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"Welcome," said Hagrid, grinning, "to Diagon Alley."
Hagrid grinned at Crystal's amazement. He noticed how rarely the girl gave any reaction to something, just by talking to her since yesterday.
They stepped through the archway. Crystal looked quickly over her shoulder and saw the archway shrink instantly back into a solid wall.
"We gotta get yer money first," said Hagrid, their next stop being Gringotts. Crystal looked around at every shop, curious about what they were selling as she followed Hagrid.
"Gringotts," said Hagrid.
They had reached a snowy white building that towered over the other little shops. Standing beside its burnished bronze doors, wearing a uniform of scarlet and gold, was --
"Yeah, that's a goblin," said Hagrid quietly as they walked up the white stone steps toward him. He bowed as they walked inside. Now they were facing a second pair of doors, silver this time, with words engraved upon them as a warning.
"Like I said, Yeh'd be mad ter try an' rob it," said Hagrid after reading the warning.
"Morning," said Hagrid to a free goblin. "We've come ter take some money outta Miss Crystal Calisto's safe."
"You have her key, Sir?"
"Got it," said Hagrid at last, holding up a golden key with a big orange gem surrounded by smaller blue gems in the middle of the bow of the key.
The goblin looked at the key closely.
"All the Sapphires of the Calistos. That seems to be in order."
"An' I've also got a letter here from Professor Dumbledore," said Hagrid importantly, throwing out his chest. "It's about the YouKnow-What in vault seven hundred and thirteen."
The goblin read the letter carefully.
"Very well," he said, handing it back to Hagrid, "I will have someone take you down to both vaults. Griphook!"
"What's the You-Know-What in vault seven hundred and thirteen?" Crystal asked as they followed Griphook toward one of the doors leading off the hall.
"Can't tell yeh that," said Hagrid mysteriously. "Very secret. Hogwarts business. Dumbledore's trusted me. More'n my job's worth ter tell yeh that."
After the rollercoaster ride through a maze of twisting passages, on which Crystal was counting seconds on her watch and analysed their velocity to figure out the depth and distance of the vault.
"At least the gravity works the same here... " Crystal breathed as soon as they reached a halt.
The cart stopped in front of vault number six hundred and twenty-four.
Griphook unlocked the door. A lot of green smoke came billowing out, and as it cleared, Crystal was amazed at the sight. She never had any expectations but she had an idea to make good use of it looking at all the money inside.
There were mounds of millions of gold, silver and heaps of little bronze Knuts. This was all left for her by her mother.
"All yours," smiled Hagrid.
Hagrid helped Crystal pile some of it into a bag all the while he explained the values of each of the different coins to her.
Next, they went to the high-security vault, Vault seven hundred and thirteen. There was only a grubby little package wrapped up in brown paper lying on the floor. Hagrid picked it up and tucked it deep inside his coat. Crystal was curious to know what it was but knew better than to ask and left the bank behind.
𖤍𖤓⌁☍❾¾➵♆△⍎⚔︎
Most of the items on the list were bought, uniforms, books, cauldron, parchment, ink, and quills. Why quills Crystal wondered.
They got a nice set of scales for weighing potion ingredients and a collapsible brass telescope, much to her delight. She always wanted a telescope to explore space with her eyes after reading about space and the exoplanets in the books in her library room which she stayed at.
Along the way, they talked about Quidditch and School houses. She also got a little more info about Voldemort.
After the visit to the Apothecary, there were only two things left now, the wand and a pet.
"Just yer wand left -- A yeah, an' I still haven't got yeh a birthday present," said Hagrid and checked the list again.
"Thanks for the thought Hagrid, but you don't have to --"
"No. Tell yeh what, I'll get yer an owl. All the kids want owls, they're dead useful, carry yer mail an' everythin'."
"But I don't need an owl -- "
"I insist, yeh have ter. Yeh'll thank me later in future, yeh see, "
"Alright," Crystal gave up.
At first, Crystal didn't want to enter the shop but still went in, not wanting to look fussy. Within four minutes, they left Eeylops Owl Emporium, with a rather smaller owl than others, a beautiful greyish-white owl with yellow eyes much like the big golden sapphire on her vault key.
Crystal decided to name it 'Cash' because the moment they went to pay, the owl gave his all effort to try to nip the money out of Hagrid's hand from inside the cage.
