-Six Years Later-
"I don't want to be the damsel," Ludwig complained. "I'm a boy. Don't you think we're too old to be playing damsel in distress and hero, Alfred? Besides, I'm always the damsel! I want to be the hero!" His German accent, light with the years, but still very much there, was now mixed with British undertones. He was pouting, glaring at his best friend and his, for all intents and and purposes, brother. Why was it that Ludwig was always the one who had to play damsel? He twitched his nose at the sight of the dress that was in Alfred's hand. "And I hate wearing Uncle Francis' dress, why does he even have that, he's a man?" He sighed and looked around at the clearing they were playing in, far enough from the house so that it was a good walk, but not so far that they couldn't see the building. They each had their brooms with them, something that made Ludwig uneasy. They weren't allowed to fly near the house, there were too many muggles that lived around the area. But Alfred just didn't seem to care.
Alfred scowled and crossed his arms. "I'm the hero, it's just how things go! You can be the villain if you want-" His rebuttal was cut off by the appearance of a dappled brown owl flying over the duo, its shadow large and intimidating. Another owl followed quickly, letters hanging form their legs loosely. Alfred gaped, glasses shining from the sunlight and awe. He watched til the owls entered the perpetually open window of the living room, kept open specifically for owls and letters for the Kirkland family. The nice house, to anybody's view, was average. A large mansion, very English, with a sprawling garden of herbs and trees, almost overgrown, but looking very welcoming. Indeed, any were welcome to the Kirkland home, blooded or Muggle-born, or even Muggle. The children from down the lane were often found playing with the younger Kirklands.
"Ludwig, Ludwig, look!" He pointed once the significance of the owls actually sunk in. "Maybe, maybe, maybe it's our Hogwarts owls! Isn't that cool!" He exclaimed, then took off, picking up the brooms laying on the lush grass.
The German scowled at Alfred and reached for his broom. "Alfred, I know what you're planning, and you know we're not allowed to-"
His sentence was cut off by the Kirkland child kicking off into the air, zooming towards the house at a moderate pace. "Darn..." he murmured to himself, residing to climbing onto the broom and following his, for all purpose, brother. He just wanted to smack Alfred in the face sometimes. Alfred daringly aimed for the same window as the owls had darted in, almost smacking into the stone walls with inches to spare, but he made it in. He leapt from the broom before he could hit the opposite wall and rolled across the ground, giggling at the fun. Ludwig had followed his brother's tail, flying and landing with much more precision and grace than his giggly counterpart. That was how it always seemed to be. Alfred bulldozed his way through life and Ludwig glided.
But Alfred was the Kirkland; Ludwig was not. No matter how kind Arthur was, Ludwig was not his son. If it came down to life or death, Ludwig would be shoved aside in favor of Alfred. Ludwig was just a cuckoo bird, the chick laid in another nest to grow with unfamiliar people. It was only a matter of time until Ludwig was thrust out of the loving nest or the others realized that he didn't belong. If those didn't happen, then it was a simple matter to rid himself of the others- either way, he would be alone.
The boys looked up at a loud coughing noise only to find themselves facing Arthur, and Ludwig hung his head low. He was already holding the two letters, his arms crossed over his chest. "What do you two think you were doing?" he snapped. "You could have gotten yourselves killed! The muggles could have seen! You know you're not supposed to fly so close to the house!" He glared, though his expression lightened. "Is this any way... For Hogwarts students to behave?" He gave a smile before holding two letters. He began to read, "Dear Mister Alfred Falkner Kirkland, Dear Mister Ludwig Adairic Beilschmidt, we are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!"
Ludwig's face lit up and extended his hands. "Ah... Dad, may I please see it?"
"Of course," he said with a smile. "I'm sure you both will be Ravenclaws, like all Kirklands... except Dan." Arthur made a face. "He ended up in Gryffindor."
"Ravenclaw," Ludwig murmured to himself. "Got it."
