Disclaimer: I still don't own Harry Potter. If I ever do, I can assure you I would support so many movies set in different time periods if I did.
At seven years of age there are certain words most children wouldn't know by being raised in a light family. Alex grumbled, perhaps it was a miscalculation to slip out a comment to the mudblood in town. It wasn't entirely his fault, if their family still had Percy around to babysit them whenever their mother had to go into town for necessities like food then the situation with the childish witches wouldn't have occurred…
"Come along, twins!" Molly called from downstairs with Ginny by her side, "Both twins, I'm not leaving either of you here to cause some damage while I'm going into town."
Ron popped his head out and said, "But Mum, it's sunny outside. It's a perfect day to play outside and use the broo―"
A hand covered Ron's mouth and hissed, "Ron! You almost told her!"
Molly replied knowingly, "Last time I left you two with the older twins, we lost a fourth of the flock because of your silly games."
Fred and George sensing their mother wouldn't change her mind, trampled down the stairs while trying to push each other off in a makeshift race. Ron and Alex followed soon after, both a little put out on missing out a day outside with brooms.
Walking into Ottery St Catchpole, Alex tried to avoid going too near obvious muggles. Molly walked into a wizarding shop carrying Ginny. She left the two sets of twins outside and kept an eye on them from inside the shop. Alex was waiting around bored outside with his brothers, who were anxious to get back home. A young group of teenage witches were passing by when they spotted the younger twins.
"Oh my god, Katie look at the little boys!" One of the teenage girls seemed to materialize in front of Ron and Alex. Using a high pitched voice, she continued,"They're so cute! Their eyes are so blue, like cornflowers!"
Childish indignation started to bubble from Alex. He knew he wasn't as intimidating as he perhaps would've been as a Black but it didn't mean people should point it out. Alex noticed glumly that Ron liked to attention he was receiving and therefore wasn't likely to try and get the girls to go away. The older twins were making goofy faces, perhaps in vain hope of deterring the group of teens.
The other girls started to surround the two twins, cooing at the frown appearing on Alex's face and Ron's cherub smiles. One of the girls who was wearing muggle clothes, reached out to pinch Alex's cheek and he struggled to fight his inner seven year old when he finally whined,
"Leave me alone, you filthy mudblood!"
A silence fell over the group of girls, one of them started to say quietly, "Well, that's not a very nice thing―"
"ALEXANDER SEPTIMUS WEASLEY, WHERE DID YOU LEARN SUCH LANGUAGE." Molly yelled from the store entry way, Ginny covered her ears because she was so close to her mother. "NEVER IN MY YEARS, WOULD I HAVE THOUGHT MY OWN SON WOULD USE SUCH CALLOUS LANGUAGE AGAINST OTHERS!"
A surprised Alex defensively said, "But, Mum she was annoying me!"
Molly's face became even more red with anger and shame, "YOUNG MAN, WE ARE GOING TO GO BACK HOME AND YOU'RE GOING TO THINK ABOUT THE WORDS YOU USE AGAINST OTHERS. AND NO BROOMS!" She turned to the group of girls and softly said, "I'm sorry, young ladies for my son's language. I don't know where he even heard it."
One of the girls piped up and said, "It's alright Ma'am, we were just going to go now…" The girls nodded to each other and waved goodbye.
A tense silence fell over the Weasleys, when Molly finally broke it and said, "Come along, we're going home."
The silence seemed to stay until they arrived home and dispersed. Alex was about to run up the stairs, but heard an angry voice say. "Alexander, I still need to speak to you about your behavior earlier."
He debated running up the stairs but decided to ultimately bare what his mother had to say about insulting mudbloods. He walked to the kitchen table and sat down sullenly.
His mother asked in a questioning voice from the opposite side of the table, "Alex, do you know what the word you called the young girl means?"
Alex squirmed in his seat, not knowing whether he should tell the truth and how he would explain any answer he gave. Instead of answering, Alex kept his eyes downcast and shifted them to study the wooden table.
Molly frowned at him, "I don't want to hear you call anyone that name. We fought against families in the war who used words like that to discriminate against new families in the wizarding world. We are not a dark family and I'm disappointed in you."
Alex sneered slightly and crossed his arms, "Fine, can I go now?"
His mother, still upset answered, "Go clean out the yard of gnomes and no broom for two weeks. I'm going to talk to your father about this."
A week after the incident Alex was asked to stay sitting in the kitchen by his parents. There was a short silence before Arthur spoke up and told his son, "We're enrolling you into school."
"What? What are you talking about." Alex asked confused, as far as he knew Hogwarts only accepted eleven year olds. "Am I going to Hogwarts early?"
His mother continued, "No, we're enrolling you and your brother into the local muggle school until you go to Hogwarts."
Alarmed he exclaimed looking at his father, "Why!? That's idiotic, I'll end up talking to stupid muggles or even muggleborns. What they're going to teach isn't even important, I'm a wizard not a muggle!"
Arthur pressed on and plainly stated, "You need to be exposed to more children your age and of different classes of society."
Alex frowned, "But I have my brothers, and sometimes we play with the older boys like Cedric."
Molly said, "We've already told Ron about this, you're starting next Monday."
Alex spent the weekend before his first day at school moping and trying to dissuade his parents from continuing the very cruel punishment of interacting with muggles. On the other hand, Ron seemed nervous but excited because it ultimately meant less chores for him at home. The older twins teased they would have the brooms all to themselves and might even have to start teaching Ginny if they wanted to play any games. Ginny seemed delighted at the prospect of learning to fly, but was quickly disappointed to find out her older brothers were joking with them.
