Diagon Alley
Axel and Scarlet stood with their mouths wide open, awestruck by the many shops along the alley, and the sheer mass of people that were hurrying around.
"We should get a move on." Snape said, becoming slightly impatient with his children's gawking.
This caused a look of confusion to wash over Axel and Scarlet's faces.
"Where do we have to go?" Scarlet asked.
"We shall start by purchasing your school robes from Madame Malkins." Snape replied.
The children followed their father as he entered a nearby building. As they entered, a bell above the door rang.
"I shall be with you in a moment!" a high-pitched voice called from the back room.
A few minutes later, a tall woman appeared from where the voice had called previously.
"How may I help you?" she asked.
"We are here to purchase our school robes." Scarlet replied.
"Very well, follow me." the woman said, leading Axel and Scarlet to the back. "Stand up there and I shall take your measurements."
Axel and Scarlet stood on the platforms and waited for the woman to begin.
They were finished within a few minutes, so they went back to where Professor Snape was waiting, and paid with the money Snape gave them.
"Thank you." Scarlet said.
Snape took Axel and Scarlet back into the alleyway.
"What were those coins Severus?" Axel asked.
"They are the currency that is used in the wizarding world." Snape explained. "The small bronze coins are called Knuts, the silver coins are Sickles, and the large gold coins are called Galleons. There are 29 Knuts to a Sickle, 17 Sickles to a Galleon, and 493 Knuts to a Galleon."
"Ok." Axel said. "Where do we need to go next?"
"The next place we need to go is the apothecary to buy some potions supplies." Snape replied.
Axel and Scarlet followed the professor as he lead them into a very strange building.
Along the walls of the shop were many strange ingredients such as bat's wings, newt's eyes, and porcupine spines.
It wasn't long before Snape was scanning the shelves, picking things out and putting them on the counter. Whilst he was doing so, Axel and Scarlet took the time to look around.
Whilst they were exploring the many curiosities that lined the shelves, they nearly walked into two boys that were also in the shop.
Both boys turned to face Axel and Scarlet and it became apparent that they were brothers, and that one was around 7 years older than the other.
"Sorry." Scarlet said. "We should have been paying more attention to where we were walking."
"Don't worry about it." the older boy said. "My name is Mycroft Holmes, and this is my younger brother Sherlock."
"I'm Scarlet, and this is Axel" Scarlet replied.
"I assume you will be starting your first year at Hogwarts in September?" Mycroft asked.
"Yeah, we're here with our father to get what we need." Axel replied.
"Ah, good. Sherlock's also starting in September, the only problem is that he can be a bit... difficult sometimes." Mycroft explained.
"What do you mean 'difficult'?" Scarlet asked.
"Go ahead Sherlock" Mycroft said whilst turning towards his younger brother. "Show them."
Sherlock took a step forwards and scanned Axel and Scarlet. A small smirk appeared on his face before he spoke. "You both grew up in an orphanage and only just left with your father. You travelled here via the floo network and it was your first time ever using it, your father is the potions master at Hogwarts, but you never knew your mother which you find rather upsetting. Was I wrong?"
"No, you're right... about everything, but how did you know?" Scarlet asked, surprised by how Sherlock knew so much.
"I didn't know, I saw." Sherlock replied. "When you came in, your father went straight to the counter. Normally parents would stay with their children and help them find what they need, your father's clothes also point to the robes worn by a Hogwarts teacher. That observation along with what I already know about Hogwarts from Mycroft shows that your father is the potions master. As for the orphanage, the way you said 'sorry' earlier sounded slightly worried and the wear on your clothes shows that you grew up in a place where there were many other children. Finally, travelling by floo leaves a distinct smell on clothes that fades away quickly but can linger on older clothes."
"Wow, that's amazing!" Scarlet exclaimed after Sherlock had finished his explanation.
"Really?" Sherlock asked, slightly surprised. "That's not what people usually say."
"What do people usually say?" Axel asked.
"'Piss off'" Sherlock replied, before chuckling.
"Axel. Scarlet. I have everything you need." Severus called from the front of the shop. "We need to go and get your wands next."
"Coming Severus" Axel called back.
"You wouldn't mind if we came with you, do you?" Mycroft asked.
