Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any related materials.
Well… I still can't think of a good name, but I really hate "Adopt and Adapt" (no, I wasn't on crack or drunk when I named it that… just really really tired), so I'm calling it "Whatever" now. Which kind of fits, because it will be a prominent phrase in Laura's vocabulary later on.
Okay, so this chapter is in two parts. This chapter is 10 pages long and I'm not even done with Diagon Alley yet. Therefore, the Diagon Alley experience is split. I'm repeating myself, so on you go.
It was months later when Ginny really sat down and thought about things. She worried about the current threat of Blaise Zabini. She reflected on the fact that she would need a job soon or else people would get suspicious about how she was getting money (she was using the book money, but nobody could know that). But most of all she thought about Laura and her future.
Was Laura magic or not? That was the question. It was nearing Laura's eleventh birthday and there was still no clear answer. Sure, there were little things that could possibly indicate magical abilities, but there was nothing certain. There was nothing like how Hermione described her childhood, or Harry. They had shown extreme signs of magic at young ages that grew steadily stronger. Laura hadn't.
Ginny bit her thumbnail absently, lost in thought, when Laura came crashing into the apartment.
"Ginny, guess what I saw?" she exclaimed, jumping around.
"What? The winning lottery ticket?"
"Sadly, no, but I saw an owl outside! During the day, carrying something on its leg!"
Ginny was instantly alert. "What color was the owl? Was it white?"
"Nope, it was brown. Why?"
Ginny shrugged. "Just wondering." She moved to the window and opened it. "Don't ask; everything will be explained by your birthday," she said in response to Laura's confused look.
"But – hey, look!" Laura exclaimed, pointing to the window. A large tawny owl had flown in and was perched on the windowsill. Ginny broke in a huge grin.
"Hey there," she said, petting the owl on the head. The owl hooted impatiently as if it was saying, "Hurry up and take the letter; I haven't got all day." Ginny untied the letter from the owl's leg while Laura watched curiously.
"What's that?" the young girl asked.
Ginny said nothing, just stood gaping at the paper. Laura stood on tiptoes and snatched it away. It was made of a material heavier than paper. Laura turned it over to see a seal with a lion, a badger, a raven, and a snake on it. She broke the seal and opened the letter.
Dear Miss Laura Weasley,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
At this, Laura stopped reading and glanced up at Ginny. "Is this a joke?"
"Of course not. Do you really think I could train an owl to deliver a letter? It's real. Made of parchment, if you were wondering."
Laura turned back to the letter.
You will need…
And it listed a bunch of objects that couldn't possibly be bought at the local department store. Toy versions, yes, maybe, but where would you find a real cauldron, or a magic wand?
"Diagon Alley," Ginny said suddenly. "We'll need to go there. It's where everything you need is sold."
"Sweet. A broomstick sounds cool. Do they sell those there too?"
"Yes," Ginny grinned. "But first years aren't allowed to have one, unless they've changed the rules. I think Harry was the only first year in a hundred years to play Quidditch when he was eleven. Everyone else had to wait."
"What's Quidditch?"
"It's only the greatest wizarding game ever," Ginny said. "Played on broomsticks. I'll explain it to you sometime. It's kind of complicated. I played it a lot growing up, only I had to sneak and do it at night. I actually got onto the team on my fourth year, after Harry got himself banned from Quidditch. I stayed on fifth year, but as a different position. I could tell you stories about us until the cows came home, and sometime I will."
"This is awesome! Wait until I tell Anna about this!" Anna was Laura's old best friend from the orphanage. Although Laura preferred not to talk about the orphanage, or any of the other homes she had been in, she couldn't just leave Anna behind without any letters. Laura had been writing to Anna periodically throughout the few months they had been gone.
"No," Ginny said firmly. "You can't tell anyone about it. Trust me."
"Why not?"
"Because. Laura, just trust me on this. I know a lot more about magic than you do."
"Fine," Laura said, making a face. "So when are we going to that Diagonal Alley place anytime soon?"
"It's called Diagon Alley, and not right now. If you remember, we were going out to eat."
Laura's face brightened. "Can we go to the crepes place?"
Ginny laughed. "Sure. Let's go so that I can tell you more when we get back. And remember, no talking about it in the restaurant."
"Agreed."
Dinner was a pleasurable affair, as both Ginny and Laura were in good moods. When they got back, Laura immediately hounded Ginny for stories and information.
"Ginny, what did you do at Hogwarts or whatever it was called?"
