Another Time – Another World
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
AN: I apologize for the length of this chapter. I realize it is shorter than normal. I also apologize in advance for any mistakes you may find in this chapter.
I think I need to clarify something: when Dumbledore summoned Hylas, he pulled Hylas from a different dimension, specifically, a dimension that's operating in the 1800s. So Hylas is going to have to dimension travel to get back home. He's not meeting anyone from Kuroshitsuji where he's at. I promise we will get there.
I've started college this year and, well, it's going. Here's the chapter.
Chapter Seven:
Almost the moment Hylas stepped down from the train his eyes filled with the sight of a ridiculous yellow suit. And this was the man he let design his clothes? His eyes glanced up to see Nigel looking much blonder than he remembered last he saw the man.
"Cutie-pie!" Nigel squealed, grabbing Hylas and swinging him up into a hug, spinning him around. "Oh, my sweet Cutie-pie, I missed you so much! Did you miss me? Did you have fun at school? Did you miss me? What all did you learn? Did you miss me? Where are the twinsies you introduced me to? Most importantly, did you miss me, my Cutie-pie?!"
Once Nigel put him down, though he didn't release him, Hylas hitched up one of his eyebrows. "Did I not already answer most of those questions in our letters?" Though Hylas did admit to himself that he was relieved Nigel hadn't brought up the subject of his illness.
Nigel finally withdrew his arms from Hylas's waist and proceeded to cross them as a pout formed on the older man's face. That was a clear cue to Hylas that he was supposed to answer again, no matter if he already had.
With a mock exasperated sigh, "Fine. School was okay, the academic aspect was lacking. Pretty much useless spells, is what I've learned; I made up for it though. The twins did make school fun, and they are behind you on the train stairs silently laughing at us."
Nigel spun around to see Fred and George, indeed barely withholding laughter, grinning at him- they gave Nigel a small wave. The currently blond man smiled back at them before returning to Hylas.
"And, of course, I missed you, Nigel. There was not one at school to dress me up like a doll – those grinning fools behind you barely manage to dress themselves. I couldn't even wear the outfits you make me because they weren't part of the school uniform." Hylas continued. His words earning him yet another 'glomp' from the man. Much to the twins' amusement.
While Nigel continued his attempt to smother Hylas, Fred and George worked together to get all of their trunks off the train, stacking them haphazardly on a single trolley. They figured Hylas and Nigel weren't going to become unattached anytime soon.
Nigel, almost fifteen minutes of his smothering later, finally released Hylas (much to his relief) and turned his sights upon the twins.
Dramatically, Nigel plopped his hands on his hips (this caused his sleeved to reveal his wrists which Hylas silently noticed were bruised in an unusual way making his eyes narrow). "So, you are the two who have been taking care of my Cutie-pie?"
The twins nodded solemnly, before bowing to Nigel in tandem. "Yes sir. You're the one who took care of QT before we got to him. It's a pleasure to meet you. And we must give you our sincerest thanks for all of the goodie bags you've sent to us and your lovely correspondence. Both were greatly appreciated." They concluded their speech- for it was one indeed, broken up between the both of them- by each one taking one of Nigel's hands and pressing a kiss to the back.
Needless to say, Nigel was completely charmed.
Territerriterri
The four of them arrived in Paris by train the next day. The twins were clothed in outfits that complemented Hylas's Victorian style wardrobe. Nigel had pre-prepared the clothes for them- Hylas had gotten their measurements and, unbeknownst to the twins, paid Nigel to make them outfits that could be worn in the muggle world without attracting attention but with an added Victorian flare. This was slightly different from Hylas's wardrobe; his was obviously Victorian and unfortunately did attract more attention than he liked. But he was not going to change the clothes he was comfortable in.
Nigel, as per usual, wore suits in flamboyant colors and patterns with numerous ruffles attached. It was completely Nigel.
They wandered around the narrow cobblestone backstreets of Paris looking for the building that housed the Potter family penthouse apartment. Once or twice the three older members of the group had to grab hold of Hyla's arm or hand to stop him from accidentally wandering away from the group. Eventually they found their way to the building and rode the elevator to the top (something that amazed the twins and reminded them of the entrance to the Ministry of Magic's entrance). They dropped off their luggage before heading to a cute restaurant they had passed on their way to the apartment.
Together they ate in easy comradery on a veranda under the stars. Hylas had the best time convincing the twins to try unusual French cuisine, even managing to get them to eat escargot. Needless to say, once they had been told of what they had consumed, their reactions were hilarious to Hylas and Nigel.
They left the restaurant and had a photo off in front of the Eiffel Tower, which was alight with lights. Taking the elevator to the top they were amazed to behold the breathtaking view from the high vantage point. The lights twinkling across the cityscape was beautiful. They manage to get another friendly tourist to take their picture together in exchange for taking one of their family.
That night they returned to the apartment exhausted from the travel and roaming, but all were buzzing with excitement for the rest of the trip.