"Thanks, Hagrid," said Crystal. Hagrid held the owl for her as Crystal was looking at it weirdly, not wanting to get near it.
"Don' mention it," said Hagrid gruffly. "Don' expect you've had a lotta presents from them Hudsons'. Just Ollivanders left now -- only place fer wands, Ollivanders, and yeh gotta have the best wand. Yeh go I'll take look around fer yer the person yer meeting later."
Crystal gave a nod and went towards the Olivanders.
The last shop was narrow and shabby. Peeling gold letters over the door read --
Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands
since 382 B.C.
A single wand lay on a faded purple cushion in the dusty window.
A tinkling bell rang somewhere in the depths of the shop as she stepped inside.
"Good afternoon," said a soft voice. Crystal was a little surprised.
"Hello," said Crystal awkwardly and uncovered her scarf.
"Ah yes," said the man. "Yes, yes. I thought I'd be seeing you soon. Crystal Calisto. Your eyes are as exquisite as they say. It seems only yesterday your mother was in here herself, buying her first wand."
Crystal could never get used to how people knew her, even to her eye colour.
"I'm sorry to say I sold the wand that took your mother.... " he said softly. "Thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Powerful wand, very powerful, and in the wrong hands... well, if I'd known what that wand was going out into the world to do...."
"Um, can I get something for myself?" said Crystal, changing the topic.
"Sure," said Mr. Ollivander. "Miss Calisto. Let me see." He pulled a long tape measure with silver markings out of his pocket. "Which is your wand arm?"
"Er -- Right-handed.... " said Crystal unsure if a wand arm in the magic world meant equal to writing hand in her world.
Mr. Olivander's magic tape measured her arm and presented a few wands to try out. Crystal tried. And tried. She had no idea what Mr. Ollivander was waiting for as she apologized for the mess she had created.
The pile of tried wands was mounting higher and higher on the spindly chair, but the more wands Mr. Ollivander pulled from the shelves, the happier he seemed to become.
"Tricky customer, eh? Not to worry, we'll find the perfect match here somewhere -- I wonder, now -- yes, why not -- unusual and a rare combination -- Poplar and phoenix feather, quite a curious mix, eleven and a half inches and solid flexibility."
Crystal took the wand. She felt a sudden warmth in her fingers. She raised the wand above her head, brought it swishing down through the dusty air and a stream of red and gold sparks shot from the end like a firework, throwing dancing spots of light onto the walls.
"Oh, bravo! Yes, indeed, oh, very good. Well, well, well... how interesting... how very curious... " Mr. Ollivander cried.
He put Crystal's wand back into its box and wrapped it in brown paper, still muttering, "Interesting... very interesting.."
"Sorry, but may I know what's interesting?" said Crystal.
"The making of this wand, it was rather serendipitously made. The Phoenix that gave its feather never chose a master, it lived in seclusion, and no one knows where it lives. It's been several decades and finally, the wand chose you. It was destined to be with you. You may revolutionize this world with this wand." said Mr Olivander.
"If you don't mind me asking Mr. Olivander, did V -- He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named also bought a wand from you?" asked Crystal.
"Yes, I'm sorry to say I sold the wand that did it," he said softly. "Thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Powerful wand, very powerful, and in the wrong hands... well, if I'd known what that wand was going out into the world to do... the phoenix whose tail feather is his wand, gave another feather -- just one other. It is very curious indeed that the other wand chose Mr. Potter when its brother gave him the scar."
"You mean the same Harry Potter, the one he wanted to kill?" asked Crystal.
"Yes,"
"And my wand has a Phoenix feather, you said?" asked Crystal.
"Oh yes, Phoenix are great immortal creatures. Your wand has the feather from a different Phoenix with no master, just one of the kind which had mysteriously disappeared several decades ago,"
"Thank you, Mr. Olivander. It was nice talking to you," said Crystal as she paid him nine gold Galleons for the wand.
Have a good day. Miss Calisto," said Mr Ollivander with a slight bow as she left the shop.
Crystal covered her face back with the scarf and stood outside the shop looking for Hagrid. He was nowhere to be seen.
She decided to check the nearby shops when she saw a boy drop his wand from his pocket and walk away without knowing.
"Excuse me! Hey! Stop red shirt!" Crystal called out and it picked up. The boy turned around surprised, "I believe this is yours?"