"My school years weren't very spectacular, although they got better as I got older. I think what you should be asking is what Harry, Uncle Ron, and Aunt Hermione did."
"Okay, what did they do?"
Ginny smiled. "I think that's something they should tell you. Only they can tell their story. But I can tell you about Fred and George and all the teachers at school, especially the Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers. Did you know that there was a curse on the DADA position while I was in school?"
"Nice," Laura commented. "Is it still on? Who started it?"
"No, I think it's over. And don't ask how; I won't answer. We'll go to Diagon Alley tomorrow; it's a Saturday. I'll talk to the others and see if they'll come with us. Now, come on, sit down."
Laura obeyed and Ginny told her about Quidditch until it was well past Laura's bedtime.
Early the next morning, Laura woke up to the sound of a one-way conversation. She was wondering why Ginny would be talking to herself at five in the morning when she heard Ginny say her name, accompanied by 'magic' and 'Diagon Alley'.
Laura crept curiously out of her room and into the living room part of the apartment. She was surprised to see Ginny kneeling on the floor with her head in the green flames of a fireplace that Laura was quite sure hadn't been there before. Ginny was talking to somebody somewhere else.
"Will you come? … oh good. Laura will be so excited… Bring whoever can come, I want her to meet some of the others she hasn't met yet… alright, we'll meet you there at ten-thirty."
Ginny pulled her head out of the fireplace and looked at Laura, grinning. "It's called Floo Powder. My brothers, Fred and George, invented False Fireplaces, which are portable fireplaces for whenever you need them. They're banned at Hogwarts. Anyway, we'll be using Floo Powder to get to Diagon Alley. You've still got five and a half hours until we go, so I suggest you get some rest. Diagon Alley's a big place and I want you to be awake enough to enjoy it."
Laura yawned. "Okay." She shuffled back to her room.
Today was panning out to be a very interesting day.
Laura was far too excited to go back to sleep, so she lay in bed, imagining everything she could do in that Diagonal – sorry, Diagon – Alley. She would be getting a wand! If that wasn't awesome, what was?
When Ginny came to wake Laura up, she found Laura looking over the Hogwarts acceptance letter for the billionth time.
"Laura, eleven isn't going to come any faster if you keep looking at that."
"But it can't hurt," Laura replied. "Is it time to get up yet?"
"Yep," Ginny said. "Get dressed. We have to be there in half an hour."
"Eep!" Laura squealed, shooting out of bed and pushing Ginny out of the room, shutting the door. Ten minutes later, she came out in shorts and a T-shirt, the front of her long brown hair pulled back in a ponytail while the back was let down. "'Kay, I'm ready."
"Good. Have some breakfast. You'll need your strength; Diagon Alley's a big place."
Laura rolled her eyes and scarfed down a bowl of cereal. "Can we go now?"
Ginny sighed. "Okay. We're going to be there early, but that's alright. And Laura-"
"Yes?"
"Please try and behave yourself. Don't go into Knockturn Alley. I'll know if you do. Anyway, there's going to be some fun stuff there, including getting a wand. And I'll let you know right now, you are not getting a broomstick. I don't have the money for a good one, and first years aren't allowed a broom."
"Dang, I always wanted something used to clean floors. Now you've spoiled all my fun," Laura said. Ginny laughed.
"Trust me, they're cooler than you think. Come on, let's go."
"Um, how are we getting there?" Laura asked. "Is it anywhere near?"
"No, it's kind of far away," Ginny said. "We'll Floo to the Leaky Cauldron."
"'Floo'?"
"Yep. Now throw this powder in the fire, step into it, and shout 'Diagon Alley'. Be sure to speak clearly and if you turn up in Knockturn Alley, you'll be grounded forever. And I mean it."
Laura looked warily at the fire and then at Ginny, who nodded. Laura threw the handful of shimmery powder into the fire, stepped nervously into it, and shouted "Diagon Alley" nice and clearly. Ginny repeated and when she stepped out of the fireplace, she was in a whole different place. She spotted Laura talking to Tom, the old barkeeper.
"Hello, Tom," Ginny said as she reached the two. "Nice to see you again."
"Ginny Weasley?" he said, looking surprised. "You haven't been in Diagon Alley in a long time… welcome back."
"Thank you," Ginny said, smiling. "I see you've met Laura."
"Is she your daughter?" Tom asked.
"She is now," Ginny said, and left it at that. "We're shopping for her school supplies now. First year at Hogwarts, very exciting."
"I see," the barkeeper said. "Well, I'll let you get started then. Diagon Alley's very crowded today."
