Legitimate and Illegitimate

The breeze died as morning dawned, the night winds being replaced by the stifling humidity of day. The light was intense, burning across the sky, lighting fire to the blanket that had been strewn across the ocean blue skies. Despite the heat the sky never really brightened and rain seemed to threaten for most of the morning. By midday it seemed to ease off though, the clouds retreating away from London, northwards. It was only then that people really began to flood into the city, families both Muggle and Wizard searching for clothes for their children ready for when they were due to go back to Hogwarts in the autumn. This was a task many families undertook that hot July day and it was one that Cerelia undertook also; though granted she was not in the company of a family member. She had asked her father to accompany her, make no mistake of that, but he’d merely stared at her over the top of the Daily Prophet that morning, raised an elegant eyebrow and responded simply that she would have to take herself. She’d have an escort as far as the entrance to the Alley, he assured her, but after that she was on her own.

Now, Cerelia was not about to complain and protest at his decision. She knew far better than to question what her father said. He did not leave her empty handed but he did not place in her palm a sack of gold. He gave her his Gringott’s key with a strict instruction as to how much money to remove from his vault but what he also gave was a list in addition to the one the school had supplied. He also sent her off with a parting encouragement of ‘hurry up’. She knew she had little choice in that matter, also, and vowed to return within three hours. Adolphus paid little attention to that, having already returned to his newspaper, and Cerelia removed herself hastily from the dining room where from there she was escorted to the Leaky Cauldron and into Diagon Alley where, as promised, she was then left alone to her own devices.

Glancing down at the list in her hand, Cerelia made note of what she needed and which shops she was nearest to. In the end Cerelia retreated to her usual haunt: Flourish and Blotts. The brass bell rang out loudly over the top of the door when she opened it and she stepped inside, holding it open for the elderly man that was tottering in behind her. Deciding to refer to her legitimate, school list first, Cerelia ducked into the ‘Hogwarts’ aisle and began to comb the shelves for the books she needed for the year ahead.

It was a fine day today, a perfect opportunity to hang out and do something in Caiden's case he had to buy some stuff he needed for Hogwart. Usually his mother accompanied him on his journey the stuff he needed for school. But unfortunately she had to run an 'errand'. Her usually her excuse to avoid him and have a party and possibly a karaoke party. Caiden been to his fair shares of karaoke party with his mother well enough to avoid them. His mother was a great singer, her friends.... well not so much. He swore he could hear them singing just two blocks away. Loud and horrible enough that the birds had taken off and flew off to find a new home. He could just hear the dogs wimping, laying their head on the ground and putting their hands on theirs ears as they try to drown out the noise. Gotta love his mum.

Caiden walked out of the clothes shop and stood outside for a few second to look through his list of stuff he needed for Hogwart. 'An-cient His-tory,' he read out slowly. 'Volume IV'. Alright books it is, he shoved his list in his back pocket and made his way to the Flourish and Blotts. Caiden loved the place, I mean of course he did he was addicted to books. He just absolutely loves reading, he would read through a book again and again and he would already memorise the whole book. The one thing he loved most is the smell of new books as soon as he opens it. Finally he made his way to the shop and stepped inside, closing the door behind him. 'Good evening,' said the lady at the counter. Caiden looked at the lady and waved at her, then picked up a basket and made his way to the 'Hogwarts' section and slowly going his way through all the books he needed on his list. As he walked his way down the aisle, throwing books into his basket. WIth care of course. He accidentally bumps into somebody, causing hims to stagger a bit, almost falling backwards but luckily he caught onto this girl shoulders and caught his balance again. 'Oh sorry, about that,' he chuckled, looking to see who it was.

The sunshine was baking down over Diagon Alley, making those who had deigned to wear robes itchy and uncomfortable in them. As midday drew nearer, more and more people went in search of refreshments and something to eat, filtering out the amount of people that were in retail shops as the numbers that flocked to the ice cream parlour and various cafes that promised food and ice cold beverages. Cerelia was content to linger in the bookshop, her belly still full from breakfast and a bottle of water in her bag if she should get thirsty. A sack of coins was also there; her escort having gone to Gringott’s before taking her to Diagon Alley in order to save her a trip and ensure that she get home on time to avoid the wrath of her father. She had an allotted amount of time to get all of the things that were on her list – both what she’d need for school and what Adolphus had requested. She could even spy Bastien’s scraggly handwriting at the bottom asking for a vial of Eye of Newt from the apothecary.

Cerelia walked the aisles of the shop slowly and deliberately, taking from the shelf the book she needed and stacking them in the arms so the widest – and also, coincidentally, the heaviest – were at the bottom and the smaller, lighter ones went to the top. By the time she rounded the corner into the potions section she already had an armful of books, her N.E.W.T timetable hardly forgiving when it came to leisure time. She spied almost immediately the three books she needed, conveniently stood side-by-side on the tightly packed shelf that would be within arm’s reach if she were to stretch up and extend her arm as far as it could go. Cerelia knelt, placing the books down onto the carpet that covered the nigh on ancient wooden floor. It was when she rose up again that a body connected with her own, the slam of a chest against hers urging the air from her lungs.

Cerelia’s hands groped for the bookshelf and she managed to steady herself, preventing a fall that would have left her thoroughly embarrassed. Cerelia’s eyes narrowed at the absent-minded creature that barrelled into her and she openly glared at the blonde-haired boy that stood before her, his arms still resting on her shoulders in a rather intruding, offensive fashion.

