Well here we are. The next chapter is finally here.
~~arachnophobia and Kuro-Lemur~~
Chapter 3: First Meetings
A month before the departure to Hogwarts.
"Carrie, are you ready?" Melinda, Carries mother, asked, putting her wallet in her purse.
"I'm coming!" Carrie stated as she made a final check that she was perfectly presentable. She stood right next to her mother in front of their fireplace.
"Are we going to use the Floo Network?" Carrie asked looking up at her mother.
"Yes. Here." Melinda held a bowl of Floo powder in front of Carrie. "You get to do this on your own this time. Remember, keep your elbows in." Carrie looked at the bowl of white powder and took a handful. She stepped into the fireplace and turned toward her mother. Her mother gave her a reassuring nod and Carrie returned the nod and took a deep breath tossed down the powder then said;
"Leaky Cauldron!" at that moment, Carries whole being was engulfed in the emerald green flames and was quickly transported to The Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley. Carrie stepped out of the fireplace and took a look around while dusting herself off. The pub was very dark and only appealing thing that pleased Carries eyes was the wooden staircase. Carrie took a seat in a chair at a table in front of the fireplace and waited for her mother's arrival. A few seconds later Tom, the landlord, came to welcome her.
There was a loud murmur echoing off the stone walls, rumors about someone named Harry Potter and something about a boy who was a sudden flash of green light that came from the fireplace. Carries mother had arrived.
"Waited long, love?"
"No ma'am."
"Alright, let's go. Follow me." Melinda started toward the back of the pub, Carrie closely following after. They entered the backyard of the pub and stood in front of a large brick wall. Her mother took out her wand. The wand was of dark red wood with a silver floral design along the wand 10 inches and at the end of the handle was a crystal rose. She tapped the wand counter clockwise on 5 bricks, from the trashcan, three up and two across. Suddenly, the wall started to form, first a small hole, into a giant gateway to the wizarding shopping center of Diagon Alley. Carrie took her mothers hand and they walked into Diagon Alley.
"I'm going to take you to get fitted for your robes."
"Where?"
"Madame Malkin's, that's where all young witches and wizards going to Hogwarts get their robes."
"Oh, is that where you got your robes from?"
Melinda nodded. They walked up to a small shop full of robes and cloaks. Melinda stops at the door.
"Go in, get fitted, and buy your robes. I'm going to get your other supplies." Melinda gave Carrie a pat on the back and went to do the school shopping. Carrie looked at the store for a moment, then walked in. A squat witch in mauve stood in front of Carrie, smiling then said,
"Hogwarts, clear?" Carrie just stood there thinking of something to respond with but all she could do was nod and smile back. The old woman lead her to a stool at the back of the shop. The moment Carrie got on the stool, a second witch slipped a very long robe over her head and began to pin the to the right length. A few moments later, a girl with a ponytail of long blood red hair walked in and stood on the stool next to her. This time Madame Malkin's was working on her. They stood there in an awkward silence. Then the girl turned to Carrie and said,
"Hi." Carrie looked over to the girl, looked her up and down, then shyly replied.
"Hello."
"Where are you going to school? Hogwarts too?"
"Yes.."
"Same! My parents went to Hogwarts!" The girls face lit up like lights on a christmas tree.
"Yeah? My parents did too..." Before Carrie could carry on with the conversation, she needed to know something. "What house do you think you'll end up in?"
"Either Slytherin or Ravenclaw. What about you?" The girl asked lifting up her arms so Madame Malkins could continue pinning.
"Slytherin," Carrie, now comfortable with the girl, relaxed a bit. "I will cannot settle for anything less. I am destined to be a Slytherin." Carrie stood in a proud stance, her chin up and chest full of air.
"Oh... Okay then..." The girl sounded a bit uncomfortable but she still kept making conversation. "What have you gotten so far? On the school list?"
"Well, my mother dropped me off here when we arrived so, I'm guessing she got all my things. I just need to get my wand... What about you?" Carrie turned her head to look at the girl, noticing that she has purple eyes.
