* * *

THE LEAKY CAULDRON was just another run-down dilapidated shop along Charing Cross road.

However, neither things nor people weren't always as they appeared to be. Valerie Grindelwald knew that all too well. So, when they walked through the creaky doors and ended up in a busy pub, it had been somewhat of a foreshadowed surprise for her.

Valerie weaved her way through the clamorous crowds with Hagrid and Harry by her side.

"Hagrid! The usual, I presume?"

"Not ter'day, Tom." The gamekeeper denied the bartender's offer. "I'm on official Hogwarts business. Just takin' these two ter get their school supplies."

The attention was shifting to them, and Valerie quickly turned away from any prying eyes.

"Bless my soul," the bartender breathed out. "It's Harry Potter."

All heads turned to the oblivious boy, and suddenly everyone was lining up, hoping to greet him.

Valerie began to back away, knowing how different their reactions would be if she was the one put on the spot. Unfortunately, luck never was on her side as she accidentally bumped into a wizard rushing out of the pub.

"Sor—" The man cut himself off at the sight of her. "Those eyes... It can't be."

"I know those eyes. Those cold, heartless eyes. You're her, aren't you? You're Grindelwald's granddaughter."

There was an unmistakable distaste in his voice that caused Valerie to send him a hard glare. By then, murmurs had broken out all over the place.

"Thief."

"Criminal."

"Murderer."

Even Harry Potter was staring at her confusedly, and she clenched her fists tightly at all their quiet, detesting comments.

"Excuse me, I'd hate to interrupt your tell-tale gossips." Valerie cleared her throat, earning their attention. "I know that my grandfather has caused a great deal of torment to this world. But, I am not him. And for all of you to judge a child solely by her name in senseless fear, tells me something."

She spoke loud and clear, without stutter. "My grandfather may have been one of the darkest wizards in history, but at least he wasn't coward."

The pub fell silent, and Hagrid put a reassuring hand on Valerie's shoulder. "Attagirl."

He led the two eleven-year olds out the backroom to a brick wall, a seemingly dead-end.

"Hagrid, all those people out there, how is it they know who we are?" Harry asked the half-giant.

"Not sure I'm te' right person ter tell ye that, Harry." Hagrid answered, prompting the boy to turn to Valerie.

"I can't tell you either." she shook her head with a sigh, "But I can tell you that I'm famous for all the wrong reasons. That's where we're different."

Hagrid smiled sadly at the Grindelwald girl, whose mood had clearly dropped from the heated encounter. He then raised his umbrella to the wall, tapping the bricks in a curious pattern. Within seconds it had formed an opening to an astir alleyway.

"Harry, Valerie, welcome ter Diagon Alley!"

* * *

Valerie Grindelwald held her head up high as they walked along the streets swarming with wizards and witches. Harry wondered how she had remained so collected, asking if she was alright now and then.

She would reply with a dismissive 'I'm fine', but inside she felt like she was going to be sick.

People would stop to just stare at her, and the uncourageous few would even dive out of her way. Sadness wasn't exactly familiar to her, but although she would never admit it, the thought of everyone being terrified at the sight of her seemed to stir up the feeling.

"But Hagrid, how am I to pay for all this? I haven't any money." Harry asked. Valerie had been wondering the same thing, reaching for the golden key in her pocket every now and then.

Hagrid then pointed to the crookedly-built building in front of them, its pillars painted ivory. "Well, there's yer money, Harry! Gringotts, the Wizard Bank. T'aint no safer place, not one. 'Cept perhaps Hogwarts."

Valerie stared up at the high dome-like ceilings and gold-plated walls of Gringotts in awe, watching as goblins skimmed through checkbooks with usual scowls on their faces.

It wasn't her first time seeing the creatures, as there were even prisoners of their kind at Nurmengard. They weren't the friendliest of beasts, Valerie knew that much.

"Mister Harry Potter and Miss Valerie Grindelwald wish ter make withdrawals." Hagrid spoke.

The goblin then leaned over, narrowed eyes studying the two. "Does Mister Harry Potter have his key?"

Valerie raised her eyebrows at the blatant disregard, but said nothing.

"Wait a minute, got it here somewhere. Aha. There's the li'l devil." Hagrid pulled out a small key, but then worriedly glanced at the girl. "But, uh, Dumbledore din' say nothin' about Valerie's."

Shuffling through her pocket, she took out the key her grandfather had given to her. "Would it happen to be this?"

The goblin grunted, "Keys belonging to prisoners are kept by the bank. Ministry orders. That must be some trick. Your grandfather was a master of deception after all."

"Why ye little—"

"It's alright, Hagrid." Valerie shook her head, unwilling to dwell on the spiteful words. She felt stupid for believing her grandfather.

"Oh, and Professor Dumbledore also gave me this." Hagrid remembered, handing the goblin an envelope. "It's about you-know-what, in vault you-know-which."

Harry furrowed his eyebrows at the hushed conversation, nudging Valerie as if to ask if she knew anything. The girl only shrugged.

