"Oh! Go on, just do your thing there." Her mother said.

Catherine proceeded to colour the previously completed sketch with the whole set of colour pencils laying in her bag, any normal person would think those are too much colour for a child to handle.

The colouring finished a few minutes later, she showed it to the person she drew and to her parents, like always, they compliment her in the best appropriate ways possible.

Minerva stares at the drawing and thinks, "this is not a normal drawing, it became a whole different art after the colour. The girl who made this is perfect for the house of creative minds." She then says, "I wish I can keep this."

"I can tear it from my sketch pad if you want!"

"No thank you, I have a better idea."

The witch tears the page, duplicates it using magic with her wand without the muggles seeing, transfigures a piece of wood she conjured into a frame of the same size, puts the duplicate inside, makes it smaller to fit her pocket, and repairing the teared original back to the sketch pad.

"Woah." The family of three synchronised.

"May I ask, is there any more talent you possess?" The old woman asked Catherine, deciding to change the topic.

"Well, I can play the bass."

"The bass?"

"Bass guitar."

"I'm not really a big fan of guitars, I might need to study that instrument. Can you explain it to me?"

"A bass guitar is like an electric guitar that you'll see in music bands but with a lower pitch."

"How did you know that you want to play that instrument?"

"A friend knows how to play the acoustic guitar then I remembered listening to bass so I convinced my parents to apply me to a bass tutor."

"Hmm.. a witch that wants to do more things." Minerva thought. "So you requested to learn the bass guitar?"

"Yes, but I really want to learn more instruments like the drums or anything cool or exciting. I just like learning."

"Willing to learn new things huh.. one that seeks knowledge."

"One time, a new student once attended our music class. He's a bit quiet and others including my friends described him as weird for playing the harmonica, but I still befriended him. When I got the chance to know more about him, I found out he's actually a really talented person that perfectly plays 20 instruments including the harmonica(his favourite) and the grand piano. We became great friends, he even taught me how to play the harmonica. Unfortunately, he transferred to a different school but I'm grateful for him because he received a scholarship in the Royal Academy of Music which is a huge achievement for musicians like me."

"Open-minded.. incredible." Minerva thought again. "Wow, that's so great for the boy, what's his name?"

"George Gershwin." No, he's not the American pianist, I just used his name for appreciation.


They all boarded out the train like the hundreds of more people going to London. The train station they dropped on is called Kings Cross Station, and the platform is 10.

"I would like to lead the way to something very important." Minerva spoke.

The family agreed and followed the leading lady, they stopped at a barrier between platforms 9 and 10, it was a large brick wall.

"What are we supposed in this area?" Stephen asked.

"See this?" Minerva points at the wall. "This is the entrance to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters."

"Oh!" Charlotte understood, she remembers what Albus told them about the secret entrance to the train going to Hogwarts.

"I did not quite remember a thing about his wall." Her husband said.

"This is the entrance to the secret platform that Albus Dumbledore told us about." His wife explained.

"Oh, I remember now." Stephen reminded.

"But how are we going to go through that?" He added.

Minerva proceeds to explain how to go through the hidden entryway to enter the secret platform. The couple are dumbfounded but they kept their mouths shut to respect the old woman who was speaking.

After the explanation, they all walked out the station and ride a hackney to Leadenhall Market. While inside the British taxi, Minerva looks around the vehicle and gets confused about its change between her last ride in 1935 to now.

"This hackney looks new!" The old woman exclaimed.

"New? What do you mean new? I've been a cab driver for 20 years, a musher for 12 years." The cab driver said.

Stephen remembered what Minerva said about the last car she rode which is a taxi in 1935. "She's not from England, the last time she rode a hackney was 46 years ago."

Minerva realised what's happening and follows the mood, "I'm from Scotland, it was really a long time since my last visit here in London."

"Oh really? Then, welcome back to London! I got confused there for a second, I didn't noticed who I was talking to." The cab driver or 'musher' apologized.

The ride that took 13 minutes continued with some small talks with the driver. Finally, the hackney arrived at the Leadenhall Market, they paid for it and boarded out. The moment they got out the vehicle, Minerva once again lead their way to the destination only she knows the way.

