I'm a french guy who publish his first fanfiction. The original text was in french and the translation was made with a software so tell me if the english is really bad. Thanks. And I hope you'll enjoy my story. And i'll not use the word Muggle but non-magical, it's kind of a translation of non-magique (french word for muggle).
Prologue
An old man was in a cave, plunged into darkness. His beard was almost as long as his frail body. He carried a staff with a gem on the end of it. He was alone. He had been alone for far too long, always looking at the same object, trying to glimpse the future. He had to protect him. Whatever it takes.
Chapter 1 The Hidden Place
William White
The young boy looked at the brick wall moving in an almost human way to form an opening giving access to the Hidden Place. He couldn't help but keep his mouth open, amazed at what he was seeing. A long shopping street stretched before his eyes, he couldn't even see the end of it.
The young boy remained planted in front of the opening. He had brushed blond hair with blue, almost white eyes. His pale skin stood in contrast to his purple T-shirt and his somewhat torn jeans. Besides, it hardly suited him anymore, he was rather big for his eleven years. His eyes betrayed a sense of worry mixed with wonder. Who wouldn't be in front of such a spectacle?
The streets were crowded with wizards and witches most certainly doing their shopping or accompanying their children to prepare for the start of the school year. William managed to recognize a library in which he promised himself to go to learn about this new world. He also noticed a dressmaker's shop in which he was surely going to buy his dress. He also saw a store trying to sell his pets as best he could. There was everything, spider, owl, snake, cat, dog and he even though he saw a bat. He wondered if he too could have a pet but brought himself back to reality: it was the school that paid for his business and his year of schooling. They were definitely going to save as much money as possible. However, a store at the end of the alley made him want so much that he couldn't help but be ecstatic. Fireworks and smoke of all colors jumped and flew in the sky causing laughter and annoyance among some.
His attendant tapped him on the shoulder, Will looked at him more carefully. He looked like some of the models you saw in magazines, brushed black hair, tanned skin with piercing eyes. He wore a ruby-colored robe made of a kind of velvet with a rather strange coat, similar to what kings wore during their coronation: A cape in a kind of white fur with symbols of lilies. William figured he must be way too hot to wear something like that but the professor didn't seem bothered by that fact.
-You're ready? asked the instructor.
Was he ready? Of course not! It had been barely two weeks since he had been told he was a wizard when nothing suggested it. He and his father had a hard time believing it and it took a very large dose of diplomacy to convince Will's father to accept. He couldn't really blame her, in her place, he would have done the exact same thing. Apparently, his attendant was an alchemy professor, he reminded himself. He had no idea what he was going to learn with this subject but for sure, it seemed great to him. It is indeed a subject that he would have liked to learn in a school, how do they say already? A non-magical school, that is. It will really take time for him to get used to all this vocabulary and this culture.
It took a deep breath to finally answer:
-It's okay, I'm ready.
The professor nodded and held out his arms to the entire aisle, as if to welcome him.
"As you see," he began. You're spoiled for choice; you can go to the stores you want even if you still have to be careful that it doesn't take us too much time.
William thought for a while and then decided to answer:
- What would you advise me, professor?
The interested party pretended to think for a few seconds then simply said:
-The wand merchant, that seems to me the most advisable. Come on, it's close to here.
What is certain is that Professor Villier did not go unnoticed. Crossing a few alleys, Will saw some people turning towards them when they saw Mr. Villier. Some looked surprised, others lowered their heads as a sign of respect, he even saw one hiding behind his hat. He had been told that the Beauxbâtons school was one of the best known, but he didn't think it would be so. At the time, he found it strange but remembered that many non-magical teachers were also very well known.
After walking for a minute or two they stopped in front of a store, which, hoping Will, was not that of the wand merchant. These hopes were dashed when he saw written on a wooden storefront that must have been several centuries old:
Ms. Cosme Acajor, Wand Merchant
The rest of the store was in the same dilapidated condition as this storefront. Numerous cracks cracked the walls so well that one could have believed in its collapse from one second to another. The windows were also clogged with dust, to tell the truth, we could hardly see what was inside. However, something shocked Will, and that was the scorch marks on much of the storefront and floor in front of the store. He wondered where they could have come from but didn't have time to ask the question.
The young blond turned to his instructor and waited for a sign from him.
-This is a unique moment for every wizard, the alchemy professor told him. I wouldn't want to interfere. Don't worry, I'm not far behind you.
The young man sighed internally and entered the store.
