While Ila was truly confused at how the Owl shop visit was necessary, Harry on the other hand was, well in simple words being smothered by her mother.

" But do you oh -what's that scar on your head baccha? " She asked him, gently lifting his hair to reveal the sharp reddish scar at the centre of his forehead.

" Did you try and get a tattoo without permission Harry? " She asked, confused and her mother looked affronted.

" What? Truly? " She questioned the young boy.

" No no. I - well, Hagrid told me I got this scar when, well when Voldemort killed my parents. " He said, his green eyes turned murky at the thought.

"I'm sorry Harry, if I knew I wouldn't bring it up. " Her mother said softly, patting his head softly.

" That's all right ma'am, I don't mind. It's, well, oh look we're here. " He said, as Eeylops came into view.

While the mother and daughter exchanged concerned looks, Harry tagged Ila into the shop.

" Woah! " Was all that Ila could manage as she stepped into it, the sharp smell of birds hit her first, then followed by the sound of the owls hooting.

Like most shops in Diagon Alley, this too was dimly lit, but this one reminded Ila of a forest, with so many owls. Tawny owls, snowy owls, screech owls and more.

" This is, quite a shop. " Ila's mother said as she sneezed loudly.

" Hello, how may I help you? " The owner said. He was a stalky man with a large beard.

" Hello sir, my friend here would like an owl? " Harry said, since Ila was simply lost for words in the shop, so many owls.

And then her eyes centred around the one.

" Apollo. " She mumbled and it hooted wildly, nearly rattling it's cage.

" Oh, oh I see, I feel it has taken a liking to you. " The owner said, rushing over to open the owl.

" No don't -" But by the time Ila could stop him, he gently brought Apollo over.

SHE WAS GOING TO KILL THAT OWL.

" Oh look, he's even made himself home in yer arms! " He said happily, as Apollo softly settled into her awkward hands.

" Yes.. He has... " Her mother agreed, albeit confused.

" Wonderful, I always tell Ollivander that just like wands owls too choose their owners but he wouldn't listen." He said to himself as he walked over to the register.

⏟

Apollo's 'love' was short lived, for the moment Ila, Harry and Sunita stepped out of Eeyelops, the owl ruffled it's feathers and pulled on Ila's hand from the cage.

" Ow! " She cried and the owl, seemingly satisfied fluffed around happily before settling into the cage.

Harry roared with laughter while her mother held her grin, tending to her scratch.

" It's fine darling, come we still have to buy your books. " She said.

" That owl should give acting classes." Ila muttered as she pressed her scratch hard. Harry laughed, pulling his own owl and books.

The three moved to Flourish and Blotts, with Ila still holding her pinky finger tightly.

" Show it to me. " Harry said softly, still holding his laughter.

" What will you do, it's fine. It just needs to stop bleeding. That too, it's a tiny scratch. " She said and Harry shook his head.

" It's not that, it's just, I've seen the Dursleys occasionally order Indian food and well, from whatever they leave for me, your food is spicy. It'll hurt your scratch. Just put something on it. " He said wrapping her finger in a handkerchief.

" Thank you, that's sweet. I'll even put a band aid at home. " She said as they ran into the store with her mother shaking her head.

" Atleast she's happy. " She mumbled, pulling Apollo's cage and the cart with her.

"This. Is. Heaven. " Ila mumbled as she gazed at the towering shelves of books. Just like Ollivander's shop they rose to unimaginable heights, but these were filled with rows and rows of books.

Signboards hung from all over, 'fiction, literature, potions, transfiguration, charms'. It was like a delight.

" Woah indeed. This place gives me the scare. " Harry said as he walked with her. " You do have the list for the books don't you? " He asked and she nodded, fishing it out of her pant pocket.

" Well, transfiguration is there, potions next to it. Come on. " He said as they browsed the shelves.

" Quidditch? " Ila wondered out loud as they picked the final book, Magical Drafts and Potions.

" Yeah, Hagrid told me it's a game, like the play on brooms.. " Harry answered. " Hey, mind if I check a few things there? You could check if there's something else you like. " He told her.

" Okay, meet me at the counter? " She agreed, walking off.

With the lines and rows of books here, it was quite easy to get lost.

" But mum! I still would love to read it.. It's not like the fairytales we have already read. " A sharp voice said. Ila peaked around the shelf to be faced with the wildest mane of hair she had seen.

" Alright Hermione, but only this one for now. Alright, you've already taken so many. " Her father chided and the girl nodded.

" You're -you're a witch too? " Ila got out, nearly whispered and Hermione screamed, dropping her book as she turned around, jumping back.