When they passed book shops and music stores, hamburger restaurants and cinemas, they're certain that nowhere in here looked as if it could sell you a magic wand. This was just an ordinary street full of ordinary people.

"Where can we buy her school supplies in here?" Catherine's mother asked.

Minerva kept walking and stopped right outside a small dirty looking pub if you asked Catherine. The witch finally responded to her question, "This is the Leaky Cauldron."

"Why did we stop? There's nothing in here—" Charlotte was about to complain when the pub appeared in her gaze. "So that's Leaky Cauldron?" It's more of an astonished expression than a question.

"What Leaky Cauldron? Am I crazy or there's no actual pub—" like his wife, the pub miraculously appeared in his gaze. "Woah.. this is amazing, there was nothing in here then at a sudden, it just appears?" Again, not entirely a question.

"How did that happen Professor? The moment we got here, I immediately saw it, but my mum and dad." The girl asked.

"You see, Miss Clifford. You are a witch, doesn't matter what your blood is. As long as you're magic, you'll see a hidden magical place that's only meant for magical people." Minerva replied.

"Okay, but how did my parents saw it? They're muggles, is there an explanation that could ensure my guess?"

"What is your guess first?"

"They're muggles but the magic knows they're here for the pub because of their muggleborn child not because they're a passerby?"

The old witch widened her eyes, "You've completely guessed it correctly, I'm very impressed."

Catherine smiles.


Inside the Leaky Cauldron, there's random witches and wizards hanging in the pub and getting their favourite drink. Up the stairs, you'll get to the inn side.

"Is this actually a famous place? Never mind, it doesn't matter. Where will we shop, I thought the shopping centre was called Diagon Alley, this is just an inn and pub." Catherine's father complained.

"This is just the entryway, Mr. Clifford." Minerva responded while walking towards a small courtyard with just a single dustbin, someone with Claustrophobia would easily get scared.

The whole family follows, they're confused but one is acting, the girl is. "From the rubbish bin, three up, two across, blah blah boom! Diagon Alley. Gosh, I wish I was a normal person so I could be surprised by this."

"But this is the actual entrance." The old witch continued pointing at another bricked wall.

"You magical people do love brick walls as hidden passages." Stephen commented.

That made Minerva laughed considering he's telling the truth.

"The wall requires a password to enter, but before I say or do it.." The old woman walks back to the pub and towards the barman, she then calls a name, probably his or her? "Tom! Tom!"

The barman responded to the call and walked closer to the Professor. "What is it, Minerva?"

"I'm assisting a muggle family with their muggleborn daughter, I just need to show them who to ask if they ever want to come back."

"No problem! Just a simple introduction, eh?" Minerva nods at his question.

The two walked back to the family, "as you can see here, this is Tom, he is the landlord and innkeeper of Leaky Cauldron but he's most known as the barman. He's the one to call for help if you ever want to visit Diagon Alley again without the assistance of wizards and witches."

"Oh gosh, they're right about the quite bald and looked like a toothless walnut. Eugh!"

"You can go back now Tom, so the password is from this bin, three up! Two across." After doing that, the bricks started moving, shaking, wiggling, and quivering individually away from the middle until the wall disappeared and revealed an archway onto a cobbled street that twisted and turned out of sight.

The family was stunned, even Catherine who already knew what was going to happen. The old witch continues to lead the way again, while the brick wall behind them started shifting back to its original form.

After a few seconds, the family resumed from their normal not shocked state, but the man realised something. "Wait a minute, that's the password?"

"Yes." Minerva replied.

"It's so easy! Why would you need assistance?"

"Because it requires a wand, Mr. Clifford."

"If Kate gets her wand, will she able to do it?" Charlotte asked.

"No, because the correct bricks are too high for her."

"So when she gets taller?"

"Yes."

"Why do you need a password to enter Diagon Alley anyway? It's not like normal people like us or what you call 'muggles' will be able to go in that magical pub." Stephen complained.

"Because years ago, Leaky Cauldron allowed muggle passersby to get in, so they've created a wall that separates Diagon Alley from the pub; knowing the password and having a wand that only wizards and witches have access to, you can enter Diagon Alley."


