A Year in the Life of a Hogwarts Student - Task 2 Diagon Alley

Continuing on in the saga of the year in the life of a Hogwarts Student, the second task we were given was our trip to Diagon Alley.

Here is the prompt we were given.

I remember the day my mother took me shopping ahead of my first year at Hogwarts. Of course I had visited Diagon Alley before but I had been impatient to go to Hogwarts for such a long time... finally the school year was looming ahead.

It's now time for you, future students to make the trip to buy school supplies.

Pick one of the prompts below

Prompts

• You go to Ollivander to buy your wand. Write about how the wand chooses you and what it means to you. You may use your Pottermore wand if you have one.

• Describe an unexpected meeting with a known HP character on the street. You may use characters that are dead by the end of DH.

• To find the perfect pet you visit Eeylops Owl Emporium & Magical Menagerie.

Requirements

• Number of words: between 500-1050
• Entries should be anonymous, so don't use any identifying elements in your story.

And here is my entry. I'm continuing the story of the girl from the first entry -the Letter.

Prompt – to find the perfect pet, visit Eeylops Owl Emporium & Magical Menagerie

Words 500-1050

I was still in shock about everything Mom told me about Dad. He was a wizard. And that made me a witch!  Mom told me to reply back to the school that yes I would be attending Hogwarts. I wrote the letter and sent it with the owl that appeared to take it back to the school.

“Kaylee,” Mom announced over supper one night. “We have to go to London. This list of items you need, there’s no way we can find that here. Besides I know it’s what your father would want for you.”

“London,” I exclaimed. “You mean I actually get to go to England?!” I was excited. The furthest from our home I’d ever been was my grandparents’ house in Seattle. Of course, that wasn’t too far as we lived in a small town in Oregon.

I spent the rest of the week packing things to take with me to school. We’d decided to make a vacation of the trip. We’d go to London a couple of weeks before I had to leave for school and be tourists. Then we’d try to find this place, Diagon Alley, where I needed to buy my supplies. Mom was hoping that there would be someone around who could help us.

Our first few days in London were a whirlwind of activities. We visited Buckingham Palace, Dickens House, and all of the other tourist attractions. Of course Mom turned it into an educational trip for me by making sure that I visited the homes of some classic authors as well as a couple of museums. I was fascinated. This was a whole new experience for me.

The day to get my supplies finally arrived. I was set to board the Hogwarts Express in 3 days. So we knew it was time to figure out how I was going to get my supplies. There was a sweet old woman at the hotel we were staying at who gave us directions to this pub called the Leaky Cauldron. She told us that Muggles couldn’t see it. I immediately was concerned that Mom wouldn’t be able to come with me, but the lady reassured me that as my parent, my mother would be able to see it as well.

The Leaky Cauldron wasn’t like any other pub we’d seen so far in London. It was dark. And inside, all sorts of strange people were talking and laughing.

“Excuse us,” Mom said as she went up to the bar. “We’re trying to get to Diagon Alley to get the school supplies my daughter needs. Do you think you can help us?”

The old barman looked at my mother and then looked at me. He studied us for several minutes and then said, “The entrance is through that door over there. But if this is her first time, you’ll need to use your wand to tap the bricks.”

“Oh my,” Mom said with a worried expression. “Kaylee doesn’t have a wand. And I’m not magical. My late husband was a wizard though. I’m not sure how we’ll be able to tap the bricks.”

“Hey,” the barman called to a gentleman heading towards the door. “They’re doing ‘ogwarts shopping and need into the Alley. Let’em come with you.”

The gentleman nodded and Mom and I followed him into a room of bricks. The man pulled out a stick and tapped lightly on the bricks and we watched in awe as a doorway opened.

“Wow,” I muttered as I gripped tight to Mom’s hand. It was a little scary to suddenly be away from all that I was familiar with.

“Thank you sir,” Mom told the man and he grunted in response.

“Now, let’s see,” she continued looking over the list of items on my school list. “Robes, books, cauldron, potion ingredients, wand. I know! Let’s start over there!”

