Vale stood alone in the bustling heart of Diagon Alley, the vibrant energy swirling around him like a living painting. Snape had disappeared into the crowd, leaving Vale to process the whirlwind of events that had brought him here.
"I finally have a moment to myself." Muttering under his breath, the childish, ever-curious façade of a Muggle-born wizard fully dissipated.
His expression grew abnormally serene.
His breathing was slow and far too relaxed.
It was if he was sleepwalking with his eyes wide open. The previous eerie calm had truly taken on the characteristics of tranquility.
'It seems like my soul is acclimating quite well. Haha,'
A small smile played at Vale's lips as he felt the warmth of his new wand, tucked securely under his arm. After he took another deep breath, he allowed the surrounding sights and sounds to wash over him once more.
Shops, overflowing with peculiar items — cauldrons bubbling in windows, colourful sweets from Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, and magical creatures peeking from behind glass displays.
'I really am in the Harry Potter world…'
Having been reborn into an abused child's body and then subsequently forced to repress his uniqueness had given Vale a lot of stress.
He had no time to think. To truly ponder his situation and accept just what the hell happened.
All those random bursts of power due to his powerful intentions? He had no choice but to brush those off as nothing.
'Especially with Snape harping about control left and right. I somewhat despise the fact that I can recognise how blatantly he had been egging me into unintentional revelations.'
Therefore.
Vale found himself drawn toward a quaint little shop with an intricately painted sign that read [Eeylops Owl Emporium].
"Hmph,"
A pleased grunt.
The idea of an owl intrigued him; the way they stared into your soul…
'Quite the charming bunch of avians,'
Vale chuckled as he concluded his thoughts and walked into the emporium.
—Tap. Tap. Tap.
* * *
—Hoo!
As Vale's footsteps found their ways onto the indoor flooring, the soothing cooing of owls enveloped him.
The Obscurial wandered through aisles filled with cages housing owls of every colour and size. A small, speckled owl fluffed its feathers and hooted softly at him.
"That's a lovely choice," came a voice from behind the counter.
Vale turned to find a bespectacled girl with frizzy hair and a warm smile standing there.
"Hm?"
Vale raised a brow. Looking closely…
Her name tag read Hannah Abbott.
Thus, Vale lowered his gaze, letting the glassy stare settle on the Eeylops Owl Emporium's assortment of owl trinkets.
The bronze, intricately-wrought cage containing a snowy owl caught his eye.
"Are they all… quite as vocal as this one?" Vale asked, gesturing toward the eruptively hooting specimen.
Hannah chuckled softly.
"Well, some are quieter than others, of course. Depends on their personality, I suppose."
She reached into a crate, bringing out a small brown owl with amber eyes.
"This little fella here, for instance, is called Fitzwilliam. He's a bit shy, but once you get to know him, he's a real sweetheart."
She held the owl out carefully. It shifted uneasily in her grasp, but its sweet, almond-shaped eyes reminded Vale of a lost memory – one he couldn't quite grasp.
A noise from the back of the shop made Hannah stiffen.
A boy, taller than usual for his age, stumbled through the doorway, clutching a rather tattered copy of Magical Drafts and Potions. He wore well-worn robes and his round face was flushed.
"Sorry about that," the boy stammered, catching his breath. "Just had a bit of a run-in with... well, never mind."
Ignoring Vale, he shoved past Hannah, going straight for a cage filled with snowy owls. "Was there anything particularly—"
The boy stopped as he saw Vale and froze, his eyes widening. He nervously twisted his hands together.
Vale observed him closely, tilting his head. He felt a flicker of—what was it? Not warmth exactly, but a strange disquiet. It was as if the boy's fear was a tangled thread in a tapestry he couldn't quite decipher.
It was especially jarring given that he found this young lad familiar.
'Neville Longbottom…'
What were these two soon-to-be Hogwarts first-years doing here?
Curiosity warred with the pull of anonymity. In a sense Vale had also come to Diagon Alley seeking refuge in the anonymity crowds offered.
Having been alone with Snape for so long, being watched by Dumbledore the entire time, he felt much too vulnerable.
To be with other people… It would surely help his manic state of mind.
However, this unexpected encounter threatened to pull him into the spotlight. Interacting with the side-characters he had only seen in fiction…
It felt a little more off-putting than when he was interacting with powerful figures like Snape and Dumbledore.
At least, he knew them like the palm of his hand.
As for Neville and Hannah… He wasn't too familiar with them.
So…
Vale allowed his gaze to drift away, lingering for a moment on a box of dragon scale earrings before shifting back to Neville.
The boy's awkwardness seemed to radiate outward, drawing the attention of the other customers.
An elderly witch with silver hoop earrings stopped to offer him advice on choosing the right owl. She patted his shoulder too hard, her smile strained.
"Aha…"
To Vale, it seemed as though Neville shrank under her scrutiny.
Hannah must have picked up on the boy's unease. She gave Neville a reassuring smile and patted his arm lightly.
"Don't worry, he's only a first-year like us," she assured him, directing her words towards Vale with a tilt of her head. "Just a bit shy."
"Hm."
Vale let out a soft, almost imperceptible hum, a sound that wasn't quite a confirmation or a denial, a response neither here nor there.
Neville straightened a bit, his watery eyes darting between Vale and Hannah.
The emerald green in the boy's eyes reminded Vale of… something. Green flames? Or a sprawling emerald forest? He couldn't quite place it. He had a feeling he was meant to know. Fond memories? Intellectual curiosity?
It seemed like some parts of his memory was still up in the clouds.
"Re..really?" Neville mumbled, looking down at his worn shoes. "Was just…just worried about getting a...snowy owl. My gran always wanted one."
He looked up, his eyes meeting Vale's for a brief, intense moment.
"A protector. She says they're...loyal."
"Protector?" Vale echoed, his voice as steady and smooth as polished obsidian.
"A curious companion for a spells student."
"Gran says they're meant to be," Neville said, a faint blush creeping up his cheeks.
His gaze flickered towards Hannah, as if seeking confirmation.
Seeing this, Vale blinked, trying to recall how these two were in the story. Weren't they supposed to be strangers?
'A half-blood and a pure-blood… Oh, and me. A mudblood.' An inward cackle nearly left Vale's lips.
'Oop, I need to be careful with my thoughts. Might get in the way of my reputation…'