School Supplies
"Mathair, athair?" Wren questioned. "Can I get my school supplies by myself?"
Persephone looked at Wren, worried at the possible horrible things that could happen to her baby girl. Cormac noticed and took Persephone's hand, squeezing it reassuringly.
"You can if you take Witcher and Roux with you," Cormac informed. "Do you agree?"
Wren beamed, "Yes! Can I have extra money to dress Witcher up?"
Persephone sighed, "Okay but remember to be careful. I don't want anything to happen to you."
"Witcher will protect me, mathair," Wren smiled as the kneazle appeared and nuzzled against her. "See, he knows."
/ - / - /
"Witcher, stay close," Wren chuckled at her kneazle. "Someone might take you away from me."
Witcher meowed in protest at the statement but circled closer to Wren. He knew he had to protect her. He felt like he failed when Tali sacrificed her life for Wren but at the time, he was watching Avery. Meanwhile, Roux stood patiently beside Wren. Roux used to work with Tali as Tali's apprentice but was usually delegated to other tasks. She knew how important Wren was to Tali and vice versa and made a silent promise during Tali's burial that she would protect the young witch as Tali had done. Her top priority would always be Wren's safety.
"That's a good kitty," Wren beamed, petting Witcher before checking her letter from Hogwarts. "Mathair already got me my clothes and athair got most of the other equipment required so I need to get my books, a wand, and something for Witcher. I think you knew a pretty new collar. What do you think, Witcher?"
Witcher flicked his tail and pawed at his current collar. Wren giggled and rubbed his head. She looked up to locate the bookstore, Flourish and Blotts, when someone approached.
"Hi, I'm Rowan Khanna! Are you getting ready to start at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry too?" questioned the stranger.
Witcher hissed as Wren smiled, "Don't mind him and yes. I'm trying to get to Flourish and Blotts."
Rowan grinned, "It's not that far. We're in front of Ollivanders, where you can get your wand, and the bookstore is the next shop over. You should go get your books."
"Thanks, Rowan," Wren nodded as she started. "To the bookstore!"
Wren, Roux, and Witcher didn't take long to find all the books for Wren's first year. After paying for her books, Wren ordered Roux to take the books home to her room. Roux had to apparate several times since the books were heavy for an elf. Wren waited for Roux to return before going outside to meet Rowan.
"Rowan! Thanks for your help earlier. I got all my books," Wren greeted Rowan.
Rowan beamed, "You're welcome. Oh, I realized that I was so excited that I forgot to ask your name."
Wren grinned, "I'm Wren O'Rourke. This is my kneazle, Witcher, and my house-elf, Roux."
"A pleasure to meet you and your friends," Rowan smiled. "I already got my supplies, but my mum gave me just enough to buy something special for school. I want to let everyone at Hogwarts know that I'm a serious intellectual who is well on their way to becoming Head Girl. What do you think I should get? A smart scarf? A serious sweater? Or a cool hat?"
"How about a nice scarf?" Wren giggled, thinking Rowan was overthinking it.
Rowan gasped, "Great idea! Scarves make anyone look scholarly. What will you do while I get my scarf?"
"My wand, I suppose," Wren replied. "It's the last thing on my list. Meet back here?"
"Yes," Rowan agreed before running off to purchase a smart scarf.
Wren guided Witcher and Roux to Ollivanders for her wand. They entered the dimmed store and could hear someone shuffling around in the back. She noticed a small golden bell on the desk and rang it.
"Oh, hello! Welcome!" a man greeted, coming out from behind a shelf. "Garrick Ollivander at your service. Here for your first wand? I've got just the thing. Applewood, dragon heartstring core, nine inches, rigid. Give it a twirl!"
Wren took the wand and flicked it. Loose sheets of paper flew around the room, making it a bigger mess.
"Sorry about that," Wren blushed as she placed the wand on the desk.
"It's not your fault," Mr. Ollivander chuckled. "The wand chooses the wizard, and that is clearly not the wand for you. I recall your brother exploded my favorite ink pot when we tried his first wand."
At that, Witcher hissed while Roux took a defensive position in front of Wren. Wren cast her eyes at the ground but said nothing.
Mr. Ollivander sensed the tension and moved the conversation to a lighter topic, picking up another wand. "Please try this wand. Cypress wood, dragon heartstring core, eleven and a half inches, slightly springy."
Once again, Wren took the wand and flicked it. Instead of papers flying about, a light shined from above, marking the wand's approval.
"Splendid!" Mr. Ollivander congratulated. "I'll be interested to see what path you choose."
"Thank you, sir," Wren replied, taking out her money pouch to pay for it.
Wren was glad to be out of the wand shop. It was becoming a bit stifling since the mere mention of her brother came up. Her parents were worried about her safety and concerned about Jacob's return if he were to. His room was off-limits and well, Wren didn't want second-hand anything from Jacob. She made it very clear with her parents after waking up to nightmares of the incident. A voice pulled Wren out of her thoughts.
"Hey Wren," Rowan called out. "How do you like my scarf?"
Wren smiled shyly, checking out her friend, "It looks great on you."
"Thanks, it was your suggestion," Rowan blushed before taking notice. "Is that a cypress wand?"
Wren was impressed. "Yea. How could you tell?"
"My family's tree farm supplies wood for wands and brooms," Rowan explained. "That's why I love staying inside and reading. It keeps me from going outside and farming. That, and the fact that I don't have any friends."
Wren laughed and took Rowan's hands, "But we're friends now... Unless you don't want to be?"
"Really?" Rowan gasped. "You don't think I'm too weird? People usually think I'm too weird."
"I don't judge a book by its cover," Wren grinned before sighing. "Besides that, you don't have a brother named Jacob O'Rourke."
Rowan was shocked. "The same Jacob O'Rourke who was expelled from Hogwarts for breaking school rules in search of the fabled Cursed Vaults?! That was a massive story in the Daily Prophet. Everyone at school will know about that."
"I know but I know my true friends will stick by me," Wren smirked. "And they have to deal with my ferocious kneazle and faithful house-elf."
Rowan laughed, squeezing Wren's hand. "I'm glad we met, friend. I'll see you on the train to Hogwarts."
"I can't wait, friend," Wren beam proudly before they parted ways.
/ - / - /
Persephone was anxious for Wren to return that when Avery shouted "Wren!" she sighed in relief. She rushed to her daughter and immediately hugged her.
"How was your trip to Diagon Alley?" Persephone questioned. "No one gave you any trouble, right?"
"It was great, mathair!" Wren beamed. "I made a new friend. Their name is Rowan. They're a girl but I think they're non-binary and look very androgynous."
Persephone smiled, "That's wonderful, little bird. Oh, I was so worried."
Wren nuzzled against her mathair's chest, "I was a bit scared but having Witcher and Roux there made me safe. I'll be okay at Hogwarts. I'll write."
"That reminds me," Persephone beamed, pulling away. "Your athair and I got you an owl. Come see."
Wren followed her mathair to where the family owlery was with Avery tagging along. "It's big, Wren,"
"It's a great grey owl," Wren gasped upon seeing it. "He's beautiful, mathair."
"She's beautiful," Persephone corrected. "What will you name her?"
Wren held out her hand and the grey owl flew to her. "Ashe."