Alfred, on the other hand, was beyond excited. ""Ah, this is so cool!" He couldn't help his giddiness- sure, he knew he was going there, he always had, but it was just super exciting to finally get it. He danced around the room, passing by the door to the parlor before accidentally running into Dan himself. Ludwig quickly gave Arthur an affectionate hug before running after the other boy.
Dan was laughing at Alfred, who was going on about something. "Isn't this cool? I got it! Dad's going on about me having to be a Ravenclaw, but Dan, I wanna be a Gryffindor too! I want to be part of the hero House and red and gold is so much better than blue and that weird bronze-y color..." He went on and on about it, making Dan laugh and ruffle his younger brother's hair. "Go for it, I'd love to see Da' get his knickers in a bunch. Again." He turned to look at Ludwig, looking him up and down. "You better not be a Ravenclaw, either. Both of ya are going to be Gryffindors, got it?"
Ludwig laughed uneasily, scratching the back of his head. "Ah, haha. Ja. 'Course." Truthfully, Ludwig didn't care what house he ended up in; his only desire was to make Arthur proud of him, want to call him son. If that meant being a Hufflepuff, that's what Ludwig would have striven for. But Kirkland wanted a Ravenclaw child, and that was what Ludwig had always tried to be like, studying at the late hours, trying to learn as much as he could. It got to the point that he wanted to know everything he could, and strove to get his hands on all sort of knowledge imaginable, even the dark kind... But that wasn't bad, knowledge itself wasn't inherently evil, it was what people merely did with the knowledge that made it 'dark.' As long as Ludwig didn't do anything bad with the knowledge he acquired, it wasn't evil, and so, he was okay. At least, it made sense to think like that.
Alfred tackled Ludwig, wanting to wrestle. "Let's wrestle, come on!"
Alfred was pulled off of the disheveled German by a laughing Arthur. "Come now, you two, we have a shopping trip to go to, yes? Diagon Alley awaits us." Arthur was adjusting their robes, trying to make the boys look more presentable. After all, Kirklands never looked out of place. Arthur frowned as he attempted to squish down that one piece of hair that always seemed to pop out of place upon Alfred's head, Alfred patiently waiting for him to give up as always. He sighed and finally gave up on his quest and turned to the two boys. "Come on, now."
Ludwig followed the adult Kirkland, Kaoru coming to meet him from the other hall. It was his last year, and he was poised to going into training to be an Auror. Ludwig smiled up at his 'older brother.' Kaoru was the one that was the first to welcome him as a brother with open arms, and always looked out for him. Now, as the brother was Head Boy, the top in his class, and a distinct Ravenclaw, Ludwig wanted nothing less than to be like him. Kaoru was the perfect Kirkland, suiting for the family heir. Ludwig wished it was possible for him to so like that.
A child collided into them, jumping on Arthur's back. "I wanna go, I wanna go!" yelled a six year old voice, refusing to let go of their father. "Off of me, Peter," Arthur ordered as he pulled the child off. "You're going to be watched by Francis while I take the Hogwarts aged children to Diagon Alley."
Peter pouted. "But... But he's a muggle," he whined. "He won't understand."
Arthur smacked him in the head. "You insolent child. He'll understand well enough, he lives with us, it's not like I won't explain to him our life. Now get you, play with Matthew and Seysel, while I take the other four to Diagon Alley."
Peter pointed dramatically, the child shrieking, "You jerk!" and ran away towards the living room where Francis was playing with Matthew and Seysel. Arthur laughed and turned to Kaoru, Dan, Alfred and Ludwig. "Come on you two. Kaoru, you take Dan to pick out his supplies. I'll take the two young ones."
Kaoru nodded and walked to the fireplace mantel, smiling as he watched the three youngest playing with Francis. It was such a relief when Francis came into the family, giving the oldest Kirkland child a break from playing mother and a chance to focus on his studies. Not that his grades ever suffered. But it was still a nice lift from his shoulders, even if he never resented it. He took a handful of flu powder and threw it into the fireplace, turning the small, withering scarlet flames to an emerald that rivaled their father's eyes. Nodding for Dan to move closer, her extended the pot of Flu powder and pointed to the fireplace. "You know what to do. I'll follow after you. Exit at Flourish and Blotts."
