3. The Potters

Apollyon's next stop, guided by the ever-serious Professor Snape, was Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. The shopfront was welcoming, with a display window showcasing the latest in wizarding fashion, from sleek dress robes to the sturdy, functional attire suited for Hogwarts students. As they stepped inside, the warm, musty scent of fabric and magic enveloped them. The shop was cozy, filled with racks of robes in various sizes and colors, and at the far end, a smiling Madam Malkin presided over a fitting area.

"Ah, Hogwarts students," Madam Malkin chirped, her eyes twinkling behind small, round spectacles as she spotted them. "Come, dear, let's get you measured."

Apollyon followed, a bit overwhelmed but grateful for Snape's silent support. Madam Malkin was efficient, her tape measure zipping around Apollyon magically, taking measurements. "First-year, isn't it?" she asked, her tone kind and motherly. "We'll need the standard set of Hogwarts robes, gloves, and, of course, a winter cloak. It gets quite chilly up at the castle."

As the robes were fitted and adjusted, Apollyon caught a glimpse of herself in a full-length mirror. The transformation was startling; the Hogwarts robes symbolized a new identity, a far cry from the girl who had woken up in an orphanage with no sense of belonging. "How does it feel, Miss Seraphina?" Madam Malkin asked, securing a clasp on the cloak.

"It feels right," Apollyon replied, her voice soft but filled with newfound confidence.

Their business at Madam Malkin's concluded with a package of neatly folded robes, and they stepped back into the bustling street, heading towards their next destination: Potage's Cauldron Shop.

The contrast between the warmth of Madam Malkin's and the cool, metallic interior of Potage's was immediate. Cauldrons of every size and material lined the walls, from simple pewter for beginners to more advanced and expensive materials for the seasoned potion brewer. Snape led Apollyon to a stack of standard size 2 pewter cauldrons, the required type for first-year students.

"Durability over aesthetics for your first cauldron," Snape advised, his voice echoing slightly in the cavernous shop. "Potion-making is precise work. The cauldron's material can affect the outcome significantly."

Apollyon hefted the cauldron, surprised by its weight and the cool, smooth texture of the pewter. It was a tangible link to the magical world she was about to fully enter, a world where she would brew potions and cast spells.

As they made their purchases, Apollyon's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. Each item, from the robes to the cauldron, was a piece of the puzzle that was her new life. She was no longer just a girl from an orphanage; she was a student of Hogwarts, with a place where she belonged and a future full of potential.

Leaving the cool, metallic confines of Potage's Cauldron Shop behind, Apollyon and Professor Snape made their way towards Scribbulus Writing Instruments, a store that promised to be as integral to her Hogwarts preparations as any other. Situated midway down Diagon Alley, Scribbulus presented an inviting façade, its windows adorned with an array of quills, inkwells, parchment rolls, and seal wax sets, each item more exquisite than the last.

As they entered, a bell chimed softly overhead, announcing their arrival. The air was filled with the rich scent of ink and old paper, a comforting aroma that spoke of history and knowledge. Rows of shelves housed writing supplies that varied from the practical to the purely decorative, showcasing the wide array of options available to the discerning writer or student.

A middle-aged wizard, presumably the proprietor, glanced up from where he was meticulously arranging a display of feather quills. "Good day," he greeted, his eyes lighting up at the sight of potential customers. "How can I assist you today?"

"We require the standard set of supplies for a first-year Hogwarts student," Snape stated, his tone brooking no nonsense. "Parchment, quills, ink... and ensure the quality is up to standard."

"Of course, Professor," the wizard replied, recognizing Snape and immediately understanding the importance of their visit. He quickly gathered the necessary items, laying them out on the counter for inspection. "Here we have the finest quality parchment, guaranteed not to smudge or tear easily. Our quills are sourced from sustainably managed magical creatures, ensuring a smooth writing experience. And the ink," he added, holding up a bottle to the light, "is our special formula, designed not to fade over time."

