The parents of the Roswell Gang reference table for those of you not familiar with Roswell:
Kyle- Jim Valenti
Max and Isabel- Diane and Phillip Evans
Liz Parker Evans- Nancy and Jeff Parker
Maria DeLuca- Amy DeLuca
Michael- No parents, poor thing!
Chapter 6
London: Diagon Alley
Diagon Alley was definitely one of the strangest and coolest streets that any of the Roswellians had ever seen - not that Roswell didn't have its own brand of uniqueness. After all, they had the UFO Center, a museum dedicated to the 1947 UFO crash and the subsequent government cover-up.
But, Diagon Alley had shops dedicated to the magical arts. Shops that Merlin himself would've probably frequented. Some shops seemed to come straight out of the Middle Ages, with anachronisms like an apothecary. Then, mixed in, were shops that seemed a little more modern, like the one that Maria, Liz, and Ginny were sitting in front of, enjoying triple-dipped strawberry ice cream.
Everyone had walked to the Leaky Cauldron to get to Diagon Alley, being that they were already in London, and Mrs. Weasley felt that she didn't need to shock their new friends any more than necessary by using Floo powder. After they went through the unnerving sensation of entering a door to a pub that didn't seem to be there and then emerging out of the back door to go through an another magical entrance to the Alley, the large group of wizards, Muggles, and aliens had then split into smaller groups of two or three.
Isabel and Hermione, having formed a fast friendship, went immediately with Mrs. Weasley to Flourish and Blotts to pick out Hermione's school books. Harry, Ron, and Kyle had gone to Quality Quidditch Supplies to goggle at the latest new broomsticks. Boys will be boys, muggle, wizard, or alien. Max and Michael had decided to wander the Alley, just taking in the sights and stopping in whatever shops looked interesting.
Maria, Liz, and Ginny were talking girl talk. Maria and Liz explained their tumultuous love lives, while Ginny regaled them with stories and rumors from last year's Yule Ball.
"Okay, so just ask him, then." Maria was saying.
"Right. He's got bigger things to think about than being my boyfriend, Maria." Ginny was regretting even saying anything to Maria and Liz about Harry.
The girls had just finished their ice cream, when Michael came running up to them, obviously out of breath.
"Who's whose boyfriend?" He panted.
"Nobody," Maria said a little too quickly.
"Hey, Michael. Where's Max?" Liz asked.
"What's wrong?" Maria asked her boyfriend, noticing his panting and the look of urgency on his face. All three girls sat up, concerned, waiting for Michael to speak. It took him a few seconds.
"Did you…have to…be...in a shop…at the freakin'…other end of the damn alley?" Michael panted, still winded. He paused and grabbed the back of the chair, putting his head down between his shoulder blades. In a few seconds, he looked up.
"Come on, let's go. We have to go to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Hagrid sent me to get you." Michael let go of the chair and impatiently gestured for them to get up. He grabbed the ice cream cones out of the their hands, ignoring protests from the girls, and unceremoniously dumped them in the nearest garbage can, which expanded and contracted with a large gulping noise and then burped.
"Who's Hagrid?" Liz shouted as Michael had already started back.
"No time! You'll meet him when you get there! Come on!" He called back trying to hurry them into the street. Liz, Maria, and Ginny followed Michael at a brisk trot, dodging shopping witches and wizards. They ran for about five minutes and the stopped at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes.
Walking into the store, Liz and Maria remembered that this was supposed to be a joke shop. The shelves held everything from fake wands to disappearing and reappearing objects to the Puking Pastilles Harry and Ron had mentioned earlier. Michael led the girls behind the counter and into a big store room.
Inside, they saw all of their friends, Mrs. Weasley, a pair of look-a-like young men, and the biggest, hairiest man they'd ever seen. The normally stoic Max was standing next to this man, looking very diminished. Isabel and Hermione were talking to Mrs. Weasley. Kyle, Harry, and Ron were talking with the two red-haired young strangers. Everyone stopped when Michael and the girls walked into the store room.
'What's going on?" Liz asked fearfully. They'd only been in the Wizarding world one day. Something bad couldn't possibly have happened this quickly. Maria grabbed Liz's arm with anxiety.
"What's wrong? Something's wrong, isn't it?" Maria said, neurotically. Mrs. Weasley put up her hands to calm the newcomers.
