To Yuki: whose always on the same wavelength as me, when it comes to paranormal stuff.
To Crystal and Alice: Lord help me, what am I going to do with you?
To Davina: "Don't cuss."
To Kailah: "I've met John!" Yeah, you sure have sweetie. Oh and winky face..x
To Alyssa: My alcohol-free zone, may you inspire me to behave. You deserve to live to over a hundred.
Okay, this chapter, we are unleashed, and causing trouble the way only we can, hope you enjoy and as always, this is for you.
Me arseholes…x
Dawn
Diagon alley is something out of a fairytale. Everywhere you turned there was old-fashioned stores selling large cauldrons, hissing black cats, fire-belching silver tins and so much more. This shouldn't have been real; I swear down, it belonged in a book, not in my life. I looked at the rest, all eyes big, round and glassy. I wondered if mine was like that, because, honestly, I felt like I did when I was six years old and in Toys 'r' us.
My dad led us to a small and weathered looking shop, it's gold lettering proclaiming it to be Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC.
"Hey," Alyssa looked at the sign that hung over-head. "Do you think he knew Jesus?"
I opened my mouth, but my dad's laughter made me pause. "Why don't you ask him yourself?" he grinned, pushing open the door.
The tinkling of the bell rang softly as we stepped over the threshold, gazing around the tiny shop and it's single wooden chair. The walls were covered with long, narrow boxes, reaching up to the ceiling, yet there was something…buzzing about the still shop. Something…alive.
"Did anyone else feel that?" Kailah whispered, rubbing her arms.
"Magic, my dear." A soft voice came from somewhere amongst the shop. An old man, with pale, shining eyes stood before us, his presence making my heart race with slight surprise.
His pale eyes found my dad and he smiled. "Ah, John Heart. I hope you have been keeping good care of your wand. Ash wood, twelve inches?"
I watched as my dad nodded guiltily, his hand gently holding his wand.
He turned his curious eyes to my and the gang, "I received a letter from Dumbledore, explaining the situation. Right," he looked at Kailah, "You first?"
"Um,"
"Excellent."
My dad cleared his throat. "I'll go get your money changed at Gringotts," everyone began to produce bank notes and handed it over. "Right so, that's a hundred for you, one-fifty for you…"
Once he was told for like the eight time, he left.
I leaned against the wall and watched as the old man examined her right arm. He began to measure, from wrist to elbow, shoulder to the tip of her index finger, width length, maybe even the bloody area too. When he was finished, he somehow produced a long thin box. "Try this. Yew, seven inches, phoenix hair, nice and supple." He handed it to her and told her to wave it. Looking at the rest of us with awkward eyes, Kailah waved the wand in her hand, and sending Alice flying across the room.
"You did that on purpose!" Came the small, feisty girl's muffled accusation.
Kailah tried to keep a sober expression. "Did not."
"Did so,"
"Not."
"So."
"Oh dear," Ollivander shook his head, plucking the wand from Kailah's grasp and handing it to Alyssa. "You try."
Her answering grin made me feel uneasy. Deliberately, she pointed at Alice, who at this point had her absurdly curvaceous arse in the air as brought herself up from the floor.
Torn between laughter and guilt, I shook my head. "Nah, c'mon."
There was a sudden flash of pure white light; it's harshness making me squint and look away. I'm not sure when the light died, because I was seeing black spots, my vision blurry, until Alice's piercing laughter cut though. "Oh" she gasped, doubling over and holing her sides. "My – God" she wheezed, tears streaming down her rich coca cheeks.
Blinking, I looked around, eyes resting on Alyssa, her usual dark and smooth hair was a pure shade of white, crackling with electricity and sticking out in tuffs.
"Oh…" Kailah took one long look at her friend, before bending over with laughter, her head bobbing, up, down, up down, down and then she hit the floor.
"What?" Alyssa demanded, eyes disbelieving. "I think this one is faulty," Then her eyes narrowed. "You did this," she pointed accusingly at Alice. "You and you next unholy voodoo crap."
