I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.
Shopping
Alex smiled as he tucked the newly waterproofed and signed permission slip into the letter with his new shopping list. He'd been keeping in touch with his friends by having Mouse fly letters with a leather pouch that had been enchanted with the Extension Charm to allow him to carry them. He wasn't a fast flier, but it was enough. Hermione and Ron had agreed on a specific date to go shopping, whenever Ron got back from the vacation to Egypt his family was on after Mr. Weasley won seven hundred Galleons in a lottery draw. They wouldn't have much left over after it, but for the time being, they were enjoying the money. Harry would hopefully be joining them, and Alex had invited Luna, who had been more than happy to join.
He and Luna had been sending letters back and forth with their two owls all summer. Alex's were generally the same, since his family and he hardly ever did anything new. They were very simply creatures. They ate, sunned themselves, and slept when they needed. His family had however, managed to use their singing on passing ships crewed by wizards to get them to dump money over the side of the ship. As such, Alex's store at Gringotts, which had begun to dwindle, had grown considerably, and the goblins there never asked any questions about Alex bringing in pouches of Galleons. Alex felt bad for stealing, but he needed the money, and his family couldn't make money any other way, so he was usually able to get over it. Luna had agreed with him both that it was wrong to steal, but also that it was the best course of action, since a sailor losing a few Galleons over the side of a ship wasn't unheard of, and no one was losing their job over it like they would stolen cargo.
"Have you got enough clothes packed?" Chloe fussed. "And your toothbrush and tooth paste?"
"Your wand, your books, and your robes?" April added.
"Yes, I've got everything," Alex smiled. "I'll be alright. I promise."
"That's what you said last time, and then you got petrified!" Gwen said.
"Yes, but the basilisk is dead," Alex said.
"But there could be other monsters!" Chloe said.
Alex sighed heavily and pulled the three of them into a hug, the others all joining within seconds. "I'll be okay. I promise."
After a couple minutes, they all released him and April, Chloe, and Gwen slid into the water to escort Alex to Diagon Alley, after which he'd be staying at the Leaky Cauldron for the last night before school. As they reached the river, Alex checked to make sure it was clear before they all left the river, the three Sirens having transfigured themselves into humans for the walk before they used magic to dry themselves and quickly walked away from the water before anyone could ask why they'd been swimming, or how they were dry. After a few minutes, they reached the Leaky Cauldron and the three Sirens gave him a hug goodbye before heading back to the river. Alex walked inside and payed for a room for the night, getting the last room, then took his things up to the room and headed out to Diagon Alley through the back. He was a little late to meet up with Ron and Hermione, but Luna was sitting at a small café just inside the magic entrance, and smiled and waved the moment she saw him. He smiled and walked over to her, sitting down across from her.
"How was the swim over?" Luna asked.
"Short," Alex said. "It's a useful spell."
"It seems it," Luna nodded. "I'm a little disappointed they didn't come to Diagon Alley with you. I was hoping to get to say hi."
"They can only keep their human transfiguration spell active for about forty minutes, so they had to head back to the water as soon as possible," Alex said. "Did you buy your things yet?"
Luna shook her head. "I've been waiting for you. It'll be more fun walking around together."
Alex nodded, smiling. "Do you mind if we meet up with Ron and Hermione, and maybe Harry, on the way?"
Luna again shook her head, smiling. "That's fine."
"Alright," Alex nodded, smiling. "They should-"
Someone wolf-whistled loudly, and Alex looked over, only to roll his eyes, seeing the Weasley twins leaning on the low railing around the café's outdoor seating area, both grinning widely.
"You're getting started early," Fred grinned. "Couldn't wait for school?"
"Hello Fred and George," Alex said in a resigned voice. "How was your summer?"
"Not bad," George said. "Yours?" His grin grew even more.
Alex rolled his eyes. "Relaxing and boring by your standards. "I spent most of it lying in the sun or fishing."
The twins nodded. "Sounds like the life. Lying on a beach with dozens of beautiful half-naked women."
