Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

The Yankees Nephew and the Philosophers Stone	By : Wilde_Guess Category: Harry Potter > General > General Views: 5806 -:- Recommendations : 5 -:- Currently Reading : 5
Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter Universe I am making no money from this fanfiction

Chapter List
- 2
- 3
- 4
Chapter 3. More Arrivals for Little Whinging.

The joy and conviviality of a Weasley breakfast only managed to last until around eight o’clock in the morning of Monday the twenty-first. With the last of the food finished, and Molly about to chivvy everyone out of her kitchen so she could clean up after breakfast, there was a knock at the door. She answered the door to reveal Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall.

After being invited in, Professor Dumbledore greeted, “Good morning, everyone. Professor McGonagall and I need to talk with the Dvoraks. While I won’t share what I have to say with them otherwise, I would politely suggest that John and Pet Dvorak allow at least Molly and Arthur to hear what I have to say as well, seeing that all of you are getting along, particularly David and Bill. First, John, have you ever heard of Clan O’Connell.”

Arthur and Molly got somewhat nervous hearing of the O’Connells. While Clan O’Connell was not dark, they were not particularly light either. All the older Dvorak children were nervous for a different reason. John and Pet looked at each other before John replied, “Perhaps if Molly invites Arabella Figg through the Floo to babysit the younger children and she is able to do so, we might have this conversation now. I trust that you have a reason for bringing this up?”

Dumbledore replied, “I have several reasons John, and they’re all important. I trust Arthur and Molly to say nothing where nothing needs to be said. However, they were involved with me in the last war, and I believe that their knowing things rather than being surprised by them would be for the best.”

Five minutes later, Arabella Figg was babysitting all the Weasley children except for Bill and Charlie, along with Paul, Harry, and Neville. Dumbledore cast a silencing charm on the kitchen wall so their conversation would happen without extra participants. John stated, “Thanks for casting that, Albus. We can tell Arabella whatever she needs to know, but that doesn’t need to happen right now. Now, why do you bring up my ‘distant relatives?’ I’m guessing that whatever the reason is that you figure more of an explanation is needed?”

Dumbledore told the group, “I had a very interesting conversation with Doctor Lambkins, the Headmaster of Ilvermorny. He had accused me of ‘poaching’ students, particularly your adopted son David. He stated that he really wanted David to attend, and that your brother Frank Floyd could explain further.”

After sighing, John explained, “Pet, and all of my children who are old enough to understand, know about this, or at least as much as I know. For the rest of you, while my last name is rightly Dvorak, and while I am in fact a descendent of the famous Czech Muggle composer Antonín Dvořák, I am also the youngest son of Hernando DeSoto Floyd, the former Head of House Floyd, an American branch of Clan O’Connell with unique traits. Some of our family are magical and some are not. However, from 1791 on, the MaCUSA has stayed well clear of House Floyd. Even after the treaty in 1965 they cannot compel us to participate in Magical society beyond complying with the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy. So, why would Ilvermorny be interested in David?”

Professor Dumbledore replied, “Magically, your son David is still David Rush-Cook Floyd, since his birth-father was Ricardo Cristobal Floyd”

John retorted, “Richard Christopher Dvorak, my full brother, worked hard to gain the identity he lived in his adult life. He left the family business with our father’s blessings, and wished for all of his children to remain well clear of that. David is a Dvorak, and he always has been. Unless he says otherwise against the wishes of both of his fathers when he reaches adulthood, he will remain so. Rick’s and my mother was a Dvorak by blood and name before she married as well as after. She was also a blood Floyd, though distantly related; so I suppose there is that.”

Dumbledore stated, “All of what we’re talking about here is Order Business, and about as serious as that gets. The reason Rick and John Dvorak distanced themselves from the Floyds is that many members of the Floyd Family are also a Muggle crime family, and a particularly violent one if you manage to get on their wrong side. They are also a warrior family who left MaCUSA in favor of the Muggle United States during the American Revolution, and whom have served the Muggle United States Government as soldiers or sailors in every war that country has fought since then, up to the present day.

“Doctor Lambkins wanted David to attend Ilvermorny, along with all of his silver-eyed siblings save one cousin, who has major reading problems. But beyond John’s children, the one who is eligible is unwilling to attend Ilvermorny without relatives by their side, and expecting David to attend a boarding school an entire ocean away from his living parents would be rather extreme. I do have some people who wish to take part in this discussion nearby. I can summon them quickly enough.”

John asked, “How many, and who? And Arthur will also have to approve their being here, since this is his house, not mine or yours.”

Dumbledore informed them, “Your brother and Head of House Frank, his son Andy, your brothers Abner Junior and William, Abner’s wife Hannah, and their children A.D. and Hannah.”

After sighing, John replied, “It’s just as well Pet has had me try reconciling further with Junior and William already. All the kids have always gotten along fine, and I have no problems with Hannah. She was the middle sister of my first wife’s family, with Cathy being the oldest and Stacy Cook the youngest. I also get along decently with Frank. And in the family, we call Junior’s daughter Sally to tell her apart from her mother. How did you get all of them here, and where are they?”

Dumbledore told them, “Frank flew all of them out to the UK the Muggle way, with proper passports and everything. I have them in a hotel suite in Exeter with a Portkey. If I send them word to join us, they can be here in just a moment.”

John said, “I have no problems, and I can vouch for all of them. Arthur?”

Arthur said, “I’m rather nervous being brought into the dealings of another man’s family. However, I think that I’m becoming involved regardless. I have no problem having them come out here now if John’s okay with it.”

With John’s silent nod, Dumbledore silently sent a silver flash outside of the house. A few moments later, there was a knock at the door, which Molly answered, admitting the seven Americans into her home, carrying the rope that had been their Portkey.

Francisco Javier Floyd was an older version of John with all of his limbs intact, slightly duller red hair, and a hairline that was just starting to recede. Unlike John, who favored higher end American suits, ‘Frank’ was wearing an actual Saville Row suit in dark grey with the expected accessories and a dark grey Homburg hat. When he spoke, his voice resembled an American Southern Alan Rickman.

Abner Doubleday Dvorak Junior, PhD, was wearing a tweed sport coat, white button-down shirt and tie, blue jeans, and brown loafers. He was a shorter and slightly pudgy man at five foot six and one hundred ninety pounds. His brown hair was neither graying nor receding. His brown eyes were clear and sharp, and his chin was only slightly weak. His complexion was untanned, but not unhealthy looking. His raspy voice was only slightly high for a man, and he spoke with both a Midwestern United States accent and in a way that suggested he had spoken publicly for many years.

William Clay Dvorak, PhD, was dressed identically to his older brother, and was starting to look ill. He was five foot ten and a more trim one hundred sixty pounds. His brown hair was so dark as to almost appear black, and was also full and grey-free. His eyes were almost identical to his older brother’s, and his chin was average. Like his brother, he was also clean-shaven and pale. His voice and manner of speaking was nearly identical to his older brother’s.

Hannah Marie Dvorak, Junior’s wife, had black hair down to just past her shoulder blades and blue eyes. She was five foot four and weighed one hundred thirty eight pounds. Her figure was full, but attractively so, and she was still quite beautiful despite being the mother of two at the age of thirty-three. Her slightly dusky Midwestern voice was feminine and charming.