The old man looked positively petrified. Aw, bless. I don't think he's used to having a bunch of mad girls unleashed onto his small and unprotected shop.
It was going to be a long day.
After the whole Alice/Alyssa fiasco, we actually calmed down and behaved, like we all did at school, a week before parents evening. Davina was the first to find her wand, although I wouldn't have guessed – nothing happened only that she started jumping up and down, saying, "OhMyGosh." Not pausing for breath, "ThisIsMine."
"Evergreen, Phoenix core, 11.5 inches. Light." Ollivander nodded, as if it all made sense.
Yuki was next, her dark brown eyes going wide. "This is so cool," she breathed, holding her wand up so she could admire it better. Alyssa and Alice ducked, obviously they learned they're lesson. Yuki's was Leprechaun hair, Oak, 12 inches. Flexible.
Then it was Kailah, who looked both scared and fascinated as she learned that her wand was Unicorn hair, Maple wood, 13.5 inches, unyielding.
I was suddenly becoming bored, having not found my wand, and the pile of magic sticks were growing, I wondered, if I would ever get a wand.
"Cherry wood, Dragon Heartstring, 12 inches. Well balanced." The tone in Mr. Ollivander's voice implied then I wasn't the only one getting bored. The wand was passed round, first Crystal, then Alyssa, and as I reached out my hand for the wand, a warm tingling sensation coursed through my veins like electrified blood. As soon as the long, thin magic stick touched the bare skin of my hand, I suddenly felt…complete, as if I was missing a part of me until now. It was as if the wand had become an extension of my arm, a part of me. "Mine." I looked up at everyone else. "This is so mine."
Crystal found hers almost immediately after I did, Elm, 11 inches, Leprechaun hair, smooth. Ollivander told us all proudly that it was the hair from the same head as Yuki's wand. Then he started a long lecture on how they must have a strong connection or bond forged between them. Please, tell me something I don't know.
I watched, with a smile as Alice and Alyssa were the only ones left. This, as always, should be interesting.
The pile of already-tried wands was getting larger, and I was beginning to wonder if maybe, Mr. Ollivander didn't have a wand to suit the unlikely pair.
I sat on the floor, leaning against the wall, feeling the heat creep up on me, with so many people in such a small and confined space, it was starting to get harder to breathe. Claustrophobic? Me?
"Finally," I heard Alyssa mutter, her hair now normal, as she gazed down at the wand in her hand with a raised brow. "You took your time."
"Are you talking to your wand?" Alice demanded, hands on hips.
"Ah, Rosewood, Veela hair, 13 inches sturdy."
"Shut up, just `cus you can't find yours" her tongue stuck itself out at Alice, not really listening to the wand maker, who sighed and looked defeated.
Flashing the 'magic' finger back, Alice rolled her eyes and turned her frustration on the poor shopkeeper. "How many more left?"
"Don't worry Miss…"
"How many?"
"Twenty-seven."
Alice stamped her foot. "Aw, I'm moan-ing." She crossed her arms, looking every inch a rich-daddy's girl. "What if I don't find mine?"
"You will," Davina put her arm around Alice.
"Yeah," I nodded, "Don't worry."
"Fool," Kailah teased with a smile.
Crystal and Yuki gave her sympatric looks.
We all turned to Alyssa. "What?" she rolled her eyes. "well, she'll always have her voodoo."
Wand number nine, turned out to be Alice's wand, Willow, 12.5 inches, Phoenix core, swishy.
It would seem that Mr. Ollivander was glad to see us go.
"Oh," I paused, "My dad's not here." No money, the idiot, what was taking him?
"Don't worry, you can leave your wands here, and you father can collect them when he comes. Why don't you girls have a look around?"
"Sure," we really did scare the guy.
We all hurried out of the small shop, out into the blistering July heat. "This is real, isn't it?" Crystal looked back at the shop her pretty brown Asian eyes as wide as they could go.
"Yeah," I breathed, shaking my head and grinning. "It's real."
"Wow," Alyssa remarked.
"Yeah," Davina said wryly, "Wow."
