He had to tell them.
Mid-July was here and it's been a few weeks since that incident at the zoo and it's been clawing at the back of Chrys' mind; he knew that even though it fell in the category of accidental magic use and not a grave offense he still felt like he's hiding some kind of horrible crime from his parents! And here he was now, pacing in his room with Karnak sitting in the window and grooming himself; honestly, he was a little jealous of the owl, all Karnak had to do was just fly around and look pretty – and deliver letters.
Folding his hands and taking a breath, Chrys worked up the courage and made his way downstairs to the living room. His parents were there, laughing and talking with another person. Peering around the corner of the wall, his eyes lit up at the sight of the person. Jet black hair that was always styled like ruffled feathers that graced his olive toned skin, sharp dark brown eyes, and wearing a loose t-shirt and jeans. In his arms was a small Basset Hound puppy – who was clearly the star of the show.
"She's a beautiful girl, Alex." Alister praised, petting her. "When did you get her?"
"Last week, and she's a speedy little girl." The man, Alex, kissed the puppy's head. "Aren't you, sweetheart."
"Does the sweetheart have a name?" Eloise asked, giggling as the puppy left her master's arms and started sniffing around the room. "Oh, where are you going, sweet thing?"
She got her answer when the puppy lowered herself in a playful pouncing stance and started barking. That was enough confirmation the group needed, Alex chuckled and waved his hand over.
"You may as well come out of hiding, Chrys, Hera's already found you."
Chrys smiled and carefully picked up Hera before approaching the three adults. "Her name is Hera? Is she easily jealous of others?" He sat on the floor and started giving her neck scratches.
"Nah, she actually has food aggression; I'm working on doing something about that." Alex shook his head. "You look frazzled, kiddo, what's up?" he watched as Chrys paused in petting the dog. "Yes, I know something's wrong – you know you can't get anything by me."
"Guess that's why you're Orchid's best seeker for a reason." Chrys sighed and looked down. "…Something happened at the Reptile House I visited weeks ago…" he held up his hand as if to pause his parents from saying anything. "I know, I know, I should've said something when I got home, but I didn't know what to tell you!"
"Chrys." Eloise had a stern tone. "Settle down, tell us what happened."
Chrys took a breath of air. "I was talking with someone from school – the Muggle school we went to throughout the years. We were talking about the snake and his cousin shoved us to the side. The plexiglass on the enclosure vanished into thin air, the kid fell into the enclosure, the snake got out, and the glass returned trapping the kid inside the enclosure!" he looked up at them. "Please believe me when I say, I don't know how it happened, it just did!"
"I see." She folded her hands together. "Chrys, who is this cousin and what is your relationship with him?"
He looked confused. "It was the Dursley boy, you know I don't like him one bit."
She nodded slowly. "And, has there ever been a thought in your mind that you want to get back at him? Even if it's done by karma's hands?"
"I…well yeah, he's kind of a massive jerk and bully to everyone – even to his own cousin." Chrys nodded slowly. "I guess I just…wanted to see him get his dues."
The look Eloise had never changed. "As you know, even to this day I'm still getting used to the Wizarding world, however, you also know that Muggles have our own magic. Urban Legends, sayings, you name it everything has that element of truth in them." She leaned forward. "You're aware of the saying, be careful what you wish for?"
"Mom, just because I wanted him to face punishment for the stuff he pulled at school doesn't mean I would wish him to be in a freaking snake enclosure!"
Alister thought for a while. "It may not have been you who wanted that." He spoke up finally. "You said you were with another person? While you probably haven't made the wish, who's to say that other person didn't? Clearly, one or maybe both of you thought to yourself 'He needs to be put into his place' and maybe it was from your own magical prowess or another wizard was nearby, whatever the cause is your thoughts and wishes came true."