While they were walking directly to the snowy white building that towered over the shops, the family can't keep being amazed by all the shops they're passing. Shops selling different kinds of cauldrons, dragon stuff, owls, brooms, robes, ancient looking telescopes, metal instruments they don't know the purpose of, barrels with animal body parts, books that most are probably for spells, quills, large rolls of parchment, potion bottles, and many more.

"There's so much going on, I don't even know what to say!" Charlotte exclaimed.

"Well, this is a normal day in Diagon Alley." Minerva responded without looking behind her back.

They finally reached the door to the white building, a door made out of bronze. Beside the door there's a—

"Is that a goblin?!" The woman behind Catherine exclaimed.

"Yes, Mrs. Clifford. Goblins run the wizarding bank, now we need to give them respect even if they get snobby." The old woman in front of them replied quietly so the goblin wouldn't be able to hear her.

"Gringotts." She added.

When Minerva bowed to the goblin, the family of three followed as they watched the bronze door open. They all walked inside only to be welcomed by another door, this time it's silver with words engraved upon them.

"Enter, stranger, but take heed

Of what awaits the sin of greed,

For those who take, but do not earn,

Must pay most dearly in their turn.

So if you seek beneath our floors

A treasure that was never yours,

Thief, you have been warned, beware

Of finding more than treasure there."

"They sound scary." The man said. "Because they are, Stephen. You'd be the same if you're securing a bank full of gold." His wife replied.

A pair of goblins bowed to them through the silver doors, they were now in a huge marble hall filled with even more goblins.

They followed the old witch to the tallest counter on the other side of the hall. "Good Morning." She greeted.

"We've come to exchange muggle money for this family with a muggleborn daughter."

"Withdraw? Make a separate vault? Or both?"

Minerva looks back at the couple. "Er— both." The couple said.

"Both, please."

"You have your debit card, sir?"

"Ah, yes!" Stephen hands over the card.

"Erm, excuse me sir?" Charlotte speaks.

The goblin looks her in the eye waiting for a word.

"Is the vault for my daughter's magical expenses?"

"Yes."

"Then, I will also give my debit card." She hands the goblin a similar card.

"I would like to charge 5 galleons each for the new vault."

"Sure."

"How much?" The goblin asked.

"One thousand pounds each from our accounts to her vault every month, starting at April 1st." Charlotte said.

"So that's 401 galleons, 10 sickles, and 8 knuts deposited every month." Her husband inserted.

"Also, a thousand galleons deposit now, 500 each." The woman added.

"Now for your withdrawal." The goblin tried not to be impressed by the fast calculation of the muggle man.

"Griphook!" The goblin called while handing the debit cards back to their owners and pulling out a golden key.

"This is the key for your daughter's vault."

Another goblin whose supposedly Griphook appeared, "Are the muggles going?"

"Only the old and young witch." The goblin handed the key to Griphook.

"I'll keep her safe." Minerva whispered to the couple, they nodded in understanding.

The couple sat on the waiting benches while Catherine and Minerva followed the other goblin towards one of the doors leading off the hall.

Griphook held the door open for the two women, they're now in a dark narrow stone passageway that's only lit by torches. It sloped down steeply and there was a railway on the floor.

The goblin whistled and a cart came hurtling up the rails towards them, the three boarded the cart and off they go.

The cart only traveled for a short time, Catherine's vault is newly created so it's the closest acquired vault to go to.

"Vault 3,601." Griphook majestically said.

He unlocks the door and it began smoking green, when it cleared, Catherine saw a lot of gold. Not as many gold as Harry Potter's trust vault but still a lot of gold, it probably costs 4979.99 because it's worth 1000 galleons.

"Dang, my parents are RICH."

"How much will I take, Professor?" Catherine asked the witch behind her.

"How many you like, it's yours not mine." The old witch smiled.

Catherine picked up a large pile like what Harry Potter did, and placed it in an extended pouch with Minerva's help. The girl noticed the coins, it's only gold.

"The galleons are gold right?"

"Yes, Ms. Clifford."

"Then, I have no sickles and knuts, there's no silver and bronze. Is it because my parents deposited exactly 1000 galleons?"

