Paper Mache

Chapter One

Misty wasn't sure what to think when Minerva McGonagal showed up in front of her house. Well, if you consider a tiny space behind the old garbage bin in Godric's Hollow Cemetery a proper home. Misty had been living there, surrounded by rats and the smell of rotting bouquets, for as long as she could remember. The only valuable that she owned was the battered silver locket around her neck that had Misty Anne, December 9, 1982, and Dona Nobis Pacem engraved on the inside. Misty wasn't sure why she still had it, but she supposed it was because of the sentimental value it held. See, she did not know where she came from, or who her family was.

Emerging from her shelter early one morning, she found herself facing an elderly woman dressed in long emerald robes. Backing up slowly, she scanned the woman's face, taking in eyes like flint and greying hair pulled back in a bun. She froze when the woman called, "are you Misty?" Not taking her eyes off the woman's face, Misty nodded slowly, still tense. "Excellent. Misty, I do not know if you are aware, but you are a witch." Misty had to refrain from rolling her eyes. She had been doing little things since she was young. Little things the people who came to the Cemetery couldn't. Of course, wasn't able to do anything drastic, like say, conjure money or a house, but things like turning a twig into a flower; that was easy. It was all too obvious to her that she was magical.

After nearly thirty seconds of staring silently at the woman, Misty could sense that the woman was getting a bit impatient, so she decided to speak. "And?" Something like exasperation flashed behind the woman's lenses and she explained the purpose of her visit. "You are expected to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry this coming term. I am Professor McGonagal. I am here to offer you housing until term begins and to offer my assistance in collecting the necessary supplies." It was another thirty seconds before Misty spoke again. "I haven't any money." Professor McGonagal looked as if she was expecting this. "Hogwarts provides small accounts for students in financial need." Misty considered her options carefully. She could stay here, with no opportunities to do anything but try to survive, or she could take her chances and go with the woman to the wizarding school. She glanced around the graveyard and made her decision. She turned back to the Professor. "When do we leave?"

***

Arriving in a place called "Diagon Alley" by something called "apparition" Misty got a lot of strange looks. She was quite small for her age, her clothes were patchy, and her hair was probably far from clean, so the looks were justified. However, don't people know it is rude to stare?

Sticking close to the professor, Misty found herself in a tall marble building bursting with activity. People dashed in and out, dragging bags and children with them. Short ugly-looking creatures sat behind counters, weighing precious metals and what looked like might be wizarding currency. Accidentally making eye contact with one, Misty shivered and moved closer to Professor McGonagal as they stopped in front of a counter. After creating an account for herself, the pair, joined by a goblin, climbed into a cart and shot into the darkness.

***

Blinding sunlight greeted Misty as she stumbled out of the bank after seemed like hours. She did not like the cart ride at all. Clutching her stomach, she trailed after Professor McGonagal as they collected robes, a cauldron, potion ingredients, books, and a hundred other things. At last, they stopped in front of a shabby old shop for her wand.

"Ah, who do we have here? Hold out your wand hand please." Misty held out her wand hand, watching Mr. Ollivander measure various places before setting the tape measure down and studying her carefully. "Maybe, let's see..." he mumbled to himself as he shuffled off to the back, examining wands seemingly at random. Coming back towards the counter, he handed her a honey-colored wand with a smooth surface. "Applewood and unicorn hair, 10 ½ inches, rigid." She gave the stick a little wave, and the window blew out, nearly spraying Professor McGonagal (who was sitting in an old, rickety chair) with glass shrapnel. "Nope."

"Black walnut and phoenix feather?"

No

"Ash and unicorn hair?"

Nada.

Misty was starting to give up when Ollivander handed her, "Black walnut and unicorn hair."

Gripping the dark wood, she felt delicate engravings in the stick. She closed her eyes and felt power rush through her fingertips, flowing through the wood and producing a magnificent shower of purple fireworks. "11 ¾ inches," Ollivander smiled bemusedly. "Quite long for someone your size, but then again, wands sometimes correspond to the wizard's personality."

Heading back to the Leaky Cauldron, Misty dragged Professor McGonagal over to the Magical Menagerie. Stepping inside, several pairs of eyes stared down at her from their various perches around the shop. Wandering through the isles, she peered into the cages spotting big owls with fierce eyes. Reaching the back of the shop, she found a small cage with a tiny little owl in it. Unlatching the cage, she held out her hand for the owl and the ball of fluff jumped into her hand, perfectly content. Gently placing it back in, Misty picked the cage and made her way back to McGonagal, who was over by the cats. "Ready to go?"

"Ready."