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Maxus hadn't put too much thought into it initially, but when McMacson brought it up and a scholarship was offered… it was a hard thing to deprive the two youths of. An education at Hogwarts that was completely paid for by the government was incredible and seldom offered — McMacsons connections, it had to be.
I'll have to have the meddling conversation with him again, and I'll have to grab some Polish beer from that Muggle shop, Urban grumbled to himself as he thought of his incredibly kind friend.
McMacson still invited them over to his family's home for holidays even with the two new members of Urban's family. The guy didn't have to do that now that Urban wouldn't be alone, but he seemed as eager to spend time with them as Urban himself was. If he remembered correctly, the other man wanted kids eventually, but the current state of the world was far too conflict-heavy and soon, very soon, the Aurors would have to do their part in defending their homeland.
News from beyond even McMacson's reach declared that Grindelwald, the monster who'd aided in harming Urban's two new children, would soon depart with a mighty force for the United Kingdom. It wouldn't end well for him, they were all ready and reformed with brand new Aurors augmenting their ranks. Volunteers had even come out to offer their information should it be needed, the British were a fierce sort just like his people were.
"Urban?" Alina called, the young woman at the top of the stairs. "Would you like me to wake Artur, or shall we let him sleep? You called for us, but he slept through it."
Urban waved his hand at that. "He can sleep a bit longer, we don't really have anything planned today as it is," he then motioned towards the chair opposite of him. "While he's asleep, why don't I tell you what I've found out? You could tell him when he's awake if you'd like. I know you like knowing stuff before him."
I was the same way with my cousins.
Alina nodded and was already on her way down the stairs as she responded to him. "That would be very nice of you, Urban," she said, focusing as she spoke her English; it was important to her that she practised as often as possible too, hence the lack of any Polish being spoken whilst they were alone or with Artur.
There was no way she could have known how helpful that practice was going to prove to be either. Hogwarts, it would be difficult enough for her, he suspected. The last thing she needed was to feel socially isolated as he initially had when he'd come to the United Kingdom. It was truly a very unpleasant feeling.
"I'm ready, what was it that you wanted to tell us?" Alina asked, the girl taking the empty side of the couch he was seated on, pulled her legs up and now sat facing him. "The last time you did something like this, it was our shopping trip. The Wardrobe was still far too expensive, so please, do not say you've done us further niceness."
Urban didn't want to say that he'd gotten them into Hogwarts directly. He knew it was a renowned school all across Europe and one that many people would love to get into, but how did it feel when your new parental figure said that he'd already gotten you into school? If he were her and he said it straightforward, he'd feel a bit unwanted even if it was grudgingly a very good thing — that wasn't really taking into account her fascination with the school's history, more so Artur's feelings since both of them should be considered together.
"You remember our conversation about Hogwarts, don't you?" Urban asked, drawing on his Auror training to give nothing in regards to his facial expressions and mannerisms.
"I do," She said simply, her eyes instantly widening. "Are you going to share more tales about Hogwarts? We only finished the founders and the generation after them. There was much more left, you said."
"I did say that, but no, we're not going to speak about the founders or the rest of Hogwarts' history right now. I had something else in mind that you and Artur could like, but the choice is entirely up to you, I just want you to know that you have it," Urban swallowed, strangely nervous in a way that he never was whilst working as an Auror, even whilst in the field instead of his cushy desk job. "I've managed to secure you and Artur each the chance to attend Hogwarts if it was something that interested you. Before you ask how it works, they'd evaluate you, determine where you should be and sort you into one of those four houses we touched bases on."
Alina didn't respond, she just blinked at him. Her eyes, the ones that were usually filled with an innate sense of curiosity and youthful, innocent energy, were completely clouded with a complex set of emotions whilst her old smile slowly fled her face. As the seconds went by and she just stared at him, her eyes getting wider which made him happy that there was some reaction, she spoke. It took nearly a minute, and when it happened, her voice was incredibly light.
"You are offering Artur and me the chance to attend Hogwarts?" Alina looked down and into her lap, finally breaking contact. "That would be too kind, Urban. Already, you have done so much for us, we couldn't ask that you pa—"
He raised his hands when she got to that portion and much to his surprise — for some reason — she stopped and waited to see what it was that he had to say. "Believe me when I tell you, it's fine. McMacson, Uncle Mac as he calls himself when speaking about you two. Well, he has some friends very high up and they took care of this when we made a request. Hogwarts, or rather an education at it, is yours should you want to go."