Dan nodded and extended his hand, the black powder grasped in his hand as he entered the fore place, his voice echoing as he called out, "Flourish and Blotts!" and went up in emerald flame.
Francis jumped from his seat and began to race to the fireplace, but stopped himself and shook his head. "I juz will neve' get uz to zis," he murmured and sighed, turning back to the young children who were now playing with toys he had given to them. Arthur laughed and gestured for the other two to come to the fireplace. "We," Arthur said, "on the other hand, are going to Madam Malkin's Robes." He extended the pot to the boys, as Kaoru had done for Dan. "Just follow Dan's example, you've done this before."
Alfred jumped up, excitedly, his blue eyes shining with strong emotions. "Ah, wicked!" He grabbed a fist full and ran into the flames, screaming, "Madam Malkin's Robes!" before throwing the powder, laughing as he transported himself. Ludwig smiled as he quietly shuffled towards Arthur who kissed the crown of his head before extending the pot. "I'll meet up with you two as soon as you go."
He took the flu powder, the black, sand-like powder slipping between his fingers as he took just enough to get him to where he needed to be and allowed the excess to fall back into the pot. Keeping his eyes on Arthur, he stepped into the emerald flames, the warm, tickling sensation around his legs. Lifting his hand, he threw the powder into the flame, speaking clearing, "Madam Malkin's Robes!" The flame engulfed his body, the inviting heat surrounding him as he felt him swirl on the spot. Different places flashed before his eyes before he saw the opening of the robe shop and Alfred, and he jumped from the flame, greeted by a tackling Alfred.
The two boys laughed as they collided, and looked up simultaneously as a woman called to them. "Hogwarts first years, boys?" she asked, coming towards them with pins, needles, and cloth flying beside her in the air. Alfred was the one who nodded. "Alright, come here!"
Arthur was there quickly, watching the boys fitted. He nodded, approving of the material. Not too nice, but not the normality either. They were Kirklands, and had to be dressed like such. He nodded when he approved and paid for the robes, then gestured to the boys. "Come on, now, to Potage's." They went on their shopping quest with an air of quickness, wanting to get the first year supplies that were on their list. Soon, they only had their wands left.
"Ollivander's, of course," was Arthur's quick answer as he briskly walked through the crowd of the busy shoppers, carrying bags upon bags of supplies, the short parent looking positively miniature in comparison. They walked to the front of the shop and pushed open the door, the cool air in the building a welcome from the summer. Arthur sat down the supplies and smiled as an elderly looking man came sliding by on a rolling ladder.
"Ah... Arthur Kirkland," he said, looking him over. "Willow. Unicorn hair. Eleven inches, if I do remember correctly. Quite good for charms."
Arthur laughed and nodded. "Yes, quite. You never do forget." He gestured to Alfred and Ludwig. "I'm here for my sons, Alfred and Ludwig."
Ollivander's eyes drifted on Ludwig for a moment before breaking into a smile, but to Ludwig it looked like a creepy grimace. "Why, you sure do have a horde, don't you? It seems like yesterday your eldest, Kaoru was in here. I do say, the wand he has sure seems to favor him, don't you think?" He turned around, pulling out boxes and setting them on the front desk. "Mr. Kirkland," he said to Alfred, "try this one. Rowan, unicorn hair, eight inches."
Alfred had the wand in his hand for about three seconds before he had it pulled away from him.
"No, no. This one, perhaps. Willow, dragon-heart string, seven inches."
And again, it was ripped from his hands.
"Alright, this one. Oak. Phoenix feather. Ten and a half inches."