"Not at all." Scarlet replied, as the four made their way back to the front of the shop to meet with Snape.
"Hello Professor." Mycroft said when Snape came into view.
"Hello Mycroft." Snape replied, "I assume this is your brother Sherlock?"
"Yes professor, we were just going to Ollivander's with Axel and Scarlet, if that's alright with you." Mycroft asked.
"Of course. I need to buy the remainder of Axel and Scarlet's equipment, so I shall leave you to keep an eye on them."
"Of course, sir." Mycroft turned once Snape had left. "Come on, we should get going to Ollivander's."
Axel and Scarlet followed as Mycroft and Sherlock left the Apothecary and went into a very old-looking building.
"Come to get your wands?" a voice called from one of the isles that spread behind the counter.
"We have." Mycroft replied. A moment later, an elderly man appeared behind the counter. "Hello Mr Ollivander."
"Hello again Mycroft." the man replied. "Might I ask who you are with?"
"This is my brother, Sherlock, and this is Scarlet and Axel." Mycroft gestured behind him as he announced each name.
"Ah, of course. Who will be getting their wand first?" Mr Ollivander asked, eyes wandering over the Axel, Scarlet and Sherlock.
"Scarlet, you can go first if you want." Axel said. "Is that alright with you Sherlock?"
"Of course." Sherlock replied.
Scarlet moved closer to the counter as Mr Ollivander disappeared down one of the isles and reappeared with a variety of different wand boxes. He then proceeded to open one of the boxes and hand the wand to Scarlet. "Maple and unicorn hair. 8 inches. Supple." Mr Ollivander gave Scarlet an encouraging smile. "Go on then, give it a wave."
Scarlet gave the wand a wave before it was taken back by Mr Ollivander. "No, not this one..." He handed Scarlet a different wand. "Ash and dragon heartstring. 9 3/4 inch. Unyielding."
Scarlet gave the second wand a wave, before Mr Ollivander took it back once again. "Hmm... how about we try something a bit more unusual?" He moved down one of the isles, and came back with a vibrant emerald green box. "I decided to experiment a while back with different wand cores and woods. This is one of them." He opened the box, and handed Scarlet a beautifully crafted wand. "Willow and chimera scale. 10 inches. Sturdy." Scarlet proceeded to give the unusual wand a wave. As she did, a myriad of sparks shot from the end. "Ah! A perfect match!" Mr Ollivander said. "After all, it is the wand that chooses the wizard. But it is rather curious..."
"How is it curious?" Scarlet asked, looking down at her new wand. She ran her fingers over the rivets on the handle and smiled absentmindedly.
"It is curious in the fact that the core of your wand is the same as another of the wands I made whilst experimenting. The other wand was purchased only yesterday, and the two wands are unique solely because the scales come from the same chimera, and they were the only two that I could gather from it." Mr Ollivander sighed, before turning to look at Axel and Sherlock. "Now then, which one of you wants to go next?"
"Go ahead Axel." Sherlock said. "I already have a good idea of what wand will chose me, so I won't take very long."
"Alright." Axel replied, stepping towards the counter as Scarlet moved back towards Sherlock and Mycroft. Mr Ollivander returned all of the wand boxes from before to the shelves, and returned with a different one.
"Cedar and phoenix feather. 11 inches. Very flexible." He handed the wand to Axel, only to take it back mere seconds later. "Not this one. I wonder..." He vanished down one of the isles and reappeared with a beautiful ruby colored box. "This is another of my experiments. African Ebony and vampire fang. 9 1/2 inches. Sturdy."
Axel gave the wand a wave, and a flurry of golden sparks shot from the end. "Excellent!" Mr Ollivander exclaimed. "Now then, Sherlock, let's get you your wand. You said you had an idea of what wand will chose you?"
Axel went back to Scarlet and Mycroft as Sherlock went to the counter. "Yes. You said you were experimenting, so I would say the wand that will chose me will be made of ebony and have a core of phoenix feather."
"Very well. It just so happens that I did make a wand with that wood and core. One moment." Mr Ollivander walked down to the end of one of the isles, and returned with an aquamarine blue box. "Ebony and phoenix feather. 10 1/4 inches. Inflexible."
