After walking for a couple of minutes, I sit on the curb. I think back to the letter I received. Wait on the streets at night and a bus will pick you up, that's what the letter said. So that's what I did. I waited for about 5 minutes before I heard a loud honk of a horn. I look up to see a three-story bus speeding down the street.
I quickly get up when the bus comes to an abrupt stop in front of me. I take a step back when the door opens and a man walks out.
"Leah? Pleased to meet you. My name's Stan Shunpike," The man greeted before heading back into the bus but he turns around when he realizes that I didn't follow him inside."Well? What are you waiting for? Hop in so that we can take you to the Leaky Caldron."
I take a cautious step inside the bus and take in my surroundings. The bus was full of beds and it was quite a mess. I step all the way on the bus and Stan takes my trunk from me and puts it on a rack.
"You may choose any bed you like. Professor McGonagall has already paid for your ride so just sit back and relax. Now get on with it!" Stan slapped the driver on the back and the bus lurched forward.
To be honest I didn't pay much attention to where we were heading. All I was focused on was not dying. The driver sucked at driving. He almost hit about 20 people and he did this weird thing where he made the bus very thin. Let's just say that I never want to think or talk about that ever again. About 20 minutes later the bus lurched to a halt and the door opened.
"Here you are Miss Leah," Stan said handing me my trunk. "Just head inside and tell the clerk your name and he'll show you to your room."
Right as I stepped off the bus, it zoomed away. I looked at the building in front of me and took a deep breath. 'I brought this on myself. I chose to run away from everything I ever knew. I can't turn around now.' I walk inside and immediately feel calm. For the first time in my life, I take off my headband, not afraid of what others think.
I slowly take in my surroundings, spinning in a circle. The room is so big, bigger than what I'm used to. I see many people enjoying themselves and having a drink. I take one more deep breath and walk over to the clerk.
"Hi, my name's Leah. I was told that there was a room here waiting," I said when the clerk turned to face me.
"Ah yes, Miss Leah. We have been awaiting your arrival. Please, follow me." With that, I follow the clerk up the stairs.
After about a floor or two I ask, "Do you happen to know how to get to Diagon Alley?"
He chuckles, "Professor McGonagall told me that you might ask that. Yes, I do know how to get to Diagon Alley. I take you to the entrance tomorrow."
"Thanks," I say.
For the rest of the way to my room, we don't talk. But I could tell he kept glancing over at me. Mostly glancing at my forehead. Okay, so maybe uncovering my scar was not the best idea. So I quickly grabbed my headband and put it back on and when we finally make it to my room I quickly tell the clerk thank you and shut my door.
Ugh! I knew that I still wouldn't find I place to call my own! I thought that maybe here with other wizards and witches I wouldn't be judged by my scar. But here I am, still having to hide my scar from the bloody world! How could I have been so stupid as to think that this was the right choice?
I sit on the bed and try to hold in the tears. But the pressure was getting to me. I knew what was coming and I couldn't stop it. My breathing was increasing and the room was getting hotter by the second. I can't focus on anything and I can feel the room begin to spin. Everything turned into a blur and the last thing I remember is seeing a pair of green eyes from a past memory.
--Flashback--
"Now, Leah I need you to focus. Okay? Focus on one of your happiest memories."
I thought of the winter day that I had spent with the boy I grew up with. Throwing snowballs at each other and having the most fun we've had in years.
"Expecto Patronum."
My Patronus flew from out of my wand and circled me. I laughed, I actually laughed during a training session. I looked over to see the boy smiling at me. I wish I didn't have to forget about these times. I wish I could stay in these moments and not have to worry about the day I turn eight.
~~~~~
I wake up to a knock on my door. I groan and get up from my uncomfortable position. Ugh, I passed out from hyperventilating, didn't I? I stand up and head over to the door. I open it to find the clerk from last night.
"Are you ready to go miss?" He asks.
I look down at what I'm wearing and reply, "Give me five minutes." With that, I close the door and hurriedly put on a red top and some different pants. I also grab the pouch with my money in it.
I open the door and tell the clerk that I'm ready. He then leads me back to the main room and takes me to the back of the room. He opens a door in the back and tells me that this is where he has to leave me.
"You'll find the entrance back here." Then he leaves, closing the door behind him.