The first thing that shocked him upon entering the store was the number of wands stored here. The rows of dressers stretched all the way to the back of the store and seemed to never end. There were at least five shelves per piece of furniture and each of these contained close to fifty chopsticks. He did a quick calculation in his head and counted nearly 200,000. It was huge. It had been a few minutes since he had finished making these calculations and no one was coming. To believe that the seller died of boredom from not having customers. So, he set about trying to tell the wands apart. It was one of his qualities, he was never bored and always found something to do. He could easily recognize the different types of wood used; his father repaired very old furniture. He recognized oak, cherry, ash, walnut and well over thirty other different woods. He found the shapes of some wands interesting; some were very straight; others had a curved or even twisted shape.
William had been waiting patiently for some thirty minutes for some vendor. He almost couldn't believe it when he heard a voice above him. The young man looked up and gasped as he saw a person flying on a broomstick. She had on a blue uniform which he assumed was sporty. The person's face was hidden by a helmet and goggles, the only thing Will could see was his shoulder-length white hair.
-Ah! exclaimed the saleswoman. A customer! What can I do for you?
"Uh…" Will hesitated. I do not know…
The woman frowned at him and seemed to read his mind for a few seconds, then replied:
-I see! Surely you are a first-year student. You came to choose your first wand, didn't you? Please wait a few minutes. You are called?
-William White, said the young wizard.
-Well Mr. White, do you know how is the choice of your first wand?
-No, I'm a… a non-magical. I believe that's what you call us.
-Oh! I see. Well, it's very simple Mr. White. I'm going to take some measurements and ask you some questions. It's important that you answer them honestly, do you understand me Mr. White?
Will nodded in understanding and Mrs. Cosme began to take some measurements. She took measurements of the hands, forearms, a few fingers and even places that seemed obscure to the young wizard like the size of his ears. The questions the saleswoman asked him were just as strange. What did it matter if he liked tomatoes or not? He even wondered if the merchant was not making fun of him by doing all these nonsense things but restrained himself when he noticed the seriousness with which the person asked these questions. After a good ten minutes, the preparation was finally finished and she finally gave him a baguette.
-Oak wood, 24 cm, dragon's ventricle and relatively flexible, announced Mrs. Cosme.
The wizard took the wand he was handed and made the gesture the woman advised, but nothing happened. According to her, he was supposed to feel something special but did not perceive anything transcendent. After her first failure, the merchant looked for another wand that might have suited her.
- Beech wood, unicorn hair, 23 cm and inflexible, described the wand maker. The young man took the wand again and again nothing happened.
"Willow wood, white river monster thorn, 26cm and stiff," Mrs. Cosme offered.
Again, nothing happened. However, the saleswoman always seemed to smile and kept the same enthusiasm when she offered him the fourth wand. Unfortunately, none of the wands Mrs. Cosme presented seemed to go to Will. They tried no less than forty wands and these trials lasted at least two hours. William still calmly waited for the wand that might suit him and showed patience worthy of a god. The wand seller meanwhile, looked almost happy and exclaimed as she put away another wand.
-Well! You are definitely a very difficult customer Mr. White! Maybe we should try another method with you.
The young blond looked up.
- Which method? he asked suddenly interested.
-You just have to go around the store until you find a wand that interests you, explained Mrs. Cosme.
William doubted the effectiveness of this method and for good reason it is almost certain and that it would take a lot of time if he had to go at random!
"Uh…" Will said shyly. Are you sure ma'am?
-Yes, reassured the baguette seller. After all, I don't choose which wand is best for you.
The non-magical didn't quite understand this last comment from the woman but decided to visit the store anyway for the sake of conscience. He walked slowly on the floor of the store, which creaked slightly under his feet. He looked at the different wands on the shelves and tried some, but none so far had any effect on him. He passed in front of another piece of furniture, then, suddenly, turned around as if equipped with an infallible instinct. His attention was drawn to a silver wand with golden runes.
He touched her slowly and tried to feel something. He was convinced of it. It was this wand. Trying to do the gesture the shopkeeper had taught him, he found that nothing happened. Still, he was sure it was the right one. So, he went to Mrs. Cosme to find out more: She looked at the wand and put it near her ear.
Will couldn't help but quip:
-I hope they are talkative.
Will's interlocutor didn't seem to have recognized the irony in the boy's words and answered in the most serious way:
-Of course, they are Mr. White, when you know how to listen. But I think it's okay, that wand is yours now, congratulations.