"Thanks, Tom," said Ginny. "Have you seen Harry, Ron, or Hermione?"
"Yes, they went into Diagon Alley a few minutes ago."
"Thanks," Ginny repeated. "Well, Laura, we'd better get going. They're probably waiting for us. Bye, Tom."
"Goodbye, Ms. Weasley, Laura."
As Ginny and Laura left the inn through the back door, Laura asked, "What did he mean, 'you haven't been in Diagon Alley for a long time'?"
"Oh, about that. There may be other people who say that. I'll explain later," Ginny said, taking out her wand as they approached the brick wall.
"Um, OK," Laura said slowly. "And, Ginny, you do know that that's a brick wall, right? We've walked right into a dead end."
Ginny smiled. "You forget, Laura, that we are witches." She tapped the bricks with her wand in the right order, and watched Laura gasp as the bricks parted to reveal an archway to Diagon Alley.
"Wow…" Laura whispered. As they entered the crowded street, they were ambushed by a bunch of redheads, a brunette woman, and a black-haired man. Ginny grinned.
"Hey guys."
"Hey Gin," Ron said, embracing his sister. "Hey, Laura."
"Hi," Laura said, smiling at him.
Ginny and Laura said hello to everyone else, and the whole group went towards the cauldron store ("So you can carry everything in your cauldron," Ginny explained). After that, the group split up: Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Laura, and Lily in one group and the others in other, smaller, groups. The large group were on their way to Flourish and Blotts when they heard a drawling voice saying, "Well, well, well. If it isn't Scarhead and his groupies."
Everybody turned around. Harry and Ron clenched their fists, Hermione looked worried, and Ginny looked annoyed. Laura and Lily just looked curious and confused.
"Malfoy, screw off," Ginny said, rolling her eyes. "Really, name-calling is so second-year."
"And who do we have here? The Weaslette, is it? I thought you had gone."
"I was, until you and your little Death Eater groupies forced me to return," Ginny said calmly, although inside she was screaming with anger.
Hermione turned to the children. "Lily, Laura, go to Flourish and Blotts. Lils, you know where it is."
The two children reluctantly turned and walked in the direction of the bookshop, not without a few glances back.
"So, the Weaslette has a child," Malfoy mused. "Who'd want to sleep with you?"
"Likewise, Malfoy," Ginny said sweetly, noticing a figure about the age of Lily standing next to Draco Malfoy. "Well, beside all the whores and sluts you slept with at Hogwarts."
"You will not insult me in front of my child!" Malfoy hissed. Ginny narrowed her eyes.
"Oh, but it's perfectly alright for you to insult me in front of mine?"
"Well, yes. You see, I am far beyond your station and command respect," Malfoy said haughtily. Hermione held Ron back, and took a precautionary grasp of Ginny's robes.
"It's OK, 'Mione. I'm not going to attack. He's not worth it," Ginny said, casting a scathing look at Malfoy. "Come on, let's go."
She turned her back and started to walk away, forgetting the one major rule of fighting: never turn your back on your enemy. A curse whistled by her ear. She whipped around.
"Malfoy, would you like to be turned into a ferret again?" Ginny asked dangerously, taking out her wand and pointing it at him. "I learned some interesting human transfiguration, you know. And I'm not afraid to use it."
"Ginny," Hermione whispered. "Ginny, come on. He's not worth it."
"Yeah, go back to your slug of a daughter, Weaslette. I still can't believe anyone would sleep with such filth as you to create such a filthy spawn."
"Now you've crossed the line, Malfoy," Ginny said angrily. "I don't care if you insult me until steam comes out of my ears, but do not insult Laura."
Hermione tightened her grasp on Ginny's robes, obviously afraid that Ginny would pull a Ron and launch herself at Malfoy. Harry held the back of Ron's robes, looking as though he might need somebody restraining him, too.
"Oh, and you'll do what?"
Ginny pointed her wand at him once more. "I'll make you regret it, Malfoy. You're the most pathetic creature I've ever had the displeasure of meeting, and that includes the flubberworms we had to take care of in Care of Magical Creatures class." At that moment, Hermione and Harry pulled Ginny and Ron away from Malfoy, who sneered after them. He promptly broke out in purple spots and his hair turned bright pink. He looked around for Ginny, but she was nowhere to be seen. Fuming, he Disappararated with his son before anybody else besides the crowd who had gathered to watch the fight could start laughing.
In Flourish and Blotts, Ginny was still angry, but was cracking up at her last backward look at Malfoy, complete with the spots and colored hair. Ron and Harry were fuming, and even Hermione looked angry, although she also looked relieved that they got away without being cursed.
