1I do not own Harry Potter or Carrie. Tom deals with more confusing, alien emotions as Carrie makes her first real trip into the wizarding world!
Chapter Seven: Welcome to Diagon Alley, Carrie White!
Tom
It wasn't long after his return to Hogwart's that Tom's thoughts drifted back to Carrie. He could only speculate what House the Sorting Hat would place her into. In the off chance it placed her in Grypphindor, he would have to steel himself against criticisms of his own House to remain her friend. He had already decided to NEVER turn his back on the vow he had given her. Against his will, when he least expected it, his thoughts would drift back to that night. Slender Carrie, so small and pretty in her pink silk gown. The way her power reached out, in a way that felt like a caress to him, while it destroyed everything around him. How warm she had felt, when he breifly held her. He would often physically shake his head, to get those images out of his head along with the alien emotions they invoked.
Not all were oblivious to his strange behavior. He had seen Abraxas Malfoy looking at him strangely, there would soon be questions. He wondered just how much to tell him, if anything at all, before Carrie herself mad her first real appearance in the wizarding world. He looked foward each day to her owls. Her reaction to the House Elves had him snickering for DAYS! He imagined what it must be like, to have such ability and learning to control it even though you could feel the power of the wizarding world all around you. In fact, since knowing her, he had felt changes in his own power! His spells had become far more potent! He sometimes wondered if he could, like her, move things without spells, with pure will if he concentrated hard enough!
The days passed by quickly, and it was soon time for the Summer Holiday, and Carrie's debut in Diagon Alley. He did not keep himself from grinning for the entirety of that last day, in anticipation. After the rest of the carriages had left, he and Dumbledore moved into more comfortable quarters, and spent much of the evening hours discussing the heavy curriculum Carrie would be under. Tom would see to it that she not only succeed, but excel in her subjects. He couldn't get a wink of sleep that night, in anticipation of seeing her again! He wondered what kind of wand she would get! Whether or not they would be chaperoned the entire time. Time moved all to slowly, and he growled in fustration at the fading light of the silver moon. He sprung out of his bed at the very fist hint of dawn.
House Elves came to call, and he took in breakfast quickly, nearly choking on the last mouthful when Dumbledore came knocking on the door. "The school carriage is down stairs my boy!" he said, his eyes twinkling at the boy's hurried, impatient movements. "Five minutes!" Tom declared. He could hear the older man's amusement while he chuckled to himself. Never during all this did he wonder why he was acting this way, why he was so excited to see her again! He was literally brushing his hair on his way to exit the castle. One would of thought he was late for something! Luckily, he had been able to get it down to the length that was his preference, which meant he was finished by the time he made it down to the thestal dawn carriage where Dumbledore now waited for him with a strange smile on his face.
"I hope you prepared yourself for a very long day my boy! It's a bit of a ride to the Manor, and she will need things most first years wouldn't even need."he said to Tom, his eyes twinkling at him strangely. "Nothing I can't handle, I'm sure" he replied, rolling his eyes. He kept his cool on the surface, thankfully, all the way there. He smiled, when he saw Carrie outside waiting on them, till he took in her appearance, which sent shivers up and down his spine! The firl could apparently transfigure clothing with her mind, and what he beheld now was a beautiful, if un conventual robe of velvet Slytherin green! It had a deep V-neck with large bell sleeves that held tight to her arms till they bellowed at her wrists. Golden dragons, in the Asian style swam a sea of velvet, matched by the golden clasp at the v of the neckline, made of two twin dragons wrapped around one another.
Her long, golden strawberry lockes were loose and unbound, and for the fist time in his life, Tom felt tounge tied! "You look lovely dear! Never seen a transfiguration done so successfully without a wand!" Dumbledore praised her glowingly. She smiled. "I certainly tried, professor!" she replied. It was Tom who helped her into the carriage, still tounge tied at the sight of her. Just what the hell was she doing to him? "What do you think, did I do it right? I wanted to do something to surprise you. Something to make you proud of your tutoree..." she trailed off shyly talking to him. "I think you have impeccable taste. Shows that even in rare cases like you, breeding shows through! You are the very epitome of a White!" he said evenly, relieved at his skills to hid his inner thoughts, which even he didn't understand!
Yet he wanted to show how proud he was of her progress. Putting Dumbledore in his place had a extra bonus to it! She blushed lightly, she was pleased by his praise. "You know, as much as I don't agree about Slytherin pure-blood nonsense, I do believe that is the nicest thing I ever heard come out of your mouth that was honest Tom!" Dumbledore interrupted. Those annoying twinkling eyes were trying to pry into him and he wouldn't allow it. Neither, it would appear, would Carriem who came to his rescue as if on instinct. "No Gryphindor vs. Slytherin today! It's all I ever heard from the House Elves! It's enough to make one crazy!" she said in annoyance. Tom smirked in triumph. Dumbledor really laughed this time, deep and joyfully, and for a moment Tom thought the old man might rival the fabled Santa Clause with how he shook with it!
