The Light in Me: The Emergence

Sew Sweet

      Magic served as a multifaceted tool in the wizarding world: there were spells and potions for practically everything. Whilst everyone in the community can differ vastly from one another and have differing opinions, magic was the one binding factor that tied the world together. This observation was obvious in Diagon Alley, where many people, some who would likely never interact outside of bumping into one another in the Alley, are sharing the same goals and shopping on their merry way. Anastasia looked around as they passed a few shops, witches and wizards of all kinds bustling around. She liked to study people to determine what kind of person someone was based on their clothes, mannerisms and tone of voice. Even if a person just wore their hair a certain way, played with their hands when they spoke, or their tone changes, she logged everything. "We will first go acquire your robes from Madam Malkin's," stated Percy as he stopped a moment to look at the two children following behind him. After speaking, he smoothly carried on and led them to a polished storefront. Once inside, Anna noted it smelt fresh, and the place looked clean. There were a few other customers in the store, some looking to be around the same age as her and Ron. "I will be with you in just a moment," a voice said from one side of the room. Anna glanced over and saw a short woman tailoring a young boy's robe in front of three large mirrors, the woman sending a smile to her new customers. To keep herself occupied, the girl walked over to one rack and started sifting through the robes. THUMP "OUCH," exclaimed a voice from the other side of the room. Anna looked up to see that the boy, who had been getting tailored moments ago, had knocked over two racks and was now laying under a bundle of fine robes. "What have you done?! If you would stop moving, then you would not have gotten poked," the tailor chided him as she cleaned it up with a wave of a wand. However, just as the rack was being lifted off of the boy, another voice joined the mix and it scolded, "I cannot leave you alone for even five minutes before you are already tripping over your feet and embarrassing yourself". A tall, elderly woman strode into across the room and went over to the boy. "I'm sorry, Gran. I got poked and- " "I do not care if the Prime Minister himself instructed you to Grand Jeté over the moon, if tell you to stay put then you STAY put," cut off the women sternly. She then walked him back to the mirrors and stood close by as the tailor continued her work. "Anastasia, their business is their own, so pay mind to your own and stop being disrespectful," said Percy from the rack behind her. He must have heard me stop sifting once things got interesting, smirked Anna to herself as she glanced over her shoulder at said brother. His back was to her now and he was quietly looking through robes, completely ignoring her. A quick movement to her right caught her eye and she whipped her head in that direction, her eyes immediately meeting Rons amused ones. Ron was one rack away and had, apparently, been watching the whole exchange. She rolled her blue orbs and started mocking their brother with her left hand, earning a muffled laugh from Ron. After a moment, Ron joined in her hand puppet shenanigans, and they took turns silently mocking the older boy. "There we are," sighed a voice from the other side of the room. Anastasia turned back and saw that the tailor had finished the clumsy boys' robes', an air of relief seemed to settle around the small woman. The boy seemed to share the sentiment as he physically relaxed and took off the robe. With a wave of her wand, the tailor spelled needles to begin tailoring two lain out robes and the needles worked in perfect sync to match the needed measurements. "Sorry about the disruption, he, unfortunately, did not get the intrepidness of his father," the old women stiffly apologized as she paid for the robes. "No need for an apology, Augusta, some people are just a bit more skittish than others and it was not entirely his fault," reassured the smaller woman. The women began a brief discussion, but Anna was more interested in the boy and his habits. He was definitely her age and by the number of robes he was getting, he was probably going to Hogwarts. The boy had a round, slightly chubby face and was just a little bit shorter than her. Without really thinking it through, she walked over to him and quietly stood behind him. He had yet to notice her as he was, carefully, sifting through the robes and seemed to be trying not to touch them too much. "Trying not to knock over another rack, are you?" she inquired in a clear voice. Apparently, she had startled him because he dropped the red robe that was being admired. Anna quickly threw her right leg out and caught the fine material before it hit the ground, holding her balance to keep it that way. The boy grabbed the robe from her leg, returned it to the rack and looked at her with wide eyes. "Sorry for giving you a fright; it wasn't my intention," she smiled at him. He looked down, fitted with his fingers and responded, "It's alright, I just didn't hear you walk over is all". It went quiet for