Then she continued to fly through the store even when the young man came out of the store. Slamming the door behind him he saw Professor Villier again. He had almost forgotten his presence so long was the search for his wand. He was leaning against the wall and asked one and only one question:
-It is done?
William hesitated to answer honestly but replied in the affirmative. He didn't want this visit to take too much time, otherwise he would really abuse Professor Villier's time. At this answer, the teacher rose slowly and issued a brief:
-Good. Are you sure there's nowhere you want to go?
Will think seriously this time about the question. Was there really nothing he wanted? His first thought was to go to the pet store just to admire what this store might contain. There was also this store where many children seemed to be having fun and where smoke and fireworks were coming out of the windows. William generally found this sort of thing childish, but he had to admit that this new perspective that was the wizarding world made him more childish. It was not the desire that he lacked, but he still decided not to go to these two stores. Instead, he tried to be more pragmatic about his decision.
-What could serve me in a world that is unknown to me, thought Will. I would need something that would allow me to know this world better. Better understand the Beauxbâtons school. Where can I find all of this...?
He tried to look around if anything could inspire him. Then he had enlightenment.
-But of course!
The young man turned quickly towards Mr. Villier.
-Teacher, I know where I want to go. Is there not a library or a store that looks like it in the vicinity?
- Yes, confirmed the teacher. There is a library there. It is not very far. That's good, I just had a few books to pick up.
So, they got up to go to their destination. Many people had wizarding robes that almost fell to the ground, Will wondered how they could wear something so thick in the middle of summer. The sun was beating down today and he himself with only his t-shirt was starting to get hot and really wondered how the professor was supporting his fur cape. It wouldn't be surprising if there was a magic ventilation system or something like that. It was in a wizarding world after all.
On the way he decided to ask a few questions to the professor who accompanied him and he started with a question that had been nagging him since he left the wand shop.
-I noticed burn marks all over the place. It's not a little...
-Strange? suggested the alchemy teacher.
Will asserted with a vertical nod as the professor scratched his head trying to inform the young wizard in the best way.
-It's complicated, began Mr. Villier. But let's say that there were quite a few ordeals a few years ago and the Place did not withstand the shock. But as I told you before. It is complicated.
William understood that it was not necessary to ask for more. He knew when a topic of discussion was not his and that was obviously the case here. But he still thinks about what it entails, what sort of things can lead to such madness? He had a good idea but preferred not to go further in his reflection. They walked a few more minutes and seemed to arrive at the library. It was almost in the same state as the baguette store except that the windows were clean and you could see many shelves of books arranged in a methodical and precise manner.
They entered the library which was at least as full as Madame Cosme's shelves except that the books were put away. Will noticed amazed books levitating and arranging themselves in their shelves, they seem in their places. The saleswomen seemed busier taking care of their customers and advising them. Will found this system very ingenious and regretted that non-magicals could not have the same. Mr. Villier gently tapped his future pupil on the shoulder and warned him:
-I have to get some books like I told you before. Feel free to take a look around and pick out a few books you might like.
-Are you sure? Will hesitated. I don't want to sound rude, but I understand the school is paying me for all this. There is no budget limit?
The professor was about to leave but he answered the non-magical born youngster's question anyway.
-Do not worry. We're not going to make a big deal out of it. Especially if it's for books.
William couldn't help but pout. The problem was not that we agreed to take books from him. The real problem was that he hated not having what he wanted on his own. From a very young age, he never needed his parents to buy what he wanted. He managed to do little things like shopping for old ladies or mowing the neighbours' lawn, the kind of stuff you only see in the movies but he did all the same to scrounge up a few things. He is the independent type.
Despite the reluctance he had in the face of this proposed purchase by the school, he accepted it this time. It was obviously a sort of wizarding scholarship, it's completely different from wanting to buy any gift. We're talking about a whole year in a school of sorcery. He was going to have to grit his teeth. He therefore made the decision to visit the library despite his reluctance but quickly recovered when he finally noticed the gigantism of this store. He absolutely had to be able to find his bearings and he couldn't ask Professor Villier, he seemed busy with the one who was obviously the store manager.
-Plan B, thought William. I have to find someone else. At my age it would be not bad, it would be even better if this person was familiar with the library. But the chances of me finding someone like that is...
