Chapter 3: Trip to Diagon Alley

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Pyxis

I sat bolt upright, catching my breath. Nightmares are one of the most common occurrences in my life since I turned seven. It's always the same two. Drowning or jumping through nothingness. Like how Alice got to Wonderland.

I observed my surroundings. The intricately designed silver wallpaper, the silk drapes, and the beautiful silver and black bed. I'm still here. At least this is real. A peek outside the window told me that I woke up pretty early. I shrugged and decided to get ready for the day. But when I opened the closet, I had to do a double take.

"Damn." There, lining the closet, are dresses, certainly my size, of different kinds. I searched through the rack and after 10 minutes, found something suitable. The grey long-sleeved floral dress, the simplest of the bunch, is only decorated by a two inch wide black sash around the waist. The dress is fit on my body and the skirt fans out and ends on my knees. The same goes with the sleeves; fit on my upper arms and spreads down to my forearms to my wrists. I dug inside the drawers of the closet and found a pair of black leggings and footwear on the other drawer. The pair of black heels will go perfectly with the outfit but I chose the silver ballet flats over it for convenience.

I took my chosen outfit for the day and went to the bathroom that I estimate, is almost thrice the size of my bedroom. I took a nice warm bath and got dressed quickly. The clothes fit perfectly, as expected. I combed my long black hair and took in my appearance. This is weird, really weird.

I heard a pop of apparition behind me and turned to find a house elf behind me.

"Hi." I smiled at the elf.

"Mistress told Blinky to call miss for breakfast. Blinky will escort miss to the dining room." The elf said not acknowledging my greeting and avoided my eyes. I shrugged and followed the elf outside.

We just turned a corridor when I saw Draco arranging flowers on a vase? Yes, that's what he seems to be doing.

"Good morning." He looked up and nodded like what he did last night. He noticed the elf beside me.

"I'll escort her. You may go, Blinky." He ordered in a clipped tone. The elf nodded shakily.

"Thank you." I blurted out before the elf apparated.

We walked to the dining room, in silence, with Draco leading the way. I was about to ask how long until we get there when I noticed that we've arrived. The dining room is huge and well lit by the sunlight streaming through the large windows. Narcissa occupies the seat on the right side of the head of the table, keeping the large seat, obviously for the head of the family, Lucius Malfoy.

"Good morning." I greeted which she politely returned with a smile.

"How was your sleep?" She gestured for the breakfast to be served.

"Come sit here, beside me." I complied while Draco sat across from her.

"Very well, thank you, Narcissa." Not very good to mention my night terrors.

"And the clothes are very beautiful, thank you." Her smile brightened even more and that made me happy. The next thing she said, however, made me panic.

"I'm glad you loved it. Don't worry; I'll get you more dresses for your stay at Hogwarts."

"Oh no, I'm fine with just plain clothes for my stay there, jeans, blouses or jumpers. We'll be wearing our uniforms mostly, anyway." I reasoned.

"It's alright, dear. We'll buy your clothes later, okay?"

I could only nod in return. I spared a glance at Draco and saw that he's smiling. The git. I rolled my eyes at him and just ate breakfast.

We're now in Leaky Cauldron. Draco tapped the right bricks and it opened, revealing Diagon Alley. There aren't many people despite it being a week before classes.

"Okay, I'll go and get Pyxis' clothes and order both your books. You two get your other school things, robes, and a wand. Just have it delivered to the manor, Draco." Narcissa instructed.

"Yes, mother."

"Alright, then. These should be more than enough for all those things." Narcissa handed Draco a bag containing money and went on, leaving both of us there.

"Well, come on then. She's always like that." He walked ahead and I followed him.

We first got things we will need like quills and parchments. Then we entered Twilfitt and Tattings.

"Good morning, Mr. Malfoy."

"Good Morning. I need five school robes for her, two winter cloaks and four customized robes."

"What colours?" The shop owner asked while guiding me to a platform.

