Disclaimer: I promise (with my pinky) that I don't own anything but the plot, Taylor, and Alex! (Considering that Taylor and Alex are, of course, real people… I just own them as OC's) Sorry I just had to add that in! This will be the disclaimer for the rest of the story, by the way.

A/N: I cannot stress how sorry I am for not updating in forever! I have let you guys down so much. On the bright side, though, I began writing my first actual book! You can PM me if you want to know more about that. Also, I want to give Alex Lutgen (the person, not the character) some credit for helping me bunches with this extra long chapter for you guys! If it wasn't for her, I'd still be experiencing my horrid writer's block! Thank you Alex! If you're interested in reading our stories, you can PM about that too, if you wish. Now, on with that story…

5:00 in the morning and I'm wide awake. There's only one major thing that could have caused this horrifying experience… Diagon Alley.

Yes, today is the day that I will be traveling to London with Taylor and Alex to get our school supplies, and after looking over the list for what seemed like the four-hundredth time, I have decided that the bookstore will probably be my favorite by far! After all, I do find most of my enjoyment in reading. Maybe, just maybe, I'll find something inside of the store's walls to be intriguing.

My eyes silently darted to the digital clock on my bedside table.

5:03. 'Ughh,' I thought aggressively. You'd think that with all of the thinking I've been doing lately, God would do me a teensy little favor by speeding up time just a bit, but I guess not.

5:05. 'Damn it.' I threw a pillow onto my face and made a very unattractive squealing noise.

Around eight thirty, I woke up to Petunia galloping down the staircase outside my room.

'Ughh, why does she have to wake up this..,' I thought, but was suddenly cut off by the gleam of the digital clock on the bedside table.

"Oh my gosh," I whispered to myself, arising from my bed. It couldn't be that late, could it?

Running to the mirror, I brushed the thick knots from auburn locks while attempting to put on a pair of faded jeans. Just to let you know, I failed miserably.

After an additional ten minutes of teeth brushing, shirt changing, and mismatched shoes, I ran out of my house in a flash.

After sprinting down three roads, I finally made it to the Lutgen's house. I had just jumped up the porch steps when Alex threw open the door, causing me to fly through the door and trip and land on top of Taylor.

"Alex," Taylor screeched. "I hate you!"

"How did I know you were going to say that," Alex smirked, leaning against the door sporting a stylish denim skirt and a purple t-shirt.

"Shut it, you seer," Taylor shoved me off of her and dusted her shorts off. "It's totally not fair that you get to know things before we do."

"Not fair to you, but to me? Oh, it's totally worth it to be two steps ahead." Alex grinned. "Now hurry up, I have friends I'm meeting."

"Why can't you send them a seer message that you'll be late," Taylor huffed, rolling her eyes.

"Because I just saw that they'd be there, now come on! Neither of you have traveled by Floo Powder so I have to explain it." Alex answered, walking to the mantle.

Reaching out her hand, she slid aside a rock, revealing a velvet bag filled with a substance of some sort.

"What's in that," I asked curiously.

"Floo Powder," Alex looked at us intently. "All you have to do is take a pinch, not a hand full Taylor," she added sternly, "and throw it down at your feet in the fire place.

"If you clearly say the words 'Diagon Alley' you should appear in a fire place somewhere in Diagon Alley. I'll go first, so don't chicken out at the last second, okay?"

Taylor and I mumbled our agreements as we watched Alex step into the fireplace.

This had to be the coolest way of transportation ever! A pinch of dust and a few words? Totally simple! I couldn't help smile as Alex took a pinch of Floo Powder from the velvet bag and take a deep breath.

"Diagon Alley," her voice rang as she threw down the powder. As she did so, flickering green flames erupted around her body. I jumped back in awe

I looked at Taylor, my green eyes wide. She looked back at me and at the same time, "You go first!"

"Oh no, you're going first, Lils. You're the wuss," Taylor said putting her hands on her small hips.

"I am not a wuss!" I glared at Taylor. She smirked and nodded.

"Okay, you're right. I'll go first." Taylor took a pinch of Floo Powder. I raised an eyebrow. Taylor never gave into a fight; neither did Alex, so why was she giving in now?

I got my answer, let me tell you. Taylor shoved me into the fire place, knocking over a picture of her and her sister in the process, and threw the Floo Powder into the fire. I turned around to see that she was grinning menacingly back at me.

After narrowing my eyes at her, I lowered my voice and said the words carefully and softly. "Diagon Alley."

Faster than you could scream 'holy doodle,' (and yes, that's a word) I was spinning inside the fire place, not knowing at all where I was headed. I saw out of other fire places into homes and old London stores. I was awed and silent, taking in everything I could.

I was so engrossed in my sight seeing adventure that I didn't notice two soot-covered hands reaching into the fire place and grabbing my shirt. The hands yanked me out of the fire place and dropped me on a cobble-stone floor.

I coughed and looked up at the person who had dragged me out. I smiled. "Sev!"

"Hi Lily..." Severus said shyly. "I saw Alex pass by and knew you and Taylor were probably right behind her, so I decided to help you guys out of the fireplace."