He walked towards her and nodded with surprise.
"Yeah! It's mine! How did you get it? It was in my pocket." He checked his jeans pocket which was empty.
"...Obviously," Crystal stated the obvious, "You dropped it,"
"Thanks! My mum would've scolded me if I'd lost it," said the boy with a smile as his emerald green eyes sparkled behind his spectacles.
"Mum will still scold you if you lie to her," said a woman who walked to them just as the boy stopped speaking. There was a man beside her who looked like the older version of the boy.
"Mum! Dad! I was just -- "
"You're getting more naughty as growing older! I told you not to take the wand out of the box,"
"Sorry," said the boy guilty.
"Let him be, Darling. It's his first time having his own wand so he got excited."
"You won't show off again, right baby?"
"Nope, I'll keep it back in the box when we go home," said the boy quickly.
Crystal was slowly backing out not wanting to see the family drama but the boy caught her wrist before she could leave. "Hey! wait! Thanks again. What's your name?"
"Oh, no problem!" said Crystal avoiding the question. "Look, I've really got to go -- like right now," She said while trying to take her hand back forcefully.
"Oh, sorry. Are you hurt?" He said looking at several bandaids around her fingers as he released her hands. Crystal instantly pulled her hand back but didn't answer his question.
"Son, you shouldn't grab a girl's hand like that," reprimanded the dad.
"Sorry, I know that... but she was leaving so -- "
"Thank you for finding his wand, sweetie." said the red-haired woman and looked at the wand box in Crystal's hand, "Are you also going to Hogwarts this year?"
Crystal nodded her head.
"My son is starting this year too. Hope you both get along,"
"Aren't you feeling hot covering yourself in that scarf? We can't even see your face properly..." said the boy trying to get a peek.
"You don't need to. I'll get going then -- "
"Are your parents nearby? C'mon, we'll take you to them." said the boy's mother.
"Oh, no need, it's fine," said Crystal shaking her head.
"No need to be shy, dear -- "
"I'm not being shy. I just don't have parents. Goodbye!" Crystal said quickly and ran away from the nosy trio, she regretted picking up that wand.
"She doesn't have parents?" asked the boy to his parents.
"Harry, it only has one meaning," said the man ruffling his son's hair.
"Poor girl, we should not have forced her," said the woman as saw Crystal disappearing in the crowd. "But James, why did she feel familiar... Like I've known her from somewhere,"
"Oh? Did you? Lily, we've got to go."
"Where's Hagrid though? Dad! You said he was bringing Crystal today that's why we came here," said Harry. "But I can't see him anywhere!"
"I don't know, he told me to wait outside Olivanders but don't know where he is... " said the man checking his watch.
"You're excited to see her, aren't you, dear?" Lily giggled patting her son's head.
"Of course I am! After all the things you've both told me about her and Aunt Avi, I can't wait to see her but I'm nervous about what'll I say to her when I first see her. It'd be really awkward to just come out and suddenly say, hey, we know you. She'd be totally creeped out."
"I know, right," said Lily rolling her eyes, "Ask Dumbledore. He was the one who insisted to stay away from Crystal until it was time. We could've lived together like a family and she'd be your little sister."
"Siblings... I never thought about siblings before... " said Harry thoughtfully.
𖤍𖤓⌁☍❾¾➵♆△⍎⚔︎
"So, you say that this is my mother's will... I've got a huge sum of money in my mother's bank account and you'll transfer all that to me... On top of that, I'm the sole heiress of the generations-old Calisto Family... And you want me to help prepare to take over. " said Crystal, flipping through the documents and trying to understand the situation.
"Yes, exactly." said the old man with twinkling blue eyes.
"This is too much," said Crystal slowly, "I can't even compile all the things I've heard since yesterday and on top of that this,"
While Crystal was running away from the nosy boy and his family, she bumped into an old man. She didn't believe it at first when the man introduced himself as Albus Dumbledore but she had to when he told her a few of the secret things about her, that she had heard from Hagrid. Dumbledore took her to a private parlour in the Leaky Cauldron so that they can talk about her situation.
"Headmaster Dumbledore, aren't you the one who left me at Hudson's door? You kept me away from the magic world for eleven years. What should I make of this? You've some ulterior motives?"
"You must've heard that from Hagrid but... " Dumbledore laughed in amusement. "What makes you conclude that I've some mean motives?"
