The next morning, Jaidon awoke to the sound of his mother's voice beckoning
him, telling him to get up. He then felt something leap onto his legs and
start scratching at the blankets.
"No, Sphinx! Get off!" Ginny shouted, as she picked up a giant mass of black fluff and tossed it down on the floor. The cat hissed, then turned his tail and fled. Ginny sighed. "I swear, that bloody cat is going to destroy everything in this house! Offspring of Crookshanks, no wonder."
Jaidon opened his eyes. His mother had turned on the lamp sitting on his bedside stand. He rubbed his eyes, which hurt from the light.
"What time is it?"
"It's half-past ten. Time to get up. We have to get to Diagon Alley early so we can get all your school things."
Jaidon started up in bed. Diagon Alley!
He'd seen it numerous times. He'd spent a lot of time there with Uncle Fred and Uncle George, plus their families. He'd always been fascinated by all the wizarding shops. He often found himself in Madam Malkin's Robes for Every Occasion, where his mother worked before Maeve was born. He also liked Flourish and Blotts, which was Leila's favorite store.
"By the way, there's a letter for you on your desk."
"Who's it from?"
"Didn't say. But, since it was sent with some sort of mutated owl, I'd say it was either from Hagrid or Horatio." (Horatio was Hagrid's extremely large son, who was the same age as Jaidon, and he would also be starting at Hogwarts in September.)
Just then, a brown ferret came crashing into the bedroom. In close pursuit was Sphinx, with a ball of brown fur hanging from his teeth.
"Ferret!" Jaidon cried out, getting up to pick his ferret up from the floor.
"SPHINX!" Ginny yelled, shooing the cat away unsuccessfully with her feet. Sphinx, as a sign of protest, bit her around her bare ankle, drawing blood. "Damn it, you stupid cat!" She managed to free herself from the cat's grip. Sphinx then leapt up onto Jaidon's bed and started hissing violently at Ferret, who had buried himself in Jaidon's pajama shirt sleeve.
"Get away, Sphinx," he ordered the cat. "Get away or I'll...I'll...I don't know, but you won't like it!"
Ginny finally managed to pick up the cat by the scruff of his neck and took him out of the room. Jaidon looked sympathetically at Ferret.
"I know, that cat is wicked, Ferret," he said calmly. "Too bad Hedwig is the only one who can keep him under control."
Ferret gave a squeak and dashed out from his shirt sleeve, hit the floor, and ran under the bed to hide.
Jaidon got out of bed and went to pick up the letter. All of a sudden, there came a growling noise, which seemed to originate from the letter itself. With some hesitance, Jaidon picked it up and opened it. It read:
Jaidon,
Got your last letter, mate! Good to hear from you. My mum and dad say it's alright if I come over towards the end of the holidays and stay a few nights. Dad's been really busy training some of the new umdrudges (don't ask). They're in a right state, I'm telling you. They've burned me twice.
Other than that, it's been rather dull around here. Grawp's still complaining about stuff, like the flobberworms not being "ripe" enough to eat. Who'd want to eat them, anyway?
Also, Dad says we're going to meet you and your family in Diagon Alley. So we'll be able to hang out there, and if it's okay with your parents, I can come over after that.
Have to go now. See ya real soon!
Horatio
P.S. - Sorry about the growling paper. Got it from Fred and George. They said it was a real hoot. I think they meant to say it was a real growl.
His uncles' products, of course, were infamous for being a bit troublesome. But they were all pretty successful. Even Ginny appreciated a good laugh via Fred and George.
After breakfast, the family gathered around the old fireplace.
"Do we have to use the Floo stuff?" Maeve whined. "I hate it! It makes me sneeze."
Harry patted her on the shoulder and said, "It doesn't take that long, really. Better way to travel than port keys..."
"Or flying Ford Anglias," Ginny added.
"Alright, alright, Leila, you go first," Harry instructed, ignoring Ginny's comment.
Leila took a fist full of Floo Powder, stepped into the fireplace, and shouted "Diagon Alley" very clearly. A cloud of green smoke rose up around her, and then she vanished. Ginny went next with Maeve, then Jaidon. Harry went last.
Once they were all gathered in Diagon Alley, they set off to find their relatives. They found Fred and George, along with their wives and kids, in their joke shop. It was crammed with young wizards as normal. Fred and Angelina Weasley were trying to pry a dead mouse from the beak of their owl, Thaddeus. George and Katie Weasley were managing the orders that people were filling out. The twins' friend, Lee Jordan, was working the cash register.