"No, no! Nothing like that! We were called here by Dumbledore. We're waiting for him and my husband to come through." Mrs. Weasley assured her. Maria hit her boyfriend across the arm.
"Don't ever scare me like that again, Spaceboy!" She said angrily. On cue, Michael rolled his eyes.
"Come through?" asked Liz.
"Well, the wall of course, dear." Mrs. Weasley answered. Of course, Liz muttered to herself sarcastically. The wall. How could she have been so dense?
Mrs. Weasley began examining the brick wall behind her, apparently looking for any signs of a structure change. Harry and Ron brought the giant man and the red-haired twins over to be introduced.
"Hullo, everyone! This is Hagrid. He's the Hogwarts groundskeeper and our Care of Magical Creatures professor." Harry said, indicating the giant. "And one of the best friends we've had at Hogwarts." The gigantic groundskeeper stuck out a hand as big as one of the model flying saucers in the UFO center and shook each member of the Roswell group's hands in turn.
"Nice ter meet ya." He said, in a gruff, yet surprisingly mild voice. "Harry 'n Ron were jus telling me all about ya and what I been missin'. I'd a met up wit ya over at Grimmaul' Place, but I jus had a lot ter do over at 'Ogwarts. -- And if'n ever I get me hands on one 'o those Special Unit Muggles, I'd ring their little nicks fer ya!" Hagrid said, as if swearing an oath, and shook his fist in the air. The teenagers shook his hand, more than a little amused. They liked Hagrid at once, even Michael, who was never inclined to like anyone at once.
Ron pointed to the twins.
"These are my twin brothers, Fred and George. They own this joke shop, here." He said proudly.
"Hiya." The twins said in unison. They each had the same red hair as the rest of their family and they were tall and lanky. They each also sported a wicked grin as if they were always the kind of kids that would cut up in class just to see the teacher get mad.
Everyone continued conversing quietly, still waiting for someone to come through the wall. Through the course of conversation, little groups had started to develop. It seemed that, in respect to personality, Kyle had gravitated towards Harry and Ron, Isabel and Hermione had paired off again, and Ginny, Liz, and Maria had resumed their earlier conversation. The twins just mingled between groups. Max and Michael were having a serious discussion with Hagrid, trying to extract information about the history of Voldemort's reign. Of course, it was like pulling teeth. Mrs. Weasley continued to check the wall for the slightest change.
Finally, after about ten minutes, the wall began to hum, which stopped all conversation in the store room. Instinctively, Max, Michael, and Isabel grouped together, hands ready to rise in less than a second, should they need to use their abilities in defense.
Just like the brick-walled entrance to Diagon Alley, this wall started to separate in blocks, pushing and pulling at each other, eventually leaving an open space about the width of three people standing side by side. Where the wall had been, there was now an archway into a room that knocked the breath out of the New Mexican teenagers. They were now looking into Liz's father's restaurant, the Crashdown Café, chairs up and devoid of customers. Standing at the entrance were Mr. Weasley, Professor Dumbledore, and all of the Roswellians' anxious and teary-eyed parents. The teenagers ran to their parents, except for Michael. This was one of those moments in which he really felt the pang of loneliness. He had nobody.
The reunited families laughed and cried amid an indiscernible rumble of questions and exclamations. Professor Dumbledore quietly waited for everyone to settle down. The teenagers held tightly to their parents in sheer joy and relief as Dumbledore spoke.
"As you can see," he said, smiling. " I felt the need to contact your families. It is hard for young people to feel so alone." He looked over his half-moon spectacles at Michael and Harry. "I had this wall magically altered to allow safe passage for you and your families to see each other. However, you must remain in the Wizarding world. I suspect your parents are being watched."
Faces fell. This meant that they wouldn't be able to have their parents with them. The wizard teenagers looked on sadly. Hermione and Ginny were in tears and, for once, the twins were grim.
Mrs. Weasley leaned into her husband, wringing her hands. It was hard for her to imagine having to be separated from her own children like that. She really felt for the mothers of the Roswell teenagers. Harry, Ron, and Hagrid went over to Michael for moral support. They knew that this was probably pretty hard on the lonely teenager to watch the others' families reunite. Harry could identify. Dumbledore continued.
