Sorry for not uploading recently! D: I've gotten into reading a couple 60+ chapter fanfics... enough said, right? ;-) I've also been working on a new (Dramione) one-shot and a songfic for Luna, go have a look at them! Thank you to all my reviewers, too! :D
Disclaimer: *eats a red vine and transforms into JK Rowling* Red Vines- What the Hell Can't They Do? My name is Joanne Rowling and I created the Harry Potter series *nose grows to seven times the original length* Ohh... I guess I'm not her *nose returns to original length* ... *sigh*
Whenever I use quotes straight from the books, they'll be in bold. The first 2 sets of italics are mentionings of the movies.
The doors to the Great Hall opened and Professor McGonagall walked in, strict as ever and still wearing her heavy black cloak even in the current heat.
"Good afternoon, students. Would those in need of wands please follow me," she said to the students.
The four without wands got up and followed her out of the hall, looking back to see the other soon-to-be students listening as the Headmaster taught them about spells as he gave examples.
Hermione's POV
The four of us huddled together as we followed Professor McGonagall out of the castle and down the path towards the village.
"We will be taking the Knight Bus to Ollivander's Wand Shop in Diagon Alley. The Knight Bus is mainly used as travel for stranded Witches and Wizards. It's not the safest ride, but it's the quickest and is easiest for transporting underage children."
Once we reached Hogsmeade, the Professor spoke again, "Alright, everyone line up in a row."
The four students did as she said and the Professor raised her hand, giving a 'thumbs up' to the street.
There was a deafening BANG.
A gigantic pair of wheels screeched to a halt in front of the five of us. There was now a triple-decker, violently purple bus stationary in front of us. Gold lettering over the windshield spelled The Knight Bus.
The four of us stared at the bus and gave each other looks of amazement on our faces.
"Wicked," Terry said to no one in particular. Ernie, Draco, and I nodded in agreement.
A conductor in a purple uniform leapt out of the bus and began to speak loudly to the group. He couldn't be more than sixteen years old.
"Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the needing witch or wizard. Just stick out your wand hand, step on board, and we can take you anywhere you want to go. My name is Stan Shunpike, and I will be your conductor this eve-"
The conductor stopped abruptly. He had just caught sight of the four eleven-year-olds standing next to a witch in a tight bun.
"Oh, doing the summer camp again, McGonagal? I thought it was a one-time event." The teen said to our professor.
"No, Stanley, it was not a 'one-time event.' This summer camp has been happening every year since Professor Dumbledore became Headmaster and thought up this great idea." The professor replied, the stern look never leaving her face.
"Erm, alright. Where to?"
"Ollivander's in Diagon Alley. They're in need of wands." McGonagall said, motioning to us four.
"Alright. But why not just go to the one right down High St-"
Professor McGonagall cut him off, "Because, Stanley, they should receive their wands from Mr. Ollivander himself, not from some employee of his." (A/N: Ollivander's has a branch in Hogsmeade, if you didn't know)
"Very well. Well come on then!" He exclaimed, gesturing to the four of us to come aboard.
There were no seats; instead, half a dozen brass bedsteads stood beside the curtained windows. There were unlit candles in brackets beside each bed and the four of us sat on a bed in the middle that the conductor had motioned toward. When each of us sat down, shoulder-to-shoulder, we could all feel the bed move backwards with the newly added weight.
"This is our driver, Ernie Prang. This is the new set of first years at Hogwarts, Ern."
Ernie Prang, an elderly wizard wearing thick glasses, nodded to us students. We all smiled back at him.
"Oh, and this," Stan pointed to a shrunken head hanging by it's dreadlocks, "Is the Knight Bus' Head. Anyways... Take 'er away, Ern." Stan said, sitting down in the armchair next to Ernie's.
There was another tremendous BANG, and the next moment every occupant on the bus found themselves flat on their bed, thrown backward by the speed of the Knight Bus. We pulled ourselves up after a couple seconds.
"Dude! That was TOTALLY AWESOME!" Terry exclaimed, followed by him and Ernie high-fiving each other, resounding in a loud echo.
"Mr. Boot! Mr. MacMillan! No shouting! It's disrespectful and quite annoying! Five points fr-" She paused, then closed her mouth with a sigh. "Nevermind, just please quiet down. That goes for all four of you." She stated, looking at us each in turn.
