Song- Witch's Wand by Sloan

I will update every Sunday. For now I will put up most of my story. I also have an account on AO3 under SatanicManicPanic where I upload my stories there as well.

Her forehead was wet with a substance. She touched it and realized it was holy water. It was not a dream; her mother had performed an exorcism that night.. The incident tempted her to feign sleep until Professor McGonagall retrieved her. Despite feeling queasy from the night before, the smell of food enticed her. Kellah had a quick shower and put on the clothes her mother had laid out for her. Another long traditional Ugandan dress that reached her ankles. She had to see her professor again in this dreadful attire. She loved the conventional clothing of her country, but only sometimes. Despite never having been to Uganda, Kellah's mom dressed her as if she had.

On her way downstairs, the wood railing shook, and she saw her father, Mr. Bale Onai-Dellarose. He was at the table with a patterned tablecloth. Her mother's specialty dishes were out of the glass display cabinet for today. It was full of mandazi, a sweet donut treat. It was maize beans with avocado, tomatoes, and a little egg. Twice in two days, her parents were kind enough to give her sugar, which rarely happens. The table was full. They covered every inch of food. Her stomach growled. She rubbed it, made her way to the table. She saw a bowl of porridge at the center among the assortment of delicacies. It was on full display like an accent to the other food. That's when she lost her appetite.

Her mum placed a kettle of tea next to the bowl of porridge. They held hands to pray. Kellah reached for a mandazi when her mother popped her hand. "Good girls get mandazi. Bad girls get porridge," said Mrs. Onai Dellarose.

"Are you a good or bad girl?" her father asked.

That was a ridiculous question to Kellah. "Of course, I'm a good girl."

"Then you're not going to that school, and you can eat the mandazi." her mother placed a plate in front of her.

Kellah pushed it aside and grabbed the bowl of porridge. That would settle her stomach better than the sugar, anyway. They looked disappointed, and she had grown used to that face. It was mandazior Hogwarts. Instead of being five, she was eleven, and it was time to treat her accordingly. She was becoming a woman soon. She would be a girlfriend and boyfriend with someone and have her first kiss.

After slurping down her porridge, she banged the bowl on the table, then drank her tea and went to her room. Kellah's father stopped her and forced her to turn and face him. He pushed a worn-out bible into her hands. "Read this and think about your future."

All she had done was think about her future. She stomped upstairs and sat on her bed, and kept the book next to her open in case they came in. Kellah took out some nail polish and began painting them a nice black color. It didn't look good on her dark skin, but she wanted to make them madder. They said that black nail polish was satanic. What harm was there now that she was a witch? Not like she was a Satanist. Hogwarts reinforced her atheistic beliefs and yet with this magic she couldn't help but wonder where did it all come from.

Kellah admired her nails. Then once they dried, she played scatter jacks. There were ten metal pieces shaped like x's and a rubber ball. You had to collect all ten in ten rounds, from singles to tens, before the ball bounced again. Kellah had gotten the metal jacks instead of rubber because she wanted them to last.

Kellah sensed someone coming when her parents screamed. She thought she heard her mother say, demon woman. McGonagall made it up the stairs to her. She hugged her. "You came for me." She had stepped over the jacks to hug her and regretted getting the metal ones.

McGonagall was uncomfortable with a child hugging her, but Kellah did not care. She patted her head. "That's enough of that. Shall we go before your parents try anything else?"

The professor lifted her foot and saw a scatter jack. McGonagall waved her wand, and her room cleaned itself and became more organized. "Thanks, that was cool," said Kellah.

"You're very welcome. We mustn't leave a dirty room." She nodded and followed McGonagall down the stairs. Mr. and Mrs. Onai-Dellarose appeared horrified as their daughter had become a devil spawn to them. The woman that had caused it all, McGonagall. The professor held out a hand. "Money for the school supplies."

"I shall never-" McGonagall took out her wand. Mr. Onai Dellarose then took out his bible and started reciting scripture. Mrs. McGonagall turned into a silver tabby cat and jumped on the book in his hand. He stared at her, mortified. "That is alright. Kellah will have financial aid, since you can't provide any money you're stealing from the church."

After reverting to human form, McGonagall opened the door with a gesture and departed without another word. Kellah followed behind and saw three other kids outside waiting for her. McGonagall made a hand gesture, and a name tag appeared on Kellah's chest. They walked in a single file line, and she didn't have time to see the other kids' name tags.

Considering McGonagall was a witch, she had taken them all on a Muggle bus.

"Why are we on a regular bus?" a light-skinned girl with enormous bushy hair asked. Her name tag read, Hermoine Granger.

"You must know how to get there."

Hermione's father was dark bald man, and her mother was pale woman with dark hair.