"So far my Da and I got everything but my animal and my wand. He went off to go pick up my barn owl."
"Ah..." Carrie said looking straight ahead.
"Where do you live?"
"I live in Gravesend, in the middle of this large green field. It's located in this muggle town, so our house is invisible... You?"
"Well... I live on this island off the coast of England. It's really boring there, nowhere to go."
"Oh? You can't leave?" Carrie looked at the girl with curiosity, head tilted to one side.
"My Da forbids me to leave the island. This is my first time on the mainland. He usually leaves to get groceries." The girl looked at Carrie, her smile gone. Carrie could see something like loneliness in her eyes.
"You don't have house-elves?"
"No..."
"Ah..." At this moment, Carrie realized that the girl didn't come from a high status like her. All self-respecting wizarding families have at least 1 house-elf. "That's unfortunate. We have 3. We could afford more but mum says that too many house-elves can cause problems."
"Ah... Oh! I'm Anita by the way." The girl, Anita, said extending her right hand to Carrie, her smile returning.
"Carrie... Carrie Salazar..." Carrie shook Anita's hand. "That's my mum outside, talking to the woman with the long blonde hair." Before Carrie could point, the witch that was working on her pulled the robes off her and walked to a different part of the shop.
"I see. The one with her back to us? The one with the bun?"
"Yes, that's her." At that moment the witch came back to where Carrie was.
"Here are your robes ma'am." She handed Carrie the robes. Carrie took the bundle in her small hands.
"Thank you." She said to the witch. Then turned to Anita, "It was nice talking to you."
"You too!" The girl exclaimed, her smile even bigger.
"Hope you get into Slytherin. Bye." Carrie walked to the door and giving one last wave before she left.
"Bye!" Anita shouted after her.
Outside, Carrie joined her mother who was talking to a very beautiful woman. Next to the woman was a young boy. Both pale with blonde hair.
"Carrie, this is my second cousin, your first cousin, Narcissa and her son Draco." Melinda took the bundle that was in Carries hand. Carrie looked at the woman. She was beautiful, now she knew where all the good looks came from. Carrie extended a hand and Narcissa took her hand and gently shook. Carrie also shook Draco's hand. Draco had a pointier face than his mother.
"She looks just like you Melinda. She has the families good looks to the fullest. Lovely." Carrie blushed at the compliment. The very fact that a beautiful woman was complimenting her to being just or even more beautiful took Carrie away.
"Yes, lucky enough her father and his side of the family also have very nice looks too. I was worried that she would come out looking horrid. As if she was given any bad genes." Melinda nodded as she looked at her daughter. She swept back a few strands of hair that found their way onto Carrie's face from when the robes were taken off brushed her hair. The two women continued their conversation about Hogwarts and society.
Carrie looked at Draco, he was taller than her. He was a slender boy, with cold grey eyes, like Carrie's mother. He had sleek blonde hair, which looked like it was gelled down. His face was sharp and pointed, his complexion pale. Carrie tried to imagine what his father looked like, but failed. Then suddenly, Carrie remembered something. She turned to her mother and tugged on her dress.
"Mum! I still need to get my wand!" she exclaimed. Her mother looked down at her in confusion then came to realization.
"Ah yes! We'll do that in a second" Melinda turned and face Narcissa. They finished their conversation, gave a hug good-bye. Carrie gave a hug to Narcissa and waved to Draco.
"Off to Ollivanders!" Her mother exclaimed as they headed to the famous wand shop.
Meanwhile Anita had left the robe shop while Carrie was with her mother and had just walked into Ollivanders with her father. She looked at all the wands in the back in awe that one man could make so many wands.
A moment later an older man came out of the back to greet them. He had wide pale eyes and in the dark gloomy shop these orbs seemed to glisten and his thinning white-grey hair was tousled wildly as if it had been unkept for years.
"Mornin' Mr. Ollivander." Anita's father Rupert greeted with a smile.
"Mornin', how can I help you?" Ollivander asked.
