"Poofing sure is convenient." Thomas mummer-ed still clinging to Mr. O' Sullivan's arm. Thomas tried to watch a video once, when the Rows had taking the other children out. He couldn't watch it in the end because he hit the wrong button. Making the show go by really fast, and that was what it felt like to him. That he had watched the world speed by and came to the end without knowing how it began.
"Yes it is." Mr. O'Sullivan smiled and ruffled Thomas's head. Looking around they looked like they were in an ordinary brick alley. Thomas felt a little disappointed, but perhaps he couldn't see the stores yet. Maybe there was some magic spell to reveal them? Thomas only had to wait, and that was something he was good at.
"You know it's not called poofing." Lars straightened his robe and explained.
"No don't tell him!" Mrs. O' Sullivan placed a hand over Lars's mouth. "It's cuter this way." Lars's rolled his eyes.
"He'll learn it in school." Mr. O'Sullivan reminded her.
"Just for today." Mrs. O'Sullivan placed her hand in front of her face, thumb facing out, like Lars's had done when Thomas first met him. In turn, it freed Lars's mouth.
"I'll tell you later." Lars rolled his eyes, and Mr. O' Sullivan laughed. Thomas shook his head. Mrs. O' Sullivan was a very happy lady. Thomas hadn't met anyone like her before.
"Clothes first!" Mrs. O' Sullivan raised her hand up in the air sounded very happy about it.
"The cauldron shop is closer." Lars said shaking his head.
"He's right." Mr. O' Sullivan went to stand beside Lars. The pair looked like there were teaming up. "You should go ahead and pick out a few things." Mr. O' Sullivan smiled, waving his wife forward.
"We'll pick up the cauldron's and meet you there." Lars smiled too echoing Mr. O' Sullivan's tone. They sounded very nice, but Thomas felt like they were trying to avoid the store, but why?
"Then Thomas should come with me they'll need measurements." Mrs. O'Sullivan's eyes knitted together in thought.
"Thomas has never been in a cauldron store Mother." Lars spoke up, looking at his father.
"Right Lars. We should take him through it, a teaching aide." Mr. O'Sullivan winked at Lars. Thomas watched this going on back and forth. Thomas hadn't been in a clothing store before, let alone a cauldron store. Both sounded interesting, but he wasn't sure what was going on yet. Thomas decided to keep his opinion to himself.
"True." Mrs. O' Sullivan nodded in agreement. "I'll meet you boys there. Then I'll get them to measure Thomas." Mrs. O' Sullivan turned and headed up the alley without them. Thomas joined the other in waving her off.
"Dodged it." Lars said holding his hand to his chest with a sigh.
"Dodged what?" Thomas asked looking at how the relieved by the pair look. He wondered what horror lied in a magic clothing store. Maybe little monsters stitched the clothes together! Thomas pictured horrid little creatures using their claws to stitch robes with a shiver.
"I love Merry dearly, but I rather deal with a wild dragon than go clothing shop with her." Mr. O' Sullivan said with a smile, and a distant look in his eye.
"Merry is my Mother by the way." Lars explained looking at Thomas. "Liam is my Father." Lars pointed at his father.
"That reminds me." Mr. O' Sullivan turning to Thomas. "If it doesn't bother you. Please call me uncle or Liam." Thomas blinked in surprise. "Mr. O' Sullivan is my father. " Winking at Thomas, he said the next in a whisper. "I'm just not old enough to be him- yet."
"Okay." Thomas nodded, pausing before adding. "Uncle Liam?" He asked in a question.
"Perfect." Mr. O' Sullivan smiled, patting his chest. "I have the list. Shall we get to it?"
"Great!" Lars turned to Thomas. "You're going to love this." Lars pulled Thomas by the end leading them to the top of the alley where Mrs. O' Sullivan disappeared too. There a whole new world opened up to Thomas. "Welcome to Diagon Alley Thomas!" Lars said opening his arms with a flair.
"Bloody hell." Thomas cursed under his breath. Beyond the shadows of the brick entrance was rows of shops. The first was a cauldron shop, big black pots on little feet on the stack on top of one another. Dozens of people were about! All wearing robes, none as colourful as Lars's, but they were amazing all the same. Purples, black and greens with all sort of fancy pointed hats. We're darting to and fro.