"Black for the winter cloaks. Grey, powder blue, black, and green for the customized. All with silver fastenings." Draco enumerated. The shop owner took looked at me from head to toe, looked a bit too close at my eyes, then nodded.

"Hey! Why do you get to choose my robe colours?" I asked turning to him. He just shrugged and looked outside.

After getting my measurements, Draco told the shop owner to just deliver it because we have a lot to go to.

"What's next?" I asked.

"A wand." He answered making me stop. He noticed and asked, "What is it?"

"I'm not- I'm not a witch" He raised an eyebrow, as if saying 'are you kidding me?'

"Really, I'm not."

"Dumbledore invited you to study at Hogwarts."

"He told me to stay there, not study." I retorted.

"That's basically the same." I turned away from him and paced a bit, fiddling with the sleeves of my dress.

"I don't even know why I'm here. I don't even know what the prophecy contains." I don't know what came over me but Draco was suddenly chastising me about my language.

"Whoa! The first thing I heard when I fell here was 'Bloody hell!' and I'm 101% sure that was you." He raised both hands in surrender.

"Why don't we just go to Ollivander's and let the wands there be the judge if you're a witch or not." I exhaled loudly.

"Okay." We continued our walk to the shop, this time side by side. We arrived and I stared at the sign that says 'Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382B.C.'. I've been dreaming for this all my life, and I'm very nervous.

"Good morning, Mr. Draco Malfoy – Hawthorn, 10 inches, unicorn hair, reasonably springy. Good to see you again" He turned to me. "And who might you be."

"Pyxis Raine Steller, sir"

"Aren't you a bit old for getting your first wand?" Before I could reply, Draco did for me.

"Got destroyed because of her clumsiness." He ruffled my hair and I swatted his hand away.

"Hold out your arm." I did and a measuring tape measured it on its own. After that, he went inside the store and came back with 10 or so dusty boxes.

"Well, why don't you try this: Willow, 11 inches, dragon heartstring, nice and supple." He gave me a wand. I gave it a wave and a spark destroyed a table behind us.

"Well, what about this one? Cypress, 10 inches, Phoenix feather, swishy" I tried it, only to break one of the windows. The same goes with the third, and fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh wands. Maybe it's because I don't have magic.

"Well, this is quite hard." He looked at me and glanced sideways. "Maybe..." Then he disappeared at the back of the plenty shelves. He came back with a very dusty box. He opened it and pulled out a wand with a very complex design.

"Whoa!" I exclaimed. Even Draco let out a small gasp. The wand has jewels. I think those are little sapphires, rubies, and emeralds circling the handle and continues with vine-like lines spiralling to the tip. In other words, magnificent.

"Try it, Ms. Steller." I took it gently and gave it a wave. It glowed and emitted sparkles that surrounded me.

"Birch, 12 ½ inches, Veela hair, delicate." Mr. Ollivander said when the light died down.

"Veela hair? I thought you don't make wands with Veela hair?" I asked.

"Yes, dear. Very temperamental wand. But how did you know that?" He asked with a curious look.

"I- uh" The good wand maker noticed my discomfort.

"Never mind that for now." He dismissed the topic. "You see, I did not make that wand. I found it. Someone left it here almost 14 years ago."

"Really?"

"Yes, and since it has found its owner after a long time, that's a gift for you, Ms. Steller."

"Oh I can't possibly-"

"I insist."

"Thank you very much, Mr. Ollivander." I profusely shook the old man's hand. Draco said his thanks and we went on our way.

We were eating ice cream at Florean Fortescue's, very delicious by the way, when I remembered the wand.

"How do you think that happened?" I asked making him stop.

"The wand." I elaborated. "I'm not a witch, I'm certain." I slumped on my seat and saw him roll his eyes.

"The wand chose you, isn't that enough proof?" I put my elbows on the table and leaned slightly closer to him.

