The Hybrid and his Mistress

Part 2

Created: Thursday, Dec 7, 2017, 7:18 PM

Okay, so here I am, it's a full day after I finished the first chapter. Let's go.

Updated: Tuesday, May 23, 2023, 8:15 PM

Willow had a lot on her mind after she left the bank. So instead of shopping for her school supplies just yet, she decided to just pick up the books recommended by Griphook. That way, she could learn a little (or a lot, depending) on Wizarding culture before looking for the items she'd need to carry her through the school year. She had almost a full month to waste before school started anyway. As it was, she still needed to decided whether she would go back hom- to the Dursley's, that day, or see if she could find some type of alternate housing. Yes, she was only eleven years old, but she'd been taking care of her self for the longest. She didn't need adults, she just needed a roof over her head. And she was now in this new world with seemingly unlimited options, she'd make it work.

The amount of books on the goblin's list was...more than Willow expected, let's just say that. Gathering them hadn't been a problem, bookstores, like libraries, were very well organized, and this bookstore even had weightless, expanding baskets. It was any bibliophile's dream. There were of course a few books that couldn't be found no matter what she did, but they did have asterisks next to them, so she assumed that they were specialty books and decided to ask the goblins about them at a later date. In addition to that, she had disappeared while in the store (rather, disillusioned herself - that's what Griphook said she had been unconsciously doing, he also she she shouldn't have been able to at her age and without a wand but...that's neither her nor there) so there had been no issues, until she went to check out. She needed to be visible to legally acquire the books. The transaction took forever, and she got strange looks from both the cashier and other people in the store ("Ravenclaw for sure" somebody said under their breath). 

She quickly wished herself invisible (disillusioned!) quickly after stepping outside the door. Willow then acquired a room for herself at the leaky cauldron for the next week, decided not to go back to the Dursley's, ever, if she could help it. She felt a twinge of loss at the fact that she'd be leaving her snake friends behind, but then remembered that one of their cousins lived around London, and resolved to search for him. She felt that a week was long enough to get some good base information from the massive amount of books she'd acquired that very day, as well as to look further into her holdings supplied by Gringott's. She remembered the sheet saying something about properties owned, but she was so shocked, that she had to put the paper down before she could thoroughly look through that section. She supposed she'd be visiting Gringott's sooner than she thought, better look through that Goblin culture book first.

Willow's week spent alone at the Leaky was the best time she'd ever had in her life. She ate when she was hungry, she read whenever she wanted, she slept when she was tired, and she didn't clean a damn thing. After reading through goblin culture, wizarding culture, Hogwart's: A history, The 100 Most Influential Wizards and Witches, a beginner's book on magical theory, and the remainder of her holdings, Willow was ready to go back to Gringott's. She made sure to stop at the tailor get more suitable clothes first though, no sense walking around in rags when you can afford style. Making sure she was visible, she stepped into Gringott's unassisted for the first time.

There several teller booths around the floor of the bank, but only a few that were in service. Those few had average lines of customers. Willow steeled herself for what she was going to do next. She walked briskly up to a unoccupied teller desk and picked up the out of service sign. Which she then threw on the ground (Goblin rule #23: Breaks are for the weak). This of course caused a scene to everyone around, creating whispers and gasps. Luckily, she didn't have to suffer the points and stares long before a goblin hurried behind the desk.