Jack was actually excited for when the portal would open up to Diagon Alley later that day. North had told him of all of the things that were there, and Jack couldn't wait. He opened up his letter than Dumbledore had sent him and the others, telling him what he needed for school and what his cover story was, along with key things from the wizarding world.
Sandy, Bunny and Jack were all adopted brothers. Sandy was the oldest, he would be going in with the Fifth Years. Next was Bunny, going into Fourth Year, then Jack, Third Year. Apparently the potion would change how old they looked as well.
Jack had yet to take the potion, along with Bunny and Sandy, but they would be taking it today. Jack raced into the meeting room, the wind swirling around him comfortably, bringing in a nice, cool breeze.
"Oi! Frostbite! Cut it out, I'm freezin' ovah here!" Bunny said. Jack sighed, not in the mood to harass the overgrown space rabbit.
"Sorry, Bunny, forgot you were here, too." North had put them all on house arrest after the professor had left. That was five days ago. Jack was so bored, even though he really shouldn't be anywhere in the lower climates, in case he lower the temperature too much, he REALLY wanted to give somewhere a snow day.
During that time, he, Bunny and Sandy had basically caught up with what skill of magic they would be at at Hogwarts. Jack swore that North gave him the history books just to torture them.
Bunny rolled his eyes at Jack, then went back to staring at the potions that were on the table in front of him. One was blue, one was green, and one was gold. Sandy floated in and joined them in their staring. "So who wants to go first?" Jack asked. Sandy reluctantly raised a hand when both Bunny and Jack looked at him expectantly.
Taking a deep breath, the man of sand downed his golden potion. There was a moment where nothing happened, then his sand surrounded him, when it disappeared again, it revealed a short boy of about fifteen, wearing a brown shirt with brown pants, and pale sneakers, and his hair was a sandy blond. He had a sleepy expression on his face, and he smiled at the two. "How do I look?" The boy said, leaving the other two in shock.
"Ya just spoke!" Bunny said, stating the obvious. Sandy nodded happily. Jack blinked then grinned at his "brother".
"That is awesome!" He declared, giving him a high five.
"My turn," Bunny declared. He downed his green potion, shuddering at the taste. It looked like a hurricane of spring surrounded him, leaving a tan fourteen year old boy. He was wearing a green shirt and faded blue jeans that had paint splatters all over them. He had on blue converse sneakers as well. His hair was an ashy blue-grey that stuck up in some places. His tribal markings were now tattoos that seemed to complete the whole image. "Crikey!" Bunny said as he saw himself.
"Now it's my turn." Jack reluctantly downed the last potion. Snow surrounded him, cocooning him in a whirl of white. When it dissolved, it showed a younger Jack. He was still wearing his hoodie, but instead of deerskin leggings, he was wearing blue jeans, and on his feet were black sneakers, little painted snowflakes decorating them. His skin was actually tanned, the same color it was before he had died. His hair was still white, but he had streaks of dark brown in his hair, making it look like someone had tried to put chocolate in his hair but only got half way eyes were still two different colors, but it was much more noticeable. One was brown and the other was blue. "That's a little weird," Jack said as he looked at his eyes and hair.
"Well, ya nevah were one ta fit in." Bunny said, taking in his new look.
"I look like someone tried turning me back to what I looked like when I was human, then stopped halfway!" Jack said.
North chose that time to walk in, doing a double take as he saw them. "Jack, your eyes, they look like a prankster's eyes!" North said, making very odd observation. He didn't comment on his hair. "Now, we must go get supplies!" He threw a portal at the wall, and forced all of them through.
They were slightly disappointed to appear outside of a dingy looking pub called the Leaky Cauldron. They were ushered through it rather quickly, none of them liking the fact that the patrons were all staring at them. They exited the pub at the back and stared at the brick wall.
"Uh, North, you know that this is a dead end, right?" Jack said. North just smiled and tapped some bricks. The wall turned into an archway, revealing Diagon Alley to the Guardians.
"Wow." Bunny, Jack, and Sandy said together as they took in Diagon Alley. North informed them that they had to go to Gringotts to get their money that Manny had set up for them. North showed them a little key, the one that would unlock their volt. Jack read the inscription at the entrance.
"Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed
For those who take, but do not earn,
Must pay most dearly in their turn.
So if you seek beneath our floors
A treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have been warned, beware
Of finding more than treasure there."
"That's cryptic." They entered the bank and got their money, Jack enjoying the cart ride down their the most. Once they left, they began to explore the wonders of Diagon Alley.
They spent the next couple of hours getting their supplies, until all that they needed was their wands. They entered Ollivanders Wand Shop hesitantly. It was dark in there, which had Jack sticking close to Bunny. He would never admit it, but ever since he had seen his memories, he had been scared of the dark.
"Ah, yes, I have been expecting you lot. Professor Dumbledore told me you would be coming. He also said something about a staff." A crazy looking man said as he appeared from behind a shelf. Jack held out his staff and handed it to the wandmaker, who nodded and muttered something over it. That staff shrank and a chain wrapped around it, forming a necklace. "There, you just have to say Engorgio and it will go back to the way it was. The necklace is bewitched to always come back to YOU. Now, let's get started with the wands. Remember, the wand chooses the wizard."