That…did make some sense now that Chrys thought about it. Honestly, if he were Harry and he saw his cousin acting like an idiot, he would probably have wished that Dudley was put into his place right there and then. But, wouldn't most anyone have that kind of thought in one way or another about other people? No matter what, there was always going to be someone with the 'I hope' or 'I wish' thought…but even then, that's still not enough to cause glass to vanish. Even if there was another wizard in the room, I doubt that wizard would meddle in the affairs of a muggle child being a brat just to teach them a lesson in humility.
The heavy air of silence loomed over the group before Alex had to change the topic; he got up and put Hera on a leash before taking Chrys and the dog out of the house and onto the forest path behind the house. Being friends with the family had its advantages, such as being another father figure and helping raise the boy; he knew that despite growing up around magic there was always going to be something that would stir normality for him and the thought alone probably terrified him. Taking afternoon walks in the forests together tend to help out a lot to get their minds cleared, it's always been a tradition for the two of them to be like this whenever the boy was overwhelmed by something.
"Do you know what magic and new pups have in common, Chrys?" Alex finally asked, watching as the boy looked up at him in silence. "Both are messy and unpredictable, I can't really begin to tell you how many accidents Hera's had last week and we're in the process of training her to let us know when she wants out. Still, even when training's over and she's an adult more or less, accidents are still bound to happen. The same thing can be said with magic; you can learn it, you can master it, but there's always going to be something out of your control that leaves a mess. The most anyone can do is to clean it up, learn from it, and move forward."
"…Is it hard?" Chrys asked softly. "Training a dog and magic?"
"Very. However, if you're persistent enough and don't give up after the first day, you can find the end results very rewarding." He frowned as Hera tried going after a racoon. "Hera, no." He said in a firm tone, holding her leash back. "Leave it alone." It took a few stern 'Nos' before she finally settled and returned to Alex's side. "Good girl." He pressed a clicker before handing her a treat.
Finally, Alex turned to look at Chrys and laid a hand on his shoulder. "Chrysanthos, the reptile house incident is just a case of magic becoming unpredictable; maybe another wizard was there, maybe there wasn't. Maybe it was through sheer will and will alone, the question I have for you now is this; what are you going to do now? Are you just going to fret about something out of your control or will you learn from it?"
Chrys looked up at him, he wanted to learn from it; but what was there to learn? How not to deal with a muggle being a brute? He honestly didn't really have an answer for it and just gave a light shrug. Alex just ruffled the boy's hair; he wasn't really expecting an answer today or even tomorrow, Chrys was a smart boy and he was about to figure something out down the line. Silently, he handed Chrys the leash and nodded before they continued walking with Hera – guiding him on how to take control when she started misbehaving, when to use the clicker and treats. It was times like this that they could relax among nature and let their cares melt away with the cool breeze of autumn creeping and creeping closer.
After playing fetch with Hera for some time, the two made their way back to the house with a sleeping Hera in Chrys' arms. Entering the household was met with a bit of calm, the rest of the Alister's Quidditch mates were there and were ready to take Alex out for their practices, which he was ready for and Eloise had offered to watch over Hera for him, he smiled and looked at Chrys with a slight grin.
"Remember Chrys, when it comes to pups, you need to watch over them so they don't get hurt."
*
"Lock your legs together," Alex called out to Chrys, watching him from afar. "Cross them; it'll help keep you locked to your broom so you're not thrown off from a bludger hit."
Summer went on as usual for the Lindsay household. Alister had been taking the family out to quidditch practice for years, even before Chrys was born. It took a while to get Eloise used to the feeling. Alister could still remember her first time getting on a broom during their first date.
Eloise laughed as Alister led her over to the hovering broom. He got on first, helped her onto it, and guided her hands to the handle. He tucked her permed spiral hair behind her ear and kissed her cheek. "It's going to be okay; I'll never let you fall," he reassured her. That was all the assurance she needed before he kicked off and took to the skies with her.
London at night was beautiful! The evening summer breeze made everything feel even more magical than it already was as Alister took Eloise through the clouds, chasing an unfortunate bird that was still awake at that hour. To add to the excitement of being caught, and taking in the knowledge of what Eloise said about muggles not batting an eye at the strange and unusual in the night, Alister dove down and had them skate across the River Thames. The two laughed as they ran their fingers across the water's surface and even waved at a barge filled with tired workers before taking to the skies again.