"Hey, Jaidon!" called a familiar voice. Jaidon turned to see his cousin, Oz, advancing towards him, carrying a pile of boxes. "How about lending me a hand here? We just got a new shipment of Extendable Ears. Really popular, they are!"
Jaidon took a couple of boxes from Oz. They went to the basement to stock them.
"Bet you're looking forward to starting school," Oz said, shoving a box in a corner.
"Oh yeah," Jaidon replied. "Can't wait for Potions with ol' Snape."
"He gets meaner every year," Oz laughed. "I remember when we used to see him after Order meetings. He would just glare at us. Never really liked us, I believe."
"He hates my dad most of all."
"But why? Why does he hate your dad so much?"
"Dunno. Dad said something once about his dad and Snape not liking each other much when they were at school. Silly rivalries, no doubt."
Oz nodded. "Always between Gryffindors and Slytherins, too."
"I don't know about you, but I don't intend on making any enemies while I'm at school."
"Yeah, I really wouldn't advise it. If some Slytherin git starts stuff with you, just pretend like they're under an Invisibility Cloak or something. That's what I do when that Orion Flint starts calling people Mudbloods. I just think, 'He isn't there'. And it works."
Jaidon chuckled. "So what else am I to except at Hogwarts?"
Oz sighed. "You never really know what to expect, m'lad. That's the best part about attending school there. Never know what the day will bring. But I can tell you what some of the teachers are like. The ones you don't know, I mean. Let's see, there's Wood, he was new last year. Teaches flying."
"You mean Oliver Wood? The Quidditch player?"
"Former Quidditch player. Remember, he retired after breaking his back sixteen times?"
"That's right. So he's good?"
"Well, I can certainly say he's got a lot of enthusiasm. Cried last year when Gryffindor lost the Quidditch Cup to Hufflepuff. We were certain he would fling himself off of the Astronomy tower in despair."
"Wow. What about Defense Against the Dark Arts?"
"Haven't had a proper Dark Arts professor in ages. Dad says Remus Lupin was the best there was. Dark Arts teachers don't seem to last more than a year at Hogwarts. Snape is still applying for the position annually. Flitwick - he's the Charms professor - he's alright. He doesn't give much homework. Professor Binns, the History of Magic teacher, he's a real bore. Last year we studied the Merpeople Evolution. All year. Put me right to sleep every time he talked. Um...who else? Oh, there's Vector and Sinistra, they're decent. And Firenze, the Divination teacher, he's really cool. A bit morbid at times, though, but nothing compared to Snape. Hagrid's classes are exciting though. Always have some blasted Slytherin whining about it though. But Hagrid's great. Then we're getting a new Transfiguration teacher since McGonnagal's been made Headmistress this year. Shame Dumbledore retired. But McGonnagal's fair, you know. She always liked you. Um, there's Longbottom, too - Herbology. He really knows his stuff."
"He was always one of my dad's close friends," Jaidon stated. "They had some stuff in common."
"All having to do with Voldemort, I reckon."
"Yeah. His parents were cursed by Bellatrix Lestrange, the witch who killed Sirius Black. Dad told me about her. He said if he ever got his hands on her, he'd make her regret ever being a Death Eater. Of course, she's gone missing since Voldemort did."
"Fishy, eh? Well, as long as they're not causing havoc, I don't care much. Gives us less to worry about."
"Yeah," Jaidon said quietly.
Just then, Katie Weasley came tumbling down the stairs, having tripped over Thaddeus, who was busy batting the dead mouse around the store.
"Aunt Katie!" they both cried.
Katie hit the landing with a thud. However, she stood up and straightened herself out.
"I'm alright. I'm fine," she said briskly. "No need to panic. It was intentional. Besides, I've had worse."
Jaidon and Oz looked dubiously at each other.
Katie continued, "We're heading off to Flourish and Blotts now. You two coming?"
They both nodded their heads yes.
"Good. We'll be waiting for you outside."
Katie exited, walking with a slight limp in her right leg. Jaidon and Oz followed after her.
Outside, they found everyone waiting for them. Ginny was reciting the tale of Jaidon's jinxing the garden gnomes to Fred, George, Angelina, and Kieran (Fred and Angelina's eldest son, who was sixteen). Fred and George were smirking just from the mention of someone committing mischief. Angelina listened intently, looking rather indifferent. Kieran simply nodded. He was too busy watching a flock of girls going into the joke shop.