Sandy went first, being the oldest. Olivander looked at him, then nodded. "Ah, yes, I think I know just the wand." He presented Sandy with a warm, yellow-gold wand. "Cedar, eleven and a quarter inches, pliant, unicorn hair core." Sandy took it and golden sand swept through it, bursting out of the end. He paid for his wand, thanking the wandmaker.
Next was Bunny. It took him a couple of wands to find the right one, but he did eventually. His wand was cherry, eleven inches, sturdy, with dragon heartstring core. He swished it, laughing as flowers appeared everywhere. He too paid for his wand, leaving only Jack to get his.
"Ah, Jackson Overland. Yes, I remember your mother. Annabeth Black. She was a pureblood, you know. She was so excited to get her wand. She would always come and visit, even after she moved to America and married into the Overland family.." Ollivander said.
"B-but, that's impossible! My mother was alive three hundred years ago, you can't have possibly met her." Jack said, hating the man for his lying, and also wary of the surname of Black.
"Ah, but who is to say that you are the only spirits to protect the children?" The man said cryptically. "Now, yes, your mother a skilled witch. I was disappointed when she said she was going to keep you and your sister away from the wizarding world." Jack stood in silence, along with the others as they stared at the crazy looking man who knew more about Jack than Jack really did.
"So… I'm a half-blood?" Jack said, hoping to just clear that up.
"Gods, no. Your mother's parents would never allow that. The Overlands are American Purebloods. Now, back to your wand." Ollivander searched for wands in the very back of his shop, until finding one. He carried it over, holding it reverently. "I made this wand over three hundred years ago. I was never able to sell it. It is oak, with phoenix tail feather, pliant, twelve and a quarter inches. I think that this one should work fine with you."
Jack picked up the wand, pleasantly surprised by the cold rush that flew down his arm. Snow began to fall softly in the shop, Jack watching with awe. "Woah!"
Jack paid for the wand and joined the others. They left with North, going back to the Leaky Cauldron to spend the night there. It would be easier than to portal there the next day. They had two rooms, all the other ones were full, so that meant Jack and Bunny were sharing a room and Sandy and North were sharing one as well.
North told them to stay inside, not to wander, especially not after dark. Jack didn't protest the dark thing, but he was getting bored very quickly. Bunny finally got tired of his whining and agreed to play wizards chess.
"Ya can play chess?" Bunny said in disbelief when Jack suggested it.
"If kids find it fun, I can do it. Chess, hopscotch, reading, languages, music, racing. I draw the line at dress up, though." Jack said.
"Is that so? Well then, Sophie must have been lying when she said that she got you to dress up as a brave knight and you saved her from a snow dragon." Bunny smirked at him.
"Woah woah woah, stop right there. That is NOT a fair example. She blackmailed me into it!" Jack's face was red, which was odd to see because he normally blushed blue.
"Ah, how can a three year old black mail ya?" Bunny said, eager to hear.
"Nope, not telling!" Jack said, getting out the board. They took the board and pieces to the actual pub, setting it up at a table. Jack was one move away from winning when a boy about his "age" with bright red hair came over to watch. The boy was silent during Bunny's turn, a smile on his face when the Aussie moved exactly where Jack wanted him to go. With an exaggerated order, Jack checkmated Bunny, winning. Bunny groaned and put his head in his arms.
"I hate chess!" He complained.
"Hey, mate, it's not too bad. That was your first time, right?" The red haired boy asked consolingly.
"Yeah. My brother kindly forgot to inform me that it wasn't his." Bunny glared at Jack pointedly.
"You didn't ask! It's not my fault that you leave rather quickly when North offers to play it!" Jack said as he laughed.
"Mind if I take a go at your brother? I'm Ron, by the way, Ron Weasley."
"Aster Bunnymund, and this is my brother, Jack." Bunny said. "And please beat him, if only ta wipe that smirk off his face." Jack was indeed smirking
So they two reset the board and began to play. Jack was impressed. Ron was very good, but he made mistakes. Jack, wanting to lull his opponent into a false sense of security, let some of his pieces be taken, slyly pulling Ron into a trap. After about an hour, Jack triumphantly cried out his victory. "Checkmate!"
Ron looked at the board in shock, and saw that Jack was right. "Good game, mate! Say, are you going to Hogwarts? I can't say that I've ever seen you or your brother there."
Jack nodded. "Yeah, my brothers and I have been homeschooled by our adoptive parents. Sandy is the oldest, then Aster, then me."
Ron nodded. "Well, I hope you get into Gryffindor, that's the one I'm in." Jack smiled, glad he had gotten a friend.
"Hey, did you see where Aster went?" Jack asked. He and Ron started laughing as they saw Bunny asleep on the ground. "Bunny!" Jack whisper shouted in his ear. Bunny shot up like a spring, glaring at Jack.
"Don't do that!" He growled, only succeeding in making Jack laugh harder.
"Boys! Say goodbye to friend. You must sleep, big day tomorrow!" North boomed over at them, and the boys groaned. Tomorrow was indeed a big day. Of course, they wouldn't actually sleep, they didn't need to. More likely they would be reading their course books to keep themselves occupied during the night.
"Coming!" They said bye to Ron and trudged up the stairs, arguing over the fairness of Jack not telling Bunny everything when challenging him to a chess game.