Zigzagging through the trees and finally coming to a stop in the local park where Alister had presented her with the very first gift: the badge from his school robes—Gryffindor. The red and gold badge rested against Eloise's light blue cardigan and shimmered in the moonlight. She smiled and kissed him in return. "I'm starting to wonder how you're going to top future dates. I don't think anything's going to surpass flying around London at night."
"Well, Ellie," Alister smiled at her. "You're just going to have to wait and see, but I promise it'll be magical."
Even though the Statute of Secrecy was in place, Alister was more than happy to throw caution to the wind. Eloise won him over with that coy smile and knowing tone when they had met in Hyde Park, and since then she had been more and more open to learning about his side of the veil. They were a perfect match. Alister shook his head as he watched his wife fly aimlessly. Even though she was used to flying on her own, she was still hesitant about joining them in quidditch games.
After observing Eloise's hesitant flying, Alister couldn't help but feel a mix of concern and excitement. He knew that his wife had always been a talented flyer, but she had yet to fully embrace the competitive nature of Quidditch. Determined to encourage her, he decided to take matters into his own hands.
"Ellie," Alister called out, catching his wife's attention. "Why don't you give it a try? Join us in the game. It'll be fun, I promise."
Eloise hesitated, looking unsure. "I don't know, Alister. I've never played Quidditch before. What if I mess up?"
Alister smiled reassuringly. "You won't mess up. You're a natural flyer, and I've seen you handle a broom with grace and precision. Trust yourself, love. You'll be amazing."
The captain of the Night Mares spoke up, turning to her team and pointing at Eloise. "Okay! Everyone, the wife's off limits." She grinned, mischief hidden in her gray eyes. "The son is an easy game, though!"
Laughter filled the air as the game started. While both sides went easy on Eloise, they played fiercely, with the Blood Orchids moving at swift speeds that rivaled the Gaboon viper, and the Night Mares charging with the ferocity of wild horses. A woman with a dark tan, medium-long brown hair with black streaks, sharp light-green eyes, and a bat in hand prepared to strike. And strike she did when she caught sight of the bludger, displaying incredible speed as she sent it flying toward the Night Mares' chasers, causing them to scatter.
The man beside her displayed similar striking abilities. He had a Caucasian appearance with short gray-dyed hair and dark zig-zag patterns. Like the woman, his sharp red eyes were focused on the three opponents. While the woman had a fierce strike, he dove down in a zig-zag pattern, scattering them even more and making any passes between them nearly impossible. This tactic allowed Alister and two of the Krait siblings to make swift steals of the Quaffle every time.
The Night Mares managed to turn the game around by charging like wild horses, causing the snakes to recoil and some to nearly fall off their brooms. Several times, the Night Mares used intimidation to throw the snakes off their game, catching up with them in terms of points. The Night Mares took the lead and held it for a considerable time before something extraordinary happened.
Griselda Neri pulled back on her broom when she saw it. She was blocking Chrys from getting past her, but he tossed the Quaffle to no one. It lingered in the air for two seconds before Chrys suddenly appeared out of thin air, grabbing it and making a surprise shot on the Night Mares' keeper, Layla Dunkel.
"What on earth?!" Layla exclaimed as she watched Chrys fly back to the Blood Orchids. "Uh, Lilith, that was cheating, right? Right?"
"I... well, no, misdirection isn't cheating, but..." Lilith struggled to comprehend what she had just witnessed. "Alister, did you teach him that?" she asked the captain of the Blood Orchids.
Alister simply shook his head and shrugged. "Sorry, wasn't us..."
This wasn't an isolated incident, Chrys was using various misdirection moves that would throw the Night Mares off, even surprising them further when he'd get on top of the broom and send a ball flying into one of the goal hoops with the force of a cyclone. The Blood Orchids won that practice round of the day. The professionals were to the sides talking to their teams as Eloise took her son back to the tailoring shop to pick up the completed robes for the upcoming term.