Hannah’s children; eleven-year-old Abner Doubleday Dvorak III and nine-year-old Hannah Sally Dvorak had black hair and silver eyes. They were both of average height for their age, and both slender but solidly built. Hannah’s free hair went to the small of her back, and ‘A.D.’s’ ponytail went to just past his shoulder blades. They were both wearing medium weight winter jackets over button-down shirts, t-shirts, blue jeans, and trainers.

‘Frank’s’ son Andres Augustin ‘Andy’ Floyd was almost fourteen. He was five foot nine and weighed about one hundred forty pounds. He had medium length red hair and silver eyes. While his red hair was slightly duller than Michael’s or David’s, he could still easily pass for John’s actual son. He spoke with a smooth Tennessee drawl. He was dressed similarly to his cousins.

Frank started off the conversation by asking, “Dumbledore; first, will the Weasleys keep our secrets?”

Arthur answered, “Lord Francisco, I owe a life-debt to your brother John because he saved my entire family from a hidden Death Eater not even twenty-four hours ago. My family and I will only ever say what John asks us to.”

“Fair enough, Mr. Weasley” Frank replied. He continued, “And John, we’re all truly sorry for your losses of the Potters, and a belated congratulations to both Petunia and yourself. Andy and I still can’t get past his dyslexia, and Rick isn’t around anymore. Can you take him in? Hogwarts or the American School, whatever Andy and you decide will be fine by me. He still wants to fly ‘choppers’ like his Uncle Rick, and David was good with helping him the few times they ‘hung out’ together.”

John replied, “You’re paying me for the addition I’ll need to put onto my house for this, Frank. And if Dumbledore hasn’t already told you, I will now. Because of my newest kid, I’ve got very un-portable high-performance blood-wards on my home, so I can’t just move out and buy a bigger one. And Andy, I’m glad to have you. Rick told me that you were just as good a person and a ‘stick’ as David, which from him was quite the compliment. Whether you’re a Floyd or a Dvorak, Orchard Muni will be lucky to have you fly for them once you’ve completed your No-Maj education, whether you learn the Wizarding stuff too or not.”

Turning to his ‘double’ sister-in-law, he continued, “That explains Frank, Hannah. Though I’m happy to see the kids and you again, why are you out here?”

‘Junior’ Dvorak answered, “It was my call, John; though your brother Frank recommended it. With the reputation Mother’s and your family have on the magical side, there’s no way in hell I’m letting A.D. or Hannah go to a boarding school in Massachusetts to study anything unless they have other relatives to watch their backs. And since I’m not ‘Floyd enough,’ thank God, the MaCUSA bunch are trying to force the issue. So, I need you to either send David to Ilvermorny, or adopt both A.D. and Sally and send them to Hogwarts so MaCUSA will get off of Hannah’s and my asses. William came along because he just found out last week that he has liver cancer. He and I have practically no magic, and the wizards don’t have a cure for liver cancer even if he had magic. So, if you’re for real on our reconciling completely, this is about the best chance you have with him.”

John asked, “Frank, have they been tested for magic?”

Frank answered, “Yes. Andy is a 3.1, A.D. is a 2.9, and Hannah Sally is a 2.8. Ilvermorny doesn’t want to mess with ‘Special Needs’ education to work around Andy’s dyslexia, and if he wants to study magic now, he sure didn’t want to study it two years ago.”

Frank asked, “Professor Dumbledore, how is your school set up to deal with dyslexia?”

Professor McGonagall answered, “I can answer you, Lord Floyd. Dyslexia is much more rare among Magicals than among Muggles, or ‘No-Maj’ people as you call them in America. But if your son Andy is of near-genius intelligence as I’ve been told he is, that shouldn’t be an issue. We can certainly find tutors who can help Andy refine his reading and otherwise work through his dyslexia. We can also adjust his instruction so he receives more lectures on his subjects rather than direct reading, though that would be during times where other students would be working on their own written assignments. Having him start at Hogwarts two years later than he should have could be an issue, but that would also depend a lot on how hard Andy is willing to work to learn magic.

“And Mr. Abner Dvorak, if you would prefer that your children attend Hogwarts over Ilvermorny, that is actually more between John and you. Both schools are normally boarding schools. If you have John take over as guardian of your children, then so long as John lives in the UK, both of your children will qualify to attend Hogwarts. If your circumstances change, then while it isn’t normally done, your children can transfer to Ilvermorny with little difficulty. MaCUSA uses the same international standard Ordinary Wizarding Level and Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test batteries as Hogwarts does, rather than the school itself being certified to graduate students as your No-Maj schools do in America.

“But that takes us back to the three children, all of whom are old enough to at least express their opinions. Do the three of you want to learn magic?”

Andy answered first. “Professor McGonagall, I would be interested in learning magic, if my cousin David goes to Hogwarts, as Professor Dumbledore suggested he might. But I won’t actually use magic as part of my earning a living. I plan on becoming a professional helicopter pilot once I graduate school, the same as David had planned; in fact I would be working for David. So, attending the regular school for Diplomats my cousins are attending would be more helpful. But, if David and I need to attend your school for ‘political reasons,’ then I will do my best learning magic, and David and I will accomplish our non-magical learning over the summers somehow.”

A.D. added, “The MaCUSA bunch had threatened Mom and Dad with having Sally and me taken away and them being Obliviated if they didn’t send us to magic school. They also threatened to bind Sally’s and my magic cores, which doesn’t sound even a little bit good. If I need to learn magic somewhere, then I’d rather learn it from a bunch who hadn’t threatened to harm my family and me.”

Sally added, “Same here, Ma’am. It’s either you, or go to work for Uncle Frank, which isn’t nearly so good of an idea as it sounds.”

Frank supplied, “Working for me isn’t nearly as bad an idea as you make it sound like either, young lady. I have plenty of well-paying honest non-magical jobs, and I’ll need to hire someone to do them. But ‘hiding’ behind our family’s reputation shouldn’t be your first choice when a half-wit government bureaucrat tries throwing around weight they don’t actually have.

“The Wizarding UK is actually worse than MaCUSA about not leaving school-eligible Wizarding children alone if they don’t go to magic school. Like I explained to your father already, the worst MaCUSA can do is make your father, and later on you carry ‘Accidental Magic Insurance’ to pay the expense for excess accidental magic incidents if you don’t go to magic school somewhere and pass at least one OWL. Remember though that you are governed by the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy along with your No-Maj parents and uncle, and also that most No-Maj people will think you’re bonkers if you try telling them about the Wizarding World anyway. My father told your Uncle John and your late Uncle Rick about magic and the Wizarding World when they were in high school. They told him, their own father, that he was full of shit! Since both your Uncle John and late Uncle Rick were dead-set on becoming career soldiers, my father didn’t bother trying to demonstrate or prove magic, when they would otherwise have never used it. Your Uncle John didn’t actually accept that magic was real until he came over here to work for the State Department.”

Sally retorted, “I still want to go to Hogwarts if I have to go to one of those schools at all. I’m still young enough that I haven’t settled completely on a career path I want. Perhaps I could become a magical doctor?”

