Diagon Alley

Kara looked down at the gloomy man sent to retrieve her. Severus Snape was an interesting one to her, he seemed so...sad. Kara had hated the eyes when they were given to her but had learned to appreciate their value, she could see his 'Aura'. It was dark, nearly as Dark as the Wizards and Morgan's, though she had only seen Morgan's once. But it had a couple of white streaks. The Darkness looked controlled, balanced. He had made himself this way on purpose.

"I take it you aren't thrilled to be here, professor."

"No, not particularly, Princess."

"Queen, technically, just not of Avalon yet. Once I held Clarent though, I was, in theory, a Queen."

He raised his eyes at that. He looked around the Ivory Castle's atrium, obviously impressed, although he seemed slightly annoyed as well. Servants mingled about, taking Kara's things, but the castle certainly felt empty, he was picking up on that.

"This castle was built to hold millions, there are countless thousands of rooms and facilities, most of which have space charms. But we don't exactly have that many people to staff it. Hell, most of the castle is too dangerous to staff at this point. The emptiness doesn't go away."

The man actually seemed surprised and slightly... impressed? He looked at the castle with a new light, one with more solemnity.

"Hogwarts is like this, from time to time. Such a large place with so few people comparatively. It's saddening."

"You don't show emotion very often, do you professor?"

"No, sentiment is for fools, but this castle...deserves a respect. One does not toy with the thoughts of a construct older than Magical Britain."

"No, one does not."

"Shall we leave, your highness?", this time he spoke without the sarcasm laden in his voice like before. Respect goes both ways.

"I suppose we shall. I would have liked to say goodbye to my cousins, but they seem to have slept in."

She walked over to the professor and grabbed the hand he had put forward for her. Apparition was never fun, especially over long distances, but it was certainly more efficient. Though when he tried, the professor found he couldn't.

"Ah, sorry.", Kara said before taking Excalibur from its sheath across her back. Snape recoiled at seeing the blade, a blade that had been hidden beforehand by a couple charms.

Kara made a command in her mind and the blade shimmered in acquiescence. Placing Excalibur back in his sheath, she took the professor's hand again and felt the tugging sensation of apparition take her.

---

Snape took them to Diagon Alley. Diagonally?, she thought to herself. The place, despite her hatred of most things magical, was oddly happy. Families and shoppers meandered through the shops, staring at various store fronts.

"Right, wand first I suppose."

"Yes, though we have to make a visit to the ministry after you get your things."

"I just need my wand, a trunk, and an owl. My funds are not run through Gringotts, so I do not require their services while I'm here."

"I will be in the apothecary while you acquire your things."

Kara nodded, then walked towards the wand maker. Ollivander's was damn near as old as Avalon, which is impressive on its own, but they certainly weren't the best wand makers in the world. This wouldn't be her first time using a wand, she had been a student of magic for a long time, and this one would only be temporary, but dammit she was excited to own something for once.

She entered the shop and met eyes with a wiry old man.

"Well deary, I surely was not expecting you to come across my doors. This shall truly be interesting.", and he rushed off to find something. He shortly came back with a few boxes. She looked at the boxes with her artificial mage sight, though it was a mockery of the real thing, and stared at the wands.

"My, I need to find a wand worthy of a Pendragon. These are all rather old, from a more experimental time in my life. A bit pricey I'm afraid, but I doubt you care much about that."

"That is fine. I do not know much about wandlore but I believe Dragon Heartstring will be optimal, possibly of Hebridean Black."

"Now...why would you suspect that?", there was a calm understanding in his eyes that betrayed him though. She suspected he had a type of Mage sight as well, either that or a level of legilimency Kara didn't want to think about.

"I...have been modified, a little. I'd rather not go into detail."

"Well, try this one first. Usually I'd save it, but I feel it might suit you.", he pulled out a long, beautiful Ivory and Bone wand.

"This is made from a dragon's bone inlaid with Ivory. It has mixed cores, dragon's heartstring, do not know the species, wrapped around a...well, something old. Brilliant for runic work and enchanting."

She took the wand from his hand and felt warm. The wand was long, nearly 17 inches, and was a perfect cone. It reminded her of a very small lance. Taking what Olivander said, she made the rune Isa with her wand and felt the room get a little colder. Olivander was taken aback and Kara preened a bit, runes were her specialty, along with enchanting and Alchemy. They were the two subjects of magic she genuinely found interesting and devoted personal time to, as they're subjects very intertwined.

"I must say I'm rather impressed, Isa was it?"

"Yes. I've had prior experience, we didn't know I was going to Hogwarts originally."

"Well, Kara Pendragon, I expect great things from you."

"I thank you, sir. How much will it be?"

"20 galleons, I'm afraid."

"All is well, here.", she grabbed the account bag from her side and brought out 25, placing them on the desk. Smiling, she walked out with her wand. She also purchased a holster. The knights of the round table had made her swear an oath to attend 7 years at Hogwarts against her wishes, to make up for it she had been given access to her trust at long last. She wasn't going to pretend she was responsible with that money, as it was her small way to rebel.

Walking to the Trunk store that she didn't bother reading the name of, she looked around.

"Anything I can get you in particular, dear?"

"What's the largest Trunk you provide?"

"Well, we have the 'HandyHome' line which is about the size of a flat."

"Let's take a look."

After browsing a few options, she found one she'd liked and left. She guessed the Trunk had about 1000 sq ft of space for her to use as she willed. 

She walked to Eeylops Owl Emporium next and purchased a spotted Owl she named Kilgarah for Irony's sake and walked to Slug and Jiggers to find Snape.

"That was faster than I took you for, Miss Pendragon."

"I figured it wasn't the time to be picky."

"Very well. Ministry."

Kara had forgotten about this part. Time to meet Cornelius Fudge.