"Don't swear Thomas." Thomas's new uncle tapped him on his head.
"Sorry." Thomas said with a grimace. Uncle Liam smiled.
"I understand the need though." Uncle Liam pulled out a list from the pocket from his inside his robe. "Pewter cauldrons are first."
"What are cauldron's for?" Thomas asked quick on the heels of Lars's who was in turn following his father into the store.
"It's for mixing potions." Lars's answered keeping the door open for Thomas. "You can make all sorts of things happen with the right potion."
"What kind of things?" Thomas asked curious.
"You a brew luck, cure aliments, anything really." Lars shrugged his shoulders. "If you have the right ingredients."
"Like mixing scotch with milk? To make a new drink?" Thomas asked, he made a few for the bar patrons. It was something he was familiar with, and he liked the idea of having some knowledge about this wizarding world he was stepping into.
"Yes, but why would you know about something like that?" Uncle Lars stopped and looked at Thomas. He froze under his gaze. If he told him, he knew he would get in trouble. Thomas was well aware that minors weren't supposed to be in the bar. Let alone serve the drinks. Stuck between being in trouble and a lie. Thomas couldn't move.
"Move aside!" A woman blunder through them, Lars pulled Thomas to the side. Stopping him from getting nailed with a large gold cauldron the women was carrying.
"Your not in trouble Thomas." Lars said patting his shoulder.
"Did you drink any of what you mixed?" Uncle Liam gave him a narrow eyed look. Thomas shook his head. "Words Thomas."
"No. Old Man wouldn't let me if I wanted too." Thomas added on fast, after realizing he may be misunderstood. "I didn't want to."
"Good." Uncle Liam nodded, "Pewters are in the back." Trailing after him. Lars whispered to him.
"Whose Old Man?" Lars raised a brow. Thomas shrugged, how could he explain him?
"He was a nice guy. He helped me out." Thomas whispered back.
"He taught you how to mix drinks?" Lars one eyebrow went even further up his forehead.
"He said it would be a trade that would help me later." Thomas shrugged again. Old Man always helped Thomas out, but he wasn't much for explaining things out. Life lessons from him were short, and with as little explanation. Leaving Thomas to figure things out on his own.
"I guess that could work, but why didn't I see him?" Lars turned away tapping his mouth with his finger.
"He died before you guys came." Thomas said, wondering why Lars thought he would have seen Old Man.
"Boys come over and pick a cauldron!" Uncle Liam called over his shoulder. Lars was quick to pick out a simple black one. Thomas loved one with clawed feet, and after seeing it was pewter. Uncle Liam got it for him.
"Thank you." Thomas said carrying the heavy cauldron out the store.
"No need for thanks." Uncle Liam tapped his ring on the cauldron, and it vanished from Thomas's arms.
"Brilliant." Thomas whispered. Lars laughed, and held his cauldron up for his father to tap too.
"It's one of Father's creations." Lars said standing tall with pride.
"Got the idea from the cultivation rings in Asia." Uncle Liam ruffled Lars's head. "Going to be our new bestseller this fall."
"Best seller?" Thomas repeated, "Do you own a store?" Thomas looked around, wondering if it was one of the ones here.
"Father runs a magical artifact company." Lars said, which didn't explain much to Thomas.
"I create magic items and sell them to stores." Uncle Liam cleared things up.
"Sounds amazing." Thomas said in awe of him. Creating things and with magic no less. How could it not be amazing.
"I think it's amazing too Thomas." Uncle Liam pushed them to the shop across the way. The sign read Apothecary in gold script.
"Now to our next stop." There they both Lars and Thomas got scales and some glass looking vials. Thomas was pulled away from the shelf with Dragon livers. Lars was disgusted but Thomas thought it smelled great.
"Potter 300. Mom can I get one?" A mother pulled a small boy away from a store window.
"Maybe when your closer to going to school." She answered vaguely. Thomas looked to the window and saw a black broom with a large bushy tail. That looked like someone slicked it back with hair grease. It had a solid gold wrap between the handle and the bristles. It was too fancy to be for sweeping, and no kid would want a broom; unless... it wasn't just a broom.
