Eh Chapter 2 is a bit short, sorry. But chapter 3 will be long. I promise. J

            

 "Good Morning, Starshine." Someone sang into Kaelie's face.

 In her general grogginess, she couldn't recall who owned that seemingly familiar. It was male... wasn't it? Kaelie yawned, glancing up and noticing a face that she didn't remember seeing before she fell asleep. "Where am I?" she asked.

"Why Sweets, you're on the Knight Bus. Remember me? Stan Shunpike?"

 "Oh right," she murmured. The name was familiar, but Kaelie had already gotten the impression that Stan had a perpetually vigorous attitude towards life--even in the morning.

 "That is a Muggle song, isn't it? Good Morning Starshine?"

 "Um... I suppose," Kaelie said and yawned again.

 The bus came to a halt. Ernie grinned his half smile. "Diagon Alley," he proclaimed, gesturing vaguely towards a brick wall near a small pub between two larger stores.

 "Well, that's you dear." Stan jumped to the front, leading the way for Kaelie.

 Kaelie, dizzily stood up. "Where do I go?" Her hazel eyes peered through the front windows.

"Go into there." Stan pointed at a murky, undersized, black building. "Tell them Stan and Ernie sent you."

Ernie watched as she got ready to walk off before adding, "Oh wait, dear child. I must, if you don't have any money." He stood up, giving her a large bag. "For you dear. I hope you fulfill a good life at Hogwarts. We wish you the best, but I want you to ask for the Knight Bus again. Remember, just stick out your wand hand." Stan wriggled his eyebrows at the possibility of more business.

Kaelie nodded, grinning. "Thanks," she said graciously as she stepped off and winced into the broad daylight. She then approached the ominous building.

An elderly woman stood behind a tiny bar. Kaelie noticed she was wearing a hat that looked more like what children at the orphanage would imitate every Halloween. Her chin was sharp but her tempestuous gray eyes sparkled with kindness.

There were two men sitting at a small table playing cards. The table croaked every time one of the men put down a card as well as their two tiny glasses of sherry kept bouncing up and down. Kaelie examined the men carefully. One of the men was bald, a patch hung over his right eye, and he was wearing a long cloak. The other man was also wearing a long cloak, but his hair was in a black mess. He didn't look old by any standards. Kaelie assumed he was in his mid forties.

The woman glanced her way, "Hello dear. May I help you?"

Kaelie crossed her arms nervously. "Um. Stan and Ernie sent me," she said, obeying Stan's request.

"Eh? Stan and Ernie you say?" The old man stood up.

"Fools, what they be." The other one giggled, blatantly drunk.

 "Another Hogwarts student?" The woman glared at the two men, then looked at Kaelie.

"I guess." Kaelie shrugged.

 The woman nodded, "I assume you shall be staying here until tomorrow."

 Kaelie nodded, only barely following the woman's assumptions.

"You know how to get to Diagon Alley?"

 Kaelie shook her head furiously.

 The woman looked at the man with the messy hair. "Would you be kind enough to lead the dear young lady to Diagon Alley?"

"Sure, why not. Might as well take her to King Cross Station tomorrow," he snickered sardonically.

The woman glared at him. "If you could," she retorted.

He groaned, "Fine fine." He stood up and glanced at the delicate girl. "Come on, you nervous wreck," he laughed recklessly, motioning for her to follow him.

Kaelie trailed behind him as he turned around. "What's your name?" he inquired.

"Kaelie," she answered shyly.

"Top of the mornin' to you Kaelie. I'm Remus Lupin." He led her to a brick wall.

 "How do we get past here?" she asked.

"Just watch." He smiled, pointing a lengthy, thin stick to the bricks--his wand. "Up three, and two across?" he murmured.

 Kaelie gasped in astonishment as the bricks started to move in all directions. Eventually, it formed a tall arch leading into what looked like an overgrown strip mall. It was beautiful in Kaelie's eyes. People were crowding around, children were screaming, laughing, and running around the place. Large and small buildings surrounded the thin, narrow streets. There was vendors screaming, "Get your cauldrons here!" or "Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans!"

 "Step right in, Kaelie. Welcome to the mysterious world of magic." Remus winked.

"Wow." She glanced around in awe.

 "I'm going to leave you here," Remus explained. "If you need directions, just ask anyone around here. Make sure you're back at the Leaky Cauldron by nightfall." Remus headed back through the arch, the bricks reforming the brick wall behind him.

 Kaelie walked slowly throughout the stores. She noticed a bookstore--she loved books and always tried to read whenever she had a chance to. The child, filled with joy, approached the door. A small bell chimed as she walked in. A large man grinned at her. "Welcome to Flourish and Botts. What will you be needing today?"

"Amazing," she mumbled slyly, looking at the man. "I need these books. It's on my list for Hogwarts." Kaelie brandished the booklist from her pocket.

"Ah. Hogwarts, indeed." The man pulled out a large tied package. "We've had many students come in asking for these books. We decided to package them to save time." He handed the heavy brown package to her. "That'll be twelve galleons and four sickles."

Kaelie nodded, taking out some of the coins that she had meticulously counted, and walking out of the store. The door shut behind her with a thud. She, not knowing where she was headed to, bumped into someone. "Sorry," she mumbled, not looking them in the eye.

"That's okay," he said amiably. The boy looked at her. He had pale blonde hair, and his dark green eyes peered at her from long eyelashes. He was quite short and fairly skinny. "Shopping for Hogwarts too?" he inquired.

"I guess?"

"I guess?" he repeated as he gripped onto a small cage that housed a barn owl.

 "I don't know what I'm doing." Kaelie responded.

 "Hey nifty! You're a half-Muggle!" He grinned. "I'm Caden Ross." Caden held out his hand for Kaelie to shake. "Oh, wait. You're carrying too much. I apologize."

 "Kaelie Greenwich." She stifled a giggle.

"Did you get a wand yet?"

 "A wand?" She questioned him. Was this the long, narrow stick that Remus had used to open the gate to Diagon Alley?

"Yeah. A wand. Mr. Ollivanders, you know?" Caden continued.

 "Who's that?"

"The wand maker!" Caden said, waving for Kaelie to follow him. "Come on!"

Ok. That's all. It's a bit lame right now, but I'll get better. Review!