He stopped in his thoughts when a black mass passed in front of him. He turned around and saw a young man about his age. He had frizzy black hair, black skin with almond-shaped green eyes. He looked younger than him in appearance but Will didn't jump to conclusions. Only, something bothered him about this boy, there was something almost supernatural about him, he couldn't help but find this boy abnormally handsome. The green-eyed young man seemed to know the place, he walked with a confident step and knew exactly what he wanted. William therefore decided to question him.
-Hey!
The person turned slowly to William and shivered slightly in his movement.
-Yes? asked the interested party.
-Excuse me for disturbing you during your research, but I was born non-magical and I have no idea how to find my way around. You could help me?
The young man questioned blew a deep breath, a sign that he was reassured by the request of his interlocutor. He dusted off what looked very much like a wizard's robe and looked at Will with a big smile. "Yeah," the boy replied cheerfully. Of course, what exactly are you looking for?
"I don't really know," Will hesitated. I just want a few books to learn about the wizarding world. Could you advise me?
The green-eyed white boy thought for a few moments and suddenly had an idea.
-I think I know what you need. In fact, I am...
He looked strangely around him, being careful that there was no one around.
-Eric de Hasbourg, finished the young man.
"And me," Will began. William White, but you can call me Will.
Eric smiled even more for a reason that was unknown to William, maybe it was a tic, who knows? Will then followed Eric; the latter guided him to the back of the room. There was no theme like Crime, Fantasy etc. mentioned somewhere, so it is rather difficult to find your way around this library. Despite that, Eric and Will found themselves right in the middle of the library. Eric took a deep breath and said in a loud voice:
-History of European witchcraft!
Will felt a little silly for Eric but withdrew his notice when a thick book with black binding and gold lettering appeared in Eric's hands that read:
History of European Witchcraft
William was not surprised more than that, he had already seen the books floating in the air when he arrived so he suspected that such a thing was possible. Eric took the book in both hands and handed it to the non-magic.
-As my aunt said, Eric explained. A little history never hurts.
Will agreed with his aunt since that was more or less what he had planned to take. The book was thick, but he told himself he would have plenty of time to read it before leaving. Eric put a hand on the shoulder of the non-magical and asked him in an imploring voice:
-Would you like to help me with something too? Eric begged. I came here to pick up a present for my sister but I'm not sure what to get her. She rather likes original books; do you have any idea?
"Honestly," admitted William. I don't know what to tell you...
Will suddenly had a flash of genius. He had completely forgotten the book he had brought with him! He searched in his backpack and finally found the book he was looking for. He handed it to her proudly.
-Here, he presented. It is a non-magical book. The Three Musketeers, I think she might like.
Eric looked at the book for a few seconds as if in a trance and put the said book away in a bag.
-You're sure?
-But yes! Will confirmed. Take it in gratitude for the help you have given me.
- In that case, I'll take it. Thank you.
Eric seemed to want to say something but someone intervened.
-Well. I didn't expect to see you here Eric. What did you come here to do?
Will turned around and saw Mr. Villier with his arms full of books and his face surprised at Eric's presence. He smiled at the professor.
-I came to give Amélie a present, explained Eric simply. (He then turned to Will) Eric is my godfather. My first name comes from him.
The concerned man huffed loudly and stuffed his 5 thick books into a wallet-sized bag. William shouldn't be impressed by that sort of thing now that he's in a world of magic but he couldn't help it. Magic is something surprising.
-I already told you not to call me that in front of my students Eric, insisted the alchemy teacher. I have already told you this several times.
The more authoritative tone taken by the professor somewhat surprised William who did not at all imagine a man of his stature having such authority. Even if with a bit of logic, it wasn't inconsistent at all, he was a teacher and even some students sometimes need a little admonishment.
-Finally, it's not a big deal, Eric's godfather reassured him anyway. That's good, wouldn't you like to go around the Hidden Place with us? Will you be able to get to know your new friend better and at the same time answer his questions?
Will found his proposal quite sensible. He himself would appreciate having someone his own age to chat with.
Eric grinned and agreed to show Will around the hidden place. Needless to say, visiting the Hidden Place with someone his age is much easier than with a teacher. Mr. Villier is a nice teacher, but he can't afford to misbehave as far as this status is concerned. Passing through the streets, Eric made a lot of comments that the non-magical didn't understand. He was talking about howler, pumpkin pasty or Nosebleed Nougat. William later figured out that the pumpkin pasty and Nosebleed Nougat were candy but the howler didn't tell him a damn thing. During the conversation Oh, Will kept looking at Eric, he didn't know what made the boy so attractive but it was very disturbing. As long as he found it difficult to discuss with his friend. Mr. Villier, seeing his difficulty in avoiding looking at Eric, intervened:
-Eric has Veela blood in him. These people are naturally very attractive, don't worry. You'll get used to it.
