Magical Encounters

Chapter six: WWW and The Magical Menagerie.

Disclaimer: I don't own Hp

"Robes?" Neville questioned looking at the supplies list he held in his hands.

"Check." Ariana replied checking the bag from Madam Malkin's.

"Spell books?"

"Check. All of them."

"Potion ingredients?"

"Check."

"Ok," Neville began folding the paper and stuffing it into his pocket. "We got everything that you are going to need for your first year at Hogwarts."

"So," Ariana started. "I guess we are done huh?"

"Not quite," Neville said as he smiled down at Ariana. "There are a couple more stops I believe we should make. These last stops aren't anything necessary but I think that every Hogwarts student needs to make a trip to these stores. Lets go this way first."

Ariana nodded as Neville began to lead her down the road of Diagon Alley. They walked briskly for about three minutes before Ariana caught view of a rather interesting looking shop that was directly in the path she and Neville were taking. Even from the outside the shop screamed individuality with a giant and colorful letter W right above the door. As they neared it Ariana looked up at Neville only to see that his smile had not left his face and in fact had only gotten bigger as they neared the shop.

They reached the threshold of the shop and Neville opened up the door for Ariana ushering her in as if he couldn't wait to get there himself. When Ariana went inside her jaw dropped. Everywhere she there were stacks upon stacks of colorful products on shelves. Ariana looked up to the ceiling to see that the ceiling itself was almost completely covered with posters. It was as she was looking up at the ceiling that she heard a loud, booming voice scream 'watch out!', which caused her to duck just as something whizzed past her. In the squatted she had put herself in, Ariana lost her balance and landed with a loud thump on her behind just as a tall red headed man rushed toward her.

"Er, hi." The man said, leaning down to offer Ariana a hand which she more than happily took. "Sorry about that, just a new product I'm trying out. It's called- well, uh I don't really know what it's called quite yet."

"It's ok." Ariana said quickly looking at her feet before looking up to the man and smiling uncertainly just as Neville met up with them after being distracted by a product.

"George!" Neville said, hugging the man. "How are you? Man, the shop looks great! I saw the new fireworks and they look awesome. Oh! But where are my manners. This is Ariana Dumbledore and she is coming to Hogwarts this year."

"Oh," George started. "Well Hello then I'm George Weasley, the owner of this fine establishment, Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes."

"Hi," Ariana replied timidly.

"So a Dumbledore huh? Well, I got two kids in Hogwarts myself. Roxie is going into her first year just like you and Fred is going into his third. They are around her somewhere actually." George walked to the stairs a few paces beside them and looked up. "Roxie! Fred! Come down here, there is someone who wants to meet you!"

"Well that's good." Neville said, as Roxanne and Fred walked downstairs and introduced themselves to Ariana. "At least now you will know some one on the train to Hogwarts. Ok, well why don't you kids go hang out and I will talk to George for a little while. Ari I will come find you when its time for us to go."

Ariana nodded and she and the kids walked away, happily chatting. Neville turned to George who gestured to a table in a corner of the shop. They walked to the table and sat down across from one another.

"So Neville," George began. "A Dumbledore huh? Who would have thought that Aberforth could find himself a lady? Not me. But, uh, why are you taking her around? You know, isn't that usually a family thing?"

"Aberforth was the only family she had." Neville said, his voice proving that there was sadness in his story. "He died eleven years ago, around the same time she was born. I have no idea about what happened to her mother. My guess is that she has lived in an orphanage her entire life."

"That blows," George began, making Neville blink up at him. "She looks so much like the picture of his little sister, it would have meant the world to Aberforth to see her. Too bad he didn't get the chance."

"Yeah."

"Have you told her yet? About Dumbledore and you-know-who? I know that things are different these days but I think she should know why everyone is going to be in awe of her last name."

"Yeah, I know I have to tell her. I just don't know how. But I will do it, eventually."

"Ohmigosh!" Ariana said as she and Neville reached a shop called the Magical Menagerie. "Roxanne and Fred told me about this place. Am I allowed to get a pet? That would be so awesome! I have always wanted a cat."

Neville smiled at her and lead her inside.

Ariana took in everything she could. The smells, the noises, and all the animals. She was walking through the aisles quickly while still keeping an eye out for any cat that truly caught her eye. She had walked through all the aisles of the store, and was disappointed. There was no cat that caught her eye and on top of that she had lost site of Neville. Again.

Ariana was just about to give up and walk outside when she saw her. There were a stack of cages on one corner of the store and although most were filed with old owls and fat rats, there was one cage in which lay a small little white kitten. Ariana walked up to the cage and read the sign beside it.

'Hi there, I'm Abby. I'm 8 months old but I haven't grown in size since I was four months old. If you want to adopt me then I won't cost you much, but it's been speculated that I was charmed at birth and no one is sure what that might mean in the future'

Ariana looked at Abby. The cat had gotten up now and was looking at her curiously with my innocent looking blue eyes. Ariana smiled at the cat and leaned her head in closer to the cage and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath in and suddenly felt an odd feeling on her forehead. She opened her eyes to find that Abby had started licking her forehead and from that instantly she was sold.

Ariana picked up the cage carefully and called out for Neville until she found him. He stepped out of some random aisle and walked her up to the counter. Ariana's excitement grew as the lady supplied her with all that she would need to take care of Abby for a year at school. Ariana took her mokeskin pouch out to pay the lady and was stopped, by Neville.

"Think of this as a gift," Neville said while handing the money to the woman at the counter. "You're birthday is on the 1st of September anyway right? Well that's not too far away so just think of this as your birthday present."

Ariana hugged Neville tightly and when they left the store she couldn't help but smile as she held the cage of her new companion. She and Neville walked through Diagon Alley quickly and toward its entrance. They reached the pub and with a wave to Hannah set off toward Neville's car. The ride was silent and when they reached the orphanage Ariana was surprised to find that Neville was not leaving the car.

"Ari," Neville began. "I will be back for you on September first to take you to the train station. Make sure you pack everything in your trunk and have Abby in her cage by nine o'clock. The train leaves at eleven but it will take us a while to get there so please be prompt. I will see you soon Ari."

Ari waved as he rode away but the instant he was gone he turned tail and ran into the orphanage. She was, of course, very excited about showing everyone her new cat but more than that, she was terrified. It was around six thirty by the looks of things and that meant that dinner had been served and Ariana wasn't at the table. Mary was going to be furious and not wanting to make matters worse Ariana bolted into the house and made her way to her room and down to the table as quickly as possible.

Hey everyone it's Becca. I'm so glad I have been writing lately its exciting. But anyway I don't know how often I'm going to write but I hope you all like it. Next time is the train ride. =] see ya.