"Excuse me, ladies." A voice floated towards us. "May I be pardoned to ask if you fine girls are interested in wand dust?"
"What?" Alyssa laughed, as a lanky, dirt-encrusted man broke free of some next shadow I didn't notice. "Is he trying to pimp us out?"
The man's long features drew up. "I do not understand."
"Pimp out, it means when some next dodgy man tries to…"
"What's 'wand dust'?" Alice injected, a dangerous gleam in her dark eyes.
The 'pimp' drew himself up into full height, which was quiet a lot if you got your ruler out to measure, and smiled the way any sale's person would. "The excess dust after your wand has produced a spell, when inhaled, can cause a pleasurable feeling of floating-ness…"
"You get high?" She cut in.
"Well,"
"How much?"
The man looked shocked, then pure delight crossed his face, you'd think we'd just saved his life or something. "Well, I can give you a sample, and if you want more, it'll be ten Galleons."
Alice didn't even blink at the new currency. She held out her hand, palm up, waiting.
The man reached inside his coat pocket, looking around. "You never got this from…"
"Whatever. Give me my free sample." She snapped her fingers to speed up the process.
In her hand, she held a small red silk bag that was fastened at the top; it looked out of the ordinary for the filthy dude it came from. We all stared at it, waiting for it to explode or something along those lines.
"Well, the pimp's gone." I looked up to see Alyssa looking around, eyes all dark and wary.
"Alice, are you seriously going to try it?" Kailah was looking from the bag to Alice, hands on hips her expression torn between shock and curiosity.
"I'll do it with you," Crystal volunteered, coming closer to inspect the bag.
Yuki shook her head and kissed her teeth, muttering "Fool," under her breath.
"Guys," Davina said, eyeing the bag with longing. "It could be dangerous," She almost seemed pained to have to be the one to suggest it.
"I've already thought about that," Alice said, in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Oh lord," Kailah said loudly.
"I swear Kailah can like heal people and shit?" she turned to the girl in question with expected raised brows. Kailah nodded. "So, anything goes wrong, she'll do whatever and we're ok."
"Yeah, well she can't bring people back from the dead," I snapped, glaring at the bag. "Can you?" I paused, looking at Kailah.
"Um," she gave a nervous laugh. "I never tried."
"Ok. So. What if it kills instantly?"
Alice rolled her eyes, "Please, stuff like that only happens if you mix alcohol and other drugs with it, and even then you have to have health conditions."
"Your not taking it," I ordered, crossing my arms over the 34 E's.
"I appreciate the concern Dawn, but honestly."
"Are you taking it, Crystal?" Davina asked, still eyeing the bag as Alice stuffed it down her bra.
Crystal sighed. "I might,"
Yuki kissed her teeth again.
My dad turned up after that, oblivious to the fact that Alice just got herself free drugs. When I was younger, I used to think my dad was psychic, that he could always tell what I was up to, and sometimes, when ever he walked passed my bedroom, I used to stop thinking of x-rated scenes with whatever guy I like that week and pictured rainbows and unicorns. Of course, that theory diminished when I started sneaking off my friends to parks with bottles of vodka and whiskey, and came home with breath smelling of Extra's chewing gum.
So, my dad's not psychic, just a wizard.
After purchasing our wands, dad handed us each a pouch-full of coins, most of them gold, with a few silver and bronze.
"The gold one is called a Galleon, the silver Sickles and the bronze ones are called Knuts."
"Ah," we all nodded as if this was important and that we understood.
"Right so," My dad said cheerfully. "I'll go get your book and equipment, why don't you girls have a look around, buy something nice?"
We all nodded.
"Behave yourselves and stay together."
"Okay, bye dad."
"Bye Mr. Heart."
My poor father, thinking if seven girls stuck together, they wouldn't attract attention, or trouble. Little did he know that, we demand attention, and hey, trouble and our gang are old friends.
Yeah, dad isn't psychic, just plain old hopeful
Stupid ass fool
Sorry, daddy, love you really.