"That's what I'm asking you, sir. Why would you try to help me now of all those years?"
"Because, it's time that you come back, stronger than ever. I want you to be powerful and have what's rightfully yours, is that enough reason?"
Crystal shook her head. She was trying to reason why would a stranger help her.
"Then why now? What is the reason you keep me away and then try to supposedly help me to come back... Are humans a puppet to you? Do I look like a fool who'd do as anything a person who I've met just for the first time?" said Crystal coldly and sipped her tea.
"Excellent! I shouldn't have expected less! I like your attitude. It's just right for the Future Leader of one of the most influential families." said Dumbledore, chuckling.
"Excuse me. My question was -- "
"Now if you'll listen to me. For the first part of the question, I kept you away to keep you safe and hidden. You were a baby, you couldn't protect yourself. Your Aunt even though a cousin by blood, is the only close blood relation you have currently and Crystal, you may not believe me now but magic is full of Mystery. Her blood is like a protection to you against Voldemort."
Crystal stared at his serious face. He was so far the only one who called out Voldemort's name fearlessly. It made her believe to some extent that he was saying the truth.
"And second, you had to return to our world when you're eleven no matter what. Now that you've set your foot here, it's evident that you'll be pulled into the politics between the powerful families and the Ministry. So, you've to be powerful enough to stand among them equally. You've to be willing to survive through it, that's why I want to help you."
"And what do you want in return? I know for a fact that nothing is for free."
"You're very perceptive." said Dumbledore with a wry smile, "Crystal, House Calisto had a very strong influence in the wizarding history but the only flaw they had was they were neutral. Their neutrality was so worse even when Voldemort appeared. They did not support any side."
"Why would taking sides matter, sir?"
"Your family was very influential at the time your grandfather was on the seat. The public and authorities' opinion would've leaned to any side Calisto supported. I tried to reason with your grandfather to support us but was disappointed. Then, Voldemort tried to sway them to his side. He tried to coax your Grandfather to his side but failed then tried to force your mother to take his side and failed again."
"So he wanted the influence of Calistos to get more people to his side?"
"You understood. By doing so, he would also get the power the Calistos held. Further, when he came to know that your Grandfather had secretly broken that law of neutrality to take secretly help us and then your mother openly followed her father's footsteps to fight against him, Voldemort went crazy. He was very furious and then that night he attacked Potters, you and your mother in which she lost her life and yours and Harry's power did something to make him disappear."
"But not dead."
"Yes, I suspect that he is not dead yet but very weak, hiding somewhere."
"And now here you're in front of me proposing a deal to me so that I take your side even before stepping into your world. Why would you think I'd want to involve myself in your politics?"
"It's our world, Crystal. You're one of us. I believe that one day we may see him back. It's not time for the Calistos to stay neutral. They have to take a stand so that their power doesn't fall into the wrong hands. It'd be catastrophic for both our and the Muggles' communities. You, Crystal, should be the first to break the neutrality of Calisto. This is all for the peace of the world one day."
"Hmmm... " Crystal was processing everything she had heard, what Dumbledore said all made sense. But still, this was all too much information since last evening. It was as if someone had flipped her world upside down. She was a witch with a strong background top of that the sole heiress of an honoured family. It was too much to handle at the same time.
"I understand what you said... I would definitely need someone's guidance in the new place. Sure, knowledge is precious and cannot be scaled against anything but still I need some time to think about it... I don't want to get the short end of the stick in the deal... "
"You must succeed the Calisto to secure your future -- "
"Oh, I do plan to take back what's mine, I just need some time to think about all this,"
"I understand. Then, we will discuss this again sometime after you've adjusted to Hogwarts and got familiar with magic. You can give your answer then. Even though you refuse your alliance with me, I still want to guide you as I've guided your mother and grandfather."
"How old are you --" Crystal blurted out and cleared her throat embarrassed, "I'm sorry, please excuse my rudeness, I mean, you said you guided my grandfather so --"
Dumbledore laughed heartily and Crystal got more embarrassed and awkward.
"Well, Miss Calisto, just long enough to understand the reality of the world," he said.
"Um, Sir, if I agree with your proposal, how will we proceed? What all things do I need to be trained on in the successor training?"