Dumbledore volunteered, “We call them ‘healers,’ Sally. If your parents and you decide on Hogwarts, our healer is one of the best paediatric healers in Europe. While she doesn’t normally teach healing, I’m sure she could teach you some in your later Hogwarts years, providing your grades in Potions, Herbology, Charms, and Arithmancy are at the level you would need to enter a healer training program. Ilvermorny only has a mediwizard on staff.”

Frank asked, “John, I suppose you’ve already got a quote on the addition to your house?”

John told him, “Yes. I’ll actually have to hire Goblin contractors through Gringotts Bank to get the job done with non-magical materials, including a perpetual ownership rider so they don’t try to take my house in a hundred years or so. While it will be expensive, they can have the whole job done in two months, I’ll only have to move out of the top floor for a week, it will be up to code for everything, and they’ll include the needed memory charms so that people think the house was always a three story house as we call them back home instead of the two story brick house it is now. And once it’s done, you could pull every last bit of magic out of the house, and it would still be fine. If you have Wizards do the building, that wouldn’t be the case. The Goblins will also be able to put a second floor over the garage and make it look like it was always there, too. And the houses are shoulder to shoulder, so I can only build up. When I had the developer build the house originally, I had a full-height finished basement with a full bathroom put in, and I’m already using it now for the girls, as well as the laundry room. Any non-magical contractors who would even touch the job would need at least six months, and I’d have to move out completely while they built it.”

John told Frank the quote the Goblins gave him. He winced before replying, “It will cost what it will cost. Did you find a replacement here for Javier Carlos to teach guitar to your kids?”

John replied, “No. Javier moved out here and bought a house a block or two over from mine. And while he has no Wizarding magic himself, he knows about it, so there’s no problems there.”

Frank asked, “How are the trains between Soho and where you live?”

John laughed before replying, “If you’re thinking about having Henri Dupris come out here, he’ll do fine. He’ll probably be happier buying a house near mine, though. I take the train in to Vauxhall and ride the bus the rest of the way to Grosvenor Square. So, if Henri decides to come out here, he’ll be able to do session work and record wherever he wants.”

Frank opined, “Henri knows about Voodoo and all that Cajun shit as well as wanded magic, so he’ll be fine, too. He’s also his own man, so he probably won’t come out here.”

Andy interjected, “Like hell he won’t! I talked to him right after you told me that you were shipping me off to Uncle John. He told me that he’d stay with Mr. Carlos until he found a place he liked; I just had to tell him when I was leaving Clarksville, which even if we’re doing better won’t happen fast enough! Uncle John, will I be able to transfer to the ‘diplomat kids school’ and finish eighth grade before going to Hogwarts?”

John sighed before replying, “You can and may do that, but you will have to earn the grades. How long will you be out here, Frank?”

Frank replied, “I’ll be here until the end of the ‘school Christmas break,’ or longer if needed. Junior and William will have to get back when UIUC classes resume. Whether their kids go back until summer or transfer to the American School with your kids is between Junior, Hannah, and you.”

Danny decided to ask, “This is all well and good. But will Michael and I be forced to go to ‘wizarding school,’ which we will never use, along with David? And as far as that goes, are you making David go to Hogwarts, when he needs non-magical good grades to get into Lewis? It sure sounds like Hogwarts will teach us nothing about commercial aviation or running a motorcycle dealership.” Lewis University is a university relatively close to where the Dvoraks lived before John joined the Diplomatic Service. It is also one of the premier universities for anyone wanting to enter commercial aviation, as well as offering degrees in business administration. Michael’s dream job was to become an airline pilot. Danny wanted to become an airline pilot just long enough to save up the last money he needed to buy a Harley Davidson Motorcycle Dealership.

Michael added, “And what about Tim and our girlfriends? They can’t go to Hogwarts. And we want nothing to do with a boarding school where our girlfriends can’t also go. Danny and I won’t use ‘hocus-pocus’ after ‘magic school.’ While we won’t use our girlfriends either, we may very well share the rest of our lives with them, provided we aren’t sent to a boarding school in the middle of BF Scotland to study stuff we’ll never use instead of learning how to be good and honorable men while our girlfriends learn to be good and honorable ladies by our sides.”

Danny added, “Michael and I don’t have any problems with learning magic, or at least I don’t. But we can’t afford to learn only magic for seven years in a remote boarding school that would keep us away from family and learning what we actually need to learn for nine months out of the year.”

Dumbledore informed them, “Only David and his younger magical siblings will have to attend my school. While I’m disappointed that Daniel and Michael aren’t interested in learning more about their magical heritage or developing their magical abilities, they will not be forced to do so, or punished in any way for not doing so.”

Pixie asked, “For us ‘older kids,’ wouldn’t attending one of the better ‘hedge academies’ part time be in our best interests? While we won’t have the prestige of a Hogwarts or Ilvermorny Magical Education, we’ll still learn how to do magic. And while we’ll have to work that much harder to keep up both our magical grades and our non-magical ones, we aren’t strangers to hard work. That way, when your Terrorist comes back, we’ll actually be able to guard Harry’s back, or at least protect ourselves good enough that he won’t have to worry about us.”

To everybody’s shocked reactions, she responded, “Really? Professor Dumbledore, you are a very busy man. While you are also a good man, you wouldn’t be spending all of this time helping us if the Terrorist didn’t manage to cheat death somehow. You’re convinced that Harry is the one who’ll need to put that mad dog down for good, so you’re bending over every which way so we raise Harry strong enough to get the job done. I get that, and I’m with you on that. Just don’t expect us to scuttle our own lives when we don’t really need to.”

David stated, “I won’t say that I won’t have problems with going to Hogwarts, but I will go if you send me. I’ll need help keeping up with my non-magical studies so I don’t fall behind with them too far. But I’m two years ahead of my age group, so it shouldn’t be impossible for me to finish four years of non-magical high school in seven years. While I haven’t had the chance to talk things over with Saria yet, I hope she’ll support me, and that we can keep things going between us by writing each other a lot. I can also help Andy and A.D. keep up with their studies, both magic and otherwise. A.D. is ahead in his studies just as far as me, and I can help Andy ‘catch up’ at least a little bit with the kids his age who started magic school on time and keep him from falling too far behind in his non-magical stuff.”

Bill Weasley decided to add, “I can help you guys out too. I’m going to Hogwarts no matter what. But, I can also learn the non-magic stuff along with you while helping you learn magic. And a lot of the non-magical stuff is basically maths and English anyway, which are the same for both Muggles and wizards. The ‘science stuff’ will be cool to learn too, even if I’m as likely to fly a helicopter as David is to become a curse breaker for Gringotts. And Aaron will start the year after Charlie, so Charlie and I can both help him, too.”

Taking back control over the conversation, John pronounced, “And that’s the disadvantage of sending your kids to Hogwarts instead of Ilvermorny. Pet and I adopted our nephew Harry Potter because the Wizarding Terrorist murdered my brother in law and sister in law. My sister in law, Lily Potter, put some kind of magical booby-trap on Harry, so when the Terrorist tried murdering Harry, his spell rebounded onto him and vaporized him. That would be good enough to kill anyone else, but the Terrorist somehow managed to get past all that, or at least Professor Dumbledore is convinced he has. I’m sure you have some evidence, Professor?”