There was a boy next to Hermione who raises his hand. His name tag read Dean Thomas. His parent was a black woman. Professor McGonagall nods, and he looks at Kellah. "Where are your parents?" Dean asked.

It was silent. Another kid was there. His name tag read Justin Finch Fletchley, who had both his parents. She was the only one without parents. "Where is your father?" Kellah asked.

"My stepfather is at work," he said casually.

"No, I said your real father, not your stepfather?"

Dean didn't know what to say.McGonagall reprimanded Kellah while his mother talked to him in hushed tones. Although annoyed, Kellah remained quiet.

They made it to a place called The Leaky Cauldron. It was old and weathered. The shotgun hallway had three chandeliers with seven support beams and six archways for extra seating. Paintings on the walls appeared to move as you passed by. At the entrance was a bar containing tiny barrels with taps attached. There was a rickety stairs case that went upstairs. As they made it through, the patrons of the Leaky Cauldron saw it was McGonagall, then promptly ignored her. They went straight to the back door between the two rows of dining tables that awkwardly equaled thirteen. Everyone was uneasy. She tapped the brick wall, and it opened to a load of shops and an enormous bank at the back. A man stood there passing out cheap little cauldrons for their shopping experience.

"Welcome to Diagon Alley. Please do not get distracted. We are going straight to Gringotts Wizard Bank. After buying everything from the list you received for school supplies, you can doddle as much as you like."

McGonagall stayed with parents while children explored within limits. They passed by a tall giant, and McGonagall tipped her hat. Next to him was a boy with glasses. There were so many things to see. Kellah wasn't sure where to look. Some things that she had only dreamed of when the group halted.

A three-story building with three sets of crooked pillars taking up an entire corner. The goblins built it with white marble that had not yellowed. A goblin in a police uniform watched the bank's departing crowd from the balconies.

The interior was more impressive than the exterior. Marble pillars that looked like there was gold running through them. Two rows of goblins stood behind a desk while an overseer glared at entrants from a central desk. Fear and excitement engulfed Lyla. She thought they were going straight to the back, where the overseer goblin sat. They stopped right near the front in a tucked off corner. "Wizard Money Exchange for Muggle-born students," said the goblin banker, still writing with his quill in a book. The goblin seemed annoyed, and they exchanged their cash for coins one by one.

"There are three coins, galleon, sickle, and knut. That equates to gold, silver, and copper. Try to stick with me as much as possible. I wouldn't want some wizard taking advantage of your ignorance." Professor McGonagall stared at Kellah in particular. She leaves the bank once everyone has their money and keeps Kellah's in hand.

"Madam Malkin's Robes for All is our first stop," said McGonagall. Kellah disliked it.

The shop had a sign with scissors atop the archway. The windows were purple displayed uniforms, a dress robe and a beautiful periwinkle dress with a ruffled skirt. Someone she assumed was Madam Mulkin took her behind a pink curtain that separated her from everyone. The shop owner measured Kellah, and she felt uncomfortable with how The Madam handled her. The uniform was immense. She guessed McGonagall thought she would grow into it, but it was not likely. Everyone else had their turn and was running around. Kellah was happy not to wear the clothes her parents had picked once school started.

Flourish and Blotts was dimly lit for a bookstore. She guesses they wanted you to buy the books, not read them inside. Books were everywhere on the tables, covering every wall. There was a balcony up front. Kellah went up a metal staircase to sit at a table with more books. McGonagall glared at her, holding a stack of books. Kellah made her way down and MacDougall deposited them in her arms. The weight of the books was significant because of their large quantity. She loathed it. She dropped them in the cauldron and they seemed to disappear.

The girl named Hermione Granger was having the time of her life. Hermione even got a stack of bookmarks lamented and tasseled; one floated and never lost its place. Mr. and Mrs. Granger seemed happy about it instead of mad.

"Next stop, Scribulus," they went to the next shop, following McGonagall. It was a place to get feather quills, inkwells, and parchment. She had never seen a paper like this, and it felt odd. Kellah wasn't fond of the place, but she bought a rare rainbow quill and a glitter quill. She wanted a self-spelling quill, but didn't have enough.

They passed by a place called Broom Shop, which was the laziest name ever. Kids were crowding a Nimbus Two Thousand. Kellah stuck her head in the window. A kid next to her explained what it was.

"It's the fastest broom yet for flying. I want one."

"I want one too. Flying would be fun," Kellah said, pressed so close to the window her breath was fogging it up.

McGonagall pressed her cheek next to Kellah. "Broomsticks are not for first years. Now follow the group, young lady." If Kellah could blush, she would have instead she followed Professor McGonagall. She saw the other kids holding hands with their parents and reached for McGonagall. McGonagall took her hand after seeing her expression.

