Though Alexander's brain was still trying to wrap around the fact that he was a wizard and has been as such for his entire life without realising, he was doing quite well, thank you. He was still accidentally making things float when stressed but he didn't freak out anymore, just shoved it down in annoyance. Philip was starting to notice these things, however.
"Eliza, should we tell Philip?" Alexander asked when he emerged from his writing cave.
"Tell him what?"
"That we're magical."
"Not yet, he might go telling. I'm sure he'll find out on his own when he starts doing accidental magic, though..."
So Alex kept quiet about it around the children, trying to train himself not to accidentally make his fork fly in the middle of dinner.
He eventually managed to turn five pages of a book with Angelica's wand (honestly, he was still wrapping his head around the fact that wands are a real thing), which he was quite proud about. It only took him three hundred swishes and flicks and three hundred wingardium leviosas. All in a row. Yes, he was quite proud.
Surprisingly, Alexander found he wasn't writing as much as he used to. He wanted to get back into his routine, though, his hand was always fidgeting when he wasn't scribbling down a pamphlet. He didn't like fidgeting because he usually ended up damaging his cuffs. It was a habit of his to pull on the fabric, which resulted in it unwinding.
Angelica offered to take Alexander down to get some magical books, and maybe even a wand. Of course, he hastily agreed. But Eliza screeched and announced she would come too because she needed some herbs for a potion, a potion she wanted to make.
"A potion?"
"Just a brew to help with nightmares, you know little Angelica has been having them."
"But-?"
"There's a lot more you need to learn, Alexander... in due time."
There was indeed a lot to learn, but Alex had underestimated what Eliza meant by "a lot". "A lot" apparently meant "you're going to be struggling to fit this all in your brain".
It was a joy to Alexander again, and it was a joy to teach him about the wizarding community, but it was tiring. Over the summer, it seemed Eliza had forgotten how stubborn Alex could be. After recovering from the initial shock of discovering himself a wizard, he asked non-stop questions, even extending that to when he was supposed to be asleep. She tried to answer them all as best she could, but found it just got really, really annoying after a while. Eventually, she just avoided him when he looked like he was thinking really hard. Angelica could answer any questions he had now.
It was quite a shock when Alexander had sent that first letter, explaining the quills. At first, Eliza kept it to herself, trying to form a reply but never being able to. However, Angelica found out about it when she caught Eliza staring into space.
"Are you alright, Eliza?" Angelica said, sitting down next to her.
"The contrary, Angelica. Alexander sent me a letter..."
"What did that idiot say? What as he done?"
"Angelica, he hasn't done anything... well, he has. But- I don't know." Eliza grabbed the letter from her hip-pocket, shoving it towards Angelica.
She snatched it from her sister's hand, and Eliza watched as Angelica's eyes grew wider and wider.
"Eliza..."
"I know."
"He can't be."
"How else would you explain it? Unless it is really a ghost... but they don't haunt anyone anymore. That was hundreds of years ago."
"We'll have to wait and see then. Write a reply, say you'll explain later. If he sends anything else, don't reply. He can wait."
And then Alexander sent them the letter about the compromise and how the fork flew in the middle of dinner. Angelica looked like she was about to faint when Eliza showed her.
"This is bad! This is very bad! Jefferson and Madison witnessed it! Oh no! If Alexander is a wizard- ooh MACUSA will be so- Eliza! Alexander could be punished!"
That was when the severity of the situation dawned on Eliza.
"We need to get home as soon as possible," she had said.
Hastily, Angelica had agreed, already running upstairs to pack.
They had explained the situation to their father, and he looked quite solemn that they couldn't stay longer but he agreed it was an emergency.
Much to their displeasure, the trip home was delayed because the carriage's wheel broke off, and the repairman was sickly. So they were told to wait another six days before they could go home.
As soon as the carriage arrived at the Schuyler household, they all immediately rushed towards it. They said hasty goodbyes to their father, gathered their children, and told the driver to go as quickly as he possibly could.
Little Angelica asked why they were in such a hurry, to which Eliza replied, "Just eager to see your Father again, Angie dearest."
They all believed her and immediately began talking about how much they missed Alexander. Philip was the most excited.
Their carriage rocked up at the place, and Alexander was seen sprinting towards them all. At first Eliza was amused, but her expression then turned quite grim when she thought of Jefferson and Madison. What if they told anyone about it? Would people believe them? The Salem Witch trials ended last century, surely people would not pick up such things again?
"Eliza!" he yelled in glee, and they hugged. But of course, the children weren't going to miss out on that.
