Muggles Who Aren't Quite Muggles

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"Are the both of you ready to go?" Dumbledore asked when you returned from dropping your stuff off at your room. You nodded. "Well then, we shall be on our way. First stop Gringotts Bank."

The three of you left the Leaky Cauldron and you tried not to get distracted by the hustle and bustle all around you. You entered Gringotts in pure awe. Sammy, however, was not so reserved.

"Cool! Goblins!" she whispered excitedly.

At the end of what seemed like a mile-long hall, you stopped and looked up at the Chief Goblin. "I'd like to make a withdrawal, please."

"Do you have your key?" he growled.

You held up your key and he pointed, seemingly disgusted. After passing through the large doors the lighting went from bright to almost nonexistent. The only light was coming from dim torches throughout the catacombs, one of which was held out by a small goblin in front of you.

"Vault number."

"773."

"Step aboard."

Dumbledore and Sammy got in and sat down quickly. You, however, stood staring at the cavern surrounding you, completely amazed that this was all hidden under London. You noticed that Sammy looked uneasy and asked, "What's wrong, Sammy?" The cart jerked forward, throwing you into your seat.

"That!" she muttered. You rolled your eyes and laughed to yourself, enjoying the ride. A coaster fanatic yourself, you threw your hands into the air. She just kept a tight grip on the bars around her.

Eventually, you stopped in an even darker area, clearly much further underground. "Vault 773," the goblin said, stepping out of the cart. You did so as well. "Key, please." You handed him your key and he opened the vault with it and a wave of his hand. As the door slowly opened, your jaw dropped.

"Holy crap, Jer!! You're LOADED!!!" Sammy exclaimed, and with good reason. Your vault was full of gold Galleons, silver Sickles, and bronze Knuts.

"Yes, you could say that," Dumbledore said.

"So--um--Professor, where does this put me on the 'richness scale' here in Britain?" you asked, knowing full well how shallow you sounded. Dumbledore, however, only chuckled.

"Oh, I'd say you'd rank somewhere among the Malfoys, I believe."

"The Malfoys? And here I'm worse off than Ron!" Sammy said, looking depressed.

"Don't worry, Samantha. Hogwarts is quite capable of--" Dumbledore started, but interrupted.

"Oh, no you don't! Samantha Duerre Summers, for all I care you're my sister so give me that pouch!" You ripped her bag from her hands and began filling it with the coins.

"No! Jer! Jerika!! JERIKA LYN!!!"

"Oh, hush! You know you want, no, need it and you're like my sister so take the bag and get back on the cart," you said, shoving it back into her hands.

"The c-cart?" she stuttered.

"Yes," you said. "Oh, come on, Sammy! It's not that bad."

"That's what you think," she mumbled, getting back in as you filled your own pouch to take care of all expenses coming up. Not long after you returned to the cart, you were all outside in Diagon Alley, finally observing the shops on the streets. "That mall did look kind of like this place."

"But without the cobblestone streets and Wizarding stores," you said.

"Actually, there was a Wizarding store," Sammy said.

"True."

"I trust you two can find your way around?" Dumbledore asked. You nodded. "Then I shall be awaiting your arrival at Hogwarts. Here are your train tickets. It leaves tomorrow and classes start on Monday. Good luck." There was a 'pop' and Dumbledore was gone. You shoved your ticket in your back pocket.

"So, where first?" Sammy asked.

"To the most important place. Ollivanders!" you answered, as if it was so obvious. It wasn't that far, so you took off in a burst of excitement. Inside, it was rather dark. You cleared your throat. "Um--excuse me. Mr. Ollivander?"

His head appeared out from behind one of the many shelves within the store. "Well, you two certainly don't look eleven."

Sammy laughed quietly and said, "We're not. We're fifteen."

"Ah, yes. I've been expecting you. Dumbledore told me about the two of you. Come, come, I have a few wands set aside." You looked at Sammy with a smile before following him.

You got yours first. After the many measurements he handed you one to try. It was a beautiful, sleek, black wand and just by gripping it you knew that it was meant for you. You waved it lightly and a soft purple glow came from the tip.

"Perfect!" Mr. Ollivander exclaimed. "Makassar ebony. Dragon heartstring. Eleven inches. Slightly swishy. A wonderful wand for such an excited mind. Are you ready, Samantha?" She nodded "Wand arm?"

"Right."

You watched as Sammy was measured by the floating tape measure. You giggled a little to yourself and began admiring the boxes upon boxes of wands all around you until you noticed one floating above the table. It was Sammy.

"Spectacular! North American birch. 11 ¾ inches. Hippogriff talon."

* * *

"I think that's everything," you said.

"Cloaks?" Sammy said.

"Check."

"Cauldrons?"

"Check."

"Gloves?"

"Check."

"Scales? Phials? Telescope?"

"Check, check, check." 'Anytime Sammy.'

"Books?"

"Okay, Sammy, you can stop now!"

"Books?" 'She's doing this on purpose!'

