Author: Gemma
Category: General, Supernatural
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Harry Potter is the property of J.K. Rowling. Characters and situations are used without permission,
no infringement is intended.
Summary: An 11-year-old girl by the name of Jaime Traspe accidentally discovers the old mirror of Rowena Ravenclaw, and brings her back in the form of a spirit. There's something fishy going on, and it's up to Jaime and her crew, Atalanta Mahalia and Jaques Flumogel to figure it out.
Author's Notes: Short note- Another chapter for Diagon Alley and London... Jaime explores Diagon Alley a bit more, and meets the Malfoys. I hope anyone who's read the story likes it! J This is rated PG-13 for mild to moderate swearing, a bit of icky-ness, and innuendo. Disclaimer: JK Rowling is the goddess who created Harry Potter. Warner Bros. is the company that owns Harry Potter. I am the nothing that created the Traspes (Jaime, Zanir, Jacklyn, and Mark), Bonnie, Hinky, and Jaques Flumogel. "Let It Be" is a Beatles song. I don't claim to own that either.
Dedication: For Kat and Hazel.
* * *
Jaime suddenly felt exhausted. Before falling into bed, she vaguely remembered knocking on her mother's door, and assuring her that she had returned from Diagon Alley unscathed but tired. After being released from her mum's lair, she staggered back to her room and fell fast asleep. Rowena sat in the chair, watching the girl sleep. It's actually kind of sweet, she thought to herself, the little idiot completely wore herself out---bickering with everyone and thinking too much. But now she's gonna be dead to the world for a while, and I think she has something there. And with that, Rowena nodded off, her head lolling forward.
Jaime had progressed into an REM stage, and was dreaming vividly.
There was a fluffy, white cat prancing around, and it was pouncing at little plants that were springing up over a plain, white chamber. It was extremely fat, and seemed to have trouble moving around.
Then that was gone, and there were little hamsters running around in a bathtub. They were tripping over each other, and trying to climb up the sides, and then they would slide down on bonk one another on the head.
Then that was gone, and there was a giant bunny rabbit. It was tie-dyed and had a flowery headband tied around its forehead. He was listening to 'Let It Be', and had those little John Lennon specs.
Then that was gone, and there was nothing. It was complete blackness. Then a hiss escaped the dark. "You'll pay for this. You will pay, no matter what fancy tricks you have up your sleeve." The voice was getting louder, as if the speaker was getting closer, and she was scared. When the voice was practically in her ear, a blazing white light exploded, and the shimmery form of Rowena Ravenclaw towered over the blackness. "You dare touch my chosen!" she shrieked, "You disgusting bit of filth. If we weren't bound by the laws of the universe you'd - be - dead... at MY hand!!" she seemed to grow in size and her words seemed to grow in vehemence as she spoke. Jaime had no idea what was going on as everything started to blend together...
Then she woke up breathing heavily. Rowena! she thought at once. When there was no answer, she approached her sleeping form. She was shaking slightly, and there was an expression of fury contorting her beautiful face. Rowena! she thought more urgently, You need to wake up now. NOW! She still did not wake. Jaime briefly considered shaking her, but she couldn't exactly shake something transparent. She was starting to panic, and finally she closed her eyes, and put all her will behind shouting, ROWENA!!!! The woman awoke looking sweaty, pale, and scared.
He was never so powerful as to touch one of mine, she spoke in a shaky voice after a moment of just breathing heavily.
What do you mean, 'one of mine'? Am I yours? What was that thing in my dream? What did you mean by the 'laws of the universe'? And how did they stop you from killing... it?
No. I won't answer your questions. You can't know. It's too dangerous.
Jaime cried out a noise that was half exasperated and half anger. "I hate it when you do that! I'm not a child!"
Lower your voice. You are a child. You've been on this earth for 11 years. I've been here for over a thousand. You'll know when it's time, and that should be good enough for you.
Jaime stamped her foot, "You hint at things, and then you pull the rug from under my feet. What is it with you?!"
See, you're acting like a child, whining, stamping your foot. Go take a nap, little girl.
Jaime flashed a look of pure fury in Rowena's direction, and flung herself at the bed, not caring where she landed. She was asleep in 2 minutes.
Rowena sighed. She hated being unkind to Jaime, especially after what she had just done for her, breaking his barrier on her mind. It would have been difficult for even a more powerful wizard to break it, but the girl was strong. Yes, she was a lot like Rowena's more prized students. She had something else.