*
Back on the busy streets of London and back in the tailoring shop, Chrys stood before a mirror in the dressing room upstairs. He smiled at his reflection as he watched himself being dressed in his new Hogwarts robes. They were plain black for now, but once he was sorted into his house, they would take on the colors of his house. That was the part he was most excited about. He hoped to be in Gryffindor, like his father, but he was open to any house. Just the mention of Hogwarts made his heart flutter with excitement, and his excitement made it difficult for him to stand still during the fitting.
Ding!
Eloise paused in helping straighten out the robe and turned to the stairs. "Be with you in a minute!" she called out. She stood up and looked at Chrys. "I'll let you try on the others. I'll be back to check on you."
Making her way downstairs, Eloise went to the front counter. Her earlier smile faded into a neutral expression as she saw the Dursley couple in the shop. They rarely visited, especially during the summer. She sat at the counter and picked up a pen, tapping it on a blank notepad in front of her.
"New uniforms for Smelting, I presume?" Eloise asked coolly.
Vernon shook his head. "No, no, we got Dudley his uniforms, and Harry's are almost ready," he assured her, glancing around the shop. "Is Alister not here today?"
"He's with the rest of his team. They'll be going on tour this season, so it's all about practice, practice, and practice," Eloise replied, setting the pen down. "Let me guess, there's something 'underground' you need help with?"
"Well, yes," Petunia began. "But before that... what school is your son going to?"
"A boarding school," Eloise answered cautiously. "And I have a feeling I know what you're going to ask next." She turned to the stairs and raised her voice lightly. "Chrys, sweetie, could you come down here?"
"Coming!" Chrys replied, his footsteps audible as he descended the stairs. Standing before the Dursleys was the Lindsay's boy, his auburn hair a bit messy, his hazel eyes shining in the light (or so it seemed to them), and dressed in a black robe. "Yeah, Mom?"
"Just wanted to show off your new uniform to them," Eloise smiled. "How do they fit?"
"Amazing, as always," Chrys replied, flaring out the robe and grinning. "I feel ready to tackle my first class!"
"Settle down, tiger," Eloise chuckled, leaning on the counter and looking at the Dursleys. "Now then, about what's bothering you two this wonderful summer?"
Petunia nodded and took an envelope from her bag, laying it on the counter before the tailor and sighing. "Owls have been invading Privet Drive, and we keep getting these letters with no return addresses."
"That's not a question, that's a statement," Eloise commented, picking up the envelope and looking at the familiar seal. "Keep talking."
"We want these letters to stop showing up!" Vernon exclaimed.
Eloise just hummed and played with it before shrugging. "And…why?" she looked at the wax seal. "Are you two so adamant on not letting Harry see this? Are you afraid?"
"Afraid!" Vernon cried out incredulously. "What is there to be afraid of?! We don't want these dangerous freaks anywhere near us, is that too much to ask!"
"Mhm?" She played with the letter still. "You know my husband counts as a 'freak' right? Otherwise you wouldn't be getting forbidden information like you've had in the past."
"That's different!" Vernon exclaimed, his face turning red with anger.
Eloise raised an eyebrow, her expression calm and composed. "How so?" she challenged.
Vernon sputtered for a moment, struggling to find an answer. "Well... He's... he's not like those other freaks! He's my nephew, and we're only trying to protect our family!"
Eloise's gaze hardened slightly, but her voice remained steady. "Protect your family? By isolating him? By keeping him in the dark about his own identity and heritage? I understand your concerns, but let me tell you this: Ignorance is not protection. It's a disservice. Harry deserves to know the truth, and he deserves a chance to embrace his own potential."
Petunia shifted uncomfortably, casting a glance at Chrys, who was listening intently. "You don't understand," she murmured. "We... we tried to protect him, to keep him safe from all of this. But it's getting harder to ignore, especially with those letters."