I look around to find that I am in the smallest courtyard I have ever seen. Though I've never seen one before so I can't be one to judge. Though seriously. Why the bloody hell did that man tell me that I would find the entrance here? This is a dead-end, there's nothing bloody here. I walk over to the farthest wall and lean up against it. What am I supposed to do, wait here for another magical bus to take me to Diagon Alley?
Just then I hear something shifting around. I move away from the wall to find that the bricks above me are moving around like puzzle pieces to make an opening.
"Wow, I've never seen a first-year witch open up that entrance without a wand," A voice behind me says.
I turn around to find the clerk standing by the door that led me out here. I blush, not used to having any attention, and turn back toward the bricks to find that they have fully opened. My jaw drops. Behind the wall is like a whole new world. I take a couple of steps through the passageway and see so many shops. There are loads of people milling around and just when I thought it couldn't get any cooler I see people flying around on brooms. Brooms! Like the ones I use for cleaning the orphanage.
I turn back around to find that the brick passageway has turned it's self back into a brick wall. Wow, how am I ever going to get used to magic? I shake my head, smiling, and start walking around. I look around at all of the shops and eventually come across Ollivanders.
I walk inside the store and look around at the mess. There are shelves about 10 feet tall with boxes filling them to the brim. Me being raised the way I was made me want to clean up the whole entire store.
I was so focused on the mess that I didn't notice a man walk up to the counter until he started talking.
"Ah yes. I know who you are. But I never thought I'd see the day you'd come into my store, seeing as you have already bought a wand from me. But nevertheless, it was returned to me to save for you." The man walked into the maze of shelves and came back with a gold box. "You see, this wand has been here since my store was founded. It is rumored to choose the owner that will make great things happen."
He hands me the wand and I immediately feel the connection. It feels like I'm one with the wand. Ugh, Merlin's beard, I sound like someone from Star Wars.
"Umm, why is it rumored to choose that kind of owner?" I ask after examining the wand.
"Well, that's just the summed-up version of the prophecy. But to be honest, I can't speak of the prophecy. It's been forbidden to speak of ever since You-Know-Who killed Lily and James Potter."
"Who is You-Know-Who?"
The man whom I assumed name is Ollivander looks shocked.
"You don't know who You-Know-Who is? Well, I'm not surprised considering that you grew up in a Muggle orphanage."
I stand there, mouth hanging open. "How did you know that I grew up in an orphanage?"
"Miss Leah, I know every person who has ever walked through my doors. I know their backstory, their parents, and every magical thing about them," Ollivander said, unfazed by the fact that knowing everything about everyone is kinda creepy.
"Would you happen to know who my parents were?" I asked, realizing that one of my parents had to have been a wizard or witch if I'm a witch.
Ollivander's face fell immediately after I asked the question. "I do know who your parents were. But no, before you ask me who they were I must tell you that I have been forbidden to tell you. Those were dark days Leah, dark days and to speak of them would put us all in danger. You must figure out who they are on your own. Now, since you have your wand I believe it is time for you to go buy some of your other supplies. Knowing Professor McGonagall she has probably already bought you your books and uniform so you should probably go use the money she gave you to go get a pet."
"Okay, thank you, sir," I say, and then I walk out of Ollivander's Wand Shop and continue to walk around. Looking for the store that I need to pick up my uniform from.
~~~~~
At the end of the day, I had my school uniform, my wand, and I ended up getting a pet owl. She's the cutest thing I have ever seen. She's a barn owl and her name's Autumn. She was one of the only owls that let me pet her and when I said that I'd take her, she made the cutest sound ever.
I made my way back to the brick entrance that leads to the Leaky Caldron when the sun started to set. That's when I realized that I haven't had food since my last diner at the orphanage. But hunger doesn't bother me, not anymore. Once, I didn't get any food for over a week. It sucked, a lot. But ever since that, hunger hasn't affected me.
When I walked into the Leaky Caldron I notice that I'm getting weird stares from everyone in the building. I immediately bring my hand up to my forehead to make sure that my headband was still on. It was, and that's when it clicked. My wand, the only wand that has a prophecy connected to it.
"Umm, Miss Leah. Would you like something to eat?" The clerk asked as I passed the counter.
"Yes, please, and if you don't mind could you send it up to my room?"
"Of course. I'll send it up right away."
I make my way up the spiraling staircase and up to my bedroom. When I open my door the first thing I see is the food sitting on the desk next to my bed. I place my uniform in my trunk and I place Autumn's cage next to the window. I take a deep breath and look around my room. This is going to be a long couple of days.