* * *
Jaime awoke in the morning with no memory of her dream or of Rowena's comments. She cheerfully grabbed some of her black clothes and went to the bathroom to take another bath. Rowena was awake, but staring dully off into space.
Rowena? What's a matter?
Nothing, just thinking.
Are you sure?
Yes. Now let me think.
Jaime sighed. Her weeklong acquaintance with Rowena had been enough to teach her that when she didn't want to talk about something, she wouldn't. She decided to ignore her behavior and enjoy her second day in Diagon Alley. Jaime dressed quickly, and rushed downstairs to meet her mum for breakfast. They enjoyed a hearty meal of eggs, toast, and truly delicious oatmeal. The food was very rich, and Mrs. Traspe decided that the best way to digest food was to go shopping. They entered Diagon Alley again, and Jaime still smiled at the cobblestone street and the old-town atmosphere. She was trying to pull her mum towards the apothecary, but Mrs. Traspe insisted that the apothecary was not the best place to go after breakfast. So they went to pick out a cauldron instead. They entered the store, and an older, thin woman approached them.
"Hello Jacklyn. Hello Jaime," the woman greeted them as though she had known them all her life.
"Hello, ma'am," Jaime said.
Mrs. Traspe gave her a big smile, "Hello, Chelsea."
She stared at her mum, "How is it that you know everyone here? You couldn't have gone to school with her!"
Her mother looked at her curiously, "I told you! I practically lived in Diagon Alley before we moved to Bath. Chelsea and I used to go down to Florean's and flirt. Didn't we Chels?"
Chelsea smiled, "Yes, that we did. Poor Florean didn't have a chance between that two of us!"
Jaime chuckled, "Now that we're done reminiscing, do you think that maybe we could think 'cauldrons'? Possibly?"
"Ah, right down to business, little one! Well let me think. You have to have pewter, size two, but that's not a reason that you couldn't do this one!"
The woman pointed at a shiny cauldron that winked with little gems around the outside rim. It was rather pretty, and Jaime liked it immediately. She smiled and nodded.
"This one's very pretty. I like it."
Mrs. Traspe agreed, and Chelsea went on to explain how to collapse it, and how to take care of it so that it wouldn't rust. It had to be wiped down with a soft cloth after she used it, and the gems should be polished once a month. Chelsea gave her a cloth and some polish, and recommended that she buy some more to take with her to Hogwarts. Mrs. Traspe and Jaime thanked her, paid for the cauldron, and rambled back outside. It was still a perfect day, nice and sunshiny with majestic white clouds littering the vast blue. She took a deep breath of air, savoring the flavor.
"A beautiful day," her mum sighed, "It's always beautiful in Diagon Alley."
They window shopped for a while, until they reached the apothecary.
"Dare we go in?" Jaime asked, teasingly.
"We dare," Mrs. Traspe answered with a laugh, "Breakfast is settled."
They entered the store, which was occupied by several people browsing the shelves. The place smelled like rotting fish and peanut butter.
Remind me never to eat peanut butter again, Jaime groaned disgustedly.
There were shelves of bottles and packets of unknown substances that would look very suspicious to policemen; long strips of dried plant and animal guts hanging from the ceiling. And then there were the nameless entities that resided in the barrels. Those were revolting. The whole effect was quite disgusting, but interesting as well. Jaime plunged her hand into one of the barrels and grabbed something soft and squishy. It was some sort of intestine.
She gagged, Eeeew... remind me not to touch anything else!
Gotcha.
Rowena? Where are you?
Right behind you.
Jaime whirled around, and sure enough, Rowena was standing right behind her. I'm glad you came, she said, I was starting to get ill with the intestines and such.
Well I wouldn't want to miss you hurling, now would I?
I didn't think you would.
Have you gotten your wand yet?
No, I got a cauldron... it's really nice. I'll show you when we get back to the room. It's got gems on it.
Well isn't that nice.
Now you're acting more like yourself. What was up with you this morning?
I had a rough night.
I didn't know spirits could...
Oh, you sick-minded little perv. No, I didn't have sex with anyone. The dream plane wasn't kind to me. Bad dreams, you see.
No, I don't see, but I understand.
Bugger off.
Why do you always take my lines?!
Rowena smiled mischievously, Because I know it pisses you off.
Mrs. Traspe grasped Jaime by the arm and pulled her over to the man at the counter, "Hello, sir. I was wondering if you had a package for beginning students. With potions ingredients."
