Disclaimer: The people who own Harry Potter and Trinity Blood are rich and dead, respectively. I am broke and very much alive, last time I checked.
Chapter 2
Arrival
Esther groaned as another passerby gave her sympathetic glance while staying well away. What the professor called 'a few unpleasant side effects' turned out to be a high fever and a nosebleed that didn't stop. Both had started while she was already on the flight, so she didn't have any medicine or tissues, or time in Rome to recuperate. Esther felt awful enough to know she didn't look pleasant, but the way people glanced at her flushed face and the blood spatters on her civilian clothes was a bit insulting.
Then again, it was probably best that they stayed away. If they came to close, someone might notice something odd about the book she was reading, specifically the moving pictures. It was O.W.L. Revision: Charms Edition, as she had been informed that since her target was in the fifth year of his schooling she would be in the same, despite the age difference. She'd begun the text on the flight, after finishing a comprehensive history of the Weasley and Evans families.
So far, it seemed that her best bet would be to masquerade as a member of the Evans family, as it meant she would meet her target person earlier. Also, the Weasleys all had orange red hair, and since Esther had been chosen in part because of her looks, she thought it best to consider them. Her hair was much closer in color to the late Mrs. Potter's, whose parents had had blue eyes, as did her sister.
Speaking of whom, Esther really needed to concoct and practice a story for Petunia. She was not an actress and she knew it. She was simply too honest, her face too expressive, not to mention the difficulty she had making up lies out of nowhere. According to the file, Petunia Dursley was a highly suspicious woman who loved to gossip. Any tale Esther managed to tell her would have to be airtight. Esther groaned.
"Problems, Miss Blanchett?" said a voice from behind her. "Eeep!" Esther squeaked in surprise. Standing behind her was a tall man with a long silver beard and hair, and a very crooked nose, upon which was perched a pair of half moon spectacles. Recognizing him from the many pictures she'd seen, Esther jumped up and promptly tripped over her luggage falling flat on her face at his feet. "Mr. Dumbllllee-ouch!"
"Miss Blanchett, I have been called many things, but never a dumbleouch." Blue eyes twinkling, the headmaster of Hogwarts held out his hand to the heavily blushing girl. Wiping tears from her eyes Esther took the proffered hand and stood. Dumbledore smiled down at her, taking in her disheveled appearance and saying, "I am sorry to have surprised you, my dear. I would say I hope your trip was pleasant, but it appears that would be a false hope. Is there anything I can do for you?"
"Umm…if I could have a day somewhere where I can practice magic and get myself settled, that'd be great."
"Then off to Hogwarts we go!"
Esther sunk into the huge prefects' bath and sighed in pleasure. The taps seemed to know exactly what temperature she wanted and turn themselves. 'Like magic,' she thought, then giggled. Of course it was magic! She was in one of the most magical places in the whole country!
Honestly, all that blood loss must be making her silly. Now that her fever and nosebleed had gone away she should be working, not relaxing in the bath. Even if it was nearly as large and nice as the Duchess's, which had actual roses, not rose colored bubbles.
After a quicker soak than she would have liked, Esther stepped out of the bath. While she was washing her wrinkled, bloody clothes had been replaced with fresh ones from her suitcase. She dressed quickly and made her way down to the Great Hall, glad she could recall the way. Dumbledore had given her a quick tour after they arrived via apparation and thestral carriage. Though at one point the size of the castle may have daunted her, it had nothing on the grand structures of Rome or Byzantium.
The Hall, with its magnificent ceiling, was nearly empty, Dumbledore being the only other occupant. She walked confidently up to the Great Table, which was set for two, and took her seat on the headmaster's right. He turned in his golden, throne-like chair and said to her, "Good evening, Miss Blanchett. I hope you found your way here without trouble?"
"I did, thank you."
"Good. In that case, let us tuck in." He clapped once and a sumptuous meal appeared before them. Esther barely held back another squeak of surprise. "How did you do that, sir?"
"I didn't, actually. The service is the house elves' magic. Quite dramatic, having it on my gesture, of course, but the clap is only a signal, not magic itself. And please, call me Albus. You're a representative of the Vatican and a legal adult, not a student. Yet."
"Ahhh…thank you, Albus. Please call me Esther."