"I missed you all, so much..." said Alexander, cuddling all four children at once.
They all entered the house (with great difficulty, the children were impatient). Alexander began to question why she was following everyone in, but Eliza stopped him with a stare she'd seen Angelica do when she wants someone to shut up. A kind of glare, but not really.
Eliza and Angelica both went through everything with Alex- he seemed surprised that they believed him, perhaps he thought that they would think him insane. Of course not.
Eliza was a bit skittish at first with the idea of giving Alex Angelica's wand to try, but she agreed that yes, it was probably for the better. Alex and Angelica were more compatible, similar personality, kind of. Both smart. So Angelica's wand wouldn't reject Alexander. If was smart thinking, all credit to Angelica herself of course.
Then Alexander told Angelica that Jefferson "had one of those" and, well, there was really no other explanation as to why he had one. Jefferson must have been a wizard. Of course, he might just have a stick with pretty patterns but what no-maj would carry around a stick? Well, Angelica said she'd meet with Jefferson and figure things out.
As was expected, Alexander completely freaked out when he cast the spell. Eliza only hoped the children didn't hear any of it- but she highly doubted they didn't. Alex was making quite a scene, as always.
They explained Peggy and genetics to Alexander, and they explained wizarding laws.
A few days later, after Alexander had begun to properly come to terms with what he was, Angelica approached Eliza with her arms crossed.
"Alexander can't work under Washington anymore," she said.
Eliza sighed. "I know, I know. But he won't want to quit. As much as he complains, Alexander does like his job. And- what would he take up if he's forced to leave? He can't be a lawyer again."
"He could be a lawyer for MACUSA."
"I don't want to introduce him to that yet. Angelica, don't you think people will start to get suspicious? Alex can't be seen associating with any old friends or he'll be punished. He can't talk to Mr. Burr. Everyone will notice his absence - and I mean the whole of New York! He can't publish anything to the newspaper, to everyone else it'd be like he died."
"Then let them be like that. Alexander will be punished if he associates himself with anything no-maj, it's far better for the public-eye to lose interest in him than have him jailed."
"I hate this law."
"Everyone does."
The day arrived for Angelica to take Alexander shopping for wizarding things. The maids were going to take care of the children so Eliza could tag along as well.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Eliza asked Angelica before they left.
"Definitely. He's learnt everything now - mostly everything - and he'll want more until he's satisfied, which he'll never be..." she paused for a moment, "He wants his own wand more than anything. You can't possibly take that away from him."
"I know," Eliza sighed, "I'm worried, that's all. We'll have to make sure he doesn't kill anyone..."
"Well, we can't guarantee he won't," Angelica said with a small smirk.
Eliza let out a small laugh. "Alright. Let's go..."
It was rough being around Alexander so often. Of course, Angelica loved every moment spent with him, but she couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy whenever Eliza kissed him. But she wouldn't dare take Alexander away from Eliza, never. Not even if Eliza - god, she hoped not ever - died, Angelica would not take Alex for her own. Yes, it would be bliss, but she wouldn't dare to that to Eliza even in rest.
It was rough being around Alexander without Eliza around, because Angelica then had to control herself.
No, don't blush, Angelica.
No, don't grab his arm, Angelica.
It was very rough. But seeing Alexander overjoyed by witnessing the wizarding community buzzing around him made up for it.
Alex gaped in awe when the bricks moved aside to reveal a whole new, wonderous floor beneath his favourite bookstore. Everyone around stared at him awkwardly when he ran to the spellbook section in glee. Angelica just shrugged at them.
For a little while, Angelica followed Alexander at all times, but eventually she found a nice little corner where she could read while Alex explored.
She sat there, reading, for about half-an-hour before she decided it was time to move on to the next store. She stood, placed the book back on the shelf, then began to try and look for Alexander. Eventually she found him in a different little corner. However, when she began to approach him, she noticed a short man in blue clothing standing a few feet away, staring at Alex.
Angelica hid behind a bookshelf, and waited. She wanted to see who this man was, and why he was staring at Alexander.
She watched as the man approached Alex. He held himself well, and as Angelica studied him more... was that a blush forming on his cheeks?
The man tapped Alex's shoulder. Alex looked up.
"How may I help you?" he asked.
"Hello. My name's Jalin - I was looking at you from afar and I couldn't help but notice how cute you are."
Angelica's blood boiled. Who did he think he was?! He couldn't go around telling strangers that they're cute! And Alex doesn't like men! No! She needed to step in soon, very soon, before the situation got out of hand.
