Time Astral | Sirius Black

21||The Wandmaker

April 22nd, 1996

A week later, as promised, Alasia was outside the Publication Company where Zoya Malfoy worked.

The blonde witch now 67 - her age concealed through old magic, was scowling when she saw her there, but Alasia was merely grinning, and waving as though they were old friends.

"Why do you have bags enough to last a lifetime?" Zoya squinted at Alasia's bags which were filled with everything she laid her eyes on from clothes to makeup to shoes to her favourite cutlery.

"I'm going to move."

Zoya let out a startled laugh. "Let me guess, in the wizarding world?"

"Yes, why?"

"Because people want you dead there." She shrugged. "And everyone, Alasia, every single person there knows your name. Most know your face, too."

"Well, we'll have to be careful about that, now won't we?" Alasia winked. "Now, be a darling and do something so I don't have to carry these heavy bags myself, pretty please?"

Zoya sighed, "Move them to an empty alley where I'll use the shrinking charm on them for the time being so they fit in your pocket."

"OH, I love magic!" Alasia clapped her hands. Zoya gave her an odd look.

"You can do it yourself, too. In fact, you are better than it than I."

"My spells are a little rusted. I have been in the moogle world for too long."

"Muggle."

"Yes, that."

"You know, I am doubting you are Alasia at all."

Alasia scrunched up her nose. Of course, not knowing even the simplest of spells would have her ratted out. "It's been a decade, alright? Give me a break."

Zoya frowned but nodded, true to her word, shrinking her bags once they got to an empty alley. "We are going to Ollivander's. He's going to know you. Are you sure you want to reveal yourself to him?"

"He's...uh...safe?"

"One can say so. He's the most popular wandmaker. Knows everything about everyone."

That could be useful. Alasia nodded. "I'm sure."

"Hold my arm."

"Sorry?"

"Hold my arm, we're going to apparate."

"We're going to what?"

Zoya gave her an odd look again. "Has your memory rusted with your spells, Serpens?"

Alasia just gave a sheepish smile in return. "In your muggle terms, teleport."

"Oh." Alasia said, quickly taking Zoya's arm. "Let's go."

She was excited – too soon.

"Are you done?" Zoya asked when Alasia had retched for the third time.

"I – " And the fourth.

"Alasia – "

"I'm done, I swear." Alasia grimaced, taking a water bottle from her satchel and rinsing her mouth. "What the fuck was that?"

"Most people vomit on their first times." Zoya shrugged. "It's as good as your first, too. Now, come along! We're running late."

Alasia managed to follow, pulling her hood over her face again once they neared a grubby looking shop. "And what is this?"

"It's a wizard bar." Zoya explained, moving inside without checking if Alasia was following. "We're going to take the floo from here to Leaky Cauldron."