Henry Puffer Volume 1: The Elixir of Life

by MLbowling

Henry Puffer is snatched away from his mundane life and discovers he's a wizard. Now he can start anew at Harnock's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where he will meet fellow first-years Jon Parsley and Esmani Ghadjer. Not is all well and whimsical at the school as rumors brew of the Unmentionable One, Lord Mormobius, stealing something important...

5. Caster's Alley

Henry woke up with the crippling notion that what had happened yesterday was a figment of his imagination. It had to be a dream. Even though behind his eyelids he could tell it was morning, he kept his lids shut tight. He even repeated "It was just a dream" in his mind and then a couple times in his lowest possible voice.

"There was absolutely no half-human thing called Hagish barged into a shabby lighthouse my uncle somehow rented to tell me I'm going to a school for wizards!"

Plink. Plink. Plink.

What was that?

Ah, you know what? It's probably Aunt Daisy putting the glasses from last night's dinner away. Even though I'm only allowed the plastic cups. She will be getting me up any moment now, Henry thought. He allowed his heart to sink ever so slightly. He would not open his eyes for anything. His wondrous dreams of wizards and humans who could change their faces when angry just had been too good.

"Okay! I've heard you," Henry murmured. "I'm going to get up, I promise."

As he did, the first thing he noticed was how shabby an already rubbish lighthouse could look once it was drenched in morning sunlight. The storm must have ended in the early morning…

The storm!

Henry then began to breathe faster as his heart kicked into overdrive. He saw Hagish perched way up in the rafters fast asleep. His back was to the wall, his head was bowed low, and his arms were folded and supported by one bent knee. The other hanging delicately from the beam. The insistent plink noises were coming from the window. It was a Sixam owl and it's claw was scratching at the fragile, weather worn glass. A newspaper was in its beak.

Henry clamored to his feet, he never knew a person could be this happy. It was like the emotion was liquid and his body felt like a pitcher. It started at his feet and by now the happiness had swelled right up to the top of his head. Henry made a bee line for that window and with a jerk, the whole thing fell right out of its frame. Whoops. In languid circles the deep chocolate brown owl swooped in and the newspaper fell from its beak on top of Hagish's folded arms. He did not even stir.

"Hey! Quit that!"

Henry tried to wave his hands frantically. The bird was on the back of the tattered sofa snapping its beak at the pointy toe of Hagish's boot that was hanging from the beam all the way up in those rafters. Turning its irritation to Henry, it squawked and snapped at the young boy. Then turned its sights back to Hagish's foot.

"Um...Hagish?" Henry began to stutter alarmed but confused. "There's an owl in he-"

"Pay the chap for his troubles," Hagish groaned and sniffed from way above Henry's head.

"I'm sorry?"

"He did a service delivering and now he rightfully wants to be paid. My coin is in that pillow case I lent you. Five lums for the nice fellow, please?"

"Erm...which one is a lum?" There was a whole mess of coins in that pillow case. How did Henry not feel them? Green, blue, red, gold, and silver.

"Green ones."

Quickly Henry counted five green lums and the owl opened its beak and began to hack up...something. Oh! It was a leather coin purse. A bit grossed out but more intrigued, Henry put the coins in the purse and the owl gobbled it up as quickly as it probably would a common field mouse. It then opened its massive wing span and went soaring out the broken window.

Henry nearly cricked his neck to crane it up to meet Hagish's gaze. The man stretched almost feline like and let his weight pull him to hang upside down on by his knees. He then grabbed upwards upon the beam to do a backflip between his arms to land gracefully on his feet in front of Henry. This is when he stretched again and scrubbed both large hands down his face sleepily.

"We better get a move on, Henry. So many things to get done today and I sure do love my lists. We have got to get to Bridgeport and buy all of your school supplies." Instantly he had a list in his hand that seemingly came from his left ear. Henry barely could make out that find Henry and protect Henry through the night were crossed out above get Henry to Caster Alley. That was all he could make out before it was gone in wherever the clever Hagish kept his things.

Still in his hands were two lums, one blue one, two gold ones, a red one, and a silver one. He'd have to ask Hagish their names later but right now...it made that liquid happy drain right from his big toe most likely.

"H-Hagish?"

"Yeppers?" he answered and Henry finally noticed that the Dooflys were in a huge ball together on the floor. All covered up in a very similar blanket that Hagish had given him. Maybe Hagish has an unlimited supply. What's stranger, was that Hagish was sprinkling what looked like flour on top of all three Doofly heads. "Think of it as...sleeping powder. No harm to them...no bother to us!"

'B-but...Hagish I guess," Henry gulped. "I guess it doesn't matter if Uncle Vincent is awake or asleep because he is right about one thing and that is I don't have a...lum...to my name. And...he won't pay a cent. If...if you know what that means I mean...he won't pay for me. He won't."

"Henry my boy! Don't you worry your head!" Hagish came to pat him on his blonde mop of hair. "Your parents left you money! My guess is a whole gobsmurk!" Then his face fell and he looked genuinely hurt. "Did you really think they wouldn't leave their precious and only boy a single stud?"

"But I thought everything was destroyed in the...attack…?"

"They wouldn't keep money in the house, you goober!" Hagish laughed a merry laugh. Henry had to wonder if his next facial expression was that of composure to the sadness of Henry's parents' fate. "No," he trailed off and then began again in a chipper, booming voice. "We shall be going to Bingpotts! Wizarding bank for all wizarding banking needs! Have some bacon." Somehow Henry had four strips of bacon in his hand.

"Wizards have banks? Can't they, like, just conjure up unlimited money?"

"The time wasted on you in the blasted Normie world, my boy," Hagish said in a tsk tsk manner. Henry wanted to be offended but Hagish had such a cheeky grin there were no ill feelings in Henry's heart as he munched on the bacon and listened to Hagish talk.

"Wizards can't conjure money just as you can't grow a plant from your forehead!" With Henry's blank stare Hagish continued. "Normie money is made of...well...Normie made things! Things like paper, cotton, plastic...other sorts of nature polluting rubbish. Wizarding money on the other hand," he paused and puffed his chest in a sort of prideful way, "lums, roodees, jibbies, koyns, and studs are made of natural things! Things that wizards cannot conjure. If a wizard tried to duplicate a jibbie?! Why! Anyone would know it was...it was uh," Hagish put his nimble fingers to his beard in thought.

"A counterfeit?" Henry supplied and Hagish's eyes went impressively wide.

"Such an outstanding vocabulary! So smart, my boy! Yes! Counterfeit!" He was packing up the pillow and blanket as he talked. "Bingpotts is the only wizarding bank. For a brief time there was a competitor but nobody can run a bank the way the gargoyles can."

"Gargoyles?"

"Yeppers! You'd be a lunatic to try and rob a gargoyle bank, my boy. You can't mess with their sort. Unheard of! Bingpotts is foolproof and safe. Probably first up on the safe list right above Harnocks herself, I'm sure! I'm so glad to be doing two list items at once! Banking for you! And banking for Simbledore." At Henry's wondrous expression Hagish seemed to clam up. "Um...that's Harnocks business of course. Adults only and such." A twinkle in Hagish's eye paired nicely with the straightening of his back. "Simbledore calls upon me for real greatness. Delivering and fetching you, for starters. And now this! She trusts me, you know, makes me feel like a million roodess, it does!"

"I think we've got everything," Henry said quietly and Hagish flashed him a great smile.

"Off we pop, then!"

Though it was no longer storming, the weather was dreary and bleak. Sunlight was desperately trying to cut through the thick clouds and it seemed to put a gray hue over everything. Following Hagish's lead, Henry lowered himself in the second rickety boat he's been on in his life. Hagish began to row and the act seemed to discomfort him too great for a man with his unusual physique. It made Henry question.

"Just bored already, lad. This would go a lot quicker if I could do some magic." Henry's eyes lit up and Hagish was already turning him down. "No, no, no...Spatchy said I had to be a good example for you and not use magic outside of school. Let alone for my special...er...circumstance using magic in front of a minor such as yourself would really put Simbledore off I'm sure of it." Henry bit his lower lips and Hagish gave him a sideways glance. Both gentlemen could see their kindred boyish mischief bubble up as the lazy splashing of the ores almost became deafening.

"Maybe a small bit…"

"I won't tell any…"

They both said at the same time and began to laugh. Henry was not used to smiling and laughing this much in his whole life.

"Promise me?" Hagish asked and Henry took his pointer finger and made a 'W' on his chest which meant he absolutely promised. The newly eleven year old was dying to see some more magic from this peculiar character. Slowly, Hagish took off his brimmed cap and shifted himself to straddle the bench seat where he had been rowing. Henry grabbed both sides to brace himself from the rocking. Reaching down, Hagish perched the hat on the tip of his toe and carefully balancing both hands, clapped twice, said a chant and spun the hat.

It began to spin!

Right there on the tip of his toe it spun faster and faster and did not fling off his foot like it should have. Now, it was going as fast as a propeller and when Hagish flung his leg over the stern of the boat and into the water Henry had to brace yet again as the boat lurched forward. Hagish's magic turned the tip of his toe and his hat into a boat motor! As Henry laughed gleefully, the wind in his hair Hagish was shaking his head with a smile.

"You should not have seen that. You should not have seen that."

As Henry's laughter ebbed he watched silently as Hagish shimmied to get comfortable as both a passenger and as the boat's motor. He was unfolding the newspaper the owl delivered to him. Uncle Vincet taught him never to interrupt someone when they were reading. Or when they were sleeping. Or eating. Or breathing. But he had to know.

"You basically said you'd be crazy to rob Bingpotts," at the sound of his voice Hagish arched an eyebrow from behind his paper. "Why?"