Territerriterri
Over the course of their trip they visited all the places they could think of in Paris to visit and did things they believed to be 'French-like'.
"Okay, why are we here again?"
"Don't you want to see the Eiffel Tower during the daylight?" Nigel asked George.
"Its fine, I reckon. However…"
"I believe what my dearest brother is saying is that this tower, in the daylight, looks awfully like it does a night…
"Right, but if seeing a metal structure in all available lighting makes you and QT happy…"
"Well, I guess we have enough pictures-" Nigel began, but George and Fred had already grabbed Hylas by his underarms, frog marching him away backwards.
"What in the name of…?" Hylas said. He and Nigel had left the twins outside for a bit while they had run inside a shop to by some scones. They really shouldn't have done that upon reflection.
"I believe they are…arguing with that mime. Maybe." Nigel responded, torn between amusement at the sight and disbelief.
The twins were silently on their knees, expression strained as if they were trying to pull some great weight, though their hands were clenched around nothing. Behind them there was a man in a beret with his face painted white with black make-up around his eyes and on his lips, dressed in stereotypical mime's clothes.
The mime had a furious expression on his face and his arms were tight to his side as if they were bound with rope. His feet, however, were spread apart and planted as if he were trying to slow the twins pulling with his feet.
When the twins saw their disbelieving they smiled and waved them over, accidentally letting go of the 'rope' that was leashing the mime. The mime then unbound himself from his 'imprisonment' and began pushing up his sleeves and menacingly started heading for the twins.
The twins glanced at the mime coming towards them and then each grabbed Nigel and Hylas's arms and began to run away.
Later when they had stopped they asked the twins what that had been about.
"We saw him and wanted to make sure you two saw him. I mean we've been in Paris for a few days and that was the first mime we've seen. Who knew they were so violent?"
"So, what do you think?"
"Honestly? Not much. I mean she's not even that great looking and I've never been able to tell whether she's actually smiling or not. Not my cup of tea. Now some of those Greek statues…" Nigel said, trailing off with a smile at the thought of the male Greek statues.
George and Fred laughed at Hylas's blush.
"How in the world did I let you people talk me into this?"
"Oh, come on QT. It's not that bad."
"Yeah, look over there at Nigel, he's having a blast and it's his first time doing it too."
"Well, he hasn't fallen on his bum every time he's tried to move. My word, what devil came up with the dumb idea to attach what amounts to a narrow knife on the bottom of a shoe and skate around on frozen water? Should be beheaded by guillotine. Utterly ridiculous."
The twins glanced at each other skeptically, "Yeah…right. You're only saying that because you're not naturally good at this."
Hylas did not dignify that with a response.
"Oh my god! That's a Vuitton shop! We are so stopping here! Now!" and so Nigel squealed as he abandoned three children in the streets of Paris to look at designer bags.
"What is Vuitton?" George asked Fred.
"No clue. Seems like an important muggle thing." Fred replied and the both of them turned to Hylas for an answer.
Hylas shrugged- again that bad habit. "How should I know?"
They sat outside the store for the next hour coming up with more and more outrageous ideas as to what 'Vuitton' could be. Needless to say they were disappointed to find out it was a high end bag brand.
They didn't exchange gifts and everyone was perfectly okay with that. Nigel bid them all a teary farewell when they were once more at King's Cross to return to Hogwarts.
After the Christmas Holiday the school year passed in much the same way as the first part of the school year. The twins and Hylas continued to learn and study non-magical subjects – growing into more complex subjects as time progressed. Though Hylas had miraculously made it through their trip to Paris without having a fit, that luck had not continued upon returning to Hogwarts, so the twins made sure he was okay and fretted over him.
Territerriterri
Strangely enough, Professor Quirrell had mysteriously vanished over the Christmas break much to the alarm of the entire staff. This resulted in Professor Dumbledore taking over the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts for the remainder of the school year. Which Hylas positively loathed, but other than his severe hatred of Dumbledore rearing he didn't pay much attention to the change nor the reason for the change. He hadn't cared for Quirrell much really.
School soon came upon summer break. Nigel once more greeted Hyas with a smothering hug, only this time catching the twins in one too. Hylas left with Nigel after repeating his promises to the twins to write and have them come spend some of the summer with him.
Hylas and Nigel meandered home, chatting along the way. They stopped by John Beau's music shop to discuss his piano and violin lessons restarting for the summer. Upon arriving at their apartment building, Hylas waved Nigel in his door before opening his own. He nearly dropped his trunk (which had been charmed to be small and feather light) on his foot as he saw a group of black cloaked figures wearing white masks in his foyer.
He was stunned before he could even hope to open his mouth to scream.
Nigel opened his door the next morning to find Hylas's door wide open with his trunk fallen over on its side in the doorway. Hylas was nowhere to be found.
AN: I get this odd feeling that someone is going to want to strangle me for that. Nevertheless, please tell me what you think.