"You are right, you'll still get the other coins if someone gives you change for something you bought."

"Okay."

Minutes later, the two witches came back to the main hall of Gringotts. Griphook gave them the key and headed out, they're now outside Gringotts ready to buy the school requirements.

Catherine unfolded the second piece of parchment that came with the acceptance letter, and read:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

UNIFORM

First-year students will require:

1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)

2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear

3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)

4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)

Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags

SET BOOKS

All students should have a copy of each of the following:

The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk

A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot

Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling

A Beginners' Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore

Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander

The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble

OTHER EQUIPMENT

1 wand

1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)

1 set of glass or crystal phials

1 telescope set

1 brass scales

Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS

"I request to buy the uniform first, not only because it's first on the list, because it's measured and custom made for the students, so it will take time." Minerva said.

"Where's the shop?" Charlotte asked.

"Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions." The old witch pointed at the said shop.

The quartet walked to the shop and entered. "Hogwarts?" The woman in the shop asked, when Professor Mcgonagall finally entered, it's quite obvious.

"Hello there, Gata." Minerva greeted. I don't know Madam Malkin's first name or whatever, I just searched for a random name and yeah.

"Hello, Minerva." Madam Malkin smiled. "What's your name, dear?" She asked referring to Catherine.

"I'm Catherine." The girl replied.

"I'm sorry, I meant your full name miss. It's for the name tag."

"Oh! I'm sorry, I thought this was a small talk. My name's Catherine Jane M. Clifford."

The lady laughed at her, "such an adorable girl, your first name and last name is enough."

Madam Malkin slipped a long robe over her head, and began marking it to fit Catherine's body while she stood as still as a tree. After a few minutes, the lady finished marking, pinning, and adjusting the robe. "That's you done, my dear."

They exited the shop and walked to another, that's when Catherine suggested something. "I noticed the pouch to carry the galleons, it's like a lot bigger in the inside and it doesn't feel heavy. When I buy my luggage and bag, can it have the same features as the pouch?"

"Of course you can. That's actually a great suggestion, but it will cost more." Minerva said.

"It's okay, we'll buy it!" Catherine's father interrupted.

"Yay!"

The four went to Stowe & Packers Magical Bags and bought a luggage that's a lot bigger in the inside with different compartments, the same applies for the shoulder school bag.

"I almost forgot to tell ya, this luggage has a compartment for pets, they wouldn't die in there due to suffocation, it's specially designed for owls but they changed it to all pets." The shopkeeper told them.

"Where is it located?" Stephen asked.

"It's the biggest compartment on the top."

"Thank you for that."

"It's nothin', just doing my job."

Now they went inside the Flourish and Blotts Bookseller, and collected the required books as said in the list. While Minerva is floating the books, Stephen sees a book with numbers.

"What is this?" He asks while pulling it out the shelf. "Arithmancy.." he opens the book and finds ancient looking equations and formulas then reads it.

He didn't notice his wife and daughter walking towards him. "Daddy?" The voice of his daughter caught him off guard.

"Stephen, are you alright?" His wife was worried.

"I just found this book about Arithmancy, it's apparently the math equivalent to wizards."

"Oh really? Let me see." Stephen shows the characters and briefly explained the ones he already knew.

"You can never escape math, that's coming from a Mathematician!" He exclaimed.

Charlotte and Catherine laughs at Stephen's antics.

"Can we buy this, Professor?" The girl asked.

The old witch whose floating the required books checked the book, "You won't study this at Hogwarts until you're in your third year, but it doesn't mean you can't buy it now."

The father and daughter ended up buying the book, it was placed inside Catherine's shoulder school bag along with the potions book and the Hogwarts: A History book. The rest of the books was stored in the book compartment of the luggage.

Next in the list to buy is a wand, but Minerva suggested to get it last. So in Potage's Cauldron Shop, they bought the required pewter cauldron size 2 and a collapsible cauldron, all stored in the potions compartment of the luggage.

In Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment, they bought a set of crystal phials, a brass scale, and an extra silver scale, that was also stored in the potions compartment of the luggage.

In Twinkle's Telescopes, they bought a telescope set that was stored in a different compartment.

