Chapter Three

"Where WERE you?" her mother shouted as Allie burst into the door, panting and sweating like a dog because of the long run from the telephone booth.

"It's a funny story…" Allie said between breaths. She thought quickly, then decided not to tell her mother what had really happened in the sacred magical world.

"I got lost on my way there, and then the checkout lines were packed. But I brought the milk and eggs," was all Allie said.

"And WHY on EARTH didn't you just call me on the payphone?" Mom questioned. Bridget started to creep back towards the hallway, scared.

"All of the nearest ones were out of order," Allie said as she slumped back into a poufy arm chair. Her mother trampled on about how she should have known better, but Allie's thoughts led back to the phone booth. She must have typed in the wrong number… but what number had she put in to get to the Ministry?

"and you had us SO WORRIED!" her mother ended, huffy and red-faced.

"Wha…?" Allie asked.
"Oh, NEVERMIND!" shouted Mom. And with one last angry breath, she stormed back into the kitchen and started furiously whisking the eggs that Allie had brought back. She stared up at the clock, which read 4:45. The party had already started - over two hours ago!!!

Life was no better when she finally arrived. All of her friends, especially Peyton, were furious that she had overlooked what would have made her forget her troubles and have a good time.

"I just couldn't get here, okay?" Allie replied for the millionth time as her annoyed friends pounded her with questions.

"Well why didn't you just call us before you left or did whatever it is you did?" asked Peyton. She looked like she was holding back tears.

"Yeah, you promised us all! You're the one with the party plans!" retorted Julie as she backed up her friend.

"Well, it was kinda important, and I was rushed out of the house, so I couldn't call you," said Allie again, but her friends didn't look convinced. Well it was partially true. She was rushed out of the house to go get her sister's cake ingredients, and she only had enough money for one phone call (besides grocery money). Why couldn't her friends just believe her?

"I'm sorry, but I, um… just can't tell you what I was doing, all right! Uh… my mom told me I, er… couldn't tell anyone," finished Allie lamely.

"Oh, sure," Peyton snapped back. "Without anything to do, all we did for the past two hours was sit around on the floor, talk, and listen to my parents screaming at each other, packing up their memories in cardboard boxes!" The group of girls stalked off, and she heard muttering about 'getting something from the kitchen.' Allie was sure she heard a sob.

Now what'll I do? thought Allie. She knew the wasn't welcome in Peyton's house anymore.

The next morning, wandered around the blacktop at school, thinking about her friends in the other world. She decided she'd go back down to the Ministry that day. It would surely take her mind off Peyton, and she already had an alibi in mind for her mother.

Sure enough, after Allie had finished her homework, she told her mom that she was going to Julie's house until dinner time, took a coin from her piggy bank, and headed straight for the telephone booth. She thought she might forget where it was, but she heard the shiny silver circle fall in with a plop, and started to think of the number she entered to get to the Ministry of Magic.

Now what was that number…Oh yeah! She typed in the number, received her badge, and just like magic, she was descending again into the Ministry. When the booth finally brought her to her destination, she realized that Lily, James, and Albus might not be there.

What if they're out doing something else? she thought. They can't spend their whole lives in here!

Suddenly, a girl with flaming red hair was bursting, out of nowhere, toward Allie. She almost toppled over as Lily came to an abrupt stop right in front of her nose.

"Where were you? I've been hanging out here for hours waiting for you to come and visit!" Lily exclaimed, who looked like she was a volcano that just exploded (the bright hair added to the effect).

"Really? It seems like it's been days!" started Allie, but as she finished her sentence, another girl joined them, accompanied by her mother, who looked exactly like her. They both had bushy, brown hair, and apparently, the same love for books. The mother and daughter were chatting rapidly about a new book that seemed to be in a bag labeled Flourish & Blotts.

"Hey, Rose!" called Lily. The girl wandered over as her mother went to talk to Ginny. She looked like she was lost in her thoughts; clutching the bag in her hands. "Um, Rose? Earth to RO-ose! There you are! I'd like to introduce you to my friend, Allie!"

"Hi!" said Rose cheerfully. She could tell that Rose was Hermione's daughter. The hair, the book, and the fact that both Rose and her mother were in the picture on Harry's desk were enough to prove it. Allie was so jealous! She would love to be Hermione's daughter (and go to Hogwarts, as a matter of fact)!

"Hi!" replied Allie, who was bursting with questions once again. I see that you were just out shopping…"

"Yes, we were just in Diagon Alley getting some of my new school supplies, and Mum got me an early birthday present!" Rose held up the silver Flourish & Blotts bag.

"Diagon Alley?" Allie breathed to herself under her breath.

"We were going to finish shopping tomorrow afternoon," added Lily. "Since you're going to a different school, you'll probably have to shop somewhere else, but it wouldn't matter. Would you like to join us?"

"Would I love to!" said Allie.

"And anyway, some of your listed items must be in at least one of the shops! finished Rose.

Allie came out of her daydream and suddenly remembered that she wasn't a witch, wasn't going to any wizarding schools, and to top it all off, she didn't have any wizarding money.

"Oh, um… I have one small problem," said Allie.

"My parents are Muggles, and all we have is regular Muggle money, so I don't know if I could go to Diagon Alley. My cousins did pretty much all of my shopping for me." Allie almost giggled herself silly; calling her currency "Muggle Money."

"Don't worry," Hermione had joined their group, accompanied by Ginny.

"Gringott's transfers Muggle money. Trust me, I've done it before," Hermione smiled.

Allie thought she might faint again. I know, she thought. I know everything about you. Good thing Lily took hold of the conversation. "Oh! Hermione, this is Allie."

Allie was so full to the brim with questions that she felt like she would explode like a hot pot of popcorn.

"Well, girls, if we're going shopping tomorrow afternoon, we might as well bring your brothers along," said Ginny.

"And here they come now!"

Harry, accompanied by his two boys, the red-haired man that must be Ron, and the little, red-haired boy who looked about Lily's age just stepped out of the telephone booth.

"Dad, we're going shopping tomorrow, so try not to miss us!" called Lily as the girls burst into a silent fit of giggles.

"We'll try not to," replied Harry with a wink. "Actually, we were planning to go shopping tomorrow, too," added Ron.

"Really, Dad? You boys? Shopping alone? No!" gasped Rose as another laughing fit came on.

"We can shop too, you know!" shouted the red-haired boy.

"Oh, sure you can, Hugo," replied Rose.

"I know!" exclaimed Lily. "We'll have a race! The one to finish shopping first wins!"

"You're on!" shouted James. It was set. The great shopping race would take place tomorrow, in Diagon Alley. Allie was crazily animated even as the words ran through her head:

I'm going shopping in Diagon Alley!