Disclaimer is in chapter 1.

Narcissa Malfoy paused outside the American Embassy in London, glancing around a little distastefully and, though she would never admit it, just a little fearfully. Why the American Ministry of Magic would us such a Muggle place as their embassy she didn't know, but it was frankly making her skin crawl being there.

She lifted her head up slightly, ignoring the peons staring at her, and moved into the building. She immediately headed to the hidden door that protected the Magical Section of the building, trusting the wards to keep people from noting her passage any further, and swept inside. Once in there she relaxed, noting the comforting sight of robes and wands in evidence.

"Can I help you Ma'am?"

Narcissa glanced at the burly figure who had stepped in front of her, his face almost blank. "I'm here to pick up Alexander Harris."

"Yes Ma'am. Identification Please."

She scowled, but produced her wand. The man stiffened slightly, but nodded and accepted it from her then moved toward a desk at the back of the room. "Follow me, Ma'am."

She did as she was bade, and they came to a stop at the desk.

"Magical here to pick up Harris."

"Thank you, Corporal." The man behind the desk said, accepting the wand and sending the man back to his post with a nod. He then turned to Narcissa, "Name?"

"Narcissa Malfoy."

The wizard behind the desk produced his own wand, quickly casting a quick charm over hers, and then nodded before handing it back. "Welcome to the American Embassy, Mrs. Malfoy. I'll have Alexander sent for."

"Thank you." Narcissa accepted her wand and slid it back into her robes, acutely aware that from the moment her hand touched the wand to the moment she withdrew it from her robes, empty, she was being watched by no less than five men in the same uniform as the first.

The wait was, for Narcissa, tense but thankfully short as she only kept from looking about self-consciously with iron like control. Within a couple minutes, however, the young man she'd met in the Americas appeared in the room and smiled in her direction.

"Mrs. Malfoy."

"Alexander." She inclined her head slightly, "Shall we go?"

He nodded and, under the steady gaze of the men in the room, the two of them left. Once outside, Narcissa felt a bizarre sensation of mixed relief and apprehension at being out from under the gaze of the uniformed men, yet once again in Muggle London. She finally let out a slight sigh as some of the tension left her.

"Something wrong?"

She turned to see Alexander looking up at her curiously, maybe even a little concerned. She shook herself lightly, "Nothing of import, Alexander. I just don't like being about in muggle London. I feel like I'm being stared at."

"You are."

"What?"

He shrugged, "It's how you're dressed. You're a little out of place."

"I'll have you know that this is the finest fashion for a woman of my stature." She told him a little haughtily.

"For about two hundred years ago, sure." Xander told her, "Today? You look like you're going to a costume party. A really *really* expensive costume party, but that just makes people more curious."

She stared at him, perplexed, as they made their way to a warded area in order to summon the Knight Bus. "Seriously?"

He nodded.

Narcissa frowned slightly, she had known of course that her knowledge of the muggle world was incomplete, but if his statement held true in general than even what she believed she knew was, at the very least, badly dated. It didn't matter all that much, in general, since she spent next to no time even passing through the muggle world, but it did irritate her nonetheless.

"What is the height of fashion among the elite of muggles then?"

Xander looked at her, eyes wide, "You're asking me? I'm a jeans and Tee kinda guy, Mrs. Malfoy... oh, hang on..."

He went over to a roadside stand and glanced over the man's wares briefly, before dropping some change and taking a paper. When he returned he handed it to her and she noted it was the muggle version of the Daily Prophet. On the front was a woman in a jacket and trousers, though she had to admit that they were obviously tailored and of high quality.

"This is what women wear in the Muggle world?" She asked, skeptical. Still, as she looked around, she noted that it was in fitting with the general look of those around her, though massively better in quality than she was seeing.

Xander shrugged as they continued walking. "That's the Princess of Wales, she's got probably a small army of people making sure she's dressed to the nines. It also depends on what look you're going for, and where you're trying to fit in."

It was weird, Xander reflected, to be giving fashion advice to a woman. Still, some of the stuff he took for granted had sailed right on by Narcissa's port of call without pausing.

"For walking out and around like this, you want something more casual or a little less standout anyway I guess." He said. "She's probably dressed for some charity ball or something, not to mention all the photographers that chase her around all over the place. There's no dress code or anything, you can wear whatever you want, but if you dress like you are then people are going to stare and wonder where you're going that you'll fit in like that."