Before going to Eeylops Owl Emporium to buy an owl letter, they went to The Magical Menagerie to buy Catherine a pet.

"So the only allowed pets are owls, cats, and toads?" Catherine asked.

"Yes, other pets will have you needing a license." Minerva responded.

They went inside and saw different sorts of animals, some are even unexpected to be placed in a pet shop. Catherine realised she wanted an owl, she finds cats adorable but wouldn't want to have one as a pet, toads are just a no, so owls are the only option. They're about to leave when a high-pitched whistle called for them, especially for Catherine. The girl turned around and spotted a Philippine Eagle, it's the largest species of eagle in the world.

"How did a Philippine Eagle got in here? I thought they were endangered?" Catherine wanted an explanation.

"Not yet, but almost." The shopkeeper said.

"Wizards and witches in the Philippines who are called 'manggagaway' hid them in their rainforest, because Filipino muggles or what they call 'pulpol' kept hunting them. Now, there are millions of eagles in the magical society of the Philippines." The shopkeeper added.

"As a shopkeeper of this pet shop, the Philippine Eagle breeder gave me one as a gift, also to find its human familiar. This eagle couldn't find hers in their country."

All the people inside the shop that heard the shopkeeper's words were astonished, they want the eagle for themselves.

The eagle flew to the arms of the shopkeeper, "This female eagle is supposed to be worth 50 galleons, but it appears that she found her familiar. So 15 galleons if you want her, it's quite rare to have a familiar."

"We'll take it!" Charlotte yelled.

"She's all yours." The eagle flew in a very large cage, the shopkeeper gave them all the supplies to care for the bird. They paid 20 galleons, 15 galleons for the discounted eagle and 5 galleons for the supplies.

"This is such a wonderful phenomenon!" Minerva exclaimed.

"Is really is.." Stephen said.

"But pets that are not owls or cats or toads aren't allowed in your school, right? How will Kate accompany her eagle?" Charlotte worriedly asked.

"Since the eagle is a familiar, then the school will allow it. Even if the eagle wasn't her familiar, as long as you have a license, it will be allowed." Minerva reassured.

Meanwhile, Catherine and the eagle looked at each other. "Pilipino ka dati." "You are a Filipino, before." The eagle says in her mind.. THE EAGLE SAID IN HER MIND.

"PAANO MO NALAMAN?!" "HOW DID YOU KNOW?!" She screamed.

Her parents and the Professor looked back with shock, reasons are that Catherine screamed and it's a different language.

"What's wrong, Kate?" Her mother asked worriedly.

"What did you say? Do you know?" Her father asked.

"PHI- THE EAGLE KNOWS, FUCK."

"The eagle said something in my mind, I know it's a different language but I clearly understood it, I don't know why." She certainly knows why. "I neither know why nor what I screamed." She definitely knows.

The shopkeeper ran from inside the shop and said, "That language is Tagalog! I think.. it's the language in the Philippines. I heard the 'paano' it means how."

"Why would she speak their language?" The muggle woman asked.

The shopkeeper: "I think it's an effect of the bond."

Catherine: "I should name her.. laya 'cause it means free and it sounds like a girl name so.. Laya! Gotta use the English accent."


They placed Laya in the pet compartment of the luggage and had ice cream at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour. Catherine chose the coffee ice cream, Stephen chose vanilla, and Charlotte chose pistachio, they're muggles so they went for the classics. Minerva chose the butterbeer ice cream.

In Eeylops Owl Emporium, Catherine convinced her parents to buy themselves an owl if they ever wanted to send her a message, so they did bought a male tawny owl and some supplies then named it Lloyd because of it's grey feathers.

All of them came back to Madam Malkin's robes for All Occasions and picked up the school robes, the pointed hat, and the winter cloak; Minerva reminded them about the protective gloves for Herbology so they also bought those from Madam Gata Malkin. All are stored in the clothes compartment of the luggage.

Finally, it's time to get the last item in the list, a wand. They went to the famous wand shop, and Catherine saw peeling gold letters above the door that says, Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C. A tinkling bell rang as they stepped inside, the shop made the couple feel eerie, Catherine just felt excited, and Minerva stood still and remained stern as always.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Ollivander." The old witch greeted.