"Check! My goodness, you'd think you were Hermione!"

"Okay, fine. One more."

"Fine."

"Pets?"

"Here."

"Huh?"

"Look up, dip shit!"

You were both standing in front of the Magical Menagerie and Eeylops Owl Emporium. Before she could say anything you ran into Eeylops. There were so many owls to choose from, some asleep on their perches, others hooting and looking around. A couple even flew about the shop. As cool as an entire store devoted to owls was, you didn't see any that really interested you. You looked closer at some, startling a snoozing screech owl in the process. Despite the noise, you noticed that the shopkeeper wasn't in sight. You continued to look around the store until, near the back, one caught your eye. It was black and brown with a few white and gray spots throughout its feathers. It was a horned owl and, as you looked at it, you noticed that its eyes were purple.

"You're different, aren't you? Would you like to be my owl?" you asked it holding out your arm. It hopped down and looked at you with its head twisted almost upside down. You smiled. "I'll take that as a 'yes'."

You walked out to the counter and rang the bell. Soon the shopkeeper came out. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize I had a customer. Is this the owl you want? She's a fine creature, no?"

"Yeah she is. She's very different."

"That she is. Perhaps that's the reason she has not left with another witch or wizard. Anyway, I'll be right back." He disappeared to the back of the store once again to get a cage for you. Meanwhile, you picked out some owl treats. He came back with the cage for Violet (you also named her while you waited).

"Will that be all?" You nodded placing the treats on the counter. "Alright then, that will be twenty-five Galleons and six Sickles." You paid the man and gave Violet one of the treats when she first went in her cage. You left Eeylops and went next door to the Menagerie. Sammy was paying for her pet.

"A bat?" you said. "I should have known. Can't you ever be like normal people get a normal pet like a normal owl?"

"Nope, there's no such thing, especially in this world," she said.

"Touché." You both laughed on your way out of the store. Sammy, as usual, was laughing so hard that she ran into... 'Uh-oh. This isn't gonna be pretty,' you thought, seeing who she just knocked over.

"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry!" She obviously hadn't noticed. "Oh. It's you."

'There we go.'

"Do I know you?" asked Draco Malfoy.

"No, but I know you," she sneered.

He smirked. "So my reputation precedes me?"

"Not exactly," she started mocking his accent. "It's not hard to know about Draco Malfoy when you can see his ego inflated head from the States." He glared at Sammy, who was now the one smirking.

You elbowed her in the side. "Sammy!"

Malfoy's face turned to utmost disgust and he said, "Excuse me? Who do you think you are?? A Mudblood no doubt!" She drew her wand and pointed it straight at his throat. He immediately pulled his own. 'Oh no you don't! Not if I can help it!' you thought before you grabbed her arm and twisted it behind her back. Her wand fell from her hand.

"Sammy, no!"

"Jer, he said that word. You know I hate that word!"

"Well, what do you expect? Look who it's coming from!"

She sighed and you let her go. Unfortunately, Draco wasn't going to let things go as easily. He had her wand in his hand.

"Give that back you filthy son-of-a-bitch!!"

"Now, now. Insults will get you nowhere. And who are you calling filthy?"

"Look who's talking. 'Insults will get you nowhere!' Just give me my wand."

"Well, well, well. Aren't we bossy?" He smirked at her. She just glared at him with one hand on her hip and the other extended, waiting for her wand back. You were watching carefully making sure they stayed civil. Surprisingly, he handed it back. "I assume that since you're here, I'll be seeing you at school. We can settle this then."

"Oh, we will," she threatened, cracking her knuckles.

"Sammy, there's nothing to settle!" you said, jumping between the two of them. You turned to Draco. "Please, don't mind her." You smiled weakly and then dragged Sammy off, away from him.

"Ugh! He's so rude!" she groaned.

"Well, the heart doesn't always match the shell."

"Can we dissect him and find out?!" She looked extremely hopeful.

"Sammy, he's not a frog. Sure, he was a ferret last year, but he's not a frog!"

"Why are you defending him?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, I don't have as much against him as you and the trio would. Why do you ask?--What are you thinking?" You looked at her questioningly.

"Oh, nothing," she laughed.

You noticed what store you were in and decided to change the subject.

"Well, if I plan on playing Quidditch at Hogwarts, this would be the place to be."

"Aren't we technically first years though? First years aren't allowed to have brooms of their own," she said smartly.

"There you go, sounding like Hermione again. We know way more than most of the fifth years we'll be joining. Plus we're in fifth year classes and all that so I think we qualify as fifth years. Now, if you don't mind, I'm getting a Firebolt!" you said, quickly paying for it.

She obviously decided to get one, as well.

"So, what are you getting?"

"A Nimbus 2001. A bit slower than your Firebolt, but way faster than the Comet 260. I just want to be able to out fly a few other players," she said. You laughed at her a little. Once she finished, you both made your way back to the Leaky Cauldron. Tomorrow: Hogwarts!