"Don't worry, we'll start one at a time then add more subjects in parallel. I'll make arrangements to start with the business, finance and maybe some miscellaneous arts for all-around abilities. Then, by the end of the school year, I'll make arrangements to officially pass you the will and make you the official heiress in the presence of witnesses. Is that okay?"
"Good. And anything I need to do for the time being?"
"Just one as of now. Try to maintain a good public image. Try not to be too blunt and straightforward talking to other people. It's not a bad trait but you've to know how to talk and where to use that trait so it'll be in your favour not against you."
"Sure. We'll see about that but may I also add my terms in the deal too and discuss later?"
"As you please,"
"Thank you,"
"I must say, Crystal. I didn't expect you to be this sharp already but that's the right attitude for your future position. I'm warning you early, you'll have to work very hard, are you ready for that?" Dumbledore said seriously.
"I'm not afraid of hard work, Sir," said Crystal with a small smile. "I've already set my aim and this will help me hit the bullseye."
"You've your goals set at the age of eleven? That's quite remarkable," said Dumbledore.
"Well, sort off. And... I'm sorry for any misconduct and my rudeness today but I hope you understand my circumstances. I can't just yet trust you." Crystal said awkwardly.
"It's fine. In fact, it's good that you don't just believe people blindly and think things through. And... "
Dumbledore rummaged through the pocket of his robe and took out something that looked like a whistle made of golden metal.
"Happy Birthday, dear child. I found this when I was on my journey decades back. This will come to your help when you need it."
"Thank you for the gift but I cannot accept it.... " Crystal said calmly. She suspected it to be some kind of tracking device to keep track of her location or spy on her. Dumbledore didn't seem to be an easy and fully honest person so Crystal was taking basic precautions with him which is -- Don't accept things from strangers.
Dumbledore stared into her eyes for a moment before chuckling and said, "Interesting, you've got a very clear mind, I'll keep this for you until you trust me."
"Mhmm, I'd like to go back if we're done,"
"Sure, I'll call Hagrid to send you back,"
In the evening, Hagrid helped Crystal onto the train that would take her back to the Hudsons, then handed her an envelope.
"Yer ticket fer Hogwarts, " he said. "First o' September -- King's Cross -- it's all on yer ticket. Any problems with the Hudsons, send me a letter with yer owl, he'll know where to find me... See yeh soon, Crystal."
The train pulled out of the station. Crystal had the best birthday of her life spending it away from the Hudsons, outside her room which was always locked but something about everyone thinking that she was special unsettled her. She wanted to say bye to Hagrid but as she looked back he was gone in the blink of an eye.
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Fifteen days flew away in the blink of an eye. Crystal was so curious about magic that she completed reading all her books, drowning in them day and night.
It was the first day of Hogwarts. She asked Uncle Jared for the lift to the King's Cross station. It was not easy as she had to listen to him shouting and mocking her but somehow she reached her destination and was searching for the platform which theoretically doesn't exist.
"Was this a big prank after all....No... No... But it was also true.... and now I don't know where to go... Hagrid... I should've checked the ticket.... and asked him... " Crystal muttered to herself while looking between platforms 9 and 10. She felt stupid.
As luck would have it, at that moment a group of people passed just behind her and she caught a few words of what they were saying.
"-- packed with Muggles, of course --"
Crystal looked ahead at the people who passed her. The speaker was a plump woman who was talking to four boys, all with flaming red hair. Each of them was pushing a trunk like Crystal's in front of her -- and they had an owl.
Her instincts told her to follow them and Crystal pushed her cart after them. They stopped, and so did she, just near enough to hear what they were saying.
"Now, what's the platform number?" said the boys' mother.
"Nine and three-quarters!" piped a small girl, also red-headed, who was holding her hand, "Mom, can't I go... "
"You're not old enough, Ginny, now be quiet. All right, Percy, you go first."
What looked like the oldest boy marched toward platforms nine and ten. The boy reached the dividing barrier between the two platforms and vanished.
"My God... Did he just -- went inside that wall -- of course... platform nine and three-quarters... Between 9 and 10.... and with magic... totally possible... But wouldn't that hurt?" Crystal muttered to herself rationalizing that she was sane and not hallucinating.
"Fred, you next," the plump woman said.
"I'm not Fred, I'm George," said the boy. "Honestly, woman, you call yourself our mother? Can't you tell I'm George?"
"Sorry, George, dear."