Dumbledore replied, “The evidence is the ‘Dark Mark’ magical tattoo Voldemort applied to all of his closest followers, who are called ‘Death Eaters.’ Had Voldemort actually died, the tattoo would have disappeared from his marked followers and it would be next to impossible to detect. Instead, the Dark Marks of his followers are only somewhat faded, yet clearly visible as those of you who helped capture Peter Pettigrew yesterday clearly saw.

“But while he is still alive, he’s not dangerous for now. It will likely take him many years before he builds his strength back up from what Lily caused to happen to him when he tried to kill Harry. So, I can reassure those of you who came over from America that Hogwarts will be perfectly safe as well as provide your children a superior magical education. While our Magical History course concentrates more on the Wizarding UK than it does MaCUSA, it does cover major events in the entire Wizarding World, including MaCUSA. Your children seem talented enough that they may very well teach each other MaCUSA History along with the non-magical histories of the United States and the United Kingdom.”

A.D. suggested, “Dad? I can ‘test out’ of Eighth Grade and come back here to get a leg up on this magic stuff if Uncle John can take me in. I can even help Andy while I’m at it.”

Junior replied, “A.D., your Mom and I don’t want you moving out at eleven and nine, period. But, if the two of you want to ‘get it over with,’ we’ll let you with our blessings. Once we find out where your Uncle John actually lives, we can fly back to Champaign, test you out, have Sally and you say goodbye to your friends at school, and fly you back here.”

John suggested, “Frank, there’s a house that just came up for sale a block or so from mine. One of us can buy it, and since we’ll pay cash, we should be able to gain immediate occupancy, since the previous owners are already visibly moving out.”

Frank replied, “I’ll buy it but have you see to managing it. I’ll also have you have the Goblins add on to that house while they’re doing yours. Junior, you’re welcome to stay there any time you need to, just let John know. Depending on how big the place is, I might keep one of the bedrooms, and another room for an office locked and off-limits. Otherwise, you may have the run of the place at need when I’m not there.”

John added, “The house is similar to mine; so it’s a four bedroom house with a family bathroom and ensuite for the master bedroom. It’s English, though, so unlike mine you won’t have closets in the bedrooms. You’ll have to buy wardrobes when you buy the furniture for the place. You’ll still have two bedrooms open claiming one for yourself and another for an office. You can even have rooms added over the garage if you have your servants with you.”

Frank asked, “Will the garage hold a Phantom V? I bought a ’68 James Young for use when I’m here, which looks like it will be somewhat frequently.”

John asked, “Is Howard Fry still your stablemaster?”

Frank told him, “Yes, and the guy just keeps getting better year after year somehow. I thought I’d have to hire a driver out here. But Howard drives that Rolls here like he’s always driven that Rolls here, left side of the road and all. I also brought out Wilbur Jones, my head butler. He takes turns with the Phantom, and I suppose he’ll furnish the house after I buy it. The family has always had enough wealth to hire house-elves, but we were USA, not MaCUSA, so we steered well clear of them and just hired human help. We were also smart enough to never own slaves. We only got into rum making after the market would support sugarcane produced by paid labor.”

Arthur Weasley informed the group, “As far as I understand the law, students are not allowed to use magic outside of school except for emergencies to save lives or sometimes property. I don’t know where you would be able to practice outside of Hogwarts or a hedge academy.”

Remus contributed, “Arthur, that law is only really enforced against Muggleborn students, since their parents can’t use magic or fix their children’s magical mistakes, and because Muggleborns tend to live in Muggle areas. And, even then, if a certified teacher is present and supervising, even Muggleborn students can practice magic outside of school. I am a certified teacher in Defense Against the Dark Arts, which also includes basic Charms and some Transfiguration. And the magic required to brew most potions is almost undetectable even if they’re looking for it.”

John added, “My quote for enlarging my house also included putting a proper potions lab in the basement and hiding it from Muggle discovery. So, we have three of the five ‘core’ subjects covered. I’m told that Herbert and Augusta Longbottom have an excellent greenhouse available for the study of magical Herbology, though that’s their greenhouse and not ours, so we’ll have to ask them nicely to use it. Though with Neville joining in with Harry, Dudley, and Ronald in studying, I would be genuinely surprised if she didn’t allow us the respectful use of it. So, it really is just a matter of how hard our children are willing to work to get their magical educations; we can provide the teachers and the places to learn.”

Frank suggested, “If you can, John, you need to get wands for yourself and all of your kids here from Ollivander’s Wand Shop in London. Our family wand crafters are very good, but they’ve all told me that Ollivander’s wands are the best. And Father had you tested when Rick started living with you in Coal City; you had plenty of magical strength then, so you should be able to learn and do something even now.”

Professor Dumbledore added, “Ollivander’s can only sell to adult wizards or students who are already enrolled in a magic school. But John can hire Remus as his tutor and buy his wand right away. While I normally don’t enroll students this far beforehand, I can do so if they are going to attend Hogwarts. For the older students, you will need to be enrolled at least part-time at one of the hedge academies, and the headmaster of that academy will have to write a letter for you to carry into Ollivander’s to buy your wand.”

John stated, “We’ve accomplished a fair bit talking here. But Frank’s car and non-magical servants are still in Exeter, along with everyone’s baggage. Professor Dumbledore, can Frank’s car be made into a Portkey?”

Dumbledore replied, “No, the car is too new, and the spells would mess up the radio and electric shifter on the car.”

John suggested, “Then perhaps you could take Frank back and have him tell his servants to book a hotel in Ashford, Surrey? I live at Number Four Privet Drive in a subdivision called ‘Little Whinging’ in Ashford, and that’s a three-hour drive or so from Exeter. It’s also in Surrey, not Kent. I made that mistake the first week I was posted here, and it’s not a pleasant one to make. I’m not sure about vacancies, but there are plenty of hotels in the Ashford area. Also, almost everything we need to accomplish in the next few weeks will be in Little Whinging or in London, except for choosing a ‘hedge academy’ that will meet our needs.”

While the adults adjourned to arrange Portkeys and hotel rooms, Bill and David talked quietly together.

“Thanks for your part earlier, Bill. And while I’m worried ‘bout not getting my non-magical education done up the way I’d planned, I really am excited about going to Hogwarts with you, and I guess getting parent-induced magic cram school laid on before that. Remus is cool, but I’m pretty sure he’ll work all of us like dogs so we can ace Hogwarts.”

“How did your cousin A.D. and you get two years ahead in school?”

“Simple, Bill; we worked our asses off. I don’t know why A.D. did, I’d never thought to ask. I did it so I could go to Lewis University at the same time as Danny and Michael. They’re only ten months apart in age, and the way school admissions worked in our part of America, they’ve always been in the same grade, in this case eighth grade. Tim also worked his ass off so he’d be in the same classes as the rest of us. The only ones of us who aren’t graduating Eighth Grade when school lets out are Delilah, who’s a Sophomore in High School, and Aaron, who’s worked ahead to Sixth Grade.

“Of course even the non-magical side of the UK has different names for school stuff. And here, you have to take a test to graduate from school to go to college. In America, the school is certified, and if you earn a diploma from them, you’re golden. Of course, I guess the magic side has OWLs and NEWTs everywhere.”

“What’s college?” Bill asked.

Michael told him, “It’s a school for after you graduate from school. On the non-magical side, we do have a lot of jobs where a High School education is good enough, and we have others where you train as an apprentice. But we also have a lot of jobs where you need more schooling than just High School, and that’s what the colleges are for. Some of those jobs need only two more years of school, others need four, and doctors and lawyers need eight years or more.

