A/N: Another Tuesday, another chapter! Leave me a comment/review to let me know what you think!
TRIGGER WARNING: PTSD. I'm putting a TW on this chapter because it addresses PTSD and goes a bit into detail about an episode. It's minor, but I don't want anyone to be uncomfortable.
Playlist: Tonight - Magic Man
Disclaimer: JKR owns HP
"We're trying our best to keep our monsters inside
Nobody wants to be alone
But tonight we're all believers
And I feel alright with all of my heart"
Tonight – Magic ManFeeling better than she had in longer than she cared to admit, she decided to venture back into Diagon Alley that afternoon. She still wasn't ready to face the many familiar faces she was bound to have to come face-to-face with soon but thankfully there were still places in the public alley that she could hide away in.
True to London fashion, the weather was predictably cold and rainy that day. Tucking her curls under the hood of her sweater, she stepped out onto the cobblestones. She marvelled at all the magical umbrellas floating around her. It didn't matter that she spent the good part of her formative years surrounded by magic, she was still in awe of how casual it was used in little instances.
Wizarding kind used magic for the most mundane things. Things that didn't necessarily call for its use. However, it was fascinating to see how they functioned with everyday tasks and magic. Mesmerized, she stood off to the side, leaning against a wall and observed all the comings and goings of those around her.
Droplets of water hit the modified shield charms. Bags and cauldrons floated along behind their masters, waiting to be filled or unloaded at home, while books and supplies were vanished back to their personal store cupboards or shrunk down and slipped into a pocket. Shoes glided over puddles, not an ounce of wetness on them. An impervious charm at work.
She smiled to herself. This is what she missed the most. The regular ins and outs. She loved learning everything she could, but short of having to prove herself worthy, she enjoyed revelling in the smallest conveniences that magic brought to her.
Stepping back out into the throng of shoppers, she kept a low profile, making her way towards her favourite bookshop. Flourish & Blotts. She glanced up at the wooden sign, swaying with the wind and nodded. This would be the perfect place to get lost for a time.
Upon entering the shop, she was hit with a wall of the lingering smell of parchment. One of her all-time favourite scents. One that she carried in from her muggle childhood. A book was a book. Magical or not. They all had a similar musky scent. The power behind the words written oozing into life. She slipped down the first aisle to her left, not caring to look at the subjects held there.
Dropping her hood, she perused the shelves. A grin formed on her lips as she ran a finger along the spines of the many volumes she passed. This was a place where she'd always feel at home. Aimlessly wandering throughout the store, she continued passing by the patrons without a second glance. Eventually, she found herself in an alcove that housed the first book she ever read after finding out who she really was. Stretching onto her tiptoes, she plucked the newest edition off the shelf.
Flipping open the front cover, she turned over to where there was an empty armchair waiting for her. She perched on the edge of the seat, glossing over the unchanged sections of Hogwarts, a history. She sighed when she reached the section about the reparations. Wiping a hand across the page, she felt a shiver run down her spine. Closing her eyes she gently closed the book. She swallowed and stood, keeping the book tucked under her arm as she made her way to the front.
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An Outdated Map
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