"You name it, kid!" Was his short answer but Hagish must have realized Henry had to have more information than just that. "I guess...gargoyles got that dark, creepy sort of magic. Foreign like. Spells and enchantments nobody without wings could pull off. And speaking of wings! They've got dragons! Or...so I've heard. They are said to guard the vaults way, way down there. That's the thing, kiddo. You think your subways, or undergrounds are deep?" Henry nodded. "Bingpotts vaults run even further down than that! Like a huge corn maze of tunnels and vaults. Think of a mine, actually, my lad. You'd pretty much die of thirst or hunger before you made it out if you were to get lost or lose your way in Bingpotts. So what's the point? You get your hands on some pricey jibbies and then can't even use it because every one of the the 3 million or so sectors looks...the same."

Henry couldn't even fathom a place such as this. To think he'd be seeing it soon! The boy was sated from questions for the moment and relaxed a bit. The buzzing of Hagish's hat and the lapping of the calm water against the wood of the boat was very relaxing to Henry.

"Ugh..Council o' Casters mucking around, on the regular again, I see?" Hagish was mumbling to himself as he turned a page but Henry's interest was now piqued again. He was now realizing Hagish's paper was not from his town, or world, or...realm…?

"What's the," Henry read the title of the paper, "Diurnal Diviner? Also...who is the council of casters?"

"Oh them! Bah! I shouldn't be getting a wee lad such as yourself involved in politics and the lot but...let's just say they council us...casters!" Henry could feel his face fall in a clear sign to Hagish as Duh! That's in the name! However Hagish was talking still. "They even wanted Simbledore for Ministress. But you'll come to find out she hates titles like Mistress, ministress, basically any masculine title you can put an -ess at the end of." Hagish was caught up in his memories and thoughts because he began speaking like Henry was an old friend and barely caught himself. "She even has this phrase, she does! She says, "If they want an -ess they can kiss my," Hagish's jaw clamped shut as he realized whose company he was in. "Nevermind." Henry couldn't stop himself from giggling and Hagish had the decency to blush. "She also would never leave Harnocks, you see. It's down right harassment how Arnaldo Taffy sends hundreds of owls a day for advice from Simbledore. How that crumb got the job gobsmacked the lot of us, it did."

"Yes, but what does the Council of Casters do?"

"Short and sweet?" Hagish quipped and Henry nodded. "To keep wizards and witches and casters from the Normies. No Normie's got to know they exist, you see?

"But why?"

"I beg my pardon but are you daft, lad?" Hagish gasped. "You've lived with the sort! Your scientists! Your political figures! Your…" he shuddered as he whispered, "celebrities." Henry knew what he was getting at but he began again. "They couldn't handle it! Use magic for themselves. Probably enslave us or burn us at the stake like olden times."

"That was real?"

Hagish couldn't answer because the boat was now at the dock and Hagish was able to jump six feet fluidly in the air as he exited the boat. He extended a hand to Henry and then did calf raises to assuage whatever bad feelings hanging his leg over the boat that long had caused. His hat was also completely dry. Magic was so cool!

Tentatively Henry followed Hagish up and out of the docks into the streets of town. Seeing his extraordinary new comrad in the mix of everyday townies was very peculiar to Henry. He could feel the burning stares of wide eyes when they would see a small boy with a very tall, very thin man that moved as if there were flexible tubes of water inside him instead of bones. To add to this, despite the age difference between the partners, it was Hagish that was a bit more childlike in his wonderment and amazement towards everyday objects Henry or you and I wouldn't think twice to look at again.

"Henry! Look at that traffic light there! Three colors that everyone just follows?! You go about your business in high speed dangerous contraptions and the only thing to stop you from certain death and distraction is three measly lights?! Outstanding! Normies have it all figured out in some regard, I'd say!"

"Um, hey, Hagish?" Henry was almost spent from trying to keep up with the other's immensely long, fluid strides. "So...about the dragon at Bingpotts…?" He couldn't finish because he had to pant a bit to regain his breath. He felt it a bit rude to ask Hagish to slow down at this point.

"Keep up, lad! Dragons? Why yes! And I'd say a million times over that anyone brave enough to face a dragon is downright gifted with either too much brain and brawn or not enough brain and too much brawn. I haven't really decided. Wowzers now look at this would you?"

They had come to the station that would leave from Brindleton Bay to Bridgeport. Luckily, there was a train leaving in just 20 minutes. Hagish bent down to meet Henry's eyes and he looked very sheepish.

"You're a smart one, Henry. And I do be liking you so far. A lot to be perfectly honest. Say, would you help this old fool and tell me how...to read this blasted schedule and...maybe what to do with this Normie cash? I can now see your point of view why you've never heard of lums when I don't know what a…?"

"Simoleon," Henry answered. Hagish deposited the cash from one long fingered hand into the stubby hand of the other. "I've got you, Hagish," Henry said slowly. "You see we are in Brindleton Bay and we need a train to Bridgeport. So I look at that screen and see that there is one leaving in seventeen minutes. We just have to get to that gate. We're lucky too because that gate is not far from here at all!" Hagish was looking at Henry with so much wonderment and pride it nearly made Henry blush. He never imagined he'd have any useful skills to...help someone.

"You're an amazing teacher, lad! Show us the money?"

"Oh yes, well um...this particular ticket will be 30 Simoleons." Carefully Henry counted it out and handed the rest back to Hagish. "We pay at that booth."

And so it was that fifteen minutes later Henry found himself on a train car with Hagish. All sorts of emotions swirled inside Henry. He officially got over the idea that this was all a dream. Too much had happened and his mind and body finally both agreed that this was, in fact, real happenings. How was a young wizard boy supposed to feel starting a new term at his wizarding school? I suppose it would be like starting his "Normie school." New, fresh, exciting, anxious, nauseous ,maybe a bit of embarrassment. In fact he also felt some deeper thoughts that at his age he wouldn't have been able to decipher until he was much older. Things such as a selfish entitlement for this strange and amazing world that for once he didn't have to share with Curtis. There was also the notion that the Dooflys would be taking the same passage home without him. What were they thinking at this same time? No matter! Henry sat up straighter, allowed a smile to cross his fact, and a relaxing exhale when Hagish spoke.

"Say, Henry? You still have your letter, right?"

New school and school year nerves and dread overcame him. Obediently, he took the parchment out of his pocket anyway. Hagish was explaining about the school supply list that he should read as they rode the train. School supplies lists always made Henry nervous when they would come in the mail. It reminded him of stubby pencils and hand-me-down notebooks with seventy-five percent of the used pages ripped out after being used by Curtis. But as Henry scanned this list, that adult feeling washed over him again when he realized even if he and Curtis attended this school together, there would be no way Curtis would have these things to hand down to Henry.

HARNOCKS ACADEMY

of SPELL CASTING and MAGICAL MATTERS

UNIFORM

Year-One students will require:

Three sets of plain work robes (black)

One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear NO BRIM

One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)

One winter cloak (black, silver or gold fastenings)

Please note that all students' clothes should carry name tags printed or hand written

COURSE BOOKS

All students should have a copy of each of the following in their inventory

Start Here Spell Book, Version 2.0 (Original Edition is OUTDATED) by The Mystery Man

Grandiose Grimoirse by Flint MacDuff

Book o' Spells (Grade 1) by Lady Ravendancer Goth

House of Practical (Grade 1) by Deedee Wynn

House of Untamed (Grade 1) by Carmella Hai

House of Mischief (Grade 1) by Frances McCullough

History of Harnocks by Alexa Burt

Potions and Alchemy (Grade 1) by Naenae Kwa

What Comes from the Magical Gardens by Genesis Chin

Amazing Creatures and Where They Reside by Sal A. Mander

OTHER EQUIPMENT

1 wand

1 cauldron (pewter or iron, standard size 2 or 2.5)

1 set of glass or crystal phials

1 telescope

1 set of brass scales

Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad

PARENTS AND GUARDIANS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT YEAR ONE STUDENTS MAY NOT BE ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS TO RIDE (or mops)

"Hagish, um...I don't think we can get all of this stuff in Bridgeport," Henry murmured a bit louder than he had meant to.

"Trust me, lad. There are ways if ya know where to look," replied Hagish.

Bridgeport is a fast, bustling, large world that Henry only saw bits and pieces of every now and again with Aunt Daisy. Hagish, in comparison, was having a terrible time maneuvering and routing to places and though he was probably the most graceful person Henry knew, he still seemed to lag against the backdrop of other townies seemingly going at 3x the speed that the two of them were. Henry shivered as he remembered exactly what happened to Hagish's face when he got very angry. What even was this person he was now trusting his well-being with in such a large city so far from home? Out of the corner of his eye, Henry watched as Hagish grumbled about every little thing he saw or heard or touched along the way. He was annoyed and frustrated, and Henry tried very hard to sense anything bad in the fellow. He couldn't. He had kept him safe this far and that would just have to do.

The young boy stayed as close as he could to match those long strides. Along the way, they passed many shops, bistros, pubs, and lounges. It looked busy but nothing out of the ordinary. Which one of these places would sell a wand or a brass scale? There couldn't actually be wizard gold buried miles and miles below them, right? Henry's eyes scanned the ordinary theaters and the ordinary gas stations. The ordinary sound of honking and yelling and pushing and shoving. Maybe. The young boy's heart started to beat faster in spite of himself. This maybe wasn't a dream but it most certainly could still be a joke. A prank. A huge laugh from the Doofly family to, for once and for all, humiliate a boy like Henry. A boy who was so desperate to think he was entitled to something more than a room by the bathroom or Curtis' hand-me-downs. With more thought, it seemed very unlikely. Every Doofly Henry has met has had the no sense of humor trait. Hagish, as he had assessed before, had not done anything but keep him safe and told mostly the truth. He had to trust him.