“Both Uncle Junior and Uncle William work at a big university, which is more or less another name for a college. They went to school for ten years to earn their degrees. While they aren’t medical doctors, or non-magic healers, they are doctors, and in a professional setting you would have to call them Doctor Dvorak instead of mister or professor.”

Looking over to the side, David saw Tim looking lost and alone. He called, “Hey Tim, come over here, please?”

Tim walked over, and David told him, “I’m sorry I didn’t think to introduce you guys. And I don’t care that you can’t do magic, Tim. I’d bet that Bill can’t play the drums either. But you’re both friends, yeah?”

Tim brightened up and held his hand out to Bill, saying, “Hi, Bill. I’m Tim Cash. Are you into music at all?”

Bill shook Tim’s hand and replied, “Into it, hell yeah! But my singing is only good enough to put my brothers and sister to sleep. It’s nothing like what David can do. We have a couple of beat up guitars, but Dad barely knows how to play them, and us kids never got shown how. And we wizards even have our own bands. The Weird Sisters are popular with guys our age, and they might be able to make it with non-magicals. But you guys got great bands from what little I’ve heard overhearing Muggles playing their wireless sets…”

David managed to keep an old friend while still making a new one.

§§§

The week leading up to Tuesday, the twenty-ninth of December saw a lot accomplished beyond celebrating Christmas. First, Number Two Privet Drive was posted for sale on the afternoon of the twenty-first. After Frank Floyd persuaded the realtor that he actually had the £275,000 asking price in cash, and had the money wired over, he was able to take possession of Number Two Tuesday the twenty-second. Wednesday the twenty-third, he had all the newly bought furniture, appliances, window coverings, and everything delivered, including groceries. Professor Dumbledore loaned Wilbur and Howard the use of a pair of house elves to help set everything up.

John hosted a combined ‘family dinner’ Christmas Eve evening at his home, with his household of thirteen, Frank’s seven plus two, Remus Lupin, Arabella Figg, and a fresh-from-St. Mungo’s Sirius Black. He was obliged to have Professor Dumbledore cast an expansion charm on the dining room and lounge, and remove the charms on Boxing Day. Harry remembered ‘Pafoo’ quite well, and was attached to the man almost limpet-like for most of the night. While Pet warmly welcomed Sirius into their home, the gaily wrapped parcels that suspiciously resembled toy brooms were briskly put into the boot of Remus’s FX-4, never to be seen outside of Devon again. Remus had had the foresight to buy “extra” Christmas presents for the toddlers that did not allow them to spear holes in the walls of Petunia’s home.

Finally, on Monday the twenty-eighth, Professor Dumbledore obtained letters of acceptance for Danny, Michael, and Pixie for Guildford Academy for Gifted Students, a ‘hedge academy’ only twenty miles away from Ashford. These, along with the letters of acceptance to Hogwarts he had generated specially for David, Andy, A.D., and Bill Weasley, would allow the students to buy their first wands. While Bill would work off part of the cost of his wand, he would also be getting a new wand, since none of the ‘heirloom’ wands the Weasleys had worked well for him.

John had already converted money from pounds into galleons, so that errand was already done. They ended up in a caravan of cars, since both Doctors Dvorak and Junior’s wife were no-Maj, yet still wanted to see their son/nephew get his first wand. Likewise, Arthur and Molly were meeting John at the Leakey Cauldron with Bill so they could be there as well. Pet wasn’t going, but that was mostly because she wasn’t taking Paul, Dudley, Harry, and Neville to Diagon Alley just to watch David buy his wand early and end up getting mobbed by the magicals praising Harry for stuff that was actually his birth-mother’s work.

They ended up driving John’s FX-4, Remus’s FX-4, and Frank’s Phantom V in order to have enough seats for everyone. The caravan luckily found three on-street parking spots very close to the Leakey Cauldron, and made it in just in time to meet up with the Weasleys at nine in the morning, no-Maj accompaniment and all.

As the Dvoraks, Remus, and Sirius walked into the Leakey Cauldron, Arthur, Molly, and Bill greeted them while Charlie stood silently by.

“Did you have any problems finding the place?” Arthur asked.

John replied, “None at all. I’ve actually been here several times before, just not with so many other people in my group. When Pet told me about her sister, I had a friend on the MaCUSA side show me where it was. It’s a bit ‘quaint,’ but sometimes quaint is just what the healer ordered.

“But how did you get diplomatic plates for your Phantom V, Frank? I just noticed them.”

Frank smugly replied, “Sometimes, brother, it pays to be a Floyd. After ’65, I’ve had to fight and win a duel or two here and there. All ‘up and up,’ so now MaCUSA is my friend. I’m selling the really good stuff on the MaCUSA side, and it’s perfectly legal.

“Hey, Tom, sell me back a round of my whiskey for my friends, branch water on the side for those who want it. The two uniformed chauffeurs and the guy with Auror Black will need something a bit tamer.”

“Kids too, Lord Floyd?” Tom the owner and bartender asked as he started lining up shotglasses and water tumblers on the bar.

“Aye, Tom. Better yet, wet the bar with my whiskey! The first Floyds in over three hundred forty years are going outside to school, and it’s at Hogwarts!”

The twenty or so mid-morning barflies cheered, if for no other reason than that they’d be getting a shot of whiskey they’d have never afforded on their own coin.

Molly quietly and sternly whispered to Bill, “Stick to David, and do exactly what he says.”

Bill walked over to David, who handed him a shot glass of whiskey. David told him, “Sorry ‘bout this, Bill. Ya probably wanted to sneak a drink of that Wizarding stuff instead of getting a shot of ‘the good stuff’ with your Mom ‘n’ Dad watching. But it is good whiskey, and providing it doesn’t mess with us getting our wands in a little bit, it’s all good.

“My Dad lets us kids drink alcohol, though it’s normally just wine with supper, and only if we’re behaving really good. We usually do, but that doesn’t matter. My birth father actually made this shit, and he was so good at it that a bottle of my birth-father’s aged whiskey recently sold for what my uncle paid for the house next to mine where he’s stayin’ with Andy, A.D., and the rest.”

Bill took the shot glass of whiskey even more nervously than he otherwise would have. He sipped it in one long draw exactly how his American friend sipped his, draining the shot glass dry.

Saria sidled up to the two boys and quietly asked, “David, what the fuck is your uncle up to now?” There was no need to specify which one.

After a moment’s thought, David answered, “He’s ‘getting ahead of the news cycle.’ Remember that on the MaCUSA and Wizarding UK side, the Floyd family is a big deal, almost as big as our newest brother. He’s also sticking it to Ilvermorny and the MaCUSA bureaucrats who were pushing Uncle Junior around. Remember that while Dad likes kids, we have a lot of us in the family. Uncle Frank is also having to pay for all of Dad’s addition to the house when the ‘problem’ was only one third of his making. So, when this publicity slap down hits the New York Ghost and the afternoon Daily Prophet here, which they also get in America, the bureaucrats in the Empire State Building and Headmaster Lambkins in Massachusetts will realize that you don’t mess with the Floyds, or those they’re protecting.”