I stared out the windows for the rest of the ride. It was fairly quick, mind you. About five minutes after the Deputy Headmistress's dispute with the two boys, Ern slammed on the brakes and the Knight Bus skidded to a halt in front of a small and shabby-looking pub, the Leaky Cauldron, behind which lay the magical entrance to Diagon Alley. That's what Professor McGonagall had said, anyways...
We all said our 'thank you's as we hopped off the bus. "Send the bill to Hogwarts," the Professor slightly shouted over her shoulder as she scooted the four kids into the pub.
As she closed the door behind herself, we all heard the, now familiar, BANG from the street outside.
The inside was, indeed, dark and shabby. A few old women were sitting in a corner, drinking tiny glasses of sherry. One was smoking a large pipe. A man with a top hat was talking to the old bartender, who was quite bald and looked like a toothless walnut. He broke off the conversation when we entered and stooped toward the five of us. We soon learned that his name was Tom and that he was the landlord.
"No, I'm sorry, Tom. We can't stay. These four need to get wands and then we'll be back at Hogwarts. Some other time, alright?"
The bartender sighed and walked back to talk to the man with the top hat once more.
"This way, students," Professor McGonagall announced, leading us out to the Leaky Cauldron's back entrance where there only stood a stationary brick wall. "Let's see... trash bin... three up, two across... Ah, here we are." She said, followed by tapping her wand against the specific brick three times.
The brick she had touched quivered - it wriggled - in the middle, a hole appeared - it grew wider and wider - a second later we wereall facing a large archway that led to a cobbled street that twisted and turned out of sight.
"Welcome," said Professor McGonagall, "to Diagon Alley."
Draco's POV
Ernie, Terry, and Hermione all had faces showing amazement as they took in their surroundings; I just looked around, hands in pockets, slightly bored because I'd been here so often already. We looked quickly over our shouldersas the archway shrank instantly back into solid wall.
"Well, this way, students," the Professor said to us, leading the way along the streets.
We passed by lots of stores with the occasional questions from students about the shops. As we passed Amanuensis Quills, Hermione asked why muggle pens and pencils weren't being used.
"We like to... reuse things in the wizarding world. Nearly every family owns at least one owl to use with post. We take the feathers that they lose and use them as 'pens,' the ink comes from Giant Squids, which are a common find in the wizarding world." McGonagall informed us as we kept walking. (A/N: that's what I've come to assume and it's not that far-fetched...)
Ollivander's was on the opposite side of Diagon Alley, so there was plenty of window shopping along the way.
Hermione and I were following at the back of the group. Three minutes in I suddenly noticed I was walking alone.
"Hermione? Where'd you g-" I smirked when I saw her. She was standing frozen, a couple shops down, staring into a shop with loads of large rectangles in the window, books. Sure enough, the shop's name was Flourish and Blotts Bookstore.
She gasped, "Prefects Who Gained Power, The Standard Book of Spells Series, A History of Magic, Magical Draughts and Potions, Intermediate Transfiguration, Ooh! Dragon Breeding For Pleasure and Profit! Enchantment in Baking, The Quibbler, The Daily Proph-"
I waved my hand past her eyes a couple time, "Hermione! Take a breather already! The group's waiting, come on!" I grabbed her hand to pull, expecting to not have her budge an inch, but was surprised when she let me pull her along, even if her eyes didn't leave the window until it was too far away.
After the group saw us returning to them, they started walking again, not waiting for us to catch up. "So wizards can transfigure stuff? Like change animals into stone and vice versa?" I nodded to her, determined to keep her walking. "Dragons are real too? Oh, and how come your name's 'dragon' anyways?"
I stopped, her following suit. How did she know it means dragon? She's the first to ask since...
"How..." I gave a slight pause, "How did you know?"
She raised her eyebrows slightly, "You mean most people don't?" I shook my head. "Oh, maybe because I'm... because I read and know a little Latin because of that?" She shrugged.
So she speaks French and English and now she also knows a 'little Latin,' too?
Hermione's POV
Would he please move his eyes elsewhere? It's a bit unnerving... Does he even realize that he's still holding my hand?
(Five seconds later)
"Okay, well. The others didn't see us stop and they're nearly out of sight, come on!" I exclaimed, tugging his hand to make him awaken from his trance-like state.