"We're here," said Hagish as he came to a stop. "Waylon's Haunt is pretty well known in our realm."

From the outside, there wasn't too much of the place. It was just one big cube of brick and drabby windows that barely let any light in or out. The pub wouldn't have even gotten a second look from Henry if Hagish hadn't have stopped. Henry wasn't sure what his imagination could have conjured as a place to be taken to to begin wizarding school. This was a grimy establishment that past teachers would have shown in anti-drug and street culture seminars in school. Henry then noticed that people milling around didn't even seem to notice a thing out of place. Could this place be invisible to...Normies? With a gentle nudge, Hagish ushered Henry inside despite Henry squeaking out something along the lines of, "I'm not of age to be in a place like this, Hagish."

Once inside, Henry couldn't help but become even more confused. He didn't have the most extensive background knowledge of pub culture except on TV. It was very dank and drabby. Some older patrons were sitting alone, drinking glasses of something or another. One had a very peculiarly long cigarette thing and green smoke was coming from the tip. The bartender was tending to another gentleman. Henry couldn't make out what they were saying. It was buzzing with chatter and clinking of pint glasses and crunching of chips and peanuts. However once both sets of Henry and Hagish's feet creaked against the floorboards of the entrance the din stopped with almost a record scratch like the TV cliche trope.

Each person seemed to know Hagish and they waved and grinned at him.

"The usual, Julius, lad?" The bartender offered.

"Not today, Waylon. Harnocks business and the sort," said Hagish. He ruffled Henry's hair again. Why didn't it offend Henry the way Hagish did it but Aunt Daisy made him cringe with frustration? The young boy didn't even have the urge to fix the mussed hair and instead felt a jolly smile creep over his face.

"By the Watcher's grace," said Waylon the bartender. He glared at Henry a bit too intensely for Henry's liking. "That can't be Julius? Is it really Hen-?" He didn't finish.

If the silence was anything upon entry, Henry could almost hear his heartbeat at this point. He felt the stare of not just Waylon now, but every patron in the place.

"Kindly to my ghost," whispered Waylon, not taking his eyes off of Henry. "Henry Puffer...it do be an honor, sir."

"I'm sorry, what-?"

But the young boy soon had his hand dragged upwards and ensnared in the large warm one of Waylon. How did he clear the bar from around the back in that many strides?

"It's good that you're back. Welcome, welcome!"

What was Henry to say? Everyone was staring at him and he could feel the tips of his ears going pink. The smoking old lady was even puffing away and the thing was not even lit anymore. She was so transfixed. Hagish was doing that thing. The one where he puts his chest out and grins merrily.

In a rush, chairs scraped, toppled over, chatter became uproar as every person in the place was surrounding Henry and reaching to take his hand. It was the most polite onslaught of social contact Henry had ever seen in his life. Henry didn't know how to feel. He just knew the feeling was not negative in the slightest.

"Jane Chung is the name, Mr. Puffer, I am just so stunned to be meeting you at long last!"

"I can't even begin to say how proud I am right now!"

"I shook his hand! I can't believe I shook the Henry Puffer's hand! I'm never washing it, I think!" More voices were overlapping at increasing volume.

"Tickled, Mr. Puffer, I just can't even begin, Collette is my name! Tomax Collette."

"Hey I know you!" Henry exclaimed in a burst without really thinking. Tomax grinned so wide it was almost scary. "You...bowed to me once. I think in a store with my Aunt. Maybe? Six weeks ago?"

"The boy remembers me!" Cried Tomax Collette, his eyes searched everyone else's. "Did you hear ladies and gents? He remembers me!"

Is it possible to shake this many hands? Henry had assumed this place was nearly barren but as it were seemingly new sets of hands were popping into his vision left and right in increasing numbers.

A very pale, mousy young lady made her way towards Henry. She looked very nervous as her eyes darted back and forth like someone was watching her. Her left hand shook very slightly but uncontrollably.

"Professor Querkle!" Hagish bellowed with mirth. "Henry, Professor Querkle will be one of your teachers at Harnocks," he continued in rapid speech. "Say, Professor!" Hagish nudged an elbow into the bony shoulder of Ms. Professor Querkle and nearly sent her toppling over given her frail frame. Hagish continued. "You are glowing! When's the babe due?" Henry didn't know much about pregnancy. But Professor Querkle was undeniably so. It made Henry blushy and nervous. Especially when she answered Hagish's question.

"I-I-I...should be due close to the end of the school year, thank you." She then turns to Henry and stammers a bit before wishing him well and pleasantries. "It is so good...I-I-I'm pleased to meet you." Her tiny, cold hand clasped in his and Henry wasn't the best at math so it took him that whole interaction to flush for not responding right away. If she wasn't due until the end of the term she was only...three? Four months along? She was huge and that was Henry's brain putting it politely. Maybe ladies just have bigger bumps depending but someone her size? Henry was completely embarrassed by his thoughts and screeched that thought train to a halt to look for another. He blurted the first thing.

"What do you teach?" Henry bit his lip.

"I t-t-teach The Ways of the Un-un-untamed," murmured Professor Querkle as if she'd rather not mention it. Her sunken eyes looked horribly sleep deprived. "You won't need it I-I-I'm sure, eh?" Henry could sense that was some sort of attempt at a joke but the boy could not understand the punchline at all. "H-h-have fun getting all the supplies you need today. I'm off to get...books? Myself." The last word was almost added as an afterthought. Henry couldn't help but match this woman's level of anxiety. Everything seemingly ended on a question with her. With her shaking hand, she pulled some of her cropped short hair behind her ear and immediately it broke free and fell over a deep gray eye. Excusing her rather swollen stomach, she pushed through and out the door of the pub as more patrons descended on the young boy.

"All right you sort, that'll be enough, now. The boy has had enough," Hagish finally outstretched an impressive arm span to start herding folk away from Henry. Grumbles and groans were his answer but they let the company through all the same. With purpose, Hagish led Henry towards the backdoor that said EMPLOYEES ONLY. Henry opened his mouth to point it out but something told him not to as the two went through the door.

Henry wasn't expecting a random enclosed patio. The walls were made of brick and there was a dumpster, some crates, and prickly pear weeds coming through the cracks.

Henry looked up to show Hagish his confusion. The adult just grinned in return.

"Did I tell you you were famous? Didn't I tell ya! Professor Querkle was trembling to meet ya! She normally trembles but it was four times as trembling as normal.

"Is she always that nervous?"

"Pretty much, lad. Poor lass. She's got a mind like a machine. Clever in every sense of the word. Such a bookworm if I can recall studying out of page after page. Then she took a year off to get some...hands on experience," Hagish then murmured, "among other things," which was something Henry was definitely not supposed to hear. Folk say she met some supernatural beings in the woods...or a marsh...or a swamp I don't even know. By and by the gal hasn't been the same since. Scared of kids, scared of her shadow, and maybe even the subject." At Henry's answering expression Hagish got serious, "but don't underestimate her teaching, my boy. There is still respect to have for her." The young boy was left standing in his spot as Hagish stood closer to the furthest wall from the backdoor from which they came.

"Okay, up...down...left…," his voice dwindled until the bricks fell away and a beautiful arch stood in its place. It was breathtaking and curious. The white marble that formed the arch was ornate and grand if a bit dusty and weathered. Strange signs were faintly glowing at the arch's peak. It looked as if they could be shining brighter, but Henry had the feeling this archway was well traveled and used. The most extraordinary part was the arch lead to a substance Henry could not begin to describe or even understand. He officially believed everything Hagish had said because there was no other explanation to this except magic.

Inside the arch, where something should be was instead the most peculiar wall. It was made up of greens, purples, and blues. But it wasn't smoke nor was it solid. Or even a liquid. Jello seems to be a mix of solid and liquid. Whatever this archway held was the mix of liquid and gas.

"You just need to step through it, lad, " Hagish said softly and reassuringly. "I'll be right behind you. With a breath, Henry closed his eyes and began to put one foot in front of the other until he stepped through the greenish, purplish, bluish smoke/liquid. Nothing happened to his clothing. They didn't get wet or feel cold. It just felt as if Henry's whole body was being pulled by a very strong magnet. It could have lasted seconds, or hours Henry couldn't tell but all of sudden his eyes could focus and he was not in a dingy pub patio anymore. He wasn't even in Bridgeport anymore.

"Welcome, Henry," Hagish said, "to Caster's Alley."

He saw the amazement on Henry's face and began to chuckle. Henry looked back and did not see the pub patio. He just saw a lone archway like the one that was embedded into the brick wall. This one, however, stood alone and proud. Behind it was a bridge that was broken. After that there was just-nothing.

"Hagish...where are we?"

"You're in the Realm of Magic, lad," Hagish responded. Henry marvelled at the unearthly color of the sky. Dark, pinks and purples with a moon that was four times the size of the one back home. "There's a couple of these archways in the Realm. Creators made these archways to travel through them," Hagish pointed to the one the entered. "The one you traveled through is to get to Caster's Alley here." Henry was too mesmerized by the almost permanent Aurora Borialis that was right above his head. The cobblestoned alley was lined with tightly packed buildings ranging in heights that seemed to break physics. Some buildings had two stories, others had five stories, and some buildings seemed to bow inwards that made the alley look like it had a roof. Henry was no architect, but the styles of many of the buildings seemed very ancient and medieval. Very old bricks and roofings. Lots of wood.