"I'm here ta get my daughter her first wand." Was Rupert's response to the question.
"Ah, yes." Ollivander says as he turned and wandered among the shelves of wands looking for one that may be suitable. "I remember when you came in here to get your first wand. Ebony, with dragon heartstring, ten inches, sturdy, with the head of a Hebridean Black dragon at the the base of the handle, the scales carved from the head to fade away halfway along the length with antiqued gold inlay that fades with the scales."
Anita stared in shock at the older man as he came back with a rectangular black box. "How do you remember that? That had to have been a long time ago and with all the other customers you have!" She inquired.
"I remember every wand I ever sold." He replied as he took the lid off the box and gently picked up the wand that laid inside.
It was a simple looking wand made of oak and phoenix feather. He handed it to her she gave it a light flick and all of a sudden wands on one of the shelves flew off and into another shelf only to fall onto the ground in a messy pile.
"Nope!" Ollivander said as he took the wand from her light grip and placed it on the counter, he then went over to the pile, picked up another box, and brought it to the counter.
The he handed her this time was birch and unicorn hair. It had red swirls carved in the handle and a slight curve to the wood. Like with the first wand she lightly flicked her wrist and the quill on the older man's desk exploded causing the parchment underneath to catch fire. Ollivander frantically tried to put out the fire as Rupert took the wand from his daughter and placed next to the first on on the counter.
Five wands later, Ollivander was smiling happily. He handed her a sixth wand. This one was about eight inches, made of ash and unicorn hair, unyielding, the handle had interlocking square celtic knots carved in black. Purple and silver sparks flared out of the tip of the wand.
Anita stared in shock, "Wow!"
"Looks like we found ya a wand, sweetie." Rupert said to her. "Why don't ya go wait outside and I'll pay for it."
"Okay." She walked out and took all the stuff they had gotten with her.
As Anita was waiting for her father when she spotted the girl, Carrie, that she met in the robes shop. "Hi." She greeted when the girl came over to the wand shop with her mother.
"Oh, hey, Anita right?" Carrie asked making sure she got the name right.
Anita nodded and smiled.
Just then Rupert walked out of the wand shop, "Talk about a blast from the past." He smiled as he looked at Melinda. "Is it me or does it seem like ya've grown inta quite the woman there, Melinda."
"You haven't changed a bit, Rupert. Alway a ladies man." She joked happy to see her old friend again.
"Am not." He said faking to be insulted.
"If you say so." She rolled her eyes at his antics.
Anita looked at the two adults and then at Carrie. "I wasn't expecting that." She stated.
"Same. Who knew our parents were friends." Carrie smiled cheerfully.
"I know right?!" Anita grinned at seeing her father happy.
"So yer daughter got her letter too I see." Rupert said to Melinda, after noticing all the items they had.
"Yeah, she got it on her birthday the beginning of the year. She was so excited to get it. Your daughter get hers too?" Melinda asked placing a hand on her hip.
"Yes, I would have never thought she'd get one honestly." Rupert replied.
"Oh? Why not?"
"We live on a desolate island off the coast of England, hidden."
"And we live in an invisible house. Dumbledore will always know where you live. Have you forgotten that quickly?" Melinda let out a carefree chuckle.
"True. Nothing ever got passed him." Rupert smiled.
"We should all go for food!" Anita said shyly as her stomach grumbled. "Well after Carrie gets her wand."
"What do you think of that Carrie?" Melinda looked down to Carrie. Carrie smiled and nodded. "Where should we meet up?" Melinda asked looking back to Rupert.
"How 'bout the Leaky Cauldron?" Rupert inquired.
"That sounds good to me." Melinda smiled.
"We should show each other our wands when I get mine Anita!" Carrie cheerfully said as she imagined getting her wand.
"Yeah! I can't wait to see yours." Anita said with a smile that was just like those her mother gave to friends. A shadow of sorrow and pain passed through Ruperts eyes at seeing this, but his demeanor did not falter. Melinda noticed the sudden change in Ruperts eyes but didn't dare say anything.