Eloise softened her gaze, her voice filled with empathy. "I understand that it can be overwhelming and frightening. But shutting him out completely won't make it go away. It's time to face the truth, Petunia. It's time to let Harry in and guide him through this new chapter of his life."
Petunia glanced at Vernon, who seemed torn between anger and resignation. After a moment, she nodded hesitantly. "Perhaps... perhaps you're right. Maybe it's time to let Harry see the letter."
Eloise smiled, her expression warm. "I think that's a step in the right direction. And remember, you don't have to face it alone. We're here to support you, as a family."
As the tension eased, Eloise carefully opened the envelope and pulled out the letter, revealing the invitation to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She handed it to Petunia, who stared at it with a mix of trepidation and curiosity.
Petunia glanced at Chrys, then at Eloise, her eyes reflecting a hint of hope. "I... I suppose we should let Harry see this."
Eloise nodded, her voice gentle. "Yes, Petunia. It's time to let him discover who he truly is. It's time for him to step into the magical world and find his place."
The two Dursleys nodded and left the shop, after a few minutes after they left, Chrys looked at his mother with a hint of doubt in his eyes. "You know they only said what you wanted to hear, right?"
"Maybe so, we'll just have to see what happens. Who knows they might start to welcome the wizarding side." Eloise clapped her hands together. "Now then, let's get these robes packed up, yes? You and your father are going to be working on spell work to get ready for Hogwarts after all."
Starting anew was never easy; it went against everything that one was used to. But effort was made, and that was the important part. Harry sat in the living room with his cousin, watching a movie while his aunt and uncle went through a notebook handwritten by Eloise Lindsay labeled 'So Your Child Is a Wizard.' It was clear that she had written it when Chrys was growing up to help navigate life between both the magical and Muggle worlds.
*
Harry knew they needed to get school supplies as well, but it was evident from their reading that they wanted to be prepared before doing anything of that sort. They wanted to avoid looking like idiots while walking down the streets to get their school supplies. Eventually, the murmurs of frustration were heard, and Uncle Vernon picked up the phone and dialed the number Eloise had left with them. Surprisingly, it was the home number, and the answering machine picked up with Alister's voice.
"Hello, you've reached the Lindsay household. We're not here to answer your call. Please leave your name and message, unless you're the Dursley family. I know you're calling about school supplies. Head to the Leaky Cauldron in London. Ellie should be there, and if she's not, ask for a man named Hagrid."
"Well, that was convenient at least," Harry thought to himself. The family nodded and got up from where they were, although there were sounds of protests about wanting to finish Batman vs. Dracula, but those went unheard. The drive to London was uneventful. Everyone sat tensely, struggling to find a conversation topic to break the silence. The only sound that was heard was Petunia reading from the notebook on how to get to the pub in question. Finally, Dudley was the one who spoke up first, mentioning how Harry's schoolwork might be fun and how they could have bragging rights to go with it. After all, how many kids their age got to brew potions and dress up like it was Halloween every night?
They pulled up to the side and paid the parking meter. The group looked at the notebook and then at the unassuming building before them. The Leaky Cauldron didn't look that exciting. A bunch of cauldrons were left outside as showpieces, and the building itself was small. This was where they were supposed to get their school supplies? No, Alister said that Eloise was most likely there. The family straightened up and made their way through the door. Inside, like everyone from the magical world, most people were dressed in strange robes. There was a bartender who looked a little bit like Nosferatu with his bald head and sharp smile. Just as they were about to bolt, they heard a woman laughing and turned to see a welcoming sight. Eloise Lindsay was in a yellow sundress with white daisies on it, sitting next to a giant of a man with a scruffy beard and shining black eyes. The two of them were laughing like old friends.
"Ellie," Vernon approached her with the family. "Oh, thank God you're here. We were worried about this kind of place," he added with a light nervous laugh.