"There is good news for all of you, however. This magically enhanced wall will remain as a passage between the Crashdown Café and Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Use your discretion and common sense when passing through. You should use this wall only at night if possible. It would also be wise for the parents to cross into our world and not the children back into theirs, unless absolutely necessary. There are government agents still looking for you. If the agents storm the restaurant, it is better to have the parents here, and not the children there."
Everyone nodded, grateful to at least have access to their loved ones, no matter how limited. Mr. Weasley pried his wife off of him and went back through the archway as if looking for someone.
"He should be here any moment…" he said thoughtfully.
"Who?" asked Max, but he didn't have long to wait for an answer.
"Ah! Here he is!" Mr. Weasley's face lit up in recognition as he looked at the person who had just entered the Crashdown. Shortly, this figure came into view as he joined Mr. Weasley in front of the archway.
"Sorry, I'm late. I just had to make a quick stop." the man said, out of breath and looking very excited. He was holding one dozen red roses.
"Jesse!" Isabel screamed and ran to her husband, whom she hadn't seen in months. Oblivious to everyone else, Jesse Ramirez dropped the roses and pulled Isabel into a tight embrace complete with an airport, movie scene kiss. This time, not an eye remained dry in either room. The other Roswell teenagers surrounded them, along with Max and Isabel's parents. Another few minutes of fast talking and hugs went by. Dumbledore spoke again.
"Well, this afternoon has been rather pleasant!" He said in a jolly, Santa Claus kind of way. He smiled warmly at Isabel. "I had a little visit with your husband last night. We had a long talk, and, after he got used to the idea that there are wizards as well as aliens, he called his office and resigned immediately. Then, he flew into New Mexico this morning and rented a car for the trip to Roswell. I dare say that the rental car company would have had a time figuring out where the driver disappeared to if I had not returned the car and modified the clerk's memories!" Dumbledore chuckled fondly. "Jesse is coming back with you to Grimmauld Place. He would like to live with you here in the Wizarding world."
Isabel smiled and laughed, hugging her husband to the point of breaking his neck. Then she stopped as realization hit her.
"But, Jesse! You quit your job in Boston! But, you can't stay with me!" She exclaimed. She was happy to see him and wanted him to be with her more than anyone could ever know, yet he was the only one still unsuspected as an alien by the FBI. He could be safe. He could have a normal life. As long as he stayed far away from her. He seemed to be reading her thoughts.
"Isabel, it's been torture having to come home from that job and be alone in an apartment every night. Do you really think a job would ever be more important than you? You brought meaning into my life. I don't care if your being an alien puts me in danger. I can't live without you. So, I'm going to try to find some kind of work here with you. Don't know what I can do, not being a wizard, but I'll find something." Jesse put his arm around his wife and kissed her tenderly.
With that taken care of, everyone mingled, talking and getting to know each other. Mrs. Weasley discussed the delights of housekeeping with magic to her new friends, Diane Evans, Nancy Parker, and Amy DeLuca. The men gathered together and did what any normal middle aged man would do - talk about sports. Mr. Weasley was fascinated by Jim Valenti's description of American football. Phillip Evans and Jeff Parker listened on in amusement as Mr. Weasley made comparisons with the wizard sport, Quidditch.
The wizard teenagers spent a little time in the Crashdown Café on the other side of the wall, which made most of them feel a little strange. Once you stepped through the archway, you were not only in another building, but in another country. It was amusing, and not a little spooky, that the first time any of them were in the United States, it only involved the inside of a small diner in Roswell, New Mexico. Not to mention, that only Harry and Hermione had ever spent time in the normal world, so the café held special interest for Ron, Ginny, and the twins, who made themselves busy examining all of the appliances Muggles had to rely on in order to cook.
Isabel and Jesse were deep in discussion with Professor Dumbledore and Hagrid. The wizard teenagers knew what that meant, especially Harry. He knew that Dumbledore was probably planning a way for Jesse to make a living in the Wizarding world. Secretly, Harry hoped that at least one of the Roswell group would be able to come to Hogwarts, though no Muggles had ever been inside the school walls before. But, Muggles and aliens living in the Wizarding world permanently were unprecedented as well, and it was happening now. So, maybe one of them coming to Hogwarts wasn't such a far-fetched idea.