"Did you see his face?" Ginny asked. "Oh, but Hermione, you should have let me slug him. It would have been much more satisfying that cursing him. After what he said…" Ginny stopped laughing and his face clouded over. "I'll kill him if he insults Laura again like that.'
"No you won't," Hermione said firmly. "There will be no killing of any sorts, no matter what the reason."
"Hermione, you take all the fun out of life," Ginny complained, but before Hermione could say anything, Laura and Lily appeared in front of the adults.
"What was that all about?" Lily asked.
"That, children, was the reason that Ron got most of his detentions at school," Ginny said. "And Harry, for that matter. With the exception of his fifth year, in which only some were because of Malfoy. The rest were all Umbridge."
"Oh, God, don't remind me," Harry said, groaning. "I've still got scars on my hand."
"Really?" Lily asked.
"From what?" Laura asked, forgetting about the subject of Malfoy.
"From Umbridge's sadistic quill," Harry said darkly. "Come on, get your books."
"We got them already, Uncle Harry," Lily said, showing him a pile of books in her arms. There was a similar pile in Laura's arms.
"Good," Ron said. "Then we can get out of here. I think I'm allergic to all these books." He sneezed to prove his point. Hermione swatted his arm.
"Don't be stupid, Ronald. They won't hurt you. They're just books."
"Try telling that to those Monster books we had in third year," Ron said. "Those were pretty nasty. Mine bit me every time I tried to open it."
"You were supposed to stroke the binding, Ron! How many times did I have to tell you that?" Hermione asked.
"Apparently more," Harry cut in. "We still have to pay for the books, right girls?"
Lily and Laura nodded. "Yeah," Laura said. "They wouldn't take bubble gum as payment." She looked put out.
"Oh, God," Ginny groaned. "Please tell me that you didn't try to buy the books with gum."
"Don't worry, we didn't, Aunt Ginny," Lily assured her. "Laura wanted to, though."
"Did not," Laura protested.
"Did too."
"Not."
"Too!"
"OK, girls. Stop it and we'll get some ice cream on the way out," Ron promised. The girls looked at each other, smirked, and stopped immediately. Ron groaned. "Shouldn't have said that…"
"Well you did, Dad," Lily said triumphantly. "So come on, we've got to pay for these books and then we've got a date with a sundae."
"You're forgetting a couple of things," Hermione said. "We have to get Laura some robes, potions ingredients, and a wand."
"Fine," Lily said, looking disappointed. "But then we're getting ice cream."
"Deal," Ginny said. Then she squeaked as someone tickled her from behind. She spun around.
"Gred and Forge! Stop!" she choked out. The tickling abated and Ginny breathed a sigh of relief.
"Nice to see you too, little sister," Fred said, messing up Ginny's hair.
"Yeah, and what's with the whole Malfoy thing?" George asked. "We heard some people talking about you and Malfoy."
"Oh, that." Ginny grimaced. "Malfoy was being an arse as always, and so we yelled at each other for a while. And then Hermione and Harry dragged Ron and I off to here."
"And the purple spots and pink hair…?" Fred prodded. "We heard about that too. Colin Creevey got a picture of it, you know."
"Really? I'll have to get a copy of that. Well, I cursed him," Ginny admitted. Then she turned to the girls. "We do not condone this type of behavior, and if any of you start cursing people, you'll be in big trouble. Got it?"
"Yes, ma'am," Lily and Laura chorused, looking as if Christmas had come early.
"Wouldn't dream of it," Laura smirked.
"What she said," Lily said, smiling innocently.
"Good." Ginny eyed them suspiciously, but left it at that.
"Well, it's time for us to take care of these two," Fred said, scooting around Ginny and lightly pushing Lily and Laura to the entrance. The girls giggled and thrust their books into their parents' hands.
"Oh no you don't!" Ginny and Hermione said at the same time.
"I'm not allowed Laura into your store," Ginny said. "She is not turning into another one of you!"
"And neither is Lily!" Hermione added.
"Aww, come on, Gin, 'Mione. Don't you want your daughters to have fun? Live a little. We won't let them near the really dangerous stuff."
"Come on, Ginny. Please?" Laura asked, using her puppy-dog eyes. Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Fine. But I'm coming with, so you have to wait until I buy these books."
She quickly bought the books, but when she turned around, Laura and Lily were gone.
"Bloody brothers," Ginny groused before quickly walking out of the store, leaving Ron, Harry, and Hermione behind.
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