“Get your hands off of me!” Cerelia hissed, her eyes flashing, displaying her fury in full view. Cerelia rolled her shoulders forward, heaving his hands from their surface, and stepped back, bringing her hands up to rub imaginary pieces of lint off of them. “How dare you!” She fumed. “You filthy little excuse for a wizard! Are you unaware of who it is you have just man-handled?!” Cerelia squared her shoulders and readjusted her bag on her shoulder. She then stepped out and away from the boy and stalked over to the counter where she handed over her Hogwarts list to the woman there and said shortly, “I want these delivered to Avery manor, please. No later than next week. You will receive half in advance and then the other when the books arrive. Good day.”

And with that she made her way to the door, hell bent on melting into Knockturn Alley where she could peruse the shady shops there in search of what her father wanted.

Caiden took a step back, his eyes widened as the girl started shouting at him and he could feel his body temperature rising a bit. 'Look I-' said Caiden, putting his hands up as if he was defending himself as he was interrupted by the full wraith of the strange girl shouting at him. Caiden had no idea him bumping into someone would cause them this much trouble, of course he didn't go around bumping into people on purpose just to see what their reaction would be. As the girl left, he stood there for a moment gathering everything that had just happened to him. He could feels eyes staring at him for behind, he looked around the room for a second and could everyone looking at him. He grinned and waved at them, he felt so embarrassed at the moment. Phew! did it get hot in here. Caiden shocked his collar to let some air in and looked around for possible location of a heater. Then he turned back to the bookcase and quickly grabbing the books he needed for Hogwart, reading the title at least three time so he got the right one and tossing them into his basket.

Soon he got everything he needed and rushed towards the counter. 'I want these delivered to 91 Hartham Road, possibly by next week. Heres the payment in advance,' Caiden said paying the lady the full fare then started heading off to find the girl who had shouted at him. Caiden stood outside for a moment and looked both side to see if he could find a blond haired lady bobbing her head in the crowds, possibly in a white shirt. At least that what he remembered, he could be wrong. In the corner of his eyes he could spot the blond haired girl making a turn into the Knockturn Alley. He quickly shuffled his way through the crowds and chased after her.

Caiden skidded to a stop when he stood underneath the sign which read 'Knockturn Alley' he was right in the mouth of the dark cold alley. Last Caiden heard of Knockturn Alley was that usually, unusual and dangerous people lurked around here. But as usual with Caiden's unusual over passionate nature made him determine to find her and apologise. 'Here goes nothing' he muttered, walking into Knockturn Alley, he could already feel the cold dark nature of the area. 'Hey!' said Caiden, following the girl behind him. as he looked at the strange group of people in the corner who seemed to be giving him strange look. 'Hey, you over there!" he shouted. 'I need to say something!' he continued, walking at a fast pace desperate to apologise to this girl and get the hell out.

Knockturn Alley was a safe haven for all of those that did not wish to be found. It was a place even the most senior officials in the Ministry dare not encroach upon. It was a place where Pureblood tradition thrived and was not at all the dark nook of London that the Light witches and wizards portrayed it to be. It was a place, yes, that Death Eaters and Dark Magic practitioners frequented but it was not as unsafe as Ministry propaganda liked to suggest. No, in fact you were more likely to encounter trouble in Diagon Alley, the light, ‘safe’ area of Magical London. Cerelia certainly felt more at home in Knockturn Alley, Diagon Alley far too chipper for her taste. She enjoyed the shade of Knockturn Alley and certainly found its people a lot more palatable. As soon as she slipped into its shadow she felt herself relax, felt her shoulders slip from their raised, hackle like stance. She wiped the cheek-bone aching smile from her face and weaved amongst the people, making her way down the sloping street to her destination: the used bookshop.

The street was mostly empty towards the end of the road before it jutted off into random directions at angles that didn’t appear physically possible. It was deathly quiet in Knockturn Alley, as was customary, and so it was impossible for Cerelia to miss the sound of someone’s voice, a familiar voice, the same voice that had brushed off earlier foolishness. Cerelia, despite her better nature, decided to stop and she turned, her face illuminated lightly by flickering lamp above her. Her eyebrows rose as the boy made his way towards her, looking horrendously out of place in the alley. Cerelia didn’t owe anything to him but she certainly wasn’t going to stand there with an imbecile who had it written all over his body that he did not belong in Knockturn Alley. He was going to get himself killed. Now this would have contradicted an earlier observation that Knockturn Alley is safer than its Order-run counterpart. That’s a lie, of course, because in Knockturn Alley, no crime is reported.

“Stand up straight,” she hissed at him, staring pointedly at his wrought, almost panicked features. “Wipe that surly look off of your face too; and be quiet – they don’t like noise.” Cerelia looked about herself and then eyed an empty looking alleyway. She reached out and curled her hand around the strap of his bag and tugged at him, pulling him as best she could considering the size difference between them, hoping he had enough brain cells to know to follow her where she was in the process of going. Once within the safety of the alley, Cerelia lifted her wand and flicked it at one of the lamps, making it blaze brighter so as to heighten their visibility. “You’re not particularly intelligent, are you, following me here? It’s Knockturn Alley, you imbecile. People. Die. Here. There’s a reason Light Wizards such as yourself avoid this place. Now say what you have come to say and leave. You’re not a loss to me or to their side but I refuse to be implicated if you wind up dead.”

Caiden shot right up and stood as tall as he could to avoid looking suspicious. In the corner of his eyes he could see danger lurking everywhere. People eyed him suspiciously as he walked across the street. 'Look, I-' said Caiden, but before he could say anything he was dragged along by the girl tugging him along with her. He knew this wasn't his brightest move, he blamed it on his over passionate nature. Caiden knew better then to follow her, apologise to her and then get out of here. Caiden wasn't exactly liking this neighbour hood at the moment, he didn't like the way they were looking at him. 'I just wanted to say I was sorry,' said Caiden.