"Indeed! You know, I never really understood the need to separate the students! Breeds rivalry and disunity! To many lies and mistruths between the Houses. I always wanted to befriend Slytherins when I was a student. I admired thier different qualities, felt more kin to them than my own house mates at times!" replied Dumbledore. Tom's eyes bulged out of their sockets, his mind reeled in shock, he was very glad he was sitting back down! Had he just heard that correctly? Perhaps, just perhaps, Dumbledore was a lot more than he seemed. Just maybe, once he truly understood the reasons behind the actions he meant to take, Dumbledore wouldn't be his enemy! Perhaps, just perhaps, he could be won over!
That would take time, expert manipulation, and a great darkening of the nieve goody good view the older wizard had of the world. And Tom still didn't trust him. But it interested him deeply that the seeds of Slytherin had already been sewn in Dumbledore. It was something to think on! It go his thoughts off how the green velvet made Carrie's eyes stand out all the more, which was a good thing! He told himself he admired her for her power, her loyalty. Appreciated her delicate beauty like a person studying a masterpiece of the only muggle he ever respected, Leonardo DaVinchi! His nerves steadied then, even as she took her seat next to him in the carriage. He felt the rocking begin as the carriage was pulled forward. He heard Carrie gasp at the sight of the thestals. "My dear, you can see them?" asked Dumbledore, clearly surprised. "Yes, they are ghastly beautiful, why do you ask?" she replied innocently.
"Usually only those who have seen another die can see a thestal" he replied. Guilt, terrible, deadly, swam in her eyes. Tears threatened, her power surrounded the area around them, almost to that dangerous height. On instinct Tom's arms went around her, he reached up with one hand, turned her eyes to his. "It was self defense Carrie! She would have killed you!" he said. He fought hard at the growl threatening to escape him. Stupid Dumbledore! A tortured looked entered the old wizard's eyes. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, a gesture Tom did not like in the least, but he allowed it. "Oh my dear child, your mother! How thoughtless of me! Tom's right, it was self defense, you did no wrong!" a tear slid down his cheek at her obvious pain. She trembled in Tom's arms before she shook it off. "Past is past, it needs left there!" she declared with a shaky laugh, shrugging her shoulders.
Tom smiled. The girl had logic in spades, enough that it almost always over came her emotions. Another way he knew she was a Slytherin at heart! He ignored it as his heart sped up at being this close to her. The fact that she smelt sweet, like honeyed apples. "Yes, quite! There are other things, more important to talk about!" agreed Dumbledore. "Such as wardrobe, what things we need to get outside general school supplies, a little background on your family, the Whites of New York, and your own background story!" he continued. "We are all ears, professor" replied Tom expectantly. The older wizard now had his and Carrie's full attention. "We will start with the Whites, who were, strangely, enthusiastic participants in the later part of the Protestant Reformation. When dissatisfied with how far that the Crown was willing to go with it, they booked passage for 4 prominant family members, all wizards and witches.
Merribel and Dustinian White, who had just married, and Augustinea and Regius White, who establushed the family's prominence in America when marrying their daughter, Philomea to the only wizard of the Winthrop line, William, and impressing upon him to take the White family name as opposed to Philomea taking his. From there on, children of both lines of the White family became eligible and desirable potential spouses to the pure-blooded families back in Britain, the Percival's, the Blacks, and the Ambrose's, who recognized their ambition, their unique strengths in different forms of magic, and their rising star power and influence in the New World. In the 1900's, a young couple, Desdemona Ambrose and Dorian White married and moved to New York, descendants of Merribel and Dustinian.
Dorian had a talent for politics and a ruthless streak, which rose his family fortunes and his wife's European ties quickily brought them within the elite of the very young New York wizarding community. Thses are the two from which you descend, my dear! And luckily, their grand child, Aleca, who is fiancé to Atticus Black, is staying with said family here in Britain! It was easy enough to glamour both families, to get them to accept yourself as the eldest girl of their six child brood, also sending you along with Aleca to England. Then send you to Scotland to spend your last year at Hogwart's for European finishing. The White's are notorious for using tutors for magic up to the child's seventh year, as, like you have inheridited, their family gifts like in the rare area of wandless magic, though none of them are as strong as you are, which makes you, my little one, the pride of your family and the favorite cousin of the Massachuttes Whites, now led by Justus and Arianne White." he finished with a smile.
