Chapter 2: The Burrow and Gringotts

Jasmine had insisted on going to her vault separately from the Weasley. Not only did she want to save time, but she also felt awkward knowing that the Weasleys didn't have much money while she had a vault full of many piles of gold.

The cart stopped outside her vault again, and the Goblin got off and grabbed a lamp before walking over to the vault door.

"Key, please," the Goblin asked.

Jasmine reached up to her neck, pulled off her key, and handed it over to the Goblin, who opened the door and silently swung it open.

Just like the last time she had been here the year before, there were four large piles of Galleons at the back of the vault, with a smaller pile closer to the door. On the right side of the vault were two large piles of silver Sickles and one small pile of bronze Knuts.

Stepping inside the Vault, Jasmine pulled out the pouch that she bought on her first trip here with Hagrid and started placing money into the pouch.

"Is there a way for me to know how much I have exactly?" Jasmine asked the Goblin.

The Goblin walked over to the door and took out a piece of parchment that was on the inside of the door.

"There is a total of 721,261 Galleons, 3751 Sickles and 456 Knuts in total," the Goblin said, placing the parchment back on the door.

Jasmine's mind spun at her total wealth. It was so much that she wasn't able to calculate it, given in muggle money, it would be 5 times what she was just told.

"Is this a trust vault, and is this all my assets?" Jasmine asked.

"No, Gringotts doesn't have trust vaults. However, this is not all your assets. There is also the Black vault, but you are not allowed to access that vault till you are of age or with permission from Lord Black.

There is also a vault containing all the stuff that people have either gifted you or left you via their wills.

There was also an attempt at trying to salvage items from your parent's house, but they were all contaminated with dark magic, and the Ministry had them destroyed.

If you want to know more about your assets, then you should make an appointment with one of the asset managers," The Goblin said impatiently.

Jasmine got the hit and filled her pouch with 75 Galleons and 25 Sickles before exiting the vault, and the cart quickly made its way back to the surface.

"I just need to make an appointment about my parent's assets," Jasmine told Mr and Mrs Weasly.

"For today?" Mr Weasley asked.

"No, I will make it for next week, 2 days before we go to Hogwarts," Jasmine said to Mr and Mrs Weasleys relief.

"Okay, we will just be outside waiting for you," Mrs Weasley said, leading everyone out of the bank.

Jasmine jumped into the nearest line and waited for her turn, that only took a few minutes. No matter what anyone says about goblins, there were extremely efficient.

Jasmine stepped up for her turn.

"State your business," the Goblin said.

"I need to see someone about my assets," Jasmine stated.

"Name and ID?" The Goblin asked.

"Jasmine Potter," she said, handing over her vault key.

"When do you want to see an asset manager?"

"In one week's time."

"Come back in one week and ask to see Blugkord at 12 midday. Don't be later, or you forfeit your meeting," the Goblin said, handing her key back and waving her away.

Jasmine quickly left the bank and walked outside to where the Weasley and Granger families were all waiting for her.

"Everything okay?" Mr Weasley asked as she walked up to them.

"Yes, I have a meeting for next week at 12 midday," Jasmine said.

Jasmine looked around to see what everyone was doing and what the plan was. Percy was muttering about getting a quill and parchment before walking off. Fred and George had seen their friend Lee and quickly left with him. Mrs Weasley and Ginny were going to a second-hand robe shop.

She had asked Hermione and Jasmine if they wanted to come and see if there was any clothing that caught their eye.

Both Hermione and Jasmine declined the offer and left with Ron.

"We'll all meet at Flourish and Blotts in an hour to buy your school books," said Mrs Weasley before setting off with Ginny.

In truth, Jasmine did want to buy some new clothes, but she wasn't after 2nd hand clothing. It was all she had worn now that she had the money to buy clothes that belonged to her and no one else she would treat herself.

Jasmine, Ron, and Hermione strolled off along the bustling street, examining the fascinating shop windows as they did so. Ron gazed longingly at a set of Chudley Cannon robes in the Quality Quidditch Supplies window before Hermione dragged them off to buy some ink and quills.

An hour later, they headed for Flourish and Blotts to meet up with Mr and Mrs Weasley and to buy their books for the year. They were not the only people that were heading to the bookstore.

As they approached, Jasmine soon food out why there were so many people at the books store. A post on the door said that Gilderoy Lockhart would be doing a book signing today from 12.00 to 14.30.