"Right. Um, ok. Yeah... Let's go." He replied, still in his trance.
I started walking again, smiling at the fact that he was still holding my hand, and kept a discreet eye on him as the two of us continued to walk through the streets, following the group. I still looked in at windows, but hastened by whenever I was intrigued, such as the time I passed by Magical Menagerie and saw all the colorful owls and cats inside.
Oh my gosh, I want that cat in the window so badly! I had thought at seeing a ginger-colored cat with a squashed sort of face; when I walked past, it actually pawed at the window, adding to the cuteness factor. If I ever see you again, I'm going to buy you and bring you home with me. I just made you a promise, little kitty, and no matter who I'm with, I'm going to buy you the next time I see you.
Professor McGonagall was waiting for us in front of a shop at the corner of two streets. When we caught up, Draco released my hand as he turned toward the building. It was narrow and shabby. Peeling gold letters over the door read Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C. A single wand lay on a faded purple cushion in the dusty window.
"Nice of you to join us," Professor McGonagall said. "Mr. MacMillan and Mr. Boot are already inside getting their wands. Please go inside before you two decide to wander off again."
I caught Draco's eye after we turned to enter and saw him rolling his eyes about the Professor. A tinkling bell rang somewhere in the depths of the shop as we stepped inside. It was a tiny place, empty except for a single, spindly chair in the corner. I looked at the thousands of narrow boxes piled neatly right up to the ceiling. The very dust seemed to tingle with some secret magic.
Terry was leaning against a wall next to the window display, playing with a stick between his fingers. He looked up when the door had opened. "Like it? It's willow with a Unicorn Tail Hair core." He said, holding his new wand as if it were a gift he'd been waiting for for so long, which it probably was.
"Looks great, where did Ernie go?" Draco asked, looking around for Terry's best friend.
"In the back with Mr. Ollivander. I haven't heard any loud bangs in the last five minutes so he must've found his wand. Or how Mr. Ollivander says 'The wand must have found him'. Either way, he should be out soon."
Draco nodded and leaned against the wall too. I stayed, standing, next to the door. I've always hated being alone with only guys around me. It felt kind of... awkward? Grow up, Hermione! It's not like they're about to attack you. Promise that you'll get stronger around guys this year. Siriusly, you're going to a new school and have new talents, why not add new strength to the list? Witches born from muggles need to be strong. Don't forget that. Don't try and be the 'I am woman, hear me smash' kind of strong, just kind of 'I am woman, watch me stand up for myself'. It's not that hard, most girls have always been that way. (A/N: did you see all my references in that? xD)
My thoughts were interrupted by Draco. "Hermione? You can sit in the chair if you want, Terry and I are fine." Terry nodded in agreement.
Come on! This is the perfect time to start. Sit on the chair! I took a deep breath. Oh, do NOT start making excuses. Those boys are being kind, offering the chair to you. Do it. I stepped over to thechair and sat on it just as the back door opened and Ernie came out, holding his wand above his head.
"Chestnut with a Dragon Heartstring core!" Ernie proudly declared, followed by him and Terry high-fiving again. I flipped my head around to Draco at the name of the core.
We then heard some parchment being ruffled around on the counter at the other end of the shop. When I looked in that direction, I saw An old man walking over to us four. His wide, pale eyes shining like moons through the gloom of the shop. "Ah, you two must be the other students. Well, who's first?"
Be strong. Don't be afraid of drawing attention. My inner voice said to me.
I looked at Draco and he shrugged. Be strong. Don't be afraid of drawing attention, My inner voice said. So, I got up and followed Mr. Ollivander as he walked into the back room again in search of the perfect wand for me.
Once the door was closed, he began talking to me as he flitted around shelves, taking down boxes. "What's your name? I can't recall anyone coming in previously who looks like you."
"Hermione Granger, sir. And I'm the first of my family to be magical."
"Ah, a muggleborn! Wonderful! Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Granger." He said, putting four boxes on a desk so that he could shake my hand.
We shook and then he pulled the wand out of one of the said boxes. "Try this one. 13-inch, cherry and a unicorn hair core."
He handed it to me and I looked up at him, curious as to what I should do. He realized her confusion, "Give it a wave."
I took the wand and (feeling foolish) waved it around a bit, but Mr. Ollivander snatched it out of my hand after a small plant on the desk lit into flames.
