Chapter 4: School Shopping

Bella and her mother walked towards the first bookshop they saw, which just happen to be called Whizz Hard Books. When Delilah and Bella walked in, the shop was only half full. All around the small shop were books with strange names having to do with all sorts of magical creatures and things of the like.

"Mum, look, here's a book on werewolves," Bella exclaimed holding a book out to her mother. "Did you know werewolves were real?"

Delilah nodded. "Your great-great-grandfather was one. But don't tell other people about that. The wizarding community here in Britain doesn't like them."

Bella thought for a moment. "Mum, can I get this book?"

Delilah smiled. "Alright, but we need to get your other books too. So what's on the list Bells?"

Bella pulled out a folded piece of paper from her back pocket. "First book on the list is The Standard Book of Spells (grade one). Where do you think that is?" she asked while looking around.

"Let's go ask the clerk. Grab a basket for your books too," her mother replied as she began walking towards the counter.

Bella grabbed a basket and caught up to her mother at the counter just as the clerk came over to his new customers.

"Welcome to Whizz Hard Books! What can I find for you today?" he asked with just a bit too much enthusiasm.

"Hello, we need to get, um, Bella?" Delilah tried to respond but turned to Bella.

"We need The Standard Book of Spells (grade one)," Bella answered politely.

The clerk nodded his head. "Hogwarts first year, yah?" Bella nodded her head. "Then you'll be needing all the other books on that list of yours," he said as he began grabbing different types of books off of the shelves all around the shop. After about five minutes, he had gathered together eight different books that covered her whole list. "For the purchase of every five books, you get one free book. You look like you might play Quidditch, so I thought you might enjoy this," the clerk stated as he handed Bella another book not on her list. It was titled Quidditch Through the Ages.

"Mum, can I get this one too?" she begged her mother.

"Oh, alright, but now we can get two free books."

Bella smiled. "Is there any fairytale books?"

The clerk smiled. "I've got just the thing." He disappeared behind a stack of books and came back with one book in hand. "This is The Tales of Beedle the Bard. It's got six stories in it that every wizarding child should know." The clerk looked back at Delilah. "Will that be everything Miss?"

"I think so. Thank you for finding these, I don't think we would have ever found them on our own," she said as she handed him enough money to cover all the books. "Thanks again," Delilah called as they left the shop carrying the paper wrapped books.

"Okay, where to next missy?" Delilah asked her daughter.

"How about a wand?" she replied.

"Sounds good. I think I saw a wand shop... there!" her mother pointed to a shop with a sign above it saying Ollivander's Wand Shop. "Come on, this is the best part."

As Delilah and Bella entered the wand shop, the latter noticed the thin layer of dust on everything. Then there was a soft thump as something landed on the ground.

"Hello," said a thin, older man. His hair was all grey and white and he had kind, silvery eyes.

"Hello," Bella replied. "I'm here to get a wand," she continued, smiling.

"Yes, yes, come closer and I'll see what I can find for you." The man disappeared into the columns of wand boxes. Soon he returned with a few boxes.

"Let's try this one," he suggested as he handed Bella an intricately carved oak wand. "Just give it a wave and see what happens."

Bella barely moved it but as soon as she did, all the papers on the store owner's desk flew into the air.

"No, not quite right. Hm, let's see... What's your name?" he asked Bella suddenly.

"Everyone calls me Bell," she replied.

"Is that your full name, Bell?"

Bella looked at her mother. She responded by nodded her head towards the store owner.

Bella sighed. "My name is Bellatrix."

The man seemed to tense for a single moment when she said this but the next moment he was normal again.

"I believe I have just the wand for you," he murmured as he rushed back into the columns of wands. "Perhaps, since you share your names and looks, you will also share your wands," he whispered so that no one else could hear. A minute later, he reappeared with a closed box.

"Here we are, I think this one will be perfect," he said as he removed the wand from the box and held it out to Bella. It was a simple wand made from ash wood. Reaching just over a foot long, it had a slight curve to it that made it beautiful in Bella's opinion.

As soon as she took it in her hand, Bella knew this wand was hers. It felt warm and when she waved it, a rush of air flew around her comfortingly.

"Whoa," she whispered as the gust died away.

"And now you have found a wand, or rather the wand has found you," the old man chuckled. "Let's ring it up and then you can be on your way for the rest of your school things."

. . . . .

"Mum, can we look at the animals now that I've got my robes," Bella asked as they neared the Magical Menagerie. "Please can we just look?"

Delilah thought about it a moment. The store did not look too busy and Bella had already said she did not need a pet. "Alright, but only for a few minutes."

"Yes!" Bella rejoiced as she hurried into the store and began looking around excitedly.

Every wall of the store was full of cages, all the way up to the ceiling. There were snails, cats, rats, ravens, and so much more. Bella was soon lost in the area full of cats. There was one cat in particular that seemed to stare at her just Professor McGonagall had when she was a cat.

"Hello," she said to the black cat. "What's your name?"

Suddenly the store owner appeared behind her. "Be careful of that one. She's not nice to strangers."

"Oh," Bella said. "She seems really nice right now. What's her name?"

"Baghera," the owner answered with an accompanying hiss from the cat.

"But that's a boy cat's name," Bella stated as the cat stopped hissing and looked at Bella again. "Shouldn't she have a nice girl's name?"

"That's for the cat's owner to decide. I just watch her until someone adopts her." With that the store owner left to see another customer wishing to adopt a bat.

"What did you find Bella?" Delilah asked as she came up to her daughter.

Bella petted the cat's nose. "A beautiful black cat, but she needs a proper name," Bella answered as Delilah also petted the cat's nose and got a purr from her.

"I agree she's a beautiful cat but we have to go sweetie. It's almost five."

Bella nodded her head sadly and whispered to the cat, "I've gotta go but I'll be back again sometime." Bella picked up her books from where she had set them down and walked to the store front with her mother. "Do you think we could adopt her next time, Mum?" Bella asked as they stepped out onto the busy alley.

"I think maybe we could," her mother answered as they reached the entrance to Diagon Alley. "We'll just have to see if she's there then."