Chapter four: Ollivander Knew
The woman walked purposefully, and as leisurely as she could at the same time, down the dark corridor. Her heart pounded and she had to fight hard to keep the grin from her face. It was a difficult task, the butterflies in her stomach dancing and threatening to make her dance with them in her joy. If anyone she passed thought it odd, they said nothing as she slipped into her friend's quarters.
"You're back," he said, sitting in his favorite chair when she entered. He saw her smile, or perhaps light shining from her like she felt there should be, and stood as though worried. "You saw her."
She nodded, walking forward to grab his arm in hopes of him understanding. "I did. Oh, she's even more wonderful than we imagined."
He didn't smile, not really, but his face lightened into an expression of love and longing. Before he forced his face back into stoicism. "I know what you're thinking," he told her in a chiding tone. "And you know we can't. We gave her up to protect her. Taking her back now would only put her in more danger than if we'd kept her."
"And cruel," she sighed, her face falling. "She's happy in her life. Her guardian is a Squib, and loves her more than we'd even thought to hope for her new family. She has a nice home, a loving mother, and friends."
"You're her mother," he reminded. "Our giving her a better life doesn't change that. Tell me you told her nothing."
"She asked, but I implied that I knew nothing. Father said it was best."
He nodded, walking back to his chair in a more subdued manner. "He says a lot of things are for the best."
She blinked back the sudden tears that had gathered and followed him, her hand on his shoulder when he sat down with his head in his hands. "You know he's right. We discussed this eleven years ago."
"I know we did."
A few moments passed, with her perched on the arm of his chair. "She's friends with James and Lily's boy, Harry. I arrived thinking she'd been adopted by muggles and that I would have to explain everything. But instead, he's there with a smile and looking like James' spitting image."
"Except for his eyes," he reminded, pulling her out of the memory. "Your father said he had her eyes."
She nodded. "He does. And he's so much like Lily I could almost see her looking out through his eyes. And Lilia, is exactly like her father."
He snorted, an undignified sound that he seemed to make sound distinguished. "I should hope not."
"She's a natural Legilimens. Her guardian is hoping that someone at Hogwarts will be able to help her learn Occlumency. She got into my head twice that I know of. I'm not strong enough to teach her and still keep the secrets from her that I need to. You'll have to. You and Father are the only ones I think can do it."
"I'll do it," he agreed. "When are you going back to her?"
"Next Saturday. I'm taking them to Diagon Alley, but Tuesday I think I'll be paying a visit to the Dursley household. There were some things mentioned and I believe someone needs to straighten them out."
"Don't end up in Azkaban," he warned. "I won't come visit you."
She smiled and kissed the top of his head. "I won't. I need to be here when she comes to school. Has Hagrid been to retrieve the Stone yet?"
"I believe you might see him Saturday at Gringott's. I think that was the plan, for you all to be there at the same time."
"Is Father sure we're doing the right thing?" She asked. "With Lilia so entangled in Harry's life now? She could get hurt."
He stared at the fire without seeing it, a vacant expression on his face. "You know what will need to be done when he returns. It's better than him not being prepared and the prophecy being won by the wrong side."
She swallowed and tightened her jaw. "But that's Harry. Lilia doesn't have that responsibility. She doesn't have to get hurt."
"She's as much a part of this as he is now."
I'd never been to Diagon Alley, and Meredith had only been twice, so long ago that her memory of the event was blurred and not terribly reliable. Miss Elora said she was a regular visitor, but that nothing beat the first one. She came again the week after our letters, after meeting with the Dursley's and- according to Harry- arguing for him. She said nothing about it, but Harry told me she was brilliant; replaying the scene for me.
"Good morning, Miss Lilia," she greeted me when I opened the door for her, my hair only half brushed. She smiled, her hand out to take the brush and help me with it. I let her, turning around and being still the way I never was for Meredith. "Am I safe in assuming Mr. Potter is already here?"
I nodded, a knot in my hair catching on the brush. She apologized anyway. "He's in Meredith's room. She's trying to fix his clothes and make his hair lay down flat."
Miss Elora laughed, an enchanting sound that made me grin. "Yes, I remember James' was quite the same. I can remember Lily being entirely exasperated because neither of her boys hair would behave. Unlike yours."