Narcissa glanced down at her dress robes thoughtfully as they crossed the ward line in the small alleyway that provided a secure stop for the Knight Bus. She supposed he had a point, she had never been stopped for being dressed oddly in the Muggle World, so she had just assumed that they were staring for some other reason.

Many of her friends, few though they were, had felt the same things when they had to cross through the Muggle World, and it never failed to make them nervous. It was always in the back of their minds that maybe the muggles had seen through them and knew they were witches.

The Knight Bus dropped them off a short distance from Malfoy Manor, leaving them to walk the rest of the way up. Narcissa would have preferred dual apparating herself and Alexander directly there, but it was inadvisable to do so with someone she didn't know unless it was an emergency. Occasionally magics could flare between people, and in the process of an apparition that could be nastily annoying.

So they walked at a leisurely pace until they arrived at the Manor, where Narcissa keyed Alexander into the wards as a guest and showed him inside. There was no one present, she assumed that Draco was hiding in his room, likely pretending not to sulk while doing just that, and Lucius was out to some Ministry event or another, either having to do with the upcoming Quidditch Cup or the Tri Wizard Tourney at Hogwarts in the coming year.

On that note, Narcissa eyed Alexander carefully for a moment and considered their previous conversation with a shade of irony.

"What?" He asked, suddenly nervous as she smiled just slightly at him.

"Just considering what to do about your disastrous dress sense."

"My what?"

"We'll have to get you fitted for Dress Robes, Alexander. I believe we have an appointment for Draco soon, I'll arrange for you to be fit at the same time." Narcissa declared, "Now, come along, I'll show you to the guest room."

"Whoa, whoa, I don't need dress robes..." Xander objected as he followed along behind her. "I told you, I'm a jeans and tee kinda guy."

"This year you need Dress Robes." She said firmly. "They're a requirement, it'll all be in your Hogwarts letter."

Xander blinked, "Really?"

She nodded.

That meant there was a reason for it, but why? Xander was perplexed, no one at Hogwarts had dressed up fancy before, had they? Had he just missed it somehow? Even at Christmas people were mostly in their school robes.

"Why?" He asked finally as Narcissa stopped by a door and pushed it open.

"The guest room," She nodded inside, then went on, "There will be a series of special events at school this year. Including one or more that will require formal wear."

"Oh." Xander blinked, noting that she hadn't really told him anything. The room was nice, though, a little too fancy for him but that wasn't a big deal. "What's it all about?"

"Technically, you aren't supposed to know that until school begins," Narcissa said after a moment, "However we warned Draco last week..."

And that didn't surprise him in the least.

"Hogwarts will be hosting the Tri Wizard Tourney this coming year, it's a rather large event and something of a big deal, internationally." Narcissa said after a moment's thought. "So with the tournament, there will also be a formal ball, several public events, and so forth. So you will require proper dress robes."

"Oh." Xander nodded, setting his trunk down by the foot of the bed. "Alright. So we'll go into Diagon for the robes then?"

"Hardly." Narcissa sniffed. Diagon Alley and Madam Malkins was good enough for common wear, and Hogwarts Robes, but not for formal wear. "I'll have you fit in with our tailor in Paris. It'll be next week, likely."

"Paris!?" Xander squeaked.

"Mother, is that y..." Draco appeared, then paused as he noted Xander. "Oh, it's you."

"Draco." Narcissa snapped sharply. "Manners."

Xander held his amusement as Draco reddened slightly, but closed his eyes and sighed.

"My apologies, Harris. That was rude of me."

"Don't worry about it."

Draco's eyes snapped open, and he looked at his mother expectantly. "You see, mother!?"

Narcissa sighed, pinching her nose slightly. "Draco, I don't believe he knows the proper forms. And Alexander, that was terribly rude of you."

"What?" Draco blinked.

"Huh?" Xander shook his head.

"A formal apology requires and formal response, Alexander." Narcissa said patiently. "The informal is acceptable between close friends or in certain situations where the offense, and apology, were both minor and in passing. However, when offered a formal apology you are required to accept it in the spirit it was given."

"Oh whoa." Xander blinked, "This is that aristocrat stuff, isn't it? I'm a Cali kid, I don't know anything about this stuff."

"Yes, I believe we can see that." She replied, a smile playing at her lips. "Still, I won't have you insulting any guests I may entertain while you are here, so you will be taking some lessons in comportment, and you will do your best to learn them. Mistakes may be forgiven, however a refusal to at least try will not."

Xander gulped, "Yes Ma'am."

