Introduction for MAGIC

Neptunia still couldn't believe that someone was taking HER side. HER SIDE! Most adults didn't believe her but Neptunia was grateful. Neptunia sat on her bean bag yawning as she read a few psychology books, specifically the ones regarding abuse and how it affected children. It had been a few days since she had asked Mrs Abby and she was glad she did so. The date today was 30th July.

Mrs Abby had taught her a few things which had nothing to do with the case and Neptunia was surprised that she had 'soul wounds' as Mrs Abby put it.

Neptunia thought back to that conversation. Man, that was a wild ride. She hadn't stopped crying.

Neptunia sat on the couch with her hit off as Mrs Abby took the pictures of her latest endeavour. After she was done, Neptunia put on the shirt. She looked at Mrs Abby who was frowning, "What is it, Mrs Abby?"

"Sweetie, I'm afraid these photos won't be enough."

Neptunia brightened. "OH! Don't worry. I have photos from my other...encounters and what not. I don't have the photo of 'after the violent episode' as you asked before but I also have witnesses. The other children?"

Mrs Abby looked horrified, "Sweetie, what has that woman done to you?"

Neptunia shrank from her gaze, she contemplated telling her before opening her mouth, spilling everything. "Most of the time she was just giving me lessons on how I should behave and really those were warranted since I was just 5. It was really my mistake. I spoke too loud, she had a hangover. But ever since the other kids arrived she attacked them too. She hit them a few times before I stepped in and took her focus off them. I took photos and noted the date. It was then I realised that she was horrible."

Neptunia's hair fell in her face, it had turned purple. It wasn't a bright shade but a mellow and gloomy one. Fear...Neptunia realized. She felt so afraid of that women that even the thought of her triggered her hair to react. Neptunia looked at her hair and everything was turning blurry. Oh, she was about to cry. No, she couldn't cry. It was wrong. She was wro-

"Oh,my sweet child. Why are you so selfless? You couldn't care about yourself but as soon as someone else was hurt you step in? You work so much that you have enough money to leave but you stay? only to protect the others? You're so smart but you don't brag? Darling, if it was me I would have given in. You are beautiful, you are strong, you are special, you are not forbidden or stopped from expressing yourself. It's okay to laugh loud, cry hard or be angry, as long its justified of course. Never listen to the horrible voices that may be outside or inside. You may have physical and soul wounds but they heal. Sure they may ache from time to time but they don't define you, they just remind you of your story. The past is history, the future is undefined but the present is yours and yours alone. Nothing can change that. So, you ready to write your story?"

Neptunia looked up with tear tracks streaming across her face and leapt across the length of the couch to hug her as she cried freely for the first time in a looong time.

Neptunia smiled freely as her hair turned pink. She loved Mrs Abby, she was warm and soft, like a protector. She glanced at the watch, she still had a lot of time till the dinner rush. Neptunia closed her book and stood up stretching as she smiled at Uncle Sev who was sitting across her. "What are you reading?"

The man looked up and blinked, "Potions..."

Neptunia blinked...what. Oh! Magic was still a thing. She giggled, "Can you teach me?"

Neptunia stared as her uncle's fixed face turned something into mild shock. "Do you really want to?"

Neptunia nodded her head, "I'm really good at memorizing things. I can learn formulas in no time. The physical aspect may need a little help."

Severus nodded, "Very well then, take this book. Memorize it. I shall quiz you tomorrow, if you are ready then we'll go to my house for some brewing." Neptunia eagerly nodded and grabbed the book before turning to the first page. There were some extra notes but she didn't pay them any mind. They were just tips and tricks. "Is this yours?"

"No. Unfortunately, my school copy had been misplaced. I simply bought a new one and re-wrote my notes."

Neptunia furrowed her brow, "Shouldn't you write it in another notebook? So it doesn't get lost?"

She looked up and blinked owlishly. He cleared his throat, "I'll keep that in mind." Neptunia smiled and sat down and started reading the book.

