Silent Secrets

Chapter XIV

Dedication to @ilovereading210 because she PMed me asking for an update! No one has ever done that before; thank you so much for your support!!! It means a lot :D

Also, my sincerest apologies for the 2 month-long hiatus. I was grounded >_< but I'm back now and I updated as fast as I could!

** DISCLAIMER! I have never been to Carlisle, or London (though I'm going this summer! *Excited screams*), so those of you who have been, please excuse the inaccuracy.

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My eyes widened as we stepped through the newly arranged brick archway, the sight before me too impossible to believe. I cast a quick glance over my shoulder, my eyes round as I watched the doorway we'd stepped through shrink instantly back into a solid wall. I blinked rapidly, convinced the world around me would vanish and be replaced by the dismally familiar walls of my closet. When it did not, I slowly turned and faced the swirling scene before me, my wandering eyes eventually settling on McGonagall's severe frame.

"Come along, Miss Peters," she instructed sternly, though I caught a brief glimpse of a twinkle in her eye. "We haven't got all day."

I nodded and followed her, my head swiveling from side to side as I swore to never blink, lest I miss something.

Brightly colored shops stood guard over the sunny lane, their brilliantly colored signs proudly hinting at their wares. A stack of cauldrons gleamed at me from beside the nearest shop. Cauldrons - All Sizes - Copper, Brass, Pewter, Silver - Self-Stirring - Collapsible, said a sign hanging over them.

I stared at them for a while, wondering why I was so surprised that people such as witches and wizards would be interested in something so old-fashioned as a cauldron. In every story and fable about witches, wasn't there a cauldron involved? The evil hag's tool for brewing evil potions and the like?

McGonagall turned to see what had captured my interest and sighed. "Jazlyn, I understand how new and exciting this is for you, but if you ogle at every display we pass, we won't have time to complete all that we need to do."

Embarrassed and apprehensive, I nodded demurely and waited for McGonagall to lead on. Instead, she headed toward me.

Perhaps she means to teach me a lesson, I thought wildly, fear gripping me as I instinctively backed away, jarring my back on the corner of the shop and nearly crashing into the display of cauldrons.

McGonagall clucked her tongue at me, her eyes holding a peculiar light. I waited for her to say something, to snap at me or to curse me into oblivion, but she said nothing, and merely held open the door. "Are you coming, Miss Peters?"

I nodded and scrambled hastily toward her, anxious not to displease her again. "Normally we would need to go to Gringotts--that's the wizarding bank--and withdraw the necessary galleons, sickles, and knuts from the Hogwarts Student Vault, but as it happens I visited earlier in the day, uncertain of how much time we would have." She smiled apologetically at me, as though visiting a bank was a thrilling experience I had missed out on.

"Okay," I said, unsure of how she expected me to respond. I ducked through the door and murmured my thanks as she held it open for me, and we entered the dusty shop.

McGonagall bustled straight for the wizened old witch behind the counter, and I followed at a safe distance, my eyes flicking back and forth at the witch's wares.

"Hello Amora, how are you today?"

"Jest fine, jest fine," the witch croaked, a slight smile dressing her wrinkled face.