Chapter 16: Diagon Troubles
The damp, cool autumn weather was clearly on the way, as Alejandro was forced to tighten up his shirt. Shivering from the chill, he and the rest of his family clustered into Diagon Alley. Even such unseasonable weather did not slow or thin the great crowds. As they nearly fought their way through the jostling throngs of Wizards before them, the family did their best to keep the young ones close. Diagon Alley was not known for a fearsome reputation, but getting lost would still be harrowing for anyone. Alejandro turned to take a headcount and sighed deeply at everyone still being there.
"Bueno, we're all still here." Alejandro said, visibly relieved that he had not lost track of anyone.
"Brother. When are we gonna get to see some cool wizard stuff?" His younger brother asked him; his face twisted with impatience.
"Patience, Eddy. We need to shop around." Alejandro told his little brother.
"You said there would be cool wizard things!" Eddy snapped and stomped his foot on the cobble paved road.
"Rey León Eduardo De Garcia!" A feminine voice snapped out at him as an above average height Hispanic woman stepped into view.
"Sorry, Mami…" Eddy quickly replied, sheepishly apologizing.
"It looks like you need to mind your manners like a good Hispanic English gentleman, Eddy." Eddy's twin sister smugly snarked.
"Gabriela Emperatriz Serpiente de García, do not even start with me right now." Mrs. Garcia snapped, her baleful gaze turning to her daughter.
The now named Gabriela blushed at the use of her full name. "Mami, I told you! Call me Gabby in public!" The girl shrieked in embarrassment.
"Then be good enough to allow me to call you that! I want no trouble out of both of you. I cannot handle any Twister Twin nonsense today!" She sternly said to the two.
"Yes, Mami…" The two twins grumbled.
"Now, your Father and I have some errands to run. You go with your big brother and behave. Alejandro, be safe and have fun, my little sugar bomb." Mrs. Garcia said as she wrapped an arm around her husband, before leaning down to kiss her son on the cheek.
Alejandro now blushed in embarrassment. "Mami, not in public! What if mis amigos from school are here…?" He remarked nervously.
"They will see you have an attentive mother and two troublesome twins at your side. Now, run along and have some fun, mijo. Getting your supplies is half the fun!" Mrs. Garcia said with a big grin.
"Don't embarrass the boy too much now, Maria." Alejandro's father, a dignified looking man of clearly an American background, playfully chided his wife.
"Hush, Felix. Or I'll be putting in to have another set of twins out of you." Maria playfully replied, giving him a small slap on his arm.
Felix blushed a bit and chuckled. "Dear, not in front of the children…" He chided nervously.
"We are sending them off to learn about magic and dark creatures, dear. That's the least of their concerns. Have fun, dear!" Maria said with a cheery grin as the two disappeared into the crowd.
Alejandro sighed at that. "Alright, you two. Let's go and get your wands first. After that, we can hit the bookstore." He told the two.
"Better here than back home with Abuela. I have to hear one more time how Abuelo died fighting a troll, I'll lose it." Eddy said with a deep sigh.
"Be grateful they keep its stuffed head in the attic rather than mounted over the fireplace…" Alejandro grumbled as they stepped into Ollivander's.
"There hasn't been a troll attack in over two hundred years in Hogsmeade!" Gabby commented, rolling her eyes.
"Focus, you two. Señor Ollivander is a terribly busy man. So, let's not waste his time." Alejandro sternly said as he soon rang the bell on the front desk.
With a spring in his step, a wizened, white-haired man came rushing to the front desk. His bushy, frazzled hair was completely at odds with the strong, stone-like features of his face. His brown overcoat was haphazardly opened with multiple layers exposed. He then looked down at them with an inquisitive, observant eye. Around his neck hung a tape measure, let out long and loose.
"Hello there. I am Mr. Ollivander. And whom do I have the pleasure of speaking to today?" He asked curiously.
Alejandro smiled a bit. "Hello, Señor Ollivander. I'm Alejandro Garcia. Do you remember meeting me last year when you helped me get my wand?" He replied with a bit of cheer.
Ollivander smiled at that. "Ah, yes! I remember you well! Yours was an alder and thunderbird tail feather! Sixteen inches, if I remember correctly! One of the few American made wands I had in stock, and a marvelous one at that!" The old man replied with joy.
