It was a new Juniper that emerged from Ollivander's wand shop. An elated Juniper; an optimistic Juniper. Not yet a witch, but definitely more than an average human. She did a goofy little twirl in the middle of Diagon Alley. It was all she could do not to take out her wand and try conducting dirt in the street. It was all she could do to not stop passerbys and cry “Look! I have a wand! I can sparkle dust! It has chosen me!”

Looking around at all the robes and pointed hats and the occasional goblin, she remembered that nearly everyone here could say the same… could say more, more like. No matter. Clutching the box that held her wand to her heart, she was overjoyed.

I am here now, too. She thought gleefully. I’m not a tourist, I am holding a frickin’ wand.

She headed to Madam Malkins to buy her robes and better look the part.

The day just got better and better. Having never had an article of clothing that had been specially tailored to fit, she was supremely proud of her new set of robes. While she thought the pointed hat was perhaps the most ludicrous item on her supplies list, she found it looked much better in person. She was particularly excited about the long black cloak for winter… it left her feeling regal and mysterious. She bought a set of copper scales, a cauldron, and beautiful set of intricately crafted vials, and a neat little device called a “remembrall.”

She saved the very best for last: Flourish and Blotts. Juniper was already in love with just about every bookstore she’d even set foot in. She’d hungrily eyed the required reading list; titles like Magical Drafts and Potions and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Names like Newt Scamander, and Adalbert Waffling. Surely these would prove that this new world was, in fact, a reality. As much a reality as it was fantastical. Juniper felt herself teetering on the brink of a strange new culture and was itching to dive straight in.

Flourish and Blotts did not disappoint. It had everything that made a bookstore great: towering shelves, creaky wooden floors, cozy alcoves with chairs for reading, the comforting smell of hardwood and paper, and finally, books. Every square inch of space covered in books. It could have been just a really wonderful “muggle” bookstore but for a few small but significant quirks - candles fluttering in the darker corners.... the occasional text levitating through the air. And of course, the patrons. The store was packed with wizards and witches and buzzing with conversation. Many were around the same age as Juniper and clearly there for the same purpose. She checked her watch - three whole hours left before she had to meet Ms. McGriff back outside.

Juniper wound her way through Flourish and Blotts, savoring every second. She lingered in the aisles and corners that were unoccupied, running her hands over the spines of the books and scanning titles as she went. Occasionally one would shudder or twitch before settling back into its slumber on the shelf. She smiled. Books had always seemed like sentient things to her, or miniature worlds. Seeing some actually move with life felt like an affirmation of this secret belief. It made the magical world feel oddly more honest than the “real” one she’d left behind this morning.

She found her schoolbooks easily, prominently displayed on a table labeled “Hogwarts: First Years.” She made a curious little lap or two around the tables set up for Second and Third years, scoping out the students as much as the texts, before collecting her own and carrying them to the counter.

When Juniper finally left the bookstore she had a mere ten minutes left. She sort of regretted it now; spending all her time in Flourish and Blotts. There was so much left to see, and no telling when she’d have a chance to come back. The apothecary shop must be fascinating. There was an ice cream parlor that looked delicious, even on a overcast day like today. She should have saved at least a little time for what looked like a joke-shop (imagine the possibilities, with magic involved…)

That's when she saw her - the last person on earth she expected to see. More surprising than the goblins or the part-giants or any of the magic she’d witnessed that day… stepping out of Ollivander’s at the end of the street and accompanied by her mother, was her friend Gwen.

Actually, it was probably because of the other wizard folk that she hadn’t spotted her sooner. She blended right in to the crowd in Diagon Alley, whereas she would have stood out, always she stood out, anywhere she was amongst muggles. Gwen was a beautiful blonde, and always smiling... she seemed to radiate a warmth that just drew people to her. She was someone you looked at and instantly liked. Plus, she was the tallest 11-year-old Juniper had ever seen.

Arms full of shopping bags and unable to wave, Juniper started hopping excitedly in place…

“Gwen!” she called.

Gwen spotted her almost immediately. Juniper saw her jaw drop… she seemed to be mouthing the words “Oh… my… god…”

“GWEN!!!” she cried again. This was too good to be true.