Lessons would have to wait, however, as there was much to do and a limited amount of time to accomplish it in. Narcissa had lain the groundwork for Xander's arrival by going straight to the people who had the power to invest Harry with his family heritage. What had surprised Xander was the who she'd went to, though he supposed he shouldn't have been so shocked.

"Wait, the Royal family? But I thought the Ministry..." Xander said when Narcissa had told him, after Draco had left them alone.

"It's a Knighthood, Alexander. The ministry has no power to either grant or remove such." She informed him. "By its very nature, such a title comes from the Queen."

"Yeah, but you said that your husband and Albus, a weird team up I'd like to add," Xander said, shaking his head, "prevented Harry was being awarded it before."

"They prevented the ministry from presenting the case to the Royals." Narcissa corrected primly. "They also effectively sealed all evidence of what happened that night, which keeps us from using that event. The Steward is willing to hear your testimony, if you'll grant it under oath."

Xander blinked, but nodded. "Ok."

"First, however, we have things to do."

"Such as?"

"Better clothes, suitable for muggle use," Narcissa said with a sigh. "I don't suppose you can pick out something that won't embarrass us all?"

Xander grimaced, "How high class are we talking, here? I mean, really."

"The highest."

"Well... that's actually easier." Xander shrugged.

"Is it?"

"Yeah, I couldn't tell you anything about styles, but when it comes to class for men... it's all the same, just throw money at it." Xander shrugged. "We get a phone book and I can find a tailor in five minutes. Who are we meeting with, really, though?"

"The high steward over the Magical Realm." Narcissa replied, "Honestly a loftier title than the position actually warrants. At the moment it's a certain Baron Werths, a squib who rather enjoys what few times he gets to exercise his position."

"Ok, a Baron." Xander blinked, "Lord I wish I... hey, you know what? I do."

"You do what?"

"Have Hermione." Xander grinned, "That's first on our list. Meet with Hermione Granger."

"The muggle-born in your year? Draco's had some things to say about her."

"I'll bet." Xander smirked, "Anyway, if she doesn't know what I need and where to get it, she'll know how to find out."

Narcissa inclined her head slightly, "Very well. How do we locate her?"

That stumped Xander for a moment, until he blinked, "Owl her?"

Narcissa felt like slapping herself in the face for not thinking of the blatantly obvious, however she'd spent so much time considering the significant wards around Potter that they were rather locked in her mind. She nodded and immediately fetched a quill and paper for Xander.

One day, and several excruciating, and humiliating, hours of comportment lessons later, Xander found himself wandering through a rather well to do suburb of London, trying to locate number twelve.

It was easier said than done, though, so he sighed and pulled out his Spell Phone. One little trick he'd just barely managed to work out was going to come in handy here, Xander decided as he entered in the runic numbers that matched up with Hermione's telephone number. Thankfully he'd thought to ask for it, along with her address when he wrote to her.

Half a world away, another phone mystically tied to his, lit up in the quiet side office of an old junkyard. This phone was duct taped to an old rotary dial phone, and rested beside a haphazard monstrosity of Lego Technix that suddenly leapt to life as the spell phone whirred merrily to match the one in Xander's hand.

The Lego contraption began to twist and move, alternately turning the old dial on the rotary phone and letting go until the whole number had been placed. Then it waited for the telephone company to make the connection.

Back in London, and mindful of the fact that he was going to have an interesting phone bill, Xander waited for someone to pick up the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hermione, it's Xander."

"Xander! Are you still coming here today?"

"If I can find the place, yeah."

"Oh, where are you now?"

Xander looked around, telling her the name of the street he was one, and got a quick response.

"That's not far, I'll be right there."

So he closed the phone and waited a few minutes until a familiar figure came rushing around a corner.

"Xander!"

He grinned and gave her a hug in return as she hugged him, then she led him back down the way she had come. "I live down this street here."

"Cool. I was getting all turned around."

"First time in the area, so I wouldn't be surprised." Hermione said with a smile as she led him into her home.

"So, this is one of the infamous Hogwarts students I've heard so much about," A woman greeted them as they walked in.

"Oh Mum." Hermione rolled her eyes.

"You only talk about four people, Hermione. Honestly, I wonder sometimes if that's all there are in that school of yours."

"Only four that matter, maybe," Xander said with a grin.

"A little full of yourself, aren't you young man?" She replied in kind.

"Well, you know, I AM a Slytherin."

"Xander! Cut that out, and Mum, don't encourage him." Hermione rolled her eyes. "Do you want anything to drink?"

