The Cunning and Ambitious

Chapter Two

My parents told Kitty about us being able to do magic after they told me. I've never seen her look so happy in her life. The next day my parents drove me to London to get all of my school supplies, Kitty wasn't invited.

That day, I saw a different side to my parents that I never saw before. Apparently, they go to a pub called "The Leaky Cauldron" all the time, socializing with other witches and wizards or just drinking their thoughts away, though they prefer a place called "The Three Broomsticks" at Hogsmeade, a local village near Hogwarts.They also used to have plenty of memories at Diagon Alley, particularly at Florecians Ice Cream Parlor, I also found out that my dad isn't actually a writer. He walks into his office and, like, teleports away to a place where he gets paid in Wizard currency. Quite frankly, it's all a bit much for me. It almost seems like the day is more of a date for my parents than me preparing for my new school.

They leave me to go to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions alone while they shop for my potions stuff. The lady there is pretty nice to me, fitting me into uniform, despite my complaints on not being able to wear trousers. Before long, and about half way through my fitting, a boy my age walks in. Pale, thin face and platinum blond hair. His mother came in with him, same features to be quite frank, but left him to deal with another fitter. I'm intrigued though, I haven't exactly met anyone my age in this whole adventure.

"Hello," I say, sparking conversation. "Nice day isn't it?"

"I guess so." he responds simply, killing the spark.

"I'm sorry, it's just my parents kept this whole world a secret from me until today, so I kinda want to talk."

"Are you a mudblood then?" he says.

"Pardon."

"Do you really not know?"

"Um, yeah. All I know is that rock and roll is the best thing ever, so please, humor me."

"A mudblood is a disgrace," I catch my fitter throw the kid a dirty look "A wizard with muggle parents."

Muggle is a word I do know, finally.

"Okay." I'm starting not to like what's-his-face. "Sorry, I never got your name."

"Malfoy." He almost sneers, "So, are you a mudblood."

"My parents are both Wizards if that's what you're asking. Aran Hall by the way."

"Nice to meet you."

My fitter announces that she's all done. I pay for my new robes and leave the store, running into another kid my age. Scrawny, and with messy black hair. He doesn't draw my attention too long though, because my parents drag me into a book store. My dad buys all my books as I explore the place, finding all sorts of magical things, including a book that turned invisible.

I'm then brought to the place I've been the most excited for. "Ollivanders". My parents feel that I need to live the experience myself and leave me inside the store.

"Hello?" I wander around. I see towers of bookshelves, every shelf full to the brim with boxes upon boxes. Narrow things. They must all have a wand inside.

"Hall? Am I right?" A thin misty voice echos down the aisles of boxes.

"Yeah, Aran Hall." I respond.

An old man walks out, meeting me.

"I remember when your parents were here. A bit excited to be honest. Your mother nearly knocked over my shelves. You, however, seem different than they ever were. Not perky, but observant."

"Sorry sir."

"For what? It only helps me find your wand." He walks down into the endless row. Looking at a wand, looking at me, shaking his head; it happened so many times I can't count. Then he finds an old dusty box, pulls it out and brings out a beautiful wand, slender, a dark brown color. He doesn't even have to look at me until he puts the wand in my hand. Everything just goes perfectly, the smoothness of how I prove that it's my wand. The man clicks his tongue and nods his head.

"Yes, yes. Of course it was. 14 ½ inches, Hazel Wood, Phoenix Feather, Slightly Springy flexibility."

"Thank you, sir."

"Take good care of it."

∼⛦∼

I met up with my parents at the Ice Cream place, although they arrived several minutes afterwards. They might be interested in seeing their friends again, but I'm interested in something quite different. The school.

"So, what's the school like?" I ask them, after we pay for our ice cream.

"As far as I remember, amazing." Mum answers

"No, I mean, like-"

"I know what you mean." Dad responds. "So there are four houses, each house is like your new family. There's Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, and Slytherin. Ravenclaw values intelligence, Hufflepuff values loyalty, Gryffindor values courage, and Slytherin values-"

"Evil." Mum interrupts.

"Not evil. They value ambition." he finishes.

"But they're the house with the most known dark wizards, so, as far as I'm concerned, they value evil and dark magic."

"That's not the same as ambition, mum." I tell her. "So, which houses were you in?"

"I was in Ravenclaw." My father informs me.

"And I was a Hufflepuff." Mum says.

"Huh."

"You'll learn the rest at the school when it starts, but for now, let's enjoy the ice cream."

And so they finished the conversation.

"Wait, so on here it says we can bring a pet." I point out.

Mum looks at dad, they turn back to me.

"Then you better choose out one."

I nearly squealed from excitement, then I hop up and rush over to the store. I can barely choose from the variety. I know I want a cat but I don't know what kind. I come across a kitten, tiny, black and white, and it was staring at me like it was the end of the world. I couldn't handle myself. I waited until my parents came in to find which one I chose, and I handed them the kitten. Mum buys her and supplies I'd need to take care of her. I name the kitten Buffy, after the TV show, just to humor myself.