She finished my hair and handed me back the brush. "You look lovely."
"Good morning, Miss Elora," Harry said, having heard our voices and came out to investigate with Meredith behind him still trying to wash his face.
Meredith had tucked his shirt in and used a fair amount of safety pins that made me nervous for if Harry had to sit down. It looked better, though, and that's what she was trying to do. Miss Elora smiled at him.
"Happy Birthday, Mr. Potter."
For the two years that we'd been friends, Harry and I celebrated our birthdays together with his being June 31 and mine being August 1. Every year Meredith made treacle tart and mushroom puff pie. Our first birthday like this, she gave Harry a book we'd been talking about for his first present ever. From then it was just our tradition.
"Is everyone ready?"
Meredith grabbed her purse and nodded. We were going to apparate, Miss Elora told us. Miss Elora held mine and Harry's hands and we held Meredith's. Our circle blinked, as though blinking in one place and appearing in the other just as easily. It was uncomfortable, and Miss Elora apologize at seeing how green Harry's face was.
"I'm sorry. I should have given warning, I suppose. But you've done very well. Most people sick up the first time they Side Along Apparate."
"I can't imagine why," I commented, looking at the dark alcove we appeared in. "Are we in London?"
She smiled at me. "That we are. Across the street is the Leaky Cauldron, where we'll get into Diagon Alley. Now, you have to stay close- Harry in particular. I do hope we can get through without being recognized, but just in case."
Her mind was shut tight, and it seemed as though she were staying on top of it. Today she wore her hair back in a french twist and her robes were a dark green. She looked like a queen, her head held high as she lead us through the Leaky Cauldron- whose name suited it quite well. She'd said she didn't want to draw too much attention to them, but everyone looked up when she walked through and their eyes followed her. I suppose it worked, their eyes too busy looking at her to pay attention to whoever was behind her.
She looks like she came out of your fairy book, Harry told me.
I imagined her face on one of the illustrations and smiled when it fit perfectly. Meredith was focused on getting through the day and going back home without seeing anyone she knew from before. She was worried she might potentially see her brother. But she was also worried, her mind running over her prediction of me forgetting about her at Hogwarts. Like a tongue over the gap where a tooth used to be. So I held her hand as Miss Elora took us to a small courtyard made of brick.
Out of her sleeve she pulled a long, slender piece of wood and poised it at the wall, winking at me. I had never seen a wand before. Hers was dark, with a marble like lighter shade that twisted around it.
"Remember," she instructed, glancing at us. "Three up, two across, and tap three times."
She did so, and we watched as the wall rumbled and the bricks shifted, chasing each other to get out of the way so that we could get through. The entrance was wide and tall, that twenty people might be able to enter side by side.
Diagon Alley was... indescribable. Like feeling as though you should have known all along that this was here, for how could people spend every day so close and not know it was there. I've since realized that perhaps part of mine and Harry's awe was due to our having grown up without ever coming to it. I had some sort of knowledge of this as we walked through the market, seeing children our age and others older and younger that weren't as excited as we were.
Again, eyes followed us. Or rather, followed Miss Elora, who either didn't notice or was used to it. I couldn't tell which, but she lead us through and down towards a tall, bright marble building. I knew it was Gringott's, having been told about the goblin bankers by Meredith. But I'd never imagined the bank would be so magnificent.
"Be very careful, children," she said. "You do not want to get lost in here. Goblins can be quite cranky."
As if to cement what she said, the doorman eyed us suspiciously, his lip curling as he did so. Inside, there were counters in a line on either side of us as we followed Miss Elora to the main counter at the end. Meredith had muggle money to exchange I thought, but when we approached the counter and began talking to the goblin there, she pulled out a goblin key I'd never seen before.
"Vault 947," she told him.
"Meredith?" I asked, but she didn't say anything. In her mind she was silent as well, thinking about the cost of books and uniforms. Miss Elora was next, speaking for Harry about his own vault.
"And does Mr. Harry Potter have his key?"
Harry too was thinking about books and uniforms, and the new knowledge of his parents having left him something after being told his whole life that they were bums. He didn't have a key.
"I have it here," Miss Elora said, showing the goblin.
He nodded, Griphook was his name, and we were shown to a rickety looking cart that Harry was slightly nervous to get on. Miss Elora got on first, myself next, and Meredith and Harry last. Meredith felt out of place, not knowing what to do or say.