Upon arriving at the store offering the purchase of a Beauxbâtons dress, Will immediately began to put himself in place so that the merchant could take her measurements. While the saleswoman got down to her task, William allowed himself to ask a few questions to Eric who was probably fiddling with a thimble to keep his fingers busy.
"Hey," Will said. Said Eric, I was wondering. I haven't seen anyone with phones yet, that's normal Mr. Villier's godson shrugged his shoulders, constantly throwing and catching his thimble.
- Well, I don't really know. To tell the truth, I never asked myself the question of why or how. My Uncle often told me that the non-magicals had their cultures and the non-magicals had theirs, although according to him he never really participated.
-So, you don't know the internet, mobile phones or video games?
Eric tirelessly continued to play with his new toy and shrugged again.
- No idea what you're talking about.
Will sighed inwardly: No wonder wizards seemed to live in another era since that was exactly the case. He thinks that it's probably because of the fact that wizards have to remain secret from non-magicals that the mixture of cultures is so bad, but still! It's still strange that no wizard takes the slightest bit of interest in non-magicals.
Will saved his thoughts for later, he didn't want to bother Eric with his personal puzzles. Instead, he let young Hasbourg talk to him freely about his world. He mentioned a kind of sport that William didn't really understand, Eric promised to teach him what this sport was as it was awesome, at least according to him. Even if the non-magic is not too fond of sports in general, he accepted the young boy's proposal mainly not to offend him. They thus remained both under the supervision of Mr. Villier who remained silent in order to let the two young men get to know each other better.
Once he had made sure that the uniform was made, Eric directly suggested to the others that they take a trip to the jokes and tricks store, which he said was the best store in all of the Hidden Square. William meanwhile, was amazed to see that a store of pranks and traps works so much but he remembered that he was no longer in his world he was in the world of magic, the rules had changed. And then, for a store of tricks and traps, he had to admit that he liked it.
The store outside was nothing compared to the inside, the eyes of the non-magic took full peepers there was so much stuff. Dozens of garish colors cracked the walls of the store while a whole bunch of fireworks exploded everywhere in the eyes. Will literally didn't know where to turn. He saw a person hanging from the ceiling with sort of strange suction cups on his feet, some people had their heads all purplish and some had ears several tens of centimeters long, he even though he heard the cries of a lion from the mouth of one of the teenagers.
Eric, seeing his friend's astonished face, couldn't help saying:
-So? Not bad huh? Confess.
"Honestly," Will confessed. I must say that I did not expect that at all.
He had to admit that the show was pretty amazing for someone like him. After a few seconds of bliss, he decided to pull himself together, he didn't want to appear impressionable.
"Okay," Will finally said. What do we begin with? Eric gave a mischievous little smile and replied:
-You are lucky. It turns out my father gave me enough money. Finally, I don't want to brag… Finally, what I want to say is that the manager is an acquaintance of my father… So… He allows me to take some products for free.
The Hasbourg family member stopped short in his speech when he caught sight of Will's slightly bewildered face, who had no idea what he was talking about. The blonde pulled himself together and coughed to regain his composure.
"Sorry," the young boy immediately apologized. I got a bit confused and you must not have understood much of what I was saying.
"No," William refuted. It's okay, don't worry about that, I completely understand. So, like that, your father is famous?
The interested party shrugged.
"Not really," he lied obviously. But let's move on, a tour of the owner, how about it? We can enjoy while my godfather waits outside.
"I'm a taker," Will answered.
The Hasbourg family member continued his eternal smile and passed by the "Witches' Charm" corner, out of curiosity, the non-magic looked at a bunch of vials ranging from pastel to turquoise and saw the title he listed aloud as to clarify his thoughts:
- "Love potion, rediscover the secrets of Montmorency as you have never known them" (he turned to Eric). This potion really produces the effect that I believe?
"Yes," confirmed Eric. But according to the manager, the effect depends on the beauty of the person using it.
- Isn't this kind of stuff illegal?
-Partly, well, I believe it is.
This answer was not really made to reassure the boy. If things as crazy as love filters can be made with potions, surely there must be plenty of other crazy things. He promised himself to be careful what he drank from now on.