"We'll, we better get your wand before all the good ones are gone!" Melinda exclaimed trying to lighten up to mood.
"See you in a little while." Anita hugged her, hopefully, new friend. And Rupert jokingly kissed the back of Melinda's hand. Carrie hugged Anita back glad to finally have a friend. Melinda smirked at Rupert as he kissed her hand, then repeated,
"You never change."
"If I did I wouldn't be me now would I? Now go get yer daughter her wand and we'll wait at the Leaky Cauldron." He gave one of his charming smiles. Melinda shook her head and chuckled, leading Carrie into Ollivanders.
"Hello! Mr. Ollivander?" Melinda called out, looking around for Ollivander. There he came sliding out from one of the bookshelves. The place was a mess and it seemed like he was in the middle of cleaning as brooms were sweeping and boxes of wands were floating to where they were supposed to be.
"Ah! I remember you! Cherry, dragon heartstring, ten inches, unyielding. Melinda Longbottom."
"It's Salazar now. I'm here to get a wand for my daughter."
"Ah, I see. Let's see, let's see." Ollivander seemed to be in a very good mood. He disappeared behind the shelves and then reappeared with a box. He walked toward Carrie and placed the box on the counter. He opened the box and gently pulled out a wand and handed it to her. It was a simple wand that looked like it was cut right off the branch of a tree. "Willow, unicorn hair, 12 inches. Give it a flick." Carrie looked at the wand then looked at a shelf. She gently flicked the wand and all the wands on the shelf sporadically flew off the shelf and out of their boxes. Carrie placed the wand down. Ollivander looked at her and smiled. "Let's try another!"
9 wands later, Ollivander pulled down a box and took out the wand inside. "Yew, dragon heartstring, 13 inches, unyielding." Carrie held the wand, she suddenly felt a warm sensation that traveled from her hand throughout her body, and a small wisp of teal light came from the wand. The wand was white like ivory and smooth too. Along the side of the handle of the wand was rune markings and engraved was a silver design of moons and stars. At the end of it was a small skull carved from the wood. The tip of the wand was smoothed and straight. Carrie looked up at the old man and smiled. Olivander smiled. Melinda paid for the wand and they left the shop and headed to the Leaky Cauldron.
Anita and Rupert were sitting at a table waiting for them. Anita was getting anxious waiting for them. "Calm down, Anita, or I'll glue ya ta yer seat." Melinda and Carrie walk into the Leaky Cauldron and spot Anita and Rupert. Carrie hurried over to where her new friend was.
"I GOT MY WAND! I GOT MY WAND!" She exclaimed jumping up and down. Her mother patted her on the head in slight disapproval.
"This is not how a lady behaves." Carrie nodded and calmed down, but still retaining her excitement.
"Can I see it?" Anita asked excitedly. Rupert sighed. Carrie nodded as she pulled out her wand for her friend to see. Melinda shook her head and sat across from Rupert.
"Kids." He grumbled as their daughters squealed over their new wands. "If it hadn't been for Leslie I wouldn't even have thought of having kids." Melinda smiled.
"They grow up so fast. Can you imagine that this will be the only time we'll get to see them like this?" Melinda smiled sweetly as she looked at the girls, but it soon faded. "How's Leslie?"
"She-"Rupert started but was struggling to say the dreaded words. "She passed away three months ago." Melinda held a hand to her mouth, her eyes showing sorrow and sympathy.
"What happened?"
"She was gonna take Anita ta the mainland ta do shopping because Anita needed some new clothes, but they were attacked. The man murdered Leslie and was gona do the same ta Anita but I got there in time ta stop him, he then disappeared." Rupert said as he watched his daughter. "She's just like her mother." Melinda looked over at Anita then back at Rupert.
"Was it a... Deatheater?" she asked in a quiet tone.
"I'm not sure. I couldn't get a good look at him before he disappeared. I feel bad for Anita, she still has the nightmares from it." He said with a sigh. Melinda reached across the table and placed her hand on Ruperts shoulder.
