Diagon Alley
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Year 1 - 00: Diagon Alley
London, 1971
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Dear diary,
Keira was reading a book on ancient magic the morning that her Hogwarts letter arrived. She was sitting in her favourite chair, some old wooden throne in her father's study. You see, even at 11 she was obsessed with reading and trying to show off her intellect, much to her acquaintances displeasure.
Apparently, reading had been one of the many things that she shared her love from with her father. It was something she found very useful when trying to relax and so it had become a part of her routine along the way. Plus, she could always discuss whatever she was reading with her father and spend some time with him. It was something they shared throughout the years. Although she didn't yet have a wand of her own, she would sometimes use her father's to practice basic spells. It probably wasn't the best arrangement ever, but the wand didn't despise her and she actually was able to perform magic without exploding the whole Tremblay mansion. Magical rules weren't the same in France; it wasn't like in England when you needed to be of age to practice magic. Especially when you were from a renowned family like the Tremblays and that you basically madd the laws. And Keira used this opportunity to acquire more knowledge. She had always been quite strong academically, and she wanted to get ahead before starting her first year at a magical school. Her older brothers and sister had always received excellent results, and she wasn't going to be any different from them.
Keira had been focused on reading the difficult latin transcripts of her selected book when her older sister barged in the study, distracting her.
"Merdouille! What's going on?" Asked the blond, annoyed. "It better be worth interrupting my reading."
"It's here! The mail's here! Come on!" Hurried Romy excitedly before rushing out of the study. Keira gasped and almost threw her book across the room before following her sister, squealing excitedly. They both ran across the manor to reach the family's owlery. There, about twenty owls were chirping around and awaiting letters that house elves were making magically appear in front of them. Aquilus Tremblay was a man of profound influence and had correspondence with wizards from around the world. Having an owlery was a necessity to keep contact with all his acquaintances and strengthen the Tremblays' connections.
Right next to Keira was standing a beautiful barn owl, Morozova, Aquilus' favourite owl as well as Keira's. He was holding a yellow-ish envelope that Keira would have recognized everywhere. After all, she had 4 other siblings who had received the exact same ones a couple of years prior. "Oh my Merlin!" She squealed once more, before taking the precious envelope from the owl. She thanked the bird and gave him a small kiss on his head.
"Well? Are you going to open it?" Squealed Romy while shifting on her feet.
"Yes, of course!" She answered. " But I want to open it with papa ."
Her sister sighed before grabbing other similar letters from nearby howls. It probably was the siblings' scholar effect lists. "Always a daddy's girl. Come on, let's find him."
They both left the owlery to roam yet again in the many corridors of the mansion. They surged in the living room, where Aquilus and the triplets were having a not so friendly enchanted Wizards' chess competition under the glare of their armories, a white lion that held a snake around his paw. This specific armories over the fireplace of the living room had been enchanted. Sometimes the lion would take a nap or play with the snake. It was quite entertaining to watch when there was nothing else to do.
"Papa! Papa! I got it!" She yelled before running in his arm, receiving a warm hug from her father. "That's amazing, chaton! I knew you'd get in." He said, proudly, as her brothers congratulated her as well. Her mother wasn't so supportive. She was pleased, of course, to know that her daughter would follow the rest of the family. But deep down she wished Keira would have gone to Beaubaton like she did.
"I made it prefect!" Exclaimed Romy as she opened her own letter to reveal a silver pin, receiving cheers from her brothers and parents.
"Yay! No detention for us when we leave the dorms after curfew!" Chanted the triplets.
"You wish. You'll be the first ones I'll send over to Filch." Said the older sibling with a smirk before hurrying her sister to open her acceptance letter.
"Maybe it's your rejection letter." Teased Cepheus, receiving a light slap behind the head from their father. “ Yeah, read it Keira." Added Dracius with a smile. " If you get rejected you can always come at Hogwarts and become the new groundskeeper." “ Our dear Gellerta could also work with the house elves. Unless she ends up with Filch…” ended Orion.