I followed her hand in the direction she waved. A sign caught my eye – Eeylops Owl Emporium and Magical Menagerie.

Mom knew me so well. I loved animals of all kinds. I’m sure was remembering how I approached the owl that brought my letter to me and was afraid of it. She always said I’d grow to be a veterinarian or something like that.

“All right sweetheart, you go on in there and look for a pet. Remember you’re allowed a cat, a rat, a toad, or an owl. Find the animal you like the best and wait for me there. I will go over to that bank over there because I’m pretty sure that the dollars we exchanged at the airport for pounds won’t be good here,” she told me. I was already moving towards the shop.

There were animals everywhere! I was thrilled to be around them. Mom hadn’t really let me have a pet of my own at home, but we still had animals around. I wandered around the shop contemplating my decision as to which pet I’d like. I didn’t care for toads. And rats scared my mom. An owl would be practical. Because then I could use it to write to Mom. But for some reason, I didn’t want an owl. I didn’t want to be practical.

Almost of their of violation, my feet carried me to the corner where the cats were. Small ones. Big ones. Striped ones. Cats with funny colors. Some with tails. Others without.  In a matter of minutes I was on the floor and had several of them in my arms.

“Have you found one then,” the salesclerk asked me after about 45 minutes.

I looked up from the orange calico in my lap and smiled when I said, “Yes. This one.”

“What a great choice,” the woman said as she put the others back in their boxes. “Cats can be a great companion for a Hogwarts student.”

I followed the woman to the front of the store and found my mother waiting for me.

“A cat,” she said with a smile. “And a cute one too. What are you going to call it?”

“Truffle,” I said as my new kitty snuggled up to my neck purring loudly. “She looks like a caramel truffle.”

Mom laughed, paid the woman for the cat, the basket, and food. We then headed back out into Diagon Alley to continue my shopping.

************************************

So there we go. Entry two. I'm having so much fun with this series of tasks. When I think about it, I'll post my third entry. Since on the Harry Potter site, we're up to entry 8.


Please feel free to leave a comment. I love hearing from my readers!

A bit of fun

Every year, or at least for the past few years, I take part in the Chamber of Secrets Holiday Calendar. Last year I shared the little story I did with Rose. This year I came up with something entirely different. I was having a hard time getting the characters to behave and let me write a simple Christmas story. So I wrote a poem instead. I don't rhyme, and I typically don't write poetry. But it's in fun. So here is my entry to this year's Holiday Calendar. So for all Harry Potter fans....

It’s that time of the year

When the Hogwarts Holiday Calendar brings much cheer.

I sharpened up my quill

And wondered what I’d do to fit the bill.

I tried to write

Even stayed up late at night!

But, alas to my dismay

There was nothing for me to say.

James and Lily didn’t make a peep.

The Trio and Ginny stayed asleep

Not a word from Scoripus or Rose.

Upon the twins I could not impose.

Busy with work and books,

I couldn’t even spare time to cook!

The deadline approached way too fast

An idea came to mind – at last!

Instead of a story I hold so dear,

I’ll write a poem full of holiday cheer.

Only as the words began to flow,

Did I discover it was full of woe.

I typically can’t rhyme

But I will just this time.

So that I can write my holiday wish

And pray that it sounds sweet-ish.

So with that thought,

I’ll give it a shot -

Merry Christmas to all

And may your holidays be a ball!

A Year in the Life of a Hogwarts Student - The Letter

Ok, so on the Harry Potter site I'm a member of, we are currently going through a challenge called "The Year in the Life of a Hogwarts Student." Which means I get to go to Hogwarts! Of course, someday I'll go visit the theme park in Florida, but for now, I'm going to share my entries. The way this will work will be I tell you the prompt we were given and then my entry. These are supposed to be anonymous, so for my friends who follow my blog here and are also members of the site, remember you know nothing. ;)

The first task was call the Letter. Here's the prompt we were given.