"I only people I'm in a relationship with call me 'Ellie,' unless you pay me," Eloise laughed. "I'm just messing with you, Vern." She motioned to the man she was with. "Dursley family, this is Hagrid. He's the groundskeeper of Hogwarts, does odd jobs for the headmaster, and takes care of the magical creature reserve on the school grounds."
"Oh!" He nodded and shook his hand. "It's nice to meet you sir,"
Hagrid shook his hand and patted his shoulder. "El's been talkin' about yeh, said young Harry's goin' t' start school shopping."
"She said that?" Petunia looked over at Eloise. "What else has she said before our arrival?"
Eloise waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, we were talking about the winter wedding I had." She said simply. "He reminded me of the abraxan drawn carriage that he arranged."
"I'm sorry a what?" Petunia asked before turning to the notebook in hand. "Your…guide doesn't mention those…"
"Well, civilian term would be to call them Pegasi, they're winged horses." Eloise stood up and straightened her dress out before walking off with Hagrid and guiding the family to where they need to go. "I've mentioned to Alister that when I was a little girl I'd wanted a fairytale wedding complete with a unicorn drawn carriage, well, he asked for more details despite me saying I was a child thinking of half the stuff but…he pulled some strings, got Hagrid here to arrange the carriage with Pegasi and that was just the top of the iceberg of memories to come."
Out of the pub and through the gate that led into Diagon Alley, the streets were bustling with people. Eloise walked alongside the adults, pointing out the various shops that lined the streets as they made their way to Gringotts, the wizarding bank. While Harry had the funds his parents had left him, Eloise assured him that they could cover any additional expenses if needed. It was a generous offer, but Harry insisted on making sure he had enough before they began shopping.
The group decided to split up for a while. Hagrid accompanied Harry to the bank, while Eloise took the Dursleys to Madame Malkin's tailor shop. Eloise felt right at home in the shop and had to resist the urge to dance with one of the mannequins. The craftsmanship of the robes there was a sight to behold. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she saw Malkin preparing a fitting platform for some of the new students who would be arriving that day. Eloise tapped Malkin on the shoulder, and the two began chatting like old friends. Malkin quickly introduced herself to the Dursleys, warmly welcoming them into her shop. If they hadn't been told they were in a magical world, they would have assumed it was just an ordinary tailor shop.
"It took me forever to convince her to let me make her wedding dress," Malkin told Petunia. "She had designed it herself and wanted to make it, but I said, 'Sweetheart, this is one of the few moments you'll look like a princess. Let me make it for you.'"
Petunia couldn't help but laugh at the image. "She mentioned that her husband arranged for a Pegasus-drawn carriage. How many people in the magical community contributed to it?"
Malkin shrugged lightly. "I suppose it depends on who Alister called. I know someone from the House of Black took care of the catering." She glanced over and held up her finger. "Oh, one second." She walked over to a group of people. "Lord Malfoy, wonderful to see you. We have everything set up for Draco."
Lucius nodded and examined a list. "We'll be here when the fitting is done. I trust you've received our instructions?"
"Of course, we're familiar with the Malfoy family's taste," Malkin assured him.
"Wonderful." Lucius was about to leave when his gray eyes caught sight of a familiar woman. "Ah, Mrs. Lindsay, here for some backup robes?"
Eloise turned to look at him, holding bolts of fabric in her arms. "Just a supply run for me. Guiding another family through the streets is a bonus," she replied, nodding at Lucius. "Wonderful to see you again, Mr. Malfoy."
"Likewise, Mrs. Lindsay." Lucius looked at the group beside her and raised an eyebrow lightly at them. Muggles, why was he not surprised? "Well, don't let me keep you." He turned and strode out of the shop as his son followed Malkin to the nearby platform.
Maybe it was because they were still getting used to this side of the veil, but there was something about that man Eloise was talking to that just rubbed all three of them the wrong way. The silent conversation was there, despite Eloise assuring them that everything was fine and that the Malfoy family wasn't... well, they weren't malicious, but they were pretty proud. That got Lucius' son to lift his head up in pride as he heard those praises.