We wandered around for a bit, enjoying the sights, chatting and giggling, singing and dancing along the cobbled street. People wearing bright coloured robes and pointy-witch hats paused to smile and shake their heads.
After a while, I paused, looking at the others. "Have you noticed that they are no kids around?"
Davina rolled her eyes and grinned at me. "Face it Dawn, you mean that they're no boys around."
I smiled. "Yeah," and gave a suggestive wink.
"Is there any place that would sell us alcohol?" Alice demanded. "It's hot and my feet hurt."
"Same," Alyssa agreed, for once, not telling the girl to shut up.
"Maybe we could ask someone?" Kailah supplied.
"Yeah," Alice agreed sarcastically. "Because we really are going to go up to someone and say, 'Hey, you know a place that will sell seven teenage girls alcohol in broad daylight?' Just no."
Kailah glared. "We don't need alcohol."
"Says the alcoholic," I muttered loudly.
Davina intervened. "Why don't we try there." She pointed to a small bar just up the street. "We can say, we just want some coke or something."
"Why don't Dawn do her thing?" Alice asked.
I sighed, already pulling my top down a bit, so the top of my red bra could be seen, and well, a lot of pale skin along with it.
"Aw bless you Dawn," Kailah muttered. "Your arms are like, a golden colour and your boobs are as white as milk."
"Shut up."
"You love me really."
The small bar was an improvement from the last one we had been in. The atmosphere had life to it, the sound of ringing laughter welcomed us.
Feeling slightly idiotic, I made a beeline to the bar, the girls close at my heels.
The tender smiled at us. "What can I get for you, ladies?"
"Um," I opened my mouth but Alice spoke for me. "What's the strongest you have?"
There were a few chuckles from behind and it took all I had not to turn and tell them to feck off.
The man behind the counter bit back a smile and raised a brow. "aren't you ladies a bit young?"
Alice placed her hands under my boobs and pushed up. "Do we look young?" she asked, then paused to look at me. "These are really soft."
"Gee, thanks."
The man cleared this throat, trying to keep from laughing, I guess. "How about some butter beers?" he suggested.
"What percentage is it?" she asked.
He didn't even blink. "68.7"
"We'll take it."
The bar tender nodded with a smile and went around the corner, only to appear with seven glass bottles of a rich brown liquid.
"Wow," Kailah breathed. I think the alcoholic had an orgasm.
"That's five Galleons, please."
Alice all but shoved the five, large gold coins into his hand.
"Ta," I muttered, taking my bottle and fixing my top.
"68 percent." Alice grinned as we left the bar. "Like taking candy from a baby."
I opened my bottle and took a tentative sip, it was a rich taste, fizzy, and the powerful burning taste of strong alcohol wasn't present. Huh, well it would seem the magic people have better taste in drinks.
"It's nice," I commented as we walked down the street.
Yuki agreed, Davina was frowning. "It doesn't taste of alcohol."
"Hm?" Alice's eyes narrowed, "Let me taste." She grabbed the bottle from Davina's hand and took a swing. "This isn't 68 percent." She said once she swallowed.
I took another sip. "I don't think it's alcohol."
"I should sue." Alice seethed.
I rolled my eyes. "Never mind, eh?"
Alice was moaning. All along the road, about con men and fake alcohol. "Well at least I got the wand dust." She proclaimed at the end of her rant, fondly petting her right boob.
"Is that a broomstick?" Davina said, making me stop to look. In a shop window, was a long, sleek looking broom, the twigs at the end of the tail all perfectly aligned and in shape. A small bored beside the broom proclaimed it to be: Nimbus 2003, seeker's edition.
"Like, flying?" Kailah asked.
"Why don't we go and ask?" Yuki demanded, already in the shop.
I followed, Alyssa and Alice behind me, Kailah and Crystal and Davina taking up the rear.
Inside, the shop was almost empty, just and assistant piling a few wood polish tins onto a shelf. He smiled as we entered, "Afternoon," The young man, about nineteen, stepped away from the shelf. "What can I do for you?"
Yuki nodded to the window display. "Does that really fly?"