On the other side of the room, the (expected by some of the adults) reporters started to join the game. “Lord Floyd, Xeno Lovegood, The Quibbler. Why is your house attending both Hogwarts and Guildford?”

Frank answered, “I’ve prepared a press release that answers that and other questions. But I’ll answer it again. House Floyd, and our strongest cadet branch House Dvořák, are not mandated to participate in Wizarding affairs according to the MaCUSA treaty of 1965. However, we are allowed to participate or not as we see fit, subject to following the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy, which we’ve always done even before 1965. For multiple reasons, both Lord Dvorak and myself see fit to educate our magical children and wards where we see fit to educate them.

“Remember that prior to 1965, House Floyd was prohibited from participating in MaCUSA affairs by both MaCUSA and House Law. We educated our magicals ourselves as we saw fit, we made our own wands and potions, and even our ‘Muggle’ family members, as you refer to non-magicals over here, knew about the Wizarding World and followed the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy. This will not change.

“In the case of Lord Dvořák’s older magical children and wards, he and I decided that a day-school would be more appropriate, since those children already have business plans for what you call the Muggle world, and Guildford Academy was willing to tailor their program of instruction to offer top quality instruction in a compressed time-frame. The children themselves are more than talented enough to pass their NEWTs with high marks at the same ages as their peers who have attended either Hogwarts or Ilvermorny.

“In the case of the younger children, we have decided to have them attend Hogwarts with their peers. Though peaceable enough when left in peace, House Floyd is a warrior house, and we were estranged from MaCUSA for one hundred eighty eight years for this very fact. We prefer the company of other shepherds over the company of sheep. Headmaster Dumbledore personally disarmed Gellert Grindelwald, and took him prisoner alive, in spite of Grindelwald’s boasts that he could never be taken alive. Headmaster Dumbledore also frightened ‘He Whose Silly-Ass Made Up Name Is Even Sillier Than What The Press Calls Him Because Of His Home-Brew Taboo Curse On That Silly-Ass Name.’ So understandably, I prefer Albus Dumbledore’s counsel over that of a confirmed pacifist like Doctor Alexis Lambkins of Ilvermorny, though I am friends with and respect both men. “

“Rita Skeeter, Daily Prophet. Is it true, Lord Dvořák, that your wife is a stripper and a whore?”

Before John could react, Hannah Dvorak grabbed Rita by the hair and broke her nose with a haymaker to the face, knocking the witch reporter out cold. As Junior and A.D. restrained her, she growled angrily, “If you were a man, I’d take your fucking head, bitch!”

Breaking the silence, another reporter asked, “Ed Limus, Daily Prophet. I apologize for the rudeness of my ‘napping’ colleague. But I ask with respect about the background of your late first wife, and what her vocation was before marriage.”

John replied, “On that basis, I will answer your question. Catherine Taylor Dvorak, before she met and married me, was an ‘exotic model’ and party hostess on the no-Maj side. She was not a public dancer, and she did not give sexual favors for money. She was one of the best ‘exotic models’ in the United States, even after we married.

“She got into that particular line of work because she ran away from her home with no formal education at the age of sixteen, taking her sister Hannah with her. Her parents were insane and sexually abusive religious fanatics, and were also in fact descended from Scourers. Cathy was only able to take Hannah with her, her youngest sister Stacy ended up marrying into House Dvořák by a different route. Cathy supported her younger sister, and got Hannah formally educated to the non-magical equivalent of a Hogwarts or Ilvermorny Professor. Hannah’s formal education also caused her to meet my older brother Abner, whom she married.”

“Followup, Lord Dvořák; why are you the Head of House Dvořák if you aren’t the oldest of your siblings?”

Surprisingly, Junior answered that. “This is because of Floyd and Dvořák House Law, and it’s also the reason that some magical documents have listed David Dvorak as a main-line Floyd, despite his always being a Dvorak. And for those of you in the press, American Dvoraks don’t typically use the Czech Diacritics, because we are American – but we always pronounce them, and we are descended from the famous no-Maj Czech composer.

“House Law for both House Floyd and House Dvořák allows for concubines in both the male and female line under certain circumstances. In 1942, which was the middle of the 1939-1945 War, Hernando DeSoto Floyd decided he needed an additional heir, and needed a concubine for that purpose. My mother was that concubine, and Ricardo Cristobal Floyd was born a legitimate Floyd as a result. In 1945, my father, Abner Doubleday Dvorak, returned from the war unable to beget further children. Since neither William nor I had any magic, he decided that he needed an additional heir, so Hernando DeSoto Floyd impregnated my mother again, and John was born a legitimate Dvorak as a result.

“John became Head of House because of both magical capacity and martial prowess with the United States Army. In 1960, Ricardo decided to renounce membership in the mainline Floyd Family and become Richard Dvorak. Hernando gave his permission, and it was done. David was born Richard’s eldest son and first child in 1970, so he’s always been a Dvorak. However, some magical registers, oddly enough, work on magic, and magic doesn’t always recognize House Law.

“It’s not my place to comment further on House Law to Outsiders, but I will state that not all family members are eligible to become head of either House. But John and all his magical sons here today could become Head of either House, and my son could become head of House Dvorak at some point in the future.”

Frank added, “To be eligible to become Head of House Floyd, a family member must distill at least one good barrel of whiskey by their own hand among other things. To be eligible to become Head of House Dvořák, one must demonstrate martial or musical prowess among other things. All of the children are musically talented, and only A.D. and young Hannah have yet to distil their barrels.”

“Hugh Laws, New York Daily Ghost. Mr. Dvorak, are you MaCUSA or USA?”

John answered, “I work for the United States Department of State primarily as a translator. I’m natively fluent in Latin, French, and Vietnamese, and I can also speak, read, and write Czech competently. Under the Treaty of Parallel Free Unity, MaCUSA and the United States Federal Government operate in concert in areas where they both govern, including all of the land governed by the United States; with any magic related foreign policy governed more by MaCUSA, and no-Maj foreign policy governed by the no-Maj United States Federal Government. This is why we now share embassy spaces, and it’s also why some of our diplomats are accredited by both governments.

“Beyond that, I’m the Head of House Dvořák, a cadet branch of House Floyd, and our House status is part of the Treaty. This impromptu press conference is also House business only. I am not authorized this morning to make any statements that might be mistaken for statements from either the Empire State Building or the White House. If you want those, you should attend either Ambassador Louis or Ambassador Rappaport’s press briefings as appropriate.”

“Sherwood Quesada, San Francisco Siren. Can you comment on the Sirius Black incident?”

John replied, “Beyond Auror Black being here and fully able to speak for himself, I always believed him innocent of all the charges for which he was imprisoned without a trial. In fact, I had advocated for him receiving a trial from the moment I learned of his arrest. Discovering the Death Eater Peter Pettigrew was a fluke, but one I was more than happy to act on. While Pettigrew hadn’t yet victimized the Weasley family beyond merely hiding on their property, that was part of why Mr. Pettigrew received his unique ‘make out session with a prison guard.’ That was our last question, ladies and gentlemen. Please enjoy the rest of your day.”

Two on-duty Aurors helped guide John’s “wand-shopping” party towards the entrance wall to Diagon Alley while helping encourage the reporters to wander elsewhere. Remus made sure that John, Frank, and the kids were able to see the sequence of bricks to tap with their wands to enter the alley. Two minutes and one timely expansion charm to his customer service area later, and the entire party was cozily ensconced in Ollivander’s Wand Shop.