"Of course, ma'am. Let me see what I can fish up. We're almost out. I need to order some more before the majority of the students come rushing in to get their supplies," the man rummaged around under the counter, and produced a large wooden box with "Year One Potions Ingredients " inscribed on the lid. "This will last you the year, and most of next. It's an excellent bargain."
"That's fine," Mrs. Traspe said quickly, "That will do quite nicely."
She paid the man, and put the box in Jaime's cauldron. She obviously wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible.
"A bit queasy, are you, mum?" Jaime teased.
Her mum swatted her on the back of the head, "Shut your trap. Where should we go next?"
"You just completely contradicted yourself."
"Fine. We'll go to Ollivanders."
"Is that the Mr. Ollivander's shop?"
"The one and only. Come on, let's go."
They walked over to Ollivanders, and stopped right outside the window.
Relax, Jaime. Just chill. You'll be fine, Rowena said soothingly.
But this is a big bloody deal. It's intimidating.
Her mum seemed to recognize the look of trepidation on her face, and patted her head in what she thought was a comforting manner. It only managed to make Jaime feel like a dog. Mrs. Traspe opened the door, and a delicate chime echoed throughout the long, thin store. Mr. Ollivander appeared quietly, and startled both of them with an quiet, "Hello," which seemed as loud as a gong in the resonating silence.
"My dear Harvey! How have you been?" Mrs. Traspe practically crushed the man in a giant bear hug.
"It's nice to see you again too, Jacklyn," Mr. Ollivander said, and patted her gingerly on the back. She released him from her grip, and he rubbed his arm. "Is this your daughter?" he asked, curiously.
"Yes," she said proudly, "Jaime."
"You two look nothing alike."
"No one in the family looks alike. They might as well have had different parents."
Mr. Ollivander chuckled, and looked Jaime with his piercing grey eyes, "Yes, she is different from the rest of you. Well, enough chit-chat. Let's find you a wand." He took out a tape measure, and it started measuring the length of her arms, legs, eyes, ears, and odd places like her lips and the length of her fingernails. While it was doing this he looked at the wall, and picked several wand boxes out. The tape measure finished and crumpled to the floor. Mr. Ollivander took a wand out of a box and handed it to her.
"Try this. Juniper and dragon heartstring, 8 inches."
She took the wand and flicked it several times. He took the wand back, and handed her another one.
"Palm and unicorn hair, 10 3/7 inches."
She flicked that one, nothing happened. He grabbed it.
"Elm and phoenix feather, 9 inches."
Still nothing. He handed her another one.
"Ebony and phoenix feather, 11 inches."
She held it in her hand, and felt a tingling sensation. The end of the wand exploded into purple and blue sparks.
"Wow!" her mum cried, "That's wonderful! Beautiful!"
Jaime felt a glow of pride well up in her gut. She chanced a glance in Rowena's direction. She was grinning, and applauding silently.
That was wonderful, Jaime. 10 points for an excellent display of sparks.
Thanks for the wonderful criticism. I knew I could always count on you.
Mr. Ollivander and Mrs. Traspe started talking again, and Jaime excused herself to go across the street. On the window, flashing words blinked "Phoenix's Phials and Other Phun Breakable Stuff", alternating between red, yellow, blue, and silver. She entered the store, and there were those crystal and glass phials that were on her supply list. There were also crystal balls, odd-looking bowls called Pensieves (they had a warning on them: Do not touch or look, and crystal vases that would keep flowers alive forever. There were two other people in the store, a man and a teenager, obviously father and son. They looked very much alike, and were quite handsome. Both had silvery blonde hair and cold silver eyes, and the man was looking at a set of phials with looks of disgust.
"Draco, I cannot believe you BROKE that set of phials! They were crystal, and heirlooms at that. Clumsy fool," the father said.
"I didn't mean to father, it was an accident. Crabbe bumped into the table we were working at, and they fell off and shattered. It was his fault. Not mine," the boy whined.
"Oh, no, Draco, it's never your fault. Always someone else's."
Draco muttered something under his breath, which made his father smack him on the back of his head.
"Watch your language. Now get out of here. I know what I'm looking for."
Draco walked away when he noticed Jaime looking at a set of glass phials. He looked at her for a moment, and then approached her.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"What do you care?" she sneered. She didn't like the boy at all... the way he talked was thoroughly annoying to her.
"I've never seen you before."