The twins had brought out drinks and snacks, thankfully free of practical jokes, and Jeff Parker provided his daughter's new friends with pie from the Crashdown. Everyone had a lot to catch up on. Jeff Parker was seeing his daughter, Liz, as a married woman for the first time and he welcomed Max officially into his family. He shook hands with Phillip Evans as they were now bonded by their children's marriage and their children's secret. Also, this was the first time that the Parkers or Amy DeLuca had seen their children since their graduation months before, and it wasn't until after the teenagers had had to flee for their lives that these poor parents found out the alien secret that Liz's diary held.
They had spent months in awe of Max, Isabel, and Michael's alien status, as well as in fear of their children's lives. They knew that Max had once been King of Antar, Isabel had been Princess, and Michael had been Max's Second-in-Command. Liz's diary had divulged every detail of their children's trials and joys during their relationships with the aliens.
They also knew of the moderate powers that Liz had gained, which was awe-inspiring enough, but they still didn't know about Liz's new status as an alien. Liz worried about that. She wondered if it would ever be the right time to tell their parents that she was now technically the queen of a planet that they would probably never see. How was she supposed to tell them that the DNA they had given her at conception was now permanently changed?
Soon, it was almost ten o'clock at night. All of the relieved parents bid their children goodbye, with promises to cross over into Weasley's Wizard Wheezes every Sunday. The adults hugged and shook hands and talked about getting together for dinner and other oddly normal things that people say when making friends. It was as if differences were suspended and there were no wizards, muggles, and aliens - only parents, friends, and teenagers.
As the wall closed upon the view of the departing group of parents, Dumbledore gestured for everyone else to make their way back to the Leaky Cauldron to go back to Grimmauld Place.
"I think we all now have plenty to sleep on! If you do not mind, Molly, I think that it is now time for me to return to Hogwarts. I will see most of you in a few days in the Great Hall. Enjoy the rest of your vacation!" Dumbledore said, leaving the room and bowing slightly as he went.
"Most of us?" the Roswellians asked each other. "What did he mean by that? Aren't you four the only ones that are going to Hogwarts?" Max asked Harry and his friends. The wizards shrugged. They had no idea what Dumbledore was planning.
"Mrs. Weasley?" Liz asked, turning to Mrs. Weasley, who was fussing over her twin entrepreneurs.
"Oh, from what I understand, all of you are invited to go. But, I think Professor Dumbledore understands that he can't force anyone. So, he said 'most', thinking that some of you might choose to stay at Grimmauld Place." She replied, gathering her bag and bundles of shopping. "You can all decide that when we get back. Personally, I don't like to stay out too late at night, so let's all go, then, shall we?" Everyone nodded and the Roswellians helped their friends with all the parcels.
As they left Weasley's Wizard Wheezes they did not notice the figure in the shadows. The dark figure watched from a corner of the building as the large, unsuspecting group made their way home. The figure chuckled slightly and turned down the street in the other direction, making his own way. But, not home. Instead, he went to another place - a place where his master waited to receive his news.
London: 12 Grimmauld Place
The day after Harry's birthday, the atmosphere at breakfast seemed sullen, despite the fact that everyone was leaving for King's Cross Station in an hour. No one seemed to be talking too much. His surprise party the night before, thrown by Isabel and Hermione, had seemed slightly subdued. Harry didn't blame anyone, though. He knew that even though the Roswellians were trying to be festive for him, there was an undercurrent of sadness. The Roswellians had said good-bye to their teary-eyed parents and had watched the wall in Weasley's Wizard Wheezes magically cover up the Crashdown Café. It was, therefore, understandable that they would be a little moody. But, Harry was still satisfied on his birthday as he'd never been satisfied before. Even with the cloud hanging over his friends, it was still his first birthday party ever.
Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny did their best to talk about other things at breakfast...Quidditch…the coming term. Anything but things related to Roswell, New Mexico. Everyone had decided to go to Hogwarts on the train, except Jesse. He would meet them at the school later that night after a meeting with someone at the Ministry of Magic. But, Jesse didn't say much about it. Either he didn't know what the meeting was about, or he was too nervous to talk about it.
As fascinating as Grimmauld Place was, they really wanted to be in a place where they could work and investigate in close proximity to Harry and Dumbledore. That was the surface story at least. It was actually more about the fact that Hogwarts sounded so fascinating. Why would they want to miss out on ghosts and house elves, or watching Gryffindor play against Slytherin, and, instead, opt for screaming pictures, dark moldy rooms, and lots of Order members whispering behind closed doors?
