Suddenly, The World Expanded
It took Catallena a little while to regain her footing. Her feet felt like jelly in their assigned frilly socks and shiny black shoes. Apparating for the first time left the little witch stumbling like a newborn fawn. Thankfully, McGonagall held the girl’s forearm tightly, keeping her from toppling over onto the cobblestone path where she would've been trampled by busy shoppers.
Catallena’s eyelids refused to open despite her efforts as it was difficult to take in her surroundings with the whole alley illuminated in a golden-yellow wash. Blinding sunlight glinted off shop windows and metallic potion making paraphernalia on a nearby stand.
She was severely overwhelmed by the unfamiliar sounds and smells drowning her senses.
The air tasted of dust and it smelled something horrendous because of the jar of some unidentified potion ingredient on display right next to her. Conversing people flurried past with their footsteps scuffing along the street. A shrill voice yelled about quality items as well as lowered prices for Hogwarts students.
These voices were different from the hollow sounds of ghosts and poltergeists she had come to know. It didn’t smell at all like aconite flowers or jasmine or roses like home did, either. Home was always pleasantly dark. Getting accustomed to the sun after years of gazing at the moon felt painful.
She hadn’t realised that her tightly fisted hands were sore as well, until Professor McGonagall tried to gently pry the girl’s hands open so that her fingernails would no longer dig into her own palms. A reprimand died on the older woman’s lips as she examined the red half-moon markings in the girl’s flesh and the distress on her features.
At first, McGonagall had thought that Miss Nocturne was simply dizzy from apparating for the first time. Happens to the best of us. The girl was, however, struggling to breathe properly and seemingly losing control of her actions so the professor wondered whether the girl had ever been to such a place before.
She would be lying if she said that the sight of the girl trying to calm herself down and collect her bearings wasn’t even slightly heartbreaking.
Eventually, after some words of encouragement from the older woman and a few carefully stolen glances at the marketplace from the girl, Catallena was able to calm enough to fully look around through her long eyelashes that matched her hair in their impressive colour.
McGonagall noted that in the sunlight her hair looked almost as pale as her skin did, though it no longer glowed a mysterious glow. The girl’s half hidden eyes were a startlingly light colour of grey and she looked more like a ghost than any other human (or ghost) child the professor knew.
The sun’s rays didn’t quite seem to reach the girl. She looked very out of place in the colourful and warm environment of London. It was as if a slice of winter had arrived early, making the remnants of summer look even more vibrant in contrast.
McGonagall felt relieved to see the girl’s face return to a look of curiosity. Once again, the girl’s energy shifted to being more calm and reserved, though her hands were stuck to her sides and her steps tentative.
They moved carefully along the very edge of the crowds where Catallena could watch passers by and examine shop windows undisturbed.
McGonagall seemed to have a destination in mind, so Catallena left further exploring for later. She couldn’t, however, help whirling on her heels every few seconds to make sure that she wouldn’t miss a speaking cat or the tooth fairy. Anything seemed possible here.
It smelled sweeter along the path - like marshmallows and wood garnish. Shops for brooms covered in posters, clothes shops with moving mannequins, smoking food carts and smelly owleries were all crammed together like an overgrown garden bed with bright flowers.
A man in a light pink outfit sang a cheerful song with an orchestra of self-playing instruments before a crowd.
A beautiful little boutique selling sweets was filled with screaming and laughing children. Catallena watched intently as lollipops as big as her head danced around a singing and fluttering raspberry-flavoured bird behind the shop’s glass. Sugarplum’s Sweets Shop sprawled across the purple building’s front. Catallena vowed to herself that she would return to her newfound favourite place.
They continued their trek towards the other end of the long alley where a crooked white building towered over the rest. McGonagall took the lead and frequently turned to make sure that her companion was not lost in the swarm.
The bronze doors of the white building - Gringotts, explained the professor - were so shiny and clean that Catallena could see her own confused reflection. McGonagall exchanged a few words with someone and the young witch turned to be face to face with a man in heavy armour. She knew he was a goblin because the story books she had read pictured them impressively well.
Her library, as she had found it, was filled to the brim with books from both the Muggle and the wizarding world. Fairytales were her absolute favourite, though she wished to be able to understand even a fraction of what the more advanced and instructional magical books were about.
For years she had run her fingers along the old books’ leather and fabric spines, read stories aloud to the ghosts and memorised texts both within and out of her understanding.
She had known that magic was real but sensing it all around her and seeing others witness it as well made her feel like she was dreaming.
