Waverly was still trying to make sense of the situation. From what she could understand, this woman speaking to her father, dressed in such eccentric clothing that actually fitted in with their environment, was her long, lost half-aunt, and she was a witch. If Waverly didn't know any better, she would've spun on her heels and left this Diagon Alley faster than one could say 'snickers'.

But she, along with her father, were coming to believe that Waverly was actually a witch. It made so much sense, now that she really looked at it. Sometimes when she would get really upset strange things would happen, like objects changing colors or even breaking, and those objects usually weren't fragile either.

The woman has knocked on their door one evening, the night before they'd look for Diagon Alley, and introduced herself as Urania Cosmov, an official from the Ministry of Magic. She had worn a long purple dress with embellishments like stars all across the thin fabrics. It had puffy sleeves and a high collar. But Waverly didn't see any of this until she took off her thick black cloak and her pointed hat.

It made sense that she could possibly be a half-aunt because she looked nothing like Waverly or her father. While they both had blonde hair and blue eyes, this woman had bushy and thick black hair that looked more like a cloud than anything and a pair of silvery grey eyes, like orbs taken from the moon. Freckles covered her entire body in a good way and she had this sense of confidence that Waverly came to admire.

Her dad had been sketchy at first. “Who are you the half-sister of...?” he'd asked, one hand firmly on the door.

The woman chuckled knowingly, as if she had been questioned like this many, many times. “Your late wife, Katerina. Born Korshaw?”

“Yes, I know my wife's maiden name, thank you. But why should we believe you?” He looked her up and down in wearily.

Urania shrugged. “You can choose whether to or not, I supposed, but I'm only her to tell and explain the truth, my dear. I am the half-sister of Catarina. Once close but we grew apart after...” Waverly's father seemed to know what she was getting at because they stated at each for long mkment. Then her eyes flicked past her father, landing straight on Waverly, who was peeking around the corner. “I had a strong feeling that you'd have questions about that letter, Miss McLefford.”

Waverly bit her lip, but her eyes shone with curiosity. Every part of her body had been tingling with a strangest sensation; it was like she was drawn to this woman, or maybe her aura. After getting that letter she'd researched as much as she could about magic and had come across all sorts of stuff varying from aura, tarots, divination, and shape-shifters, though the latter drifted towards darker magic.

After her father invited her in, Urania explained in detail about the world of magic, much to both of their astonishment. It was incredible to discover that there was a hidden world bustling with wizards, witches, and magic creatures right outside their door. She explained how people who were non-magical, like her father, were called muggles, a term that was commonly used throughout the wizarding society. Urania talked about how the magic society in Britain, for there was more than one society, was governed by the Ministry of Magic, which is where she was from, working in the Office of the Improper Use of Magic. She hinted more than enough times that she was destined to be a highly acclaimed astronomer, regardless of what the critics liked to think. Throughout the conversation she waved her arms, making grand gestures with a loud voice and constant eye contact.

Waverly decided to ask her a question pertaining to her origin. “So how did I become a witch? My parents aren't magical...right dad?”

“As far as I know. I don't recall having done anything as peculiar as you, Waverly.”

Urania chuckled. “That's because you are a true muggle, my dear, unlike your daughter. Waverly, well, she is a special case, but not an unusual one.” She sighed heavily. “Our race would have died off if it weren't for our mingling with the mug—non-magic.” Urania caught herself, even though the two didn't seem to mind either way. “Most would disagree with that...but the point is, one of your ancestors must have been a witch, or wizard, and the magical gene perhaps skipped a few generations, coming back once you were born, Waverly.”

She was confused. “But how does that happen? That doesn't seem fair,” said Waverly, glancing sheepishly at her father.

He smiled in return, rubbing her back. “It's alright, Waverly. What we need to think about I you; so, are you, Ms....Cosmov, here to help us find Diagon Alley?”

Urania clapped her hands together in excitement, lighting up with joy. “Oh, I'm definitely here to do more than that—I will help you shop in Diagon Alley!” The two others glanced at each other with raised brows, which made the witch clear her throat in embarrassment. After collecting herself, she added, “Pardon me, I'm usually stuck in the office doing paperwork these days—exactly what I didn't ask for but—

She looked at both of them, grinning ever so brightly. “As every astronomer knows, you can't study the stars properly without going to them.” Waverly never heard of this, regardless of not being an astronomer, but it piqued her interest that this lady might be one. Actually, she probably wouldn't doubt whatever she'd claimed to be. Knowing that magic was real had made her feel like life was more unfathomable that she'd ever understand.


Fast forward, the three were strolling through Diagon Alley. Waverly was supposed to be listening intently but it was hard to think about the currency system of Gringotts when there was just so much to look at it. Her eyes couldn't stop dancing around the Alley, where nearly every shop she'd suspect and more to be in a magic world sat. The streets were bustling with people, dressed as eccentric as Ms. Cosmov or as simple as Waverly and her father. She was wearing a pair of belted blue jeans, a mustard colored turtleneck, and a dark grey jeans jacket. Her father dad wore a pair of jeans, too, with a red crew neck. Again, there were people dressed like them while others dressed like they were back in the Victorian Era. That made Waverly wonder if these wizards could also effect time itself.

The shops has various eccentricities in their windows, like potions, spellbooks, and strange artifacts. It both excited and daunted Waverly: how would she find all of her supplies in this?

Waverly blinked up Urania, who'd been trying to get her attention. Her newfound aunt clucked her teeth before explaining that she was going to visit Gringotts in order to set up a bank account for Waverly. “Explore! Explore, for us wizards are always searching for something to discover!” They way she said it, and how a dark look passed over her face, made it known that she was joking, but it still boosted the younger witch's excitement.

As her aunt and her father walked away, the woman added in one last piece of advice, “Everything is very much self-explanatory in this world, you'll come to find. Just keep looking and you'll always—” But then her voice was cut off by the crowd.

Waverly was left alone with nothing but her list of supplies. She glanced over it again uncertainly, even though she already memorized the entire list. The two things that really caught her attention was the list of books and, of course, the word 'wand'.

She gripped her letter hard to stop her hands from trembling, though not enough to rip the paper. She looked around for a moment before her eyes caught on a place called Flourish and Blotts. This was one of the shops full of books, but it caught Waverly's attention because more than a few kids her age were going into it. Urania had told her that many students would be going school shopping around this time so it would plausible to meet them.

Although she was nervous Waverly put a sure smile on her face and made her way carefully to the shop. She still was sure what to make of all of this, she had only discovered the world of magic less than two weeks ago. But she felt like should be brave and keep an open-mind; that's what her mother would've told her to do, cause she was fearless, just like Waverly dreamed to be.