"I'm so sorry." She said with as much sympathy as she could express. He just smiled and placed his hand on hers.
"Thanks. I know I can't change the past but I just wish I could make Anita's nightmares go away." Melinda nodded.
"Maybe now that Anita has Carrie and Carrie has her, they can grow on each other. This is the first friend Carrie has ever made." Melinda said with a smile on her fair face.
"Same for Anita, I think they will be a good influence on each other." Melinda nodded in agreeance.
"So how is yer husband?" Rupert asked.
"He's well. Working hard. He brews potions like there is no tomorrow. I keep telling him that he should open shop and leave the ministry but, he insists that he's better off there." Melinda shook her head. "That poor man is going to work himself rigid in that place."
"I tried ta warn him but he never would listen ta me, on anything, except the marrying such a splendid lady as ya." Rupert smiled. Melinda chuckled and smiled. She was glad to see her friend again after so many years, and that he hasn't changed at all. "Then again I did tell him if he didn't marry ya I would." Melinda let out a laugh.
"What? Are you serious?" She shook her head as she laughed at this unknown secret.
"Hey don't laugh! I was really gonna if he didn't man up." Melinda calmed her laugh.
" You two are dangerous together. I swear. And I believe that you would have too." She chuckled, "I swear, Glaucio and Snape were one in the same at times. And don't get me started with you and Glaucio. You two gawking over all the girls in the school. Shameful." She giggled.
"Hey! There were a lot of beauties at the school, but none as beautiful as ya and my Leslie." He patted her hand. Melinda smiled.
"We need to keep in touch from now on. Glaucio would be thrilled to know that you're still alive and kicking. And he'd want to know about Anita."
"Yeah we do." Rupert said. "I miss ya guys. Oh ya probably didn't hear but Leslie found out about her birth family a month before she was killed."
"Oh?" Melinda suddenly really interested. "What did she find out?"
"Well she's- was a half blood and he brother is still alive. Ya know him too." Melinda looked at Rupert with confusion. She thought of all the half-bloods she knew.
"Severus?"
"Bingo, Love." He said with a smile. "All these years he had been right there and no one knew."
"Does Anita know?"
"Yeah. He's been talking for two months now via owls." Melinda smiled.
"That's good. At least she knows another side of her family, even if its just her uncle. And don't let her forget about us, now." Melinda cheerfully began. "We are family too. I've known you long enough to basically be your sister."
"True, but I wouldn't flirt with my sister now would I?" He joked. "Antia will love you guys like family I'm sure though, her and Carrie are like long lost sisters right now." His voice amused. Melinda nodded and looked at the girls.
"So... When are we going to eat?" She looked over to Rupert.
"When ever you and the girls are hungry."
"Well, I'm pretty hungry from all this shopping and talking. Carrie, Anita!" Melinda called to the girls. Both girls looked over to Melinda. "Are you two hungry yet?" Carrie thought for a moment and came to the realization that her stomach was growling the whole time, but her excitement covered it.
"Yes I am!" Carrie said putting a hand on her stomach.
"Me too!" Anita said anxiously. Melinda looked at Rupert.
"Seems like we're hungry."
"Well then the meal's on me." He smiled.
"How much longer 'til we leave for the school?" Anita asked curiously. Melinda thought for a moment.
"I'd say another month till your departure." Melinda nodded at her statement. "Yeah, you leave next month."
"That seems so long away!" Anita complained.
"Trying ta get away from your Da that soon huh?" Rupert teased his daughter.
"No! Of course not! I just can't wait to meet new people! I hate not having anyone on the island."
"I can't wait to take potions and transfiguration, like mum and dad." Carrie cheerfully said leaning her head on her mother's arm Melinda smiled and put a hand on Carries head.
"I don't know what I want to take." Anita said.
"Anita, ya're brilliant like yer mom, no matter what ya take I know ya'll be good at it." Rupert said genuinely proud of how much like her mother she is.
