It had been over a week and Harry had been to Diagon Alley everyday. Ellice, on the other hand, had her nose stuck in a book the whole time, often forgetting to sleep, taking short breaks to read Georgia's letters, the write her own in return (at least she would when Harry hadn't sent Hedwig to his own friends). Harry was unsurprised, this being a usual event for Ellice, so simply did his brotherly duty of reminding her to eat. By this point she'd gone through all of the books, and started on the her third year ones. At this point Harry was certain she new more than he did- and he truly doubted she'd have to do more than a week off timetable.
On this particular day, he'd decided that over a week of not going out was unhealthy, so he finally attempted to put an end to it, "Stop." He commands, jumping to sit on her desk.
"You better get your arse of my book, otherwise I might just forget you're my brother, and punch you in the face." She says, eyebrows raised in a stern look.
Harry shuffles over slightly so he is no longer sat on the herbology book, closing the book at the same time. "You need to go out." He says, trying to do his best impression of her 'unimpressed-older-sibling-expression'.
"Uh huh." She shrugs, uncaringly.
"You're caught up." He says, "I'd better you don't even have those catch up lessons for more than two weeks."
"Yeah?" She challenges, leaning forward, "What you willing to bet?"
He thinks for a moment, "An unquestionable." He says, referring to a system the twins had created when they were young. 'Unquestionable' referring to an unquestionable favour, no questions asked they just have to do what the other asks. They were rare to gain, at this point in time neither had one. So Ellice quickly agreed.
"Okay, two weeks." She agrees, a smirk plastered on her face.
"Good, now take a break." Harry commands, "Go outside."
"Fine," Ellice agrees, "After I finish this chapter." Harry rolls his eyes, "Go ahead, I'll catch up. If it makes you feel better I'll even get my robes and wand today." Finally, the boy acquiesces, kissing his older sister's cheek as he heads out of the door.
Once Ellice finishes her chapter she pulls out her muggle money. Counting it carefully, she comes to the total £983.16. Humming to herself she separates it into different pockets, and heads to the door, locking it in her wake.
Casually she walks through the Leaky Cauldren. She'd learnt at a young age, that if you act like you're doing nothing wrong, people tend to ignore you. That is how she easily left into muggle London, with no one the wiser.
Her first stop was charity shops, and vintage shops, and then some average high street clothes shops. Her next stop was Boots: toiletries, hair stuff, and make up galore. Last thing she stopped for was cigarettes, she need enough stuff to try to last the school year.
It was just past one when she snuck back into the Leaky Cauldren. She dumped her bags on the bed. She then went about putting her muggle money away, and grabbing the wizard money. Wrinkly her nose at her current attire she quickly decided to change. She shoved on a cropped mustered jumper, high waisted, light blue, denim shorts, a black belt, black converse, the shoved her money in a small black handbag. With that she head out the back of the pub, and into Diagon Alley.
Ellice had to admit that when she first layed eyes upon Diagon Alley she was filled with childlike wonderment, sadly, that was quickly transfered into annoyance due to the sheer number of people she had to shove through.
Ellice finally reached the robe shop- Madam Malkins. Strolling in Ellice is quickly bombarded by a bubbly woman.
"Hello, dear." The woman greets, "Haven't seen you before." She smiles good naturedly.
"Uh, yeah." Ellice says slightly awkwardly. She honestly didn't understand nice, happy people- they were far too strange, "I need robes?" The statement slips out as a question, the happy nature of the lady putting her thoughts into a jumbled mess of confusion.
"Which ones, dear?" The woman presses patiently.
"There's a difference?" Ellice wrinkles her nose at the thought.
"Are you going to Hogwarts, dear?" The woman tilts her head at the young girl, "You don't look like a first year."
"Um, yeah. I'm a third year." Ellice shrugs.
"Yet I haven't seen you before." The lady smiles.
"Umm. I just-" Ellice stumbles to think of the word, "transferred." She settles on.
"Hop up on the stand, dear, and we'll get you fitted." The woman finally commands cheerfully.
Ellice let out a tense breath as she left the robe shop. Madam Malkins was much too happy for Ellice's sensibilities to comprehend. Sighing with aggravation, Ellice began to shove her way through the crowded lane, making her way to the pet shop.
The owl emporium smelt like that odd smell you only find around animals. Something in the mix of fur, pet food, dampness and comfort. Ellice shuffles around quietly, drawn quickly towards the fluttering owls- relaxing completely in presence of the animals. She was so deeply thinking about which she liked the best, that she jumped when a voice interrupted her.
