Page 18 of Dark Rebel's Fortune

The girls changed into their new Hogwarts attire, complete with house-appropriate ties. They left the store, each carrying a shopping bag with her clothes and a matching Hogwarts sweater, which was too warm to wear right now.

"What about you?" Jasmine asked. "Didn't you want a Hogwarts uniform? It's not too late."

Fenella chuckled. "You keep forgetting how old I really am."

"I don't," Jasmine insisted. "But you are never too old to have fun."

The truth was that Fenella couldn't remember the last time she'd done something purely for fun. Her existence for the past half-century had been focusedon survival, on staying one step ahead of trouble, on earning enough to eat, and on finding safe places to sleep. There had been moments of pleasure, certainly, breathtaking vistas witnessed from mountain trails, the satisfaction of a well-played poker hand, and the occasional physical connection with a stranger who asked no questions and expected no commitment.

But this—wandering through a fantasy land with no purpose beyond enjoyment, surrounded by people she considered friends—was new and far more enjoyable than she wanted to acknowledge.

It was also insanely frivolous.

"Can we go to the Three Broomsticks for lunch?" Laleh asked as midday approached.

"Excellent idea," Jasmine agreed. "I'm starving."

The Three Broomsticks restaurant was designed to look like the pub from the novels and films, complete with exposed wooden beams, long communal tables, and servers in period costumes. The girls examined every detail, talking among themselves about elements they recognized from the books.

"They even have butterbeer," Donya noted as they examined the menus.

"What the hell is butterbeer?" Fenella asked.

"It's a special drink from the books," Arezoo explained. "Non-alcoholic, of course."

"I know what it is in the movies. I just want to know what it is made from."

No one knew how to answer her.

"We should all try it and find out," Ell-rom suggested.

When their drinks arrived—frothy concoctions topped with whipped cream—Fenella eyed hers suspiciously. "It looks like bath water with foam on top."

"Just try it." Jasmine took a sip of her own.

Fenella cautiously raised the mug to her lips and took a tentative taste. The flavor burst was intense—sweet, butterscotch-like, with hints of vanilla. It was ridiculously sugary, completely indulgent, and utterly delicious.

"Well?" Jasmine prompted.

"It's not terrible," Fenella conceded, taking another, larger sip.

Ell-rom's reaction was more dramatic. His eyes widened with surprised pleasure, and he stared at the mug as if it contained some profound revelation. "This is remarkable," he declared.

The girls giggled at his reaction, and even Fenella had to smile at his childlike wonder. It was easy to forget that beneath his regal bearing and alien heritage, Ell-rom was experiencing many elements of human culture for the first time.

As their lunch arrived and the girls chatted about their favorite scenes from the books, comparing them to the same scenes in the movies and complaining about everything that hadn't been done right, Fenella was content to just observe, to be partof this improvised family unit without needing to maintain her usual walls and defenses.

It was a strange feeling—unfamiliar—but not unwelcome.

After lunch, they continued exploring the park, eventually making their way to a shop selling replica wands from the Harry Potter series.

"Each wand is unique," a shop employee explained with practiced enthusiasm. "Just like in the books, the wand chooses the wizard—or witch."

The girls took this ritual very seriously, handling different wands until they found ones that 'felt right.'

"You should get one, too," Jasmine told Fenella, holding out an intricately carved wand.

"Don't be ridiculous," Fenella scoffed. "I'm not a child."

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