Even then, she had never read about all such wonders. Her books hadn’t told her about a long winding street filled with sellers and their wonderous offerings. She was suddenly more awake than she remembered ever having been, watching pictures on newspapers move on their own. A most qurious conversation about unicorn horn prices was being had between four passionate witches and wizards at a shop’s corner.
Before, she had thought that only she was in on the secret of magic. Being surrounded by witches and wizards who acted like magic was a perfectly ordinary part of their Wednesday afternoon was both comforting and exciting. Knowing that there was a school for similar children made her even happier.
The goblin smiled, bowed and let the pair walk past.
A silver set of doors with engraved words of warning followed, and then a hall with more goblins and even more snow-white marble. The professor took hold of the girl’s hand in fear that the curious witch would blend in with the surroundings and never be found again.
A goblin with feathery hair and reading glasses looked up at them as they approached his tall post. With long fingers he set down the blood red rubies he was weighing. Catallena felt uncomfortable under his scrutinizing gaze, so she opted to examine her shoes instead. She preferred walking barefoot but thought better of it this time. The mansion had an abundance of abandoned old items such as these shoes.
McGonagall greeted the goblin and stated their business at the bank. Catallena didn’t have a safe here since her parents had never stepped foot in the bank, and any funds her parents might have for her were unknown. She didn’t think she actually had any money, having known her parents.
Thankfully, the Ministry - whoever that was, wondered Catallena - had a fund for students without the means to buy their schooling supplies themselves.
The goblin disappeared for a moment and resurfaced with a grunt from behind his stand with a pouch that clinked with heavy coins.
“Thank you. Might I ask whether Rubeus Hagrid has already visited the bank?” Professor McGonagall asked the bank teller in a hushed voice.
“Haven’t seen him in a while. I’ll keep an eye out for him, then. Hogwarts business?”
“Yes, yes. One of these days, I’m certain. He must be held up at the minute.”
Catallena didn’t have much time to wonder who this Hagrid was and what 'Hogwarts business' might mean. Once again they stood in the sun’s beams, only this time Catallena was instructed to dig up her list of requirements.
First on the list of supplies was a school uniform.
Taking a deep breath, Catallena followed Professor McGonagall through the flocks of people. Some stopped to greet the professor briefly and it seemed to Catallena that her guide might be famous in the wizarding world.
Catallena had decided that she liked McGonagall. The professor had been very nice so far. She had even promised Catallena a sweet treat of her choice after their shopping.
Their destination wasn’t far away. They slipped through an open doorway to a surprisingly spacious store called Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions with those mannequins that curtsied upon their arrival. Catallena curtsied back as graciously as she knew how to. It would definitely have been rude not to do so and she didn’t fancy being chased down the alley by such faceless creatures, had she offended them - even though they did look beautiful in their long robes.
A woman approached with a bundle of fabric in her arms and before she knew it, Catallena was standing on a little platform in front of a tall mirror.
“Minerva, dear! How do you do? Another Hogwarts student, yes? Thirteenth today! Tell me, how is Dumbledore? His robes are almost finished, just a few more finishing touches. A delicious colour, that lilac. Do tell him to make an appearance soon. Now you, little one, stand still. Wouldn’t want to poke you with these pins. Arms out, just like that! Nevermind the measuring tape - it’s simply bewitched to move on its own. Quite small for your age… There! A few adjustments and you’re all set,” the hurried words and giggles of the seamstress bounced from one velvety wall to the other.
Catallena’s head spun as she was handed a bag with three sets of black robes and a pointed hat. White button-ups and grey jumpers threatened to overflow onto the ground.
The required protective gloves were found at another little store next door. A lanky man helped the pair find a silvery telescope and brass scales as well. Catallena was hardly paying any attention. She was busy examining the endless shelves stacked with towers of different gadgets and other bits.
Eventually the endeared professor managed to separate the girl from the store with a promise to head to a bookstore next.
Flourish and Blotts was even more magnificent. Catallena’s love for books and reading had her nearly hyperventilating at the sight of such burdened bookcases. There were so many ornate book covers and scrolls in the two story building that Catallena reckoned she should like to live here instead.
Too overwhelmed to open any of the books and begin reading, she distractedly followed McGonagall to a shelf with school books. Books on transfiguration, potion making, spells, history of magic and more! School was sounding more incredible the longer Catallena spent discovering magic in the alley.
She picked quills, ink, a few notebooks, parchment and a black bookbag with the help of McGonagall’s expertise.
When she had her own money, she thought, she would make sure to return.
For now, she settled on going to a shop for cauldrons and other potions equipment.
And then to a wand shop.
The midnight blue shop's dusty and dark display window felt more like home than anything else.