Sherlock took the wand and waved it slightly, he smirked when sparks flew from the end. "Perfect. But curious due to the wood I used."
"How can wood be curious?" Axel asked.
"It is curious because the tree I gathered the wood from only had enough to craft two wands. That one, and another. The other wand is the same wand that uses the other chimera scale." Mr Ollivander looked at Scarlet briefly before turning back to Sherlock. "I can only assume that your fates will intertwine in the future."
Scarlet looked at Mr Ollivander with a confused look on her face before paying 7 galleons. "Thanks Mr Ollivander."
After they had all payed, they went back outside and went to look for Snape as Mycroft had explained that he and Sherlock had to return home.
They found Snape just as he was leaving Eeylops Owl Emporium, slightly struggling with three animal cages.
"Do you need a hand professor?" Mycroft asked, reaching for the top cage."Ah, thank you Mycroft." Snape said, he then turned his attention to Axel and Scarlet. "Happy birthday!" Snape showed the animals to Axel and Scarlet, revealing them to be a siamese cat, a black cat, and a barn owl. "What do you think?"
"They're beautiful!" Scarlet exclaimed. She then turned to Sherlock and Mycroft. "You two need to go, don't you."
Mycroft nodded his head. "Our mother may begin to worry if we take too long." He turned to face Snape. "Goodbye professor. We shall see you in September."
"Bye Sherlock. Bye Mycroft." Axel called as Sherlock and Mycroft began walking back towards the Leaky Cauldron.
"We should head back as well. Follow me." Snape said, handing Axel and Scarlet the two cats and picking up the owl, before walking towards the Leaky Cauldron.
Axel and Scarlet followed Snape as he led them back to the fireplace where they had first appeared.
"Are you two going to be able to transport yourselves, or do you want to travel together again?" Snape asked, looking at Scarlet and Axel.
"I think we should be able to do it ourselves." Scarlet said, turning to look at Axel before moving to stand in the fireplace. Snape handed her some floo powder, told her what to say, and she was gone. Axel followed shortly after. Snape traveled a few minutes later after making sure they had gotten everything they needed.
Once they were back at Hogwarts, Snape set down the owl cage on the table. "Now then, I suggest you decide which cat you want, and what you are going to name it. They are both male, so that should narrow down name choices slightly."
"Axel is it alright if I have the siamese?" Scarlet asked, looking at the cage on the table that contained the siamese.
"Of course. I was going to ask for the black cat anyway. Have you thought of any names?" Axel replied.
"I was thinking of calling him 'Thor'. Like the Norse myths." Scarlet said, smiling at her new pet.
"That's a good name. I would have thought you would call him 'Loki' though." Axel replied.
"I was thinking of it, but he looks more like Thor. Anyway, Loki has black hair, not blonde!" Scarlet said, laughing a little. "So, what are you going to call your cat Axel?"
Axel paused for a minute as he thought of a name. "I think I will go with 'Shadow'. The black cat purred at the mention of its new name.
"Those are wonderful names." Snape said, smiling at his children. "What do you wish to name the owl? He will be used to deliver your mail.
"How about 'Jareth'?" Scarlet asked.
"'Jareth'? Like Jareth from 'The Labyrinth'?" Axel asked in return.
"Exactly." Scarlet replied. When she saw the confusion in Snape's expression she decided to explain what they were on about. "'The Labyrinth' is a film that we were taken to see 3 years ago. Jareth was the bad guy, and he was able to shape-shift. One of his forms was a barn owl and it looked exactly like this owl does." She would have continued with her explanation in more detail, but she stopped after receiving a warning glance from Axel.
Axel nodded his head when Scarlet stopped. "I'm glad you didn't go as far into explaining it as you normally do." Scarlet blushed and turned away from Axel and Snape to look back at the owl. "But I think that 'Jareth' would be a perfect choice for a name."
"Good. Now that we have names sorted out, I suggest we have dinner and then you two go to bed, after all, it has been a long day." Snape said, directing Axel and Scarlet's attention to the dining table.
After dinner, Scarlet and Axel said goodnight to Snape, took their cats to their rooms, and fell fast asleep in their beds.