"What are the broom's for?" Thomas asked, then and idea clicked in his head. "Do you ride them?" Thomas looked to Lars, who gave him two thumbs up.
"First years aren't allowed their own brooms." Uncle Liam said, "You can try ridding mine when we get home." Thomas smiled and nodded. Not at the offer, but because of what he said. When we get home. We. We was a new and big thing to Thomas, and it was a word that he liked very much.
"It's not that hard-" Lars stopped and turned pale. Thomas who was walking right beside him notice right away.
"Are you okay?" Thomas asked being out talked by some hooting a screeching to their side. Tomas turned seeing dozens of birds. All owls. Of all sizes, hotting and screeching in the oddly shaped cages. Thomas was to got up in this of the street to notice the noisy things beforehand. Turning back to Lars, he saw the colour drop a few shades.
"Is it the owls?" Thomas recognized the signs, he felt the dame way towards frogs. Nasty things. Thomas shivered just thinking about them. "Uncle Liam!" Thomas turned but Uncle Liam was already on top of it. He took Lars by the hand.
"Keep up Thomas." He said. Thomas was fast behind him, his eyes on Lars while they darted past the owl filled store, and not stopping until they rushed into another store, about two away from the birds. Only when they were inside did Lars's colour start to return.
"I hate those things." Lars took in a deep breath.
"I won't let them hurt you Lars." Thomas said, trying to reassure him. He may not have magic yet, but who needed magic to scare of some birds. Thomas had scared of a few pigeons in his time, and really what was the difference?
"Thanks." Lars said with a wobbly smile.
"The birds got you too." Coming down a set of stairs was Mrs. O' Sullivan shaking her head, but not looking concerned. "I forgot they had those things there. Gave me a fright!"
"Mrs-" Thomas stopped remembering that he now called Lars's father uncle. "Aunt Merry, do you not like owls either?" In a whirl of pink and flora perfume Thomas got swept up in a hug.
"You called me Aunt!" Thomas got spun in a circle by her happiness, making the room spin like a top before Thomas eyes.
"My wife and son don't care for owls." Uncle Liam said pulling Thomas free of her grasp. Dizzy he sat down beside Lars. "Shame they're great messenger birds."
"Our crows work fine." Aunt Merry stomped her foot. "Time to get measured!" Thomas was pulled back to his feet faster than he sat. He found himself standing on a round platform while a self moving measurement tape danced around him, measuring him for what...only Aunt Merry knew.
"Your here for school clothes too?" A small girl with light braid hair tied in twin braids asked Thomas. Thomas nodded without saying anything. He wanted to be polite, he didn't want to cause any trouble for the O'Sullivan's, but he wasn't one to talk to some random stranger either.
"Isn't it simply amazing!" She squealed waving her hands, and making the measuring tape raise like an angry snake at her. Thomas's was taking circle around him taking down his sizes without care. Thomas didn't squirm around like the girl though.
"Do you know what house your going to be in?" House? Thomas tilted his head. The school was a dorm, maybe she meant where they'll be living. If so, how would he know? Seeing his confusion the girl giggled into her hands. The measuring tape snapped and slapped her hands with its tail end.
"Ow." The girl turned her lips down in a frown rubbing her hands.
"I think it wants you to stand still." Thomas offered feeling bad for the measuring tape. It may have been magic making it move, but still it had job.
"I guess." She stood still with her arms out. If magical measurement tapes could sigh, Thomas was sure that one would have. "All done Mr. Thomas." An elderly wizard with grey hair towering higher than Thomas could see told him.
"Thank you Madam Antoinette." Aunt Merry hugged the older witch bringing a smile on her otherwise stern looking face.
"The clothes will be delivered within the day." Madam Antoinette patted her arm, ducking out of the hug her gazed turned to the once again squirmy girl, who was trying to catch the poor tape.
"Miss Pipa stand still!" Her voice came down in a firm command, stilling her in seconds. Thomas shook his head and stepped down.
