Chapter 3
"Se can't arrive on the Hogwarts express, Severus. She hasn't even been sorted yet! There will be too many questions about where she comes from and why she hasn't been to Hogwarts before"
"Well she will have to answer those questions sooner or later, Minerva."
"The fewer people see her getting on that train the better. For all we know the Malfoy's could recognise her at King's Cross"
"Her father was Lucius' second cousin. For all we now they probably don't even know she exists!"
Severus noticed the light tapping sound of Emilia's feet coming down the stairs. "We can't be too careful, Severus"
By the time Emilia walked into the room Minerva's face had disappeared into the red embers in the fireplace.
"Ready?" Asked the wizard, motioning his right arm towards her. This time Emilia held on to it a little tighter.
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Emilia had never seen so many witches and wizards together. In Diagon Alley nobody hid the fact that they were magical; cloaks, pointy hats, cauldrons and broomsticks could be spotted all over the place. Emilia noticed her muggle clothes were attracting a few suspicious looks. Their first stop was at Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, where Emilia would buy her first-ever robes.
"Lift your arm up, dear" Said the plump which while pinning the sides of her school robes. "That´s it! Now, what colour did you tell me you wanted your dress robes to be? Pink, wasn't it?"
"Well, I had thought off something more..er..subttle"
When Severus re-entered the shop after a visit to Flourish and Blotts he found Madam Malkin trying to sell a bright pink travelling cloak and turquoise robes to Emilia. He was pleased to see she preferred the black and burgundy ones.
"Are you sure you prefer those, dear? They are ever-so dark!" Said a disappointed looking Malkin, in the last attempt to convince the young girl.
"Absolutely positive, thank you" Severus couldn't fail to notice how well the new robes suited her.
Their next stop was, of course, Slug & Jiggers Apothecary, where they spent almost an hour stocking up their potions kit and ingredients.
"Before I forget, here! I told you I'd pay you back" Emilia said with a smile while she pressed four lemongrass pods into Severus' palm.
The professor almost shuddered at the touch of her warm hand but quickly composed himself and managed to mutter a "Thank you" before turning around and scolding himself for blushing at such a stupid thing. She would, after all, be a student of his in less than a weeks time.