Jasmine wasn't even sure who Gilderoy Lockhart was. He didn't seem famous, and she hadn't heard anyone talking about him at Hogwarts before. Other than writing the books for this school year that Jasmine didn't think sounded like real books for learning spells from and sounded more like kid stories.

"We can actually meet him!" Hermione squealed. "I mean, he's written almost the whole booklist!" Hermione said, seeing both Jasmine's and Ron's sceptical look.

The crowd seemed to be mainly made up of middle-aged women, some with their kids and others that had seemed to only come to see Lockhart. Jasmine was able to spot a few people from Hogwarts that were doing their best to pretend they were not here with their mom due to being embarrassed.

Jasmine, Ron, and Hermione squeezed inside. A long line wound right to the back of the shop, where Gilderoy Lockhart was signing his books with a long peacock feather. Ignoring the line, the three of them went to pick out their books. Thankfully the bookshop set a self aside with the Hogwarts books to make it easy and fast for students to get their books.

Hermione set off to look at the other books dragging Jasmine with her as Ron went over to Fred and George.

"Have you decided what optional lessons you will be taking next year?" Hermione asked.

"Err, no, I'm not even sure what they offer. McGonagall only said we would have to pick 2 extra subjects to take but not what they offered," Jasmine said.

"Well, there is Rune's, Care of Magical Creatures, Muggle Studies, Divination and Arithmancy," Hermione said excitedly as she browsed the bookshelves.

"I'm not sure what to pick. We haven't been told how they affect the jobs we can get later on in life or if some are just good for every day," Jasmine said.

"You should talk to McGonagall then about what job you want to do and what you need to take for it," Hermione said.

"I shouldn't have to ask. She should be scheduling meetings with all her students in the 2nd year and giving them advice about job paths and what they will need for that job," Jasmine said, looking annoyed.

"I think they do when you're picking your NEWTs," Hermione replied, biting her lip looking awkward.

"It's a bit late by then. What if I need Runes for my job? If I didn't take runes in my OWLs, then I can't do a NEWT in runes, so telling us when we are picking newts is pointless." Jasmine complained.

"Then make sure to see McGonagall and find out what you need and maybe tell her to talk to the other Grifindors as well," Hermione said as she decided which book she wanted before placing the other book back on the shelf.

"Oh, there you are, good," said Mrs Weasley said, pulling Jasmine and Hermione next to her where Ron was standing.. She sounded breathless and kept patting her hair. "We'll be able to see him in a minute…"

Jasmine could only roll her eyes at the so-called Gilderoy Lockhart, seated at a table surrounded by large pictures of his own face, all winking and flashing white teeth at the crowd.

Lockhart was wearing robes of forget me, not blue that matched his eyes, and his blond hair was perfectly oiled with not a single stand out of place. Jasmine scrunched her nose at him.

She couldn't see why any of the other girls thought he was good-looking. His entire image just screamed fake to Jasmine.

"Out of the way, there," a man snarled at Ron, moving back to get a better shot. "This is for the Daily Prophet..."

"Big deal," Ron said, annoyed at the man.

Jasmine wasn't sure why that had drawn Lockheart's attention be he looked up at Ron before his eyes met Jasmines, and she saw the flash of recognition in his eyes.

Jasmine let out a silent groan at that. She could tell this man cared about publicity and would no doubt try and use her. Jasmine quickly thought about how to escape before he could say anything but the crowd was like an unbreakable wall that kept her caged.

"It can't be Jasmine Potter!" Lockhart said, jumping to his feet.

Lockhart dived forward, grabbing Jasmine's arm and pulling her forward with the large crowd breaking into whispers. Lockhart pulled her to his side and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pinning her there.

Jasmine's face burned as Lockhart shook her hand for the photographer, who was clicking away madly, wafting thick smoke over the Weasleys. She shifted uncomfortably at her situation as everyone watched her like some animal in the zoo.

Lockhart finally let go of her hand after the photographer had gotten all she picked. She only just noticed how her hand was throbbing in a dull pain before Lockhart spoke up again.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I think now is the perfect time to make an announcement of my latest adventure," Lockhart said, all smiles.

"Little did Jasmine know when she came into Flourish and Blotts today for my autograph that she would be getting far more than my autobiography. She and her schoolmates will, in fact, be getting the real magical me.

I am proud to announce that starting this September, I shall be taking up the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts At Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy," Lockhart proclaimed with a large smile.

The crowd broke into cheers and applause at the announcement. Jasmine found a large pile of books being shoved into her arms before she was sent back to the crowd.

"You can have these," Jasmine said to Ginny, not wanting more of Lockheart's books than she needed.

