Diagon Alley: Shopping is fun, who knew?

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After the exhausting visit at Gringotts, Helli was feeling mighty peckish so her first purchase after gaining her inheritance was to buy a couple of scones and a hot tea for the Professor and her. Professor Snape had put up a fight but given in when she mentioned how unreal the day had been and how understanding he had been during it all and her desire to repay his support.

Once her belly was full and her nerves regained with a bracing hot tea they set out again to make the purchase they came for. They visited the robe shop Madam Malkin's robes for all occasions where she quickly informed the madam that she wanted outfits replicated from her current dress with pockets in the seams and bought more than the required 3 school outfits. How they expected a girl to be prepared for any occasion with only three uniforms she didn't know but she wasn't having it either! She got 7 uniforms plus 5 more dress styles as specified along with a pair of mary janes and a pair of ballerina flats and pair of plain sneakers assuming her clothing choices would last all year long.

Once done with madam malkin's they went to the trunk store and had a quick look-see around. She finds a brilliant trunk on sale that had a few compartments she thought would be handy. It came with 7 compartments( an expandable library that holds up to 500 books, a clothing department with charms to keep her clothes clean and wrinkle-free, a laboratory where she can brew potions if needed and had charms on it to keep ingredients fresh, a living space that acted as a studio apartment and the go-to compartment stored all her school supplies in an organized fashion while the last compartment was where she could store any animals she befriended, this last one she called the liar) and at least 2 of them had anti muggle charms on them would be great for hiding from her family. On top of all that it had built charm runes that once pushed made the trunk featherlight for easy handling and shrinking, all it had cost her was 15g! While it wasn't top of the market and it wasn't the cheapest option they had she felt it fit her changing needs accurately.

She ran into trouble when the Professor, who told her she'd be needing an owl, took her to the Magical Emporium and Serpico had woken up. She isn't afraid to say that the resulting scene was utterly humiliating and only a little humorous now that she didn't have a hungry snake whispering in her ear.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Flash back~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Entering the emporium Helli quickly realized she'd had to be discreet about her talent with snakes. She was heading towards the owls when Serpico who was wrapped around her body under her dress, poked his head out at her shoulder.

~I smell food, are we going to eat?~

~I'll buy you some mice but you won't be able to eat them until we get home, the Professor doesn't know about you!~

~Well that's not nice. You can't buy me a meal and expect me not to eat it, young one.~

~Well I don't know what else to tell you unless I buy an owl and pretend to feed it the mice?~

~What do you need a featherhead for? You have a snake! Me! What can they do that a snake can not?~

~According to the Professor, delivery mail. If you were to deliver my mail it would scare half the recipients!~ She says with a giggle.

~Then they wouldn't need any letters from you~ he replies with a huff.

~I will buy an owl, it's the only way I can hide feeding you the mice Serpico.~

Serpico hissing his discontent returns to the depth of her dress muttering to himself about ungrateful masters. She giggles again and starts looking at owls. She walks right past a cage with a black drape on it before she hears her.

~Heello young hatching~

Turning around on the spot she searches for the speaker, not finding a human around her that could have spoken, she immediately rubs her temples what is my timer you like it you like it you like it you like it I will go if you send me everywhere I got stop it Grand Theft everybody every little I want to I want candy mom and Thunder Bonneville talking about is this Michelle I want to see you I am going to give you your backpack give me the black and pink and white the diaper bag the song 100and those need to call back and rolls her eyes.

"Please tell me an owl did not just talk to me" she whispers aloud to herself. Talking to snakes was one thing but talking to owls? Did all magical creatures talk or was this more of her never-ending crazy? She was just about to turn away when she gets a reply.

~Of course I'm talking to you. Your magic is the only one I like around here~

Rolling her eyes she looks closely at the owls, a lot of them were watching her but she couldn't really say any of them cared about her too much.

"So where are you if you like my magic, I can't see you" she replied watching closely to see which owl reacted.

~I'm under the drape. The blasted human male put it over me when I kept nipping daring hatchlings for touching my feathers!~

Finally receiving a direction, she uncovers the owl and looks into the yellow eyes of a snowy white owl with beautiful grey spots. At once she feels sorta faint and dizzy but it passes quickly, however, Serpico rejoined her topside and butted into their conversation.

~What was that! I felt your magic change?!~ Serpico cried out. The snowy owl hooted and puffed up her feathers.

~That was a familiar bond beginning. I have chosen your master as my own~ She responds to Serpico.

Slightly disoriented from the wave of unexpected magic she was unable to respond as at that point the store clerk finally appeared.