"No! I grew up a muggle. Witches and wizards are fictional to us, so how the bloody hell could that happen?" I explained in a whisper.

"Maybe you're a muggle-born then." He continued eating.

"Or maybe it's a fluke?" Okay, I'm being a pessimist and I know it.

He set down his spoon and leaned on the table too.

"You know what? Why don't you try a spell?"

"A spell?"

"Yes, a spell. You know what a seer means, you should know what a spell is."

"Oi! Are you mocking me, Malfoy?" I raised an eyebrow at him.

"Not one bit, Steller. Just try a spell." He resumed eating. Seriously, I'm freaking out here and there he is, eating ice cream.

"Okay." I exhaled and pulled out the wand – my wand- and thought of a spell. I settled on the spell I know the incantation and wand movement by heart.

"Wingardium Leviosa" To my surprise, the leaf I directed the spell on floated. I guided it up and up, until it landed on our table.

"Oh my goodness!"

"I told you so." He looked at his watch.

"I forgot. I have to go and get something. You can go wander around, and let's meet back here in 15 minutes."

"Sure." He left and I went the opposite way he did. I passed by Flourish and Blotts and of course I can't resist looking at the books. I just looked at the displays and didn't bother going inside because I don't have money to buy anyway. Then I saw Madam Primpernelle's Beautifying Potions, Potage's Cauldron Shop, and a quaint teashop called Rosa Lee's Teabag. But what caught my attention was the Firebolt displayed at Quality Quidditch Supplies. The fastest broom yet. I sighed, of course I can't have this too. I was looking on the displays at Gambol and Japes Wizarding Joke Shop when someone bumped to me and I fell.

"Oh, we're sorry about that, missy."

"Here, let us help you." I looked up and found the Weasley twins, both their hands outstretched to me. I grabbed both hands and they helped me stand up.

"Thank you." I said, dusting myself off.

"It's nothing but let us-"

"-Introduce ourselves."

"I'm Fred and-" the one to the left said.

"-I'm George." The one to the right said. They both held out their hands.

"Pyxis Raine Steller" I introduced then shook both hands.

"What a very-" Fred said.

"-Beautiful name." George continued then they both kissed my hands. This made me blush a bit.

"Fred! George!" Mrs. Weasley suddenly appeared. "Where have you been? Are you-" she stopped when she saw the twins still holding my hands. "Oh, are these two bothering you, dear?" She asked me.

"Oh. No no no no. They were just helping me." I told her and introduced myself, smiling.

"And I'm Mrs. Weasley. Are you alone dear?"

"No. My friend is just getting something."

"Oh. Do you want two want to join us for something to eat?"

"Yes Pyxis-"

"- Do join us!"

"I don't know. He just forgot something, and I think we're heading straight home after."

"Alright. I hope to see you sometime again, dear. Come on, boys."

"Bye, Pyxis." The twins said in unison while waving at me. I waved back and they left.

I continued on my way and got back early. I sat on our table before, which was still unoccupied. I observed the students who are shopping for school supplies with their parents. I can't help but think how that feels, shopping here with my brothers. I think Diagon Alley will probably ban us if we all go here together. I was disrupted from my thoughts by a tap on my shoulder.

I turned and found a cage with an eagle owl. Its feathers a beautiful alternating black and white and it has piercing green eyes, the same shade as my eyes.

"For you. I decided not to have it delivered because I thought you might want to get acquainted with your pet. His supplies will be delivered later."

"He's gorgeous! Thank you, Draco." He handed the cage to me and I petted the owl.

"There you two – Oh what a beautiful owl!" Narcissa came from behind us. "Oh, it's time to go home, I had a hard time finding you two." She scolded lightly. I apologised and she was quick to accept it.

"Okay, now come on. It's almost time for dinner." She began walking and we quickly followed. With Narcissa leading the way, I quickened my pace to match Draco's. He must have seen my struggle because he gradually slowed down so I could catch up and to put some distance between us and his mother.