"You two are truly disgusting," Alex said.
"Don't worry," Fred smirked. "You'll grow up and hit puberty someday too."
Alex grimaced. "Unfortunately, you're right. I dread the day that happens."
"Oh?" George asked. "Why's that? Are you going to get really pimply and gross?"
"Actually, thanks to my heritage, there's a good chance I won't be able to develop acne at all," Alex said, tugging his collar up subconsciously. "I'll just have worse problems as a trade-off."
Luna finished her tea and stood, smiling. "Ready?"
"Anything to get away from these two," Alex said, standing.
Luna smiled and they walked out of the café's seating area and began to walk down the crowded street, only for Fred and George to follow him. Alex tugged at his collar several times before feeling his pockets, only to stop, cursing. Before he could begin to panic, Fred's hand dove into his pocket, leaving behind a large, square object that he instantly recognized, and George slapped a lighter into his hand.
"Free of charge," George said. "You gave Ginny her school books last year, then also payed for whatever else she needed, so these are on the house."
"Have a nice day," Fred said, and Alex could swear he caught Fred saying the second half of a different word under his breath.
Alex rolled his eyes and turned, walking to a small gap between buildings where he was out of the way and lit a cigarette, Fred and George blocking the opening for him, discussing their usual business and new ideas for what they could sell. As Alex took his first drag, Luna stared at the cigarette thoughtfully for a moment.
"Can I try it?" Luna asked.
Alex held it out to her, and she took a short drag, then inhaled, only to grimace and hand it back, trying not to cough. "They don't taste very good, but you get used to them."
"I think I'll leave it to you," Luna smiled, wiping her watering eyes.
Alex nodded, finishing his cigarette quickly, then snuffed it out under his shoe before the four of them continued on their way. Alex stopped at a robe shop to get new robes, owing to a growth spurt over the summer, then got bitten on the hand as he and Luna both bought the Monster Book of Monsters for Care of Magical Creatures. He also bought an extra divination book listing all of the different death omens. He laughed as he scanned through it while Fred and George were shopping at a joke shop. Luna looked over at him curiously.
"According to this, if you see a Siren, you're going to die within the next year," Alex said. "But it's supposed to be one of the most peaceful deaths imaginable."
"Well, I'm sure anyone who wasn't raised by them seeing one is probably a bit worse than you," Luna said in a quiet voice.
Alex nodded, tugging his collar up and glancing around the crowded street. After a couple more minutes, Fred and George returned and they headed to the other stores the twins wanted to visit, Alex walking into the last jape shop to pick up Filibuster fireworks and other things they'd need to annoy Filch this year, Alex stocking up as well. However, as they were walking to the door, Alex stopped, seeing a pair of small, clear, circular stickers. He picked it up and Fred and George instantly looped their arms around his shoulders.
"Nice find," Fred said.
"Those there are like magic speakers," George said. "You stick one in one spot, and the other somewhere else and you can hear everything that happens from one side on the other. Very useful. Great for eavesdropping."
"Pretty expensive, though," Fred said.
"Great as that sounds," Alex said. "It gives me a different idea." He set them back down. "A couple, actually."
"Do tell," Fred said.
"What about something similar that transfers both sounds and smells?" Alex asked. "Stick one above a toilet, then the other in Snape's office. Or the Slytherin Common Room, if you can. Or to Malfoy."
Fred and George laughed, steering Alex out of the shop with the arms they still had around his shoulders.
"Alex, I believe we'll be able to have a glorious business venture with you around," Fred grinned.
"What about the other idea?" George asked.
"Something that lets one person talk to another discreetly," Alex said. "One where the other can hear what the linked person says without everyone around them hearing. Maybe something that can be put in one ear and won't be noticed. Like an enchanted hearing aid."
Both Fred and George's eyes lit up and they began to talk quickly and quietly to each other, Alex only able t keep up with small bits of the conversation. Finally, as they reached the Leaky Cauldron, the twins grinned widely.