It was fun, soon Uncle Sev left and it was just her and Mrs Abby left in the library. While she was halfway through the thick master's book for potioneers, Mrs Abby sat in front of her. "what are you reading sweetie?"

Neptunia smiled, she didn't regret telling Mrs Abby all about Magic and Elementals and how the necklace had formed on Albus Dumbledore's desk with a note saying that it should be delivered to her. She hadn't regretted telling her about her uncle and her choices. She smiled, "Potions, Mrs Abby! There are tons on here. Liquid Luck, Polyjuice, Memoriam meam erudias which is a memory returning potion! There are some many that could help a non-magic person and really? I think it is funny that though they might have better things than non-magic people they really haven't thought of using pills or the things we use for writing instead of quills!!"

Neptunia giggled as Mrs Abby smiled. "That's interesting...memoriam? Is that greek or something?"

Neptunia shook her head, "Latin! I studied language history a few months back and I was really sucked into it...speaking of which! I have to go! My shift is going to start in a few minutes." Neptunia put the book in her bag as she got up and her hair turning their usual colour as she raced towards the gate and eventually the restaurant.

---

After her shift, Neptunia walked back slowly, she yawned. She needed to buy something for Harry. Her first friend's birthday was tomorrow! What should she do? Her hand subconsciously moved to her necklace and Neptunia fiddled with it as she thought about what she buy or make for him. Harry was thin, maybe- No...a good book? Nah, not everyone loved to read like her. A sweatshirt? Hm...maybe she shoul-. Neptunia stopped and stared at the glass window of a Candyland shop. Neptunia bit her lip. Wow, what a place. Maybe, this could be a gift? A packet of an assortment of sweets? Yeah..everyone loved sweets.

She smiled and walked in. She looked around and thanked a man who had given her a candy bag and plastic gloves to collect the sweets she wanted. She quickly wore them and started walking around. You could even sample a few if you wanted. Personally, she liked the sour strips a lot. But for Harry, she got a lot of chocolate eggs, sour apple bites, gummy worms, fudge and breadsticks, almond chocolates and a bunch of mini treacle tarts.

She walked up to the counter and the women there smiled, "Got a sweet tooth?"

Neptunia shook her head, "No ma'am, just my friend's birthday."

The women blinked before winking conspiratorily, "Okay then."

Soon after the transaction, Neptunia hid it all in her bag in such a manner that it wouldn't break. Once she reached the orphanage, the lights were out. She checked up on the others before moving to her cupboard. She put her bag in the corner and lay down. It was dark since the bulb had broken. She grabbed her necklace for comfort and small lights started to glow around her. Neptunia gazed at them as she yawned, "Stars?" She murmured sleepily. Soon enough, Neptunia fell asleep and she dreamt of meeting a queen who told her that they would meet soon. And for Neptunia? It was just a dream.

When Neptunia woke up the next morning, she was woken by the cries of the girls and boys. Her eyes opened flashing like space and her hair turning like water and started flowing but in the colour of her eyes. She fumbled with the latch and as she rushed out. The elements were floating around her poised as weapons ready to strike. She ran forward and stood in front of them with her back facing them.

Her face was in a snarl as she growled out, "Who the hell ar-"

Neptunia's eyes and hair turned to their usual colour as she saw her friend, "Harry? And, who is this with you?"

Neptunia stared at the tall man who was very bushy and had beetle like black eyes. The man chcuckled, "Sorry 'bout that, didn' know tha' the door was tha' fragile."

Neptunia narrowed her eyes and raised her eyebrow before looking at Harry. "Neptunia! Wow! That was amazing!"

Neptunia smiled and turned around, "Now shush you guys. Up you go. I'll get your breakfast ready in a little while."

She turned back to the hairy man and Harry. She pointed to the sofa. They sat and the couch creaked a little. Neptunia winced a little as she heard it creak. The man put his pink flowerly umbrella on the side. "Where's ya guardian Neptunia? Not alone are ya?"

Neptunia shook her head, "No. She's out. Who are you? Are you here to take us to Hogwarts?"