"Let's get your wands boys." Aunt Merry smiled, and Thomas perked up. Wands meant magic, and magic meant a whole new world for Thomas. To say he was excited wouldn't even begin to explain his feelings! "Can't wait?" She shook her head her hair shaking around her in waves.
"Neither can I!" Skipping down the couple steps to the main floor. Thomas smiled, she was the happiest person Thomas ever met. He couldn't help but smile around her.
"Have fun!" The braided hair girl called out. When Thomas turned both Madam Antoinette and the tape snapped at her moving hands.
"Stay still!" Madam Antoinette shook a finger at her. Thomas shook his head. He knew the girl for under five minutes, but he had the feeling she wasn't one to stay still. Lars hand came around his shoulder puling him in to a half hug.
"You're going to love this." Lars said, "Honestly, I've been looking forward to it myself." Lars eyes were dancing between colours. Revealing how important this was to him.
"A wizard's wand is the first important step in his journey." Uncle Liam said, fallen in beside them as they followed Aunt Merry who was leading the charge.
"The wand chooses the wizard Thomas." Aunt Merry said once they were outside. Walking backwards like it was second nature. "It's a bond they is easily forgotten but not easy to break."
"Some wands do leave their partners though." Lars brought up, making Thomas panic.
"A wand can leave you?" Forget choose you, what if it picked you then left you. Thomas couldn't imagine a worse fate. What f it happened at school? Then you would be wand-less, magic-less, in a school of magic. The mere thought made Thomas's stomach turn.
"That only works if you loose a magic duel." Uncle Liam knocked the top of his sons head.
"And only some wands we'll leave their owners to follow a new one." Thomas frowned, not feeling much better. Magic duels sounded like a fight, and Thomas had never won one of those in his life.
"Duels rarely happen Thomas. Don't worry." Aunt Merry smiled at him. "I've had my wand all my life, never once has it left my side." Thomas took a deep breathe to settle his nerves. That did make him feel better, but then another worry struck Thomas.
"Will a wand choose me?" Thomas asked, looking between the three of them. "With me being a mix blood?" Do vampires use wands? Thomas didn't think so, or at least he didn't see any here on the way to the wand shop. Lars's parents gave each other a look, Thomas wasn't sure what it said, but Thomas was sure it wasn't good.
"I'm sure it'll work out." A mix feeling struck Thomas chest at his new Aunt's words. It wasn't the heavy feeling of a full lie, but it wasn't the clear feeling of truth either. Thomas looked down at his shoes, another gift from Lars's closet. He didn't say anything, couldn't, and even if he did. Saying the truth out loud wouldn't make it better, and it's not like she meant Thomas any harm.
"You'll have a wand Thomas." Lars forced his chin up with his hand. "Trust me." Lars winked and the cloudy feeling disappeared from his chest. Even if he couldn't feel a truth from a lie, Thomas thought to himself. That he would have believed in Lars anyway. He seemed that sure of himself.
"If Lars says so, it must be true." Uncle Liam said, stopping them in from of a large wooden store front. An old glass window that was more dust than window. Showed nothing more than a need for cleaning than the shop's interior. An old sign, dangled above, in gold script on a simple wooden back. Scrolled the word Ollivander's Wand Shop. Underneath it said on a smaller sign in the same script it read Danny Kaye They were already there, much to Thomas's surprise. He had hoped for more time.
"It's going to work out Thomas." With a well-meaning push Thomas was forced into the wand shop. A bell ding a small unfamiliar tune above Thomas's head. Looking up he saw three odd shaped bells finishing their music.
"Ah!" A voice cried out, bringing Thomas's attention to in front of him. He could see nothing but a large dark grained counter, and boxes upon boxes towering on each other. The boxes were slim and narrow, and of various lengths. Thomas didn't need to be told what was in them. To know what they were. Thomas gulped down air. Not calming his nerves one bit.
"I've been waiting for you!" A bald man in torn and tattered robe popped up above the counter. His face was covered in tiny scares and fresh scratches. His nose was crookeder than some floor boards back at the orphanage, yet still small silver speckles managed to stay on his nose. Even with such a face, he had a large and friendly smile. The difference between the two was enough to break Thomas from his nerves.
