"Ah, your letters have arrived." Arthur Weasley announced, holding multiple yellow envelopes he had taken from Errol in his hands "Yours is here too, Harry. Dumbledore must have known. The man never misses a trick." He chuckled to himself, passing the letters out to all the children who sat at the table eating breakfast.

Tori glanced over her letter, reading it several times. It told her the basics, for her to catch the Hogwarts Express at King's Cross station on September first, and her list of books.

FOURTH-YEAR STUDENTS WILL REQUIRE:

The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 4
by Miranda Goshawk
Break with a Banshee by Gilderoy Lockhart
Gadding with Ghouls by Gilderoy Lockhart
Holidays with Hags by Gilderoy Lockhart
Travels with Trolls by Gilderoy Lockhart
Voyages with Vampires by Gilderoy Lockhart
Wanderings with Werewolves by Gilderoy Lockhart
Year with the Yeti by Gilderoy Lockhart

Fred had finished his own list quickly, peering over at Harry's. "You've been told to get all of Lockhart's books, too! The new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher must be a fan— bet it's a witch."

He caught his mother's and Tori's glare and quickly went busied himself with the marmalade. "That lot won't come cheap," George glanced at his parents. "Lockhart's books are really expensive."

Molly assured her son it would be alright while Harry and Tori glanced awkwardly at each other. She suspected he must have had a good amount of money as well, it was written in that guilty stare back down towards him toast.

Molly began urging them to finish up eating so they could get to Diagon Alley quickly. The children did so, running up and down the stairs after to grab any money or supplies.

Tori realized she'd have to take some money out from Gringotts to afford all of Lockhart's books. She grabbed a brown pouch and her vault's key.

"Floo powder's a lot quicker, Harry, but goodness, if you've never used it before..." Molly was fussing over Harry with a worried glance. Tori stood next to her friends, remembering all the times she had used the network to come here. Fred stepped forward, looking at his mother. "He'll be all right, Mum, Harry, watch us first."

He took a pinch of glittering powder out of the flowerpot, stepping up to the fire, and threw the powder into the flames. The flames turned into its known emerald green as Fred shouted, "Diagon Alley!" And vanished.

George followed after, vanishing before Tori stepped up. She sent a wink towards Harry before announcing her destination. "Diagon Alley!"

She appeared right behind the twins, who were quick to move out of her way. Percy came next, Ron, and then Molly and Arthur.

"Hey! You three! Took you long enough!"

The trio turned to see Lee Jordan, bounding towards them. Tori grinned, hugging the boy tightly. "I've been here since early this morning!" He complained, giving a high five to the twins.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. We had to wait for everyone else." Fred rolled his eyes, gesturing to the large family. "Hey, where's Harry?" Tori asked, looking for the young black-haired boy.

Molly seemed to notice him missing as well. She went immediately into hysterics, demanding Arthur to go look for him. "He May have ended up in one of the stores, we'll find him, dear."

The children followed, calling up and down the streets for him. "Harry!" Tori called as Lee Jordan looked at her confused. "So you're telling me you flew a car to go save Harry Potter?"

"That's what I said, isn't it?" Tori snapped. She noticed Mr. Weasley taking urgently to... Harry! She rushed over, leaving Lee with multiple questions. "Where'd you go?" Ron asked him.

"Knocturn Alley."

"Wicked!" The twins said at once, grinning at each other. They had desperately wanted to explore the dark alleyway but was practically forbidden to by Molly.

Ron explained that to Harry, who seemed to agree. Mr. Weasley turned to the group of children, very seriously. "Hello Lee, now everyone. Meet inside that bookshop around noon, Lockhart's doing a signing there and that's where we'll pick up your books. Make sure to get what you need before other foolish things."

He sent a wary glance at the twins. "Right. Go on then."

✧ ✦ ✧

"Excuse me, I would like to enter my vault." Tori glanced up at the Goblin, rocking on her heels. Fred, George, and Lee stood behind her, they had insisted on coming with her, especially since Lee enjoyed the cart ride. They were watching the many other goblins count number sand mutter to themselves. The head goblin peered over at her almost sticking his nose up.

"Do you have your key?" He asked. Tori nodded, reaching into one of her pockets. She pulled out a large silver key, standing on her tippy toes to hand it to him. His name was plastered on a golden plate at the top of his desk. "Griphook" it read. He glanced over to the three boys, who were waving their hands in front of another working goblin annoyingly.

"They're with me." She admitted, shooting them a glare. Griphook pursed his lips together. "Of course. Come with me."

Tori gestured for the boys to come with her as tye goblin lead them threw a grand door. The inside was dimly lighted, several empty carts laid on the rails motionless. Tori followed Griphook, sitting herself down in front while the twins and Lee piled in the back.

"This will be exciting." Lee chuckled, leaning forward in his seat. Their new goblin friend didn't find this funny, responding by rolling his eyes. He started the cart and off they went, sliming and turning through the cage of endless vaults.

They dove deeper into the bank, twisting around and around. Tori could hear Lee whooping loudly, but it even sounded distant. Lights began to flicker on as the goblin had called out, "The Silvers's wing is coming up!"

"You have a whole wing?!" Lee shouted to her through the wind. Tori was about to respond when the cart reached it and came to an abrupt stop. "The Silvers's wing," Griphook announced, unhooking himself for the cart.

Tori thanked him, getting out quickly. George began to complain Tori's hair was in his mouth. ("It's not my fault!" She snapped. "It is too!") Tori scanned the long line of vaults, each having a silver letter on the front.

It was eerily quiet in the wing, the fire burning was audible. Tori sighed, making her way to the vault with the fancy "V" on the front. Griphook hobbled after her, leaving the boys to stare up at the many vaults that way in the wing.

They were all dark from the outside, looking almost old, with polished silver letters on the front. Each level was one generation. This was another thing the Silvers had much pride in. They had a lot of money.

Griphook proceeded to unlock her vault, hearing the clogs and turns from inside all relax. "Take as long as you need." He told her. Tori nodded, waiting until the door opened to step inside.

Piles over piles of money flooded the room. Brown, silver, and gold coins were in every which direction. Tori could hear the audible gasps from the boys behind her. A wave of guilt went over her, wondering if it was a really good idea to bring them along.

She quickly grabbed a handful of coins, putting them into a small pouch. She didn't pay attention to any of the paintings of her family that lined the walls. "This is your vault? As in, you get this all to yourself?"

Tori closed her eyes tightly, sighing. "Yeah, basically."

Lee looked around impressed. "I'd like to see your house."

"Trust me, you don't. It's dark and miserable." She told them, leaving the vault and watching Griphook lock it back up. Lee furrowed his eyebrows, confused. "What do you mean?"

"Eh," Tori replied, her bag now filled with money. "Being a Silvers is overrated."

opinions on any characters?

who's your favorite character from this book?