"My parents died before I left the Wizarding World," she explained quietly to me in the backseat. "And while we never got along well, they left me an inheritance that I haven't touched. It's perfect to pay for your schooling and to set you up after. You too, Harry."
Harry turned around, the cart not having gone yet. "But, you heard Miss Elora. My parents-"
"Left you money for when you've come of age," Meredith finished. "You're much too young to worry about expenses. It's an adult's job to provide, and while I can't say much about the Dursley's- you're like family to me."
I knew he knew she cared for him. I'd known she cared for him. But Harry felt embarrassed at having been told that, and Meredith being so willing to spend her inheritance to buy him school books so that he wouldn't have to touch his own. She seemed to understand this, and said nothing while Harry turned back around and we went off.
We were leaving Gringotts, after Meredith visiting her ridiculously wealthy vault and Harry glancing at his even more wealthy vault, when a booming voice called for Miss Elora. She turned to see a large mass with a large beard grinning at her, and she smiled brilliantly at him.
"Good morning, Hagrid! What brings you to Diagon Alley? I'd have thought you'd be soaking up the time left until the student's come back."
Hagrid patted his long jacket over the breast with a large hand. "Just runnin' an errand fer Perfesser Dumbledore, Miss Elora." His voice dropped a few octaves, but not enough so that we couldn't hear. "It's about you know what, in vault you know which."
Miss Elora smiled tightly, her shields quivering so that I could tell Hagrid wasn't being secretive as he was supposed to. I wondered what it was. Hagrid's mind was a jumble, and difficult to wade through that I was getting a headache just trying to decipher what he was talking about. Even then, I only got words that didn't make sense and something called Fluffy.
"I'm just escorting some new first years to pick up their school things," Miss Elora said, gesturing to us.
Hagrid turned to us and beamed. "Hello!"
I held my hand out the way Meredith had taught me to do when introducing myself. "Hello, I'm Lilia Sterling and this is my friend Harry. What do you teach?"
His hand engulfed mine and he chuckled. "I don't teach! I'm the Keeper of Keys and Grounds, but feel free to come by. Speaking of, Perfesser Dumbledore will be wanting me straight away."
Once he too was led away by a goblin to the cart, though with a much paler face, Miss Elora and Meredith led us outside. Meredith had our list and were looking them over as we discussed which to get first.
"Shouldn't we get our books first?" Harry asked. He was always about reading.
"I suppose it's as good a place to start as any," Meredith said, folding our lists.
Flourish and Blott's was dim lit with large stacks of books that reached near to the ceiling and smaller stacks on every surface. It was a maze of dead trees and it was wonderful. We stopped just inside the door and glanced around at it, a smile on Harry's face.
"It hasn't changed a bit," Meredith said to herself, interrupted by me pulling her and Harry both by the hand through the piles.
There were books on every subject imaginable, and a few that I wouldn't have to thought to want a book on to begin with. Meredith let us each pick a few books not on the list, so long as we promised to read from our texts before school started. Harry found a book about Quidditch, which he'd been interested in since he heard about it. I found a book about bloodlines, hoping I might find something about my family. Though, I didn't have much to go on.
"Miss Elora!" Someone called when we left the book store. It was a girl older than Harry and I, perhaps fifteen or so, with brown hair and a smile as she approached us.
Miss Elora smiled at her. "Miss Clearwater, congratulations on becoming prefect. Professor Flitwick told me you've been doing exceedingly well."
The girl, Clearwater, beamed at the praise from Miss Elora and I felt an unfamiliar sting of jealousy that I didn't understand. Of course everyone was as taken with her as I was. There was something about her.
"You know, I was prefect when I was a student as well."
"You were?" The girl asked, bright eyes widening.
She nodded. "I was, and I'll be keeping an eye out for you to get Head Girl. We Ravenclaws must stick together." She winked at the girl and gestured to us. "Now, I do apologize, but I must be off. Give my best to your parents and I'll see you on the first."
"Yes, Miss Elora."
I glanced back as we left towards the robes shop, watching as the girl smiled to herself- seemingly happy at Miss Elora's attentions. I thought that I might like to be in Ravenclaw myself, if Harry wasn't put in Gryffindor.