"I wish I had eight more heads," he said aloud which made Hagish guffaw loudly. He turned the one he had every which way. People in colorful robes and dresses pressed forward. Some were hanging out by a beautiful white marble fountain that matched the archway he had come through. "These are all witches and wizard folk?" Henry asked and Hagish nodded.

The nearest shop had eight stories and dark awnings with cauldrons hanging from it like hanging baskets of flowers Aunt Daisy would sometimes put out. More cauldrons in all shapes and sizes were displayed for retail around the outside of the store. In the store window, phials and beakers where ornately displayed with retail markings Henry could actually understand. Such as sale, discount, and marked off.

"Crumplebottom Cauldrons, Phials, and Scales Worthwhile," Henry read the shop sign. "Copper, brass, pewter, silver...Hagish this one says it's self-stirring. This one is collapsible! Look at these signs!" Henry was beginning to allow himself to feel giddy.

"You'll be needing them, lad but patience, patience. You can't be getting anything without your Magicoins," Henry querked an eyebrow. "Gold...er...I guess a term used to describe the lot of magic currency that we learned back in the lighthouse." As the two walked, Henry couldn't believe the sights and sounds of it all. It was more crowded than a suburban street, but not as packed as a city route. Henry imagined this is what it was like to travel to a foreign country that still could speak Simlish. The things they were experiencing and saying made sense in a way but it was all different.

"Dragon liver, sixteen lums for an ounce, they're robbing me this year, I say!" He overheard one shopper.

"Just wait until the term starts, they'll be marked down. It's back to school prices and they have the nerve to folly with us," someone replied.

Unmistakable hooting came from a dark shop with a sign saying Finer Fare Familiars - Butterflies, Glowfrogs, Leafbats, Sixam Owls, and Ravens to spare! Again, that uncanny valley Henry was experiencing. He only understood two out of the five of the creatures listed, and yet he was still so enchanted. It was hard work for the boy to keep up with Hagish and take in his surroundings. At times, Henry almost worked up courage to tell Hagish to simply stop and let Henry gawk. But maybe Hagish knew that this whole experience would be even greater with some money to actually buy things instead of merely gawking.

Several children around Henry's age had their noses against a window with broomsticks in it. "Oh my Watcher look at that," Henry overheard one of them say. He couldn't stand it any longer. He stopped and fully accepted his blatant eavesdropping. Surprisingly, Hagish stopped too and chuckled lowly as if in understanding. "That's the new Zoomsweeper Pegasus. It's the fastest one probably made in the history of ever." Hagish gently nudged Henry to get him mobile again. The boy in question could not take his eyes off of that broom.

"Bingpott's," reminded Hagish.

Time passed on as buildings after shops passed Henry. Shops that sold the robes, shops that sold the telescopes and strange scientific instruments. There were bookstores and sweet shops and advertisements for things he had never heard of. Henry focused and finally saw families with children of every age collecting what Henry assumed was supplies for Harnocks.

"Don't forget the quills, the meeting point is the fountain as always!"

"You've outgrown your robes, child! Gosh! So big, getting so big!"

"I just don't understand why you need the collapsible cauldron, dear. When will you even need to collapse it. That just sounds mischievous and asking for trouble."

"We're here!" Hagish called. Henry wasn't imagining what he was looking at. The entire alley with all of its strangeness and normalcy. All of its extraordinary and ordinary reached its end at the entryway of Bingpott's National Trust Bank.

They had reached a smoky gray building that was high and gothic looking by nature. Those crazy architecture physics held no candle to the way this castle-like structure overtook the other shops and small buildings. Out on the first stony step, against the burnished bronze doors, wearing a uniform of maroon and gold was-

"Yep, that's a gargoyle," informed Hagish in a low voice. They climbed the grandiose steps together. The gargoyle in question was hunched and supporting himself with his front knuckles much like a gorilla. Except you would need to subtract about fifty pounds of muscles and replace it with lean, limber limbs. His head came to Henry's chin if he'd stand up close. The face was almost cat-like with large ears, a stubby snout, and brows arched so definite the permanent etching of anger was always a constant. Two leathery wings were folded neatly against his back. Much to Henry's first assessment, when a gargoyle walked, it looked very much like a gorilla. And to that Henry realized...he was looking at a real life gargoyle!

The creature lead them to another pair of doors, silver this time, with words engraved upon them:

Come forth, stranger, but my advice

Is what not to do with avarice,

If you should collect but do not attain,

Will pay in time as we shall reign.

So if you covet beneath your feet

A wealth not yours to ever meet,

Burglar, you do now know,

More than Magicoin lies below.

"Hagish? What does avarice mean?" Henry asked.

"Greed, my boy. Like I said, you'd have to be mad to try and rob this place."

With polite bows, a pair of gargoyles led them through the silver doors and they were in a vast hall with warm oak tones and the smell of old leather. About a hundred more gargoyles were sitting on high stools behind long counters, scribbling in large ledgers, weighing coins in brass scales, examining precious stones through eyeglasses too. There were too many doors to count leading off the hall, and yet more gargoyles were showing people in and out of these. The rhythmic sound of stamp to ink pad to ledger was almost the only sound except for a gargoyle's low but squeaky voice as he talked to a client. Hagish and Henry stepped up to the front counter where an elderly gargoyle that looked twice as mean as the one Henry had seen before looked over and downward to meet their eyes. He was wearing spectacles and his pointed chin had a white, wispy beard at the end of it.

"Morning to you," Hagish greeted the gargoyle who just huffed in return. "We've come to take some money out of Mr. Henry Puffer's safe, please, sir." For a millisecond, the gargoyle's eyes went wide then returned to normal size. Just a black jewel in the socket. No whites. No pupils. Just black.

"You have his key, sir?" The peculiar timber of the voice made Henry's hair stand on end.

"Ah yes, let me see here," Hagish said absentmindedly as he reached every which way on his person to pull out some of the most outlandish things. Henry wanted to giggle so badly but somehow could sense this place was not as merry as the alley outside. There were molding dog treats, candle stubs, playing cards, paper clips, and a used tissue or two. One rolled right over the gargoyle's hand and the stubby snout upturned into a grimace. He said nothing. Henry's eyes wandered and watched other gargoyle workers measuring and counting gems and jewels that would have made his Aunt faint with avardice.

"Here we are!" In his long fingers, Hagish had a strikingly unremarkable gold key for such a place as this. The gargoyle looked at it closely. First he adjusted his glasses, and then murky gray eyelids squinted over the coal black, glossy eyes.

"Everything seems to be in order," was all the fellow said.

"Oh wait! I also have a letter here from Professor Simbledore," Hagish remembered and rushed hurriedly. He puffed out his chest as he spoke, "it's about the You-Know-What-I-Mean in vault seven hundred and thirteen." Almost bored, the gargoyle held out his hand which Hagish deposited the letter. Unbearingly slow, the gargoyle scanned over the letter seemingly six times. Henry was becoming impatient and bored. He wanted to see these vaults!

"Very well Master Hagish," he said slowly, handing it back to Hagish, "I will see to it that someone takes you down to both vaults. Gromit!"

The gargoyle by the name of Gromit materialized in front of them with an indifferent but somehow obedient look on his face. Emotions were so hard to read on the features of a gargoyle, Henry decided. Hagish and Henry followed Gromit once Hagish retrieved all of his pocket belongings towards one of the doors leading off the hall.

"What's the vault in seven hundred and thirteen, Hagish?" Henry asked.

"Can't tell ya that you observant boy," Hagish almost sounded disappointed he couldn't. "It's very secret, lad. Harnocks business. Simbledore has trusted me with it. More than what my normal everyday job at the school, to tell you the truth. But I'm good for it. Yes I am." The last bit was almost as if it was for himself and Henry could very much understand the need of self pep talks now and again.

Gromit held the door open for them.

"Thank you, sir," he said quickly and the gargoyle's stony visage broke for a second to that of surprise.

Henry would have expected more marble or grandiose oak, leather, and bronze. Instead, they were in a narrow stone passageway lit with flaming torches. The slope was steep and there were railroad racks on the floor like in old mines for the movies or in history books. With a flair that Henry couldn't help but think was for show, Gromit unfurled his massive wings and flapped them three times heavily before folding them against his back again. It seemed to call upon a small cart that just as the railways would suggest, resembled a mining cart. It accelerated towards them at high speeds before stopping by itself with harsh screeching and sparks. Henry had to step out of the way in reflex to not catch his shoes or trousers ablaze.

"In," was all Gromit said and the three did just that. Once the cart was mobile again, it seemed to just hurtle through twists and turns of passages resembling that of a maze. Henry tried to map in his mind the turns and bankings of the cart but it was impossible. The screeching and shaking cart knew what it was doing on its own because no one, including Gromit, was driving or steering.

The wind whipped past Henry's cheeks, stinging them. He was keenly aware that they were going downwards. So this is the miles of tunnels below even the deepest subway systems ever built. The boy couldn't help but sit up straighter and open his eyes wider in case he could spot a dragon. It wasn't going to happen and Henry earned stung eyes brimmed with tears for keeping them open like that.

Deeper they went, stalagmites and stalactites grew from the ceiling and floor dripping with shimmering droplets of water. Perhaps there was an underground lake somewhere? Did dragons need to drink water too?

"Hey, Hagish? Are we in a cave or a cavern? I don't know the difference," Henry called through the whipping wind of the mobile cart.

