We shopped all day, and I loved every second of it, although I was quite tired at the end of the day as I had to use a lot of magic to keep all the bags nice and light.
But it was home now and I had a new suitcase open on my bed, a beautiful wood and leather thing, and I had two weeks til the beginning of term.
I started by admiring my wand, turning it, round and round, following the spiral with my eyes. Then I got bored and left it on my bed, going to unpack my books. Then I started reading a random chapter of Ancient Runes Made Easy, then started unpacking my potions ingredients, then researching the different new substances, then I just sat and looked at it all, too excited to concentrate.
The case was so pretty, like the one Newt Scamander had shown me, though his had an extension charm on it which was classy.
Apparently father had helped him make it so that he could work overseas without being stopped- it seemed a little illegal but so did a lot of the things father worked with or on.
But the case wasn't dangerous or anything, it was just like a massive garden that Newt used to foster lost magical creatures, which was very cute.
I wonder if I could put an extension charm on my bag? Just a small one, to fit more clothes and things in it. And then I could... expand it maybe? Like if I need a wardrobe or something, or a dressing room, or a... a library?
Could that work?
What even is an extension charm?
I spent that whole night looking through all my books in search of answers but it seemed too advanced for year five textbooks.
I woke up to Fathers familiar nock, finding myself fully dressed and resting on an open book that was now slightly creased.
I got up and changed before going to breakfast and questioning father on the subject.
"Well, what were you looking for in the books? You can't use a wand yet, and that is an advanced spell. Why don't you use your usual media?"
"What, just wish for a big suitcase?"
Father sighed.
"Meditation, contemplation, application. Design it, in your head, what do you want it to look like? Design it completely, it's a big job so it'll take a day or two, but when you have the image completely, yes, wish for a big suitcase."
It was a sensible idea, and practical so I sighed and took myself off to the greenhouse for some silence.
I started with the opening, mr scamander had a sort of ladder leading down from his so immediately I thought slide but i couldn't figure out how to get back up again so I changed it to a spiral staircase affair, rather like the one up to dumbledore's office but it didn't spin.
So, nice stone staircase, only about six stairs to the bottom, and then... swimming pool?
No, impractical. What did I need?
A... library? A classroom type thing? A small room, about the size of my bedroom with bookshelves and a comfy chair and a fireplace, that would have to be VERY safe. It WOULD NOT burn the whole thing down, ever.
So room, chair, fireplace and then desk, big table thing with a comfy but professional chair, nice dark wood, maybe a blanket?
Okay, so inventory; scrolls? Quills? Books? Cauldron?
I went through everything I might want or need, feeling a bit giddy at the idea of having everything.
It was always an option, making things, making whatever I wanted but it took time and patience and by the time I actually sat and thought about it I often found that I didn't want things as much. But seeing as I was going for this, it was good to have a bit of fun.
I rationed myself to one room, or I would be here for months, and then I decided to leave the books for now and not too many exciting booby traps or anything although I did keep the very nice porcelain bath in the corner behind an old bath screen thing, like in the olden days. I was very excited for that.
I 'meditated and contemplated' for four or five hours, breaking for the lunch Father brought me at one, but just before dinner was due, I found I was ready.
I ate the meal with Father, building my strength, and then I took the case out to the greenhouse and lit a candle in the half light.
I breathed and focused and built my 'big red bubble' inside me, training it to fill the image I had built through the day.
I sat for fifteen minutes or so, and then I was ready so I forced my power outwardly, but gently, like singing a high note, loud but carefully.
It took about thirty seconds.
Then I opened my eyes and coughed.
The fire in the room below was smoking badly.
I took a breath and adjusted it to have an imaginary chimney that led nowhere, or in other words gave off no smoke.
And then it was ready.
I closed the lid and took it inside to pack, feeling very satisfied with my work.
"Did it work?" father asked, knocking on my open door.
"Yes, yes it worked and it is amazing and I am amazing," I rambled while gathering all my new school things together and shoving them down the stairs that caught them, undamaged (a feature for if I ever wanted to just dive down them like a slide).
"Ohh, wow," he commented, "you give me the tour?"
"Uh hmm," I said, very over excited.
I dived down the stairs and he followed more delicately but laughing all the same.
I showd him the bath and the shelves and the desk and the chair - not much but a start and he was a very good listener, asking about things and being genuinely interested, or I made it up, either way I had a good time.
But then he suggested a brilliantly beautiful idea that kept me up so late I almost missed it,
"Why don't you show Luna?"
A/n okay, i want to get to hogwarts as quickly as you do, i promise, but i do wanna establish her life before we get there, so... luna!
What do we think?