"Is there anything I can help you with?" A gravelly voice interrupts her.
Heart pounding wildly, she turns to see a middle-aged man, with salt and pepper hair, and smile lines which had spread onto crows feet. "Are you interested in an owl?" He continues politely.
Ellice ponder for a moment, "Tell me about the black owl, with the white markings on it's head?" She asks, tilting her gave to look at it.
"She's young, just over three years, but fully trained, on of the brightest in years." The man smile fondly, "People tend to ignore her due to the moon shape on her head- something about bad fortune. I just think she needs a bit of love."
Ellice shifted to look at him, "What's her name?"
"Doesn't have one yet." He shrugs half-heartedly.
"How much is she?" Ellice's mind was already made up.
"She, her cage and a year's supply of food are three galleons, eleven sickles and four knuts." He answers. Quickly the transaction is corresponded.
Ellice mutters to her bird, as she walks down the cobbled street, "I think I'm going to call you Mezzaluna." She ponders aloud.
"That's an interesting name." An American drawl sounds from behind her. Slowly she turned to face the voice, eyebrow raised in suspicion. In front of her stood a boy, around her own age, blonde hair pulled half up in a bun, the rest dancing like sunbeams near his shoulders. His eyes were beautiful to Ellice- one a cold cerulean blue, the other a warm chocolate brown. He was toned, she noticed, had the build of a sportsman. A scar ran from the left side of his forehead, round his cheek, to the left corner of his lip- however, she promptly ignored it.
"It means crescent in Italian." She shrugs blandly.
"Appropriate." He agrees, as if giving his approval. "Anthony Goldstein." He announces by way of introduction. As he was speaking he pulled out a cigarette, however failed in procuring a lighter.
"Ellice Potter." She grunts, holding a red lighter in his direction.
"Cheers." He thanks after his cigarette is lit, offering the lighter's return. "You don't go to Hogwarts." He stated assessingly, "There were loads of rumers about it in your brother's first year."
Ellice shrugs, "I'm starting this year."
"Yeah?" Anthony questions, taking a toke, "You'll be a third year?" Ellice nods, pulling out one of her own straights. "I'm fourth." He replies to the unsaid question. "What's your house?" He continues.
Ellice lights her cigarette, taking a drag before she answers, "Hufflepuff. You?"
"Ravenclaw." He nods, giving her an appraising look.
"Got something to say?" She challenges playfully.
"There's something different about you." He asserts, guiding his eye over her.
"Honey, you best not be flirting, because I'm a Class A drug, you couldn't handle." She sasses, with a raised eyebrow, and smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.
Anthony snorts, "I'm gay." He declares bluntly.
"You got a boyfriend?" She grins at him cheekily.
"D'you?" He shoots back, laughter playing on his lips.
"No." Ellice half snorts half scoffs.
"Neither." He shrugs, chucking his cigarette butt on the floor.
"We can be lonely together." She pats his arm with fake sympathy.
"Guess that makes us friends then." He observes, chucking his arm around her shoulders.
"Guess it does." She agrees, chucking away her cigarette.
"So, where you heading, friend?" Anthony's hand gestures the street.
"Oh, to get my wand." Ellice responds casually.
"You haven't got a wand yet?" He smirks, raising an eyebrow, "Come on then." He shrugs, grabbing Ellice's hand. He drags her further down the street.
"Sure you can come along!" She fakes sarcastic enthusiasm.
He merely laughs, "Got nothing else to do."
They walk into Olivander's. Ellice gazes around the room, awe bye the classic beauty, and magical atmosphere. She looks to the front when a voice says: "I was wondering if I'd ever get the chance to meet you Miss Potter. I am exceedingly glad that I can." The voice is old and graverly- the old man whom it belongs to reminded her of a warm, homely grandfather, who may or may not have lost some of his marbles. "Hold out your wand arm, then." He encourages impatiently, whilst Ellice lazily holds out her left arm. A tape measure snaps about her, and experience she'd already had quite enough of at Madam Malkins'.
Finally, it stops, and Olivander offers her a wand. Ellice personally believed that he didn't even need any measurements. Still, she flicked the wand he gave her, promptly blowing out all of the windows.
"Hmm," Olivander hums, "Not that one." He absent mindedly waves his wand to fix the windows before searching for another wand.
