"Amazing," Maya whispered, as the bricks at the Leaky Cauldron separated and she saw Diagon Alley for the first time. "This is spectacular."
Another strangely-dressed person, this time a man, had arrived to transport her to a place he called Diagon Alley. Maya had taken his arm, and found herself being squeezed, the air forced from her lungs, until she was suddenly standing in a completely different place - a shabby restaurant.
Maya gazed around, awed, at all the robed people, at all the strange shops. Eeylops Owl Emporium, read one sign. Flourish and Blotts. Madam Malkin's. Ollivander's. She could've stood there for hours, just staring.
After several minutes she pulled out her list, already worn and creased from the times she had folded and unfolded it. "Robes," she read.
Maya found her way to Madam Malkin's, and left a while later with a bulging package under her arm. She pulled out her letter again. "Schoolbooks."
Leaving Flourish and Blotts, Maya was weighted down with all the books she was carrying. The man that brought her to Diagon Alley had arranged for her to stay in a room at the Leaky Cauldron, so she made her way there and deposited her purchases.
Her money bag significantly lighter, Maya bought her cauldron, telescope, phials, and scales. Finally, the only thing remaining was a wand.
A bell tinkled as she entered the dusty shop. A man stepped forward, his pale eyes slightly unsettling. "I'm Mr. Ollivander," he told her. "Are you here looking to buy your first wand?"
Maya nodded. She had been awaiting this moment, barely able to believe she would get a real magic wand.
The wandmaker began to measure her, then bustled away to pull wands from the many shelves. The tape measure continued of its own accord, until it finished, rolled up, and fell to the floor.
"Let's try this one," he said, lifting a dark brown wand from its box. "Chestnut and unicorn hair, brittle, eleven and one-third inches."
Her anticipation mounting, Maya slowly closed her fingers around the base of the wand. She had barely begun to raise it, though, when he yanked it from her grip. "No, no."
"Redwood and dragon heartstring, supple," Ollivander said, holding out a second, reddish wand. "Ten and a quarter- no, this one isn't right either," he said, tugging it from her hand and returning it to the box.
"Aspen and phoenix feather, fairly springy, ten and a half inches," Ollivander said, handing Maya a cream-colored wand. She took it, and at once felt warmth spread down her arm. She raised it, and as it cut through the air, golden sparks shot from the end.
After paying for the Aspen wand, Maya left the shop, examining it with interest. She waved it experimentally, but after a shop window exploded, she quickly put it back in the box.
Passing the pet shop, she paused. After a moment of thought, and a glance at her money bag, Maya entered the store.
Fifteen minutes later, she exited, clutching a tiny, wriggling ball of fur. It was black, with tiny white patches. The kitten raised its head, looked at her suspiciously, and let out a loud mew.
"So neither of us really trust the other. I guess we'll have to work on that together, huh?"
The kitten purred.
"You need a name," Maya said later, lying on her bed in the Leaky Cauldron with the kitten on her chest. "Shadow?"
The kitten didn't look happy, and Maya shook her head. "Nah, that's a little depressing. How about... Emerald?" She thought about it for a minute. "It works with your eyes. But I don't think either of us like that, either."
Suddenly, it came to her. "You're Lantern," she told the kitten, smiling slightly as she stroked his tiny head. Butterball, after a long look at her, began to purr.
Raising her own head, but not stopping her hand, Maya looked into the mirror. She almost didn't recognize her reflection. Her hair was several shades lighter now that it was clean, a pale, bright yellow. It was still ragged, her clothes threadbare, but just being washed made a world of difference.
Exploring Diagon Alley over the next few days was fascinating, especially when she encountered others about her age. Many were friendly, but others turned their noses up and looked away. Even with the nice ones, Maya rarely said anything more than hello. She wasn't used to people, and was maybe a little paranoid.
The ice cream was delicious, as Maya learned on her second day. She could only afford tiny sundaes, but those few bites were like a taste of heaven. Closing her eyes, Maya savored it for as long as possible.
A lot of time, though, was spent watching the witches and wizards going about their shopping. To Maya, it was like a second world. She had never had any idea this kind of life existed. To just be dropped in... though some things overwhelmed her, overall, Maya was simply amazed.
On her third day, Maya started to read Hogwarts, A History. She learned about the school's founders, about the Houses, and even about Quidditch. It didn't much interest her, though: she didn't see the point in flying through the air on broomsticks.
The Houses were what caught Maya's attention. Clearly, from what the book said, Gryffindor was best, although Ravenclaw didn't seem that bad. Slytherin, on the other hand, did.
Truthfully, Maya wasn't that worried about what House she got. Having not grown up knowing about Hogwarts, she didn't understand the importance of the Sorting. All she knew was that she would be placed in the House that suited her.
"I wonder if we'll get Slytherin," Maya said to Lantern over the top of Hogwarts, A History. "The book says that all the bad guys get put in Slytherin. But... I've done a lot of fighting."
The kitten stretched, curling up beside her. Maya stroked him absently, a smile curving her lips. Lantern had begun to trust her. She could feel the same emotion forming inside her, about him.
A/N: Thanks to the four people who followed this story between when I posted the first chapter and now! Also, thanks to Xby for the review!