"Bet you love that, didn't you, Potter?" A snobbish voice that Jasmine could immediately recognise.

Looking at where the voice came Jasmine saw Draco Malfoy walking down the stairs in the same pompous way he walked around Hogwarts, expecting everyone to bow down to him.

"Famous Jasmine Potter can't even go into a bookstore without showing off," Draco said in a nasty voice.

"How nice it must be to live in your delusion Malfoy," Jasmine said, not paying him any attention. Jasmine was well aware that Malfoy and Dudley were quite similar in that they wanted attention, and if they didn't get it, they tended to leave while sulking.

"Oh, it's you," said Ron, looking at Draco as if he were something unpleasant after he and Hermione had fought their way next to Jasmine.

"Well, it's a big surprise to see you in a shop Weasley. Can you even afford the books this year?" Draco sneered.

Ron turned bright red before dropping his books and trying to lunge at Draco as Jasmine and Hermione held him back.

"Ron, what are you doing?" Mr Weasley asked, looking at Ron.

"Well, well, well, I should have guessed the only people to act so muggle-like would be related to you, Arthur Weasley,"

"Lucius," said Mr Weasley coldly.

"It's been a busy time at the Ministry for you. I would have hoped they were paying you over time," said Mr Malfoy before reaching into Ginny's cauldron and pulling out an old, worn book.

"But looking at this, I guess not such a disgrace to wizardkind," Mr Malfoy said, looking at Mr Weasley as if repulsed by his presence.

"We have a different idea of what is a disgrace to Wizardkind Lucius," Mr Weasley said, glaring at Mr Malfoy.

"Oh?" Mr Malfoy said, his pale, cold eyes looking over at Mr and Mrs Granger, who was watching apprehensively. "And I thought your family could sink no lower consorting with filth," Mr Malfoy said, making Hermione flinch at his hate-filled tone.

There was a loud crash as Mr Weasley lunged forward, knocking Mr Malfoy into a bookcase. Big, heavy spellbooks came tumbling down, hitting both of the men on the head or face.

Shouts of "Get him, dad" came from Fred and Geroge while the crowd in the store just stood by watching even though they all had wands, and a simple wave of their wands could have separated them both.

"Break it up, there, gents, break it up—" a loud booming voice said that could only belong to Hagrid.

The massive man stepped into the shop, grabbed both men, and pulled them apart. Jasmine noticed he was being far rougher with Mr Malfoy than he was with Mr Weasely.

Mr Weasley had a cut lip, and Mr Malfoy had been hit in the eye by a book which was slowly swelling into a black eye. He was still holding Ginny's old Transfiguration book. He thrust it at her, his eyes glittering with malice and real hate.

"Here, this is the best your father can afford for you," Mr Malfoy said, pulling himself out of Hagrids grip and shooting him a disgusted look.

"Let's go, Draco. We need to burn our clothes after being around all this filth," Mr Malfoy said, leaving the shop with Draco trailing after him.

"Yeh should have ignored him, Arthur. The whole family is rotten," Hagrid said as he nearly knocked Mr Weasley off his feet while straightening his robes.

"Hey, Hagrid," Jasmine and Hermione greeted.

"Hey, up there, Jasmine and Hermione, how has your summer been?" Hagrid asked.

"I spent most of the summer in France. It was a shame that I couldn't get to see the magical side of France," Hermione said.

Jasmine noticed that Hagrid looked a little worried when Hermione mentioned France's magical side and thought back to her History of Magic to see if she could remember anything from there but drew up a blank.

"What about you, Jasmine," Hagrid asked hurriedly.

"Spent most of it with the Dursleys, but thankfully the last week I have spent at the burrow," Jasmine said with a warm smile towards the end, thinking of how warm and cosy the burrow was.

"Send me a letter if those Dursleys ever step out of line again," Hagrid said with warmth.

The owner of the store seemed to want them gone. Still, with Hagrid next to them, he seemed far too scared to actually say anything, but all of their books were quickly bought before being ushered out of the store.

Jasmine and Hermione left the group after telling the adults they would be visiting Magical Menagerie to buy some owl food and treats and Hermione was interested in seeing what pets were available.

There wasn't much room inside. It was smelly and very noisy because the occupants of these cages were all squeaking, squawking, jabbering, or hissing.

There was a row of different coloured toads next to the window in a large tank. There were many owl cages hanging from the roof with over 15 different owls on perches. Jasmine could help but notice that none of them was like her beloved Hedwig. With them, all being brown or grey and one of them being black.