"Only joking, I am Fred," said the boy, and off he went. His twin called after him to hurry up, and he must have done so because a second later, he had gone -- but how had he done it?
Now the third brother was walking briskly toward the barrier he was almost there -- and then, quite suddenly, he wasn't anywhere.
There was nothing else for it.
"Go through the wall. The next thing to do... " Crystal mumbled having second thoughts about entering the magic barrier.
"Hello, dear," A voice said. Crystal snapped out of her thoughts and looked up at the woman who she was watching just now.
"Hello, Madam," said Crystal keeping her head a little low.
"I noticed you with the luggage standing here. First time at Hogwarts? My Ron's new, too."
She pointed at the last and youngest of her sons. He was tall, thin, and gangling, with freckles, big hands and feet, and a long nose.
"Oh, yes. I was just trying to figure out how to get to platform nine and three-quarters," said Crystal.
"Not to worry," she said. "All you have to do is walk straight at the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Don't stop and don't be scared you'll crash into it, that's very important. Best do it at a bit of a run if you're nervous. Go on, go now before Ron."
"Thank you very much for your kind help," said Crystal with a small smile.
"My, you're so adorable. So polite at such a young age." said the woman. Crystal finally looked up at her. "And you're beautiful too, dear."
"Thank you... " Crystal muttered awkwardly at sudden nice comments. She had started to implement Dumbledore's advice -- to make a good public image. It's the start but it'd take time for her to adjust and not be awkward.
Crystal just smiled and started to walk quickly towards the barrier. She was not scared now but the opposite, really excited inside. She closed her eyes waiting to feel the wall and kept running.
Crystal waited for the impact for a few moments and opened her eyes gingerly. A scarlet steam engine was waiting next to a platform packed with people. A sign overhead said Hogwarts Express, eleven O'clock. She looked behind her and saw a wrought-iron archway where the barrier had been, with the words Platform Nine and Three-Quarters on it, she had done it.
The first few carriages were already packed with students, some hanging out of the window to talk to their families, some fighting over seats.
Crystal pushed her cart off the platform until she found an empty compartment near the end of the train.
She put Cash (the owl) inside first and then started to shove and heave her trunk toward the train door. She tried to lift it the steps but could hardly raise one end and twice she dropped it.
"Want a hand?" It was one of the red-haired twins he'd followed through the barrier.
"Thank you," Crystal said, releasing a breath.
"Oy, Fred! C'mere and help!"
With the twins' help, Crystal's trunk was at last tucked away in a corner of the compartment.
"Thanks," said Crystal, tucking the loose hairs from her ponytail behind her ears.
"Anytime little Princess." said one of the twins.
"Little... Princess?" said Crystal confused.
"Are you not?." said another one.
"And your eyes are really pretty."
"Well..." Crystal was at a loss for words. Ironically, she didn't know how to reply to a 'Princess' compliment while she had been treated like a maid all her life.
"By the way, I'm Fred -- "
"And I'm George -- "
"Weasley," they both said together.
"Fred? George? Are you there?"
"Coming, Mom."
"Thanks for all your help!" said Crystal with a small smile.
"See you at Hogwarts, little princess," said the twin together and with a last look at Crystal, the twins hopped off the train.
Crystal was rather amused at the way the twins were completely in sync.
She closed the door and sat down next to the window from where she heard the redheads talking about Crystal Calisto and Harry Potter, who they believed must have also started that year.
It was crazy, people keeping records of her life. That's why she needed to make a good public persona befitting the next leader of Calisto.
Mostly it was the twins, who held all of Crystal's attention. It was her first time seeing an identical twin and she was observing them closely to distinguish between them. They were either making fun of their elder sibling who was a Prefect or getting scolded by their mother.
The loud whistle of the train indicated that it was time for departure and just in a few moments they began to move. Crystal pulled out her 'Ancient Greek Mythology and Mysteries' book and released a long breath as the new chapter of her journey started with this.
𖤍𖤓⌁☍❾¾➵♆△⍎⚔︎
While Crystal had settled herself, Harry Potter, the boy who lived, had overslept and barely caught the train.
He was searching for a compartment to sit but that was just a part of it. Actually, he was looking for a girl his parents had told him about when he asked the story of how he got the scar on his forehead.