Gwen broke into a smile and charged Juniper, who was dropping books and boxes and shopping bags in heaps all over the ground. They crashed in an embrace in the middle of the street in front of Flourish and Blotts.

“JU-NI-PER!” laughed Gwen, leaning back and lifting Juniper clear into the air, “You little sneak! How can it be that you’re here!?”

Gwen was Juniper’s favorite friend. They only saw each other once a year, but as soon as they reunited it was like they’d never been apart. She came to stay at the Bed & Breakfast with her mother and older brothers for almost a month every summer, ever since Gwen’s parents’ had divorced (the rest of the year she lived in Massachusetts with her father). They’d never missed a trip since the girls were toddlers. Juniper looked forward to these visits more than Christmas or birthdays or anything else… she had more fun with Gwen than with anyone. Gwen had always seemed to understand her best.

“I… I got an OWL!” she stammered. “It was the craziest thing! I was washing dishes and I saw it circling over the grounds in the middle of the day… and all of a sudden it swooped down and tapped on the window and….”

She looked up at her friend. Gwen had a quiet, knowing smile.

“Gwen, does this mean you’re going to Hogwarts too?”

Gwen nodded and laughed. Her mother had joined them now, and was waiting to embrace Juniper.

“Ahh come ‘ere ye wee bairn moose!” she wrapped her in her arms.

Juniper adored Gwen’s mother. She was tall and beautiful like Gwen, with the same warmth. But where Gwen was usually calm and composed, her mother bubbled over with enthusiasm. She also had the thickest Scottish accent Juniper had ever heard -rough and Glaswegian- and she seemed to revel in it. Juniper imagined Ms. Matheson sounded the way other people made fun of Scottish people.

“Hou’s it gaun Ginny?” she asked. “Ye’r aff tae Hogwar’s then?”

Juniper nodded. 'Ginny' was Ms. Matheson’s pet name for her, after the liqour made from juniper berries.

“Pure dead brilliant!” she screamed. “Gwen, ye’ll hae tae mak sure tha’ she ge’s herself settled en comfy!”

Gwen just continued to smile. “We’ll help each other.” she said, “It’s not like I’ll be rolling out the welcome mat… it’s not like I own the castle…”

“Aw but ye’v heard a’ aboot it fae twa broothers a’ yer life! T’ink howfur Ginny mist feel!”


Juniper began to realize what this meant.

“Hold on… Art and Tom? They’re students already?"
Ms. Matheson nodded proudly.
“And you all…”
“We’re wizard fowk!” Ms. Matheson threw her arms in the air.
“Surprise.” said Gwen apologetically. She was studying Juniper’s expression.

What a fool I’ve been. thought Juniper. Well, better make the best of it.

“That’s great.” she smiled at Gwen. “All this time! And you never told me…”

Gwen could see it, she was hurt. It must have been creeping across her face, because Ms. Matheson seemed to catch on, too.

“Ah dinna fash yirsel!” she shook her head “We’re a’ sworn tae secrecy, n forby, ye’r in fur mair surprises than tha’!”

Juniper forced a smile as Gwen knelt down and nervously began collecting her toppled school supplies. Ms. Matheson bent to help along with Juniper.

“Ur ye a’ alone, Ginny?” Ms. Matheson asked suddenly.
“Oh!” Juniper said with a start. “No, I’m to meet Ms. McGriff outside the Leaky Cauldron, exactly now!”
“Ah! Yer a chancer! Here,” she handed Juniper a stack of books “D’ye need a hand? Yer breemin’ ower…”
“No,” said a determined Juniper, “I’ve been managing alright.”

“Weel, tell the auld boot we say awright!” she said. “We’ve git ferr a bawherr o’ messages left fir Skinny Malinky Longlegs here!”

Gwen rolled her eyes at the nickname.

“Hey, do you want to meet at King’s Crossing next week?” she asked Juniper, “Just outside the platform? We can dive through the wall together! We can be mates on the train!”

This made Juniper feel a bit better.

“I’d love that.” she said. Gwen clapped excitedly.
“Oh I’d love it too! I can’t believe we’ll be in school together! Maybe we’ll get in the same house…”

“Let her be aff, Gwen,” said Ms. Matheson, as Juniper began to nervously edge down the street, “Bye for noo!”

“Goodbye!” shouted Juniper, and she rushed back towards muggle London.