"I beg your pardon?" Alex said, closing his book.
"I hardly think that was something to be offended by, sir..."
"While I admire your confidence - Jalin, was it? - I must decline your insinuation to court me!"
Jalin blushed. "I'm sorry, sir, I-"
"I most certainly would never be interested in someone of the likes of you, and I do not fancy men either!" somehow, reading between the lines, Angelica found a lie in that sentence, "Now, Jalin, if you would be so kind as to move along to the next man-"
"I assure you sir I am not a whore that goes around dallying with every man I find!" evidently, this Jalin had dirty mouth as well, "I merely found you mildly attractive and I wished to take you out for a drink, sir! A simple no wouldn't have been much easier than carrying on like a toddler when they don't receive what they so desperately want!"
"Sir! I behave like no toddler! It is you who is behaving childish-" false, by all means.
"You know what? Nevermind. Whatever. You're attractive, but not worth my time. You could have atleast been polite about it. Good day."
And so Jalin walked away, leaving Alexander in a state of anger.
Angelica left her place behind the shelf then grabbed Alex's arm, "Let's go to the next store, shall we?"
On the way out, Angelica caught Jalin's eye- and he must have assumed that she was Alex's wife because he blushed in shame. Angelica glared.
It was starting to rain by the time they got out from the bookstore, so they ran to the nearest store, which was the shoe shop, which happened to have one wand shop underneath.
Upon entering, a young red-head by the name of Anthony enthusiastically bound towards the two of them. Bright ginger, curly hair, brown eyes. He was tall and looked like an adult but walked and talked like a young teen.
"Angelica! You're here!" he yelled gleefully, "Are you in need of a new wand?"
"Oh no, Anthony. I'm here with my brother-in-law, Alexander Hamilton."
"Mr. Hamilton! Surely not? I thought you were a no-maj!"
Alexander sighed. "I thought I was too until recently."
"Anthony, could we get a wand for Alexander?"
"Certainly! Be a minute!"
The red-head ran through the back door then emerged again with an older man, presumably his father.
"I was told we have the Treasury Secretary looking for a wand. What an unexpected customer," the older man's voice was croaky with age, but soft with kindness. Evidently age had caught up with the man, but he still seemed up and kicking. He stood with good posture - back straight, head held high, shoulders hunched backwards. It gave him an air of authority, while also showing off his wisdom and kindness. His hair wasn't fully grey yet, but it was getting there. Currently it was a dirty-blond colour, cut short so it brushed the top of his ears.
"Mr. Dale! It's lovely to see you again. How is the Mrs?" Angelica said, letting go of Alexander and walking towards Mr. Dale.
"Ah, splendid as always. She's been knitting us all scarves because of the weather that's been hitting us recently. Now," Dale turned to Alex, "I believe we have Mr. Hamilton here seeking a wand?"
"Indeed," Alex stepped forward, "How does it work? Do I just choose one or is it some sort of "this one speaks to you!" thing?"
"The latter. Anthony, bring me a few wands..."
"Yes, pa!"
It took a moment, but Anthony returned with a few boxes which held some wands.
Dale took out the first wand. Made from dark oak. It had a small round handle at the end, which had a light blue gem in the middle. It had no pattern, it was a smooth as a desk top.
The wand was handed to Alexander. He was told to give it a wave... which resulted in a broken vase. Luckily it didn't have anything in it. And it was just a cheap one.
The next one was made from jungle wood. It had an ivy pattern swirling around it, which formed into a swirly handle at the end.
This one nearly flew out of Alex's hand the moment he touched it. So, no.
Then there was the hornbeam one. It was quite simple. It had a curved handle at the end, and it was sort of shaped like a snake head, but not really. No pattern.
The moment Alexander held the wand, a warmth spread throughout his fingers and up his arm, then down his spine to his feet.
"This one likes you," said Dale, "Hornbeam wand with Dragon-heartstring core. Stiff. Good for transfiguration. Useless in the hands of anyone but you... could be used for evil, but more likely to be used for good. You've found yourself a great wand, Mr. Hamilton."
Alexander examined it closely, trying to find the best way of holding it. Eventually he settled for lightly gripping it, his pinky finger settling under the handle.
"Thank you," he said, with utmost sincerity.
Dale smiled at him, "It was my pleasure, Mr. Hamilton."
They left the store and trudged back home in the pooring rain, but neither of them minded. Not really.
Philip approached Alexander one day with Angelica (the young one) at his side, "Da, tell Angie you can make things fly! She won't believe me!"
So Alex was in a sort of predicament.
