Lucille Rose Potter

Chapter 4

Lucy bounced down the steps and into the kitchen with a spring of excitement.

"Slow your roll, kiddo," Aberforth laughed, handing her a cup of tea and kidding her forehead.

"Sorry, Uncle Abe," Lucy day down at the table, "I'm just so excited!"

"I know you are," Aberforth smiled fondly at the girl, "you're going to have to eat before you go though, Sawyer isn't even here yet."

"I know, I know," Lucy groaned, excepting the plate of eggs and bacon Aberforth held out for her.

Aberforth came to sit down across from her, "you know to stick together and keep your head down. Don't talk to strange people and if something happens, come back immediately."

"We'll be safe, I promise," Lucy reached across the table to squeeze the older man's hand.

"I know you will, love," Aberforth sighed, "I'm just afraid we're entering darker times. Diagon Alley isn't as safe as it once was."

"Good morning!" Sawyer's cheery voice came from the front door. "Wow, Luce, it's a bit early for you to be dressed and ready. I was expecting to have to drag you out of bed."

"She's too excited to sleep," Aberforth chuckled, "come have breakfast, I made you a plate, it's in the kitchen."

"Thanks, Abe," Sawyer said, ruffling Lucy's hair as he passed by. "Mhm, eggs and bacon, my favorite," he came back over and sat at the table next to Lucille.

"You two have your lists?" Aberforth asked.

"Yes," they chorused.

Lucille shoveled her breakfast down her throat, urging Sawyer to hurry up once she finished.

"Come on Thorton! We should go before it's crowded." Lucy nagged, grabbing her purse.

"Calm down, Evans, we have all day," Sawyer shared a look of exasperation with Aberforth. Nevertheless, he quickly scoffed down the rest of his meal to please the younger girl.

"Be back by supper," Aberforth reminded as they walked towards the door, "Lucy, you can't leave without shoes, dear."

"Oh! Right," Lucy's eyes widen as she ran back up the stairs.

"She's really something," Sawyer chuckled, shaking his head.

"That she is," Aberforth agreed.

Lucy returned with her sneakers and the two teens went over to the fireplace in the living room.

"I'll go first," Sawyer offered, grabbing a fistful of Floo Powder. He threw the powder into the pre-lit embers and watched them turn green. "Diagon Alley," he articulated, disappearing before Lucy's eyes.

Lucy went next. She repeated the process Sawyer had done, stepping into the green flames before declaring her destination. Traveling by Floo was not Lucy's preferred method, it was quick and efficient but nauseating at the same time. She felt as if her insides were being squeezed as fireplaces flew past. Sawyer was visible through an exit and Lucy stepped out of the Floo Network.

"Where to first?" Sawyer flashed her a toothy grin and offered his arm.

The dizzy girl gratefully looped her small arm through his more muscular one, "robes, first, I think," she managed without emptying her stomach.

"To Madam Malkin's we go!" Sawyer guided them through the bustling crowd. "I hope you're a Hufflepuff, although I will bet 2 galleons that you're a Gryffindor."

Lucy gave him a small smile, "I guess we'll just have to wait and see, won't we?"

"I suppose so," Sawyer sighed, "I hope we have a quiet year. Hogwarts hasn't been the same since Harry Potter came. Not that he's a bad kid or anything, he's a very nice lad, just has rotten luck."