You have received a letter from Hogwarts. The first challenge you face is to write a story about what your reaction would be. Are you surprised, because as a Muggleborn you have no clue what´s happening? Excited because your whole family has already been at Hogwarts?
Tell us if you are a Muggleborn like Hermione or a member of a magical family like Ron. That’s the only requirement. Oh and no visits to Diagon Alley as of yet please

Requirements

• Number of words: between 850-1050

• Entries should be anonymous, so don't use any identifying elements in your story.

 And here is my entry.

Dear Diary,

Summer. My time to sleep in. At least usually. That so was not the case this morning. What happened? Well, it was like this…

I’d stayed up entirely too late last night reading and so I was tired. I sure wasn’t expecting to be woken up by Mom shrieking. Yes SHRIEKING!  Needless to say, I bolted out of bed and ran down the stairs. Mom was in the corner of the kitchen, near the stove, just pointing at some thing. I looked in the direction she was pointing and there flying around the open window was an OWL. I stood in the doorway for a second and watched it. Anytime it flew near Mom, she screeched and the owl was so startled it flew into the wall opposite of her. I stifled a chuckle while wondering why a nocturnal creature like an owl was in my kitchen in the morning.

“Do something,” Mom begged as it came in her direction again. This time, I noticed something attached to its leg.

“Alright,” I said as I shook myself fully awake and walked into the kitchen. Owls don’t really bug me. Intrigue me yes, but scare me – no. Now if it had been a snake on the other hand, I’d not go within 10 feet of it!

The owl noticed me as I walked into the kitchen. It flew over towards me and held out its leg. I looked at it in confusion. What did it want me to do?

“Poor guy,” I murmured to it as I reached out to untie what I could now tell was some sort of document. “Is this hurting you? There you go. Does that feel better?” I promise the owl looked at me like I was insane as I took untied the document. Once it was free, it flew straight out the open window.

“Well what is it,” Mom asked once it was gone.

“It’s some sort of document,” I replied turning it over in my hands. Then I noticed it. My name written on it in bold letters. Complete with my address and the words “kitchen doorway.”

“I think it’s a letter. It’s addressed to me,” I told her as I looked up.

“That’s a strange way to send a letter,” Mom replied as she placed a platter of chocolate chip pancakes on the table in front of my place.

“Yes, it is,” I agreed while absentmindedly drowning the pancakes in butter. I opened the letter and started to read it out loud.

“Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy… some person and a bunch of what looks like titles…We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy.

What? Mom, it’s telling me that I’ve been asked to go to a school for witchcraft. I don’t understand.”

I looked up at Mom in confusion. “I thought that magic only existed in the books I read and in fairy tales. How is this possible?”

Mom was silent for a few minutes before she looked up. “I’ve never told you about your father. He died long before you were born. In fact, we’d only been married just a short time, a few months really, when he died.”

“Ok,” I said, trying to understand. “What does Dad have to do with why I’ve been accepted into a school of witchcraft?”

“I’ll try to explain what I know,” she replied gently. “I met your father during my last year of college. I was with one of my girlfriends at a club. She dared me to go over and talk to the man at the bar with the t-shirt that had some strange rock band’s name on it. I’d noticed him when he entered the club as there was something about him that stood out, even from across the room. I accepted her dare. He was very charming. And I loved his accent. So I asked him if he was here in the States on vacation or as a student. He told me that it was a bit of both. A vacation before enrolling as an exchange student at the same college I was attending. We talked for hours that night. When it was time to leave, he asked me when he’d see me again. I gave him the name of my dorm and told him he could find me there the next day. I got home from my classes the next day and found a bouquet of roses waiting for me. With a note asking me to join him for dinner. I accepted, and that was the start of a whirlwind romance. Within six weeks we were engaged. He knew everything about me. All I knew about him, other than the fact that I loved him to distraction, was that he was British and his name was Kyle. At times, he’d mention something regarding “the Ministry” or “Muggles.” One evening, a few days before he died, he looked at me in all seriousness, and asked me ‘Do you believe in magic?’ I told him that if it’s magic that caused us to meet, then yes I did. He smiled at my response, and we were interrupted by a knock on the door. Kyle went to answer it, and after a hurried conversation, he came back to me. I’d only caught snatches of the rushed conversation. I’d heard things like “Attack. Aurors. Portkey. Immediately.” Kyle told me he had to go. An emergency. And that’d he be home just as soon as he could. He kissed me and then he left. A few days later, I received a letter telling me that my husband had died in an accident.