The little bell just inside the door of Madame Malkins rang when we entered and a voice called from the back that they would be with us in a moment. Another boy waited as well, sitting on a velvet bench and looking nervous. Harry thought it might be a good idea to introduce ourselves and have another friend before we got to school.
"Hello," I said, smiling at his thoughts. He was here with his grandmother, the thought of whom made him anxious, who was discussing material and colors with the seamstress, another thought that made him anxious. He thought we looked nice. "I'm Lilia, and this is my friend Harry. Are you going to Hogwarts as well?"
I knew he was, but Meredith said it was rude to go on what I heard in peoples heads. She said it was rude to listen in, and I knew that once I'd learned how to not to she wouldn't accept me doing it so freely anymore.
He seemed surprised that I was talking to him, evident by his befuddled expression before heard him think it. He blinked a few more times and opened his mouth to speak before he was cut off by a bark like voice.
"Neville!" He paled and seemed to shrink as a woman with a strange taste in clothing came into the room, having finished her conversation. "It's time to get your books!"
He hung his head and stood up to follow after her.
"Mrs. Longbottom," Miss Elora greeted the woman with an unintimidated smile. "It's been quite a long time."
Mrs. Longbottom, Neville's grandmother was a sour looking woman- like God had seen her smiling once and made her promise never again. Her face was pulled in a disapproving scowl that made one wonder what had happened to the dead vulture that now lay on her hat. But her face lightened when seeing Miss Elora the way everyone's did.
"Elora Lavois, I almost didn't recognize you!"
This was a lie, that I knew for two reasons. One, Mrs. Longbottom's mind wasn't inaccessible the way Miss Elora's was, and the second reason was that I couldn't imagine anyone not knowing who she was.
"How is your father?" She asked, the bark less distinguishable.
"He's fairly the same as he always is," Miss Elora said with a charming smile, that I somehow knew she was trying to make as charming as possible. "He's readying for the school year, making sure Hogwarts can stand another year."
"It's a dark day when Hogwarts doesn't," Mrs. Longbottom remarked in an agreeing tone. "Are these new students you're showing around?"
Miss Elora seemed to have been waiting for the woman to notice us. "Yes, this is Miss Lilia Sterling, and I think you'll remember James and Lily Potter's son."
Neville's head snapped up to Harry, obviously knowing who he was, and Mrs. Longbottom studied him closely. Neville's parents had been friends with Harry's, I saw from both of their minds. Mrs. Longbottom turned to me while I was looking at Neville, and when I glanced at her she gasped.
I'd swear she has Severus' eyes.
Severus? Was that a name? I almost asked aloud who Severus was, but she didn't seem the kind of person who would appreciate my eavesdropping- whether I was unable to control it or not. I wanted to ask Miss Elora, but she'd said she didn't know who my parents were.
"Tell you what," Miss Elora said, as though she'd just had a good idea. "What if Neville came with us, spent a few hours getting to know other kids before they get to Hogwarts? He might make some friends, and you could get his books without having to worry."
Neville's mind flinched at the word friends, as though he'd resigned himself not to have friends. I tried to convey this in my pictures to Harry, though trying to talk only using pictures is harder than it sounds, and we made our minds up together. Neville Longbottom would be our first Hogwarts friend. Mrs. Longbottom at first wasn't sure, glancing between the three of us. What sold her, was thinking about how Neville's and Harry's parents had been friends and had planned for them to grow up together as well.
"I suppose that would be alright," she conceded at last.
Neville was both happy to be left alone by his grandmother, and unhappy at the prospect of being rejected as friends. We would meet her in the Leaky Cauldron in an hour for lunch while she got Neville's books and ran a few errands. Once she was gone, Meredith and Miss Elora turned to Madame Malkin and began talking.
"Hi," Neville said quietly.
"Hello," Harry grinned at him, holding his hand out to shake his. "I'm Harry, and this is my best friend Lilia."
"I'm Neville," he replied, just as quietly as before and tentatively taking Harry's hand. He thought we were talking to him out of obligation.
Meredith was coming back over, but I whispered to Neville quickly. "We would never talk to someone out of obligation."
He looked startled, "How did you do that?"