"Thanks! Are you with anyone," I asked, dusting myself off.

"No actually. I'm here alone. My mom has a muggle job and couldn't make it and my dad is...doing things." Severus stated sadly.

"Well, then you can go with me, Alex, and Taylor! It'll be fun; we'll even go get lunch together." I smiled and patted Sev on the shoulder.

Severus smiled before quickly throwing his hands into the fire place. He grabbed someone else and pulled them to the floor.

It was Taylor who was less then happy to be on the floor with some stranger. Picking herself up from the floor, Taylor began waving her hands about, trying to punch whoever had forced her out of the fireplace. Fortunately, Severus was quite fast and ducked before her fists connected with his face.

"Lily!" Taylor shouted.

"Taylor, it's me and Sev. Calm down." I laughed as Taylor stopped mid-swing and opened one pale blue eye.

"Oh." Taylor laughed, wiping her forehead with the back of her hand. "Where's-"

"Oh my God! There you are," Alex came running in and she saw the three of us. "I got the vision right as you were leaving. I can't believe I forgot to tell you how to get out."

"Oh it's believable alright." Taylor coughed. When I tried to elbow her in the side, all she did was roll her eyes. "Where are we going now?"

"Gringotts, the Wizarding Bank." Alex said and looked at Severus. However, Alex didn't finish her thought; she just stared at Severus for a long time. I was starting to get concerned when he spoke.

"What's the matter?" He asked, but Alex only shook her head.

"Nothing, nothing at all. Are you coming with us?" Alex pointed at Sev.

"I-if it's alright..." Severus lowered his head and looked at his feet in concentration.

"Duh, it's alright! Now let's go." Alex turned on her heel and walked out of the building we were in. I looped my arm with Taylor and we instantly began skipping. Sev followed behind, a small smile on his face.

Outside of the building was magnificent. It was like an old London town with shops of all sorts of things such as Ollivander's Wands, Madame Malkin's Robes for all Occasions, and even a broom shop! There was also a pet store that appeared to be having a sale on toads for the upcoming week!

"Hello? Lily? Earth to Lilykins! Lily, stop gawking, you're holding us up," Taylor whined.

I shook my head at her impatience and continued skipping to Gringotts, the little girl still weighing on my mind.

Alex was waiting at the top of the stairs for us and once all of us congregated, we entered the leaning building.

It was silent inside and many tellers, who appeared to be dwarfs or something, were talking quietly to robed wizards and muggle dressed families.

Alex led the way to a dwarf who was writing something down with what looked like a bird feather.

"Hello Ragnuk, how's your summer been," Alex seemed extremely friendly with the dwarf, but his beady black eyes scared me into silence.

"Not bad, Alex, not bad," The dwarf raised his eyebrows at Taylor, Severus, and I who were standing awkwardly behind Alex. "Making a withdrawal I suppose?"

"Yes, and I'm adding two kids to have their own vault." Alex stated in a businesslike manner. "My sister, Taylor, is being added to mine and Lily Evans, this red-head here, needs her own vault and I have money for her vault with me."

Ragnuk nodded a couple of times before continuing to write. After a few minutes of this, I began to think he was ignoring us, but as soon as the thought crossed my mind he stood from his chair and led the four of us back to a rail car object. I wasn't sure if this was safe, but the dwarf ushered us into it and he took us on a ride.

After taking a few twists and turns down the railway, we began going so fast that I thought I was going to be sick. "Can you slow down, please," I asked the elf-like creature nicely, in hopes that he would return the favor.

"One speed only," Alex and Ragnuk stated in the same monotone voice.

"It's okay Lily," Alex smiled, "I asked the same question my first time. You get used to it after a while, though."

Strangely, despite Alex's words of comfort, I didn't think I would.

"Oh, Lily, Taylor, Severus, this is Ragnuk the Goblin, he's been my banker since I was eleven years old." Alex smiled proudly.

"Oh, that must have been a hundred years ago." Taylor snickered.

"It's a shame that they don't teach math at Hogwarts." Alex shook her head while Severus and I giggled at Taylor.

"Anyways," Alex continued, "As I was saying Ragnuk's great-great-great-great grandfather, or something like that, was the maker of the original Sword of Gryffindor! How cool is that?"

"What's that," I asked.

"Well, the sword is said to have been owned by Godric Gryffindor, himself. I'm pretty sure Dumbledore has it now. The sword is supposed to magically appear if a true Gryffindor is ever in need of it."

"Wow, must be a nice sword," Taylor added.

"It is," Alex replied, "How big are the rubies on it again, Ragnuk?"

"The size of eggs," Ragnuk answered with a bored expression.

We continued the conversation as we traveled farther into the earth.

I began seeing doors with all different styles and locks. This was a high end bank! I wonder what else they could hide down here.

"Vault 378," Ragnuk announced and Alex stood up and lifted Taylor by the shirt and gave a small golden key to Ragnuk.

