Witch Me?(Witch or Shadowhunter?Book 2)

Diagon What?

As Brother Zachariah touches his stele to my skin, I barely flinch. I remember the day K died, when he let me apply one of his Marks. Fighting back tears, I watch in wonder as the Voyance Rune appears on my left hand. Another of the Silent Brothers, Brother Ahasuerus, stands nearby. Momma's got her hand on my shoulder and Dad is standing in the doorway. Brother Zachariah moves the stele with the ease of years of practice. The lines curls inside the eye and he lifts his stele. Before Brother Ahasuerus can check how I am, there's a loud POP sound outside. I jump, startled, and knock Brother Zachariah's stele to the floor. Momma's eyes go wide and says urgently to the Silent Brothers, "that must be one of the wizards, they can't see you." Right as she finishes speaking, there's a knock on the door and both Brothers slip silently into the shadows. "I've got it, they're here for me anyway," I say, glancing at the already fading silver Voyance Rune. I grab my precious short sword, which I take with me everywhere, that was against the chair I was in on my way out of the living room.

I glance through the peep hole in the door before opening it. Dumbledore stands outside, and sitting in the branches of the tree I see Pater, the warlock who seemed to like stalking me. He may be cute, but after several months of him, he's getting annoying. Dumbledore smiles kindly at me, not noticing I wasn't looking at him. "Good morning Ms. Nightcross. I've come to escort you to Diagon Alley to get your school stuff," the old wizard says, peering at the sword on my back. "Diagon what? Oh, never mind, it doesn't matter. I'll be right back, I just need to tell my parents I'm going," I say, turning around. And grab my stele, I add silently. "I'll be here, and I suggest you leave your, uh, sword," Mr. Long beard says to my back. I grunt, deciding to glamour it. The Silent Brothers have left when I go into the living room to retrieve my stele. "Its Dumbledore, he's here to take me to get school supplies," I tell Momma, as Dad left with the Brothers. "Ok, stay safe, and don't let your guard down," she tells me, and I smile. After glamouring my weapon, I give her a quick hug and walk back outside to Mr. Long beard. "So, how are we getting to Diagon what's-it-called?" I ask, peering around for a portal or car. "Ms. Nightcross, you will learn how most wizards get places. Now, hold tight to my arm," he informs me briskly. Wholely confused, I grip his forearm. A moment later, the old wizard turns slightly and, with a loud POP, we both get sucked into nothingness.

It feels similar to portal travel, just I can't see anything. My chest aches for air, but this is familiar from portaling to Idris on many occasions. A few seconds later, my feet slam into the ground. Hard. I don't even wince as I look at my surroundings. My hand still clutches Dumbledore's arm, and I let go. We're in a shabby building, and all the other people in here with us are in black or dark colored robes. "This is the Leaky Cauldron, we have to pass through it to get to Diagon Alley. I'm quite pleased to see your doing fine after apperating for the first time," my companion says simply. He leads the way through the bar while I struggle to remember where I'd seen that name. Then it hits me. Just under a year ago, when my parents and I were going to the Bone Bar to see the Silent Brothers. I gasp, and run to catch up with the old man who had "apperated" me here. He leads me outside where there's a small lot with a brick wall. I'm about to ask what we're doing here when he pulls out a long, bony stick. He taps what appears to be a random brick. The brick wall starts shifting, revealing a street behind it. I blink in astonishment as a doorway appears where there used to be thick bricks. Along the streets, I see many shops selling all sorts of things. Mr. Long beard pulls out a sheet of parchment and hands it to me, striding through the doorway. I follow, glancing curiously at the parchment. Its a list of many things I've never heard of, so they must be for the wizarding world.

We walk for a few minutes before Mr. Long beard asks me, "the first thing you need is a wand. To Ollivander's we go." He strides away, and I follow, guessing that the stick he used to open the doorway before was his wand. We enter a old shop and a man just as old comes up to us, smiling. "This young lady needs a wand, shall you help her while I get her books?" Mr. Long beard says, already leaving the shop. "I'm Naila, nice to meet you," I say, smiling slightly. The old man looks at me and nods, "and you, Naila. I'm Mr. Ollivander. Hold out your wand arm, if you would." Bewildered, I hold out my left arm as he pulls out a tape measure. He takes so many measurements I can't even keep track. After a moment, he disappears into the shelves full of boxes, most likely holding wands. Mr. Ollivander comes back and hands me a wand while saying, "willow, nine and a half inches, unicorn hair, give it a try." I take the wand and feel a strange sensation. Flicking my hand ever so slightly, blue and yellow sparks shoot from the tip. With a satisfied nod, Mr. Ollivander takes the wand back and boxes it up. I sit down in the chair to wait for Mr. Long beard and finger the hilt of my short sword. Dad never told me the name, I'd have to ask him sometime.