The man laughed, "Got ya letter 'lready?" Neptunia tilted her head. The man chuckled, " 'Course not, orphanaged children have it personally delivered. 'ere."

Neptunia stared at the yellowish parchment. It read:

Ms N. Black

The smallest cupboard

Light Orphanage

Little Whinging

SURREY

Neptunia blinked at it, what. She looked at the man who was smiling warmly and nodded at her to open it. She licked her lips.

She opened it to find two pieces of parchment. The first one read:

Dear Ms Black

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find an enclosed list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours Sincerely

MINERVA MCGONAGALL

DEPUTY HEADMISTRESS

Neptunia blinked slowly, "Well then..." She looked up at the man, who smacked his forehead, "'Course you're confused! Me name's Hagrid. The groundskeeper and keeper of keys at Hogwarts."

Neptunia nodded numbly and turned to Harry, "So you're a wizard and I'm a witch now?"

Harry nodded unsurely and shrugged. Neptunia turned to Hagrid, "How did you know my name?"

"The both of ya are famous since ya defeated You-Know-Who when ya were wee' babies."

Neptunia raised her brow, "I don't know who." She saw Harry stifle a laugh as Hagrid grinned, "Tha's me out smar'ed ain't it?"

Neptunia shrugged. "You mean Voldemort?" Hagrid yelped and looked at her, "Don' say 'is name."

Neptunia tilted her head and apologized before asking, "So, um. Let me just get the other's breakfast and then we'll get the equipment?"

Hagrid nodded. Neptunia turned towards Harry and then suddenly smacked her forehead. "Oh! I almost forgot! Happy Birthday,Harry! Wait here." She walked to her cupboard, grabbed her bag and brought out the sweets she had bought. " I don't know much about you since we haven't really talked but I figured everyone liked sweets so here you go." She gave the sweets to Harry and walked inside to the other kids. She explained that she had won a scholarship at a really big school where she could study more and they immediately implored her to go. Neptunia smiled and brought them down for breakfast.

After everything was said and done. They started towards London. Neptunia looks towards Hagrid as they sat on the train, "Where are we going?"

Hagrid chuckled, "To get yer supplies. Still got yer letter?"

Neptunia opened up the second parchment. IT read:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL o f WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

UNIFORM

First-year students will require:

1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)

2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear

3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)

4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)

Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags

COURSE BOOKS

All students should have a copy of each of the following:

The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk

A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot

Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling

A Beginners' Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore

Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander

The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble

OTHER EQUIPMENT

1 wand

1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)

1 set of glass or crystal phials

1 telescope set

1 brass scales

Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS

They passed book shops and music stores, hamburger restaurants and cinemas, but nowhere that looked as if it could sell you a magic wand. This was just an ordinary street full of ordinary people. Could there really be piles of wizard gold buried miles beneath them? Were there really shops that sold spell books and broomsticks? Might this not all be some huge joke that the Universe cooked up? She might have thought so; yet somehow, even though everything Hagrid had told her so far was unbelievable, She couldn't help trusting him.

"This is it," said Hagrid, coming to a halt, "the Leaky Cauldron. It's a famous place. "

It was a tiny, grubby-looking pub. If Hagrid hadn't pointed it out, she wouldn't notice it was there. The people hurrying by didn't glance at it. Their eyes slid from the big book shop on one side to the record shop on the other as if they couldn't see the Leaky Cauldron at all. In fact, Neptunia had the most peculiar feeling that only she and Hagrid could see it. Before she could say anything at all. Hagrid steered them inside. Neptunia turned to Harry as he did so and she could see that he felt the same too. So was the place cloaked in magic? Some kind of illusion spell?

For a famous place, it was very dark and shabby. A few old women were sitting in a corner, drinking tiny glasses of sherry. One of them was smoking a long pipe. A little man in a top hat was talking to the old bartender, who was quite bald and looked like a toothless walnut. The low buzz of chatter stopped when they walked in. Everyone seemed to know Hagrid; they waved and smiled at him, and the bartender reached for a glass, saying, "The usual, Hagrid?"