"Um, yeah." The boy looked kind of shocked, as if, how can you suggest that a broomstick doesn't fly?
"How much is it?" In some ways, Yuki has the same ruthlessness as Alice.
"It's on sale, six hundred and fifty Galleons."
"Shett." Yuki kissed her teeth. "That's to much, man."
The guy shrugged and gave an apologetic smile. "We have other ones," Yuki, Davina, Alice and Crystal followed, curious.
"You not going?" I asked Alyssa and Kailah.
"If I was meant to fly, I would have been born with wings." Alyssa replied solemnly.
Kailah giggled. "Tramp."
Once upon a time, it was just I, Kailah and Alyssa, until Davina cam along and formed the gang. We all just… clicked. And I suppose the fact that we are all witches had something to do with that.
"We should probably meet my dad now." I sighed, before calling the rest.
"I'll be back," Yuki threatened the guy with her dark eyes as she left the shop.
When we got back, there was seven piles of books on the floor, seven medium cauldrons, scales and other various equipment.
"Daddy?" I asked, once we got in earshot. "Can I have a broom?"
"Can you fly?" he asked.
"No."
"There's your answer."
"But," I glared at him. "Whose fault is it that I never got the chance to learn?"
My dad sighed, looking defeated. "We'll see."
"What about a pet?" I recalled a pet shop a few streets back.
"Dawn,"
"Please?"
I could see it turning over in his head, trying to find a way to argue with me, or any valid reason to why I can't have a pet.
There was none.
"I suppose… you are allowed them in Hogwarts…"
"Really?" Crystal looked happy. "I never had a pet."
"I had a goldfish once." Yuki supplied.
"RIP, Fluffy." Crystal nodded solemnly.
The pet shop was worse than our classroom on the last day of school, minutes before then bell will call summer. There was a restless air, that was full of noise, to others, but to me, it was voices.
Well, not voices exactly, more like emotions or needs, snippets that could be understood, like broken English.
"Thirsty…"
"Mark territory…"
"Hot…"
"Humans…"
Stuff like that.
I don't know when I broke away from the group, but I found myself along amongst a sea of animals.
"Dawn?" I turned to the voice but found no one.
"Dawn!" Frowning, I looked around, "Hello?"
"Over here!"
I found myself looking into green eyes of a sleek black cat. "How do you know my name?" I wasn't sure if the cat would understand my question, the pigeons outside my window never could.
"Get me out of here, please."
My jaw dropped. "W-what?"
"Dawn, please. Ill explain everything later. When the time comes."
I sighed, opening the cage and picking up the cat and hugging it close to my chest. "You got a name?"
"Yes, but you can choose one if you like."
"What you're real name?" I began to rub the spot behind the ear and a deep rumble of a purr emitted from the black cat, his fur soft to touch.
"Regulus. But you can't tell anyone." The green eyes made me feel uneasy.
"Um, so can I call you…Ronan?"
"Please don't"
"Shadow?"
"No."
"I'm calling you…Grumpy, after the seven dwarves."
I got a mental sigh. "If you must."
"Dawn! There you are." Crystal appeared amongst the clutter, a sleek raven perched on her shoulder. "This is Thorn," she petted the small head of the raven.
"Grumpy." I adjusted my grip on the cat.
Laughing, Crystal shook her head.
"Hey hun," Davina grinned, a snake coiling around her shoulders. "Meet Vodka."
"Poor snake."
"It's better than Grumpy."
"If you say so." I shook my head. I spotted Yuki with a ball of fluff in her hands.
"This is Fang," she said proudly, as a small baby duck quaked in her arms.
I didn't even comment.
Turns out, Alice found herself a white Persian cat, its fat face and beady eyes, looked at baby Fag with hunger. I guess Princess matched her owner very well.
Kailah and Alyssa found themselves a tiny ginger kitten, which could fit into the palm of their hands, but Tiger was fierce, Alyssa said he almost killed Princess.
I guess that's why they love him so much,
As we walked out of the shop, I looked daddy. "I still want a broom."