"Good afternoon," said a soft voice. The couple jumped, the girl stared, the old woman stayed the same. The soft voice came from an old man, "hello sir." Catherine awkwardly greeted.

"Hm, a muggleborn?"

Catherine looked at her parents. "I see.. what's your name?"

"Catherine Clifford." The young witch responded.

"Clifford.. reminds me of a royal name. Well now— Ms. Clifford, which is your wand arm?" The old wizard pulled a long tape measure with silver markings out of his pocket.

"If it's the same with the arm I use to write, then my right arm, yeah.. I'm right-ha—"

"Hold out your right arm," the girl does what she was told. "That's it." He measured Catherine from shoulder to finger, then wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit and round his head; exactly how he did in the film.

As he measured, the wandmaker says something. "Every Ollivander wand has a core of a powerful magical substance, Ms. Clifford. We use—"

"Yeah, I know. You use unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers, and dragon heartstrings."

The old wizard got shocked, but he tried to hide it. "Well, yes.. No two Ollivander wands are the same."

"Because no two unicorns, dragons, or phoenixes are quite the same, and I know that a different witch's wand wouldn't work for me." The girl interrupted again.

"You are indeed correct.." Ollivander lets go of the tape measure that was now moving on its own and turns back. "How could a muggleborn girl know my exact words?" He thought.

He darted through the shelves, checking each boxes. "I think.. that'll do." The tape measure stopped moving and dropped down the floor.

"Ms. Clifford, try this one. Poplar wood and unicorn hair, fourteen and a quarter inches, unyielding. Take it and give it a wave." BTW this is my wand based on pottermore/wizardingworld.

Catherine took it and tried swishing, but Mr. Ollivander the snatched it out of her hand. "Ugh, I wish this isn't going to last an hour like what happened Harry Potter, my wand is definitely normal and not that special. And I'm hungry."

"Sycamore and dragon heartstring, thirteen inches, surprisingly swishy." When Catherine tried to swish it, the wandmaker snatched it again. "Guess that wasn't the one too.."

"Here, holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple. Try it, go on." Catherine did was she was told, he snatched it again. "Of course this isn't my wand, it's Harry's! Gosh."

"How about this, hazel and phoenix feather, nine and a half inches, reasonably supple." The same thing happened, the old wizard snatched the wand before she even tried it. "I wished I was a main character, but not like this!"

"What's taking so long, Mr. Ollivander?" Her mother asked.

"Her wand haven't found her yet, Mrs. Clifford." The Professor remarked.

"You meant, she haven't found her wand yet?" Her father tried correcting her.

"The witch doesn't choose the wand, Mr. Clifford. The wand chooses her." Ollivander replied.

"Now try this one, maple and unicorn hair, seven inches, springy." Once again, the wand did not choose the young witch. "FOR MERLIN'S SAKE, FIND ME MY WAND!"

"Aspen and unicorn hair, ten and a half inches, quite whippy." Nope.

"Black walnut and dragon heartstring, nine and three quarter inches, nice and hard." Nope.

The situation continues for the next few minutes, more and more wands stacked up the pile of tried wands.

"Tricky customer.. don't worry, we'll find the perfect match." Instead of being happy, the wandmaker is clearly upset and unsure about the perfect match. "That's so unlike him."

While they're waiting for the old wizard to find the 'perfect match', Catherine suddenly felt a sparkle inside of her. "Mummy, I'm feeling something!" She yelled in whisper.

"What? Are you feeling sick?"

"No, mummy. It's a good feeling."

Catherine embraced the feeling deeper and deeper until her right arm with an open palm automatically raised and reached somewhere deep in the shelves of wands. The spot her arms were pointing at began glowing bright white light, you would think someone have casted Lumos Maxima.

The wandmaker noticed but he didn't rushed to the light, he watched astounded as it glows brighter. The source of the light finds it out from the box, and it's a glowing stick.. no— a glowing wand. It flew straight towards Catherine's hand and secures itself, she suddenly felt a vast amount of warmth. Catherine swished it and a stream of blue and bronze sparks came shooting from the tip like a firework.

"Wow, that' was quite a show."