Artur's voice came, finally. It was tired-sounding, far as Alina's initially had been and a tad bit muffled. "We are going to Hogwarts?" he paused to yawn before a comment was made. "Since we are doing that, we will not be able to sleep in any longer?"
Alina huffed and raised her head up from her lap to look into Urban's eyes. Gone were her nerves and self-conscious body language and in its place was an 'I can't be bothered' sort of expression, if ever he'd seen one.
Thanks to these two kids, there was most certainly never a dull moment in his life going forward.
It was a few days later and the two kids were at home whilst he was in the office — not officially, of course. He was still on leave but sometimes he'd stop by for half an hour or so just to make sure he was caught up. Urban couldn't have picked a better day to do just that either, for McMacson had planned on visiting that evening for a meeting in regards to the reform he was launching.
Auror ranks would change, pay would change, funding was higher, and additional positions would be created within whole new branches. Really, it was a wonder if everything would still be running if all of these went through. Urban had to admit, however, that he definitely liked them. Their organisation would go up tenfold, what little corruption remained would be stamped out and their manpower would drastically increase. There wasn't much he could dislike about any of it.
Urban wanted to stay and go over it for hours upon hours too, the chance to get his own input was massive, but McMacson wouldn't hear it. The other man said that he only had a few days left before the kids would get headed off to Hogwarts, which meant he had a few days left of vacation until Mac would be running him for twenty hours a day. Still, he had to spend at least half an hour meeting the new people that mattered, right? Especially if he were third in command!
"So, you've added a few ranks to our Auror Corps that you stole directly from the Muggle military, raised their pay, somehow secured more funding and got permission to create wings… how much licking did you end up doing, Mac?" Urban asked, genuinely curious as to how he secured everything that he had in nought but a few weeks of absence on Urban's part.
Maybe if I take another break or two, we'll get even more raises and the crime will drop… actually, best that I don't take any time away. I'll miss tracking people and surprising them, not to mention the fact that my explosive spells are probably getting a bit rusty now.
"Very funny," McMacson said with a roll of his eyes before he went over and pulled a bottle of Whiskey from his cabinet. "Have a drink with me, celebrate — a few of those Wizengamot members that would stall us, have changed their mind. I have no clue why, almost feels too good to be true, but I was told by the Minister that everything was fine with them now. We'll see how long that lasts but as the new Head Auror, you'll be dealing with it just as much as I will be, going forward."
Urban narrowed his eyes and huffed, his leather jacket feeling decidedly less comfortable at that moment in time. "You've gone and dragged me into your political games. At least tell me I won't have extra meetings. You'll get a good clobbering if I have to go in front of the Wizengamot, trials are enough as it is."
Mac laughed and shook his head, that trademarked grin on his face that won people over to his side time and time again. "Not in the slightest. I know you hate it, which is why I'll deal with almost everything in that field for you," Mac nodded towards the newly sized up Auror floor that was just beyond his closed door. "I'll have you deal with all of their training, the hiring of new instructors and the regimes they'll need for the sake of survivability and good physical health. That sounds fair to you, doesn't it?"
With a small grin at the thought, especially when it came down to teaching explosive spells to those who shared a passion for them, Urban was sold. Damn McMacson, damn that man, for he could truly tell what would get Urban to agree. It was annoying as it was beneficial, the latter part predominantly because of the opportunities it would afford him.
Lawful ones too, that was always important.
"Fine. I'll train the new kids, but you'll have to find me a place to teach them that's not even half as small as our current one," Urban shook his head and looked at his friend through narrowed eyes, that small grin still in place. "You get your way, in other words. If I know you, we've already got a new place lined up."
Mac smiled brightly. "You know me, what a wonderful thought. It's downstairs, right by the entrance to the main atrium. We actually have one of the new kids, as you called them, standing guard in front of it. There were a lot of spots already filled and he was pretty eager, so I figured we'd throw him on guard duty. You'll find a purpose for all of them, I'm sure… oh yeah, I suppose I should tell you this too. All of those new ranks and duties, they're actually yours to fill. I won't be touching anything in the department going forward from the day you're back unless you request my assistance."
"Politics?" Urban asked, crossing his arms as he glanced over at the portrait of the 'charismatic' Minister.
"Politics," Mac agreed. "Now go, shoo. Alina and Artur have a few days left, don't waste that time here with me."
Urban rolled his eyes but stood up. He shrugged his jacket into place, gave an exaggerated salute and made his way towards the door; his family would save these new kids for a few days and when that time was up, training hell would begin.