Some time later, and after several more young witches and wizards get their wands, Mr. Long beard comes back holding a cauldron full of books, scales, and other stuff. After paying for my wand, he leads me to a shop filled with different animals. "What are we doing here?" I inquiry, looking around the store. "To get you a pet, of course," My companion replies, and adds, "have a look around. You can pick any of them, I'll wait here for you." With a nod, I walk away from him and towards the cats. I remember from the letter that I can have an owl, a cat, a toad, or a rat. I'm never getting a rat, as it could just be an intoxicated vampire, and toads are pointless. I don't understand why anyone would want an owl, which leaves me to get a cat, which aren't that bad. I stroll through the cats, glancing at them occasionally. Its quite boring, until a black kitten hisses at me, swiping his paw out over the shelf. I small and walk over, looking at him closely. "Hello little one, you have the heart of a shadowhunter, don't you?" I whisper, petting his tiny head gently. Instead of purring like most cats, this little kitten just glares at me. I can see the happiness at being loved on in his eyes, and giggle. "You're the one, I'll call you Nightmere," I say, lookin into his green eyes. At the sound of his new name, the kitten jumps into my arms, wrapping his tail around my wrist. I wander through the shop, heading back to Mr. Long beard. When I find him, he nods approvingly at Nightmere and pays the lady at the counter. We leave the store and I breathe a sigh of relief, cuddling my new kitten to my chest.

My relief doesn't last long, however. The girl with bushy brown hair from a year ago sees Mr. Long beard and walks towards us. "Good day, Professor!" she gleefully says. I scowl at her and pet Nightmere's head as he starts to growl at her. She glances at me and her eyes show fear mixed with surprise. My scowl deepens as Mr. Long beard says, "good day to you, Ms. Granger. This is the new student in your year you agreed to mentor." She listen to him then a startled yet smug look takes over as she gives me the once over. "Of course, Professor Dumbledore. But only if she promises not to cut me." I sneer, "only if you mentor me well," and finger the tip of my glamoured sword in its sheath. She laughs hesitantly, "Um, duh! Why else would Professor Dumbledore ask me?" She then looks at Nightmere, "Is he going to stop that anytime soon?" I glance at Nightmere and smirk, "nope, he's already learning from me." I turn to tell Mr. Long beard I should be getting home, but he's gone. She turns and, noticing, points to the cafe behind me, "he went in there." I shrug, "I'd have found him without your help. I'm Naila, by the way." I would offer to shake hands, but one was hold Nightmare and the other was holding my wand box. "Well, Naila, my name is Hermione Granger, meet me in the Hogwarts library on the first Saterday after we return to Hogwarts and we'll get started catching you up. Oh, and watch out for Professor Snape, he was just pure evil after he showed up to the great hall with pink robes. Something tells me he isn't going too happy about having a student show up in the second year." She turns and heads the building with the sign Gringotts. "Hey Hermione, wanna know something?" I call, just bursting to tell someone. She pauses and turns back around, "Um sure?" I smile sweetly, "first off, I don't have any clue where the library is. And second, I believe his pink robes had something to do with me." She stares blankly, "what do you mean?" She asks now curiously. "Oh, just that I've discovered that untrained witches and wizards can't control their magic, especially when emotions come into play. And let's say he might have been prying into my personal life when he came to my house in May," I reply, smirking again. "Oh my!" She nearly doubles over trying to stop laughing, but is unsuccessful. "Dumbledore, on the other hand, was quite pleasant to have over. After the shock of learning I was indeed a witch," I say, turning to go get Mr. Long beard to take me back. She abruptly stops laughing, "Wait, you have muggle parents too?" I look back over my shoulder at her as Nightmere hisses at her, "muggles?" "None magical people." I hesitate, unsure if runes counted as magic. "Um, I guess so. Why, is that bad?" "NO! I was just wondering why Dumbledore and Snape would visit you when you haven't started school yet, must be because you came a year late." I giggle to myself, "or maybe I'm just special." Turning back to the cafe again, I manage to get Nightmere to shut up. She mutters something I don't hear then, "I'll see you on the train, I guess. Bye Naila." I shrug, not turning around, and walk towards the cafe. She's not going to be easy to get along with, saying as she reminds me so much of K. I'm definitely not telling my parents about being mentored by a mundane.