Disclaimer: Because I spaced adding one before... But seriously, I am a poor college student, I definitely do not own Harry Potter! JK Rowling does, because she is amazing! I do however "own" the next gen characters. In other words, I created them.
Chapter 2: A Trip to Diagon Alley
Diagon Alley. It never stopped exciting Shyla, since she loved to shop. But this time, it wasn't just a typical shopping day. Today, Shyla would be getting ready for her upcoming year at Hogwarts.
Hermione kept a close eye on her daughter while they walked the crowded streets on the mid-August day. The plan was to meet the remainder of the Weasley clan at Fred and George's joke shop: Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.
Charlie would be there with his two sons, Victor, a 4th year, and Justin, a new 1st year. Bill and Fleur had two children as well, James, a 3rd year and Chloe, a 2nd year. Mind you, so far, these children all occupied the Hogwarts house of Gryffindor. Katie also accompanied her upcoming 1st year daughter, Ali. And George's wife, Alicia, with their oldest son, a 1st year as well, Thomas. And of course, Arthur and Molly Weasley. They were also joined by Ginny and her husband, Neville.
The younger kids were left with sitters, giving the parents time with their children before they left for Hogwarts.
Inside Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, bright colors danced off the walls, giving a vibrant glow. Fred stood at the check out counter, assisting students, and their parents, with purchases. On the wall behind him were shelves with their newest items, ranging from pea sized items labeled Memory Mints: Regain your memory in one simple bite, to Collectible Cauldrons: Choose your favorite color, each comes with a surprise!
Next to the new items was a tall display of the original products that were distributed throughout Hogwarts to test on their fellow students. It was easy to tell that Fred and George were proud of the way their career started. By the counter was a curtain door with a sign above it labeled "Testing Zone: Employees only."
George Weasley had a group of students huddled around him in the corner of the store. He appeared to be teaching them how to smuggle the joke shop merchandise into Hogwarts. He grinned with excitement as he talked with the teenagers.
Hermione watched the two men with amazement. They were fathers of soon to be Hogwarts attendees! Yet, they still retained their child-like charm. She pitied Katie, for she had a set of twins of her own at home. Lucas and Andrew, five year old terrors. With their flaming red hair, they obviously took after their father and uncle.
In the center of the shop, Shyla joined her favorite cousin, Ali. They cooed over the pygmy puffs and their many colors that inhabited a large, multilevel cage. But it really didn't appear to be a cage, where you keep something locked up, but a safe place for these fluffy creatures to live together. "Dad!" Ali cried out excitedly. "Are pygmy puffs allowed as a Hogwarts pet?"
Fred laughed as he finished assisting a customer. He strolled over and kissed his daughter on her head of long, shiny red hair. "You know, there has been some debate about that." He grinned and presented a light blue ball of fluff. "This one is the first light blue I have ever encountered. Take good care of her. She was born just 6 months ago."
"Really? I can have her?" Ali asked with a grin.
Fred smiled back at Ali. "Of course, she is all yours!"Ali squealed and took the pet. "I love it!" she said, hugging her father. "Thanks, Dad!"
It was moments like this that Shyla wished she had a father. But she got over the feeling of loss quickly. She had gotten used to it just being her and her mum at such a young age, so that now she almost felt as if life would just be weird if she did have a father of her own.
Once the greetings died down, Hermione took Shyla to Ollivanders Wand Shop.A chime above the door sounded as the entered.
A very old man peered his head around from one of the many shelving units that lined the old, dusty shop. "Blimey!" he shouted, "11 inches, cherry wood, embellished with ivy!"
Hermione laughed. "Hello Ollivander!"
Shyla stared in amazement. "How do you-"
Ollivander smiled with a soft twinkle in his eyes. "I remember every wand I ever sold. And I believe I will shortly have another one to add to the list!" He then turned back to Hermione. "My, how you've grown. And now! To have a daughter of your own! Tell me, who is her father?"
