"Watch out," ordered Miro pushing the twins to one side, as a bolt of magic missed them and smashed loudly into the pavement throwing up shrapnel of stone.
Fred and George landed heavily on the ground rolling slightly andboth reached for their wands, but before they could draw them a second spell struck the pair of them. A strange feeling of coldness swarmed through their bodies suddenly making it impossible for them to move. They both crumpled over onto the ground. Both rigid as boards all they could do was watch helplessly from the floor as Miro confronted the attacker.
Miro dived to one side pulling his wand out of his inside pocket; he rolled awkwardly on the floor and managed to cast a shield charm just in time to protect himself. A blue blast of magic ricocheted off the supernatural shield and crashed into one of the buildings where it evaporated and left a small blue stain.
Miro raised his wand as he got to his feet. His assailant was dressed in a dark heavy cloak, a cowl pulled tight over his head, while he pointed his own wand at the young Auror. The pair slowly circled each other, Miro making sure to move himself between the attacker and the twins. He waved his wand and chanted "Stupefy!"
His opponent, expecting a Stunning Spell dodged to one side but was surprised to find himself being hit from behind by several small tiles from the roof of the building behind him instead. The slabs caused him to stumble slightly, and fall down onto one knee. Miro used this momentary confusion to send a real Stunning Spell at him.
The man's reactions were quicker than Miro had expected. He flicked his wand, muttered an unheard incantation and a section of the ground rose up to protect him. The red beam of the Stunning Spell slammed into and destroyed it in a cloud of dust. He quickly followed up with an attack of his own.
Using his wand to raise the tiles that had struck him high over his head, he flicked his wand so that they were transformed into arrows. He then waved in the direction of Miro. The darts flew at towards the young trainee Auror, bearing down on him, hoping to strike home.
Miro, with sweat glistening on his brow, gestured his wand at the oncoming missiles and as the wave of light blue magic enveloped them they were turned into flowers which harmlessly fell to the ground and crumpled onto the floor. He quickly fired off another spell but this missed its mark completely, leaving an unsightly green blob stuck to the side of one of the surrounding buildings.
The two combatants circled each other once again. Miro was breathing heavily from the exertion and concentration required for the fight. His opponent however didn't seem to be affected by their battle, although from within the confines of the cloak it was difficult to tell anything about the man.
Miro kept his wand aimed at his opponent, while he tried to work out a possible strategy. Unfortunately he wasn't given much time as the man again attacked. Miro's reaction was purely instinctual as he returned fire with his own spell; a beam of electric charge erupted from the end of his wand and arched its way across the square.
The beam connected with the cloaked man's spell which was travelling in the other direction. They met in a ball of extreme magic. Like Miro's, the man's spell was still connected to his wand by a long ray of magic.
Droplets of sweat formed on Miro's head and he tried to force his spell through to its target. He held on hard to his wand with both hands and concentrated on pushing the magic the other way. Beyond the strobing ball of light he could see his opponent doing the same but with much more success.
Realising he was facing a losing battle, which would ultimately drain him of a lot of energy to maintain, Miro did the only thing he could think of. He cancelled his spell with a flick of his wrist and dived down onto the floor as the magic shot over his head and into one of the buildings.
From the ground he quickly used a Summoning Spell on the paving slab below one of the man's feet. It wrenched free of the ground,making the man fall backwards and land heavily on his back. Any advantage Miro had made for himself was quickly lost as he had to dodge out of the way of the quickly approaching stone. By the time he'd aimed his wand at his opponent he could see him already struggling back to his feet.
The cloaked man fired another salvo at him, but Miro dodged to one side and returned fire. However rather than trying to attack directly this time he aimed just in front of the man. The spell shattered the pavement in front of him, sending up shards of broken stone. The man had to pull his arm up in front of his face to protect himself. Miro used this distraction to send a Disarming Spell at him.
The spell struck home and the man's wand flew out of his hand and bounced along the ground. Miro paused in his attacks, expecting the man to surrender. However the man reached into his cloak, pulled out a small vial of liquid and threw it high into the air at Miro.
"Expulso," chanted Miro aiming at the vial as it spiralled through the air. The magic struck home, shattering the vial in an explosion, causing the liquid inside to rain down onto him.
As the droplets of the purple liquid struck his body Miro could feel surges of coldness flood under his skin. He raised his wand to fire off another spell but found that his arm, which was covered in the liquid, remained useless at his side. He could feel the coolness spread over his legs suddenly causing them to go numb and buckle underneath him.
He could do nothing as he lay crumpled on the floor of the square. The twins too, watched helplessly from the sidelines as the cloaked man stooped to pick up his wand before slowly walking towards their friend.
