Origin Stories - Marauders Era - ATQ Contingency

Chapter 1: Diagon Alley

I was nervous. Well, not really. I was also really excited. I was nervecited as Aunty Em would say.

Mum and Aunty Em were taking me Diagon Alley to get my supplies before my first year of Hogwarts. My Dad had decided to stay home. He was a muggle - well kinda, he wasn't a wizard at least - so he decided to stay home.

We entered Madam Malkin's to get my robes. I was pushed up onto the stool and then magical pins started pricking me.  I looked over to my left to find a boy standing on the stool beside me. His hair was a light brown and he had light green eyes. He had deep bags under his eyes, like he had trouble sleeping.

"Hi," I greeted him.

The kid's head snapped towards me. His eyes were wide, like I'd surprised him.

"H-h-hi," he stuttered.

"My name is Rosella but just call me Rose or Ella. What's your name?"

It took the boy a few seconds to answer. "Remus."

I smiled at him.

"Nice to meet you Remus. I'd shake your hand but I don't think Madam Malkin would appreciate that."

The boy smiled back, somewhat hesitantly.

"You're funny."

"I try to be," I answered.

The boy snorted at my answer and I giggled at his snort. Soon, we were both laughing.

Madam Malkin came back in and chastised us. From then, I tried not to look at him as every time I glanced his way, I felt the laughter bubble back up again.

We were outside the shop, having both received first year robes for Hogwarts.

"Well, see you at school Remus."

Remus smiled at me. "See ya."

His parents then pulled him off towards the exit of Diagon Alley.

"Right," Mum said parting me on the back. "We just need to get your wand now."

Aunty Em gave me fifty galleons and steered me towards Ollivanders. They viewed getting a wand as a task I needed to complete on my own. I entered the dusty shop apprehensively. I didn't know what to expect.

There was a boy already being served. His parents seemed to have the same view as my mum and aunty as they were no where in sight. The boy had long, silky black hair that reached mid way down his neck and impeccably tailored, black causal robes. He tensed when I walked in but didn't turn around.

A few seconds after I walked in, Ollivander walked out from the shadows of his shop. He was carrying a handful of wand boxes and had a perplexed expression on his face. However, when he saw me, his face broke into a welcoming smile.

"Ahh, Miss Rosella. Your aunt and mother told me I'd be seeing you soon."

I nodded awkwardly. My mother worked at St Mungo's in the wand and spell accidents department and often had to ask Ollivander to review wands. Also, my aunt was an aurora and specialised in magical beasts and wands. So, she also went to Ollivander quite a bit.

"I'll get to you right after I finish with young Sirius over here. He's a hard one."

I nodded and looked over to Sirius who was now looking at me. He had startling grey eyes and his mouth was twisted into a playful smirk.

'Hard,' he mouthed at me.

I tried very hard not to laugh. I really did. I slapped my hands over my mouth but it still wasn't enough. I ended up coughing and wheezing from my efforts.