7

Master Xander

Chapter Thirteen

Weasley Burrow

Arthur Weasley was beaming at his friend Alex as he stepped through the threshold of Weasley Burrow carrying a small package. Molly was next to her husband, grabbing the man in a bearhug that would have made Dawn proud. Neither Alex nor Ceraine had visited the home since classes started. Alex had become a fixture at their home, although it hadn't been that long since he last visited, the Weasleys still missed him at the dinner table.

"Come in, come in!" greeted Arthur as he gently pushed the man into his home. "Sit down and relax. I know you must be exhausted with your classes at Hogwarts and your other responsibilities. I imagine those little sprites are running you a lively course," he said as both sat down on the couch.

Molly returned from the kitchen carrying a snifter of fire whiskey and some small snacks. "Yes, please tell us how the classes are going!"

Alex thanked her for the glass and took a sip. The drink went down smooth just before he burped. A tiny burst of flame came out of his nose, making him laugh. He wasn't a drinker by any means. The effects of alcohol had on his parents, particularly his father, ensured that he would never really indulge. That didn't mean he wouldn't touch the stuff, just that he was careful. Besides, his instructors in the Mystic Arts frowned on alcohol or drugs that impaired the senses as it was a danger to both the magic users and those around them. But socially, he wouldn't insult someone by outright rejecting a drink offered by good friends in their own home. The Weasleys were also aware of Alex's hesitance in drinking and never pushed it. He once explained to them that his magic sprung from a different source and therefore alcohol affected him differently and he always needed to be careful.

To the Weasleys, that excuse sounded suspect, but they honored his wishes for the most part. They knew something of his background and understood his reluctance.

"Where's Ceraine? Is she coming?"

"No, she and a friend are off to London for a shopping trip," explained a slightly hysterical Alex.

There was a part of him wanted to see what was happening on Ceraine and Sybill's shopping excursion, but his other half knew that it would be any man's nightmare. Sybill of course, was initially terrified of going to no-mage land, having rarely, if ever, gone there before. But for some reason, she said yes and off they'd gone. Alex couldn't help but be pleased that the woman trusted them enough to agree to go. With her improved eyesight, she could see things now. Alex knew that trip was going to be a trip.

"Too bad she couldn't come, but let's get straight to the point," Molly said after gulping her drink down. "How are the classes going? They're not giving you too much trouble, are they?" she asked. "I know the twins are in your class and as you know they are quite a handful."

"Well, let's see," Alex started. "Hogwarts is an amazing school in its way, and I can say that the students are very well behaved in front of the professors." He smiled. "Kids will be kids. But we haven't had a problem with them. That includes the twins. They're taking everything in, and I think after this class is over, they'll be at another level of pranking. And you know, that scares me!" he laughed. "The good thing for Ceraine and I is that the classes are twice a week. It gives us a little time to do what we need to do at the store and other thing," he added. "I wish we had started the classes earlier. As it is, we're playing catchup."

The conversation continued for another half hour before the subject changed to something darker.

Arthur turned serious. "There's been some talk in the Ministry about your classes. Nothing serious yet, but there are a few that have taken an interest in your classes. You are still under the table, but I can see it in the wind. A few of them are coming for you and they are not your friends." He took a long sip of his drink. "These same people know that we are friends," he added. "They are speaking to me as if they are my friends. Before, they barely acknowledged my existence before."

"Some are just curious," Alex told him. "Some are probing you for information. I don't think they're targeting you for serious information yet. But you do need to be careful from now on. Some of them are prejudice against non-magical folks, and my class is triggering those prejudices. I don't think it's on their radar, er, their focus yet. The upcoming Tri-wizard tournament and the recent Death Eater attacks are on everyone's mind right now. My class is a minor nuisance they know little about. And consider that these classes have always been taught at the school. Just keep a watchful eye out."

"Worry not friend, I will," Arthur said with all seriousness. "But that's getting away from our conversation. How is the class coming? What are they studying?" He practically demanded Alex to spill the information, being so excited.