"Danny, no worse for ware I hope." Uncle Liam stepped forward this time. The man stood up straight his lean form so thin, that Thomas thought if Uncle Liam pulled him into a hug; he would fall into two pieces.
"New wands are waiting to be discovered! I only need to answer their call!" Danny said, his eyes looking past Uncle Liam and fallen right on him. Thomas shifted towards Lars, who thankfully took a half step in front of him. The man's eyes made Thomas feel uncomfortable. They were different the Rows and the children who hated him, but they were not a gaze filled with a good feeling.
"Mr. Thomas. My first vampire client. I have been so looking forward to your visit." His voice pinched in the middle, and sounded down right creepy. Thomas wondered how he knew he was a vampire. Putting a hand to his hair, which was still doing his job hiding his ears from view.
"We had to tell the school, and word sort of spread from there." Lars whispered, turning his head, but Thomas notice his eyes; now dark grey were staring at Danny, who Thomas assumed was the wand maker.
"Yes, but I would like to do Lars wand first." Uncle Liam smiled, looking very relaxed, unbothered by the vibe coming off Danny. "Thomas is a bit nervous."
"Understandable!" Danny clapped his thin crooked fingers together. "As requested I gathered my silver lime wands." Danny disappeared under the counter and popped back up. Reminding Thomas of a gopher that had lived by the house Old Man lived in. He reappeared with three very different looking wands on a black tray in his hands.
"Silver lime is a hard to come by material, very expensive and very hard to work with."
"We understand." Aunt Merry spoke up looking very serious.
"I can't say one will choose him either!" Danny shook his head. "The wand chooses its owner. That remains unchanged."
"I'm sure it'll work out." Lars stepped forward, looking just as serious and very certain that he would be chosen. Thomas feverishly wished he possessed that can of strength, but he was much to quiet for such a loud feeling. At least that is what Thomas thought.
"Then try your hand! I would love to see a silver lime at work." Danny back away and so did Lars's parents. Thomas didn't he inched a little closer. Curious as to what was about to happen. Without so much as a blink Lars reached for the middle wand. Completely ignoring the twisted white silvery one on the right and the let one witch was a series of several large knots in its length.
The sliver wood shimmered with Lars's touch. It was a smooth, long line that is larger at the base, with a bit of a curve to it. It shook in Lars hand, only making Lars, clamp down on it. Thomas held his breath and watched it buck and weave under his grip. Thomas could hear the sound of Lars teeth gritting as he refused to let go.
"Give it up." Lars brogue made his whispered almost impossible for Thomas to understand. Then a light from nowhere shown down on Lars. Lighting his face in a smile that was almost all teeth. Lars looked so fierce then, it made Thomas's heart jump. Not in fear, but in a feeling Thomas's couldn't describe, and was quick to dismiss.
"The first time I've seen a bucking wand!" Danny clapped his hands. "No mistaking that you may have foreseen certain things? M mm." Danny gave Lars a big grin that stretched his skin over his face, giving Thomas the shivers.
"See? Easy." Lars turned towards Thomas an easy smile on his face, but Thomas didn't miss the slight gleam of sweat on his brow. "12 inches (30.48 cm) a dramatic wand with a Thunderbird core. This wand has a feisty disposition Mr. Lars. Don't be surprise if it tests you quit a bit before it listens to you fully." Danny folded his arms over his chest.
"Honestly didn't see this wand ever picking an owner. It cursed a few students who tried their hands at it a few years ago actual." Danny laughed, but Thomas didn't see the humour.
"Wands can work on their own?" That idea didn't sound all that great to Thomas.
"Only the odd one." Lars came over patting his shoulder but keeping his wand tight and away from Thomas. Thomas looked at it and it gleamed sliver. To Thomas, it looked like it was plotting.
"It is an odd feature, but so his a Thunderbird core with silver lime wood. I'll never have another like it." Danny nodded with a sigh, like that was a bad thing.
"Come on Mr. Thomas we're about to make history!" Danny waved him over. With a gentle nudge from Lars. Thomas swallowed his fears and took the first step to getting his magic.