"Wonderful! Well.. how inquisitive, very inquisitive." Mr. Ollivander said. "Isn't that the same with curious very curious? Meh, whatever, I'll just respond like Harry Potter."

"I'm sorry sir, but what's inquisitive?"

"I remember every wand I've ever sold, Ms. Clifford. Every single wand. It so happens that this wand, made out of turquoise agate stone— not wood but crystal with phoenix feather, twelve and a half inches, unbending; is one of the only two crystal wands that the Ollivanders have made."

Everyone is surprised, even Professor McGonagall.

"Did you already sold the other wand or?" The girl asked.

"It's not me who sold it, it was my grandfather when he was trapped in Portugal."

"Woah.."

"It's a muggleborn witch he sold it to, 469 years ago in 1522, Estela Rocha. She was known as the only European witch to have the power of Elemental magic."

"Ah shit, I know where this is going."

"All the Portugueses praised her, because it's such a rare occurrence that many believed it's impossible for a European to possess that kind of magic."

"Why the Europeans only? What about the others?" Stephen asked.

"Because not a single person from Europe was born with that ability for thousands of years, until Estela Rocha. It rarely happens in Australia and North America, but still it happens. In Africa, it sometimes happens, the same applies for South America and Asia. However, in some parts of Africa and Southeast Asia, everyone is an elemental magic user. Never in Europe."

"Did a miracle happened that's why a random European got the ability?" Charlotte asked.

"No, unfortunately not. Estela Rocha possessed the ability because her mother.. was a Malaysian witch. Estela is a Portuguese-Malaysian half-blood witch."

"So she had a southeast asian blood? That's how she got the ability!" Catherine exclaimed.

"Yes, during the Portuguese colonisation of Malacca, a city on the Malay Peninsula. Estela's muggle father was a Portuguese soldier, he fell in love with her Malaysian mother who he didn't know was a witch. They eventually had a daughter but he was forced to travel back to Portugal, she wanted to come and secretly raise their daughter together, he agreed and promised to keep them safe. She confessed about her magical background but he still loved her. They were living a peaceful life in the magical society of Portugal until one time in 1532.. someone found out about Estela's mother and spreads it out. Because of the truth spreading, their love for Estela instantly became hatred. They eventually beheaded the witch and her mother because they 'fooled' them, they also beheaded her father because of his 'betrayal' to Portugal. Some people remembered that Estela had a lover and a great friend, her lover celebrated her death and became a womaniser; but her great friend hanged herself for not being able to save Estela, people believed that their souls were connected, that they were true friends."

"Seems kind of fruity.."

"My grandfather was almost beheaded for giving the wand to Estela Rocha, luckily he escaped back to England."

"Such a tragic story!" Catherine's mother commented.

"What happened to the wand?" This time, Minerva asked.

"They split it in half because it was a hard wand, and it wouldn't work in a different hand so they threw it at the sea."

"Damn, that's.. harsh."

"My grandfather found out that a wand made out of turquoise agate crystal will choose a witch or wizard with the ability of elemental magic. Therefore, did you experienced wandless magic that felt a little different from the others, Ms. Clifford?" The old wizard questioned.

"I don't even know elemental magic, but how would she have that kind of magic if the only blood she has is white?" Her mother protested.

"Just a simple question, Mrs. Clifford. Well?" The wandmaker asked Catherine again.

"I think?"

"Oh.. well— ten galleons for this crystal wand, do you need a wand holster?"

"Holster? Oh, sure."

"5 galleons for dragon hide, 3 for leather."

"The dragon.. hide, please."

They paid for the wand and wand holster then left, that was the most interesting wand searching Minerva had experienced for a muggleborn.


Back to Leaky Cauldron, Minerva shrank Catherine's luggage. The young witch requested if she could teach her how to shrink and enlarge the luggage, the Professor accepted and taught what the girl wanted.

Catherine used her crystal wand to shrink her luggage that she previously enlarged, she also shrank her shoulder school bag, so it won't be a hassle while traveling back to Cambridge.

The family sent their goodbyes to Minerva before exiting the wizarding inn and pub, they ate a very late lunch in a restaurant somewhere in London and headed back home.