"And so, I rush outside and found the gnomes all levitating about ten feet off the ground in a circular motion," Ginny was explaining. "Of course, Harry didn't reprimand him or anything. I fancy he was rather proud that Jaidon did those two spells perfectly. He was practically gloating over Jaidon's achievements - though Jaidon has a warning from the Ministry to show for it."
Fred and George laughed.
"Dearest sister," Fred spoke. "Do you even recall half the things you did when you were young?"
"All the dung bombs you set off?" added George.
"The grind low in the bath tub?"
"The Stink-"
"Oh, for heaven's sake! That's enough, you two!" Ginny cried.
"I daresay Fred and George here had some influence over some of the things you did," Angelina said solemnly. "I know they've taught the kids how to summon dung bombs and levitate them over peoples' heads. And...drop them...such a mess..."
"We were merely testing a theory on gravity..." Fred stated.
"The thing you have to remember," George cut in, "is that kids will be kids. Kids like trouble. Some more than others, naturally. But some just have a flair for wreaking havoc. Hence Fred and myself. And you will remember what Harry, Ron, and Hermione used to do."
"Speaking of the devil," said Angelina. "Here she is."
It was Hermione, dressed in Muggle fashion. She had a trunk full of books in tow. She spotted the group immediately and rushed to greet them.
"Hey, Hermione!" Ginny cried, embracing Hermione in a tight hug. "We haven't seen you in a while. How was France?"
Hermione sighed. "Boring, as always. Can't believe Mum and Dad retired to Paris. Dullest place on earth. Can you imagine?"
Fred and George brushed past Ginny and saluted Hermione gracefully, imitating Percy (who was absent from the party).
"Hermione! Wonderful to see you!" Fred jauntily spoke, grabbing her hand and firmly shaking it.
George cut in. "Simply enchanting!"
Hermione laughed. "Still mocking Percy, eh?" She looked around. "He isn't here?"
"Nope," Ginny replied. The corner of her mouth started to twitch. "He...he is working..."
"Oh. Well, it's good to see you all here anyway! Where were you headed?"
"Flourish and Blotts," Harry said.
"Perfect!" Hermione exclaimed. "I've got some old books I wanted to donate. That's what is in my trunk..."
At that precise moment, her eyes focused on a figure she recognized. In fact, all the adults there recognized that figure, the silvery-blonde haired wizard who was advancing in their direction.
"Malfoy," mumbled Harry.
"No, Sphinx! Get off!" Ginny shouted, as she picked up a giant mass of black fluff and tossed it down on the floor. The cat hissed, then turned his tail and fled. Ginny sighed. "I swear, that bloody cat is going to destroy everything in this house! Offspring of Crookshanks, no wonder."
Jaidon opened his eyes. His mother had turned on the lamp sitting on his bedside stand. He rubbed his eyes, which hurt from the light.
"What time is it?"
"It's half-past ten. Time to get up. We have to get to Diagon Alley early so we can get all your school things."
Jaidon started up in bed. Diagon Alley!
He'd seen it numerous times. He'd spent a lot of time there with Uncle Fred and Uncle George, plus their families. He'd always been fascinated by all the wizarding shops. He often found himself in Madam Malkin's Robes for Every Occasion, where his mother worked before Maeve was born. He also liked Flourish and Blotts, which was Leila's favorite store.
"By the way, there's a letter for you on your desk."
"Who's it from?"
"Didn't say. But, since it was sent with some sort of mutated owl, I'd say it was either from Hagrid or Horatio." (Horatio was Hagrid's extremely large son, who was the same age as Jaidon, and he would also be starting at Hogwarts in September.)
Just then, a brown ferret came crashing into the bedroom. In close pursuit was Sphinx, with a ball of brown fur hanging from his teeth.
"Ferret!" Jaidon cried out, getting up to pick his ferret up from the floor.
"SPHINX!" Ginny yelled, shooing the cat away unsuccessfully with her feet. Sphinx, as a sign of protest, bit her around her bare ankle, drawing blood. "Damn it, you stupid cat!" She managed to free herself from the cat's grip. Sphinx then leapt up onto Jaidon's bed and started hissing violently at Ferret, who had buried himself in Jaidon's pajama shirt sleeve.
"Get away, Sphinx," he ordered the cat. "Get away or I'll...I'll...I don't know, but you won't like it!"
Ginny finally managed to pick up the cat by the scruff of his neck and took him out of the room. Jaidon looked sympathetically at Ferret.
"I know, that cat is wicked, Ferret," he said calmly. "Too bad Hedwig is the only one who can keep him under control."