Apollyon was fascinated by the selection, her fingers itching to test the quills' balance and feel the parchment's texture. Choosing a quill felt strangely significant, like selecting a companion for her upcoming journey through Hogwarts. She picked up a quill, its feather soft and glossy, and gave it an experimental wave, marveling at its lightness and balance.

"I'll take this one," she said, more confident in her choice than she had been about many things in her life.

"An excellent choice," the shopkeeper praised, wrapping the quill carefully along with the other supplies. "Anything else you might need? Sealing wax, perhaps? It's quite useful for securing your letters."

Apollyon glanced at Snape, who gave a slight nod. "Yes, please. That sounds important."

With their purchases securely packed, they left Scribbulus, Apollyon feeling a step closer to being a real Hogwarts student. The quill, in particular, felt like a symbol of her new academic life, a tool with which she would craft essays, take notes, and perhaps even write letters to any friends about her adventures.

The next destination for Apollyon and Professor Snape was Flourish and Blotts, the premier bookstore for all wizarding literary needs. As they approached, the shop seemed to buzz with the excitement of customers eager for the latest publications or essential textbooks for the upcoming school year. The air was thick with the scent of new books, a mixture of ink, paper, and magic that was both intoxicating and comforting.

Upon entering, the hustle and bustle momentarily overwhelmed Apollyon. The store was packed with shelves reaching towards the ceiling, each crammed with books of every conceivable subject related to magic. From spell books and potion manuals to historical texts and magical theory, the wealth of knowledge contained within these walls was staggering.

As they navigated through the throngs of customers, Apollyon's attention was suddenly drawn to a familiar group that seemed to command the space around them. It was the Potter family—James and Lily, vibrant and very much alive, with their children, Harry and a girl Apollyon didn't recognize.

The sight was so startlingly at odds with what Apollyon knew—or thought she knew—from her previous life, where the tragic fate of the Potters was a pivotal moment in wizarding history.

James Potter, still with the same unruly hair and mischievous glint in his eye, was playfully browsing through the Quidditch section. Lily, her bright eyes scanning the titles on a nearby shelf, radiated a warmth and kindness that was palpable even from a distance. Harry, much younger than the hero Apollyon remembered, and the mystery girl, whose presence was a complete surprise, were engaged in a quiet discussion over a stack of books they had accumulated between them.

The normalcy of the scene, so at odds with the history Apollyon remembered, left her momentarily rooted to the spot. Professor Snape, however, did not share her sense of wonder. His expression tightened noticeably at the sight of James, an old rivalry flickering to life in his eyes.

James, ever the provocateur, seemed to sense Snape's discomfort and couldn't resist the opportunity to engage. "Ah, Severus, shopping for new potions to poison your students with, or just here to darken the mood?" he quipped, his tone light but edged with the remnants of their school-day antagonisms.

Lily, sensing the tension, shot James a warning look before turning to Snape with a polite smile. "Ignore him, Severus. We're just here getting the children's books for school. How are you?"

Snape's reply was curt, his usual disdain barely tempered by Lily's presence. "Quite well, Lily, thank you. Ensuring the new students are properly equipped," he said, nodding slightly towards Apollyon.

Harry and the girl, curious about the interaction, looked on with interest. Apollyon, realizing she was being introduced into a dynamic filled with history and complexity, offered a shy smile towards the Potter children, feeling a surreal connection to them, born of her knowledge of their future—or what should have been their future.

The encounter, brief as it was, left Apollyon with a myriad of emotions. The presence of the Potters, alive and well, suggested a timeline so radically different from what she had known that it both excited and unnerved her. As they continued their shopping, Apollyon couldn't help but steal glances back at the Potter family, marveling at the turn of events that had allowed them a life so different from the tragic fate she had believed was theirs.

The rest of their time in Flourish and Blotts was spent gathering the necessary textbooks for Apollyon's first year, each title a promise of the knowledge to come. Yet, as they left the store with their purchases, Apollyon's thoughts lingered on the Potters, on the mysteries of this new world she was stepping into, and on the role she might play in a story so different from the one she had thought she knew.