"Come on, Cela, we'll miss the crowd if we don't go early," Hermione urged, eyes bright with that restless energy she always carried when books and school supplies were involved.
Cela smiled, amused by her eagerness. "We still have plenty of time, Hermione. It's not as though shops are going to run out of supplies."
Hermione shook her head. "You don't understand. Everyone shops at the last minute. By afternoon, Diagon Alley will be packed."
So Cela followed her, letting Hermione lead the way. The cobblestones of Diagon Alley gleamed in the morning sun, lanterns and banners swaying overhead as owls swooped past carrying parcels.
********************
Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions
The bell above the robe shop jingled as they stepped inside. Madam Malkin, plump and smiling, bustled forward.
"Back again, dear?" she greeted Hermione. "And you've brought a new friend."
"This is Celestia Slughorn," Hermione said proudly. "She'll be starting at Hogwarts this year so she needs some help with her school robes."
"Oh, Slughorn? Related to Horace, are you?" Madam Malkin asked, raising her brows.
"My grandfather," Cela replied politely.
Madam Malkin's eyes shone as she clapped her hands. "Well, well! My shop has fitted robes for many Slughorns since the day we opened in this Alley, and here you are, a new member of the family! Up you go, dear. Let's get you measured."
Cela stood on the stool while enchanted measuring tapes whipped around her, tugging at her sleeves and hem. Hermione, meanwhile, tried on a new set of robes for herself.
"Another year, another set," Hermione muttered. "I outgrew the old ones again."
Cela chuckled. "At least you don't have to wear your cousin's cast-offs."
Hermione grinned at that. "Fair point."
Madam Malkin returned with two sets neatly folded. "There you are. Smart and proper. You'll look every inch a Hogwarts witch."
Cela thanked her, and they left with their parcels tucked under their arms.
***************
Next stop was Flourish and Blotts. The bookshop was overflowing with students and parents, the smell of parchment and ink filling the air. Stacks of textbooks lined the tables, while shop assistants hurried about, trying to keep order.
"Third-year books," Hermione murmured, already striding towards the shelves. "We'll need Standard Book of Spells, Grade Three by Miranda Goshawk, and—oh, I see them!"
She piled books into her arms with alarming speed. Cela trailed behind, balancing her own stack.
"You really love this, don't you?" Cela said, watching her.
Hermione gave a sheepish smile. "I can't help it. There's just so much to learn."
They reached the counter, where a harassed-looking clerk handed out another title: The Monster Book of Monsters.
The moment Cela accepted it, the book sprang to life. It snapped open, pages thrashing like wings, and lunged for her hand with gnashing teeth. Cela yelped, nearly dropping it.
"Hold it tight!" the clerk barked. "Clamp it shut!"
Cela wrestled with the book until Hermione grabbed a spare belt from the counter and strapped it closed.
"Who on earth assigns something like this?" Hermione said breathlessly. "Which idiot professor thinks we can learn with a book that bites?"
Cela, still holding the bound book at arm's length, laughed weakly. "Maybe they want us to learn self-defense before anything else."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Honestly…"
**********
After escaping Flourish and Blotts, Hermione tugged Cela towards a shop filled with chirping, croaking, and hissing sounds. The sign above the door read Magical Menagerie.
Inside, cages lined the walls, holding everything from screeching owls to glittering toads and snakes with jeweled scales. Hermione's eyes darted from one animal to another.
"I've never had a pet," Cela admitted. "Grandfather always said they were too much responsibility."
"I wasn't allowed one either until second year," Hermione said. "But now I think it's time. My parents said I could get one for my birthday."
She peered into cage after cage, frowning at noisy rats and restless owls. Finally, in the corner, a large ginger cat with squashed features sat glaring at the world.
"Oh," Hermione whispered. "Look at him."
The cat padded over, slow and deliberate, then rubbed his head against the bars. His amber eyes gleamed with intelligence.
"He's… unusual," Hermione said uncertainly. "Do you think he's cute?"
Cela knelt beside her, studying the cat. "He looks clever. Mischievous, too. I like him. You should buy him."
Hermione hesitated only a moment before nodding. "You're right." She turned to the shopkeeper. "I'll take him."
The ginger cat—Crookshanks—was carried out in a wicker basket, swishing his tail smugly.
*************
Before heading back, Cela tugged Hermione's sleeve. "Wait. We've done nothing but shop all morning. Let's get ice cream."
They stopped at Fortescue's, where small round tables stood under colorful umbrellas. Cela ordered three sundaes—one for herself, one for Hermione, and, when she spotted Ginny Weasley walking past, one for her too.
"Ginny!" Hermione waved. "Come join us."
Ginny slid into the chair, smiling. "Thanks! Merlin, I could use something cold. Mum's dragging us everywhere."
Cela handed her the sundae. "Here, my treat."
"Thanks! You're Cela, right? Hermione's neighbor?"
"That's me."
They dug into their ice cream, laughing as Ginny began her running commentary.
"You won't believe it—Percy's Head Boy this year," Ginny said with a groan. "He's been polishing his badge every five minutes. I swear, if he stares at it any longer, he'll see his reflection."
Hermione giggled. "He's proud, Ginny. There's nothing wrong with that."
"There's nothing wrong with it until he starts giving us all lectures about rules and curfews," Ginny retorted. "Honestly, he's unbearable. And don't get me started on Penelope Clearwater. He's been writing her letters all summer. Love letters."
Cela raised her brows. "Love letters?"
Ginny nodded vigorously. "I caught him once, sealing one with a charm. Practically swooning over the parchment." She dropped her voice in an exaggerated imitation: "'Dearest Penelope, your eyes shine brighter than my badge.'"
Cela burst out laughing, nearly spilling her sundae. Hermione tried to stay serious, but her shoulders shook with suppressed giggles.
"He's going to murder you if he finds out you've been mocking him," Hermione warned.
"Worth it," Ginny said cheerfully. "Someone has to bring him down a peg."
Ginny chuckled as she continued. "Well, apparently the twins are at it again. Yesterday morning, they cast some spell on Percy's Head Boy badge so it read something idiotic instead of 'Head Boy.' And today, they stole it from him, pinned it on Ron, and caused a huge row between the two. The twins, of course, strutted about pretending to be innocent, even backing Percy and scolding Ron for 'stealing' it. Poor Ron was so furious he was nearly in tears. Mum had to step in, but I caught the twins giving each other a sneaky high-five. Ever since Percy got that badge, those two have been tormenting him relentlessly."
The three of them laughed until their sides ached, the afternoon sunlight spilling over Diagon Alley as shoppers bustled past.