Whoa! Look at all these shops!" Reiko exclaimed, spinning in circles to take in the bustling sights of Diagon Alley.

"Stay close, girls," Minerva McGonagall said firmly, though her tone was gentler than usual. Her gaze softened as she watched their excitement, but she quickly added, "And Kuri, do try to walk like everyone else. People will notice you levitating."

Kuri flushed, her cheeks turning a deep crimson as she quickly planted her feet back on the cobblestone street. "Sorry, Professor McGonagall," she mumbled, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

Before Minerva could gather them all, however, the girls scattered. Reiko darted into the Apothecary, Mana disappeared into Madame Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, and Kuri stopped in front of Quality Quidditch Supplies, her eyes glued to the shining Nimbus Two Thousand on display.

Minerva sighed, shaking her head fondly. "This is going to be a long day," she murmured, following after them.

Kuri pressed her hand to the glass, her eyes wide with wonder. The sleek broom seemed to gleam in the sunlight, almost as though it were calling to her.

"I can't believe it's real," she whispered, her breath fogging up the glass.

Beside her, a boy about her age stood with the same awestruck expression. "Yeah," he said softly. "It's amazing."

Kuri glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. There was something familiar about him, though she couldn't place it. She turned back to the broom and raised her hand, her fingers lightly brushing the glass.

The Nimbus lifted off its pedestal and floated toward her.

"H-How did you—?" the boy stammered, his green eyes widening in shock.

Kuri quickly lowered her hand, her cheeks burning. "Oops," she muttered before pressing a finger to her lips. "Shh. Don't tell anyone, okay?"

The boy blinked at her, still trying to process what he'd just seen. "Who are you?"

"Kuri Hikawa," she said, smiling warmly.

"Harry Potter," he replied, still staring at her as though she were some kind of enigma.

Kuri's eyes widened. "Oh!" she gasped. "Your Grams and my Grams were in the same coven! You know what that is, right? A coven's like a group of witches or wizards who perform secret magic together. Here!"

She pulled a photograph from her pocket and handed it to him.

Harry stared at the picture, his expression softening as his finger traced the image of Euphemia Potter, his grandmother. She stood beside another woman who looked strikingly similar to Kuri. The two women were playing a game of catch, but they weren't touching the ball—or using their wands. Instead, it floated between them, moving with subtle flicks of their eyes.

"Telekinesis…" Harry murmured, almost to himself.

Kuri pressed her finger to his lips, cutting him off. "Careful, Harry. Loose lips sink ships!"

"Kuri, come along now," Minerva called gently from the doorway, her sharp eyes watching the two of them with a knowing smile.

"See you at Hogwarts," Kuri whispered before hurrying after Minerva.

Xxx

Inside Madame Malkin's, Mana stood on a stool as enchanted measuring tapes flitted around her, taking measurements for her robes.

"I do wish I could choose the color," Mana said, sighing dramatically. "I look best in blue or green."

"Green is the best color," a pale boy beside her interjected. "It's the color of Slytherin House. I know I'll be in Slytherin. All my family has been."

Mana turned to him, raising a perfectly arched brow. "Mana Hikawa, of the Watanabe Clan," she said, her tone cool and self-assured.

The boy's eyes widened slightly. "A pure-blood family, then?"

"The purest," Mana replied, a hint of pride in her voice. "The Watanabe Clan can trace our lineage back to the First Witch herself."

"Impressive," the boy said, clearly intrigued. "I'm Draco Malfoy. Which house do you think you'll be in?"

"Slytherin, obviously," Mana said with a confident smirk. "Ambition runs in my blood. And considering who my father is…"

Draco leaned forward, clearly eager for more information. "Your father?"

But Mana simply smiled and leapt gracefully down from the stool. "That's all for now. Well, Draco, I do hope you'll consider me a friend at Hogwarts."

She gave him a traditional bow before sweeping out of the shop, leaving Draco staring after her, utterly starstruck.

Xxx

At the Apothecary, Reiko was crouched beside Ron Weasley, who was staring hopelessly at the shelves of ingredients.

"I don't know what half of these are," Ron muttered, running a hand through his messy hair.

"Oh, come on, it's not that bad!" Reiko said cheerfully. "You don't want to learn them by sight. They all look alike, and the names are impossible. Nope, you've gotta go by smell!"

She picked up a small vial and held it out to him. "See? You can smell this—it's mustard. Once you train your nose, it's easy!"

Ron raised an eyebrow. "No one has that good a sense of smell."

"Mustard smells like mustard!" Reiko said with a grin. "You've got this! I'm Reiko Hikawa, by the way."

"Ron Weasley," he replied, smiling despite himself. "Your sense of smell is incredible."

Reiko beamed at the compliment, her enthusiasm infectious.

Xxx

Once the girls had gathered their supplies, Minerva led them to the Leaky Cauldron, herding them like a mother hen. She paused outside the door, her expression softening.

"It's time to meet the family that will be taking you in," she said gently. "Your grandmother was very clear about this. This is the Weasley family."

Inside, Molly Weasley waved at them warmly. "Hello there, girls! Welcome!"

Ron, standing awkwardly by the fireplace, turned bright red as Reiko walked in. He hadn't expected the girl he'd met in the Apothecary to be one of the ones his mother had been gushing about all week.

The girls quickly realized that the Watanabe family had funded renovations to the Burrow, ensuring the Weasleys could accommodate the new arrivals. It was clear that, in turn, the Weasleys' kindness and generosity would make their transition into the magical world far easier.

Minerva watched the interactions unfold, a rare smile tugging at the corners of her lips. Kaori Hikawa had been right—these girls would find both family and a sense of belonging here.

And with any luck, they'd find their place at Hogwarts, too.