"I wouldn't bother with that one. She's prickly about touch and she complains loudly about it," he said.

"She doesn't seem to mind me too much. I've been talking to her for the last few minutes without discord." Helli responds. " I think I will take her off your hands if you're having such a hard time placing her with a family."

The store clerk shrugs his shoulders, "it's your fingers. That will be 20 galleons."

"I also need 3 orders of mice, the living arrangements for an owl and owl treats please."

After gathering everything up and putting it in an expandable charmed bag he comes back with an updated price, " For everything today including the owl, I'll throw in the bedding for free even, that will be 32 galleons and 12 sickles." Paying for her supplies, she heads for an alley between shops so she can put everything in the top compartment of her trunk and gives both the owl and Serpico a mouse.

~There a mouse for each of you. What am I to call you? I can't go around saying owl all the time.~

The owl rubs her head against Helli's chin with a quick reply. ~ I have no name as of now, Mistress. You may call me what you desire.~ At this Helli gives a small frown and replies ~ I will give it some thought and hopefully come up with a beautiful name for a beautiful lady.~ She gives the owl another pet and heads back to the street to find Professor Snape.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~END~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next store they visited was the medicine shop which he told her was called the apothecary. He directed her to choose the ingredients in the middle of the shelves. The front of the shelve housed ingredients that were losing potency but you only used ingredients from the back of the shelves when you wanted to add power to your potions. For students and daily brewers using the middle ingredients turned out the best results without losing potency in the potion itself.

Afterward, they made their way to their final destination, Flourish & Blotts. Helli would have to say she was an avid book reader and not just for entertainment. She loved learning about all things and she found the choices on the shelves of Flourish & Blotts to be widespread and overwhelming. After getting the school books required she figured she'd get some wizarding etiquette books. With living with the Dursleys she was forced into etiquette for all situations and wanted to see how to prepare for the wizarding world. On top of a couple of etiquette books, she also found some dusty art books that looked to be forgotten. She couldn't really think of anything else she could get but did spot a pretty book that had flying creatures on it, she grabbed it just in case. Finalizing her purchases, she stepped outside with a gusty sigh, relieved to finally be done.

Finding the Professor once more, She made her way to him. He was standing off to the side of the street speaking to a blonde-headed family, a male a female, and a boy about her age. Once she got close enough she politely cough to gather the professor's attention.

"I'm finished, Professor." She replied softly. She knew better than to be loud and boisterous as Dudley. It always meant fewer meals during the week.

"Yes, Thank you, Ms. Potter. This is Lord Malfoy, His wife, Lady Malfoy, and their son, Heir Malfoy."

She gives them a small curtsey and smiles, "Pleased to meet you, I'm Hellebore Potter." The professor quirks the corners of his lips to hide a smile after noticing the not very often seen telltale signs of surprise on Lord Malfoy's face.

Giving a bow in return from Lord and Heir Malfoy and a quick curtsey from Lady Malfoy, Lord Malfoy goes on to say, " It seems our son will be joining your class at Hogwarts, Miss Potter. I'm sure if you need anything Draco will be happy to help you adjust. Won't you Draco?" He gives the younger Malfoy a quick look and Draco nods his head.

"Yes Father, It would be an honor to accompany you to Hogwarts, Miss Potter. Would you like to sit together on the train?"

" That's much appreciated, Mr. Malfoy. I haven't ever been on a train before." She expresses calmly. Watching the slight twitch on the Malfoy's faces she wonders why that was a bad thing to them. She turns to speak to the Professor.

"I've finished my shopping, Professor, I should return home before Uncle gets home. He'd be most irate to find I'm not there for dinner." 'More like he'd be irate I'm not there to cook dinner.' she thinks privately and notices a twitch in the Professor's eyes. Tilting her head slightly to the side she waits for his reply.

"That's fine, Ms. Potter. I best be hurrying to Hogwarts as well. Goodbye Lucius, Narcissa, Draco. I'll see you this weekend for Sunday Dinner." Receiving the Malfoy's goodbyes the Professor turns back, "Let's go to the apparition point. We can travel from there faster."

Following him to the apparition point she was directed to hold his arm during the process and the next thing she knew they were standing in front of number 4 Privet Drive. Shaking her head and swallowing rapidly to keep from barfing she smiles wanly. "Is all wizarding travel a do or die system?"

Professor Snape laughs silently " You'll get used to it, Ms. Potter. Now go inside. I have to return to work." Without even a by your leave, he turns and vanishes just as quickly and she shivers. She doesn't know him very well but she hopes she does well in his class. She would hate to disappoint the Professor.

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