Author's note: To Shinigami, Emily's house isn't quite decided yet, though I'm leaning toward Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. It's a toss-up between her bravery and her intelligence and love of books. I like the house unity idea and might go for it. However, that will end up with one or two surprising Sortings. Don't worry about Neville and Luna. I have every intention of having them be friends with Emily's group. Besides, it was hinted in the first chapter that Emily and Neville would become friends. Snape's reaction to Emily is going to be different from the books, since she looks exactly like Lily except for the glasses and ears. I won't go into further detail. I hope everyone enjoys their holidays.
In the morning, the Grangers, Evanses, and Emily went to London. After a bit of prompting from Aunt Petunia, Emily spotted a grubby-looking place that was the Leaky Cauldron. Hermione then grabbed her parents' hands and pointed out the pub to them, for Muggles couldn't see it otherwise. Once inside, Aunt Petunia asked Tom, the barman, for help to get into Diagon Alley. Unfortunately, he spotted Emily and after peering closely at her, gasped. "Good Lord, is this - can this be -?"
The Leaky Cauldron had suddenly gone completely still and silent.
"Bless my soul," whispered the old barman. "Emily Potter ... what an honor."
He hurried out from behind the bar, rushed towards Emily and seized her hand, tears in his eyes.
"Welcome back, Miss Potter, welcome back."
Emily didn't know what to say. Everyone was looking at her. An old woman with the pipe was puffing on it without realizing it had gone out. Then there was a great scraping of chairs and, next moment, Emily found herself shaking hands with everyone in the Leaky Cauldron.
"Doris Crockford, Miss Potter, can't believe I'm meeting you at last."
"So proud, Miss Potter, I'm just so proud."
"Always wanted to shake your hand - I'm all of a flutter."
"Delighted, Miss Potter, just can't tell you. Diggle's the name, Dedalus Diggle."
A pale, young man that stuttered also came forward and introduced himself as Professor Quirrell, the Defence Against Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts, adding that he was in Diagon Alley to pick up a book on vampires. A giant of a man then enveloped Emily in a hug and said that he was Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of the Keys at Hogwarts. He had known Lily and James Potter quite well and was the one that had brought Emily to her aunt and uncle. He added that he was at Diagon Alley on important business for Professor Dumbledore.
Finally, with Hagrid's help, Emily was able to escape the crowd in order to get her supplies. Doris Crockford, who had shaken Emily's hand several times, did so one last time, and then the Grangers, Evanses, and Emily followed Hagrid out of the Leaky Cauldron and to the back. After showing the brick in the wall to tap, Hagrid tapped it three times with the pink umbrella he was carrying. It quivered - it wriggled - in the middle, a small hole appeared - it grew wider and wider - a second later they were facing an archway large enough even for Hagrid, an archway on to a cobbled street which twisted and turned out of sight.
They went through and headed for a snowy-white building that towered over the other little shops, which was the wizarding bank, Gringotts. Emily couldn't help gaping at the goblin standing by the doors, even though Alex had told her that goblins ran Gringotts and she had read about them. When they were almost there, a green-robed figure ran down the stairs and skidded to a stop in front of Hermione, barely managing to keep from colliding with her. "Great, you're here!" He threw his arms around her in an exhuberent hug and then hugged Emily and Diana.
When he was done, he apparently remembered his manners, for he quickly straightened his robes and with a slight bow, said politely, "Hello, Ms. Evans and Mr. and Mrs. Granger. How are you?"
Aunt Petunia smiled. "We're fine, Alex. It's nice to see you." The adults had met him once, and Hermione's parents had told him not to call them 'Dr. Granger' in order to avoid confusion as to which one he was referring to.
Hagrid introduced himself and Alex said, "It's a pleasure to meet you. Since my father doesn't like you, I'm sure I'll get along well with you. Father is Amycus Carrow, by the way."
Hagrid chuckled. "Well, most of teh Slytherin students didn' care much for me, anyway. Since you're nothin' like yer father, I agree that we'll probably get along great." He then handed Emily the key to her vault, after hunting through his many coat pockets, and after excused himself to run his errand for Dumbledore.
The Grangers went to a counter to exchange pounds into Galleons and Sickles. Aunt Petunia did the same, but also let the girls go with a goblin named Griphook to the Potter vault and allowed Emily to withdraw some of the money in it for her spending money. Alex joined the girls and after Emily's vault, went to his, which had been set up for him when he was born and withdrew some money as well.
