Inside the pub it was dark and worn down. I could tell it was old, but it was still pretty crowded. Brooms swept on their own. Men and women laughed and talked and ate. Kids ran around, begging to just go to the shops already. I walked through nervously, trying not to touch anyone. I spotted a bar with a few people sitting at it and a woman behind the counter wiping it down. I approached her.

"Hullo. I was wondering – I mean, um, can you help me find, er, Mrs Longbottom? I was sent by Mr Parker…"

"I'm Mrs Longbottom, how can I help you?"

"I need a room to stay in for a while."

She stopped wiping and looked at me curiously. "I have a few rooms… why do you need one? How old are you, anyway?"

I looked down shyly. "I'm seven."

She gave me a long look. "Alright, but only if you tell me why you need it."

I fiddled with my bag, took a deep breath, and started my explanation. "My name is Juliana Rose Foster, I'm seven years old, and Mr Parker, my neighbour, told me I'm a witch. My parents are afraid of magic, so they kicked me out. Mr Parker is moving to America, so he can't take me in, so instead he told me to come here. He said that you're an old friend."

"Mr Parker? Thomas Parker? Yes, I know him, he was in my house at school, a year up. He was very kind to me. Alright, I have an idea. First off, call me Aunt Hannah, okay?"

"Okay…" I said cautiously.

"Come with me. Did he give you any gold?"

"Yes, and he told me that as soon as I could, I could go to Gringotts and get my muggle money exchanged. It's allowance and birthday money from the age of three up."

"How much have you got?"

"Mr Parker gave me twenty Galleons and fifteen Sickles. Saved, I have £200."

"That's quite a bit."

"I might have nicked some of it…"

Aunt Hannah laughed. "It's okay. It sounds like your parents deserved it."

She brought me up the staircase to a nice little room and told me to leave my case there and just bring the money. I left my coat there as well, as it was getting rather warm out. I followed her out of the room and she brought me to a wall in the back. After tapping some bricks with a wooden stick that must have been her wand, she ushered me into Diagon Alley.

It was amazing. There were so many bright colours. Shops were everywhere. I swivelled my head around until it hurt, wondering if there was a spell to turn myself into an owl. Probably.

At the end of the road, there was a great white building that looked about as structurally secure as a two-legged chair. No doubt there was some form of magic keeping it up. Aunt Hannah brought me inside the building. There were guards everywhere, and a poster with a clichéd poem. Inside, a bunch of little men with long fingers and sharp teeth walking around, working at the desk. "Goblins," whispered Aunt Hannah.

"May I help you?" One of the goblins asked. Aunt Hannah pushed me forward, and I smiled nervously.

"Lia here would like to open an account and exchange some muggle money." The goblin stared at me, and then nodded and motioned for me to follow him. I trailed behind him.

He brought me to a desk and handed me a form and a quill. "Fill it out, we'll need a parent or guardian to sign as you are under 17 as well."

"I don't have one," I whispered.

"Excuse me?" the goblin asked, turning and staring at me. "Don't have one what?"

"A parent or guardian." I pushed the paper and quill back at him, expecting him to take it and order me to leave. Instead, he ignored it and stared at me curiously.

"Why not?"

"My parents kicked me out earlier today."

"Whatever for?"

I swallowed nervously. "They don't like magic."

"Ah," the goblin said in understanding. "Well in that case, we can skip the guardian signature for now. We will require one within a year, though, ma'am, so come back once you figure out where you're staying."

"Yes sir," I replied, taking the paper back and starting the questions. They were fairly easy, with name, blood status, reason for opening a new account, etc. I filled it out, signing at the bottom, leaving the parent/guardian signature area blank. Then I handed it back.

"This appears to be in order. I shall be back soon with your new vault key, and then we can exchange the money and I'll send you down to put it in." He hobbled off.

"Vault number 137, now the Foster Vault. Here is your key, Miss Foster, I would suggest you take care of it well. May I see the muggle money you wish to exchange?"