"Can't, Tom, I'm on Hogwarts business," said Hagrid, clapping his great hand on Harry's shoulder and making Harry's knees buckle.

"Good Lord," said the bartender, peering at Harry, "is this -- can this be -- ?"

The Leaky Cauldron had suddenly gone completely still and silent.

"Bless my soul," whispered the old bartender, "Harry Potter. . . what an honor. "

He hurried out from behind the bar, rushed toward Harry and seized his hand, tears in his eyes.

"Welcome back, Mr. Potter, welcome back. "

Harry didn't know what to say. Everyone was looking at him. The old woman with the pipe was puffing on it without realizing it had gone out. Hagrid was beaming.

Then there was a great scraping of chairs and the next moment, Harry found himself shaking hands with everyone in the Leaky Cauldron.

"Doris Crockford, Mr. Potter, can't believe I'm meeting you at last. "

"So proud, Mr. Potter, I'm just so proud. "

"Always wanted to shake your hand -- I'm all of a flutter. "

"Delighted, Mr. Potter, just can't tell you, Diggle's the name, Dedalus Diggle. "

"I've seen you before!" said Harry, as Dedalus Diggle's top hat fell off in his excitement. "You bowed to me once in a shop. "

"He remembers!" cried Dedalus Diggle, looking around at everyone. "Did you hear that? He remembers me!" Harry shook hands again and again -- Doris Crockford kept coming back for more.

A pale young man made his way forward, very nervously. One of his eyes was twitching.

"Professor Quirrell!" said Hagrid. "Harry, Professor Quirrell will be one of your teachers at Hogwarts. "

"P-P-Potter," stammered Professor Quirrell, grasping Harry's hand, "c-can't t-tell you how p-pleased I am to meet you. "

"What sort of magic do you teach, Professor Quirrell?"

"D-Defense Against the D-D-Dark Arts," muttered Professor Quirrell, as though he'd rather not think about it. "N-not that you n-need it, eh, P-P-Potter?" He laughed nervously. "You'll be g-getting all your equipment, I suppose? I've g-got to p-pick up a new b-book on vampires, m-myself. " He looked terrified at the very thought.

But the others wouldn't let Professor Quirrell keep Harry to himself. It took almost ten minutes to get away from them all. At last, Hagrid managed to make himself heard over the babble.

"Must get on -- lots ter buy. Come on, Harry. "

Doris Crockford shook Harry's hand one last time, and Hagrid led them through the bar and out into a small, walled courtyard, where there was nothing but a trash can and a few weeds.

Hagrid grinned at Harry.

"Told yeh, didn't I? Told yeh you was famous. Even Professor Quirrell was tremblin' ter meet yeh -- mind you, he's usually tremblin'. "

Neptunia nudged Harry, "So Mr Famous, you won't forget about me will you?" Harry shook his head and turned to Hagrid. "Why did no one do the same to Neptunia?"

Hagrid stiffened and his eyes started darting around, "They musn' 'ave noticed her."

Neptunia sighed, "I was standing right next to Harry."

Hagrid ignored her and shook his head, "But Quirrel though. Poor bloke. Brilliant mind. He was fine while he was studyin' outta books but then he took a year off ter get some firsthand experience. . . They say he met vampires in the Black Forest, and there was a nasty bit o' trouble with a hag -- never been the same since. Scared of the students, scared of his own subject -- now, where's me umbrella?"

Vampires? Hags? Her head was swimming. Hagrid meanwhile was counting bricks in the wall above the trash can.

"Three up. . . two across. . . " he muttered. "Right, stand back, both of yeh."

He tapped the wall three times with the point of his umbrella.

The brick he had touched quivered -- it wriggled -- in the middle, a small hole appeared -- it grew wider and wider -- a second later they were facing an archway large enough even for Hagrid, an archway onto a cobbled street that twisted and turned out of sight.

