Grace Flourish, flipped through the pages of yet another muggle magic book. All summer she had snuck out of Diagon Alley, against her parents wishes to visit a muggle bookshop on Charing Cross Road called The Book Witch. Living above Flourish and Blotts, was amazing; Grace's parents would allow her to wander the streets of Dragon Alley as she pleased. And typically that would be enough for Grace, but this summer she had just turned 11 on July 28th, and this year she had grown a curiosity for potion making and exploring what muggles thought was magic.

 Living above the bookshop owned by her family the Flourish's and their partners the Blotts, all her life, she had read all of the popular books in the shop at least 2 times over. And when those new bestsellers came in she usually took a glance at those too. But out of everything she read, she had become the most interested in potion making. She would sit on her armchair in her bedroom overlooking the street below, reading all the potions books she could get her hands on with her black cat Soot accompaning her on her lap. Whenever she would finish a book she would add it to her personal bookshelves that sat that hung on the lavender walls of her room. 

When she had run out of stock in her own bookshop she went and developed a rapport with the workers at Potions for all Afflictions. She would spend hours there talking and learning everything there was to know about potions. They occasionally even let her in the back to mix up some herself. That March she bought her very own cauldron, at a very reasonable price, with her coins she made from stocking shelves at Flourish and Blotts. She hid that cauldron in the back of her closet and only took it out very early in morning when she knew her parents could not hear - or smell- anything. 

Grace perfected many simple potions from the book Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jiger. She dabbled in some other simple potion making with inexpensive ingredients. One of her favorite being Librus Celer, a potion that allows her to read at a lightning pace. She wanted to do more complex potions but the ingredients were often too expensive, so she turned to Muggles. She was curious as to what Muggles thought may work. Did they have a reason to believe precious stones hold powers? She experimented with crystal properties and created her own concoctions. Most ended in fire or sludge but every once in a while she'd found something special.

While the morning rays bounced off the cream colored pages of Crystals and Witchery (only a muggle book would have such a foolish name) Grace heard her mothers soft footsteps come toward her room, she had lost track of time, her parents were already awake. Grace leaped from her armchair tucked the book under her pillow and lay in bed pretending to woken by the door creaking open.

Helene Flourish stuck her head through the crack letting her dark curls bounce over her lively green eyes. Grace rubbed her brown eyes, that matched her mothers in almond shape and liveliness. No matter the hour the mother and daughter pair always had the most luminous eyes.

"Gracie... wake up I have a big surprise!" Helene whisper shouted at her daughter, body remaining behind the door.

"You are going to want to see this..." Her father Ero boomed from down the hall. He was the sweetest man but looked nothing of it. His big frame rivaled Grace's doorframe and his dark face looked menacing when his smile faltered.

Helene whipped out a letter from her bathrobe as she swung open the door. Grace knew what it was by the wax seal, a red H. She half expected it to never show. A bunch of emotions whirled through her head, and too busy in thought she hadn't realized that the worry had shown most on her face.

Ero lowered his voice and brow when he stepped closer to try and relieve the tension twisting on Grace's face, "You'll do great, you already have. They accepted you, now you need to do the same."

At that line that seemed practiced and calculated Grace sunk back down to her bed. Did they really need to practice that line? Do they know I'm not good enough but are supporting me anyway? Her mother a Ravenclaw and her father a Hufflepuff just made it through school, they weren't exceptional and even less so herself. She felt as if she had gotten the acceptance letter solely because of her family legacy. She felt as if she was being expected to join Hufflepuff like the rest of the Flourishes and make it through. Do nothing but get through. Her whole family went to Hogwarts to learn the basics, come out with just enough magic to get them by, and then run this bookshop, with no need for great magic.

Staying in London she could make something of herself, studying muggle magic, experimenting with it, learning new magic derived from nature and not the power within herself. She knew her strengths and she knew her weaknesses. She knew she wasn't born for greatness and that she'd have to create it, work for it. Grace had never possessed great magical ability, but her knowledge gave her an edge, made her stronger in other facets. She wanted to make a difference in the world be more than just another Flourish to run the shop.

Her parents sat beside her feet at the bottom of the bed and her father dropped a stack of books wrapped neatly in twine on her leg, which startled Grace to an upright position, "I got you these from downstairs, I know you've probably read them all but I thought you'd want fresh copies." Both gave a small smile and squeezed her leg before letting Grace alone with her feelings.

In fact Grace did not want the fresh copies, she preferred her old copies with all her marking and notes. She kicked the books to the floor with a bang and a note slipped out from one of the books.

"Are you alright up there?" Ero bellowed from the shop below.

"Yeah! just dropped the books."

She picked up the note from the floor and read the outside of the envelope.

Gracie

Hopefully you'll find this when you get to your dormitory!

Grace examined it a moment before ripping open the top to reveal a loopy lettering in her mum's handwriting. She couldn't wait until then, because what if she didn't go.

We are so proud of you! No matter what house you're in (although I'm betting Ravenclaw), write back as soon as you can to let us know. Don't keep us in the dark, like how you did with your potions and muggle magic books.

Love, Mum

Wow, Grace really thought she was slick. Of course her mother knew about everything. She huffed defeated. She pulled herself together to start her morning shift as she shuffled down the stairs.

The shop buzzed with excitement as it did all August long, when in came the Diggory's, family friends of the Flourishes. Cedric, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Diggory scanned the room bright grey eyes wandering until they caught sight of the unruly curly frizzy haired girl on the flight of stairs heading down looking quite bothered. As their eyes met both mouths couldn't help but plaster into a smile. 