Ferret gave a squeak and dashed out from his shirt sleeve, hit the floor, and ran under the bed to hide.
Jaidon got out of bed and went to pick up the letter. All of a sudden, there came a growling noise, which seemed to originate from the letter itself. With some hesitance, Jaidon picked it up and opened it. It read:
Jaidon,
Got your last letter, mate! Good to hear from you. My mum and dad say it's alright if I come over towards the end of the holidays and stay a few nights. Dad's been really busy training some of the new umdrudges (don't ask). They're in a right state, I'm telling you. They've burned me twice.
Other than that, it's been rather dull around here. Grawp's still complaining about stuff, like the flobberworms not being "ripe" enough to eat. Who'd want to eat them, anyway?
Also, Dad says we're going to meet you and your family in Diagon Alley. So we'll be able to hang out there, and if it's okay with your parents, I can come over after that.
Have to go now. See ya real soon!
Horatio
P.S. - Sorry about the growling paper. Got it from Fred and George. They said it was a real hoot. I think they meant to say it was a real growl.
His uncles' products, of course, were infamous for being a bit troublesome. But they were all pretty successful. Even Ginny appreciated a good laugh via Fred and George.
After breakfast, the family gathered around the old fireplace.
"Do we have to use the Floo stuff?" Maeve whined. "I hate it! It makes me sneeze."
Harry patted her on the shoulder and said, "It doesn't take that long, really. Better way to travel than port keys..."
"Or flying Ford Anglias," Ginny added.
"Alright, alright, Leila, you go first," Harry instructed, ignoring Ginny's comment.
Leila took a fist full of Floo Powder, stepped into the fireplace, and shouted "Diagon Alley" very clearly. A cloud of green smoke rose up around her, and then she vanished. Ginny went next with Maeve, then Jaidon. Harry went last.
Once they were all gathered in Diagon Alley, they set off to find their relatives. They found Fred and George, along with their wives and kids, in their joke shop. It was crammed with young wizards as normal. Fred and Angelina Weasley were trying to pry a dead mouse from the beak of their owl, Thaddeus. George and Katie Weasley were managing the orders that people were filling out. The twins' friend, Lee Jordan, was working the cash register.
"Hey, Jaidon!" called a familiar voice. Jaidon turned to see his cousin, Oz, advancing towards him, carrying a pile of boxes. "How about lending me a hand here? We just got a new shipment of Extendable Ears. Really popular, they are!"
Jaidon took a couple of boxes from Oz. They went to the basement to stock them.
"Bet you're looking forward to starting school," Oz said, shoving a box in a corner.
"Oh yeah," Jaidon replied. "Can't wait for Potions with ol' Snape."
"He gets meaner every year," Oz laughed. "I remember when we used to see him after Order meetings. He would just glare at us. Never really liked us, I believe."
"He hates my dad most of all."
"But why? Why does he hate your dad so much?"
"Dunno. Dad said something once about his dad and Snape not liking each other much when they were at school. Silly rivalries, no doubt."
Oz nodded. "Always between Gryffindors and Slytherins, too."
"I don't know about you, but I don't intend on making any enemies while I'm at school."
"Yeah, I really wouldn't advise it. If some Slytherin git starts stuff with you, just pretend like they're under an Invisibility Cloak or something. That's what I do when that Orion Flint starts calling people Mudbloods. I just think, 'He isn't there'. And it works."
Jaidon chuckled. "So what else am I to except at Hogwarts?"
Oz sighed. "You never really know what to expect, m'lad. That's the best part about attending school there. Never know what the day will bring. But I can tell you what some of the teachers are like. The ones you don't know, I mean. Let's see, there's Wood, he was new last year. Teaches flying."
"You mean Oliver Wood? The Quidditch player?"
"Former Quidditch player. Remember, he retired after breaking his back sixteen times?"
"That's right. So he's good?"
"Well, I can certainly say he's got a lot of enthusiasm. Cried last year when Gryffindor lost the Quidditch Cup to Hufflepuff. We were certain he would fling himself off of the Astronomy tower in despair."
"Wow. What about Defense Against the Dark Arts?"