Alfred took this one, and a bright, shining, warm light was emitting from his hands. Ollivander clapped and Arthur looked on proudly. Alfred, however, was jumping up and down. "This one? This one? Is this one it?" Ollivander laughed and nodded. "Aye, my boy, that's the one for you." He turned to Ludwig. "Now, Mr. Beilschmidt, let's find you a wand, shall we? I didn't have the pleasure of selling your father his wand, I believe Gregorovitch handled that one, but I do believe I can find something fitteded to your tastes and talents."
Ludwig took a bit longer than Alfred, after trying the wands that had been discarded by Alfred's trial and a few others as well. "Here, here, Holly, Unicorn hair. Thirteen inches." Again, a wand was ripped from Ludwig's grasp. "You're a tricky one, Beilschmidt, a very, very tricky one. Not to worry, not to worry, we'll find you a perfect match, I promise." He kept trying again, again and again. "Here. Ivy, dragon-heart string. Eleven inches."
Ludwig's eyes widened as he felt the wand warm beneath his fingers, the sensation spreading throughout his entire body, emitting a beautiful, yellow-hued light that lit up the entire building. He smiled as he looked up, and Ollivander clapped his hands as he cried out in a mixture of victory and success. "I told you we'd find you a wand, Mr. Beilschmidt, and it looks as though we found the perfect one." He laughed and looked to Arthur with a smile on his face. "That will be Twenty-Five galleons and twelve sickles, please."
Arthur nodded as he dug out the money, congratulating the boys on their wands. "Normally, wizards have that one wand for the rest of their lives, boys, so take good care of them. They'll become your shield in this world, and in these times, we all need a decent one."
With an approving nod from Ollivander at this statement as he took the money, Arthur bent down and picked up the bags, gesturing for the boys to follow. "How does Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour sound?"
Alfred's face broke out into an even bigger grin as he heard this. "Ice cream? Heck yah!"
Ludwig nodded with a smile, the quiet boy following his family to the shop, where they met up with Kaoru and Dan, enjoying a tender family moment as they spoke of Hogwarts, wands, and the latest Quidditch updates. Alfred was eating his ice cream quickly, pausing in breaks to cry out about a brain freeze, chanting "Cold! Cold! Cold!" as he held his head, causing his brothers and father to laugh, Arthur shaking his head at his son's stupidity. As Arthur lifted his head from looking down with laughter, his face broke into a wider grin. "Ah, Yao!" he called out, gesturing for someone to come join their table. "I didn't expect to see you here. How is everything?"
An average height man, thin in stature, gave a smile as he placed a delicate hand on the shoulder of a boy next to him, walking towards the Kirkland's table. His robes were a brilliant scarlet with black trimming, the black trimming adorned with bright gold floral designs, and his sleeves extended out in an oriental fashion. His hair extended to his lower back, pulled back into a pony-tail and tied with tightly wrapped red ribbon. He carried himself as a man with stature and purpose, as though he was used to people taking orders and listening to him, but not in an arrogant way. And his eyes spoke of wisdom that transcended barriers of language, culture, race, and age.
The boy beside him, however, looked awkward next to him. He was wearing simple blue robes, and Ludwig thought to complimented his skin. This boy looked Asian as well, but definently not Chinese. Maybe a mix between that and something else, perhaps Japanese. His hair was cut in a short fashion compared to his father, but definently still feminine, falling into a neat bob. He stayed close to the older Asian man as they sat down at the table with the Kirkland family.
"Nihao, Arthur," he answered as he set down bags next to them. "Yes, I am just purchasing Kiku's school things, ahen." He smiled as he looked to the boy beside him, a small thing whose legs swung over the side of the chair. "He'll be a first year. The same as your boy, I believe." Kiku looked to Alfred, Ludwig, and Dan, furrowing his eye brows as he looked them over. Yao gave him a slight smack in the arm. "Aiyaa! That's not very polite, aru! Introduce yourself."
The boy looked fearful for a moment, staring at the boys, then stuttered out, "Ah.. I.. I am Kiku Wang. Please... please take care of me." His accent was soft, his ls and rs because pronounced with a soft roll to them. Yes, defnently foreign.