"We'll take care of everything," both grinned.
Fred leaned down next to Alex's ear. "You'll be able to spend all day talking to your pretty blonde girlfriend by Christmas."
"Not my girlfriend," Alex said quietly. "But much obliged. Let me know when you have the other thing done and I'll stick it to Malfoy. Pick the most disgusting toilet you can find, too."
"Oh, we will," Fred grinned. "We'll make sure it's waterproof and nearly impossible to take off, too. Try to get it somewhere hard to reach."
"I'll do what I can," Alex said.
The twins split off to find their family and Alex walked Luna out into the muggle street where her father was waiting for her. Luna hugged him and promised to find him on the train, then walked over to her father. Alex headed back inside and up to his room to drop off his books, finding Mouse standing on top of his cage. Alex had sent him to Luna before going to London with his family. When he'd seen her, he hadn't even thought about it, as he checked the small, magically-expanded letter pouch on Mouse's back, he found a letter from Luna. It was short, saying that she'd send Mouse up to the room Alex was staying in, since she was going to be meeting Alex in Diagon Alley later anyway. Alex smiled and tossed the letter into the rubbish bin before stroking Mouse's feathers for a few seconds.
Just as he turned to walk out of the room, pausing to let Mouse jump onto his shoulder, someone knocked on the door. He opened it and smiled as he saw Hermione, who was holding a fuzzy, orange, Persian cat with pale spots here and there in his fur. Alex cocked his head to the side and reached out, scratching behind his ear, Crookshanks purring loudly.
"He's part kneazle," I think," Alex said.
"How can you tell?" Hermione asked.
"Because if he was a normal cat, he'd be after Mouse by now," Alex said. "How was your summer?"
"Excellent!" Hermione said, suddenly glowing with excitement. "There were so many interesting things to learn in France! Harry and Ron are here too, along with Ron's whole family."
"Yeah, Luna and I ran into the twins while we were doing our school shopping," Alex said, then rolled his eyes at the knowing glint in Hermione's eyes. "Don't you start too."
Hermione shrugged and turned, walking away from the room, Alex following. They headed down to the dining area and bar, where the rest of the Weasleys were gathered, along with Harry. Alex greeted everyone, Fred and George both simply raising a hand as they continued to discuss Alex's idea, and Ginny smiled brightly, only to go back to being shy and avoiding looking at Harry again a moment later. Mouse flew over to see her and she smiled happily, holding him in one hand and stroking his feathers with the other. After a few minutes, Percy came back, wearing his shiny, silver, Head Boy badge and greeted Alex as though he were the Prime Minister greeting a common citizen. Alex rolled his eyes once Percy had walked away and gave Fred and George a sympathetic look. At dinner, Tom, the Leaky Cauldron's owner, pulled three tables together for them all and they began to eat their way through five courses while talking about their trip. Finally, Fred asked how they'd be getting to Kings Cross and Mr. Weasley told them the Ministry would be providing cars. When Percy asked why, Fred and George began to poke fun at him for being so proud of being Head Boy. Then, they switched to making fun of Alex about Luna again, Harry, Ron, and Hermione all joining in as well.
"Piss off, the lot of you," Alex said. "It's not like that."
"Are you sure about that?" Ginny asked, Alex staring at her shit-eating grin.
"Yes," he said flatly.
Ginny shrugged. "Not what I heard."
All of the others "Ooo"ed loudly and Alex rested his face in his hand. He returned to eating, ignoring their continued jokes, which lasted through the rest of the meal. Once they were finished, they all headed up to their rooms. Alex paused at his door, then turned to Ginny as she passed.
"What'd you mean it's not what you heard?" Alex asked.
Ginny simply grinned at him and walked into her room. Alex sighed, walking into his own room and packed his books into his trunk. Just as he finished, he heard Percy begin to yell at Ron to find his Head Boy badge. Alex shook his head, lying down on his bed just in time for Mouse to land on his chest. He stroked his feathers for a few minutes before drifting off to sleep.
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