"Okay." Thomas stood in front of Danny. He was shaking like a leaf, and he couldn't stop it, but he didn't run either. "What would please your vampire abilities, but bond with your wizard nature?" Danny looked at Thomas or more like through him. Thomas's hair stood on end, but determined to show some grit he didn't move an eyelash.
"Thomas is unique. Maybe a wand that is very different from your others would work?" Lars spoke up from behind Thomas. Making the light in Danny's eyes ping to live.
"That's it!" He shouted turning around in a swirl of dust. He disappeared in the hoard of shelving and boxes behind him. Coming out his arms with several boxes, and dumping them without care on the counter. Pulling out a box Thomas was handed a long wand with a rainbow strike running through it's center.
"Try this." Taking it in hand. Thomas waited for it to move, but it didn't.
"Try given it a wave dear." Aunt Merry said from the side. Thomas did as instructed and from the tip a bolt shot through whipping a whole shelf clear of its wands. Thomas jumped and quickly dropped the wand onto the counter.
"No, no. To big, much to big for you." Danny muttered, his bald head bent and his finger moving the lid of a box. Thomas was passed a smaller, dark wand with a sea hoarse as a handle base. The wand felt warm in his hand, Thomas felt hopeful when he gave it a wave. The wand shot from his like he was planning on snapping it. Landing perfectly back in the box from where Danny pulled it.
"That's new." Danny said blinking as much as Thomas. Did the wand just run away from him? Thomas wondered.
"The next one for sure." Lars encouraged him, and Thomas looked at Danny. Creepy as he was, he was his only hope of getting a wand.
"A troublesome wand for a troublesome boy." Danny narrowed his gaze at Thomas.
"I'm not troublesome." Thomas muttered mostly to himself. Feeling a little offended by both the last wand and Danny.
"Here!" Danny didn't pass him the wand this time, but handed him the box. Thomas peaked inside. A white glossy wood with red strikes running in its grains greeted him. It was smooth and perfectly straight. At it's base was at least two extra inches of white metal formed into several small hoops that reach up to a pointed crown. It's its clasp is a delicate red stone, that is diamond shape. The stone had dark and clear spots, and held a strong appeal to Thomas.
"Laurel wood, very difficult to work with. Not a dishonest thought can stroll through your head or heart when working with this wood." Danny whispered, catching the attention of Thomas. "This wand will not perform for the dishonourable, and possess a lethal magic only released to the most loyal."
"It can't lie?" Thomas asked, feeling attached to the wand already.
"Correction. You can't lie." Danny said. "This wand didn't even like to be touched by me after I made it. The unicorn I got its core from was young, and curious but far more unyielding in its loyalty than any other. It is the only wand I have ever made using that unicorn."
"Can I?" Thomas asked his trembling to try this wand. Danny pushed the wand box closer. Thomas took it out with care. Moving it in his hand until it reach a comfortable spot in the center of his hand. His fingers curved around the cures of the metal base. Thomas felt a warmth spread through his body. Spreading the warmth came out around Thomas covering him in a soft glow that retreated back into him, and his wand.
"It likes me." Thomas smiled and turned towards Lars, who gave him a thumbs up in victory.
"A small wand, 8 inches (20.32 cm) without the 2-inch base, it will favour a more elegant style. I wonder if that is what appealed to your vampire nature?" Danny nodded his head in thought, tilted it left and then the right. "Perhaps the white gold appealed to it? Vampire are as much attracted to riches as a dragon after all."
"White gold?" Thomas said, he didn't know what white gold meant, but he didn't need to know that. To know that gold meant a lot of money. Thomas looked at his wand and looking at the stone, he paled a bit more. "What is the stone?" Thomas hoped it wasn't anything to crazy, not that Thomas knew a great deal about expensive stones.
"Can't say." Danny shook his head. "I take so many trips, looking for rare and usual things to experiment with." He shrugged his shoulders. "All I remember is that I got it from some woods." Danny frowned, his eyebrows curving inward. "I think that was the trip that made me lose my hair for the fourth time."
"Price is not an issue." Uncle Liam came over and rested a hand on Thomas's head. Forcible rubbing Thomas's head.