"Caverns see the sun and they both got the letter n in the word now...no more questions right now, lad," Hagish groaned back. "I think I'm going to be sick." Did Henry hear the little gargoyle rasp out a sort of chuckle? Hagish did look a bit green around the gills. Once the cart sparked and sizzled to a stop Hagish shakily did his six foot jump out of the cart and wobbled to and fro. Uneasily, Hagish was shaking his head before he supported it with his left hand. He blew a shaky exhale and put both hands on his waste. He looked very defeated.

Gromit unlocked the door to the vault. A plume of dust came billowing out, as it cleared, spiders fled from their disturbed webs and Henry gasped. Inside were mounds of coins. In all colors that Hagish had explained earlier. The magnitude of the Magicoins before him was staggering. Countless stacks of lums, roodees, jibbies, koyns, and studs.

"This all belongs to you, lad," Hagish said as he put an arm around the narrow shoulders of Henry. Was it true? Was all of this really his? A kid that had to sleep in a coat closet next to a bathroom was the heir to this type of fortune? It was impossible. If it weren't for the little gargoyle standing next to him or the uncannily disproportionate Hagish or the views and sounds of Caster's Alley, this is what would have tipped Henry off that this all had been a dream. There was no way the Dooflys knew how loaded Henry was. They would have snatched it all for themselves if so. Henry had had to hear it time and time again. How much it cost to also host and raise him. And yet all this time there was enough fortune down here for him to live on his own. Even in his own apartment by the looks of it!

Almost without thinking, Hagish had led the task of organizing and piling it into a portable bag that would most likely act as a wallet for Henry to shop with.

"Okay so the green are lums, roodees are blue, jibbies are the gold ones, koyns are red, and the silver are studs." Henry tried to keep up as Hagish hastily went over how many roodees were in a jibbie and how many studs were in a koyn. It was very hard to learn a new currency in the span of ten minutes, actually. Very seriously, Hagish got down to Henry's eye level. There was no mirth or fooling.

"We've packed enough to last you a couple of terms. I know you're not used to all of this wealth kid, and believe you me it'd turn anyone a bit big headed." He took in a breath. "Just be responsible with it and care for it. Your mom and dad left this for you and you should treat it very respectable-like. I ain't your dad so I can't very well police you what to do with your money just...you're a kid...and...be smart, okay?" Henry could have bristled. He could have become defensive. But Henry knew that Hagish was right and the deep longing of mentioning his parents stirred in him the protectiveness for this new found wealth. Henry was smart enough to know that bad things happened to people who show off how rich they are.

"To vault seven hundred and thirteen Gromit, please? And say does this thing have a slower speed?" Hagish inquired.

"Only one speed Master Hagish," Gromit replied.

"Tarnish," Hagish murmured as they clamored in and were off at increasing speed. Henry could barely keep his eyes open this go around. They were going deeper into this cave of railways he could imagine. The air around them was getting colder and stale. Henry wondered if the cart would simply bounce right off the track and to their doom as they cleared some ridiculously tight corners. With a squinted peak, Henry noticed they really were travelling over a ravine. Curious, Henry scooted closer to look over the edge but Hagish caught him by the shoulder and pulled him back with an agonized groan.

"You're too brave for your own good," he gurgled through his upset stomach.

Vault seven hundred and thirteen did not have a keyhole.

"Stand back a ways," Gromit commanded and walked backwards so his back was to the door. Once again, he unfurled his wings and beat them thrice again. The door melted away like hot butter in a pan. "If anyone but a Bingpott's gargoyle so much as grazed that door, they'd be sucked inside never to come out," explained Gromit.

"Do you guys ever check to see if that happens? People can be clumsy!"

"About once every twenty years, Master Puffer," Gromit smiled a grotesque, pointy teeth smile.

Henry should have probably felt bad for any poor creature or thing to have met such a fate but his young heart was too busy racing at the notion of what could possibly be in this vault to shroud a jolly elf-like being like Hagish into so much mystery and secrecy. In spite of himself, he leaned forward to peek from behind Hagish's support beam of a frame. Could it be all the riches in the world? Ancient runes or a beast so rare and mesmerizing Henry may just faint right here and now? His imagination swirled.

Nope.

It was just a small, unremarkable package the size of a shoebox. Wrapped in light brown paper, it sat in the middle of a vault bigger than even Henry's, and it was just on the floor, collecting dust and cobwebs. Hagish glided over easily and scooped it up. Henry made note that it must not even be heavy. The man did some of his amazing hand movements and once Henry blinked the package was gone and Hagish ran his hands down his shirt to smooth any wrinkles. He stopped to gently pat what Henry was sure was a motion sick, sour tummy. He was desperate to know what in the world could have been in that package, but years of having to keep quiet and not ask too many questions prepared him to simply press his lips together and exhale all of that wonderment through his nose.

It seemed as if getting out of the miles and miles of railway caves of Bingpott's took less time than going into them. Pretty soon, Henry and Hagish were on the front steps again.

"Feel any different?" Hagish asked Henry who looked at him with a bit of confusion. Very innocently, Henry began to pat himself down wondering if entering Bingpott's did something to first timers or...Hagish's laughter cut off his actions. "Not physically! Mr. Magicoin bags...do you feel...richer?"

"I guess not. Maybe because I'm still not too sure how much money I exactly have. Once I learn the conversions over and realize I quite possibly have more money than...even...Curtis…" Henry trailed off stricken with what he just had said. This was actually really happening. Henry did have something in his life that was more than the dredges the Dooflys had put him through. Something a bit dark bubbled in the pit of the young boy's stomach and it soon vanished as fast as it had come when the warm, kind hand of Hagish pressed heavily against his shoulder. Henry looked up to meet his eyes again.

"You're a smart boy, Henry. I knew your mom and dad," with a wild and wanting look from Henry, he clarified, "not well my lad...not...not enough to get you all excited. Your parents were not...how do I say? They were not a snooty or richy rich sort that one may think when you see that amount of money just laying there. They loved you with all of their hearts and wanted to leave you with the best. They had to really work and save to give you what you have now and-what I'm trying to say is I'm glad you're not feeling any different. I don't think it's because you're not sure how much money you've actually got, but because you have a good heart and are smarter than people credit you for." Henry's heart pounded very fast at Hagish's words. He wanted to say something but the moment was gone and Hagish exhaled harshly through perhaps his own emotion.

"Getting your uniforms is always the best place to start!" The two stepped off the stones of Bingpott's back into the din of the animated shoppers milling all about Caster's Alley. "Madam Magnolia's Professional Fabrics is where you want to go lad. And hey listen, if it's all the same to you I do be letting my kid friendly curtain down a bit to ask if I can go get myself a pint back at Waylon's? Eases my nerves after a Bingpott's cart ride, you understand?" Henry felt a bit panicked. His only guide to this world was just going to leave him to get a drink? That seemed very…

"Meet me by the fountain in one hour," he pointed to the huge clock at the top spire of Bingpott's. That simple sentence washed over Henry and changed his whole attitude. It reminded him of the shopper he had heard before entering the bank. This is what wizarding parents and guardians did. They gave their kids freedom and fun and happiness to explore! It wasn't like you could get lost! It was an alley with shops filled with adults, an archway exit on one end, and Bingpott's on the other. You couldn't get lost. Plus, Hagish did really look sick.

"Yes, sir," Henry said and Hagish looked as if Henry had slapped him.

"We don't be needing any of that, lad," and Henry was then knocked off his feet almost as Hagish affectionately pulled him into his side for an almost brotherly side hug. "One hour, okay?" Henry nodded and stayed rooted in his spot as he watched Hagish snake his way through the throngs of people like a cat maneuvering through railings.

Henry turned around, took a deep breath, and walked in.

"Harnocks, first year I would assume!" Henry could only assume this was Madam Magnolia as he entered the shop of the same title. It smelled like fabrics and a bit musty. Robes, dresses, and cloaks lined the walls as if it were any sort of small clothing boutique back home. All except there were chandeliers with candles instead of electricity. Was there electricity in the Magical Realm?

"I've got everything you need, love," Magnolia continued. "In fact another young student is being fitted up just now. She's decent-before you go on and blush and such tee hee." Henry must have made some sort of face he wasn't aware of making.

Up a spiral staircase, a loft with mirrors and four footstools overlooked the rest of the store below. A girl about Henry's age was on the footstool next to the one Madam Magnolia gestured for Henry to stand. Henry wasn't used to seeing girls very much and he could feel her looking over him as she got measured and prodded by an employee witch with a long tape measure. The first thing Henry noticed about her is she had gold rimmed circular glasses that reminded him of what he wears. Though his were black...and barely holding on at the bridge by tape at the moment. Hers looked more ornate and fancy than dweeby as Henry assumed his probably looked.

"Hello," she actually spoke to him. "Are you going to be a student at Harnocks, too?" Henry noticed that she had braces (why do caster children need braces?) and her voice sounded cold and bored. It wasn't like someone trying to get to know someone to be a potential friend. It was as if someone was inquiring whether they needed to be bothered with you. Henry immediately began to react with a bit of bristle in his voice.

"Yes, what of it?" He tried to match an equally steely tone. He couldn't believe the audacity of the girl to roll her pale blue eyes at him from behind her glasses.

"My father's next door and buying me the most expensive editions of each and every textbook as we speak. And my mother is at the wand shop making sure I get the best." Okay? Boring. Why does Henry have to care for this girl's parents' shopping habits? He could tell she was just showing off and Henry's heart panged with the realization that this is what Hagish meant when he said that just because you may be rich you don't have to act like...this. The girl raised her hand so the long sleeve revealed her hand. She pushed her glasses along her thin, hooked nose lazily.

