The Spellfull Sixties

Chapter six: Sparks and stars

Andromeda couldn't quite remember why she had come to central London with her Uncle. She supposed it was for one of the many trips out the pair had taken. Narcissa was often taken out by their Mother to be fitted for dresses and jewels. Bellatrix often went out with their Aunt Walburga, or joined her mother and sister. That left Andromeda with Alphard, and to be quite honest, she liked it that way. Though day in particular they had gotten on a muggle bus, which she recalled was rather strange and that her mother had much to say about it to her Uncle when they returned. Then they had walked about somewhere before coming to a place she remembered as 'Monument street'.

"This place is historic", Alphard spoke adoringly, before adding, "For both Witches ,Wizards and Muggles". 

"Really?". Now she was curious. Her Uncle Alphard was so smart. He knew so much about magical history. 

"Yes. You see in 1666 a great fire broke out - and it destroyed a great deal of London. Roofs were thatched you see so they set alight quickly", Andromeda nodded, watching as Alphard then waved his hand in front of them on the ground and little statuettes of houses appeared. Andromeda looked about worried that the Muggles would see. But they all seemed far too in their own worlds. "As far as the Muggles know, the fire started in this house", he pointed at one small hut home in the centre of a row, "A bakers home. The Kings baker- Thomas Farriner". The roof of the home disappeared again, showing a man sleeping in his bed, sadly holding a small painting of a woman. "Now also- as far as Muggles know- the fire began by a spark from the oven hitting his kitchen fuel- but really...". The scene shifted before them. A young girl now stood horrified on the bed as a small child held a wand whilst Farriner frantically tried to explain what it was. On the floor was another girl, presumably injured by an accidental spell.

 A jet of flames then erupted from the wand as the child threw it, striking some coals at the base of the steps. Then, moments later, the entire home was up in flames. The home next door shared the same fate, and every house on the street until half of the City was drowned in flames and smoke, disappearing from view into the pavement. "The Great fire sent thousands of Witches and Wizards into hiding as the King hunted them down. Thus, in 1689, the Stature of Secrecy was created. The magical law that Protects us and Muggles, and creates the barrier between our two worlds". Andromeda took another look at the relatively unassuming street, amazed that somewhere so...plain and Muggle looking contained so much history. "Much of Muggle history is built upon the bones of our people. Our blood soaks the same streets and fills the same rivers. Yet at the same time...we are invisible and do not exist to them. It is rather amazing".

 Andromeda almost wished that she was being taught magical history by her uncle and not the very old and very boring Professor Binns. He was falling asleep between scentances, and seemed to wilt even more than Hogwarts' headmaster. She sat on the end of a row of chairs in classroom 4f, a great distance from Molly and the other Gryffindor's who surrounded her. She had been left with Rookwood and Alfred. "Hey, do you think I should throw a paper bat at him?". 

"Yes!", grinned Alfred, watching as Rookwood folded over the bats second wing. Then it took to the air, flapping about in front of them. It then leaned forwards, darting across the room to miss the man by an inch. They were slightly annoyed, but Andromeda on the other hand found herself quite glad. It would have been horrible if they had struck the poor man.

"Who threw that?", inquired Binns, utterly confused. This set the class to laughing. 

Andromeda looked about at all the amused faces, catching Molly's. She gave her a little wave, which was disapproved by Emmeline Vance. It seemed by the afternoon of the first day at Hogwarts she had firmly situated herself within the gaggle of first year Gryffindors rather than the Slytherins. Though none of the Slytherins were really surprised. Andromeda waved a little back, before pulling her hand down. She would have felt bad if she hadn't waved back, but she knew that she had to remember that she couldn't make friends with Molly, or let anyone think that they were friends. Though she wasn't quite sure who she could make friends with.  Everyone had already sort of banded into little groups, and the only person in her year she had already spoken to other that Emmeline Vance was Molly. She was also sure that the Slytherin boys did not want to speak to her, and to be quite perfectly honest she didn't want to speak to them either.