"Very well, Esther." From there conversation ran from what exactly house elves were to the political state of Britain's magical community. Esther learned quite a bit about the world she was entering. "So, Albus," she asked, "Where are the rest of the teachers and staff? Surely they must come here at some point over the summer to prepare for the coming year?"
"Usually they do. However, I told them that because of my recent dismissal from the Wizengamot I would have the time to reopen the castle myself, so that I might receive you here. Unfortunately, they will begin arriving soon so I cannot host you for long. Even if I could, the groundskeeper, Rubeus Hagrid, lives here year long. He is currently away, but I have no idea when he might return. To that end, have you decided how you will enter the wizarding world?"
"Yes, I have." Esther took a deep breath and began to outline for Albus the plan she'd thought of in the bath. "That sounds marvelous, my dear girl!" he said when she was done. "Do you think you will be able to pull it off? Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Yes, with practice I should be able to pull it off." Esther wasn't a good actress, but if she practiced a plausible lie long enough she could say it with a straight face. That's how she was able to explain her reason for leaving the church with Dietrich so often to Mother Laura. It helped that this lie had some truth in it. "As for helping me…tomorrow I will need to go to Diagon Alley to purchase the necessary items. Will you allow me to use your floo? And possibly give me a map?"
"I can do better than that, my dear. I can escort you myself."
"Umm…no offense, but I think it would be better if I went alone. I need to be seen as a complete newcomer to this world, and that won't be so if I'm escorted by such a prominent figure."
"You flatter me, Esther. But I see your point. I will have the map ready for you tomorrow, and the floos in the heads of houses offices' and my own are all open to you. They are the only ones that allow travel, aside from the one in the hospital wing, which goes to Saint Mungo's only." Esther smiled. "Thank you Albus. With that settled, do you mind if I retire?"
"Not at all. Will you need help finding the guest rooms?"
"I'll be fine. Good night."
The next day dawned bright and clear, and very hot for Scotland. Esther was not bothered by the temperature, having lived in Rome and traveled around the Middle East. At breakfast she met with Albus again, this time chatting about magical theory. He escorted her to his office, where he gave her the map and a list of things she'd need for the coming school year. Esther took a moment to say goodbye to her new friend, then pinched a bit of sparkling green powder between her fingers and threw it onto the roaring fire. She stepped into the now emerald green flames, shouted "Diagon Alley!", and was gone.
She spun to a stop in what appeared to be a rather seedy pub. A toothless old man grinned at her from behind the bar. 'Tom', she remembered from the Professor's description of the place. Ignoring the other patrons, who seemed content to ignore her in return, Esther walked up to the bar. "Tom?" she nearly shouted to be heard over the din.
"Yes, miss? What can I be gettin' for ya?"
"If you could show me into the Alley, I'd be grateful."
"O' course. Just folla me." Esther and Tom pushed through the crowds, eventually exiting the pub via a back door. They entered a small, walled courtyard with nothing but a trash can and some weeds. Tom told Esther, "It's three up and two across," and turned to leave. "Wait!" Esther called. The man turned back with a curious look on his face. "I don't have a wand…" she murmured, blushing. Tom looked surprised. "Little old for that, aren't ya? No wand, and dressed in muggle clothes…y'ain't a muggle, are ya? Couldn't find this place if ya were, 'less someone told ya…" This last bit was said as an afterthought, almost as if Tom was talking to himself. Hoping to avoid an incident with Obliviators, Esther quickly replied, "No, no! I'm just new here. New to England, I mean."
"Oh? And where was ya before?"
"Italy. Rome, to be exact." A stricken look crossed Tom's face at Esther's words. "Oh, ya poor girl. Ya need any help, ya come here, alright?"
"Yes, and thank you, Tom. Now, could you open the doorway for me?"
"O' course." He tapped the before-mentioned brick three times with his own wand, and a small hole appeared. It grew wider and wider, and a few seconds later Esther was facing an archway large enough for several people to walk through, one that led onto a crowded, cobbled street that twisted and turned out of sight. Taking a deep breath, Esther stepped forward into a new world.
AN: Originally, this chapter was going to continue on to Esther's meeting with the Dursely household, but I wanted to post, and that last sentence seemed like a good cutoff point. Any questions or comments? Please review!
