Thorns Like Any Rose

Chapter 2

Evelyn's twilight eyes searched the pub. This Rubeus Hagrid still needed to show himself. Just then Tom walked over.

"Would you like another butterbeer, Evelyn?" he asked her. She smiled warmly up at the man. He had been very helpful and kind to her ever since she arrived.

"Yes please, Tom," she said still smiling.

"Oh here's Hagrid now," he said taking her empty glass. Evelyn's eyes shot to the door and widened. This man was... big. He had to have some giant blood in him.

"Hello Tom," he said brightly in a deep booming voice that made Evelyn jump. He turned to her and steadied her chair that threatened to topple over with her in it. "Hello you must be Ms. O'Brien. Rubeus Hagrid," he said sticking out a huge hand that muffled Evelyn's small one. "I will be your Care of Magical Creatures Teacher at Hogwarts." The man said smiling, well Evelyn supposed he was smiling behind his massive hairy beard. "Are you ready?" he asked her.

"Yes," she said.

"Alright then," he said. "Diagon Alley it is." She followed him through a door at the back of the pub. It was a dead end.

"Not to be rude, but do you know that there is a wall there?" she asked. He smiled and took out what was a frilly pink umbrella and tapped the bricks on the wall knowingly. What came next Evelyn hadn't expected. The wall split down the middle and the bricks magically fell to the side.

"Welcome to Diagon Alley," Hagrid said from beside her smiling at her awed expression. Her mother had told her about Diagon Alley. She had always wished she could go there. She knew she had an account in Gringotts but never had actually been there. Her mother had promised to take her there but died before it could happen. "We have a lot to buy so shall we get going?" Hagrid asked as they walked towards the bank.

"Yes, lets," she said still in awe. They proceeded to the bank and walked into the lopsided building. Evelyn instinctively moved closer to Hagrid as she spotted the many goblins in the bank.

"Yes stay close," he told her as they headed up to the front desk. "Hello," Hagrid said to the goblin who was furiously writing. He looked up and slit his eyes. "Evelyn O'Brien would like to make a withdrawal," Hagrid told the goblin.

"Very well, does Ms. O'Brien have her key?" The goblin asked eyeing Evelyn suspiciously.

"Yes," she said glaring back at the goblin and placing the key on the counter. He stared down at it then snatched it up. When they reached her vault she didn't expect what awaited her. Thousands upon thousands of gold coins were piled in the fault. She didn't think that she could acquire so much gold in sixteen years. On top of a small gold pile in the front was a letter. Evelyn grabbed it up and tore the seal.

My dearest Evelyn,

If you are here it must mean that you have escaped your father. I left all that I possessed in this vault and as you can see that was a lot. Never tell your father about this. I know he has the key but he only thinks you have two knuts in this vault. I'm assuming that you are going to Hogwarts. I am so proud of you, darling. Don't ever forget that.

I will always love you,

Mommy

Evelyn wiped the tears from her eyes before turning back to Hagrid and pocketing some money. She gently placed the letter in her pocket and left the vault a little more confident.