a moment before she spoke up again and asked, "Are you going to Hogwarts?" "Yes, I'm here with my Gran getting my supplies," responded the boy as he looked up slightly. "I'm here with my family as well. Which house do you think you'll be in?" inquired the curious girl. At that question, the boy fully looked at her again and shyly smiled, "I hope that I will be in Gryffindor, like my parents". "I feel the same. I'd either like to be in Gryffindor or Slytherin, just as my parents were," beamed Anna. She took note of the change in his body language when she said 'Slytherin' and mentally frowned, but just decided to ignore it for now. "There you are," said an older voice from behind the girl. She looked over her shoulder and saw the older woman that the boy called 'Gran", standing behind her. "You never can do what you are told, can you?" chided the thin woman. Hearing this, the boy looked down at the ground, but didn't say a word. The woman did not seem to notice Anna, until she shifted closer to the boy during the chiding, the woman stopped her scolding to study the unknown girl. "Who are you and how do you know my grandson?" questioned the woman boldly. "I am Anastasia Grey and we've only just met," revealed the girl as she looked up at the, slightly, intimidating woman. An odd look seemed to pass over the womans face, but it was only a brief flicker of emotion. "Could have done without the last name and known who you are, word spreads fast over the years. Although, I had been told that you look more like your mother. Quite a shame that they were wrong as she was a handsome young woman". Anastasia did not know how to feel about the statement; she was happy that another person seemed to know her mother yet insulted by this woman saying she was not pretty. She wants to judge about looks, yet that her ghastly hat on her head is not doing her any favors either. If I didn't know better, I would think that she was saving the Harvest Festival bird for later, commented her inner voice. "That's peculiar, because I've been told that I have a strong likeness to her by the people who knew her best," she said to the woman with a polite smile. Frustration began to swirl in the woman's eyes, and it looked like she wanted to retort but decided against it. Instead, she turned to her grandson and said, "Come, Neville, we still have some shopping to do". With that being said, the lady turned on her heel and walked towards the store front. Anna shifted her attention to the boy next to her and gave him a smile, "It was nice to meet you, Neville. Hopefully we'll see each other at Hogwarts". The awkward boy gave a small smile in responds before scurrying after his grandmother, who exited the shop once he got close enough. She only watched them a moment before turning to find her brothers talking with the seamstress and joined them. "Anastasia, you will be going before Ronald. At least I can rest assure that you have the sense to stay still when there is a needle flying around you," stated Percy as gestured for her to join the seamstress. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Rons face change from curious to hurt and, finally, to a scowl. I would feel bad for him....if it wasn't true. Anna walked in between the mirrors and smiled at the woman as she joined her side, the sound of high heel's accompanying her. "Hello, dear, just stay still and it will be over in no time," smiled the Madam. Once the young girl nodded in understanding, everything around her came to life and started flurrying around her. Tape measures were getting her measurements from various places and the Madam was walking around her, mumbling under her breath. The very second her all her measurements were taken, the woman handed her a robe to put on and began her work once more when the cloth was in place. A needle started to tailor the robe around Anna as she looked on in fascination, the work was very pristine and careful. While she had a minute, her eyes gazed behind her through the mirror and observed other store patrons. There were only a few people in the store, besides her family. Closer to the door, there were two girls in Ravenclaw, judging by their robes, sifting through racks and whispering to one another. In one corner, there were a few rowdy boys who kept receiving disapproving looks from the seamstress. Finally, there were her brothers who seemed to be, quietly, arguing, over something whilst Percy calmly looked through robes. "All done! You did well," a voice said to the left of Anna and almost making her jump out of shock. "It'll be just a few minutes for the other two to be ready. If you will please tell that nervous young man that I am ready for him," said the Madam as she gestured to Ron. Anastasia smiled at her and started walking over to the "nervous young man", straining to hear their conversation before she reached them. ".... treated like a dog? I cannot recall ever telling you to roll over or go fetch, Ronald. Although you most certainly should have been trained better in regard to manners and causing needless fights when you want attention, so I can see the resemblance," boredly stated Percy. A giggle almost escaped her mouth when she heard his words, but she had to remain