The man stood over Miro looking down at him from within his cowl. He reached up his two hands and held onto the side of the hood and pushed it back.
"Not bad Mr Franca," beamed the man, who had a round friendly face, flushed red from all the exertions of the battle. He waived his wand over the boy, counteracting the effects of the potion, "a thoroughly good confrontation."
"Mr Lexington," groaned Miro straightening his body as he gradually regained control of it, "you do know I have the morning off right?"
"Oh I'm sorry," apologised Lexington sarcastically, "I didn't realise that dark wizards only attack after lunch. What do I keep telling you my old mentor use to say?"
"Constant vigilance," muttered Miro mantra like.
"Constant vigilance," reiterated Mr Lexington, "when you get complacent that's when you get killed."
"Er… Mr Lexington? I don't suppose…" Miro pointed over at Fred and George who were still under the effects of the freezing charm.
"Oh yes, sorry," said Lexington waving his wand in their direction. They both let out extended groans as life started coursing through their bodies once again, "had to immobilise them first, didn't want them getting hurt."
"Lucky them," said Miro massaging his shoulder as he stood up, he looked at the twins, "this is Mr Lexington, one of my Auror instructors. Mr Lexington these are my friends Fred and George Weasley."
"Nice to meet you boys," smiled Lexington nodding at the twins. He turned back to look at Miro, "you had some good moves there. I especially liked the fake Stunning Spell; I'm assuming you cast a nonverbal spell at the same time, that's not easy. Although you did let your guard down at the end, just because someone loses their wand it doesn't make them any less dangerous."
"Yeah I noticed," said Miro looking at the remains of the vial scattered on the ground, "a paralyzing potion?"
"Yep," agreed Lexington nodding, "I thought you'd probably try and blast it in the air. Far too aggressive."
"Why would you even carry it?"
"I always carry a back up of potions," admitted Lexington, he pull aside his cloak to reveal a number of vials of different colours secured to his belt, "I also have a back up wand strapped to my ankle, and a few other magical objects in my pockets. Preparation is the key my lad."
"I'll remember that," said Miro shaking his head.
"Good lad," said Lexington slapping him on the back, "well I'm off for the afternoon so I guess I won't see you again until Monday, have a good weekend, enjoy your cousin's wedding."
"Thanks," said Miro. He suddenly frowned, "how did you know I'm going to my cousin's wedding?"
"I think one of the other students mentioned it," replied Lexington casually.
"Please don't attack me at the wedding," implored Miro.
"Did I say I was going to?"
"No," admitted Miro putting his hands on his hips, "but that is precisely the kind of thing you would do. Remember Callaghan's leaving party the other week?"
"What about it?"
"You leapt out of the cake and started cursing everyone."
"Oh and I suppose a dark wizard is going to leave you alone because you are wearing a little party hat is he?"
"Just please don't attack me during the wedding," pleaded Miro.
"Fine, I won't," conceded Lexington after a moments pause, "well I better be off then, see you around, and nice to meet you two."
"See you later," Miro nodded at his instructor. Lexington spun on the spot and disappeared with a loud cracking sound. Just as he did Miro shouted at him, "wait! Don't attack me at the reception either! Damn it, I hope he heard that."
"Seems like a nice guy," said Fred as the three of them looked at the empty space recently vacated by Lexington.
"Oh he's great," admitted Miro, "just completely and utterly nuts."
"We should probably check with dad to see if he is a relation," said George thoughtfully.
Miro and the twins returned to the bustling main part of Diagon Alley, they managed to locate the rest of the Weasley clan still in Flourish and Blotts. Mrs Weasley had spotted an old friend and they were busy chattering away while the children were busying themselves by reading some of the books; Ron had picked up a copy of a Quidditch book about Chudley Cannons, Ginny was excitedly reading the latest Gilderoy Lockhart book and Percy was busy devouring a book he'd found entitled 'Prefect to Minister – The Biography of Cornelius Fudge.'
"Who's mum talking to?" Fred nudged Ron with his foot.
"I dunno," replied Ron not looking up, "some woman…"
"Your powers of observation sometimes astound me Ronald," George said rolling his eyes, "we can see she is talking to 'some woman' what Fred meant was what her name is?"
"Burns, Bones or something like that," muttered Ron frowning, "her daughter is starting at Hogwarts this year. Can you believe this? It says Chudleys are generally accepted as being the worse team in the league."
"That's blatantly untrue," admitted Fred thoughtfully rubbing his chin, "it's completely accepted."
"Sorry Ron, it's true," agreed Miro sympathetically, "the Chudleys are the worst team ever but they do have the most loyal fans."