"Don't worry about it." Thomas nodded and clutched his wand tight. He really didn't want to give the wand up. "There should be a wand pocket in your left pocket." Lars came over and lifted the robe showing Thomas, that there was a slim pocket in there. Thomas tightening his lips. It didn't look that safe for a wand to sit.
"Won't it fall out?" Thomas asked, not putting his wand in the pocket. Lars lifted his robe to show his that his sat safe and sound in his pocket. Still, Thomas was hesitant to place it in there.
"Idea!" Aunt Merry came over and pulled out a piece of black leather from her ring. It looked like small thin gun holster. Thomas only knew this from the old westerns that would play on the bar TV. She came over and swung it around Thomas's, where it magically shrunk and came to a perfect fit on his waist. The holster sat on his left side.
"Your wand and my wand are about the same size." She stepped back and lifted her pink robe showing a shinning white holster with a black wand peaking out. "I just bought a new one." She gave him a thumbs up before dropping her robe down. You couldn't even tell she was wearing it. Thomas place his wand with great care in his holster and found the fit was perfect.
"Thank you." Thomas said in a soft voice. Not only for the wand, but for all the things they were doing for him. "It's nothing to thank me over!" She laughed and brushed his face with her hand.
"If you thank her too much, she'll get used to it." Lars laughed, "You'll make me looked bad. Now that you have matching holsters and everything." That made the mother-son duo start to bicker. Thomas shook his head. How could he explain what kindness meant to him? Rubbing the edges of his robe with a smile.
"You could get one too Lars. Then we could all match." Thomas said, wanting to be included in their fun. Aunt Merry turned eyes sparkling at the idea. Lars shook his head firmly against the idea.
"Everything is paid for." Uncle Liam came over stopping the budding discussion. "Shall we get some lunch?"
"Wouldn't we have to pass the owls again?" Lars said his face speaking volumes of what he thought of that idea.
"Let's go home to eat!" Aunt Merry suggested. Thomas could tell she didn't want to go by the owls again either.
"Don't we have some books to get?" Thomas asked, even his weird schooling had books involved.
"I'll pick those up and meet with you guys back home." Uncle Liam said, "It won't take me to long. Do you want to come along Thomas?" He turned and asked Thomas. A magic book store sounded fun, Thomas turned to Lars, asking without asking; if he wouldn't mind.
"Go right ahead." Lars smiled, "I'll see you at home." With it all decided they split up. Thomas had a blast going through the old book store. Lars's father found out Thomas had a love for poetry and got him a few books to take with him to school. Thomas found a couple old potion books buried in a used book pile. Filled with notes from their previous owners Thomas was hook. Sitting right down on the spot to start flicking through them. When Uncle Liam found him, he bought those books for him as well. Picking up a few old volumes of lore for himself on the way back to the till.
They even stopped to look at the owls. Thomas didn't want one, but he was curious. He had never seen an owl up close before. A small owl with soft brown feathers and black and white eyebrows was really friendly. Dancing up and around Thomas shoulders before flying up to Lars's father's shoulders. To do the same dance. The little owl was quickly sold to a small Asian woman.
Thomas thought Uncle Liam looked a little sad to see it go, but they quickly left. Going back to the far corner that the came in from, he offered to take them to lunch at the leaky cauldron. Which to Thomas surprise, was hidden behind the brick wall! Thomas shook his head after a bit of thought.
They got back home to a happy Berry bringing out lunch. Thomas received another berry tray, much to his delight, and a small bloody steak. Which he all but inhaled. Thomas never enjoyed a meal so much in his life and even gave Berry a quick hug. Making the house elf turn bright red. The rest of the day was filled with school preparations. Aunt Merry took the role of showing of simple spells, and Lars spouted off information left and right. About houses, sorting hats, and to Thomas's horror singing toads.
When night fell. Thomas didn't feel a bit tired, which was not unusual for him. Instead of being order to sleep or laying wide eyes in the dark. He was given a small oil lamp, tucked into Lars's room and settled onto the odd couch, called lounge chair by Lars. Thomas spent the night slowly going over the new information he got today, and he even found the time to pull out the unfinished figure of the Old Man he was working on. With his trusted by old knife he completed the figurine by the time morning came around.