A/N: I know this chapter is short, however this is the best stopping point for the story. No worries though because the next one is MUCH longer.
The next evening Ryan asked for some money from Luna's father. To her surprise, the Lovegood family was quite well off. Not due to the profits from his wacky newspaper no, but from the hard work Luna's mother put in before her death. Apparently she was a world-renown potion master who developed some healing potions that are currently used at St. Mungo's, which Luna's family receives a siphon from.
After passing though the completely empty Leaky Cauldron, with directions from Luna, Ryan suddenly remembered that people were now freaking out about Voldemort's return. Diagon Alley will be blissfully empty due to the fears rampaging through the wizarding world. A smile spread across her face at the thought of moving through Diagon Alley unperturbed by hordes of people.
'Thank God for her mum' Ryan mused as she walked along Diagon ally bouncing a bag of coins in her hand. Her plan was in motion and her mood increased drastically because of it. The pan was simple, consisting of only two parts.
Part 1: Gather Supplies needed to survive the summer.
Part 2: Learn as many spells as possible before school begins.
All the while hiding her true identity from those who know her best…piece of cake.
The first shop she stopped in was Madam Primpernelle's Beautifying Potions. "Welcome! How may I help you?" asked a witch standing behind the front store counter. Immediately Ryan was taken aback by her appearance. It was obvious that she used the potions in the shop to an alarming extent given the fact that the skin on her face was perfect. Too perfect. She used potions on her face to such a degree it looked as if the skin turned into plastic, giving her the look of an animated doll.
"How interesting" commented Luna. "She doesn't look real"
Ignoring Luna, Ryan approached the counter. "I'm looking for a potion."
"We carry beauting potions of all types. What exactly are you looking for?" She smiled and her perfectly straight teeth added to the unhuman effect.
"I am starting to work out and I would like a potion that will help me build muscle. Not a crazy amount mind you, just enough to enhance the work I am already putting in."
"I think we carry just the potion you're looking for!" She turned and gestured for Ryan to follow her. They stopped walking at a tall floor-to-ceiling shelf that was filling with vials filled with countless potions. The blond carefully plucked a vial out of a middle shelf with delicate, perfectly manicured, fingers. Even her hands look strange, Ryan observed. There were no wrinkles to be found, not even on her knuckles where her joints meet.
"This is the most popular potion among our male customers." She handed the vile labeled 'Draught of Schwarz' to Ryan, causing the light brown liquid to slosh around inside. "What this does is increase your muscle mass depending on how much you take and how active you are. Take some before you work out and it will enhance whatever it is you're doing. Now be warned" She held up her index finger for dramatic effect. "If you take too much of this potion your muscles will grow too fast for your skin and will burst right through it. Exposing your muscles, tendons, and nerves to the air can cause infection and is extremely painful."
Ryan shivered at the gruesome picture she described. The blond witch walked back behind the front desk, followed closely by Ryan, but before they reached the counter another potion caught her eye. She quickly grabbed it before continuing. When she reached the counter the blond witch handed her a small glass eye dropper. "I assume you do now want to get too muscular, so I suggesting taking two drops before every workout."
"She is very knowledgeable" Luna spoke up. "The brain does not match the exterior. It's quite surprising actually"
Rolling her eyes at Luna's bluntness, she paid for her items and left the store in search of a muggle clothing shop.
It turns out Diagon Alley has only magical stores in it. After pacing up and down the alley multiple times Ryan could not find the store she needed. Giving up, she went instead to Gringotts to exchange her money into muggle currency and left the alley.
She walked around aimlessly until she found a muggle shopping center. Her first stop was a popular muggle shoe chain store to buy some proper running shoes. After a couple of "ooo's" and "aaaa's" from the voice in her head, she found a pair suitable for running and dark black combat boots she instantly fell in love with.
After that purchase, her next stop was a cheap second hand clothing store where she bought some shorts and shirts to exercise in as well as some clothes that suited her style better than Luna's clothes did. All the while Luna encouraged her to buy anything and everything that caught her eye. She thought that if Ryan bought clothes that she liked, she would feel more like herself inside of her body.
Ryan picked up on the fact that Luna could feel all of her emotions, including occasionally being uncomfortable inside of a body that wasn't hers. She guessed that because she felt this way, it affected Luna as well, so her goal for this trip was to be as happy as possible. Maybe her joy will rub off on Luna. It was the least she could do.
After completing her long day of shopping the girls returned home to an ecstatic father who demanded to see every item they purchased. It was obvious to Ryan that he was confused by the muggle clothes, but he was happy that Luna was happy.
When she finally escaped Luna's eccentric father, she plopped down on her (or Luna's) bed and closed her eyes. Before she knew it she was fast asleep, not even bothering to take off her clothes.