"Ye-yes. Who are you? " She asked, her eyes still wide.

She had sparkling brown eyes. Ila wasn't even kidding, she looked like she had a thirst for knowledge which was clearly visible in them. Her brown hair fell down her back and around her face, it was bushy and seemed to have a mind of its own.

Odd, all the people she met today had hair with a mind of its own.

" I'm Ila. I'm here with my mum Sunita. Hermione right? " She asked, offering a hand.

" I am yes, oh this is exciting. I'm so excited to meet another student. I've been meaning to ask if you've already read Hogwarts, A history. I read so much of it here!" She shook Ila's hand with glee and Ila laughed.

" Me too! I made a fast friend here, he's been such a help. In fact he's right around here -"

" Hermione darling, look what we found. " Her mother called and Hermione laughed.

" Well, I'll have to go. Introduce me to this friend at Hogwarts? " She said, when Ila nodded, waving her goodbye.

" Shall we? " Ila's mother asked as they reached the counter.

" Oh yes. Harry? " She asked as the boy came out of the Quidditch section with a small guidebook in hand.

" I want to see what it's about. Even if I can't join the team till 2nd year. " Harry said, smiling as he reached up to pay for the book.

" Oh put it here Harry, " Her mother said and as Harry shook his head, she gently pried it off his hands, " When I'm here, you needn't pay. It's my gift to you. " She said and he smiled, finally conceding.

With their shopping done and the heavy books taken, the three walked out of Diagon Alley to the car.

" Harry, where do you live? " Ila's mother asked, looking at the two kids through the rear view mirror.

" Under a cupboard. " Harry mumbled, then coughed, " Number 4 Privet Drive. "

But Ila's mother caught it and the car nearly screached to a halt at the red light. The children braced themselves against the seats.

" WHAT! " She asked as Harry frowned then hid his face.

" Well, I told you, the Dursleys don't like me -"

" Like you or not, that is no way to keep a child. I need to speak to them. For now, come home. We'll have dinner together. " She frowned and when the car started, Harry sighed.

He wondered if his mother would have been like this too. Or was it just Ila's.. Or are all mothers like this? Caring for a child like their own. Or at least, their child's friend like their own.

But then he remembered Aunt Petunia and he is assured. Maybe it's not all of them.

⏟

" So Harry? How did you get your letter? " Ila asked at the table. As per Ila's wish, Dal Chawal was indeed what was served for dinner that night, especially keeping Harry's spice tolerance in mind.

" Well, I did receive a couple of letters, but I think it was when Hagrid broke me out of the lighthouse this morning-"

" - what were you doing at a lighthouse! " Sunita asked, surprised as the spoon fell from her hand.

" Well, the Dursleys couldn't bear the torrent of letters earlier and thought maybe we'd be safe at the lighthouse. So we went there. Then Hagrid came in his motorbike with my birthday cake -"

" IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY! " Now Ila was the one to scream.

He would never tell Ila.. But he pitied her father slightly.. Having both her daughter and wife scream at random intervals of the day was not something he was used to, even though the were caring for him.

" Yes? " He trailed off and Ila scoffed.

" And you tell me this now! " She asked and he nodded, rearranged his glasses on his face.

" Well it's not like it's a big deal to me. My birthday hasn't been celebrated. Ever. " He said finally, sighing.

" Well you're my friend. It's my job to make your birthday a hit. Can we make a mug cake for him mum? Can we? " She asked and Sunita smiled at her daughter.

" Yes we can. I'll just go. " She kissed her daughter's forehead, then walked away.

Just as she left the room, she stopped short and came back, pulling Harry into a warm hug.

" Happy Birthday bacha , I hope you enjoy whatever of your birthday is left today. " She then left the room, smiling to herself.

It was weird, but her som's friend oddly looked like one of the men in the pictures.

" Let me show you my dad. " Ila said, hurrying off as she brought an old frayed picture with her.

Harry looked shocked, it was his parents in the middle.

" Oh that's my parents. " He said, then coughed softly. He couldn't cry in front of her. What would she think of him.

" Oh.. I'm so sorry. Again, I don't mean to hurt you.. This is my father." She said, pointing to the man next to his parents, he was not too tall, similar in height to his father.

" What's his name? " He asked and she sighed.

" I wouldn't know. Mum only knows him as Evan. And I can't find his name anywhere else. " She shrugged her shoulders.

" Oh well, it's okay. We can look into it later. Okay? We'll find him Ila. " He said to her with a smile.

Hehehe. I think you guys called it in the first chapter. Or maybe you didn't... So.. Who is it? Who's Ila's father?

Much love.