They then saw lots of other crazy products, like the many sweets offered by the store. Eric offered to take some but the non-magic refused categorically, the Hasbourg son insisted for a long time despite his friend's refusals. Finally, Will decided to give in.
-I want to take some, explained William. But I warn you, they are not for me but for my brother.
Eric smiled at the boy's justification. They continued to visit the store but it was welcoming more and more people and the two boys had to contort themselves to get to the shelves they wanted. Along the way, Eric took a kind of feather which intrigued Will but he decided to let it go. After all, he wasn't going to ask Eric questions every time he saw something he didn't know or they'd never get out of that store.
Finally, Will left with an instant darkness powder from Peru, a cape that he took without even looking at the description of the product, it was so classy, and finally some fuseboom firecrackers, some kind of fireworks. He had taken what seemed to him the most useful, certain objects were expensive, but in spite of the immense embarrassment that Will had, he took the objects in front of the extreme insistence of his friend. After shopping and visiting the store, they left to join Eric who was waiting for them outside and who directly offered to go to the drinking griffin:
-You must be tired after all that, supposed the alchemy professor. Something to drink won't hurt you.
William had to admit that fatigue was gaining him little by little and that something to drink would not be refused. Along the way, Eric tried to explain more in depth what quidditch was. From what Will understood, it's a sport played with flying broomsticks. It amused him that something as clichéd about witches in the non-magical world as broomsticks served a sport of seemingly international significance. He also found the rules of this game to be weak. It didn't make sense that the matches didn't end until the snitch was caught, what if the match lasted six months? It was the kind of thing that was totally beyond the boy.
The Drinking Griffon had changed a lot in recent years. To tell the truth it is especially after the decisions taken by the new manager, being of non-magical origin, she decided to modify certain things in this bar to make it much more welcoming. The wooden tables and chairs had been kept to leave a rustic look to the place, however Will managed to notice that these had been refinished to make the table more solid and straighter since his father restores old furniture. He also noticed how clean this house was, he didn't see a speck of dust anywhere, it changed him from home. He noticed that the orders of the customers flew all alone to the table which corresponded to them, levitation seemed to be a whim among wizards.
Both Eric and William sat around a table. A waitress arrived quickly to write their orders, Will noticed right away that the person was a non-magic with her earphones in her pocket and her chewing gum that she chewed without any respite.
"So," the waitress began. What do you want my good gentlemen?
"A butterbeer for me," replied Professor Villier. A chocolate-flavored morpho-wine for the boy here and…
The teacher turned to the non-magical, having no idea what he might have wanted. William a little taken aback replied that he wanted water. He was sure that at least they had it in stock. Will turned to Eric.
-Seriously? wondered this one. Do you really drink wine?
The Hasbourg descendant made the big round eyes as if it was his friend who drank morpho-wine and not him.
-You mean you've never, had it? But it's super good, it seems that we only drink that at Beauxbâtons.
The non-magical almost laughed into his cape when he heard this news, it seemed so ridiculous. Flying broomsticks and now wine, you have to believe that non-magical clichés about witches die hard in the real wizarding world.
The conversations went well for nearly an hour. They talked about just about everything: Quidditch, Beauxbâtons etc. The alchemy professor finishing his drink in a few sips he looked at the time and stood up to indicate that it was time to leave. The two people joined him and they left the Drinking Griffon.
-I think it's time for William to go home, announced the teacher, turning to Eric. Do you want me to accompany you?
The interested party shook his head no, shaking his hands and exclaiming:
-Thank you, but it will be fine, the governess will pick me up in a few minutes.
Mr. Villier and William therefore left the young man alone in the hidden Place, the look Eric gave Will almost pained him, the young boy didn't seem to want to leave his new friend. When Will crossed the streets, he looked one last time at the library he had been in earlier and told himself that other books wouldn't be a bad thing and at the same time, it would keep him occupied until the start of the school year arrived. He therefore asked the professor if it was possible to take other books from the library, this one accepted and the non-magical therefore left with his arms full of books.
The way home was silent, he thanked the professor for having accompanied him and watched him go back through the sordid streets of Paris. We can't say that William's family lives in the wealthy neighborhoods of the capital, on the contrary, he lived in a small street plunged into total darkness where the streetlights hadn't worked for years and the walls were nests of mold. lined with cracks threatening to collapse the building. It was very different from the big apartment they had in the States before they moved here. It was clear that the situation had changed over the past three years.
William sighed loudly and entered the house with a feeling of uncertainty.
