The Marauders of Slytherin

Out On The Tiles

I could not have been luckier having met one of the most precious people I know in both the wizarding and muggle world. It happened in the summer of 1990, when I was twelve years old and Bella took me all the way to the end of Knockturn Alley for my Hogwarts necessities at the approaching of my first year. You might wonder why I was doing my school shopping at this age, when most Hogwarts kids get their letter at the age of eleven. You might also wonder why I was accompanied by a fugitive. It's quite a long story. Bellatrix hid in the shadows of the alley in her cloak, and although my aunt was quite a character, she now looked timid and alert. It was not because we were in Knockturn Alley – one of the most dangerous wizarding roads in England - but because Bella has been hunted by aurors for as long as I can remember. She handed me a small bag, heavy with coins.

"It's Lucius' money, so be sure to spend all of it. And be back within two hours or I'll leave without you. I'll be in the White Wyvern, it's halfway Knockturn, but with a wand you'll be fine. Remember practice?"

"Yes, aunt Bella."

"And hurry, Lia." Without further notion, she disappeared into the crowd, being let through by the grim-looking witches and wizards that were hanging around the end of Knockturn Alley. I turned my back on them and rapidly walked into Diagon Alley. No wasting any time on fending off creepy people. I blinked against the sudden light, which reflected on the wet cobbles from the rain last night. It was still early, but the shopping street was already packed with children and their parents, all on the same mission as me. I reached for the Hogwarts letter in my pocket. It was still there. I'd never been here on my own, except for when Narcissa had accidentally forgotten me at Twilfitt & Tattings once, when having her expensive robes tailored. But that was a very long time ago and I was usually never allowed to go anywhere on my own. I couldn't choose where to go first, so I picked the item on top of my list, which happened to be a wand. Once arrived at Ollivander's wand shop, I saw a girl and her parents through the glass. They looked very busy, and I wasn't sure if I was supposed to enter. Suddenly they came out, arguing.

"You should have chosen the first one, I don't care how much it costs!" Spoke the father. He was wearing a high hat and grew a moustache with twisted ends, which made him look like he was from a different century.

"We don't choose our wands, darling, you know that. If you're too weak for –"

"Mother, please." The girl sighed, lowering her eyes.

"How about we buy you some nice robes, so we can make up our minds?" The mother said, patting the frail girl awkwardly on the back. They walked past without noticing me and I quickly stepped aside, pushing through the heavy door. Although there had just been clients inside, mister Ollivander was nowhere to be seen. This slightly annoyed me, because I had lots of things to do within two hours.

"Ahem," I announced myself.

Ollivander appeared from behind his counter, as if he had been hiding from me.

"Eh, hello! I was just doing some stock– Well, well, in all those years I did not think I would see another Black in my shop. With whom do I have the honour?"

"Uhm, Thalia, sir."

"Thalia Black, yes." He nodded with a smile as if he remembered me from a long time ago, and disappeared into the back. I didn't quite know what to do with myself, so I folded my hands together, just how Narcissa taught me, in an attempt to not touch anything I wasn't supposed to. Fortunately, he was back soon with a set of three wands.

"You must belong to one of these, I presume. Wands are often genetically, or fate decided." He gestured over the small collection in front of me. "Let's begin, which one would you like to try first?"