Jasmine walked over to the shop's owl section as Hermione looked around at the cat section of the store. Jasmine picked out Hedwig's favourite food and treats before taking another look around the store.

As she looked around, she found the snake section of the shop. Jasmine remembered that she had set a snake loose just before she got her Hogwarts letter. She wondered what had happened to the snake.

Moving on, she came to the more exotic section of the shop. The first animal she saw was a Fwooper that came in orange, pink and yellow looking at the price, Jasmine had to hold back a wince. Even with all her money, she wouldn't spend 400 Galleons on a pet.

Next to the Floopers was a cage full of some type of crab with fire orange crystal on their shells. Looking at the price, she was stunned to see they cost even more than the Fwoopers at 700 Galleons.

To her right, she noticed two girls that she had seen a few times at Hogwarts in her potions lessons that she shared with the Slytherins. Contrary to the belief of what most people thought, Jasmine didn't hate Slytherins. After all, she was almost sorted into that house as well.

Not only that, but she had grown up being hated by her Aunt and Uncle for just being magical, so she wouldn't hate someone based on which house they were in. And she hated Malfoy for how he acted towards her and her friends.

The two girls were Daphne and Tracey. Jasmine only knew them due to the fact that Daphne was always the first to finish in potions and her potions were always flawless, something that grated on Hermione.

Jasmine took the opportunity to take a better look at the two girls, something that she hadn't done before.

Daphne was almost half a foot taller than Jasmine, really showing how much shorter Jasmine was compared to all the other girls in her year. Daphne had long shiny blonde hair that cascaded down her back with ice-blue eyes.

Tracey was the opposite, with long black hair in a french braid and dark brown eyes, and while shorter than Daphne, she was still several inches taller than Jasmine.

Jasmine wasn't sure if she had ever talked to the two girls before. She was worried that the rest of the Gryffindor house would be angry at her for having friends outside of the house.

Deciding to take a leap of faith, "Salamanders?" Jasmine asked, looking at the animals that the two girls were looking at.

"Potter," Daphne said in a neutral voice, looking over at her. "Yes, they are," Daphne added.

"I wasn't aware that we were allowed anything other than an owl, toad or cat," Jasmine said, looking at the firey red Salamander.

"The bylaws of Hogwarts say that you are allowed any XXX or below creature," Daphne said, not paying Jasmine much attention.

Jasmine fell quiet after that. She wasn't sure exactly what to talk about with Daphne other than potions. She didn't know what Daphne liked or how she liked to spend her free time.

Daphne's POV.

"You could have tried to be friendlier. Knowing the girl who lived would be a good political move," Tracey said.

"There is no point, and she is just a parrot and a sheep following what she is told to do and think," Daphne said, unrepentant.

"Maybe or maybe not. I haven't ever heard about her attacking Slytherins," Tracey said after a moment.

"You really think that Dumbledore would let me or any snake near her?" Daphne asked.

"Your parents weren't Death Eaters," Tracey said back with a shrug.

"My uncle was, but even if that wasn't the case, most of the students in Slytherin are related to Death Eaters. There is no way he would ever allow The Girl Who Lived to be friends with a snake."

"Well..." Tracey started before being cut off.

"And if we did, that would make Dumbledore enemies to our families, so it's not worth the risk," Daphne added.

"Isn't Dumbledore all about second chances?" Tracey asked, confused.

"Only when it benafits him otherwise, Sirius Black wouldn't have gone to Azkaban without trial and been left there. As the supreme Mugwamp, Dumbledore could get him a trial instantly." Daphne said.

"Then why doesn't he?"

"Who knows, maybe so that Jasmine only has him to look up to or maybe for some other reason. My point is don't be fooled by the kind old man act. You don't live to be over 100 years old and fight two dark lords by being soft."

Jasmine POV

"Who were you talking to?" Hermione asked as they left the shop.

"Daphne," Jasmine said.

Daphne from Slytherin?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, do you know her?" Jasmine asked curiously.

"Kind of. She spends a lot of time in the library reading books on potions and medical spells. Doesn't talk much, and Tracey is almost always with her, but she has never been nasty to me," Hermione said.

"Im surprised that you asked about her?" Hermione inquired.

"She is one of the only people I have met that didn't seem star-stuck. It was nice," Jasmine said.

"We best get back to the Leakey Cauldron. They will all be waiting for us," Hermione said as they both fast walked up Diagon Ally.

Jasmine wasn't looking forward to the return trip. She may have only used the Floo once, but that was more than enough for her to know that she didn't like that form of magical travel.