“ Come on boys! Keira my little chaton, don’t listen to them. They’d be crazy to refuse you.” Said Aquilus, giving his sons a warning glare. “One more of your tasteless jokes and you’ll spend the rest of the summer replacing the house elves.”
The youngest Tremblay sent them a mean look as well and took a deep breath before opening the sealed envelope. Her hands were shaking with anticipation while she removed the letter.
"Miss Keira Rose G. Tremblay,
In Mr. Tremblay's study
01 Champs Élysées
Paris, France
Dear Ms Tremblay,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft
and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on the 1st of September. We await your owl by no later than the 31st of July.
Yours sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore"
She squealed before making a small happy dance. Her mother rolled her eyes playfully at her before leaving the living room to get ready for the night's event, a banquet. “ Don't be late to the ball. And no, Aquilus, don't you dare run away as a lynx tonight or I'll personally hunt you down and put your head over the chimney as a trophy."
Aquilus Temblay was an animagus. He had became one in his tender years after a bet with some of his friends. This meant he could transform into a lynx at will and leave the pureblood gatherings when they bored him. That wasn't something his wife was really found of and she would often scold him when she had the chance. Although his children kept requesting Aquilus to teach them how to become an animagus, he never obliged, for their mother's sake.
"Well, chaton. It looks like we'll have some shopping to do soon! Get the vaults empty!" Added the father happily to change the subject while reading the letter. "What about you, boys? Ro?"
"As if the vault would ever become empty." Ironized Orion while stretching.
"Dad, please! We always need to go shopping." Snorted Romy while giving a sly smile.
"Alright kiddos. Get ready while I prepare a Portkey. Off to London we go!"
...~...¥...~...
The smell of warm pasties permeated the air as the Tremblay siblings, their father and their personal swarm of house elves left Flourish and Blotts. The house elves had their hands full of all the books and other necessities the Tremblays would need in their respective years at Hogwarts. They had been to Gringotts to exchange thesome french currencies into Galleons, Sickles and Knots before starting their shopping day. They had been to the cauldron shop and to Madam Malkin's boutique for their school robes already. Everything they needed for school was already bought, but Aquilus didn't mind staying in Diagon Alley a little longer to spoil his children. He could afford it anyways.
"Oh my Merlin!" Exclaimed the triplets at the same time when they passed the Quality Quidditch Supplies boutique. In the showcase window was standing the broomstick of the year, the best of the best accessory for any quidditch player. It was the Flamèche 71, the best range broom of the era, of French conception of course. It had a dark engraved handle and a chic look. "We need it, pa!" Exclaimed Cepheus while pressing his forehead on the glass, in awe.
"Alright kiddos. No need to lick the window." Laughed the patriarch before entering the shop and buying 5 examples of the expensive broom. He made the shop clerk customize each one of them before a couple of the house elves took it to the manor. "I can't even bring a broom to school, papa." Said Keira. "I won't let you ride those safety hazard twigs they make the students use in the flying lessons." Hissed the father, remembering his sons' first flying lesson where one of their brooms broke in half mid air. With all the donations the rich wizarding families gave to Hogwarts, you'd think they'd give their students safe equipment to use. Anyhow, there was just no way Keira Rose would use these Merlin forsaken brooms. He'd make sure of it.
Their next stop was made at Twilfitt and Tattings, the pureblood fashion shop of excellence. They all needed new garments for the evening. Their mother would never let them wear the same suit or the same dress twice. "Hey look, it's mum's products!" Said Keira once she passed near a display of luxury items. She would have recognized the smell of the magical perfumes and candles anywhere. Her mom had her own brand of overpriced products that were sold all around the world in high society circles. Enchanted to smell one's favourite fragrance, they were appreciated by all. The candle that was currently burning was enchanted to smell like their favourite flowers. "Hmm, Lilac!" Said Romy with a smile. Keira smelled Honeysuckle.