"Alright, Harry, Lilia, up on the stools you go." Meredith guided us to the two stools where Madame Malkins and her seamstress were waiting to take measurements. "And we'll need, let's see, the Hogwarts robes of course. Some casual robes for them both, and winter clothes in advance might be a good idea."
"Meredith," Harry protested, but stopped upon seeing the look she gave him.
She too began talking about material with Madame Malkins as the measure tapes went flying around us. I smiled at Neville and explained, hopefully quiet enough that Meredith wouldn't here, about how I could hear what he was thinking.
"I didn't mean to startle you," I told him at last. "But I don't want our new friend tothink we're only doing it because we feel like we have to."
"F-friend?" He asked, slightly hopeful.
"Only if you want to be," Harry said quickly.
Neville seemed to perk up, sitting up straighter. "I'd like that."
Miss Elora watched with a smile, sitting in the corner and observing us.
"How about a set of dress robes for your daughter?" Madame Malkins asked Meredith.
She debated, thinking to herself that she couldn't foresee a reason we would wear them before we would outgrow them. "Perhaps another time. But, Harry is desperately in need of new shoes."
When I looked back, Miss Elora wasn't looking at us anymore.
It was sort of boring, just standing there while we were measured for our robes. Harry and I talked to Neville, who'd already done this. We liked him as immediately as we'd like Miss Elora, talking about what we liked to do and what we were looking forward to the most once we got to Hogwarts. Neville was into something called Herbology, the study of plants. He was hoping his grandmother would remember to pick him up a new book on the subject even though he wasn't there with her.
When we were done, we were off to get wands- the part Harry and I were looking forward to the most. With a wand, I could do real magic. With a wand, it was real.
"Have you gotten yours yet?" I asked Neville as we entered Ollivander's.
He sighed lightly. "I'm using my dad's."
"I wondered when I'd be seeing you," a soft voice said, very clearly as though it reached every corner of the shop.
An older man stood there, looking at the five of us. "I remember when each of your parents were here getting their first wands. Mr. Potter's mother and father favoring willow and mahogany, respectively. Mr. Longbottom, I believe your father's wand was oak and your mother's of laurel."
Neville nodded. Mr. Ollivander was a strange case, that I have no explanation for and have few like him since. It wasn't like Miss Elora where I could tell she was actively putting walls around her mind, it was as though he had no thought for me to find. When I realized this, he was standing in front of me giving me a smile with a knowing glint in his eye.
"And you, Miss?"
"Lilia, sir," I said.
"Ah, yes. Of course. I remember yours as well. Blackthorn, I believe was your father's, a good warrior wand paired with dragon heartstring. And your mother's, of course, was Acacia."
I felt like my breath was stolen. "You-you know my parents?"
He nodded. "I did."
"Then, you could tell me about them!" I grinned. "What were their names? Where are they now? Are they alive? Was-was my father's name Severus?"
Ollivander gave me an odd look. "I'm afraid I really couldn't tell you. I can, however, tell you that you are on the right path for your answers."
"Mr-"
He interrupted Meredith. "Miss Sterling, I remember your brother and your parents. I was very sorry to hear of your parent's loss. Miss Lavois, do give my best to your father. And remind him that not finishing our game does not mean he didn't lose."
Miss Elora smiled wryly. "I shall."
Harry saw the heartbroken and confused look on my face. "Sir, if you know her parents why can't you tell her about them?"
"Mr. Potter, there are a great many mysteries in the world I'm sorry to say. A great many cruel things that aren't avoidable. I'm afraid this is one of them. I couldn't tell your friend about her parent's any more than Miss Sterling could if she knew."
He looked apologetic. "I really am sorry. Shall we find you a wand?"
A/N: WHEW! Let me know what you think! I was going to include Draco as well as Neville, but it just didn't happen like that unfortunately. Should Draco be good in this? Or as deliciously adversary as he is in canon? I haven't decided. I think I might just leave Ron out of them. I don't like him. At all. I might keep it Neville, Lilia, Harry and Hermione. Any pairing ideas? I have a few concret ones, but idk about the kids yet. Any suggestions, theories, etc? Let me know in the towel section down below!
Mia.
P.S. Not that it has anything to do with the story, but I recommend watching A Series of Unfortunate Events on Netflix. I've been listening to 'That's Not How the Story Goes' on repeat for days now.