Garrick Ollivander was an older man of slightly taller than average stature and a trim build. His hair was white, wild, full and just longer than average. His eyes were actually silver. Yet rare as that particular eye colour was, the Floyds and Dvoraks didn’t own exclusive rights to it.

He greeted the party with a slightly high raspy voice, “Good morning to all of you. Albus told me that you would be coming in this morning, to buy some wands either early, late, or both. First, I’d like to deal with Sirius Black.”

As Sirius approached the counter, Garrick continued, “The bill for your replacement here today will be sent to the Ministry, so I want to attend to you first. Your previous wand was Dogwood, eleven and a half inches, dragon heartstring core, and slightly springy.”

Sirius laughed barkingly before replying, “Yes, it was. It was a powerful wand just like you told me when I was eleven. And it did fight me a bit when I started casting silently. But I was also twelve when I started casting silently, too.”

Garrick presented a wand and stated, “Try this: dogwood, phoenix feather, twelve inches, and supple.”

Sirius picked the wand up and Garrick took the wand from Sirius’s hand. He explained, “That wand clashed with your magic, Sirius.”

A moment later, he presented Sirius another wand, stating, “This might be a better fit: ebony, dragon heartstring, twelve inches and solid.” The wand was a better fit. In fact, it was a perfect match.

While placing that wand’s box on the counter along with an Auror Holster and polishing kit, Garrick stated, “Bravo, Auror Black! That wand should serve you quite well as an Auror and Duelist. Who will pin your holster for you?”

While putting the holster on his right forearm, Sirius replied, “I’ll need John to do it, though we normally don’t say who we have ‘pin’ our holsters if anyone.

“John, I’ll want you to take the silver pin of my badge, and pin it about half an inch through the middle rune on the elbow-end strap. That way, if I’m unconscious and my holster needs to be removed you and only you will be able to remove it. You know why Remus can’t.”

After John pinned Sirius’s holster, Garrick asked, “Before we go on, Lord Floyd, may I have the privilege of examining your wand? While your wandmakers use the lesser cores, unlike me, I’ve heard many good things about their craftsmanship.”

While presenting his wand handle-first to Garrick, Frank replied, “And Manuel also speaks very highly of your work, Master Garrick. Mine is red oak, fourteen inches, rigid, with a thunderbird feather core. Manuel had apprenticed in secret with Shikoba Wolfe.”

After quickly examining the wand and handing it back, Garrick pronounced, “The craftsmanship of this wand is truly first-rate, as is its bond with you. That makes it even more curious that you are bringing so many customers to my shop.”

Frank easily answered, “It’s more appropriate that the people I’ve brought in buy their wands from a renowned non-family wand crafter such as yourself. While I don’t hold any contempt for the non-family wandmakers of my homeland, I don’t hold any esteem for them, either. Manuel recommended you, and recommended against wandmakers in my homeland. Manuel knows wandmaking, so I accept his advice on it.”

Garrick replied, “Fair enough, Lord Floyd. Remus Lupin, I trust that you are here to vouch for instructing Lord Dvorak? And Albus also told me you would have the school acceptance letters for the children?”

Remus replied, “Yes, that’s true.”

After quickly examining the seven acceptance letters, Garrick stated, “I would help Lord Dvorak be found by his wand first, then. It is the wand that chooses the wizard or witch, after all.”

Five non matches later, Garrick presented, “This one might be more suitable: silver lime, dragon heartstring, twelve and a half inches and solid.”

John took hold of the wand, and a rush of powerful magic filled the room. Garrick exclaimed, “Bravo, Lord Dvorak! That wand will work fine for all tasks, but is best with the mind arts, or for seers.”

John answered, “My House’s current fortune is based in part on my ability to read the equities markets and see the trends others do not. I’ve yet to make a bad trade. My net wealth is higher than that of House Malfoy, and still growing, though House Floyd still has greater wealth.”

Garrick spoke, “Since you’re in your nation’s diplomatic service, I will also sell you an Auror Holster, where I don’t sell them to children or civilians.”

John replied, “That will be fine. Sell the kids the holsters they should have along with polishing kits as well.”

Garrick stated, “Of course, Lord Dvorak. I would like to work with Daniel now.”

Danny answered, “That would be ‘Danny,’ Master Ollivander, unless I’ve offended you? I’ve always been ‘Danny,’ and unlike with some ‘Daniels,’ the name has grown up with me.”

Garrick humorously told the young teen, “Just so, ‘Danny.’ Since you know what you want, let’s try this: sakura wood, dragon heartstring, twelve inches, and supple.” Garrick was actually presenting the wand as a gentle chastisement to John’s oldest son, not with any expectation of the wand being a match for Danny. So he was more shocked than everyone else when a powerful rush of magic and sakura petals filled the shop.

Garrick tried to take the wand from Danny’s hand, but couldn’t. In a cold voice, Garrick asked, “How strong are your mind and self-control, boy?”

In an unusually deep growl, Danny replied, “Absolute, sir.”

Another full minute passed before Garrick finally released the wand and stated, “Short of selling you the Deathstick, this was one of the most powerful wands I have in stock, and one I normally wouldn’t sell to a child. That wand is the wand of a warrior; one who may very well take many lives before their own has ended. The wand has chosen you, and it will leave my shop with an Auror Holster, but I will not accept payment for either. Whether for my salvation or doom, the money paid for that wand would be blood money, and I won’t soil my till with it.”

Danny volunteered in the same deep growl, “Come the day, I shall be ready, as was my Father before me – You have my word.”

For the second time, the powerful rush of magic and sakura petals filled the shop. It took Garrick another full minute before he spoke again.

“If I may attend to Michael now?”

Michael approached the counter and tried to lighten the mood. “‘Michael’ works fine for me, Master Ollivander. Got any more ‘junior Deathsticks’ back there?”

After everyone finished laughing, Garrick replied, “Perhaps I should present you something you can grow into more easily, Mr. Dvorak?”

David interrupted, “Master Garrick, the wand on the shelf to the right of where Danny’s wand was is Michael’s, and the one to the right of that is mine.”

After being taken aback for a moment, Garrick replied, “You would be David, then?”

“Yes, sir.”

“We’ll try your suggestion, then. Both wands are sakura wood, but with phoenix feather cores rather than dragon heartstring. The more discerning phoenix feather core will require you to grow into your power rather than claiming it outright. But they are still warrior’s wands, and should not be treated with disrespect or poor care.

Presenting the wands as David requested, Garrick stated, “Michael, your wand is thirteen inches long and slightly springy. David, your wand is eleven inches long and supple. They are brother wands, and came from the same sakura branch that supplied the wood for your eldest brother’s wand.”

Michael and David claimed their wands, and a double-wave of powerful magic and sakura petals again filled the shop. They looked at each other, and Danny, who was still holding his wand. As one, they solemnly pronounced, “Die veni, paratus ero sicut ante me fuit pater meus. De meo sanguine ac familia hoc iuro.” The magic blew like a typhoon, and the sakura petals like a blizzard.

Garrick stated, “Lord Dvorak, you will be billed for the two phoenix core wands your sons claimed, along with ordinary holsters. If you find Auror Holsters in your bag at the end of the day, quietly consider that ‘good fortune.’