Tom was silently impressed with the Old Man's skills in the fine art of manipulation. "What are the names of my siblings, and their ages? What do they look like? What are they like?" Carried asked excitedly, the questions coming out of her mouth like rapid fire. Dumbledore chuckled to himself. "One question at a time! The youngest is Merribel, at age 2, though soon that will change with the birth of Margaret." at the mere mention of her mother's name, she shuddered. "Merribel has strawberry blonde hair and grey eyes. Very happy toddler! Regius II is seven, with the same strawberry blonde hair and eyes so light blue they are almost white that you do. He is very hyper, and the trouble maker of the family! Aleca has ash blonde hair, like Atia your "mother", she also has grey eyes, she is a year behind you at 16. She is bold, and very vain, obsessed with the White Family Status!
Michael is a year older, 18. He also has ash blonde hair, the only one in the family with green eyes. He is deeply ambitious, but has no plans to marry, brushing off every match Atia and your "father" Praetor have tried to set up for him. The oldest is Luthor, who is 22 and manages the family finances. He married into a wealthy Japanese wizarding family, the Shimane. Her name is Takara, beautiful young lady, very shy!" replied Dumbledore. "Will I meet any of them?" she asked. "We shall see" replied Dumbledore, his eyes twinklong. Tom pondered the story of the White Family. He admired their ambition, how they found ways to take what they wanted. Yet he wondered how in the world such a family could produce someone as backward as Margaret, Carrie's mother! He also pondered the possibilities of having such a powerful family back his designs.
They certainly reminded him of all the stories he had heard about the Malfoy Family! He watched as, her eyes now lit with curiosity, her mind turned to more practical subjects. "About what I'll need..." the older wizard cut her off. "I wouldn't fear about prices. Yours is a wealthy family, and I am sure the money needed will be put in your hands shortly! There is weekend clothing, feminine expenses, make-up should you desire it, accessories, shoes" replied Dumbledore. Tom snorted when he heard her mutter to herself in disgust "Shopping for clothing is EVIL!" He knew she meant that as a statement of tortured dislike for the activity. Clearly, she was no ordinary girl in ANY sense! So low, so that only she could hear, he spoke. "I'll make it up to you, once we are rid of the chaperone!" She smiled. The carriage was soon stopping on a deceptively empty street.
"What have we stopped for?" Carrie turned her gaze again to the older wizard. "You'll see." he answered with an amused grim. Both Tom and he held out their wands. An amusing yelp came out of her, when the famed Bus appeared in front of them as thought it had materialized on the spot! Her mouth dropped open. "Are you going to stand there like a cold fish or get on man?" asked the Rastafarian Shrunken Head. She moved on to the bus, in shock and Tom couldn't suppress his laughter. He held on to her, so she wouldn't fall when the bus jerked forward and break neck speed, and he and Dumbledore helper her to her seat. "Where you be headin' man?" the Head asked. "The Leaky Cauldron in London my boy!" answered the professor. It was 20 minutes, before reaching the place, at the break neck pace the Rastafarian loved so dearly.
Tom was concerned at the appearance of Carrie holding her stomach. He had to make himself remember just how new to all this she still was! It was Dumbledore this time that kept her steady as they made their way off the bus. "Can we take a different way back to Hogwarts?" she asked, still reeling in her senses. "Perhaps it would be wise" said Tom. He was being shocked continously this day on just how strong his feelings of protectiveness over this girl were. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Now let's go in, it's lunch time, and I'm sure something to eat before we begin will be quite beneficial" replied Dumbledore. Tom kept close to Carrie. He knew how sensitive she could be to magic, he wanted to be there in case the power she felt around her overwhelmed her. They entered, and he heard her gasp, upon entering the door of the Leaky Cauldron.
"Carrie?" he asked, looking worried. Dumbledore looked at them both with a questioning in his eyes. She was breathing heavily, her aura of power reached out for his, for reassurance, which he freely gave. "I need just a minute, to adjust" she said quietly. "It's alright, we'll stay right here with you child. But what is wrong?" asked the professor. "So much power in the air! I can feel it around me, running through me. It vibrates the air, it penetrates me..." she answered. Sudden understanding and sympathy sprung to his eyes. "Sensitive to the magic, and to such a degree! Your abilities must be quite strong but raw!" Dumbledore said softly to her. It was five minutes, before Tom could lead her to a wall booth. Slowly, her former state returned to her. Her tortured look replaced by one of excitement and curiosity, a change Tom was delighted to see!
They ordered, Carrie choosing an American staple of a medium rare sirloin with a side of corn on the cob and mashed potatoes, which, she explained, she had been craving for days now, causing Dumbledore to chuckle. Tom himself had the standard fish and chips, and at Carrie's suggestion, Dumbledore had gone with a coney dog, a brand new dish there. Dumbledore finished describing to her all that they would need to get in Diagon Alley. They finished lunch quickly, exiting out back, where the entrance to Magic London was. Both Tom and the professor were shocked when Carrie asked them to let her tap the correct bricks, and even more shocked when getting it correct, tapping the pattern with her fingers. She looked up with wonder as they entered the new street. "Welcome to Diagon Alley, Carrie White!" Tom said to her with a smile.