"That's true," nodded Ron looking proud, "we are the best."
"I just meant that if any other team played like that week in week out their fans would be up in arms," Miro clarified, "but you Chudsters seem to just accept it."
"Our time is coming," said Ron indignantly, "you'll see. This year you'll see some great Quidditch being played at Chudleigh Stadium."
"Yeah, you aren't wrong there," agreed George, "but it'll be played by their opposition."
"Okay guys," said Miro before an argument could flair up, "I'm gonna be off, say bye to your mother for me. Ron, good luck at Hogwarts."
"See you Miro," chorused the twins.
"Good luck?" Ron's face crinkled up into a frown, "why would he wish me good luck?"
"Well you know," said Fred lowering his voice, "the whole sorting ceremony."
"What about it?" asked Ron wide eyed with panic, "Percy said they just put a hat on you and it decides for you."
"A hat that decides what House you are going in?" George raised an eyebrow sceptically, "does that honestly sound like something that would happen?"
"I thought it was a bit weird," admitted Ron closing the book, "so what happens?"
"We're not supposed to tell you," said George whispering and looking around in case anyone was listening in, "it's a big Hogwarts secret."
"I won't tell anyone," replied Ron leaning close, the level of his voice matching that of his brother, "what do you have to do?"
"You have to go through a test," said Fred solemnly, looking over his shoulder theatrically, "it's supposed to be different for everyone but they are basically the same few things."
"Like what?" asked Ron panicking, "I haven't done any magic yet, how am I supposed to face a test?"
"Well they only let the very best into Hogwarts," reasoned George, "you know they have to make sure there aren't any Squibs."
"But what if you fail the test?" asked Ron horrified at the prospect.
"Then you get sent home on the same day," shrugged Fred, "you get marched straight back onto the Hogwarts' Express and its goodbye forever."
"They kill you?" asked Ron, his voice becoming shrill.
"No, you idiot," said George rolling his eyes, "I mean, you just won't be allowed back to Hogwarts ever again."
"Oh," Ron nodded thoughtfully, "did they send anyone home when you started?"
"Oh yes," said Fred trying to look sympathetic, "there was this one girl, they asked her to walk through fire without getting burned but she couldn't do it. Tried three times and got really badly burnt, but she really wanted to join the school so she kept trying and trying. In the end they had to practically drag her away to stop her from hurting herself to bad."
"Really?"
"Yeah," agreed George shaking his head solemnly, "it was quite sad in the end, she kept asking for one more try and was crying her little heart out bless her."
"That's awful," gasped Ron with a look of terror on his face.
"Shh," ordered George pressing a finger against his mouth, "keep it down will you? If any one finds out we told you we could get expelled."
"Okay okay, sorry," said Ron lowering his voice again, "but what if that happens to me? I don't know how to walk through fire."
"You don't?" asked Fred frowning.
"Of course not," snapped Ron his voice getting higher again, "when would I ever have had a chance to find that out?"
"With us around?" George said thoughtfully. "Probably quite a few times."
"Okay that's actually fair enough," conceded Ron, "but what happens if I'm asked to do it."
"Relax," soothed Fred, "you probably won't be asked to do that."
"Yeah," agreed George, "normally it's something like turn a tree into stone, or make yourself disappear or wrestle a Water-Salamanda to the ground."
"I can't do any of those things," said Ron rather loudly, causing Percy to look up from his reading before frowning and carrying on.
"Don't worry," said Fred, "neither could we before we started but luckily for us Charlie and Bill decided to teach us a few things before school started. We'll do the same for you."
"You will?" said Ron looking relieved "thanks a bunch guys."
"Hey, what are big brothers for?"
The Weasley family eventually left Flourish and Blotts and continued to pick up the various items they each needed for school, soon Mrs Weasley announced that is was time to head back home.
"But we didn't get my wand," complained Ron looking at Ollivander's shop as they passed by.
"Sorry dear," said Mrs Weasley kindly, "we just can't afford to get you a new wand, you're getting Charlie's old one."
"That thing?" asked Ron extremely disappointed, "there's a chip in it and the Unicorn hair is falling out of the end."
"I know," replied Mrs Weasley, "but we just can't replace it at the moment, and it always worked fine for Charlie. Maybe in a few years."
"Fine," muttered Ron looking through the window of the shop with envy, "my robes are hand-me-downs, most of my books are hand-me-down, might as well have a hand-me-down wand too."
"It could be worse," said Fred placing a hand on his brother's shoulder, "at least you don't have hand-me-down underwear."
"Actually," Ron sighed, reached inside the waistband of his trousers and pulled up his underwear so show a very neatly place label with the name 'Percy' emblazoned on it.