Wordlessly, I handed over my £200 before grabbing my new vault key and slipping it into my pocket. I knew just where I could keep it, it was in my back.

"£200 now in wizard money – 40 Galleons, nine Sickles. Would you like a back?"

"Yes please," I answered, feeling more confident now.

Another goblin came and escorted me (only me, I was wary on trust at the moment and so asked Aunt Hannah to stay in the Hall and wait) to my new vault. I entered forty of the Galleons and kept the rest as well as all the Sickles. Upon resurfacing, Aunt Hannah and I left together.

"Now, dear, you need some wizarding robes and I think you need a friend. How would you like an animal?"

We were walking down Diagon Alley. I nodded. "I want a dog and an owl… Are they terribly expensive?"

She smiled. "Not at all. As for the robes – may I please pay for them? I feel bad –"

I interrupted her. "Thanks, but I don't need your pity."

She smiled softly. "Then take them because you are special. You need them."

I hesitated, then agreed. We walked into a shop called 'Madame Malkin's Robes for All Ocasions'. A nice-looking older witch approached us. "Hello, Hannah dear. Hello, dear. What is your name?"

"My name is Juliana Rose Foster, but you can call me Lia. I require robes, as I only have muggle clothes at the moment."

She smiled. "Of course. Follow me, and I'll show you some styles, then we can get your favourite colour."

She showed me several robes, and I chose the ones I liked. I asked for bright colours that wouldn't clash with my hair, specifically a bright green robe in my favourite design. "Come back tomorrow, and your robes will be ready. You can pay then, too."

Aunt Hannah and I left the shop together, and after some convincing, I allowed her to buy me ice cream. Licking the cone, she escorted me to the

Eeylops Owl Emporium. Inside, there were owls everywhere. I went up to the counter. "Hello, I would like to buy an owl today. What owls are best for kids my age and size, that are faithful and okay with being alone a lot?"

The wizard there motioned me to follow him. "We have several breeds of owls that might suit that. I would personally suggest a barn owl or brown owl. Would you like to see our current stock?"

I smiled. "Yes please."

He brought me over to an area with several owls in cages. I glanced at them, when one caught my eye. "Which one's that?"

He smiled. "Good choice. She's very new, doesn't have a name yet. She's completely trained, though. Brown owl. Good for post. Would you like to meet her?"

I nodded silently, staring at her. All the other owls avoided my eyes, but she stared right at them with an intensity I had never seen before. The worker let her out of her cage and brought her over to me. I stroked her feathers. "Hey pretty girl. I was doing research with Mr Parker, and he helped me find a name for an owl once I got one. Do you like the name Dilis? It's Celtic for Faithful. And that's what you are. Faithful." The owl cooed at my name, and I smiled. "How much?" I whispered.

"Ten Galleons and she's yours."

He put her back in the cage, and I picked it up and carried it over to the counter, where I gave over ten Galleons. I left the shop with a heavy cage and a light heart.

"You wanted a dog as well, is that correct dear?" Aunt Hannah asked me. I nodded.

"You should probably just go to a muggle dog breeder. It would be easiest."

I looked up. It was getting rather dark, so I said, "Let's go tomorrow. It's late, I'm tired, and a lot has happened today."

Aunt Hannah nodded and escorted me back to the room, where I fell onto the bed fully clothed and fell asleep almost instantly.

So now Lia isn't alone! She has Dilis. I looked it up - it's pronounced 'Dee-lish' and has an accent over the first i, but I though Dilis was good enough. I am going to have her get a dog, as well as some other things - you'll have to wait and see!

Aunt Hannah seems nice, huh? She's going to be a major character so remember her. She's Hannah Longbottom, formerly Abbott, and Neville's wife. She owns the Leaky - got it after Tom died.

PLEASE REVIEW!

Disclaimer: Nothing is mine except Lia and Dilis.