"Haven't had a proper Dark Arts professor in ages. Dad says Remus Lupin was the best there was. Dark Arts teachers don't seem to last more than a year at Hogwarts. Snape is still applying for the position annually. Flitwick - he's the Charms professor - he's alright. He doesn't give much homework. Professor Binns, the History of Magic teacher, he's a real bore. Last year we studied the Merpeople Evolution. All year. Put me right to sleep every time he talked. Um...who else? Oh, there's Vector and Sinistra, they're decent. And Firenze, the Divination teacher, he's really cool. A bit morbid at times, though, but nothing compared to Snape. Hagrid's classes are exciting though. Always have some blasted Slytherin whining about it though. But Hagrid's great. Then we're getting a new Transfiguration teacher since McGonnagal's been made Headmistress this year. Shame Dumbledore retired. But McGonnagal's fair, you know. She always liked you. Um, there's Longbottom, too - Herbology. He really knows his stuff."
"He was always one of my dad's close friends," Jaidon stated. "They had some stuff in common."
"All having to do with Voldemort, I reckon."
"Yeah. His parents were cursed by Bellatrix Lestrange, the witch who killed Sirius Black. Dad told me about her. He said if he ever got his hands on her, he'd make her regret ever being a Death Eater. Of course, she's gone missing since Voldemort did."
"Fishy, eh? Well, as long as they're not causing havoc, I don't care much. Gives us less to worry about."
"Yeah," Jaidon said quietly.
Just then, Katie Weasley came tumbling down the stairs, having tripped over Thaddeus, who was busy batting the dead mouse around the store.
"Aunt Katie!" they both cried.
Katie hit the landing with a thud. However, she stood up and straightened herself out.
"I'm alright. I'm fine," she said briskly. "No need to panic. It was intentional. Besides, I've had worse."
Jaidon and Oz looked dubiously at each other.
Katie continued, "We're heading off to Flourish and Blotts now. You two coming?"
They both nodded their heads yes.
"Good. We'll be waiting for you outside."
Katie exited, walking with a slight limp in her right leg. Jaidon and Oz followed after her.
Outside, they found everyone waiting for them. Ginny was reciting the tale of Jaidon's jinxing the garden gnomes to Fred, George, Angelina, and Kieran (Fred and Angelina's eldest son, who was sixteen). Fred and George were smirking just from the mention of someone committing mischief. Angelina listened intently, looking rather indifferent. Kieran simply nodded. He was too busy watching a flock of girls going into the joke shop.
"And so, I rush outside and found the gnomes all levitating about ten feet off the ground in a circular motion," Ginny was explaining. "Of course, Harry didn't reprimand him or anything. I fancy he was rather proud that Jaidon did those two spells perfectly. He was practically gloating over Jaidon's achievements - though Jaidon has a warning from the Ministry to show for it."
Fred and George laughed.
"Dearest sister," Fred spoke. "Do you even recall half the things you did when you were young?"
"All the dung bombs you set off?" added George.
"The grind low in the bath tub?"
"The Stink-"
"Oh, for heaven's sake! That's enough, you two!" Ginny cried.
"I daresay Fred and George here had some influence over some of the things you did," Angelina said solemnly. "I know they've taught the kids how to summon dung bombs and levitate them over peoples' heads. And...drop them...such a mess..."
"We were merely testing a theory on gravity..." Fred stated.
"The thing you have to remember," George cut in, "is that kids will be kids. Kids like trouble. Some more than others, naturally. But some just have a flair for wreaking havoc. Hence Fred and myself. And you will remember what Harry, Ron, and Hermione used to do."
"Speaking of the devil," said Angelina. "Here she is."
It was Hermione, dressed in Muggle fashion. She had a trunk full of books in tow. She spotted the group immediately and rushed to greet them.
"Hey, Hermione!" Ginny cried, embracing Hermione in a tight hug. "We haven't seen you in a while. How was France?"
Hermione sighed. "Boring, as always. Can't believe Mum and Dad retired to Paris. Dullest place on earth. Can you imagine?"
Fred and George brushed past Ginny and saluted Hermione gracefully, imitating Percy (who was absent from the party).
"Hermione! Wonderful to see you!" Fred jauntily spoke, grabbing her hand and firmly shaking it.
George cut in. "Simply enchanting!"
Hermione laughed. "Still mocking Percy, eh?" She looked around. "He isn't here?"
"Nope," Ginny replied. The corner of her mouth started to twitch. "He...he is working..."
"Oh. Well, it's good to see you all here anyway! Where were you headed?"
"Flourish and Blotts," Harry said.
"Perfect!" Hermione exclaimed. "I've got some old books I wanted to donate. That's what is in my trunk..."
At that precise moment, her eyes focused on a figure she recognized. In fact, all the adults there recognized that figure, the silvery-blonde haired wizard who was advancing in their direction.
"Malfoy," mumbled Harry.