Harry's parents, James and Lily Potter told him how they were saved that unfortunate night, how they lost their best friend, how the daughter of their friend had to live with the Muggles and how they weren't allowed to contact her.
The Potters were supposed to meet her the last time in Diagon Alley but Hagrid lost her. Later, they got to know that Dumbledore found her and told Hagrid to take her back to Hudson's home as Crystal was tired after their three hours meeting.
Harry didn't know how would he ever recognize her but tried anyway listening to people if they talk about Crystal.
Harry searched almost all the compartments and was losing hope. He thought mumbling to himself 'What if she didn't get the Hogwarts letter', then contradicted himself; Hagrid took her to Diagon Alley and she is the same age; What if she didn't come or couldn't make it; What would he even say to her if he finds her'.
Harry lost all hope as he reached the the few of last compartments of the train. He was really disappointed, he glanced inside and saw a girl sitting alone, moved on and then stopped.
Just then as though something clicked in his mind, he doubled back and looked inside the compartment again.
A girl sat inside, with black hair tied back in a high ponytail which freely flowed down just below her shoulders in natural waves, one or two loose strands naturally fell nicely framing her face. She looked simply beautiful and serene, reading a book as the sunlight from the window reflected on her, glowing like a halo behind her.
Harry saw the compartment empty and without any other thoughts opened the door.
Crystal only half glanced at him as she heard the rattle of the opening door and lowered her head back at once when she saw that it was the same busybody boy from Diagon Alley.
"I'll be sitting here, if you don't mind?" Harry asked, a bit nervously.
Crystal didn't reply as talking to him would be another series of probing questions. Harry shrugged and stepped into the compartment. In the meantime, while his back was turned to her as he closed the door, Crystal quickly stuffed her ears with tissue balls.
Harry turned back to her. He watched her but she was not paying any attention to him so he just settled down on the window seat across from her.
Crystal was constantly looking down at her book and ignored him. Harry was feeling awkward as the silence stretched. At long last, he decided to break this uncomfortable silence and talk.
"Hello," he said with a smile but Crystal wasn't responding. "Hey," he tried again. It was then he noticed when the girl tucked a loose strand behind her ear that she can't listen as the tissue was stuffed in her ears.
"Er -- hello," said Harry loudly, and snapped his fingers right in front of her book awkwardly.
Crystal looked up a bit startled when a hand suddenly appeared in front of her.
Harry couldn't help but stare at her eyes. It was the most beautiful shade of greenish-blue he had ever seen like that of the sea.
Crystal removed the tissue from an ear.
"Do you need something?" she said, not wanting to be any more rude, it was her limit of ignorance to anyone.
"I said, hello," he repeated.
"Yeah, hello,"
"I'm Harry, nice to meet you," He said extending his hand.
"Nice to meet you too," she said, shaking his hand.
Crystal didn't want to introduce herself on the train to anyone as people might start flocking around as they did in the Leaky Cauldron. But the name Harry triggered something in her mind. Was he the same Harry? Then again, Harry was a common name so it could be anyone.
As Harry shook her hand, he felt that her palm was slightly rough, and a little scratched, not as soft as his hands. Then he noticed that both her hands had at least two of the slender fingers on each hand wrapped in band-aids. He looked back at the hand he was holding when she took it back.
"It's you! You're the girl from Diagon Alley!"
"What're you talking about?" Crystal pretended not to know.
"It's me! Don't you remember me? I dropped the wand and you returned it?"
"No. I think you've got the wrong person," Crystal denied.
"I'm right! Look you've got the same beauty spot near the nail on your thumb."
Crystal couldn't help anymore when he observed a small dark spot on her finger from their quick encounter.
"Oh, now that you mention it, I remember something, red shirt, right?" said Crystal with no choice left. She didn't imagine that a random boy could have observed a spot on her thumb in the short time they had.
"That's me," he said. "Anyways, what happened to your hands again?"
"Nothing. I just fell.... while playing," said Crystal, not wanting to give her personal life information to a stranger about being a full-time maid at her aunt's, which got her hands rough and beat up.
"So, Er -- Do you live in the orphanage?"
"Um?" Crystal was getting confused with the question.
"Oh, were you playing with the orphanage kids when you fell?" He added quickly.
"Oh, yeah, at the orphanage," said Crystal in agreement and stuffed the tissue back in her ear indicating that the talk was over. This time she didn't completely cover her ears so that she could still listen not get surprised.