"Thank you."

"You've thanked me already, once is enough."

"No. Not just for the owl. For helping me since I got here, and for being stubbornly insistent that I try a wand. I wouldn't have known that I'm a witch if it wasn't for you. So, thank you." I smiled sincerely.

"Figuring out that you're a witch was all you. I just gave you a nudge, of sorts." He said, shrugging.

Then I remembered something that made me stop from my tracks.

"Wow, I was stupid."

"And why is that?" He gestured for me to keep walking.

"I've been to Leaky Cauldron. We flooed there, I saw it and been inside." I voiced out my thoughts, which came out jumbled, confusing Draco.

"You're not making any sense."

"The ability to go in, or just see the pub is a clear sign that you are a magical being. That was basic, how could I forget that?"

Our conversation was cut short because we arrived at Leaky Cauldron. We flooed back and once we're inside the manor, I put my owl in my room and went to the dining room for a nice dinner.

I am back in my room, feeding my owl with the treats Draco gave me since mine hasn't arrived yet. I'm deciding on a name when I heard a knock. I stayed silent, not knowing what to do if it wasn't Narcissa or Draco.

"Pyxis?" I let out a sigh of relief. I opened the door to a very strange sight. There, the young Malfoy stood, carrying 5 different coloured shopping bags and balancing a stack of books.

"Oh here, let me help."

"Books." I heard him say. So I took the books from him and lead the way to the table in the middle of the room. He put down the bags beside the books and enumerated what's in the bags. All of it is charmed with expansion charms. The first bag contains all that I'll need for school work; the second bag has my uniforms and robes; the other bag has my owl's supplies; and the fourth, to my absolute shock, has all the clothes Narcissa bought.

"I bet they're all dresses." Draco's smirk did nothing to alleviate my worries.

"Not to sound ungrateful, but I grew up with four older brothers, my dad, and my mum who has no fashion sense whatsoever. Well it's really my fault I didn't just tell that straightforwardly. I'm just trying to be polite-"

"Hey." I looked at Draco. "You're blabbering." I muttered an apology looking at my shoes.

"The last bag contains more clothes. Not dresses, for your information." I perked up at that and dove for the last bag. It's different from the bag that contains my robes and those dresses so I deduce that it came from a different shop.

"I don't really know what's in it. I just told the lady at the store to make clothes for girls that are not dresses." I pulled out the said clothes and saw blouses, jeans, cardigans, jumpers, basically all the things that I wear. I thought I even saw a t-shirt added to the mix.

"Is it to your liking?" He asked in a mocking, butler-like, voice. I laughed and, to my surprise, he smiled. A very tiny smile, but a smile anyway.

"You're my most favourite person right now." I began putting the clothes back in the bag to fix for later.

"Thank you again, really. Does Narcissa know about this?" I looked up from my task and saw him frown, then shrug.

"No. But she will, eventually." There was silence as I continued with my task, but not awkward like before.

"Have you decided on a name yet? For the owl?" He went to the animal and petted him.

"He's an eagle owl, right?" I asked for confirmation as I was pulling Hogwarts: A History from the middle of the stack of books.

"Yes."

"Aquila." I love constellations because my name is one, so no one can stop me from naming my owl by a constellation.

"That's actually a nice name." I saw him nod approvingly.

"What? Do you think I'll name him Spot or something?"

"Well who knows what goes on in that mind of yours?" I stuck my tongue out at him.

"You must be tired, I'll be going, Pyxis." I set the book down and guided him to the door.

"Thank you again, Draco."

"You're welcome. And I will recommend that you read those books before the term started, but I think there's no need to." He said, smirking.

"Yup!" I said, popping the last letter. He went out after that.

Before I could fully close the door, I heard him say a soft 'good night'

"Good night, Draco." I made sure that he heard it and I swear, I heard him chuckle.

After contemplating what happened, I just shrugged it off and went to the books waiting to be read.