I haven’t thought of that night really in years. Not until you opened your letter.”

“So what are you telling me, Mom,” I asked.

“I’m saying that magic is real. And your father was a wizard. I know that now. I also know that had he lived, he’d have told us himself. Then neither of us would have been so shocked when that, that owl arrived. So evidently you’re a witch. And that’s why you received the letter.”

A witch! Diary! I could hardly believe it. The father I’d never known was a wizard and magic was real!

*************

So welcome to my fun world. I plan on sharing the entries as I do them. Well at least after the scoring of them is done. This contest is totally just for fun.

 

An overactive imagination

I have an overactive imagination. I freely admit it. 9 times out of 10, when I finish either a book or a movie, I make up my own stories for how the characters' lives turn out. I want to know the "what happens after the happily ever after?" And it's funny, but if I didn't like the way something ended, then I allow the characters to live on in my imagination the way that I want them to.

Have I ever written any of these things down? Yes, actually I have. I recently found some notebooks from when I was in 6th or 7th grade, where I had written fan fiction before I even knew it was fan fiction. There was a series of books I'd read during that time called the House of Winslow series by Gilbert Morris. Each book is dealing with the next generation in the family. One of the stories I found continued the story of a couple of the characters between the ending of "their" book and moving onto the one about their children. I've done that for years. Even now that fan fiction is so prevalent, I still do it. I've got one true fan fiction piece that has well over 20 or 30 chapters right now. Then the last book came out and 90% of what I wrote has been proven false by the book. Someday, I may go back and rewrite it to make it compatible to the last book, but who knows.

I've got files saved on my computer that have various bits and pieces of stories. One is a full-length novel. Most are just one or two paragraphs or pages of starts (or even middle) of stories. At times, I just want to bring those characters to life and tell their stories. But I never do.

Having an overactive imagination is a good thing as long as I don't let it interfere with reality. I've been known to use reading as an escape from reality. I found out in college that I needed the downtime that reading gives me. My first semester at school, I'd only brought 3 or 4 of my books with me so that I could actually devote time to my studies. I came home at Thanksgiving and read everything I could put my hands on. I learned then, that I needed to have my books with me. Or at least some of them. I'd heard one day last week in my voicemail a message from a sales director who recommended reading 1 book a month. I had to laugh. Because she'd obviously never met me. I typically read between 4-8 books a month. More at times.

I'm about to start on a journey of reading my Bible through in a year. I'm looking forward to it. And I'll be reading it in addition to my current stack of books. :)

A short fan fiction piece

Most of my friends and family know that I love the Harry Potter books. I'm involved in one of the online communities and every year, that community has a Holiday Calendar for the month of December.

This year, I wrote a short piece for it. I decided to post it here as well.

I won't usually use my blog to share any fan fiction pieces that I write. Just this one.

Rose's Christmas Miracle - a Harry Potter fan fiction

“…and that’s how it happened. The troll fell to the ground and your Grandma and I became inseparable,” Rose heard her father tell her children as she walked into the living room.

“Now Ron, don’t be telling those children things that will scare them,” Hermione admonished walking in a step behind her daughter. “I’m sure that Violet and Cassiopeia would much rather hear a Christmas tale as opposed to an old scary story. Wouldn’t you girls?”

The girls nodded at their grandmother, and catching sight of their mother began clamoring for a Christmas tale.

“Please Mum, tell us a story,” Cassie begged.

“Yes Mum, a Christmas story,” her twin, Violet begged.

Rose grinned as she joined her daughters by the fire. “I don’t think you’ve heard about how your father and I got together, finally, right girls?” Two curly heads shook their heads no.