"That's nearly as long as my arm…" Eddy chuckled under his breath.
Alejandro simply smacked Eddy in the back of his head without looking away from Mr. Ollivander before giving the older man a smile. "That's right, sir. And I have to say that my wand still handles like a dream." He replied to the older man.
"Most excellent to hear. And I take it that these two fine prospective wizards and witches are whom I need to work with today?" Ollivander asked, looking at the Twister Twins with an inquisitive eye.
Alejandro nodded in agreement. "Yes, they are. My twin siblings Eddy and Gabby are here for their first wands. Can you help them?" He replied with a smile as the two stepped up.
"Hola, Señor Ollivander!" Eddy enthusiastically greeted the older gentleman.
"Right then. Follow me, children, so that I can get your measurements." He answered, ushering them into the depths of his shop.
As they followed behind the aged wand master, they walked through tunnel after tunnel of high stacked shelves. Each one is near full to bursting with wands of all shapes and sizes. For little Eddy and Gabby, the mind-blowing amount of them was almost too much. And certainly, too much for them to keep track of where they were going, causing them to run into Alejandro. Their older brother turned to look at them after feeling the impact.
"Be careful, you two. Stick close to Señor Ollivander. It's like a maze in here." Alejandro told his little siblings.
The two nodded as they headed back in with Alejandro in tow to follow behind Ollivander. Soon, he unfurled his tape from around his shoulders and made quick measurements. As soon as he started, he was done, as he then shifted to a thinking pose. This confused the twins, as simply none of this made sense.
"Let's start with the little lady first. It is only polite." Ollivander said, heading down one of the tunnels to his right.
Gabby nodded and stepped forward. "Thank you, Señor Ollivander. Do you have something in mind for me?" She asked with a smile.
"I believe I do, dear girl." Ollivander replied, coming out with a wand box. "Here we go. Red oak and dragon heartstring. Thirteen inches, firm but supple. Take it and give it a whirl, my dear." The old man told her as he opened the box.
Gripping it firmly, Gabby then activated the wand. With a light glow at the end, what happened next, no one expected. A burst of lightning shot from the wand, bouncing about the walls like it were made of silly putty. Bouncing all over the place, knocking wands off the shelves as it went, it then landed squarely in Alejandro's rear, giving him a sharp jolt of pain to his butt.
"Yowch!" Alejandro cried out in pain.
"Oh dear. Most definitely not." Ollivander said as Gabby offered him the wand for him to take.
"Do it again!" Eddy cackled.
Alejandro glared at his brother at that. "Eddy…!" He growled out.
"Let's try… ah, yes. This one." Ollivander said, pulling another off the nearby shelf. "Pine and white river monster spine. Eleven-and-a-half inches, a bit springy, but firm and strong. Try it, dear girl." He told her, opening the box and offering her the wand.
With another swing of the wand, she sent out a mist of magic from the other end. Soon however, one of the wand boxes began to float. Turning towards her brothers, it then began to fly towards them, opening and closing like Pacman.
"Get down!" Alejandro called out, diving to the floor.
Eddy, on the other hand, was too slow and got smacked in the face by the box as it snapped down on his face. "Argh! Get it off, get it off!" He replied, trying to pry the snapping box off his face.
"Oh my! Most definitely not!" Mr. Ollivander called out as he pulled out his wand and, with a flick, summoned the wand and box to him. Catching them out of the air, he closed the box and set it back on the shelf.
"Since when do boxes try to eat you?" Eddy asked his big brother as he got himself off the floor.
Alejnadro dusted himself off. "It's magic, Eddy. Don't think about it too hard, it does what it wants." He replied, trying to help Eddy nurse his face.
"I believe that this one should do nicely. Rowan and horned serpent horn. Thirteen inches, nice and dense. Try this one, my dear." Mr. Ollivander told her, opening the box before offering her the wand.
With a hesitant swing, she soon felt a warm glow and an easy feeling. Soon the wand began to gently vibrate, almost as if it were purring like a kitten. Ollivander soon smiled wide at the development.
"There we go. A perfect fit." Ollivander said with joy.
"Coooool! Me next!" Eddy said excitedly.
"Of course. I think I can get you on my first try, young Eddy. Follow me." Ollivander said, waving to the young boy as he used his magic to clean up the mess as they went.