"Did you get your letter yet?" Cedric called across the room.

Grace slumped across the room with a goofy smile on her face, "Yeah, I guess I did."

"I told you, you would, Hogwarts needs a mind like yours."

"Wait, did you get yours?" Grace forgot that since last time he had been in there was still no news on his acceptance.

"Why else would I be here? " He said sarcastically, as if he doesn't visit multiple times a week.

"Ha ha ha." Grace joked back. "So is this your first stop or did you get the rest already?"

"This is my first stop. I wanted to do the rest with you."

The bright eyes of the attractive boy that stood in front of her made her decision a lot easier, as if she really had one. Her mother probably sent out the acceptance owl as soon as she received  it. But now, she wouldn't be resisting. 

Grace pulled Cedric up to her room and handed him the stack of books she assaulted earlier that morning and handed him one of her extra quills and homemade ink.

"I know it's a bit silly but they're just so fun to write with, the ink changes color as you write!" Grace blushed little before adding, "I came up with the ink without a recipe. It's by far one the simplest potions possible but it is my own." That's what she loved about Cedric, he let her talk. Even when she did it too much, he always followed along with head nods and mhm's.

"Thank you." He smiled softly and took the gifts into his bag. 

"Let's go get our stuff!" Grace suddenly felt hopeful.

Grace normally stayed clear of Ollivanders, she didn't like the fact that pieces of wood possessed more power than her, and those sticks got to decide who gets to use their power. Because of that she avoided the wand shop for as long as possible. Grace and Cedric got all the required gear and garb, besides the wand, before stopping for lunch at the leaky cauldron. Although typically kids weren't welcome to hang around without adult supervision, everyone that reside or works in Diagon Alley knew Grace since she was born, they let her order food and hang around as long as she didn't get into trouble. 

The flickering candlelights in the tavern radiated lots of heat in the sticky August weather, and the body heat and booze didn't help the cooling. Cedric kept using his. sleeve to wipe the sweat from his brow and his upper lip. Grace blew out one of the large lamps hanging above their table as Cedric watched a little on edge, sweating more profusely now, worrying if they'd be kicked out from this mischief. 

Grace drew a tiny vial from her bag that looks as if it were filled with flames, "I'm so glad I have this on me today." She uncorked the top of the vial and the flames that were tame inside spouted out and tickled the air with their unruly fingers. The flames danced over the wick of the lamp, igniting the lantern into a beautiful light, brighter than before. The air around them seemed to cool a bit.

"How'd you get that?" Cedric moved his hands closer to the flame for relief from the heat.

"Well it was an accident. One of my potions went wrong, but I ended up with this cold flame." Grace went on rambling about how she figured she could bottle it up and try to replicate it again in the future. "Surprisingly it hasn't gone out yet."

"But you can put it out right?" Cedric glanced over at the flames again retreating his hands and pushing back into his seat.

"Small one yes you can blow it out like an ordinary flame, but large one I wouldn't know, I haven't tried. Oh and eyebrow hair, a quick pat and you're all good." 

"Well that's brilliant. " Cedric hid his concern and supported his friend even when she made irresponsible decisions. He did think it was brilliant that she had discovered magic all on her own, but worried often for her safety. One day she'll burn more than just an eyebrow off.

They hurried out of The Leaky Cauldron to the dreaded wand shop. Cedric of course went first, excitedly waiting all day for this moment. Ollivander measured his arm and approximated his height. After a pleasant conversation about Hogwarts and family legacy Ollivander handed Cedric a 13 inch wand with unicorn hair and apple wood. Nothing. Ollivander whisked it away and replaced it with a 12 1/4 inch unicorn hair core ash wood wand. An immediate match. Silver sparks flew out the tip like fireworks. Ollivander looked pleased with himself as he boxed up the wand and exchanged it for the payment.

Now the dreaded moment, Grace prepared herself as she started small talk with Ollivander, chatting about her family, the shop, and what house I think I may be sorted into. Once I say Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff because of the legacy he immediately rushes over to grab a few options.  

The first beech wood 11 inches unicorn hair. Grace ever so slightly touched the wand and Ollivander yanked it away. The second chestnut wood 10 1/2 inches unicorn hair. This time Grace was allowed to hold it for one second before Ollivander ripped it out of her clutches. They went through 4 different wands all around 9-12 inches unicorn hair core with varying wood type. Nothing. Nothing at all.

"Maybe I'm wrong" Muttered the old man who quickly began to make Grace feel inferior, "Maybe we could try... no that won't work." He shuffled to the back of the store. Cedric put a hand on her shoulder to let her know that he was still here for her and always will be.

Would any work? Finally he came back with one more wand this time different than the rest, a Red Oak 10" dragon heart string. 

Grace lifted it gently out of his hands and immediately red sparks flew wildly out of control, and the wand crashed to the floor. Grace stood there stunned profusely apologizing.

"No, no, no this is what I needed to see, my suspicion was right." Ollivander bent over and picked up a box from behind the checkout counter, "This one is one of my favorites." He winked as he outreached the wand. 

It was very beautiful, the intricate carvings of florals ran deep in the wood, such beautiful craftsmanship.

"Laurel wood, 10 inches, phoenix feather core." Ollivander seemed certain.

Grace carefully took it from Ollivanders hands as Cedric stepped back to watch. Slowly as it was picked up warm light radiated from where her hands touched the wood and floated down to the floor. Grace stared in awe and looked up to see the same from Cedric. 

"Rvenclaw or Huffleuff you said?" Ollivander asked raising an eyebrow.

What was that supposed to mean?