Xander shook his head, "No. I'm looking for some advice though."

"Oh?" Hermione blinked.

"Oh, now I'm curious, what does a Wizard need advice on?" Her mother leaned forward.

"Clothes actually." Xander admitted.

Hermione blinked, then her mother pealed in laughter.

"And you come to MY Daughter!? Oh you poor, foolish boy."

"Mother!"

Xander just grinned at the byplay, "Well Ma'am, it's my experience that if Hermione doesn't know the answer... come hell or high water she will soon."

"Xander!"

Hermione's mother continued laughing, and Xander kept grinning, much to the annoyance of one Hermione Jean Granger. She growled, stamped her foot, and then finally sighed and gave up when her actions merely caused the laughter to redouble.

"Oh, my, I needed that." Mrs. Granger dabbed at her eyes. "And now you must call me Emma, young man."

Xander, mindful of his recent agonizing lessons in comportment, inclined his head slightly. "Charmed, Emma. I'm Alexander, or Xander to my friends."

Emma Granger raised an eyebrow at that, but merely smiled slightly. "What exactly brings you here about clothing, if I may ask?"

"I have a meeting with a Baron, soon, and I need fitting clothing for the event." Xander replied. "Wizard dress robes would be acceptable, but in this case non-magical formal wear would probably be better."

"I see," Emma said, somewhat surprised. "And the price range you're looking at?"

"I hesitate to say unlimited," Xander said, "But I need high quality, and speed, so I expect it to cost."

Emma nodded thoughtfully, "Unfortunately a proper Savile Row suit would be wasted on someone who has yet to reach their full growth. Not to mention that a rush job would be astronomical. Still, if this is a regular thing, you may want to make an appointment there for some time in the future, perhaps when you finish school. For this, I think Hermione's father's tailor will do. I can make some calls."

"Thank you," Xander said with a smile.

She merely nodded and reached for the phone, reminding Xander of something. He was pulling out a spell phone when a man walked in.

"Who's this then?"

"Daddy, this is my friend Xander from school." Hermione said, a little primly and coolly, letting Xander know that she was still a little miffed with him over the laughing thing.

"Really? Haven't seen anyone from that school since that McGonagall woman was here before your first year," Her father said with a wry smile, but a dry tone. "Was starting to think maybe it didn't exist."

Hermione rolled her eyes, giving Xander the impression that she'd heard that statement before. He stood up, nodding to the man, and extended his hand.

"Alexander Harris, Sir. Please, call me Xander."

The man took his hand, nodding approvingly as they shook. "Dan Granger. Nice to meet you, lad."

"Likewise, Sir."

Xander turned back to Hermione then, and offered her the Spell Phone he'd brought along. "This is for you, by the way, before I forget."

"If that's a ring box, lad, we need to talk." Dan said with a smirk.

"Daddy! Stop it, you're embarrassing me." Hermione objected.

"It's my job, now, isn't it?"

Hermione let out another much put upon sigh, then examined the phone curiously. "What is it, Xander?"

"I call it a Spell Phone," Xander said with a smirk.

"Oh you didn't." Hermione moaned while her father chuckled.

"Why does everyone say that?" Xander laughed, shaking his head, "Anyway it's what the name implies. Sort of a cell phone for magic, I figured you'd want one to talk to Harry and whoever."

"Harry?" Hermione lit up, "He has one? What's his number? How does this work?"

Xander rocked back on his heels, "it's a runic dialing system, so I set Harry's number to his first two initials and his last name in Norse Runes but..."

She flashed a hand up in his face, held out in a clear order to be silent, as she flipped the phone open and began moving the runic dials around. When she was done she put the phone up to her ear, comfortable as all non magicals would be with the general shape of the device.

"Hermione..." Xander said slowly.

"Hush, it's ringing." She cut him off.

A sound was indeed coming from Xander's pocket, causing a snicker to erupt from her father.

"Hermione..." Xander tried again.

"Be quiet, Xander, I need to talk to Harry." She said, turning away from him.

Xander sighed, pulling the phone he'd earmarked for Harry from his pocket and flipping it open. He put it up to his face, "Hermione..."

"Harry! Are you alright? You sound different... how did you know I was calling anyway...?"

"Hermione, I didn't give Harry his phone yet."

Hermione froze in place as her father and mother started snickering again, and drooped slightly as she closed her eyes and covered her face.

"Oh Bugger."

"Hermione Jean Granger! Language!"