Her Journey To Greatness

Chapter 3

When she woke up the next morning, she felt giddy and excited in ways she hadn't felt before. She also felt a bit nervous, but that's normal considering the circumstances. She woke up before the Dursleys, as usual, wandlessly made her clothed a bit more presentable until she can buy new stuff, then she quickly set to gathering her meagre belongings and putting them in a pocket that she put an expansion charm on, with the help of her mentors. She used an unlocking charm to get out of her cupboard, and then again to leave the house after getting a couple of apples and some money to take with her.

Once she was outside, she felt free. There are many things that could still go wrong considering she's still right outside of their house, but she's optimistic that all will be well. She walked to the closest bus stop and waited for the next bus to get to London.

After a long anxiety-inducing trip, people looking at her oddly because she was alone, she finally got off the bus and followed Mortem's directions to the leaky cauldron.

Dahlia entered the pub and went straight to the man behind the bar,

"Hello, please can you let me through to Diagon alley?" she asked in her most charming voice.

Tom, the barman, looked at her with a smile, "of course, follow me. Where are your parents?" he sounded concerned, eyeing a dark bruise that wasn't covered by her sleeve.

Dahlia put on a convincing smile "they had to meet someone in the alley earlier, so they told me to just meet them there when I'm ready" she lied easily.

"Ah okay then. It's just through here" he led her out the back and tapped his wand in a few places on the brick wall in front of them. She didn't even need to fake her awe when the brick wall opened up and she saw the magical alley for the first time.

Everywhere she looked there were colourful shop fronts, eccentric outfits, and some even looked like royalty with their glamorous styles, everyone looked so different and still fit in perfectly. It made her feel like she could truly belong, that people would accept and embrace her differences, for the first time in her life.

She stood there, taking in the sights for a good few minutes, vaguely hearing Tom laughing good-naturedly at her expression, and telling her to have fun before retreating back into the pub. When she finally regained control of herself, she set off for the large white marble building on the other end of the alley, Gringotts.

"Hello, sir. Please can I get an inheritance test" she said in her most polite and respectful voice to the first available goblin. She felt a hint of sympathy at the goblins' shocked face, realising people probably aren't very polite to them usually; promising herself to always treat any and all magical beings with respect unless they have earned her disrespect.

"Name?" the goblin asked in a gruff voice, but with a significantly softer tone than some of the others are using with the other wizards and witches in the bank.

"Dahlia Potter, sir. What's yours?" she says quietly so that the others can't hear her name.

The goblin looks shocked but calms quickly, "my name is Griphook. Follow me for the inheritance test. It costs 5 galleons, will that be an issue?"

"no, master Griphook, I will be able to pay once I have access to my vaults."

He leads her into a meeting room, where he sits at the desk and gestured for her to sit in the seat opposite.

Mortem told her what an inheritance test requires, so she isn't surprised when Griphook pulls out a ritual dagger and a sheet of glowing parchment. He instructs her on what to do, and she doesn't flinch when she cuts her palm to let the blood soak the parchment.