Leaky Cauldron Chapter 36:

Ludwig Beilschmidt stared at his older brother.

He knew that Gilbert was impatient, but they'd only been here three minutes, and they'd gotten here five minutes earlier than they were supposed to. And it wasn't like it was the first time they were picking up one of his friends. And it wasn't few times when they'd been late.

'So, why,' Ludwig thought, 'is he looking around so anxiously, barely sitting still?'

With his constant staring at the door, it was ironic that the only time Gilbert wasn't looking at the door, was when the person they were waiting for strolled in through it.

Ludwig recognized Elizaveta from having caught a glimpse of her on the platform at Charing Cross when he and the rest of the family picked Gilbert up for the Holidays. Like back then, she wore Muggle clothes. And just as she'd then, she looked more like a Muggle than any witch or wizard he'd ever seen. And he'd studied many examples of witches and wizards wearing Muggle clothes versus Muggles wearing them.

She spotted them quite easily; probably because mrs. Beilschmidt's scarf was the only one which gave a wave.

She hurried towards them with a big smile on her face, would probably have waved at Gilbert too, if he'd seen her coming.

But he didn't notice her before she was right behind him.

At which juncture, she leaned close to his left ear and whispered,

'Have you been here long?'

Which made him jump and scramble out of his chair with a,

'Aaah!'

This made her laugh. Openly and heartily.

'Sorry, Gil,' she said without sounding sorry at all, 'I just couldn't resist. You haven't been waiting too long, I hope?'

'No, not at all, dear.' Gilbert's mother, who had chuckled, was saying. 'You're actually right on the dot.' she continued, consulting her watch. 'Have you been shopping?' she asked pleasantly, indicating the shopping bags Elizaveta were holding.

'Yes, I wasn't quite done with my Christmas shopping when I packed my trunk for my stay at your place, so I decided to use the opportunity to shop here.'

'It's almost Christmas, and you weren't done with the Christmas shopping before today?' Ludwig asked incredulously. He knew he was out of line, and normally he wouldn't have dreamed of talking like that to his senior, or to a girl, but he just found it so unbelievable!

'With the tests, homework and Hetalia Club, I haven't had the time to go shopping for all the Christmas gifts.'

Embarrassed and almost shame-faced, Ludwig had to concede to the truth in that. Wanting to smooth things over, he said the first thing that came to his mind.

'You're incredibly good with dressing up in Muggle clothes.'

'She should be,' Gilbert responded, 'she's Muggle born.'

'But my grandfather's a Squib, so I'm not a pure-blooded Muggle born.' Elizaveta shot in, trying to soothe Ludwig. It worked, to a degree.

'Really? Well, that certainly is a clear indication that the theory of Muggle-born witches and wizards really descends from squib-born wizards.'

'Oh, the theory based on the late Professor Dumbledore's comment in the explored version of Beedle the Bard, that every Muggle-born witch and wizard has some magic in their ancestry?'

'Yes, although it's really just been supported by his comments as that theory was already there in his youth.'

'By Dumbledore, there are more know-it-all. They're taking over!' Gilbert joked.

'Oh, shut up, Gilbert! You're notoriously known to geek out worse over the rest of Magical History than we just did over just one theory.'

'Really?' Ludwig asked. 'He's never like that at home.'

'How is he at home?' Elizaveta curiously wanted to know.

'Well, he's serious enough, except when he races around with his friends and claim that he's "awesome", though those times when he's serious are rare and far between and I've never heard him talk about anything related to the academics, except for talking about broomsticks and quidditch training, and the workings of goblins armies in battle.'

'Well, at school, he's about the only one whom can stay awake during Professor Binns' class.'

'You mean, people fall asleep during lectures?' Ludwig asked scandalously.

'Only Professor Binns', usually.' Elizaveta added the last word in a whisper that went uncommented upon as Mrs. Beilschmidt declared that it was time for them to leave.

Author's notes:

In the next chapter:

'Well, Eliza isn't most people, father.' Gilbert arriving just behind said. He looked a little queasy.