The three followed Ollivander as he led them through the shop. Soon, he found a shelf and, with a flick of his wand, levitated a wand box down from the top shelf. Taking it in hand, he gently opened it to reveal a light-colored wand. "Here we are. Poplar and phoenix feather. Fifteen-and-a-half inches, lightweight and user friendly. Try it, my boy." He said with a smile as he held the box out for Eddy to take the wand.
Taking it in his hand, Eddy held it out and tapped it against a shelf. Soon, though at first the wand waved about itself, his hand soon was covered in an orange aura as it danced to his movements with sublime ease. Ollivander soon had the biggest smile on his face and snapped his fingers before giving him a small applause.
"Wonderful, my boy! Simply wonderful! I haven't had the pleasure of handing out a poplar and phoenix feather to a potential first year in years!" Ollivander remarked with joy.
Eddy smiled in response. "Thank you. Honestly, it just feels right in my hand, you know?" He replied, carefully holding his new wand at his side alongside Gabby.
"That is how any wand should be my boy. A wand shouldn't merely be a tool, although it is, but also an extension of you. The best pairings should always be ones where you don't even feel the wand. It is in perfect harmony." Ollivander said with a big smile.
Alejandro gave a big smile at that. "Wand lore sounds so fascinating. Maybe I should study it some time." He replied with a thoughtful expression.
"Oh yes, my dear Alejandro. Wand lore is one of the most fascinating and mysterious wizarding arts. Very few have the patience to study it, but many who do find it oh so gratifying." Ollivander said with a big grin, happy to have inspired a potential new wand master.
Nodding, Alejandro gave a grin of his own. "I'll keep that in mind, Señor Ollivander. Thank you for my siblings' first wands." He replied, giving a light bow in thanks.
"Thank you, Señor Ollivander!" The twins replied, mimicking their brother's bow.
"Anytime, dear children! Don't be afraid to come again if you ever need new wands!" Ollivander replied joyfully before beginning to lead them out through the maze of shelves.
Once they were led out and a final goodbye was said, the trio were soon off. Now far more engaged, Alejandro found it far easier to lead them to the other required shops. Both their cauldrons and books went off without a hitch. It was only after the bookshop that they began to have trouble. Try as he might, he could not keep Gabby walking straight. Her nose was firmly buried in a book about broomsticks. Finally, he was forced to grab her by the collar and pull her along like a puppy on a leash.
With sister in hand and a close eye on his brother, Alejandro led them into the Magical Menagerie. A cacophony of noise met them as every kind of common wizarding pet could be found in cages and tanks by the score. A kindly old witch in black robes and a pointed hat came to look at them. With a smile she addressed them.
"Welcome back, young Garcia. How are you today?" The kindly witch asked them.
Alejandro smiled. "Good, Señora Bertha. We've already picked up our books and the twins' wands for Hogwarts this year. Now we just need their pets." He told her.
"Are you sure I can't interest you in a nice fruit bat too, dear? I saw you eyeing them last year and we just got a new batch of little ones." Bertha offered with a smile.
"Don't they give diseasles?" Eddy asked.
"Not if they're well taken care of, dear." Bertha replied with a grin.
Alejandro grinned back. "Perhaps next year. All right, you two. Look around and see if there is anything you like." He replied, motioning around at the massive shop.
"Let's see…" Eddy muttered as he began to wander.
"Do you have any owls?" Gabby asked Bertha.
"We just got a new batch of owls this morning, dear. Ernest!" Bertha called out towards the back.
As Gabby rushed off to check out the owls, Eddy looked around the existing stock. Newts, toads, bats and so much more were at his disposal. One thing he knew he wasn't going to get was a cat. He hated the old family cat and was glad it was gone. He eyed a chimpanzee for a moment but decided against it. The same went for a ferret, since he had heard from Alejandro that they tended to steal and hoard their master's things. Yet, when he got into the rodent section, he stopped. Inside a small cage was a sad, lonely brown rat that soon looked at him.
"Hey there, little guy. What's wrong? Lonely?" Eddy asked.
The rat chittered in a lonely tone, looking at him with big, sad eyes. Eddy put his hand in his cage, looking over the rat.
"Would you like to come with me?" Eddy asked it.
At this, the rat chittered excitedly as it ran around in the cage. Eddy then waved Bertha down as Gabby walked out with a Eurasian Eagle Owl in a cage.