On Monday morning while picking at his food, Alex asked his mother for the umpteeth time. "Mum, do I have to go to muggle school?" He morosely added, "Why are Fred and George not attending with us as well? They start ten times more ruckus than Ron and I. Plus we won't be able to see everyone as much if I'm at school…"
He heard his mother sigh and reply, "You know it's for your own good." She placed more food in front of Ron who was trying to inhale food discreetly with his brother nearby. Molly continued, "Besides it's already a done deal and you'll have your brother with you. I can see how much you miss Percy, perhaps this will help you take your mind off his leaving for Hogwarts for the first time. I promise it gets easier with time, and in a few years you'll be joining your brothers as well."
Smiling down at him, she told both boys to get their things ready so she could walk them down to the school for their first day. Alex didn't even notice the short walk to the school because of his nervousness. While trying to maintain a calm face he worried if the muggle children would be cruel and vindictive like his parents from a distant memory drilled into his head. Ron noticed his twin's increasing tension, he brought his brother back to earth by patting his head and whispered in a conspiring manner, "Don't worry so much, I'll be there with you. I'm a bit nervous too, but I figure it can't be so bad if muggles are able to survive school. At least there won't be a troll we have to battle to be sorted."
Alex rolled his eyes, "Ron we don't have to battle a troll in Hogwarts, how would there be any Hufflepuffs if we did?"
His twin shrugged, "That's what Charlie told Fred and George."
Christmas break came quickly enough to Alex's surprise, he had to admit the possibility of going to muggle school might have helped the time pass quickly. Additionally, the school had a library which brought Alex much joy and he thanked Merlin for small favors when he noticed there wasn't just children's books. Alex didn't read muggle fiction or books in his past life so he was surprised to find he actually took a liking to muggle fiction and classical books. He was particularly fascinated by books set in the Victorian Era because he noticed the biggest changes between muggles and the magical community seemed to diverge at this time when muggles created radical changes with the discoveries of their inventions, new ideas for government and social movements.
Thankfully the long Christmas break brought a reprieve from the contradictory information towards his beliefs. Alex looked forward to seeing his family together despite his frustrations a few months back. Alex heard his father yell over the loud roar of Ford Anglia, "Come on Weasleys, let's go pick up your brothers from the train station!"
The older twins and Ginny came running down the stairs, while Ron popped his head out the kitchen with suspiciously filled pockets. Alex put down his book, A Tale of Two Cities, walked over from the living room and whispered to Ron as they were leaving, "Hey give me some of what you have."
Ron gave an expression of mock indignation and covered his pockets, "I don't know what you mean brother. Because I could lugging around a gnome for all you know!"
Alex smiled and made a grab for his twin's pockets, while Ron quickly pulled out some chocolate cookies and threw them at his brother. Ron swiftly ran to the car with the rest of his spoils laughing. Rolling his eyes, Alex was glad he was able to catch the cookies. Truthfully he didn't know if it was Ron's influence or Weasley genetics that made him appreciate food more. Perhaps, he mused, his mother was just that good at cooking. As a Black he had always been a skinny child because of a lack of appetite. A dreary and gloomy house didn't really incite a lot of hunger. Not that he was a fat child, but he certainly filled out his clothing instead of having it hang off his frame a little. Settling into his seat in the Ford he tried to hide the cookies from his mother, who was currently lightly reprimanding Ron for waiting until after dinner.
Waiting at the station, it didn't take long for the tired students to find the rest of the Weasley family. Hugs were exchanged fiercely by Molly who was delighted to see her children and everyone was shuffled back to the car with a never ending amount of space to fit them all. Bill spoke his second year of being a prefect and Charlie described the quidditch try outs. Alex hoped his eldest brother would leave behind his advanced books at the end of his last year but Alex knew that he might have to fight Percy for the eventual ownership of the books.
A few days later Bill asked Alex over lunch, "So I heard you and Ron started muggle school, I didn't know you two were also a mischievous set of twins." He winked and continued, "I suppose you two were late bloomers!"
Alex awkwardly stated, "All I did was say something that upset Mum and Dad, but I like the library they have in the school."
Percy raised his eyebrows, surprised at Bill's words and asked, "What did you say Alex?"
Alex squirmed in his chair and saw three of his brothers give him a questioning look, while the others were trying to look away. Except Ron who was frowning at them slightly, who looked ready to answer for him if Alex didn't answer the question. Alex hastily answered, "I, um, said something insulting to someone in town. Mum thought it was really...unsuitable for me say such words."
Charlie seemed to grow disinterested in the conversation, while Bill nodded in response. Percy continued to look at him concerned and replied, "I see, as long as you've recognized what you did wrong." Percy smiled and continued, "So there's a library? What treasures have you found?"
Alex smiled hesitantly, internally feeling slightly guilty, but he answered a little more enthusiastic, "Yes! I found many novels, but unlike the novels in the wizarding world…" Alex continued to indulge his brother childishly about the books he had found. Ron brought his attention back to the shepard's pie he was previously eating, and smiled as he brought a forkful to his mouth.
A/N: This was sitting in my folders for like 2 weeks. I actually wrote it right after chapter two but I found myself disappointed with it. I don't know, I'll push on through. The next chapter is going to be the last family home time chapter before Alex beings his first year. I'm not entirely sure yet if he should join the Gryffindors or perhaps Ravenclaw. Or maybe Hufflepuff :) There's so many directions this fanfic can turn at just the sorting, so I'm very excited for that. We'll seeeee .u.