"Then I think I'm going to do some of my good old begging and whining to get him to go off to look at racing brooms. I think it's utter bullcrap first years aren't allowed brooms. Only babies and sissies get hurt on something as easy as a broom, yeesh! HEY! Watch it or I'll tell my father," she hissed at the elder witch, who was pinning her robe's hem. Henry doubted the lady even came close to sticking her with a pin but the more this jerk droned on Henry began to wish she would.

"I've gotten good at it. I can even make myself cry to get it. Then all I have to do is just find a way to smuggle it inside. How hard could that be?"

Henry felt like he was talking to a female Curtis and it began to make him ill.

"Do you have your own broom?" She pursed her lips and squinted her eyes. Henry couldn't believe she was actually trying to converse instead of one way bragging for a change.

"No," Henry said curtly wishing that would be enough to end it. He was barely aware of his own witch employee pinning and measuring him.

"Play any Grilled Cheese Duels?" The girl just kept going! This time, she dramatically pushed some of her stringy orangish shoulder length hair so it flowed behind her in such a snooty manner Henry couldn't believe his eyes.

"No," he said in the same monotone way to end a conversation. He knew better to let this know-it-all brat on that he had no idea what Grilled Cheese Duels were in the first place. He had a lot of practice with Curtis not letting him know too much. More knowledge meant more avenues for teasing. Henry surmised this girl was one of the same.

"Yeah, you don't look the sort," she said offhandedly and even waved her hand in a dismissive tone." What was Henry to say to that? He just stood there, not letting any emotion show. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see her look at him through the corner of her eye. She was probably waiting for a reaction from him that would not come. So...once more she persisted.

"Well I do thank you very much. Father told me since I was little that I was the best player of any girl he has ever seen. He told me the teachers and administration would have hell to pay if I wasn't picked to play for my House. I'm pretty tough," she stood up straighter and probably tried to look brave or regal. Henry wanted to chuckle because it looked like she had to use the restroom instead. "Do you know what house you might be in?"

"No," Henry strongly believed this girl was the most tone deaf conversationalist in the universe. Couldn't her seamstress hurry up? Or perhaps his? He wanted away from this girl immediately. He was feeling stupider by the minute.

"I do. Well, I guess no one really knows until they get there," Henry was almost taken aback at this girl showing a bit of humility through her self-absorbed exterior. "But I just know I'll be in Ivybell. All of our family have. I swear if I got put into some low level house like Leetlefloof I think I'd just get up and walk right out of the Grand Hall, wouldn't you?" Henry didn't say a word and the girl arched a very fine, almost see through eyebrow in confusion. What did she think he was supposed to say?

"Ick! Look at that man out there!" Henry looked over the banister of the loft to see outside the store window was Hagish. He could feel his face relax at the sight of someone he knew.

"That's Hagish," said Henry and the girl had a peculiar expression at finally hearing Henry say something other than 'no.' Henry was also a bit tickled he finally knew something or in this case someone this know-it-all didn't. "He works at Harnocks."

"He's not a teacher," the girl said in almost a question, "so he must be, like a servant then? The help." Henry was so surprised over the disrespect he whipped his head to the side to meet those steely, cold blue eyes. His fabrics employee even hissed a scolding for moving.

"He's a king mixer. A mischievous trickster I hear. He lives somewhere just off of the school grounds. He can't do a lick of wand magic and suffers his days doing phony close up optical illusions that made thumb sucking Normies wet their pants. It's disgraceful to our sort, really."

"I think he's amazing," Henry said hotly. He could feel his anger turning his ears pink. For some reason, the girl seemed to flush a bit on her own pale cheeks. She bit her bottom lip in the faintest ghost of nerves but straightened again.

"You do?" She spat and narrowed her eyes. "Why is he even with you? Where are your actual parents?"

"They're dead," Henry couldn't hold back the pain in his voice even though he tried with all of his might. He was going to put this girl in her place if she asked one more sniveling question he swore…

"Oh I'm...sorry," she said with the faint whisper of humility Henry had caught a glimpse of before. "Um...were they…," she gained her courage and changed her tone back to the flippant, know-it-all ways, "were they our sort?"

"They were both casters if that's what you mean."

The girl looked almost relieved.

"My mother and father tell me they should only let kids of casters be allowed at Harnocks. I agree 100%. It's like...Normies having babies with casters is bad enough but sometimes two Normies can have a caster child and that's down right sick to me. Just think this kid living in the Normie world for years just gets a letter and gets to be in our world with no other knowledge and instead just mucks it up with stupidity and lack of understanding. They might as well get themselves killed before they accidentally kill one of us. Magic and wizarding matters are too much for Normie brains I think."

"You want actual people to get killed just because they don't know something," Henry couldn't help but ask. He was very aware that even though both of his parents were casters, he was basically like the Normie child this girl was speaking of. She was basically saying he would kill himself on accident for being 'stupid.' It made his blood boil. He did not like this girl one bit.

"I mean…," she trailed off and Henry did not like that one bit. He didn't like it even further when she chose that moment to change the subject. "Say, what even is your surname? I know most of the old wizarding families and…"

"Thank you Cheebz, I think the boy and girl are both done," Madam Magnolia made the most perfect entrance looking at her employees and the two children. Henry still could feel the girl's question floating in the air. She didn't even introduce herself. She didn't even ask his first name. What was so important about surnames anyway? Did they hold some deep and secret legacy like in medieval times? Henry took his leave and hopped off the footstool ready to get out of there so he did not have to spend one more second with the female Curtis Doofly.

"Geez, you're kind of rude. I guess I'll see you at Harnocks, I suppose," was the last thing Henry heard from the girl as he bounded down the stairs from the loft to meet up with Hagish outside. He was relieved to see him and appreciative when Hagish handed him an impressive waffle cone. The ice cream on top was blue with crushed cookies inside and on top. It tasted a bit like a birthday cake. It was marvelous. As they walked, Hagish could sense there was something wrong.

"My nerves settled faster than I had expected. I also came to make sure you were doing okay. Your robe looks good, lad. I sent for your other two pairs to be delivered."

"It's not my robes Hagish it's...I met someone," Henry began and Hagish's extreme eyebrows rose and fell like the waves of an ocean as he considered what Henry had said.

"I just...feel...stupid…" At that, Hagish stopped dead, put both hands on Henry's shoulders and spun him around to face him. The young boy could feel his robe swish along with him and for a second he felt really cool. Like a superhero with a cape.

"Let me guess, boy. A snotty Ancient Blood wizard must have given you the snotty know-it-all business. Saying a bunch of stuff that you don't understand yet and muddled your head something awful, am I right?" Henry's jaw dropped at the spot on assumption. Hagish was very astute.

"She talked about the Houses of Harnocks, she talked about Grilled Cheese Dueling, and she talked about Normie families and ancient Wizarding families and I'm not very sure but...I think she insulted my late parents and I'm very certain she insulted...you…" Henry dropped his eyes in shame but Hagish bent down at the knee to be eye level with him. His face was kind when Henry met his eyes. He willed himself not to cry. But as he said his next sentence two, fat tears rolled down his cheeks.

"He said casters born from Muggle families should basically be killed."

"A-WHAT?!" Hagish bellowed and stood up pacing frustrated circles around Henry. "A child your age said something that...that...that...VILE?" He circled six more times and resumed his bent knee position, looking serious but very commanding.

"Listen my, lad. The only thing we've got to feel is sorry for folk like that. She's getting it from her parents, that's all that is. Blimey shame really. You...YOU my boy are not from a Normie family. And even if you were that is nothing to be wronged or shamed for. Did you tell her who you were?" Henry shook his head. "You are something, my boy. I don't think you have a narcissistic bone in your body!" Henry wanted to know what that word meant but Hagish kept talking. "If that little girl even had an inkling of who you were she would have cowered in fright for speaking to you in such a way. Every caster child grows up knowing your name, lad." Henry wasn't so sure if that even made him feel better. He decided to change the subject.

"But Hagish? What even is Grilled Cheese Duels...it sounds...kind of silly, actually," Henry sort of giggled and Hagish dropped his jaw in what Henry hoped wasn't offense. It was just that all he had known about magic and wizarding had been so fantastical, ancient, and grand...to have something called "Grilled Cheese Duels" sounded so out of place it was nearly laughable.

"Why, it's our sport! You Normies have tons! The magical world couldn't be bothered with making a bunch so we have one. And that's Grilled Cheese Duels. It wasn't always called that and has had many modifications over the years. In its beginnings, I think it was called Genus De Reflexo."

"How do you play?"

"It's kind of hard to explain, lad. You'll learn all about it because remember...that girl was a jerk but she was right in one thing. You are by far not going to be the only person at that school who is learning everything for the first time. Don't take offense to that. Take pride in that. Caster children like to act big and tough. Especially those with Ancient Blood but I always root for the Normie-born casters. Those are the kids that have the grit and the enthusiasm to go off and do bigger and greater things than even their Ancient Blood counterpart. Your little meddler back at Magnolia is being fed a bunch of bologna by her parents, as I said." Henry wanted to ask about this Ancient Blood stuff. Was it like blood types in his world? Henry was sure he was maybe type O or...something. Was it like that?

"So what's Ivybell and Leetlefloof?" Henry chose to ask instead. They began to walk again. Hagish made mention he had to get his parchment and quills. Why weren't there just notebooks and pens or pencils at this school? It was cool, Henry had to admit. Just it seemed very medieval and kind of creepy. Like Henry was getting ready for a Spooky Fest party instead of school.

"School Houses. There are four of them."

"I bet I'll be in Leetlefloof," Henry said gloomily.