Slowly, the pile of discarded wands built, and Ellice was rather bored- she'd never had much patients.
A dusty, wrinkled box was finally placed in front of her. Ellice was glad Olivander took off the lid- for she feared the box would fall apart if she did.
As she flicked the wand nothing broke, instead she was filled with a tickling sensation as ivy grew up her hands, along her arms and onto her face, wrapping itself serenely through her hair. Within moments it was gone. She smiled lightly at the wand, before returning her gaze to the man.
Olivander clears his throat before starting, "Holly with pheonix feather core, eight and a half inches. Most delicate wand I ever made." He explains, the beautiful carved wand, flower carvings embedded in it design. "It's and odd combination, which is why it's been sat in this shop for so long- maybe that says something about the witch it has chosen." Ellice raises her eyebrows, while Anthony tries to hide his laughter.
"Yeah? What's so odd about it?" Ellice challenges.
"Pheonix feathers are the most picky of choosing, the most independent and capable of the greatest range of magic. A witch must share herself with her wand before having it's allegiance." Olivander informs Ellice, "But, then you have the holly. Holly wands help those who are good at healing, are exceedingly powerful but choose owners with a lack of self confidence but also have the greatest potential. What I am finding most strange is you seem to have no lack in courage." He gives her an assessing look. "I suppose stereotypes are not always correct, only you can truly decide your fate." He gives her a light smile, his eyes twinkling, "Everyone knows what is said about holly and ivy." He winks, before withdrawing back into his shop.
The teens are barely out of the shop before they begin laughing at the oddness of the previous situation. Ellice, allows Mezzaluna out of her cage, deciding her many new belongings would be easier to carry like that.
They reach the Leaky Cauldren, by the time Anthony says his goodbyes, "See you at Hogwarts, 'Puff? I can't wait to see what you do to the school." He laughs.
"I ain't gonna fuck it up- that bad." She grins.
"Whatever, Shortie. See you." He waves heading off.
"Bye." She waves, carrying her many bags, and bird cage into the Leaky Cauldren.
Ellice is heading for the stairs when, to her great annoyance, a ginger boy crashes into her. His clone catches her quickly, and both boys apologise, which she brushes off uncaringly. The only blessing was that none of her belongings fell from her hands.
She hadn't seen Harry behind their taller figures, but he's quickly at her side, acting like a mother hen. "Are you okay?" He worries.
Ellice rolls her eyes sarcastically, "No, that small bump sent me to my death bed."
Knowing she was perfectly fine he rolls his eyes, turning back to the group before them, "This is Ellice." He tells them, a happy smile spread on his face. Then he gestures each in turn, telling her the already familiar names, "Ellice, this is Mr Weasley, Percy, George and Fred Weasley-"
"We're the handsome ones." The, now grinning, Weasley twins interrupt. Ellice merely raises her eyebrows.
Harry continues talking, ignoring the exchange, "Then there's Ginny, Mrs Weasley, Ron and Hermione."
"I've heard a lot about you, all good things. Mostly." Ellice greets, a lazy grin on her face.
She uses the chorus of "Mostly?"s to depart, taking her belongings upstairs.
She spent the rest of the evening writing to Georgia. She'd just sent off the letter when Harry enters their room.
"You weren't meant to go in the muggle world." He tuts, leaning against the wall.
"I needed clothes." She shrugs, turning to face him.
"Came to see if you're coming down for dinner." Harry explains.
"Nah," Ellice grins, "I already ate. You have fun, though."
"You sure?" He checks warily.
"Yup." She confirms, nodding he walks out. Ellice drifts slowly into a much needed sleep.
The next morning Harry had the deadly job of waking Ellice- waking in the loosest terms. The girl quickly dressed into black jeans and a stripey red and green jumper, denim jacket, and black converse.
Everybody could plainly see the girl was not a morning person, so, a silent agreement to leave her be- at least until she was more awake- was made.
The ministry cars arrived, and Mr Weasley marched a bewildered Harry, and an eyes-still-shut Ellice straight to one, not easing of his hovering until both were safely inside. Once in the car, Ellice promptly returned to sleep.
Harry had the misfortune of having to wake Ellice up for a second time that morning. Groggily, she allowed herself to be dragged through Kings Cross by Harry- Mr Weasley once again hovering close by.
Harry pulled her against the barrier between platforms 9 and 10. The sideways fall suddenly shocked her awake. She looked up to see magnificent scarlet steam train that is the Hogwarts Express.