"Welcome," said Hagrid, "to Diagon Alley."

Neptunia stared around, people were using magic freely and laughing freely. "Whoa."Harry dumbly nodded beside her as Hagrid laughed.

Neptunia laughed out of disbelief as Hagrid walked ahead, "Firs' stop. Gringotts." Neptunia looked puzzled and Harry explained to her that it was a bank run by GOBLINS! Neptunia laughed once again. WHAT WAS THIS PLACE!? Was that an owl shop? Ohh, they were beautiful.

They had reached a snowy white building that towered over the other little shops. Standing beside its burnished bronze doors, wearing a uniform of scarlet and gold, was --

"Yeah, that's a goblin," said Hagrid quietly as they walked up the white stone steps toward him. The goblin was about a head shorter than Harry. He had a swarthy, clever face, a pointed beard and, they noticed, very long fingers and feet. He bowed as they walked inside. Now they were facing a second pair of doors, silver this time, with words engraved upon them:

Enter, stranger, but take heed

Of what awaits the sin of greed,

For those who take, but do not earn,

Must pay most dearly in their turn.

So if you seek beneath our floors

A treasure that was never yours,

Thief, you have been warned, beware

Of finding more than treasure there.

"Like I said, Yeh'd be mad ter try an' rob it," said Hagrid.

To Neptunia, the poem sounded like a dare...A pair of goblins bowed them through the silver doors and they were in a vast marble hall. About a hundred more goblins were sitting on high stools behind a long counter, scribbling in large ledgers, weighing coins in brass scales, examining precious stones through eyeglasses. There were too many doors to count leading off the hall, and yet more goblins were showing people in and out of these. Hagrid and Harry made for the counter while Neptunia walked behind slowly still awestruck.

"Morning," said Hagrid to a free goblin. "We've come ter take some money outta Mr. Harry Potter's safe and the Black Vault."

"You have their key, sir?"

"Got it here somewhere," said Hagrid, and he started emptying his pockets onto the counter, scattering a handful of mouldy dog biscuits over the goblin's book of numbers. The goblin wrinkled his nose. Harry watched the goblin on their right weighing a pile of rubies as big as glowing coals as Neptunia giggled at Hagrid's mess.

"Got it," said Hagrid at last, holding up a tiny golden key and an ornate silver key.

The goblin looked at it closely. "That seems to be in order. "

"Very well," he said, handing it back to Hagrid, "I will have someone take you down to both vaults. Griphook!"

Griphook was yet another goblin. Once Hagrid had crammed all the dog biscuits back inside his pockets, he and Harry followed Griphook toward one of the doors leading off the hall.

"What's the You-Know-What in vault seven hundred and thirteen?" Harry asked.

"Can't tell yeh that," said Hagrid mysteriously. "Very secret. Hogwarts business. Dumbledore's trusted me. More'n my job's worth ter tell yeh that. " Neptunia looked at Harry who shrugged. Neptunia just smiled and shook her head. She was learning and experiencing so many things.

Griphook held the door open for them. Harry, who had expected more marble, was surprised. They were in a narrow stone passageway lit with flaming torches. It sloped steeply downward and there were little railway tracks on the floor. Griphook whistled and a small cart came hurtling up the tracks toward them. They climbed in -- Hagrid with some difficulty -- and were off.

At first,they just hurtled through a maze of twisting passages. Harry tried to remember, left, right, right, left, middle fork, right, left, but it was impossible. Neptunia seemed to have no problem of that sort, her eidetic memory aiding her in ways that simple memory could not. The rattling cart seemed to know its own way because Griphook wasn't steering.

Neptunia looked around as the air smoothly moved past her and didn't seem to affect her, though the same couldn't be said for Harry. Harry's eyes stung as the cold air rushed past them, but he kept them wide open. Once,she thought she saw a burst of fire at the end of a passage and twisted around to see if it was a dragon, but too late -- they plunged even deeper, passing an underground lake where huge stalactites and stalagmites grew from the ceiling and floor.