"Now, knock that off you hear?" Henry looked up in shock of Hagish talking to him so sternly. "There is nothing wrong with whatever house you're put into. It's all about traits. Over the generations the school's founders found that children worked better when they were with people that shared their common traits. There's been arguments to change that. Diversity and all of that. But at the end of the day, if you are brave and inquisitive...do you really want to be put in a house with someone who is booksmart and would rather keep to himself?"

"So there must be a better house than the other if you put it that way?"

"I'm not explaining right…" Hagish sighed. "At the end of the day...it's about respect is it not? You all have the gift of magical matters. If you are put in Leetlefloof you will be learning the exact same things as an Ivybell. The only difference is what house colors you wear, where your bed is, and what faculty member is your House Leader." That made Henry reconsider.

"The girl made a way bigger deal out of it. She had me thinking kids in Leetlefloof were some sort of drooling babies."

"Again, that's her parents talking out of her. My guess she will be an Ivybell with that attitude. In days of old, Ivybell housed some of the most prestigious Ancient Blood caster families in all of the Magic Realm." His face fell to look very sad. "But all of that snooty classist pish posh really took a toll. Nowadays it's a bit of an elitist no good House really," he wrinkled his nose.

"Hagish! You basically contradicted yourself! I thought all Houses were good!"

"You are smart, lad. I know what I said. I guess things changed a bit during...the Unmentionable One's time at Harnocks. He was an Ivybell, you know."

Henry's heart dropped.

No. He had not known that. And that surely did change things. It surely changed how he looked at the little girl just his age who proudly wanted to be in the same House as someone who murdered his…

"So Mor-er...the Unmentionable One went to Harnocks?"

"Years ago, lad. Years ago."

With that they bought the parchment and ink. There was even a brand that changed to whatever color you wished with just a thought. They bought his school textbooks in a place called Grounds for Parchments and InkWells. The shelves there were stacked full of bounded leather books . Books that were full of peculiar runes and symbols and some books with nothing in or on them at all. There were even scrolls and tapestries and that funny newspaper Hagish read on the boat but many, many past editions. There were also wizarding magazines and Henry blushed as he read some of the headlines. Some things really weren't so different in his Normie world it would seem.

"The Best of Untamed and Mischief Tome for the Resentful (Up to date know hows of the chillio, inferniate, minionize, and deliriate spells) by Fanie Browsher," as Henry read, he felt the back of his collar being pulled. Hagish looked at him disapprovingly.

"I don't want you to get a resentful heart of those Dooflys, boy."

"How did you know I wanted to figure out how to curse Curtis? Just tell me Hagish, is one of your powers that you can read minds?" Hagish laughed out loud.

"No Henry, my power is that I too, was once an eleven year old boy." He ruffled Henry's hair again. "You can't use magic out of the Magic Realm without serious consequences anyway, lad. Have to be of age and the sort."

They walked towards that first place for cauldrons and Henry was starting to get agitated.

"Why can't I get this gold cauldron, Hagish? I can afford it!"

"Listen to yourself, lad," Hagish said calmly and pointed to where it said pewter on his list. Henry actually felt embarrassed and blushed. He would not become Curits and he most certainly would not become like that brat he met in the robe store.

"I'm sorry, Hagish," he mumbled sheepishly and Hagish rubbed his shoulder. They bought some scales to weigh ingredients in his soon-to-be potions class and Hagish let Henry splurge and get the slightly more expensive collapsible telescope.

They were then off to Questionable Quack's Emporium which was amazing despite the smell of rotting eggs and moldy cucumbers. There were barrels and shelves packed with slimy stuff and jars with things Henry couldn't recognize and some stuff that he thought he maybe could. Was that a carrot genetically spliced with a green pepper?

"Say, Apothecary Todd? Where are your finest potion ingredients for first years?" Hagish questioned the little old man behind the counter while Henry was engrossed with the claws, paws, and jaws hanging either on display or for decoration by the rafters on the ceiling.

"Rat tongues seem to be six studs per scoop but I can use this roodee to buy what I need and also have some left to buy the beetle horns," Henry stated proudly and Hagish beamed.

"You're getting it boy! You are very wise with your Magicoins for sure!"

Back on the cobblestone they went. Henry and Hagish both checked the list.

"Just the most important thing I saved for last! The wand! I also am going to get you a birthday present," Henry completely exploded in blush from being treated this way. A birthday gift...for him?

"Hagish...you don't…"

"Not another word! I want to. Your familiar is what I was aiming to get ya. Not a toad, too old fashioned. Perhaps a cat? I don't know about you but those make me sneeze. Sixam Owl's seem to do the best. Any kid that has them can get their mail easier and they are way more useful at night when you normally have down time at school."

"That makes sense to me," Henry agreed and said his thanks over and over again.

Finer Fare Familiars really was quite a store once you were inside.

Henry finally learned what Bunnerflies, Glowfrogs, and Leafbats were. Like a pet shop, all of the familiars were organized and categorized by not only their species, but their difficulty level to train, their rarity within the Magic Realm, and their own individual personalities. Bunnerflies are common familiars that look like a floating rabbit's head with little butterfly wings allowing it to float. The difficulty to train them is easy and Henry saw many first years going for them. He wasn't impressed with them and they kind of made him queasy. It was too uncanny to see a floating rabbit head he thought. Glowfrogs are uncommon but look the most common to Henry. It was just a frog with a long tale that glowed at the end. As if the frog was half out of tadpole state with a firefly at the end of his tale. It also had scaly wings. Henry was convinced a Glowfrog would be good but he saw that training them is hard as they tended to be very mischievous and you shouldn't look them directly in the eye. There was a warning that no student under fourth year was allowed to have one. Leafbats were very cute. They looked like a fuzzy fruit bat with a pig nose and what looked like two maple leaves sticking off of its head like ears. They were also uncommon but very loyal and easy to train. Most placards said they were used by Ancient Blooded casters.

Henry was just about to call to Hagish that he wanted one of those but in a shrieking cry a huge midnight blue Sixam Owl soared and made the patrons duck and cover. It's bulbous yellow eyes focused on Henry and with another cry, it dipped low and flapped its wings to hover until it perched gently on Henry's shoulder. For such sharp talons, Henry could surprisingly not feel a thing. Maybe that was something to do with the magic of it all? Hagish had tracked the bird's movements and was now looking fondly at Henry who was slack jawed in front of the Leafbat cages with a huge owl on his shoulder. Stricken dumb.

"I think your familiar chose you, mate," he said proudly and Henry could only stare in wonderment at the beautiful bird. It preened itself and made no move as Henry robotically followed Hagish to the counter to pay.

"I've never seen that happen in all of my years," the store clerk said in awe as he rang them up. "I don't even remember that bird in our stock. Must have come just this morning. How it got out I…" looking upon his customers he realized he was saying too much. So he quit talking and helped cage the bird for transport. Henry was thankful Hagish offered to carry the cage.

The last shop the two had to go into was tall and thin.

Juan's Wonderful One-Stop Wand Warehouse since 920 B.C.

Dark bricks adorned the three story building. It had deep wooden arches and torches adorned both sides of the door. In the display window, there were advertisements for the newest materials used to make wand cores. Henry didn't know a wand had a core. He immediately thought of apples.

When Henry entered, a tinkling bell sounded on his arrival. The main floor of the store was quite small and had the same look as a bookstore would. Except instead of books adorning the shelves there were cases and cases of long, thin boxes that Henry assumed held wands. There were also two areas that had triple mirrors Henry assumed were for you to "try out" your wand and to see if you...looked cool with it…? Henry had no idea.

"Sit here, lad," Hagish whispered and immediately gave Henry the impression that this was some sort of strict library where you weren't allowed to talk too loud. Henry did as he was told on the small little stool by the door to wait. There were no other customers in the store and Henry didn't see who ran the place. He concentrated instead on the dust and sights of the lowly lit shop.

"Why, good afternoon Julius Hagish," said a soft but friendly voice. Henry jumped and Hagish looked warmly at the elderly man slowly coming down the stairs. "Pray tell, with whom do you share your company with?" His eyes were milky but full of something otherworldly. It was as if he had many more years in spirit even though his physical appearance didn't look it.

"Good afternoon, sir," Henry spoke for himself. "I'm Henry Puffer, sir."

"Ah yes! Yes indeed," said the man as he landed before them on the first floor. He clasped and gently rubbed his hands together, "I knew I would be seeing you here soon. Henry Puffer." It was as if he was trying out the name for himself. "You've got your father's eyes. It seems only like yesterday he was in here himself, buying his first wand. I remember all the wands I make and sell, you see." He closed his eyes fondly and Henry watched as he mimed a wand before him, holding it and rolling the imaginary stick of wood in his wrinkled hands. "11 and a half inches...made from the wood of a willow. The core was solid bronze. Durable, but flexible for all of his...ways," he chuckled as if he were remembering an old friend and Henry couldn't help but feel embarrassed. He wished he could have known his father.

"My name is Juan Lignum," the old man introduced himself and came closer to shake Henry's hand. The young boy stood up politely to return the shake. "Your mother…" he then let go of Henry's hand and fell back into his trance of remembrance. "She had a shorter wand...9 inches. Very small hands for her age but that was okay. It was a beautiful cedar number. With the core of...a mermaiden's braid...yes! I love seeing my creations pick their owners." He opened his eyes and smiled so bright Henry had to smile too. Then his face fell to confusion.

"What do you mean they 'pick their owners?'" Henry thought back to his owl obediently waiting in his cage outside. It seems in this realm the product picks the consumer. How fantastic. He didn't want to admit, but Mister Lignum was coming very close that Henry was beginning to get uncomfortable. They were almost nose to nose. Gently, and with a steady index finger, he pushed Henry's hair out of the way and brushed the scar. Henry should have felt totally violated and appalled but it was somehow a...comforting gesture?