“Well then, let me begin,” Rose exclaimed as she pulled her daughters close to snuggle while she told the tale. “Once upon a time…”

~~~~~
It was the week before Christmas and Rose Weasley was tired. She’d been burning the candle at both ends to keep up with her work in the Department of Mysteries as well as studying for the boards she needed to take to truly become an Unspeakable. Becoming an Unspeakable was unheard of for someone fresh out of Hogwarts. The usually organized young woman had somehow managed to not notice that Christmas had snuck up on her.

“Well, that’s it,” she announced to no one in particular as she surveyed her office. “I think I’m just going to have stop. My brain can’t take in any more.”

“Talking to yourself Weasley,” a masculine voice rang from the doorway. “You know what they say; talking to oneself is the first sign of going crazy.”

Rose started and with a glare turned toward the intruder.

“What’s it to you if I talk to myself? At least then, I don’t have to listen to your snide comments.” And with that, she gathered up her things and flounced out of the office without a look back at the young man who ran his fingers through his hair in frustration.

“Why of all days does HE pick today to torment me,” she thought. She couldn’t help but noticing how tall he appeared or that he filled out his robes rather nicely after all of the Quidditch he’d played for his House at school. True, in school he only noticed her as competition for the top marks. He’d never noticed that she actually wanted him to see her for who she was and not for her family or her red hair or her intelligence. But to see her.

She’d known for the past couple of months that he was back from his trip abroad. He seemed to make it a point to make a snide remark whenever he saw her around the Ministry. And she usually had an apt comeback, but today she was just too tired and emotionally not up for their usual sparring.

~~~~
The young man stood in the doorway of Rose’s office and ran his fingers through his hair in frustration as he watched the pretty young woman’s red curls bounce down her back as she stalked away from him.

“Why do I always make a fool of myself around her,” he thought as he sighed and walked towards the lifts. “Even back in school when we were competing for the top spot, I couldn’t help it. She’s always been beautiful.”

Back in school, he did anything he could to get her to speak to him. Typically that ended up being some sort of prank or comment to get a rise out of her. They’d always shared a rivalry. But now that he’d been back in the country for the past couple of months, he knew he wanted more. He just couldn’t figure out how to stop making a fool of himself around her and let her see how much he fancied her.

“Perhaps, I need a new approach,” he thought as he left the Ministry and headed towards the Leaky Cauldron.

~~~~~~
Rose wandered aimlessly around Diagon Alley trying to get her temper under control. She didn’t notice the forlorn young man just inside the Leaky as she walked. She also didn’t notice the snow falling softly around her.

“Why can’t he just be nice to me? Why does he always make me so mad? Why can’t I let his teasing not bother me the way that I do James’, Teddy’s or Uncle George’s,” she asked herself stopping in front of Flourish & Blotts. She caught a glimpse of herself in the store’s window and looked hard. She saw a young woman with blue eyes, red curls, freckles, overall not beautiful, but certainly not a troll either.

“Because you love him Rosie,” she murmured softly. “And it hurts more than your cousins’ teasing because it’s him and he doesn’t see you as anything more than a pest.”

She reached up and brushed away the tear that escaped from her eye before squaring her shoulders and heading into Flourish & Blotts.

~~~~~
“Great. You idiot. You made her cry,” the young man muttered as he tossed some money on the table and hurried out of the Leaky. He knew that he had to figure out a way to tell her exactly how much she meant to him.

He stopped by the flower vendor just outside of Ollivander’s. “Flowers! That’s it! I can let her know how I feel with flowers. Today’s the 18th. So that means, a different bouquet every day until Christmas.”

He arranged with the vendor to have delivered to Rose that very day a bouquet of daisies and orchids. He took a minute to write a short note.

Rose – A beautiful flower such as yourself should have
someone who believes in the magic of romance (the orchids) and
loves your pure beauty (daisies). This is the first. Look for more.
Because I want to convince you that I love you. ~ Yours always.