Shortly after, Harry came in with a bag of books. He gave a light shrug before Malkin led him over to the platform next to Draco. The glint in the young Malfoy's eyes was a familiar one to Eloise. He had found another person of interest, and if the encounter at her own tailoring shop was anything to go by, Draco was no doubt going to bother Harry at every chance he got.
"Quite the... motley crew you have with you today," Draco said, looking over at Mrs. Lindsay and the Dursleys. "Muggles, I'm assuming by the way they dress."
Harry simply nodded. "Yeah, my family are Muggles," he confirmed. "Well, my aunt, uncle, and cousin are Muggles. My parents are magical."
"And you've brought the Muggle family with you," Draco pointed out. "Why didn't you bring your parents?"
"Pretty sure that falls under necromancy if I did." Harry watched Draco flinch, his eyes widening before immediately returning to a calm demeanor.
"My condolences," Draco said. "Well, I suppose the Muggle side isn't all too bad. I've been there myself; once to Covent Garden, where there's a wonderful tailor shop—well, wonderful in terms of craftsmanship for non-magical folk. You also have an... interesting zoo."
That definitely got everyone's attention. Harry remembered the day of his cousin's birthday when the snake got out of the enclosure. Was this boy behind it? "You were at the zoo?"
"I didn't stay long. The person I was seeing there had left, and I've parted ways as well," Draco replied, looking at Harry. "Why does it surprise you?"
"Because back in June, a snake got out," Petunia said carefully.
"A snake? Really?" Draco looked over at her. "I hope everyone was okay in the end."
Maybe it was because rich people were good at acting, but the lack of care in his voice was damning. However, they didn't have evidence to suggest that there was another wizard at the zoo who caused the plexiglass to vanish. If anything, it may not have been another wizard, but a case of accidental magic. Eloise's notebook said that growing up as a witch or wizard would involve erratic spurts of magic since they couldn't control it yet. The rest of the conversation was one-sided as Draco mentioned getting a broom for his own personal use at home. Just because he couldn't have it on school grounds didn't mean he couldn't fly around the estate.
The conversation eventually turned towards Eloise, who just shrugged. She mentioned that Chrys still had his Silver Arrow broom. Any questions about her son joining Quidditch or making a career out of it were met with another shrug and a response of, 'If that's what he wants to do, that's his call.' Now that she thought about it, Chrys had made it known that he wanted to make a living with the cello. She wasn't too thrilled to learn he wanted to take up the instrument after watching a horror movie with one in it, but he showed his dedication through paid lessons. To this day, he would play in his room.
Finally, with the fittings done, the boys had their new robe measurements. Petunia provided Malkin with the address to send the robes to once they were ready. Of course, this meant the robes would be sent by owls, which would definitely take some getting used to. Speaking of owls, Hagrid had returned to the group with a beautiful snow owl. Harry held the cage and gently petted her beak, smiling when she hooted at him.
"Oh, she's beautiful," Eloise remarked, looking at the owl. "What's her name going to be?"
Harry shrugged lightly. "Not sure yet." He smiled and reached into his pocket to retrieve the list. "Alright... all I need now is a wand."
"The rite of passage for all wizards," Eloise said, carefully taking the owl cage. "We'll wait for you outside, and don't worry if something breaks. Chrys nearly threw a chair out of the window because of an ill-fitted wand."
"I'm sorry, your son did what?" Vernon asked incredulously. "Nearly throwing a chair?!"
Eloise nodded in confirmation. "Yes, an ill-fitted wand can cause disaster. But Mr. Ollivander assured me and everyone that it's nothing he hasn't seen before. It may sound daunting, but it's completely normal." She noticed their wide-eyed expressions and let out a sigh. "Okay, look, Alister and I will cover any damages Harry may inevitably cause with an ill-fitted wand. Happy?" They relaxed a little bit upon hearing that. This was going to take time for them to get used to, and Eloise could only imagine what would happen on the day they boarded the Hogwarts Express.