"Well, I have started with the computers and the related electronics." He smiled mischievously, enjoying the chaos he was sewing among the little witches and wizards. "I knew that the students would love them once they got used to them, which took all of two days. They took to the tablets like ducks to water. I had kids who had never even seen any sort of electronic device grab onto them like they were lifelines or long-lost lovers. Several times, I had to emphasize the rules that nothing in the class was to be taken outside of the class and that went over really well," he added with as much sarcasm as he could manage. "You should have heard the arguments and screaming. A lot of them are visiting me after regular classes just to use them. They've already started throwing out informational tidbits and adding to several of the other classes. A couple of teachers have expressed serious interests in learning where they've gotten their information from. One professor, Madame Sprout, wanted some of my students to write a report the numerous species of Mandrakes and their much rarer cousins, the Viticullum Manralls plants. Professor Pomfrey has shown an interest in no-mage medicines and Native American magical medicine. All the instructors, apart from one whose name I will not mention, have come to me and asked how my students are getting their information and so much of it." Then he began chuckling. He quickly recovered and took a sip of his drink. "Do you know that Cutthroat Binns actually visited one of my class sessions?"

"Merlin!" gasped Molly. "He's the magical history teacher. Is he still floating around digging in his nose when he speaks of the Colonial Rebellion and how the colonist tried to cut off his ears just because he had the nerve to sink a few of their merchant ships?" she smirked at the memory. "I remember that much about the class."

Cutthroat was an instructor when she attended Hogwarts (back in the ancient days when her parents had money for tuition). She remembered his voice putting her to sleep the moment he opened his mouth. How she passed that class, she never knew. "He's never shown any interest in learning anything new as far as I remember."

"Well, he visited and had a heart attack that would have killed him, if he wasn't already dead," Alex deadpanned. "As it is, the shock was too much. He's slowly fading, moving on. You can see it happening. I think, he'll be gone in less than a month."

"The poor man."

"You mean 'the poor ghost'," corrected Alex. "They're all trapped here, for one reason or another." He looked them in the eyes for a moment before speaking. "There's a reason why everything moves on."

"Alex, we're off point. I'd like to know what you're teaching in the class!" Arthur exclaimed. "You're torturing me!"

"Husband! Be quiet! Let the man get to it."

"Sorry," Alex told him. "First, how do you like the flip phone I gave you?"

"It's wonderful," he exclaimed. "Molly and I don't have many people to talk to other than you and Miss. Delane, but it is amazing!"

"It was really great for its time." They didn't know it yet, but soon they'll feel like those flip-phones were glued to their ears. Harris hadn't given him a more advanced phone because he fully expected Arthur to break the flip in his covert examinations. But he hadn't so Harris judged him able to take the next step. "I have something for you." He pulled out a ten-inch tablet. "This is for you."

Arthur stared at it in awe, bordering on lust. "This looks like a bigger version of your flat-phone!"

"Smart-phone," Alex Corrected. "But this is a warded computer tablet. Portable, so you can carry it around with you, but I strongly recommend you keep it in the house."

"Arthur looked at the flat device and found the button and turned it on. "What can it do?"

"Call it an information center, a small version of what you've seen at my home. Everything you want to know about, you can find it on this device. It does everything that your phones can do, but a lot more. It has information gained from two worlds and the future by about forty-plus years that this world will never know. It is connected to my home system. It holds information both non-magical and magical, and it's yours and Molly's only. The tablet will not work for anyone else unless I change the security mode. It is run like your phone, so it needs to be recharged. The recharge unit that your phone uses is the same that your phone uses. The charger is magically connected to my home since you don't have electricity here."

"We will have it one day," Arthur retorted. "One day."

"Good. The booklet will give you the basics, and from there you're off. All you will have to do is speak to it and learn how to type a little."

"Thank you," he whispered. "I will treat this as the treasure it is."

"Oh no, what have you done? I'll never see my husband again!" Molly lamented.

"You can use it, too, Molly," smiled Alex. "I want you to bring it when you come to my next meeting at my house. There are some developments you need to know about and a few people you'll want to meet?"