"How do I look?" Asked Cepheus while coming out of the changing room, wearing a red suit. "Like the ugliest triplet." Said Dracius playfully. The triplets ended up opting for crisp marine suits, whereas the sisters landed their eyes on 2 magnificent evening gowns.
"That will please your mother. We're all matching." Stated the father before handling an big handful of galleons to the shop clerk. "Well! Only one more stop to go. Boys, Ro, why don't you get some ice cream at the parlour while I go to Ollivanders' with Keira?"
"Marvelous idea, pa!" Stated Orion and Cepheus at the same time. The four older siblings left the garment store in direction of the parlour while Aquilus guided his daughter towards the wand shop. "Nervous?" He asked.
"No. Mostly excited! I can't wait to finally have my own wand."
"I'm sure you do- Oh! Here we are."
Aquilus held the door opened for his daughter before entering as well. The shop was desert, except for the old wizard that was placing wands around the many shelves of the place. "Monsieur Tremblay! And Mademoiselle Tremblay! Fancy seeing you here." Greeted the man before hurrying Keira to step closer.
"Wait here, I have just what's right for you. After all, I helped every single one of your siblings find their perfect match." Laughed the man before disappearing somewhere. Keira shifted in place excitedly, ready to try what he would bring her. Maybe she'd break some lamps or explode a window like her older siblings did when they tried their wands. Ollivanders came back with a red wooden box that had silver carvings around it.
"Open it! And swish it around, dear." Said Ollivanders.
Keira Rose obliged to the demand. She opened the fancy box excitedly to uncover a well carved wand that looked like a small rapière sword with a lion head handle. She took it delicately before moving it around as instructed, making a loud lion roar emerge in the store. She didn't break anything unlike her older siblings.
"Nom de Merlin..." she whispered.
"Fantastical!" Said Ollivanders. "I knew this one would be perfect. This wand is made out of Elder Wood you see, which usually favors those with a strong sense of righteousness. The handle is made out of silver, which in turn tends to prefer those with a heart of gold. Just like your dad, this combination of this strand of Elder Wood and silver means the wand will seek out somebody who will serve a great purpose."
"Very fantastical indeed. What are the cores made of?" Chirped in the father.
"Right, right. This wand has 3 cores, just like yours Aquilus. The first element is made of chimera scale which enhances mischievous magic spells, but can't be mischievous itself. You'll have to handle it with care. A core of lion heartstring which enhances the power of transmutation spells was also added. The last core is a thestral's claw which enhances the owner's strongest qualities in hard situation. A very, very well designed wand. Perfect for a young woman of your stance, mademoiselle Tremblay." He finished, just as another client entered.
"Thank you so much, sir." Said Keira as her father payed for the object. "It truly is lovely."
"Monsieur Tremblay!" Greeted an old man accompanied by his son. It was Orion Black and Sirius Black. "And Keira Rose, oui?. You grew up so much already, I almost mistaked you for Romy."
"Black." Greeted both Tremblays at the same time, one to the father and one to the son.
The Blacks and Tremblays had become closer over the years, especially since both were prominent families in their respective countries and had french roots. They were relying on each other to expend their influences and wealth across the continent. Keira Rose's father had also purchased a nice summer house in England not so far away from the Black family's, which meant they usually saw each other on holidays, to Keira Rose’s dismay.
"I suppose we'll be seeing you tonight at the event?" Chitchatted Orion politely while Keira showed off her wand to Sirius. "It's so fancy." Commented the black haired boy before flipping his hair over his shoulder. His long locks had gotten longer since the last time they had seen each other and were now reaching bellow his neck. "Bet mine will be fancier?" He teased.
"Why's it always a competition with you?" Said Keira before playfully shoving him.
He grinned.
"That's because you're the only opponent that's really worth it."