composed as she had just arrived on the tail end of his sentence. The tension in the air was a bit thick, so she quickly turned to Ron she said, "Madam is ready for you". The boy paled a bit but walked towards the mirrors anyways without a word or glance behind him. After he left, Anna shifted her focus back to the older boy in front of her and cracked, "Two Gallons says he'll faint once the needle comes close to him". "Anastasia, gambling is a waste of time and money. Gambling on one's health is a vulgar thing to do; life is already a gamble. There is no need to add more dice and hands of materialistic greed into an already corrupt society," remarked Percy, a look of distain upon his freckled face. "I was merely joking," Wasn't joking in the slightest, but he doesn't have to know that. "It matters not if it was a jest, Anastasia. If others take it seriously or take offence, as they should, then it becomes even more disrespectful than stating it in the first place. Lastly, the intention does not always matter, it is the outcome and backlash that you need to think of before making a quip. Everything you have vocalized and done can come back to you at any time in life. The decision is left solely up to you, Anastasia, if you want to be haunted by your actions or be built by them". After finishing his spiel, Percy said nothing else and focused on the rack in front of him. How is he even related to everyone else? He may be the quietest person in the house, but he makes up for it by being a bit long-winded. I understand where he's coming from, but I wish he wasn't always breathing down my neck, she thought to herself with a roll of her eyes. Anna turned her attention behind her and smiled in amusement as she watched Rons face. The red headed boy was trying to stand as still as possible whilst watching the needle in the mirror, his eyes slightly wide and skin still pale to a degree. Her attention was drawn to the table where her tailored black robes laid folded, just waiting to be paid for and be broken in around Hogwarts. Without a second thought, her feet made the journey to the oak table and stopped. Anastaisa ran her hand over the material and admired the stitchwork underneath her fingertips, the material feeling cool in comparison. Another item lay next to her pile, and it took a second for her to realize that it was a cloak. "Your brother already paid for them, dear," a voice said to her right. The Madam was walking towards her with piles of clothes floating behind her, clothes that Anna assumed were Rons robes and cloak. "Percy is a productive person. So, I'm not surprised that he would pay ahead, especially on such fine material and stitchwork," smiled the young girl. The woman looked flattered but was unable to reply due to someone approaching. "Anastasia, we still need to get the rest of your supplies," Percy stated as he stopped beside her, his hands clasped neatly behind his back. "Right. Well, it was a pleasure to meet you Madam," "Likewise, Miss Grey, best of luck at Hogwarts. Young Mr. Weasleys attire is done as well if you would like to grab it for him, he looks rather....occupied at the moment," laughed the older woman as she gestured to the other side of the store. Ron stood in the middle of a trifold mirror making different faces at each one of his reflections, his face getting so close to the mirror a few times that the glass briefly fogged up. Anastasia subtly glanced at the brother next to her and saw his jaw clench, his head shaking slightly. Why isn't he doing anything? If it were me making a fool of myself or causing a scene, he would have started scolding me by the second face. Bumping his arm, lightly, with her shoulder to get his attention, she questioningly raised her right eyebrow. The older boy met her gaze for a moment, but then walked towards the exit without a word. Quickly, Anna grabbed all of the clothes on the table, Rons included, hurried over to the oblivious boy and snatched his wrist. She rushed them both out of the store and met the calm, yet impatient, Percy waiting close to the doors. "You were going to leave us," accused Ron once he realized what happed. "Do not be foolish, Ronald. If I intended to leave you, would I have waited outside the shop front cerebrating about when you will possibly grow up?" boredly inquired Percy. Ron was about to retort when a person approached them, a shadow casted over the three siblings. "Mornin', Percy," a familiar gruff voice said to Anastasias right. "Hello, Hagrid, how are you?" "Quite well, quite well indeed. You wouldn't mind if I borrowed little Anna for a little bit, would you? I need 'er help pickin' out a gift. Won't be long at all," stated the half-giant as he placed a big hand on her shoulder and looked at the older boy. Anna excitedly turned to her brother, "Can I? You know that I will behave, and will be back once I help Hagrid," pleaded the girl. Percy was silent for a moment until he responded, "The minute you are done, meet us at 'Flourish and Blotts', understood? I am trusting and expecting you to be responsible, no extra stops". "No extra stops," she promised, her fingers crossed behind her back, before she took Hagrid's big hand, and he led her through the Alley.