"Oh no! Je suis désolé (A/N: I'm so sorry)! I didn't mean to!" I shouted as he quickly waved his wand at the plant and water poured out over it.
"It's fine, Miss Granger. You should see what other students have done, let's just say that a burnt flower isn't the worst thing I've seen in my many, many years here."
I was still horrified, but did try the next wand. "10 1/4-inches, hornbeam wood and a dragon heartstring core." He said, handing it over.
I decided to do a different wave, doing a "D" shaped wave that resulted in pink, heart-shaped bubbles floating out of the wand's tip. Ick, pink. I had thought upon seeing this. When the bubbles hit the floor, they popped, resulting in big BOOMs that made the foundation jump as if an earthquake were happening.
Mr. Ollivander was surprised upon this effect. "Miss Granger, do you know someone with this type of wand?"
I shrugged, "I'm new to the wizarding world, I've only met maybe 15 witches and wizards?"
He smiled at me, "Then I must let you know: the person you meet who has this wand's combination is going to be someone who you'll love dearly, it may be over a couple days, month, or may even be many years. Make sure to keep an eye out for this wand."
I blushed when he said that, "Could I just try the next wand please?" I asked him, trying to change topic.
"Of course, try this one. 10 3/4-inches, vine with dragon heartstring core."
I smiled at the combination. 10 and 3/4 was basically 11 inches which was the size of paper, which I love to draw on; my old home in France had had vines elegantly decorating the exterior of the house (the mailbox had a wrapped vines, the pillars on either side of the front door was wrapped in vines, and a couple other things were covered in vines); and the dragon heartstring? It's pretty sappy, but it reminds me of Draco.
When I waved the wand, I made a simple "L". I smiled, as Mr. Ollivander laughed, at the outcome. The room was suddenly a red, silver, and green theme, all the boxes had changed color and the two of us were in new attire. Mr. Ollivander was suddenly wearing a maroon red robe with forest green lining while my t-shirt and shorts became a lime green and my sandals, necklace, and belt turned silver.
"Well, I believe your wand found you and vice versa! Would you like for me to change you back or do you wish to stay in your current attire?" Mr. Ollivander asked, coming out from behind the desk.
I smiled, "I kinda like it. I'll keep it."
We exited the back room to find the three boys and professor in the front.
Draco's POV
The door opened and I looked up to see Mr. Ollivander wearing Christmas robes and Hermione in... Slytherin attire?
I had to cover my face to hide a smile from the others...
Hermione looks amazing, wait... Is she the Slytherin? No, didn't Rory say the Bulstrode girl was? Either way, Hermione looks great in green and silver...
"Whoa! How'd you do that?" Ernie asked, interrupting my thoughts.
Hermione shrugged, "I just waved my wand. Oh, by the way, it's 10 3/4-inch, vine, and... dragon heartstring." She finished quickly.
"Cool! Professor McGonagall? When do we get to learn how to do that spell?" Ernie asked.
"Not for a couple more years. I must congratulate you on that spell, Miss Granger. It's quite a difficult spell to cast and having done that as one of your first spells is quite amazing." The Professor said.
Hermione gave her a smile in return, and even with slightly buck teeth, I realized I had stopped breathing and had to quickly inhale a deep breath.
15 Minutes Later:
Hermione's POV
Draco exited the back room and told us quickly: "10-inches, Hawthorn wood, and Unicorn Hair core. Mr. Ollivander wants to speak with you, Professor McGonagall."
The Professor was shocked at this, but went anyways.
Third Person POV
Professor McGonagall entered the back room to find Mr. Ollivander anxiously waiting.
"I won't keep you here long, Minerva. I just quickly want to tell you that two of the students have discovered future loves in this room because of my wands."
The witch was baffled, "Who?" she asked.
"Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy."
The woman gasped, "Who will they fall in love with?"
"I'm not quite sure who Miss Hermione will come to love, but Mr. Malfoy will fall very deeply in love with..." He hesitated.
She was getting nervous, "Merlin's beard, just say it!"
OH! Cliffhanger! Bad Cakey, Bad! 3,000 word chapter, not bad, eh? Sorry about the long wait! The book quotes made it take longer and Kayla wasn't sure how to help so one-person job makes writing take longer, too... Anyways, three weeks! So sorry about that! Good thing Renesmee Tonks Facebook-ed me last night to devote myself today...
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