Chapter 5
Etta woke that day with a purpose. She was determined to explore the Alley she had only seen in her dreams. With Snape she hadn't even seen half. Getting out of the bed she heard a tapping at her window. A large grey owl stood out on the ledge a large package sat next to it.
"Is this for me?" She asked the owl as she opened the window. It hooted and flew away. Etta pulled in the large package and closed the window, it was far to cold to keep it open. Opening the package she found the things she had ordered from Madam Malkin's shop. Two royal blue and silver winter coats, four long sleeved dresses two in indigo with silver linings and two cerulean blue also with silver linings. Her skirts were a midnight blue and silver plaid that set just below her knees and matching high socks. Her pants were soft and black. Her tops were warm silver and purple long sleeved cashmere tops, and her under garments were all white. Black combat boots for school and two pairs of silver and purple ballet flats. On a side package there was her scarfs and gloves.
Etta had decided warmth was the right way to go, no point in getting sick just before school started. She had showered and changed into her cashmere top and black pants and school shoes. She grabbed her new coat and scarf and went downstairs for breakfast.
"Good morning Ms. Potter." Tom said at the bar. "I hope you slept well. Breakfast should be ready soon. Take a seat."
"Thank you Mr. Tom." Etta replied. Sitting down she looked around the somewhat dark pub and inn. There weren't many people at the time. At the bar was a man with a turban, he seemed a bit jittery as if had to much caffeine two old ladies drinking tea in the corner and an old man smoking a pipe by the entrance.
"Here you are dear." Tom placed a large plate of food in front of her. "Now don't worry if you cant eat it all just eat what you can." He said and walked off. There on her plate were two sunnyside eggs, toast, sausage, bacon, and baked beans. For drink was black tea and orange juice. She picked up her toast and nibbled on it. She had never had so much food in front of her unless she counted the food she made for the Dursley's, which she didn't. She ate less then half of her food and all of the tea.
"Mr. Tom could you help me into the Alley please?" He looked at her.
"Unfortunately Ms. Potter, Severus told me not to let you go alone. My apologies." He told her.
"I could take her." The man with the purple turban said from behind them.
"Ah Quirinus. Yes that would be a good idea thank you." Tom said excitedly. "Go with professor Quirrell won't you my dear." Etta looked at the man and he gave a weird smile. She felt a poke at her scar. She nodded and grabbed her bag.
"Thank you for escorting me sir I just have a few things that I still need before school starts." She told the professor.
"That's alright Ms. Potter." He replied. They first stopped at the bank to get some more money. She nodded to the goblins as a thank you.
"I need an animal." She said to herself. She walked into the magical menagerie there about a foot high was the most beautiful owl she had ever seen. She knew it had to be a magical owl seeing as though it looked like a galaxy had exploded all over it. Its feathers were a midnight blue almost black with star like spots with piercing black eyes.
"Ah what a rare creature the Hyacinthus Nebula Noctua, the blue nebula owl, also know as the seer owl. It is rarely seen unless it wishes to and said to help those with seer abilities." Professor Quirrell spoke softly. Etta jumped a bit forgetting he was there. She touched its dark blue feathers. So soft.
"How much for this one sir?" She asked the owner. The man came around to see. He smiled.
"This one seems to like you. 10 galleons is fine. Treats are 2 galleons. Will you need a cage?" He asked. She looked at the man and shook her head.
"No. A creature this beautiful should be free to come and go as she pleases." She grabbed a few bags of treats and payed the man.
"She is a beautiful creature. They are rarely seen out of Egypt. That is where most seers converge. You must have some seer blood in you." Quirrell said.
"I think i will call her Nyx. Do you like that pretty girl?" Nyx hooted and ruffled her feathers. "That's good I like it. Nyx will be your name. Why don't you go and fly you can find me when your ready." She told her. She hooted again and flew off. "I need to get a few more books professor of we could get going." She walked to the book store. She grabbed as many books as she could. Books on potions, charms, etiquette for young ladies, all the the books she could touch she wanted all of them.
"Your sure going to be a Ravenclaw that is for sure Ms. Potter. I was in that house as well. That's quite surprising since everyone would be expecting you to go into Gryffindor like your parents." The professor said.
"I am not brave or someone who acts before they think, professor." Etta replied. She pushed some fallen red hair that fell into her face and payed for all her books.
Walking out she stopped by a strange alleyway. It was dark and shadow like. It felt like something was calling her through the shadows beckoning her to find whatever was calling to her, begging to be found.
"I need to go in there." Etta said in a dazed like voice. "Something is calling me pulling me. Please let me go in there." She asked him. She walked into the shadows Quirrell following behind her. There were voices but she couldn't hear what they said, and there were light touches that she barely felt. She walked further into the shadows the voices becoming more clear.
"Find us. You are close. A little further. Find us. We want to be found. FIND US!" The voices sounded more like whispered hisses. Then the voices stopped. Looking up she found the wooden sign Niccolo's Umbra Libri.
"I cannot go in Ms. Potter it calls to you, only those it calls to may enter. I will wait here." Quirrell told her. She nodded and opened the creaky door.