He paid the vendor and arranged to have the bouquets, all but the last, he would deliver that himself on Christmas, delivered. The happy vendor set off to Flourish & Blotts to find the young lady while the young man melted into the shadows to watch quietly.

~~~~~
“Excuse me, miss,” a voice drew Rose out of the book she’d settled in with. “These are for you.”

She took the flowers from the vendor and breathed deeply of their fragrance. She read the short note and turned to the florist with a question.

“Do you know who these are from? I’m not seeing anyone.”

“Well miss, you must have an admirer – a secret one at that,” the florist said with a smile and left her to her flowers.

Over the next several days, Rose received bouquets of irises, sunflowers, carnations, wildflowers, and tulips.

She lined them up along her desk. “There’s magic of romance, purity, faith & hope, adoration, longevity, free-spiritedness, and perfect love. Someone’s obviously trying to tell me that he loves me, but who?”

She pulled out the note that was attached to the last bouquet of tulips.

My love for you is perfect. Like this tulip. I don’t deserve you.
Tomorrow’s Christmas. Meet me at noon at the Leaky. I’ll be
wearing your namesake. ~Yours always

Rose knew that she’d meet her admirer at noon. Partly to satisfy her curiosity and partly because her heart was hopeful.

~~~~
Snow was falling softly as Rose approached the Leaky on Christmas Day a few minutes before noon. She was nervous. For all she knew, it could be one elaborate prank that her cousins dreamed up.

Inside, at a table by the window, the young man wearing a single red rose in his lapel was outwardly calm, but inside was a wreck. “What if she doesn’t come? Or what if she comes and sees me and doesn’t give me a chance?”

Rose stepped inside the cozy inn and stood still for a moment not believing what her eyes were telling her.

“You,” she spat as she stalked towards his table. “How could you? Was this all some big joke to you? Obviously, I’m not a person to you. You take joy in seeing me hurt. Well, I’ll tell you this – I’m crushed. You’ve ruined my Christmas!” And with those words she turned and ran from the restaurant paying no heed to the tears falling freely down her cheeks.

“Rose, wait,” he said running to catch up. “Please listen.” He reached out and grabbed her arm. “This wasn’t a joke. And I hate seeing you hurt. Please. I’m sorry. I make a complete fool of myself every time I’m around you. I always have. But it’s only because I never knew what to say to you. Even in school. It was easier to spar with you than to talk to you. I’ve spent this past week trying to show you how much I care and kept hoping that you’d give me a chance. Oh sweetheart, please don’t cry.”

He pulled her into his arms and held her as she cried.

“Do you mean that,” she asked looking up at him with tears standing in her blue eyes. “Do you really mean you’re sorry?”

“So very much,” he replied as he wiped the tears from her cheeks. “And I know you hate me right now, but I hope that someday you’ll know just how much I love you. Here these are for you. Roses because they’re the flower that shows just how deeply I love you and red because I couldn’t think of any other color. I’ll do anything to let you believe that my love is true and to win yours, even if it takes an eternity.”

“I don’t think it’ll take that long,” she said as she nestled closer. “You see, I’ve loved you since our second year.”

At hearing those words from her, he bent his head and gently kissed her.

~~~~~~
“Did they live happily ever after Mum,” Violet asked.

“Yes my dear they did,” Rose replied brushing a blonde curl off of her daughter’s forehead.

“So that’s why Daddy always gives you flowers every Christmas,” Cassie announced causing the adults to laugh.

“Speaking of him, where is that son-in-law of mine,” Ron asked his daughter.

“He had to work late. He’ll be here just as soon as he can,” she replied with a smile towards the doorway where her husband stood unnoticed by the rest of the room’s occupants.

“You mean right now,” Scorpius announced his presence as he stepped fully into the room.

“Daddy,” the twins squealed as a flurry of red and gold curls hurled across the room into his arms.

“I’m sorry I’m late. I got here just as soon as I could. Merry Christmas Ron, Hermione. Merry Christmas you two munchkins,” he said as he crossed the room to greet his wife.

“And Merry Christmas my sweet flower, my love,” he whispered to her. “Those bouquets were by far the best present I’ve ever given.”

“How much did you hear,” Rose asked softly.

“Only all of it,” he replied with a grin as he claimed her lips with his own. “You’re my Christmas miracle.”



The End



Disclaimer: The only things I own are my plotline, and Cassie and Violet. Everything else belongs to JK Rowling and the Harry Potter universe.