Unexpected

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

I woke up at 5.30 in the morning, which was annoying, because we weren't leaving until 9.30. It did, however, give me plenty of time to think about what we would be doing today. Harry and Ginny would be taking Rose, Al and I to Diagon Alley so that we could get our robes, pets, school supplies, and wands. It was the wands I was most excited for. I'd borrowed books from Rose and Albus about wandmakers, woods, lengths and cores. I had a slight obsession with them. The way they chose their owner, that they had kinds of personalities in them, and best of all, that I could now go on to be a wandmaker. I had aspired for that since I'd finished the first book Albus had leant me, but now, well now I could actually do it.

At 8, after having gotten dressed and collected my money from my parents, I made my way over to Lily's. I knocked, because I was early, and Al opened the door.

"Morning Clara," he said, genuinely grinning for the first time in a long while, "I'm going to get an owl."

He must have been pondering over that one, "I think I will as well. Probably." I couldn't really make up my mind on the pet front.

"Dad says we're going to leave early so we miss the rush, Mum's gone to get Rose."

"Great!" I said, "I'm so excited about my wand."

"I've got another book about the Ollivander family if you want to borrow that?"

"Please." I grinned. Albus understood my obsession.

20 minutes later we had all successfully travelled via the Floo Network (which I had done once before at 8 years old when going with Ginny to collect James from a friend's house) to Diagon Alley. I felt like I was literally going to burst with excitement.

Albus, Rose and I had all been here multiple times before to visit Uncle George's joke shop, Weasleys's Wizard Wheezes, so it wasn't the street itself that was exciting, it was what we were going to do here.

Ginny promptly left with Rose, they had gone to buy the vaguely less exciting things (the things Rose liked the most), robes, books and cauldrons, that kind of thing. They'd catch up with us later.

"Magical Menagerie first. I think there'll be something for you there Clara." Harry announced as he began to stride off down the busy cobbled street.

He disappeared into the throng of shoppers, but Al and I knew where we were going. We headed over to the North Side, and entered the shop.

It was packed, literally wall to wall, with cages of shrieking animals in as good as every kind. On the counter in the middle of the shop was a box of rats, a plastic case of newly-delivered toads, and the cutest little Tabby cat I'd ever seen.

"Aww! Al, look!" I exclaimed, moving towards it.

Harry was leant against the counter talking to a shocked-looking sales assistant. I forgot he was famous. Every time.

"Yes Clara, a cat." Albus laughed at my enthusiasm.

I reached out and began tickling it behind the ear, "But it's so beautiful."

And it was. It's fur was grey with black stripes, and it had the most striking eyes, they were a bright greeny-blue.

The woman turned her attention from Harry to me, "Right looker isn't she? Yours for 9 Galleons."

I hadn't even considered buying her, but my mouth said, "Done."

Harry thanked the woman as I handed over the Galleons, collected my new cat, and left.

"So much for that owl." Albus laughed.

Harry stroked her ears and she mewed quietly, "She's adorable Clara."

Albus had evidently decided it was his turn to get a pet, because he had swiftly entered Eeylops Owl Emporium without us noticing.

It was an extremely quick visit. Albus had researched it (obviously) and knew that he wanted a Screech owl. Personally, I thought the Brown owls were cutest, but no, Screech owls were 'most efficient', so that was what he would have.

The one he chose looked rather majestic really. Her feathers were a golden brown, and Al decided to name her after his favourite character from one of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, Altheda. I was informed this outside, as my cat had got a little excited when faced with all the screeching of the owls.

Rose and Ginny met us outside the shop. Next, we would get our wands.