"I never know," Harry called to Hagrid over the noise of the cart, "what's the difference between a stalagmite and a stalactite?"

"Stalagmite's got an 'm' in it," said Hagrid. "An' don' ask me questions just now, I think I'm gonna be sick. "

He did look very green and before Harry could ask him if he was okay Neptunia cut in, "Actually Harry, Stalactite and stalagmite are both nouns. They each refer to mineral deposits in a cave, but stalactites form on the ceilings of caves, while stalagmites are found on the ground."

Harry looked at Neptunia who was smiling wide and when the cart stopped at last beside a small door in the passage wall, Hagrid got out and had to lean against the wall to stop his knees from trembling.

Griphook unlocked the door. A lot of green smoke came billowing out, and as it cleared, Harry gasped. Inside were mounds of gold coins. Columns of silver. Heaps of little bronze Knuts.

"All yours," smiled Hagrid.

All Harry's -- it was incredible. The Dursleys couldn't have known about this or they'd have had it from him faster than blinking. How often had they complained about how much Harry cost them to keep? And all the time there had been a small fortune belonging to him, buried deep under London.

Hagrid helped Harry pile some of it into a bag and turned to them.

"The gold ones are Galleons," he explained. "Seventeen silver Sickles to a Galleon and twenty-nine Knuts to a Sickle, it's easy enough. Right, that should be enough fer a couple o' terms, we'll keep the rest safe for yeh. " He turned to Griphook. "The Black Vault now."

They got in and they were off and soon enough they reached the vault. Neptunia was the last to step out. She walked slowly. The vault door was nothing like the Potter's or any other one actually. It looked silver, green and ornate like the ring. Griphook inserted the key and stepped back.

The doors opened, and my god. There were so many mounds of gold and silver, there weren't many bronze piles but it showed what it implied. She was the inheritor of the richest family in wizarding history. She turned to Griphook, "Mr Griphook sir, can we convert galleons to muggle money?"

The goblin looked startled at the title he was given but he nodded. Neptunia grabbed 20 galleons, a handful of sickles and knuts and put them into a pouch. She nodded and thanked the goblin. Hagrid turned to Griphook, "Vault seven hundred and thirteen now, please, and can we go more slowly?"

"One speed only," said Griphook.

They were going even deeper now and gathering speed. The air became colder and colder as they hurtled round tight corners. They went rattling over an underground ravine, and Harry leaned over the side to try to see what was down at the dark bottom, but Hagrid groaned and pulled him back by the scruff of his neck. Neptunia giggled and grabbed onto his arm and hugged him slightly.

When they reached Neptunia was surprised. Vault seven hundred and thirteen had no keyhole.

"Stand back," said Griphook importantly. He stroked the door gently with one of his long fingers and it simply melted away.

"If anyone but a Gringotts goblin tried that, they'd be sucked through the door and trapped in there," said Griphook.

"How often do you check to see if anyone's inside?" Harry asked.

"About once every ten years," said Griphook with a rather nasty grin.

Neptunia's eyes widened, "That's barbaric! You ought to lower it to once a month at most!"

Something really extraordinary had to be inside this top security vault, they were sure, and he leaned forward eagerly, expecting to see fabulous jewels at the very least -- but at first they thought it was empty. Then they noticed a grubby little package wrapped up in brown paper lying on the floor. Hagrid picked it up and tucked it deep inside his coat. Harry longed to know what it was, but knew better than to ask as Neptunia stared at him blankly.

"Come on, back in this infernal cart, and don't talk to me on the way back, it's best if I keep me mouth shut," said Hagrid.

Neptunia laughed as Harry smiled. One wild cart ride later they stood blinking in the sunlight outside Gringotts. Harry and NEptunia stared at each other, they were in the same boat. They had no idea how many galleons were to 1pound. Neptunia looked down, she could take the others to amusement parks and fairs and never have to worry about going hungry or making it alive every again. Hell, she could bribe the judge and get away it. All that mattered was that the children at Light Orphanage were finally facing better days.