Alfred, Dan, and Ludwig looked confused for a moment, looking between each other before responding. "I'm Alfred Kirkland! I'm a hero, and I'm going to be the best Qiedditch player ever!"
Dan laughed and gave a gesture with his head. "I'm Dan."
Ludwig smiled awkwardly and extended his hand. "I am Ludwig Beilschmidt. It is a pleasure to meet you."
Kiku looked up at Ludwig's face with a certain awe before taking his hand and shaking it. "Ah... Thank you."
Yao looked from Ludwig to Arthur. "How have things been at the ministry, lately, Arthur?"
Arthur sighed and leaned back. "As well as you can expect them to be, what with the rise of a Dark wizard. And I thought the world saw the worst with Grindlewald."
Yao shook his head. "You only think that because he never reached Britain, and this time, it is in your own territory, ahen. In China, we've been affected by Dark Wirzards before... and we never truly recovered either..." He trailed off, his eyes drifting off as though thinking of a dark, deep memory that he had burried deep within him, a factor in the air of mystic and wisdom aroud him. He shook his head and smiled to the group of first years at the table, Alfred, Ludwig, and Kiku. "So, are you boy's excited, aru, for your first year at Hogwarts? I didn't go to Hogwarts, I went to the Chinese Imperial Academy. But, Hogwarts has a great reputation, and I wouldn't be sending Kiku, if I didn't think it was the best school around here, aru."
Alfred was bouncing now, his young age showing. "Ah, ah, AH! It's going to be so much fun, I'm going to be a Gryffindor, and a hero, and a Quidditch star, and an auror and I'll save the day!"
Arthur smacked him upside the head in a playful manner. "You're going to be a Ravenclaw, damnit, you ungrateful berk." Alfred laughed as he rubebd the back of his head. Arthur stood, and Kaoru followed his manner, picking up the items they bought. The Kirkland head of family turned to Yao and smiled, fimerly gripping his forearm in a half shake, half hug. "It was wonderful seeing you again, Yao, and we must get together again sometime, perhaps do tea?"
"Shi. That would be wonderful, ahen," the Chinese man answered before letting go of his friend and lifting his son's supplies. "Come now, Kiku, let's go home, aru."
Ludwig's eyes never left the Asian child, a smile on his face as he waved to him. He was sure he could be friends with him.
His thoughts were interupted by Alfred. "Dad, Dad, was that the Yao Wang... the one that defeated the dark wizard Tiao Mao Ran? You're friends with him! That is... My dad is so... wicked." Alfred looked completely blown away by this information, shaking his head.
Arthur laughed. "Yes, that's him, it seems you do pay attention to world affairs." His face got immeditely stern. "But Yao doesn't like to talk about that, Alfred, and I foribid you, no, don't you dare ask him about it. That was muchtoo recent!" Arthur's voice was dangerous before going back to a carefree smile.
Ludwig thought quietly on everything that had happened that day when they got home, locking himself up in his room like he normally did. He received his letter from Hogwarts, finally got a wand, met a famous wizard, probably made friends with his son, and (most importantly) he spent wonderful quality time with the family that took him in and made him a member. It seemed like a very, very good day to him. Smiling softly to himself, he switched into night clothes, neatly putting his other ones in a basket to be washed, and made his way downstairs to the family room.
Looking up from the couch, Francis smiled to the German boy and gestured for him to sit with the family. "Come on, Ludwig, and join us while we watch a movie." Ludwig walked towards the large family, taking a seat next to Alfred and Matthew, smiling at how complete he felt... but something was missing. Something was always missing.
He shook his head to remove those thoughts and turned it towards a television that Francis convinced Arthur to purchase (not that Arthur hadn't owned muggle devices before, his wife had been a muggle woman). He doesn't last long though, and soon, the children found themselves asleep against one another, curling up for comfort and warmth, and Arthur, Francis, and Kaoru lacked the heart to wake them up.