Potage Cauldron Shop is where they had arrived. There was no spark of interest in Kellah. She was bored. Flying with a broomstick was still a thought in her mind. The sight of cauldrons stacked outside in ascending order at the door beneath the sign snapped Kellah back to reality. A sign of equal length was present for each type of cauldron. The self-stirring sign was the only one she found intriguing.

"It's time for a Cauldron," McGongall said.

Kellah noted the cramped conditions. Normally it would overflow with, cauldron but it was barren today. Everyone got their cauldrons, and she was dead last.

"There is none left," the shopkeeper said. Next, she showed a dusty old cauldron from the back. "We have this. Sorry, the stock is low. Except for Muggle-born first years, most kids arrive later," she said with a hint of dissatisfaction. It was ancient. The bottom said K. Like Kellah, she wanted it.

"I'll take it. Is it half or third off price since it's old?"

Shocked, the shopkeeper expressed her surprise. She tried to haggle.

"Full price! It's the last one."

"Not like anyone wants to buy it. It remained uncleaned because of that."

"Fine half price," the shopkeeper said.

McGonagall seemed proud and paid for her. She then added the other items.

They made a small stop at Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment. Kellah was tired of shopping until she went in. A globe chandelier held a planetary display encompassing all zodiac constellations on the ceiling. There were several rings around it for the spectacle. Lots of planets and stars were above it, with gold and brass telescopes around the second-story wall. No second floor existed, only telescopes and nicknacks against the wall. There was a crystal ball on display. Kellah walked up to it and pretended to be a fortune teller. Then a man in a dark cloak with silver liquid coming out of his mouth appeared. Kellah had decided it was time to leave the shop and let McGonagall pick everything for her.

"The Magical Menagerie. Only one more place to go." They had been there forever, and her little feet had hurt from all the walking. Sign advertised owls, cats, rats, and more. The windows were painted green. Everyone was painting their windows since they couldn't paint the brick walls all the buildings were made of except Gringotts, because they could afford better. Kellah had her arms crossed, shuffling a bit when every no-extinct magical creature known to man was there, staring at her. Owls were hanging from the ceiling in cages. A Binky was done by a rabbit that transformed into a top hat. There was a tiny yellow fur ball that was called a puff skein. It was cute until its long tongue stuck out. Then there was a toad that spit a globe of fire near her.

Kellah asked McGonagall. "Can I have an owl and a toad? I want both."

"No, it's your first year; maybe next year. For now, I recommend an owl."

She got a miniature owl because it was cute and would freak out her parents the least. She named it MilkyWay because it was gray and brownish and fit in her palm. It couldn't have been over six inches.

"Last and final stop, Ollivanders." A display of nine wands with different handles and shapes and some attachments for further modification.

The small, old shop overflowed with wands to the ceiling. The owner had a wobbly staircase leading to a door above his head. Kellah was excited she could do magic after. She was last, as always, because everyone's parents were pushy. There were some mishaps for each person. A vase blew up. It scattered some papers around because of the wand. It was her turn. Ollivander displayed the wand and held it at both ends, presenting it to her. "Willow 14 inches," Ollivander said. Kellah flicked it, and it pushed him back.

"Vine Dragonheart 10 ," Ollivander said. It threw some books.

"Curious. This would be the second try. Phoenix core 11 inches." Ollivander continued. A ball flew.

The last one came from the back. A Sycamore, 12 1/4, felt comfortable in her hand, and the wind blew her hair.

"That's the one."

They all left, and they went to Sugarplum Sweet Shop. It was a sickening pink inside and out. The signs were cotton candy blue. The list included candies and pastries that were unfamiliar to her. Thanks to everyone's parents but hers, they were eating Bertie and Bott's Every Flavor Bean. Without a word, McGonagall handed her a box. Kellah ate it and decided McGonagall was her favorite Professor now. They encountered Obscurus Bookshop on the way back. It piqued her interest, but she didn't have time to explore it. She returned her little cauldron and held everything in blacked-out Muggle shopping bags.

They dropped her off at home, and her parents were furious, especially when they saw her pet bird.

"We are not caring for that thing," her father shouts.

"You won't have to. It's my responsibility," Kellah said.

McGonagall walks in behind Kellah and glares at her mother.

"She will take care of everything. She's a good girl," says her mother. With that, McGonagall says. "We will keep an eye out if anything is amiss. I shall know."

They confined Kellah to her room, so she read her books and learned about the wizarding world. As she read from A History of Magic about obscurials. An Obscurial was a young witch or wizard with suppressed magic, creating a dark Obscurus due to abuse. Kellah wondered why McGonagall, her mother, would rather her turn into one than go to Hogwarts.