"I'm sorry, shouldn't have asked like that... " said Harry, slumping back in his seat, sensing that the conversation was over. Even though the girl had a very calm face and quiet voice but he felt like she was getting irked.
She didn't even tell me her name again... Harry thought.
And no one said anything after that.
Harry was getting bored as the only sound that filled the compartment was the sound of the train moving and the pages turning.
What's so interesting about that book anyways? Harry scoffed sinking further in his seat.
And to his luck the door opened and a red hair boy came in, Crystal sneaked a glance them recognized him from the platform with the kind woman who helped her.
"Mind if I sit here?" he asked.
"Everywhere else is full and I can't sit with my brothers any longer."
"Sure," said Harry sitting up a little straighter.
The red-haired boy sat beside Harry in his seat.
"Just wanted to get away from my brothers" the red hair said "I'm Ron Weasley, by the way. And you?"
"I'm Harry. Harry Potter."
Ron's cheerful face turned into a shock as he pointed at Harry's forehead.
Surprised by the name, Crystal's eyes went slightly wide as for the first time she looked up to clearly see the boy's face she had been hearing about ever since she came to know about the wizarding world. A name always connected to hers.
"Oh -- well," said Ron. "And have you really got -- you know..."
Harry pulled back his bangs to show the lightning scar. Ron stared. This got Crystal's attention as well, as she also looked at his scar.
'Good Lord, he's really Potter not any common Harry,' Crystal thought looking at his scar and then emerald green eyes.
"So that's where You-Know-Who -- "
Harry just nodded and Crystal looked down at her book again.
"So do you remember anything about that -- you know, you and Crystal Calisto defeated You-Know-Who," said Ron eagerly.
"Well -- I remember a lot of green light and then a sudden white brightness, but nothing else," said Harry, not wanting to talk anymore about it and wishing he could ask for some tissues from the girl sitting across from him.
"Wow," said Ron.
Ron this time turned to Crystal.
"Hello! My mum was all praise about your polite manners that she told me to definitely make friends with you. Well, my manners are good enough too if you get to know me. I don't know what she was talking about."
Crystal didn't say anything but also that she didn't know how to reply to him. She wasn't what she displayed to others.
"Ron, she can't listen to anyone right now," said Harry to Ron, pointing to his ears and then at Crystal.
"What's her name?" asked Ron looking at Crystal.
"Don't know... "
"Oh," said Ron.
"I've heard Weasley is a very big family. Are all your family wizards?" asked Harry.
"Er -- Yes, I think so," said Ron. "I think Mom's got a second cousin who's an accountant, but we never talk about him."
"Have you tried doing actual spells before?"
"I just know about some basic spells, my brothers have taught me a few."
"That's nice... My mum usually forbade me but me and dad secretly had a few go of sparks together," said Harry, "Although, I'm worried about the academics as there are other subjects too,"
Well, I'm not worried at all, there are loads of people who come from Muggle families and they learn quickly enough so at least we've some head start. Besides, we'll all learn with time,"
"Right," said Harry.
"Hey! Have you heard they saw Crystal Calisto in Diagon Alley a few weeks back? Is she on the same train with us too?" said Ron excitedly.
Crystal listened to the conversation quietly as she turned the page of the book.
"Er -- I don't know about that... " said Harry.
"I heard she went to live with Muggles," said Ron. "Have you ever met a Muggle? I wonder what are they like?"
Don't they have anything better to do? Why are they so interested in my life... Crystal thought. But it was also kind of funny when the other person didn't know that the third person they were talking about is right in front of them.
"Horrible -- well, not all of them. My aunt and uncle and cousin are, though. I met them by chance when Mum and Dad took me to the zoo one day and they were not nice at all. But there were some other nice people also we met," said Harry.
They talked about Ron's family. He had five brothers older than him namely Bill, Charlie, who had graduated and Percy, Fred and George, who were in school and a younger sister Ginny. And they got to know that Weasleys were not financially good because Ron had handed down robes, wand and pet. Harry didn't seem to mind at all.
Crystal closed her book, leaving it on her lap and looked out of the window relaxing as the scenery passed by them.
-: ✧ :-
⫷ Author's note: ⫸
Hiyaa! How was this chapter?
Be prepared for the shock the hero is going to be receiving in the next one!
♞ Over and out ~
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