"Ron Weasley!" Shyla said before Hermione could reply.
"Really?" Ollivander said in surprise. "Well, then you are destined for the House of Gryffindor for sure! It is in your blood."
"Hey, Mr. Ollivander, do we have any more ribbon in the back? I'd like to gift wrap some of the boxes." A tall, dark man asked, coming to the front of the store.
"Dean Thomas," Hermione smiled, "how are you?"
Dean grinned. "Wow, Hermione! I'm doing really well, I'm an apprentice here. And you? Is this your daughter?"
Hermione nodded, "Shyla, this is Dean. We were in Gryffindor together."
Shyla smiled. "Hello. I'd imagine you would have known my father then, too? Ron Weasley?"
"Ron? You know, that comes as no surprise. And yes, I did know him. He was a friend of mine. Until I dated his sister!" Dean laughed.
"You dated Aunt Ginny?" Shyla stared doubtingly, wondering how anyone other than Uncle Neville could handle the intensity that came with Ginny.
Ollivander smiled, "Dean, would you get a wand for Miss Weasley to try out?"
"Granger," Shyla corrected, "my last name is Granger."
Ollivander and Dean looked at Hermione curiously.
Hermione hesitated. "Shyla Granger sounded much better. Considering my name never changed..."
"Of course, not another thought." Ollivander smiled softly at Shyla. "Dean, a wand for Miss Granger, please." He added emphasis to Granger, in a sense of apologizing for his mistake.
Shortly after Dean disappeared around a wall of shelves, he came back with a stack of wands. "Try this one first!" he exclaimed, as he handed Shyla a wand made of a light-colored wood.
Shyla gave a strong swish. It did nothing.
"Hmm," Dean contemplated, "not much like your mother, are you?"
"Shy' is pretty independent," Hermione agreed.
Dean nodded and went to the back. He returned with two wands.
The next one, Shyla swished just as strongly. It caused the shop windows to shatter behind her. Ollivander eyed Dean with a sigh.
"Nope! Not that one!" Dean exclaimed, taking back the wand quickly, and handing her one more.
Shyla looked it over. It felt good in her petite hand, as if it was meant to belong to her alone. She gave a flick of her wrist. The wand released an energy that Shyla had never felt before. "This one's good," she said, softly.
Dean smiled as Ollivander praised him. "Wood from an Alder tree, with a strand of Unicorn hair, given willingly, of course."
After Hermione paid Ollivander, and Dean gift wrapped the wand in a box, they made their way towards Flourish and Blotts, the book store.
"This just makes me so much more excited! I can't wait to start school and learn all about spells and hexes!" Shyla said, cheerfully.
"Hexes?" Hermione questioned.
"I figure that if you're going to know cures, you should know the hexes that will be needing the fixing," Shyla explained casually, but mostly to keep her mum from questioning her further.
"Hmm," Hermione sighed, "well, here we are. Flourish and Blotts! What's on your requirement list, Shy?"
Shyla handed her mum the list and started to wander off, "I just want to look around first. You can find the books for me."
"Shyla!" Hermione called after her, but she was already gone. She sighed to herself and looked at the list.
Shyla made her way to the fictional section. Reading for pleasure instead of information was so much more enjoyable to her. A petite girl around her same age leaned against one of the book cases, flipping through a novel about a romance between a young witch and wizard. The girl had silvery blonde hair and average features. She was thin and carried a sense of pride about her. Her eyes were large and doe like, carrying a soft shade of hazel.
"Oh, hello," Shyla said, casually, hoping they would be going to school together.
"Hey," the girl replied, "I'm Eva Malfoy."
"Shyla Granger," she replied, picking up an adventure book and quickly putting it back. She preferred books on revenge and secret societies. "Are you starting Hogwarts, too?"
"Yes. Every Malfoy has been placed in Slytherin, and I intend to keep that tradition," Eva said, proudly.
"Funny, my father was a Weasley, and every Weasley has been in Gryffindor," Shyla replied, nonchalantly.