After that, they rode the cart back up and left the bank. In Flourish and Blotts, Hermione had to be talked out of buying all the books she wanted for extra reading. Diana reminded her that she and Emily were also getting a few extra books and could borrow them when they were done. Alex added, "And the Hogwarts library has most of the books here and you can check them out, Mia. If they don't have a book, or you're not allowed access to it, my family's library probably has it and I'll lend it to you."
At the Apothecary, the group ran into a round-faced boy with brown hair and eyes and a formidable looking eldery lady that apparently was his grandmother. They recognized Emily and the boy nervously introduced himself as Neville Longbottom. His grandmother said that she was Augusta Longbottom and that her grandson was starting Hogwarts. Diana, Hermione, and Alex introduced themselves while Emily frowned slightly. Aunt Petunia, when telling about her sister, had shown a letter telling about the birth of her niece. One line had mentioned how Lily's friend, Alice Longbottom, had gone into labour the same day, but had ended up having her son the day, or rather a few hours before Lily had Emily.
"Is your mother Alice Longbottom, Neville?" Emily asked.
A sad expression briefly crossed Neville's face before he nodded and asked, "Why do you ask, Emily?"
"She was mentioned in a letter that my mum wrote to Aunt Petunia, how I was born the day after you were, though both our mothers had gone into labour at almost the same time. From the letter, I gather they were friends. I think it'd be great if their only children were friends as well."
Neville brightened immensely. "You want to be friends with me? But you're famous and all, and I'm just ordinary."
"Nonsense," said Emily. "I think you have the qualities of a great friend, like Di and Alex and Mia. I'm sure my parents would approve, since they were friends with yours and Mum did write in the letter that she hopes you and I will become friends someday."
"Okay," said Neville, glancing at his grandmother, who smiled approvingly. Mrs. Longbottom obviously had no objection to her grandson being friends with the Girl-Who-Lived and her friends.
The Longbottoms went with the group to Madam Malkin's for robes. There they came across a red-haired family, which from Alex's description, Emily gathered to be the Weasleys. The oldest boy was being measured for new robes. His twin brothers looked annoyed and when they asked why Percy got new robes, their mother responded that it was because he had been made prefect. The only girl in the family, who also appeared to be the youngest, saw Emily's scar and let out a squeal of delight. She got the attention of the rest of her family and introductions were made. The fourth and youngest boy, Ron, was just starting Hogwarts. The twins, Fred and George, were going to be third years, while Ginny, the girl was ten and wouldn't start Hogwarts until next year.
"Ron, I definitely want to be your friend," said Alex with a slightly wicked grin. "It would annoy my father to no end that I was friends with a Weasley. Though you seem to be a nice person and someone I'd want for a friend, anyway, regardless of your name."
When everyone that was buying robes had been measured, the Weasleys had to leave, but Ron and Ginny promised to write so the group of kids could get to know each other better. After a stop to buy parchment, ink, and quills, the Longbottoms left, but Neville promised to write.
On the way to Ollivanders for wands, Hagrid stopped them and handed Emily his birthday present to her, a beautiful snowy owl in a cage. She thanked him sincerely.
At the wand shop, Mr. Ollivander was a somewhat creepy old man with silvery eyes. He apparently remembered every wand he had ever sold, for he told Emily about the wands her parents had bought, plus the one that had given her the scar on her forehead. Finally was the process of finding the perfect wand. It took so long for Emily to find hers that Alex, Diana, and Hermione began trying the ones she discarded to save time. Hermione's was vine wood with dragon heartstring core, Alex's rowan with the same core as Hermione's, and Diana's was oak with unicorn hair core. After trying almost every wand in the shop, Emily ended up with holly with phoenix feather core.
When the prefect wand had finally chose her, Ollivander revealed that the phoenix that gave a feather for her wand had also given one for another wand. That wand, the brother one, was responsible for Emily's scar. She couldn't help shuddering and the other three exchanged looks.
Finally Farra appeared and magically transported all the things Alex had bought home. The group had lunch in the Leaky Cauldron, in a private room so Emily wouldn't have to be fussed over by everyone else in the pub.
When it was over, Alex handed her a present wrapped in green and gold. She opened it to find a card, box of sweets, and a diary with emerald covers that matched her eyes. "Happy birthday, Emily." He then glanced at his watch and added, "I'd better Floo home now. Father will be home soon and if I'm not there when he's back, he'll ask why I took so long to buy my school things. See you guys later. Bye, Mr. and Mrs. Granger and Ms. Evans." With that, he went to use one of the fireplaces to Floo home.
The Evanses, Emily, and the Grangers drove back home then. On the way, the three girls discussed names for Emily's owl and in the end decided on Hedwig, from a famous witch mentioned in the book A History of Magic.