Ragnuk unlocked the vault door, which was silver with a few designs integrated throughout. I thought it was beautiful, and when the door swung open, all I could see, was gold.

Alex took two velvet pouches, one purple one green, and filled them both with gold. She then grabbed two handfuls of silver and bronze coins and stuffed them deep into her pockets.

As Alex stepped back into the rail car, she dropped one of the pouches of coins in my lap. "Alright Ragnuk, take us home," she spoke, sitting down between Taylor and I.

Ragnuk magically turned the car around and took us to the surface where we finally began to do our shopping.

"Alright, here's the deal firsties," Alex directed us as soon as the mid day sun hit our backs, "get everything but your wands. I'll take you guys to Ollivander's after lunch. Have fun!"

Turning around, Alex disappeared into the crowd of people.

I turned to Taylor. "And your parents left you alone with her?"

"Many times," Taylor sighed as she gazed at her list, "it's a surprise I'm not dead yet. So, shall we go buy robes first?"

"I want to go to the bookstore," Severus and I said together. A blush crept upon his cheeks while I laughed off our strange moment as if it happened daily.

"But shouldn't we get the books last because they're the heaviest," Taylor cantered.

I sighed in solemn agreement. "Fine, let's go get clothes."

Severus led us to Madame Malkin's Robes and we waited to go. At the time, two boys, one with messy black hair with glasses and beautiful hazel eyes and the other with long black hair and sparking grey eyes were getting robes measured.

The two boys were laughing and talking as if they knew each other and seemed to not be paying any attention to anyone else.

Taylor was watching intently to see if they were talking about anything interesting, and of course, they were.

"My whole family is Slytherin; I really hope I don't end up there." The boy with the long black hair was saying, "Only gits are in Slytherin."

"That's not true!" Severus cried out. I honestly didn't realize he'd been listening too. "Not all Slytherins are bad."

The two boys looked at Severus, and the boy with glasses wrinkled his nose. "Yes they are, have you met his family?"

"Shut up James." The black haired boy laughed, showing off his pearly white, straight teeth.

Sev, who was fuming in anger beside me, clenched his fists. He would have attacked the two boys if Taylor and I didn't speak up at that instant.

"What give you the right to say which house is better than the other," Taylor said, obviously catching on to what 'Slytherin' was.

"What, do you come from a family of Slytherins?" James asked in disgust, looking Taylor up and down.

"As a matter of fact, my sister is a Gryffindor and a prefect," Taylor said. "And Lily and I are both muggle borns, and Sev is…" Taylor looked to me in confusion, "what is it Sev?"

"A half blood," Sev said coldly, his eyes still roaming over the two boys. "Could you leave, we need to buy our robes."

James glared at Severus for a moment before replying, "Come on Sirius, let's go."

James and Sirius left the shop, all the kids glaring at each other. Once they were gone, an old gray haired lady smiled at us graciously, "Hogwarts, dears," she asked while we nodded in return.

Severus growled, obviously still angry over the previous exchange. "Sirius Black is a git. I would stay away from him if I were you."

Taylor raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that a little unfair?"

I stepped up on a stool to get fitted. "I don't know, they did seem pretty mean, Tay."

Taylor rolled her eyes and stepped up onto another stool to be fitted. We were about the same size, so it didn't take long for Madame Malkin to find the right robes for us.

However, Sev didn't buy any. I frowned at him.

"No robes?"

"My mom bought them already." He replied quickly.

"Oh, okay," I looked at him curiously, "Let's go get our potions supplies, then." I said.

Taylor, Severus, and I ran all the way around the alley, buying things left and right.

As we were making our way out of the bookstore, I ran right out into someone, as did Taylor. In a split second, our books went scattering all over the pavement and our bodies landed on top of whoever we ran into.

"Oi, watch it!"

"Get off! You're all muscle!"

I shook my dark red hair out of my eyes and came face to face with James, the boy from Madame Malkin's. He was sprawled under me and I was on top of him. I looked to my left and saw Taylor on top of Sirius. However, unlike me, Taylor was laughing with Sirius. The two were even wrestling like it was planned. I however was blushing like crazy and flew backwards.

"S-sorry," I stuttered, "I couldn't see over the tower of books." I brushed some of my hair behind my ear and sat back. I grabbed some of his things, one being his wand, and handed it back.

James just stared at me with his mouth slightly ajar as I pulled my things together and stood up. I looked from Sev to Taylor and back again. Yanking at Taylor's arm, I said, "Come on, Tay, we have to meet Alex soon."

I walked quickly away from them and looked for Alex. "That was embarrassing."

"Are you kidding," Taylor grinned widely, "it was hilarious!"

"Mhm," I agreed, not wanting to start a fight.

A/N: I'm so sorry this had to be a filler. Tonight is my last night in town, so I wanted to get this finished and uploaded before I went on vacation. The next chapter will be up soon. It'll pick up where we left off in Diagon Alley. If you have any questions or comments please review or PM me. I'm always available! I'm even taking my laptop on vacation with me, so I'll have some time to answer some/all reviews and/or PM's. Thank you guys!