"Weasley? You don't look like a Weasley," Eva accused with a slight laugh, her blonde hair flitting. "But I guess that does mean we won't be friends."
"Why not?" Shyla asked. She liked Eva's attitude, but knew her mother would be greatly distraught if she saw her daughter behaving in such a way.
Hermione caught sight of her daughter talking to another girl. This wouldn't have been an issue if she hadn't seen none other than an adult, Draco Malfoy, watching the other girl closely. Hermione closed in on Shyla, wrapping her arm around her and pulling her behind, just as Malfoy closed in on his own daughter.
Malfoy, with his blonde hair and grey eyes, pushed Eva aside and eyed Hermione. "Granger..."
"What do you want, Malfoy?"Hermione glared at him, recalling their long and painful past.
Shyla looked at Eva and shrugged. Eva stood proudly next her father."Such a harsh tone. Really, there is no need." He smirked, discretely looking Hermione over. In a way, examining her.
Hermione sighed, and tried to play nice. "Draco Malfoy, this is my daughter, Shyla. She will be attending Hogwarts this year."
"Shyla Granger," Shyla announced to Malfoy. She didn't want anyone else confusing her last name again.
Malfoy smirked again. "Granger? Taking the mother's name?"
Hermione cringed. "Her father isn't around much. Not that it is any of your business."
"My father is dead," Shyla stated, bluntly.
"And I do see that it should be my business, seeing as I will be teaching her Potions. If she acts out, I should need an idea as to why," Draco Malfoy said with a smile.
"This cannot be happening! You? Teaching potions? Great." Hermione was beginning to look and feel uncomfortable.
As she began to turn away Malfoy called after her, "Hermione. Be sure to purchase her a good potions set. The last thing I need is another lost cause."
"Draco?" Hermione asked turning back to him, fighting the urge to run away. "Please don't treat her the way you treated me in school. She took after me very little."He eyed Hermione carefully before he turned, allowing his long, black robe to flow behind him. "Come, Evangeline."
Hermione shut her eyes tight and tried to remain calm, but when she opened them, Ginny Longbottom was starting at her accusingly.
"Since when has there ever been a time where you and Malfoy have been on a first name basis?" Ginny demanded.
"Ginny, don't make a scene," Hermione said, attempting to push past, but being stopped by Molly Weasley. "Molly, please."
Molly glared at Hermione. "He fought with You-Know-Who. He is an accessory to my son's murder!"
Hermione fought back the tears she knew were coming. "No!"Shyla looked around nervously, not wanting people to see this. But was relieved when she saw her future professor walking back towards them.
"Professor Longbottom!" Malfoy called to Neville. "I would like to discuss an assignment I will be giving where the students will need to make use of some of your plants." He looked at Hermione for a long second with sympathetic eyes. Hermione was shocked to find him so willing to come to the rescue. She was almost suspicious.
Neville sighed with relief. "We can definitely work something out. What plants do you think they will need?"
"Neville!" Ginny protested."Dear, he is a fellow professor, please understand.I will meet you later," Neville said softly, giving Ginny a kiss on the cheek, and leaving with Malfoy.
By now, Arthur Weasley was leading his wife and daughter from the shop. He looked at Hermione shortly, and in a way, he apologized with only his eyes.
Hermione escorted Shyla to the long line ahead of them to purchase the books. Shyla tried to stay quiet, but found it quite difficult. "Mum? Why does Aunt Ginny hate Professor Malfoy so much? He seemed nice."
"Shyla, drop it, please," Hermione pleaded."But Mum!" she protested.
"I said drop it!" Hermione scolded, finalizing the conversation, and any small talk that may have wanted to be heard.
Author's Note:
Thank you to my 2 reviews from tripleloopx and Sugarquills007! I love reviews, they make me happy! I will update again on Sunday. I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Thanks for reading! Oh! And the next chapter is really good! I am quite proud of it, and can't wait to post it! But for now, please review! *hint hint*