"I'm sure that you will find a class that will fancy you the most. You're sure to be just as much of as skilled witch as your muthah." Melinda smiled.
"You know Anitas mum?" Carrie asked looking up to her mother, completely clueless to the situation.
"Mhmmm. Anita's parents and I were all good friends when we went to Hogwarts together."
"Wow! Really?! What was my mum like when she went to school with you?!" Anita couldn't keep the excitement from her voice. Melinda smiled.
"Well, your muthah was the most brilliant witch I had ever met. And she was just as beautiful. She was so brilliant, that I didn't mind befriending her during our time at Hogwarts. She was always talking to people even outside of her house. A lil social butterfly she was. Always accepting of people. Nevah letting someone feel alone."
"Wow! She was amazing! I wish she could be here now and see me off." Anita said but pain and sorrow was far from her voice, she was proud to be her mother's daughter.
"She's always with you love. Always watching over you and protecting you." Melinda smiled at Anita, hoping her words would give her some moral support.
"Thank you ma'am." Anita said respectfully. Melinda smiled and nodded a welcome.
"So what house do ya girls want ta be in?" Rupert asked.
"SLYTHERIN!" Carrie quickly and enthusiastically answered. Melinda was caught off guard with Carries loud answer, but was pleased with her response.
"That's a very good house, but ya have ta be careful of who ya befriend. Not everyone is like yer Ma, Da, or me." Rupert warned Carrie. Carrie thought of this then gave her idea.
"I won't need any friends as long as I have Anita." Carrie looked to Anita and smiled. Anita blushed slightly at the compliment.
"I'm sure you'll make other friends once we get there." Anita stated. Carrie shook her head, but then thought about it.
"I guess I'll make a couple." she tilted her head left and right at the thought. "I really want to be the greatest witch I can be and I'd want my true friends beside me." With that Carrie gave a satisfied nod.
"Ya sound just like your Ma." Rupert stated to Carrie. "Always knowing exactly what ya want." Carrie smiled and looked at her mother. Melinda smiled back.
"Yeah, just like her ol' mum." Melinda hugged Carrie tightly. "What about you Anita? Do you have any plans yet?"
"N-no..." Anita replied feeling stupid.
"Don't worry sweetheart. Yer dear ol' Da here didn't even have any plans either." Rupert said trying to cheer Anita up.
"Yeah, and look where that's gotten you." Anita joked. Melinda cracked up at that comment.
"She's right." She laughed, then calmed down a bit. "Don't worry love, you still have time to get everything situated. Just start small and gradually add to whatever you have decided to do." Melinda said reassuring Anita.
"What was my Ma best at in school?" Anita inquired curiously. Melinda looked at Rupert inquisitive, trying to remember.
"Don't ask me, I can't remember." Rupert said pathetically.
"I want to say that she was best at Potions. We were both partners at one point, but Leslie and Glaucio dominated the whole whipped up potions in a heartbeat. Sometimes not even taking a glance at the textbook. Professor Slughorn eventually made them into a team, and I got stuck with him." Melinda pointed her thumb at Rupert.
"Hey! I wasn't that bad!" He tried to defend himself, causing his daughter to laugh.
"Obviously you were, Da." Melinda chuckled and faced Rupert.
"You had the hardest time trying to simply brew a Cure for Boils. And don't get me started on how you destroyed at least 7 cauldrons a year."
"Wow, Da. I hope I'm at least better than you at potions."
"Hey, potions just wasn't my thing. I was more a defence against the dark arts student." Rupert tried to explain. Melinda smirked.
"True, ya dad was sure brilliant in that."
"What about you mum?" Carrie asked.
"Me? My fancy was transfiguration and herbology." Melinda proudly stated."Always was a natural when it came to transforming things and planting."
"Anita ya never said what house ya wanted ta get inta." Rupert realized that she had never answered his previous question.
"Slytherin." She answered. "I want to stay close to my friend." Smiles at Carrie. Carrie gave a big smile back.
"Well, on that note I say we finally order something to eat." Melinda said looking at everyone.