"Very well, come with me."

The three followed the goblin as he stood up from his desk, but the creature's gaze then shifted back to Valerie.

"Oh no, not you." he told her as he called for another goblin. "Vaults belonging to prisoners are more separately and securely locked away."

Valerie followed the direction he pointed toward a different railroad, leading to a steeper pathway.

"Of course." she muttered.

*  *  *

The ride down the mines was particularly unpleasant. Valerie sat by the edge of the rickety cart, listening to the sonorous clanging of rusty metal as they made their way down the rails.

The goblin beside her hadn't said a word, and she wasn't one to start a conversation with someone who held a clear dislike to her.

"Vault two-hundred seventeen." the creature spoke monotonously.

Valerie took it as a signal to step out, a few steps behind the goblin.

"Black, Lestrange, Crouch... Here we are, Grindelwald." he murmured gruffly after shuffling through the different keys.

"If you don't mind me asking," Valerie tilted her head to the side. "Why would my grandfather own a vault in London?"

"Your grandfather owned vaults all over the world. Cunning man, he was."

Cunning man, he is still. Valerie thought.

The process consisted of nearly five different locks, each one opening a door farther away from the rails and into the vault. Once the final gateway unlatched, it displayed piles over piles of gold and copper coins.

"Take nothing but Knuts and a couple of Galleons." she was told as she entered the vault.

There was no denying of her family's wealth, but it was whether or not it was all earned or all stolen was what concerned her. After placing them in a pouch, she turned to leave.

'The box, Valerie.'

Her grandfather's voice rang through her ears. She narrowed her eyes, knowing he had invaded her mind yet again. Get out of my head, she urged, and with that he was gone just as quick.

Valerie didn't bother to go looking for 'the box', or whatever he grandfather was referring to as she was called out by the goblin and brought back up to the bank lobby. Hagrid and Harry showed up not long after, kicking the rest of their journey back on track.

* * *

The young witch seemed to have something else on her mind as Harry Potter continuously spoke to her. He had been conversing with her as they moved from shop to shop, asking various questions about magic and whatnot.

Having had enough, she snapped her head toward the boy. "Look, if I were you I'd stop talking to me. I'm not the kind of person you'd want to be associated with."

Maybe, earlier that morning she would have welcomed the idea of a friend, but after the following events, her thoughts had changed.

Harry was taken aback by the sudden outburst, falling silent.

* * *

"Sir, I'd better pay for all the damage."

Valerie Grindelwald reckoned she'd nearly emptied out the entire shop. In a matter of minutes, she had caused a blackout, broken the chandelier, shattered four vases, and cracked three floor tiles.

She looked over her shoulder, frowning when Hagrid and Harry were nowhere in sight. Of course something like this would happen, she thought.

This was the moment she had been waiting for, when she would finally get a wand of her own. Yet, here she was, on her ninth try.

"Nonsense! Would you like to try this one?" Ollivander asked, a wary tone laced in his voice.

Valerie nodded violently, knowing she was out of options. "I'll try anything."

"Silver Lime wood with a dragon heartstring core, eleven inches, surprisingly swishy flexibility." the man took the wand out of the box carefully.

Ollivander put his hands over his head and took a few steps back, causing Valerie to furrow her eyebrows at him.

"Safety precaution." he sighed. "That wand is rather unpredictable."

"Great." Valerie murmured, idly picking it up. As soon as she did so, the wand glowed a sharp gold, causing her to squint at the brightness.

"Curious..." Ollivander remarked. It looked like he was about to expound on the subject, when the girl swiftly cut him off.

"Actually, uh— no, I'm not, thanks." Valerie laughed nervously, carelessly shoving the wand in her pocket. She handed him the seven galleons, and made for the door. She didn't have that kind of patience.

"Great seeing you, sir." she bid him goodbye, leaving a stumped Garrick Ollivander.

"Silver Lime wood..." he spoke out his thoughts. "Vablatsky, Imago, Trelawney, ah yes. Those wands are particularly common for se—"

Valerie was out of earshot before he could finish, finding herself alone in the streets.

"Valerie!" Hagrid called from behind her. She turned around to see him carrying a silver rimmed cage containing a beautiful scope owl. He held it out for her.

"But it's not my birthday." Valerie trailed off slowly. Harry had gotten a snowy owl earlier, but she on the other hand, had no reason to.

"T'was Harry's idea." Hagrid whispered, using his thumb to point toward the sheepish boy.

Valerie didn't know what to say as she approached him, holding her owl in its cage.

"I know what your grandfather did." Harry told her, watching as her expression faltered. "But it doesn't change the fact that I'd really like to be your friend."

"Thank you, Harry." A small smile made its way to her face, and Harry swore there was a hint of mischief in her ice blue eyes. "You know, I might just name my owl after you."

"But it's a girl!" Harry exclaimed, laughing.

Valerie rolled her eyes, her grin only widening. "Harriet it is then."