Everyone had just finished eating and was helping Mrs. Weasley pick up, when her husband rushed in breathlessly.
"Taxicabs are here, Molly. I made them park a block away, so they wouldn't see the secret entrance to this house. We have to be off now." Arthur Weasley grabbed the nearest trunk and started to pull it out of the door. Max, Kyle, Michael, and Jesse helped him load everything, as it was going to take several trips down the block to get the cabs loaded. With thirteen people, it was going to take three cabs to ferry the group to King's Cross Station.
Once everything was in, Mrs. Weasley was satisfied that everyone had everything, and all the kids had finished playing musical taxis, the cabs pulled off. Soon, they arrived at King's Cross Station. They got the cars unloaded with fifteen minutes to spare. Everyone watched as Mr. Weasley slid through the barrier at Platform 9 ¾ with Ginny. Max leaned over to talk to Mrs. Weasley.
"Uhh…Mrs. Weasley?" he prompted.
"You next, Ron, and then Hermione, and then Harry. What is it, dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked Max, as the three wizards went through the barrier one by one.
"Well, how are we going to get through? We're not wizards." All of the others looked worried, too.
"Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't tell you, did I? That's why Arthur went through first. There's a Ministry official on the other side, waiting to open the barrier for you once Arthur got through." This made all of them go from worried to nervous. What if they ran into the wall because the Ministry official didn't open the barrier right? Michael bravely stepped up to be the guinea pig.
"Okay. Here I go!" He paused and looked at Mrs. Weasley. "It's not that I don't trust you or anything, but you're sure I'll make it, right? I'm not gonna get my atoms all spread out across the universe or anything, right? Or get stuck in the wall?"
"You are so-o-o not helping me right now, Michael." Maria said, shaking her head over her cedar oil. Mrs. Weasley looked amused.
"Now really, dear. That would never happen. The worst thing that could happen is that you'll get bruised. Now off you go…the train won't wait forever!" Mrs. Weasley replied impatiently, as if the aliens were three-year-olds scared of a bad dream. Michael took it at a brisk walk and immediately disappeared through the wall. Liz grabbed her bag.
"Come on, Maria. Let's get it over with." She said. Maria nodded and grabbed her bag, too. Holding hands and talking as if they were just two normal humans in a train station just catching up on old times, they walked through the barrier.
"Okay. Us next?" asked Jesse. Mrs. Weasley nodded for him and Isabel to go ahead. Holding hands, they walked up to the barrier. Jesse looked over his shoulder, and with a twinkle of mischief in his eye, he gave the remaining members of the group an evil grin. Isabel didn't notice-she was so nervous that she just kept staring at the barrier wall. Just before they reached it, Jesse grabbed Isabel's face and kissed her hard, while leaning over to fall through the barrier.
Max and Kyle, the only two Roswellians left standing in the Muggle world with Mrs. Weasley, both looked at each other in amusement over Jesse's little antic.
"You or us?" Max asked.
"You." She answered. "They will close the barrier to Muggles once I'm through." Max and Kyle looked at each other.
"You ready?" Max asked his friend.
"Buddha says that when faced with uncertainty in life…" Kyle started.
"Kyle, if we wait for you to finish this philosophical pep rally, we'll miss the train." Max said impatiently. Kyle shrugged and nodded in acknowledgement. Max jogged through the barrier, followed closely by Kyle, and then Mrs. Weasley.
They emerged on the other side amid a sea of children and parents, laughing, talking, scolding, and hugging. They found their way to where Jesse and Mr. Weasley were standing. They each shook Max and Kyle's hands.
"All right, then. All the others have gone on, so hurry now. The train's leaving in two minutes." Mr. Weasley said.
"Okay, guys. See you tonight." Jesse said. Max and Kyle said goodbye to him and shook Mr. Weasley's hand again.
"Okay, thanks! See you soon?" Max asked, kissing Mrs. Weasley on the cheek.
"Yes, soon! Have a good time and keep safe, hear?" Mrs. Weasley said straightening Kyle's jacket and hugging them both. They nodded and followed Mr. Weasley to one of the train doors. It took them a few minutes to find the compartment that contained all of their friends. Once the train started and everyone was settled, they waved out the window until Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and Jesse disappeared from view.