An Interesting Life

Aka: Why Do I Have to Go To Hogwarts"

What's a Wizard

Diagon Alley

"Now what makes a scene interesting? If you see a man coming through a doorway, it means nothing. If you see him coming through a window - that is at once interesting."

-Billy Wilder

After the rest of the family arrived home, Fred had a tearful reunion with the rest of his family and the twins told their 'Deathly Donuts tale.' Alphonse was introduced as a Muggleborn that the twins were 'godfathers' to just before the war started. They were very vague about the circumstances, but Alphonse was immediately accepted as a Weasley.

Another curious fact about Alphonse was his strange efficiency in Alchemy, but he did have a few magical accidents.

"Actually," he confessed to the twins after they cornered him. "This happened a lot when Ed and I were little. Mom passed it off as chance, but it usually happened when I was upset or if someone called Ed little."

And so the boy truly was a Muggleborn, and a more interesting occurance was when a letter arrived at the Burrow, months after his arrival, addresed to Alphonse. It read:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmistress: MINERVA MCGONAGALL

Dear Mr. Elric

We are pleased to inform you that you have

been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft

and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all

necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on September 1. We await your

owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Filius Flitwick
Deputy Headmaster

"You know," Fred said, frowning slightly. "He's part goblin. Well, that's what 'Mione said. She's going back with Ginny and a few other friends to finish her schooling."

"He was a good teacher," George commented, looking over Al's shoulder. "Very nice. Took down Dolohov. The bastard that killed Remus and our uncles, Gideon and Fabian." he finished darkly.

And with that letter and those words, the Weasleys and the Elric headed out of their flat above Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes and down to the streets of Diagon Alley.

"Right," George said, glancing at his wristwatch. "We need money."

"Hey, Al." Fred began as they walked towards Gringotts. "Are you really blond?" The younger boy looked up at the red head.

"I guess," he shrugged his still thin shoulders. Molly's meals had filled him out so he wouldn't look like a skin-covered skeleton, but he was still underweight, despite the fact he ate like a Weasley boy. "It was a dirty blond when I was little, but now it's the same color of Edward's." He pulled his braid forward to look at the blond locks.

"Do you think you're a Metamorphagus?" George asked, opening the doors to the back.

"What's that?" he asked.

"Shape-shifter," Fred said, pulling a key out of his pocket. Al shuddered and followed them closely, not wanting to get lot in the sea of magical creatures. "Hello Griphook," he said, laying the key down on the counter.

"We need to make a withdrawl." George finished, glaring slightly at the scarred goblin. Al peeked around him, staring at the long fingered creature.

Griphook picked up the key and examined it for a moment before nodding.

"Spindleclaw," he croaked, waving over an equally unpleasant looking goblin.

The twins and Alphonse followed the goblin to a hallway and crammed themselves into a cart, with Al in between the twins.

"Oh I hate this ride," George groaned, head drooping.

"It's cause you can't hold your lunch," Fred snickered. George pouted as they began moving, clutching tightly to the sides of the cart.

Al grinned as the air rushed by him, tipping his head back to stare at the cavern's roof. Left, right, right, left, and another right. He couldn't keep up with all the twists and turns they made.

With a jolt, they halted outside a vault. Spindleclaw lept out and inserted the key, opening the vault to reveal piles of gold, silver and bronze.

"This is our vault," Fred explained as he filled a bag with money. George stood off to one side, emptying his stomach of his breakfast. "We keep most of our money we make from the shop in here." Al nodded, storing this bit of information away in his mind as they climbed back into the cart. With a jolt, they headed back to the surface.

Ten minutes and a now soiled trachcan later, the Weasley twins and Al stood outside Madame Malkin's.

"You go in with Fred," George told them, taking the supply list. "I'll go get your books." The red heads exchanged a secret look, leaving Al wondering what they could be up to.

"Why are you two suddenly so serious?" he asked as Fred ushered him into the shop.

"Serious? Us? No, you've got us confused with Harry's godfather." Al blinked, not getting the joke.

"Hogwarts, dear?" Madame Malkin asked, looking at Alphonse. She smiled at Fred. "Good to have you back Mr. Weasley."

After Al finished with his robes, they met up with George outside Eeylops Owl Emporium. The one eared man had a satisfied grin on his face as he held something behind his back.

"Turn around," he instructed Al. Confused, he followed orders and faced the opposite direction. Fred and George exchanged a grin behind his back and George held up the secret he'd been keeping near the back of Al's head. "Now turn back around." Al once more did as told and came face-to-face with a surprise.

He sqeaked as the kitten licked his nose, amber eyes looking at him proudly, as if to say, "You're lucky to have me." Al grinned as George handed him the golden feline, making sure to hold him properly and avoid the claws.

"Thanks, but I thought you were getting my books," he said, looking at the now familiar red head.

"Well, if you want me to take the kitten back-"

"No, no. It's fine." The cat looked at him with reproachful eyes that seemed to ask why he even suggested it. George laughed, rubbing the kitten's head.

"As soon as you name the little guy we'll head back to the shop- OUCH! Bloody monster!" George moved away from Al and the kitten, for it had clawed him when he said 'little'. Al laughed and hugged the kitten to his chest.

"I know the perfect name for you," he chuckled, petting it. "Edward."

"You named it after your brother?" Fred asked, examining George's bloody hand.

"Sure, they both have golden hair, eyes, a Napolean-complex... Why not?" Fred shrugged.

"Can't argue with you there." He tapped George's hand with his wand and stepped back as it was wrapped in bandages. "We'll go by the flat and leave Edward with your books before heading for your wand."

"We've already got everything?" Al asked, sounding surprised.

"Of course," George huffed. "I'm not completely useless."

"Yes," Al consented. "Not completely, but you still can't cook."

"Or ride the Gringott's cart without tossing your cookies," Fred muttered. George rolled his eyes and Apparated back to the shop. Fred shared a grin with Al before taking them both back to their home with a POP!

A/N: On the date, since the Battle of Hogwarts took place on May 2nd, it's been about four months. Enough time to rebuild the school and send out letters. And, out of all the Death Eaters there were, we hate Doloholv and Rookwood the most. They killed Remus, Fred and the Prewett twins! We're glad Flitwick and Aberforth Dumbledore took them down!

- Anatidae - thanks for Story Alerting.
- Hina Kita - thanks for your review! LONG LIVE LUPIN! ;)