“If you insist on Guildford for the older two, especially Danny, I would still recommend that Sirius Black, Professor Filius Flitwick, and Headmaster Albus Dumbledore personally train them on dueling and fighting. You have given them arms, they now need wisdom.”

After a pause of another minute, Garrick asked, “May I now serve Patricia Drake?”

Pixie approached the counter and told Garrick, “I go by ‘Pixie,’ if you would, Master Ollivander? And while I would prefer Master Manuel Cenador’s work like a proper Floyd, I feel my wand in the shelves of your shop.”

Garrick seemed to almost taste a magic thread before walking further back into his shop. He returned and presented Pixie: “This wand is aspen with a unicorn tail hair core, ten inches, and pliant.” Pixie accepted the wand, and a comforting rush of magic filled the shop.

Garrick soberly informed the group, “Aspen is a wand particularly suited to charms work. But don’t let the warm rush of magic fool you. This wand will excel on the battlefield. It is a wand for revolutionaries; mind that your revolutions are for the good of all, Miss Floyd.

“I would help Andres Floyd next. Do you feel your wand?”

Andy approached the counter and answered, “‘Andy’ is good for me, Master Ollivander. I don’t quite feel where my wand is, but I see it. It’s the same length as David’s, willow, and bends more?”

Garrick quickly fetched and presented the wand: “This is willow, with a unicorn tail hair core, eleven inches long and whippy.” Andy accepted the wand, and the rush of magic filled the shop.

Garrick explained, “This is the wand of a healer who will overcome personal challenges and achieve great things if their dedication is true. It is a proverb in my family that ‘He who has furthest to travel will go fastest with willow.’ Your wand has honoured you in choosing you, Andy. Honour it in return by mastering it.”

Andy silently nodded while Garrick asked, “May I now see Abner Dvorak?”

A.D. approached the counter and politely stated, “I go by ‘A.D.’ since I’m named for my father and grandfather. Do you have any scholar wands in the back? I pretty much grew up in a University, if you know what that is.”

Garrick laughed and replied, “I may be a pureblood, A.D., but you don’t get hair as white as mine by shoving your head up your bum! And while your university might not be Oxford or Cambridge, it’s more than good enough to be getting on with.”

Garrick presented a wand to A.D.: “This wand is walnut, with a dragon heartstring core. It’s twelve inches long and supple.” A.D. accepted the wand, and the shop was once again filled with the rush of magic, and the rustling of leaves. Garrick explained, “This is indeed the wand of a scholar, and a warrior as well. Be very careful to not fall in love with the scent of blood, young man. For this wand will teach you just as surely as you teach it, with only the conscience you give it as a guide. If you fall to the Dark with this wand, you will need someone else to either save or end you; you will not be able to do so yourself.”

After a moment’s silence, Garrick announced, “After all of this drama, I would like to sell a wand to a Weasley. Arthur, your wand is black walnut, unicorn tail hair core, ten and a half inches and rigid. How is it holding up?”

“Quite well, Master Garrick” Arthur replied.

Garrick then asked, “And Molly, your wand is identical to your husband’s save the dragon heartstring core.”

Molly assured him, “Arthur and I could never lie to each other or ourselves, even when we were little kids and didn’t like each other. The wand and husband are still brilliant in my book. Housework when I need to, and battle when I have to.”

Garrick chuckled while replying, “Just so. Now, may I help young William, or is it ‘Bill.’”

Bill approached the counter and told Garrick, “It’s ‘Bill’ unless I’ve really messed up, sir. Do you have a curse-breaker wand back there?”

Garrick groaned while everyone else laughed. Garrick opined, “You’ve been spending too much time with the Dvoraks and Floyds, Bill. But let’s try out your opinions…”

Garrick went to the back of his shop and returned with: “This ebony wand came from the same branch as Sirius Black’s new wand, and James Potter’s. The core is dragon heartstring, and the wand is the brother to both Black’s and Potter’s. It’s eleven inches and supple.”

Garrick didn’t expect the wand to be a match. He should have. He held his head in his hands as the warm powerful rush of magic filled his shop.

After the magic died down, Garrick stated, “I suppose you want your younger brother there to try for a yew wand next?”

Missing the sarcasm, Charlie replied, “I’m ‘Charlie,’ Master Ollivander. But I think I need an English Oak wand, since they’re s’posed to be good with nature. I want to be a dragon handler, or something else working outdoors with magical creatures, like maybe going to work for Newt Scamander at the London Magical Zoo. I can use Grandpa Septimus’s old ash wand, but Ronnie does better with it.”

Arthur, Molly, and Garrick all blanched for different reasons.

Arthur asked calmly, “Where is your Grandfather Septimus’s wand right now, Charlie?”

Again missing the tension, Charlie took the wand out from under his shirt and handed it to his dad. The wand was only slightly scuffed up, though in the not caring hands of young children, it wouldn’t have remained like that for much longer.

Arthur handed the wand to Garrick, who examined it. After a careful examination, Garrick announced, “Arthur, I get that more than a few Wizarding families pass down ‘heirloom’ wands for all sorts of reason. But you never pass down an ash wand like this one, since they almost never work well for a subsequent owner; especially when they have unicorn tail cores like this one. However, this wand does in fact belong to your not-quite-two-year-old son, and the bond feels as strong as if it was always his.

“If I may, I’ll recondition this wand for you free of charge. But I’ll want to see Ron actually use the wand when he’s old enough to do basic spells to make sure it has truly chosen him and is giving him its full loyalty and power. In the mean time, you need to do a better job of keeping your younger kids away from the ‘box wands.’ And, since everything else is going pear-shaped this morning, I would like to try Charlie out with a wand like he thinks will choose him.”

Arthur and Molly nodded silently before Garrick went into the back of his shop and came back with a wand. As he presented the wand, Garrick stated, “This wand is English oak, with a unicorn tail hair core. It’s twelve inches long and supple.”

Charlie accepted the wand, and sure enough it chose him with a solid rush of magic. Garrick told Arthur and Molly, “I’ll need you to have Professor Dumbledore come up with an acceptance letter from somebody for Charlie. But this is his wand now, for good or ill. It is the wand for those who work with nature generally. It will also require a wizard of strength, courage, and fidelity, but Charlie only needs to work and take that in, for that describes your family to a ‘T’.

“I’ll discount the cost for both Bill’s and Charlie’s wands and accessories. I’ll settle the bill itself with Lord Dvorak, and you can pay him as he and you see fit.” Forty-five minutes of haggling and a quick visit from Professor Dumbledore later, and the party left the shop with their purchases in hand.

As they walked, John politely suggested, “We won’t want to overwork Charlie; but otherwise whatever tutoring we give Bill, Charlie will take it as well; or at least as much as he can handle. Are the two of you okay with this?”

After Arthur and Molly looked at each other, she replied, “I suppose so, John. But what about Ronnie?”

John laughed quietly before replying, “He’s pretty good at casting shoes and toys when his siblings upset him. Let’s wait until he’s old enough to cast spells before worrying about that.”

The entire group laughed in relief as they walked out of Diagon Alley towards their further transportation home.
- 2
- 3
- 4
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

The Yankees Nephew and the Philosophers Stone