"So? I could be visiting my dying aunt who works at the cauldron shop. Or I could be getting married to Florean."
The boy smirked, "Fiery little thing, aren't you? Where do you go to school?"
"Hogwarts," Jaime answered shortly.
"Really? I've never seen you there."
"Hopefully you won't. I'm starting in the fall."
"You're only eleven?"
"Why does everyone keep asking me that?"
The boy raised an eyebrow, and was about to answer when his father yelled, "DRACO! Why are you still here? I thought I told you to go."
"Sorry, father. Just leaving," and with that he turned around and left the shop.
What a moron, she thought, he thinks he's hot stuff. Ha!
Rowena agreed, Seemed a bit stuck up to me. Full of himself. Well, with looks like that, hard not to be.
Don't you think of anything else?
She was silent for a moment before answering, No.
Jaime chuckled and went over to where Draco's father was picking out a set of crystal phials. She wanted to get some, and started looking at the shelf. He gave her an appraising look.
"Were you just talking with my son?"
"Sadly, yes."
He sneered, "Not many dare to be so open to me."
"Glad to be one of a few."
They went back to browsing in silence when the man interrupted, "My name is Malfoy, by the way, Lucius Malfoy. My son is Draco."
Jaime stiffened at the mention of 'Malfoy'. She knew of their bad reputation, and she glanced at him with a degree of respect and disgust. Lucius had been one of Voldemort's staunchest supporters, and had never renounced the Dark arts. He was also thought to be a very powerful wizard, even if he didn't put the power to good use.
He's also quite handsome! Rowena chimed in innocently.
He's an old fart.
Not for me.
You're dead.
Don't ruin this for me.
Lusting after Dark wizards isn't wise. You'll only get your heart ripped out and presented to Voldemort in an enchanting ceremony.
Oh, you're so clever.
I know.
Jaime selected a set of purple-tinted crystal phials, paid for them, and walked away. She didn't know Lucius Malfoy was staring at her back with great interest.
* * *
After a long, shopping filled day, in which she purchased 3 new books, a set of scales, and a bottle of purple and blue flashing ink, Jaime showed off her new purchases to her mother and Rowena. Rowena was delighted with the ink, and kept asking her to write things like "Lucius Malfoy is HOT" and "Ravenclaw is the best house in the world". She felt like the ink was a personal tribute. Jaime decided not to tell her that the ink was shoved in a box at the back of a shelf along with some brown and olive green inks that no one wanted. When dinner rolled around, Jaime dragged herself down to the bustling pub.
"Oh, Jaime darling! Thank you for coming down here. I know you're tired, but I just wanted to have dinner with you," Mrs. Traspe cooed.
She felt a bit sluggish, "No problem, mum."
Jaime bit her way through yawns, and ended up knocking her milkshake over. But when she slumped into the hors d' oeuvres and got an olive stuck on her forehead, her mother sent her back upstairs to go to bed.
"G'night mum!" she yelled through the wall, and was asleep before her head hit the pillow.
* * *
The rest of Jaime's time in Diagon Alley and London flew by. She bought parchment and inks, more books, and some black clothes to wear under her school robes. Her mother taught her some spells, and they had fun going down to Florean's every day for ice cream. When August 31st rolled around, they were still in Diagon Alley, and Mrs. Traspe was helping Jaime pack her trunk.
"Oh, Jaime! I'm so excited for you you're going to love Hogwarts. You'll have such a wonderful time!" her mother was ecstatic.
"I know mum. I can't wait to get there."
Mrs. Traspe stopped folding the robes, "I'll miss you, you know."
"I'll miss you too."
The room was quiet for a little while, the only sounds being clinking noises from the inks and an occasional hoot from the black owl Minerva had sent that Jaime had dubbed Esmerelda. They finished packing in silence, and before her mother left to go to her own room she swept Jaime up in a tight hug.
That was odd, she thought.
Your mother does love you, Jaime.
I know, Jaime sighed. She sat on the end of the bed staring at her trunk for a while. Esmerelda fluttered around a bit, and tucked her head under her wing. She focused her attention on the inscription on the trunk "J.J.T". She talked with Rowena a bit about the other three founders, and what they were really like.
And Godric, well, one time, I walked into his bedroom... and he was... she started giggling madly, dancing to a polka in his underwear... oh, I never let him forget that one.
Jaime's mood lightened considerably, and she had a lot of trouble getting to sleep that night due to excitement, and at 11 PM her mother finally came in and gave her a sleeping potion.