"I sometimes lose sleep with the knowledge I sold the wand that did this to you, dear boy," he whispered so sadly and softly as he removed himself from Henry's personal space. Over a foot long it was. So powerful. Too powerful. In the wrong hands...if only I would have known what that poor creation would end up doing in those wicked hands…" Mister Lignum shook his head and Hagish cleared his throat.

"The most interesting wand I ever created went to you, eh Julius?" Mister Lignum said with an easy grin. "17 inches of hollow bamboo. The core was visible if you looked down the end of it. Liquid cores are hard to make these days and it was very hard to harvest the spittle of…"

"Yes, yes, it was a very interesting wand indeed," Hagish said and his eyes moved very fast towards Henry. The boy's face fell. Hagish was not very good at keeping things from him. He obviously wanted Mister Lignum to shut up because he was there. Mister Lignum took the hint because he gestured silently for Henry to stand and follow. He did as he was told.

"Let...me...see," said Mister Lignum. A tape measuring with silver markings whizzed out of his pocket and flew very fast in the air. Henry's head whipped to and fro to try and track it but it was measuring each of Henry's fingers. "Right handed?"

"Yes, sir," Henry mumbled and held the arm out straight when Mister Lignum requested. The flying tape measurer did the length of his arm, the length of his hand, each finger yet again, and the circumference of his wrist. "Does this wand take into account me growing? I mean...do you keep the wand forever, sir?" Mister Lignum's bushy white eyebrows nearly went up to his hairline and his eyes quickly met Hagish's before back to Henry's. The tape measurer was now measuring shoulder to elbow, elbow to wrist, floor to shoulder, knee to armpit, and then the circumference of Henry's head.

"What a remarkable question young sir, I don't recall ever being asked such a thing. That is why I use this enchanted tape measurer, you see. It takes the measurements and adjusts them to your expected growth. You should have the same wand all of your wizarding life but alas...we are all Sims and therefore accidents happen."

"Cool," was all Henry could say with awe and Mister Lignum chuckled.

"What's even more 'cool' is none of my wands are the same. I use every wood from any tree you can imagine, the cores are of powerful magical substance, Mr. Puffer. Mermaid hair, metals such as bronze, heart strings from beasts a plenty. And in the olden days," he looks again once more to Hagish, "liquid substances such as blood or spit from...other creatures."

"Why don't you make more of those kinds?"

"Too volatile I found. What's more. Sure, any wizard can use any wand but it's your wand that gives you the best results. Using a friend's or even a family member's just won't do. This is an ancient technique and it hasn't been beaten in millenia.

As the tape measured more uncomfortable areas such as the crease at Henry's hip, he saw Mister Lignum slide box after box of thin wand cases from their shelf. The shelves were not marked like at the familiar shop. However Mister Lignum had them organized only for him to know. At once, the tape measurer went slack, rolled itself up, and rolled across the floor, up Mister Lignum's leg, and back into his pocket.

"Let's begin to try! See here! The mirrors," he shuffled an awkward Henry in front of them. Undoing the box, Mister Lignum gently placed a long stick that was quite ornate into Henry's hand. "This is a sturdy pine wand, nine inches. The core is that of a dragon's tongue."

Feeling sort of stupid, Henry swished the wand like the fairies in the fairy tale books. Mister Lignum gasped and snatched it out of Henry's grasp. He mumbled something like I hope I'm not losing my touch and shook his head, handing him another.

"This is a seven inch elm. Core of a bunnerfly wing."

Henry was a bit offended and hoped that he would grow bigger and stronger to have a pipsqueak seven incher of a wand. But all the same he swished it three times before MIster Lignum snatched it free from the young boy's grasp and tsk tsk-ed not Henry, but himself.

"You're a tricky, boy, young Henry...hm," he gave him another one, "maybe this majestic palm with unicorn hair. Try…"

Henry barely had it raised and poised to swish when that was yanked from him too.

There was then the cypress, the oak, the maple, and even one that looked like solid rock and Henry forgot the wood. He was growing impatient and even though he didn't show it, Mister Lignum probably was feeling it too. The used wands were growing in a pile and Henry was getting embarrassed. Maybe the girl in the shop was right. Maybe when you live too long in the Normie world things do go wrong for you. What is the average span it takes for a caster child to find his wand?

"Not to worry, not to worry young sir, we will find the perfect match here. Somewhere it is here. We can try this unusual combination...hawthorn...eleven inches and…" Mister Lignum's voice went low, "the horn of a veild."

A bit put out, Henry gently took the wand in spite of his growing wrist cramp.

Something different happened.

When he took the wand, he felt a rush of warmth spread from the back of his neck down his right arm to the tips of his fingers. It was as if he dunked his whole arm into a steaming hot tub. When he raised the wand, he could faintly feel it vibrate. It made all of the hairs on his arm stand at end. When he released his swishing movement, green and gold sparks flew from the tip and danced up and down the walls of the store. Hagish jumped to his feet and began to clap and stomp his feet. The discarded wands rolled a bit with all of the ruckus on the floor.

"And there we have it gentleman, bravo young Puffer! Very remarkable...very remarkable indeed," Mister Lignum pursued his lip and scratched his white bearded chin.

Henry gently handed the wand back to him and he carefully packaged it back up.

"What's so remarkable about it? That it took a long time to find?" Henry asked.

Mister Lignum just stared.

"I can recall every wand I've made for the last 127 years," he seemed to almost chant. Henry swallowed at the ridiculous number of years. Veilds are one of the rarest familiars and creatures in the Realm of Magic. When they are alive they float above their master looking almost like an elk skull with long, spiraled horns. So you have the veild horn...and another has the wand with the fragments of the veild skull."

Henry gulped.

"The partner to your wand gave you that scar, Henry," Mister Lignum's eyes fell. "Fear not, young Master Puffer. The wand chooses the caster, remember. Not the other way around. The Unmentionable One did great things. I can imagine you will do great things as well. Surely, whereas the Unmentionable One fell to darkness and despair...you have a different tale to tell I would believe."

A great chill pulled Henry's spine uncomfortably but Hagish helped Henry pay for the wand. He paid eight green lums for the wand and they exited the shop with a wave from Mister Lignum that looked almost too somber for Henry's comfort.

It was late afternoon and Henry had a lot of shopping to juggle. Books, a robe, textbooks, parchment, quills, telescopes, scales, a cauldron, and not to mention an owl. Hagish carried most of it and the two lumbered down Caster's Alley, back through the archway, back through Waylon's Haunt, which was now empty. Henry couldn't speak as they walked down the road together. He paid no attention to the townies now known to Henry as Normies gawked and pointed when they saw all of the strange things he and his company were in tow with.

"We've got time for a bite before the train arrives," Hagish informed him. The older man was kind to buy Henry some pizza and they ate silently at a table outside of the establishment. Henry's Sixam Owl was sleeping soundly and Henry barely touched his food, instead he studied the animal.

"Henry? You're awfully quiet. Are you alright?"

It was hard for Henry to put into words how he was feeling. Slowly, he took a bite and chewed to give him more time to get his thoughts in order. This was the most peculiar and awesome birthday Henry Puffer has ever had in his life. Fantastical and extraordinary.

"It's hard getting used to being special when you're whole life you were told you were nothing," Henry choked out. He began feeling that aching feeling in his chest. That dark one. Hagish had said the word but Henry forgot which one it was. "Everyone I met in Waylon's Haunt...even my future professor looked upon me as if I was Octavia Moon."

"Normie celebrities…" Hagish mumbled lowly with a side-eye.

"How can I live up to that, Hagish? I feel just like a normal kid that was just taught everything I had previously known was wrong! I'm just like that robe girl said. I'm basically a Normie child pushed into this life except I feel like the face of it all and can't even explain to anyone that that's not me that's…" Henry sighed, "baby me." He bit another bite and spoke with his mouth full without realizing it. "I don't know what happened that night when Morm-The Unmentionable One killed my parents. I know I was there when they died but I can't remember stuff like that when I was a baby."

"You're feeling very pressured with high expectations, huh?"

"How do you do that, Hagish?"

"Don't you worry your head, Henry. You are not stunted or off to a bad start just because you weren't accustomed to it for ten years. You'll learn fast enough. Everyone starts at the beginning before they get really good at something. You have to start somewhere. That somewhere just happens to be Harnocks. Has been that way for centuries. You just have to stay true to you and that can be hard, I understand. You've been singled out against your knowledge or will and that is downright crummy and unfair in a way. I understand."

"It's crazy merging my two lives, Hagish. Here I am eating pizza like I have been for years...but I look over and know that I have a wand that works in that package right there. Or an owl!" He gestured wildly at the blue creature. "Right here by my toes!"

Hagish reached a long arm across their table and ruffled his hair in the way Henry had begun to really like. He couldn't help but smile along with the older man. They finished eating and Hagish walked with Henry all the way to the trains of Bridgeport. He now had to go back to Newcrest with the Dooflys. It made his heart sink.

"Here is your ticket for Harnocks," Hagish said and handed him the slip of paper. "September first, at the station right in your home world of Newcrest. Ravendancer I believe it's called. The information is all on the ticket and if those blasted Dooflys give you any trouble why…" he collected himself. "Just send your owl here and he will know where to find me. I will be seeing you, ya hear?"

Without thinking, Henry threw his small arms around the thin waist of Hagish. He almost felt like they could have wrapped around twice the man was so oddly shaped. With his nose in Hagish's belly he relaxed when he felt two large hands pat his back in return. When they released, Hagish stood on the platform and watched Henry's train leave until it was out of sight.