"We'll be there," they promised. "This is serious, isn't it?"

"Yes. It has to do with the portals that are opening. Something new came through. We don't know where it, or them are, but we're closing in on its location. My people will be there, and the goblin representatives as well."

Both Weasleys paled. "Goblins?"

Alex nodded. "There is a lot to tell you. This will affect your world and you need to know what's happening."

Both looked worried. "We're only one family with children. Why are we the ones picked for this?"

Alex smiled, but it was a sad 'sorry about this' kind of smile. "By the mere fact that you met me, you were pulled into this. You can't remain ignorant about the things surrounding you, just like you can't ignore your dark wizard self-proclaimed lord. Once you know, you're not the type to turn your backs. I know that and so does Dumbledore."

"And speaking about him, have you invited the headmaster to the meeting?"

Alex shook his head.

There were some things the old wizard didn't need to know, and Alex had to filter out information. He respected the old man, but Albus reminded him too much of the Mayor, just without the evil intent. Albus was at heart, a controlling manipulative individual and this made Alex cautious.

He judged Dumbledore to be an ally, but an ally with a few too many hidden agendas that smacked of desperation. If they were to work together, they'd need more time to develop a working relationship. And the way he seemed to manipulate the Potter kid irked him. There was something about the boy that Dumbledore needed from him, and it smacked too much of the old council's way to suit him. It was almost like he was shaping the boy to become a future weapon. Dumbledore also had his own problems to deal with. The terrorists and the tournament and his secrets were enough for him to deal with right now.

"No. I will talk to him," responded Alex. "Changing the subject now, let's talk about Ronald and his friends."

"You mean Hermione and Harry? How are they doing?"

"They're doing fine for the most part. I think I am going to work with them a little. Ron has a temper problem that I am asking you permission to help break. He's smarter than he lets on, but his temper at this age will interfere with his common sense. Hermione is very smart but has little control when it comes to acquiring knowledge. Her need to know is overwhelming her, especially now as she matures. Knowledge without wisdom is very dangerous and Ceraine will work on her and so will I. Then there is Harry and his challenges.

"All of them are becoming young men and woman with all that that entails, and I don't want them to go through some of the crap I went through when I was their age. Except for Mrs. Summers, my friend's mother, our parents weren't there for us. In Herm's case, she's not been able to speak to her parents about her magical life. That must be hard. Ron has you, but you don't know what's going on in his life at school. Then there's Harry. I can see the stress in that boy. He's covering it up like I did when I was his age, but he will eventually blow up.

"Ron's temper needs tempering. Miss. Granger has great potential, and Ceraine and I will watch her. Harry is stressed but seems to be happy here at school, but I worry about those three. Dumbledore is either ignoring those signs coming from Harry, or he's ignorant of them. The stress could easily scar him for life. Trust me, I know. He will blow if things don't change soon. The boy has a gentle spirit, but it's being worn down. After the Tri-wizard tournament fever calms down, I think I'll put him on my list of things to do. I can see the abuse in his eyes. It's marked him. "I want you two to get a lot more involved with the three of them. They're teenagers and they will hate you for it until they mature enough to understand what you are doing. But treat them like the young adults not babies or they will fight you tooth and nail. That could make their adolescence worse."

"What do you mean 'abuse'?" a confused Molly asked.

Alex stared at them in surprise. They seemed to be intently listening until he said the word abuse, then they both looked lost for a moment. "You really don't know, do you?"

Both husband and wife gave him a blank look.

Alex stared at them for a couple of seconds. "May I try something?"

Now both parents stared at one another for a moment as realization hit them both. "Yes," they both said.

Alex nodded and placed his wand on the table. It wouldn't be needed. He began muttering in a language neither of the two knew of. The room brightened, and magical energies swirled around the room. The energies moved towards the couple and touched them as something like an eye that they couldn't quite see stared at them.

"Yeah, right," Harris muttered.

The light faded as both parents snapped out of a trance that neither knew they were in.

"Did you find anything?" Molly asked.