"Señora! I'll take this rat!" Eddy called out.
Bertha smiled at that. "Excellent choice, my boy. The unfortunate thing has been passed up so many times despite being an affectionate one." She replied before motioning him over to the counter.
As she went over to open the cage, she soon let it get on her hand. Yet, as soon as the rat was out of the cage, it took one look at Gabby's gargantuan owl and leapt out of her hand. Soon, it scurried as fast as it could scurry up the multiple levels of shelving. Eddy, without another word, soon leapt up and began climbing like a spider monkey after his rat. Much to the horror and frustration of Alejandro.
"Eddy, be careful!" Alejandro called out in worry.
"I'll be fine! You worry too much, hermano!" Eddy called back as he climbed ever higher.
"You're going to get yourself hurt, Eddy! And mami will blame Alejandro!" Gabby called down from beside their older brother.
"Well, it was your fat owl that scared the poor thing!" Eddy shot back as he reached the top shelf.
As soon as he got to the top shelf, he saw the poor rat cowering behind a newt tank. Eddy then tapped the shelf to try and get its attention. Not wanting to scare it.
"Hey there, little one. There's nothing to fear. The owl's in a cage." Eddy said, putting his hand out to the rat.
The rat cautiously sniffed his hand before inching closer. Soon, it nuzzled into his hand and let him pick it up.
"I need a good name for you. How about Ágil? Do you like that?" Eddy asked the rat as he kept his hand out.
The rat chittered happily as he held it. The now named Ágil then climbed up onto Eddy's shoulder and nestled in, relaxing. Soon, he carefully climbed down. He could climb down faster or even jump down, but he wouldn't do that with his new rodent friend. However, as soon as he reached the floor, Gabby lay on him.
"That was reckless and stupid, Eddy! You could have gotten hurt!" Gabby lectured him.
"I'm not going to just leave Ágil behind like that." Eddy answered, standing on his ground.
Alejandro smiled. "Ágil, huh? A fine name, Eddy." He told his little brother.
"Thank you." Eddy beamed, clearly thinking so himself.
After paying, the trio headed out. With everything they acquired, they then began the search for their parents. Alejandro looked over his siblings. Though they frustrated him so, to see their smiles on their faces now as they walked, he'd go through all that and more again. For today they took an especially crucial step in their lives. And he was glad to be there to see it.
Meanwhile: At the Burrow
"Okay. What is the average wingspan of an English subspecies of a Hippogriff?" Harry asked, holding a flash card in his lap.
"The northeastern or southeastern English Hippogriff?" Ginny asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Does it matter?" Mafalda asked annoyedly.
"The northeastern English Hippogriff is smaller and has a shorter wingspan, Mafalda. Everyone knows that." Ginny replied in annoyance.
"Of course. You would know that, nerd." Mafalda said with a roll of her eyes.
"Who are you calling a nerd, you… you…!" Ginny replied in anger, beginning to turn as red as her hair.
"Rapscallion?" Harry asked, trying his best to help.
"No, but, if I said what I was thinking, mum would tan my hide…" Ginny grumbled.
"How cute. Ginevra's so sweet she can't even swear." Mafalda said with a knowing smirk.
"I'll show you!" Ginny growled out before tackling Mafalda to the ground, grabbing her by the hair.
"Ow-ow-ow-ow-ow!" Mafalda called out as Ginny pulled her hair before grabbing Ginny by her own red locks and pulling hard.
"OW-OW-OW-OW-OW!!" The two Weasley women cried out as they kept pulling on each other's hair.
"I give up." Harry muttered as he set the flash cards down.
"Not the hair!?" Ginny cried out in pain.
"Agreed! Let's go on three!?" Mafalda cried out in response as Ginny nodded.
"One!" The two counted.
"Two!" The two continued simultaneously.
"Three!" The two called out as they released each other's hair before grabbing again with their other hands and pulling hard. "OW-OW-OW-OW-OW!!"
"Can you both stop it?" Harry asked with an exasperated sigh.
"She started it!" The two said simultaneously.
"Well, I'm going to finish it if you two don't shape up." Harry sternly said, glaring at the two girls for their childish behavior.
With a sigh, Harry recollected the flash cards and began with a new question. He simply hoped, come schooltime, that things would be easier to deal with than this…