13 CH 12 Preparing for Family Trip to Diagon Alley
McGonagall took a while to calm down. She accepted the cup absentmindedly and drank the tea with graceful sips on a reflex. She was so lost in thoughts that she didn't even notice that the cup she was holding was enchanted.
"Well, Mr. Celesta," McGonagall recovered after a few minutes and finished her tea "Usually I have to make the Muggle Guardians of Muggle-born Wizards and Witches believe in magic by demonstrations. But you seem to have made that step unnecessary."
She then turned to Kane and Veronica with a smile. "Mr. and Mrs. Birchwood, I can't tell you how pleased I am to see you be so accepting of Mr. Celesta and his inborn gifts."
"Many kids who come from Non-Magical families often face oppression and discrimination in their home when their truth is revealed. In those times, it creates a trauma in the heart of those young wizards and witches, that generally shapes up how they turn out in future."
"I am very glad to see Mr. Celesta will not be facing any such troubles," McGonagall said as she looked at all of them with a faint smile on her face.
"Alcor is a very important part of this family and his gifts are a part of him. We would sooner die than discriminate him because of that." Veronica said with a frown as if she was annoyed at McGonagall for even suggesting this.
"Since I don't need to go through the usual routine, I will cut short to the main topic," McGonagall said as she handed two envelopes to Alcor.
One was his acceptance letter, which also contained the list of books he would need. The other was a thick envelope that contained a few dozen pages containing the details a Muggle-born witch or wizard, and their family should know.
The second envelope's contents covered all the important details from Diagon Alley to various common wizarding laws pertaining to Muggles and Muggle-born. After chatting for a while with them McGonagall left after telling Alcor that she looked forward to teaching him at Hogwarts.
Alcor opened the envelopes to give a cursory glance, but when he reached the part about school books and equipment, he gave a loud groan and banged his head on the table. He had forgotten that a moron of the highest levels will be present in Hogwarts this year.
"Alcor? What happened?" Kane asked with concern.
"It seems we will have to visit Diagon Alley after all," Alcor said with a sigh as he glared at the Books and Equipment list in his hand.
"Really? But I thought you already bought books and equipment that you will need in all Seven Years at your new school when you went on that few week-long trip you went on last year." Kane said puzzled.
"You also said you only have to replenish supplies for Potions and those plant and creature-related subjects once in a while, for which you go to the Diagon Alley every few months. What changed?" Veronica Inquired curiously.
"It seems that they have employed a self-praising moron this year at Hogwarts and he changed the usual coursework for his subjects to a bunch of autobiography books that involve praising himself and his supposed achievements," Alcor said as he placed his acceptance letter and the list of books and equipment on the table.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorcerer, Chief. Warlock, Supreme
Mugwump, International Confederation of Wizards)
Dear Mr. Celesta,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
UNIFORM
First-year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags
COURSEBOOKS
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Draughts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
Break with a Banshee by Gilderoy Lockhart
Gadding with Ghouls by Gilderoy Lockhart
Holidays with Hags by Gilderoy Lockhart
Travels with Trolls by Gilderoy Lockhart
Voyages with Vampires by Gilderoy Lockhart
Wanderings with Werewolves by Gilderoy Lockhart
Year with the Yeti by Gilderoy Lockhart
OTHER EQUIPMENT
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST-YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED
THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS
"Broomsticks? Why on Earth would you need those? Are they going to make you sweep the school starting next term?" Veronica asked puzzled.
"No. Remember Alcor said they played some kind of sports on Flying Broomsticks?" Kane retorted before Alcor could correct Veronica.
"Ah, yes. That is right. But why would anyone play that on broomsticks?" Veronica asked with a puzzled expression "I mean, Alcor has already shown us the kind of things he can do with enchantment. I would have figured that they could maybe make things shown on futuristic films like Star Wars series instead of on flying on Broomsticks."
"It is a result of the lack of need and their isolation from the rest of the world," Alcor explained while putting the sheets of paperback in the envelope.
"Their Society and customs are still stuck in the way that was followed by us centuries ago. That period of time was the last era when their society actively interacted with non-magical ones. Remember all the fairy tales and their characters? They can't have come from nowhere."
"The alienation of magical folk by the non-magical ones must have made them want their secrecy. Which led to them isolating themselves. Since the magic can substitute most of what they need, they never advanced technologically like non-magical folk did and instead just used magic to cover what they lack."
"From what I read about in their books, they still think cars are self-driving iron carriages that run on coal and steam. They have no idea about cinemas and technological advancements like electricity and electronic products. It doesn't help that electronic products malfunction when exposed to magic."
"This also the reason I had you guys place all the electronic products in the west wing of the Villa, which I enchanted to repel all magical energies and never enter personally," Alcor explained.
"Hmm, I still think they could have managed to merge some muggle technology and their magic if they put in enough effort," Veronica said.
"True, but as I said, their ignorance about muggles makes them ignore the achievements of muggles even further. I mean, humans have taken the first steps on the Moon, but wizarding society remains ignorant about it." Alcor said with a sigh.
"Anyway, let's forget about all this," Alcor said while shaking his head "Back to the main topic. I think I will have to go to Diagon Alley again. I have to buy the unexpected bunch of books assigned this year and while there I should also pick up the uniforms as per what is written in the list, and a wand too."
"I thought you already had those robes and stuff?" Kane asked, "And didn't you have that … scumbag's.. wand?"
"I do have wizarding robes, but I have a feeling that McGonagall is the sort of person who wants the uniform to be exactly similar to how they specified instead of it being made from materials of high-class magical creatures and having enough enchantments to be treated as a Battle Suit," Alcor said with a shrug.
"And as for the wand," Alcor said "Remember I said that the guy we fought was a dark wizard? If I use his wand then I am pretty sure it has a high chance of being recognized. After all, it may look just like a stick to us, but these guys have spent their whole life perfecting magic like we non-magical have been perfecting science."
"Okay, so when do we go to buy all this stuff?" Veronica asked.
"You guys want to come too?" Alcor asked surprised.
"Yeah, why not?" Kane said with a smile "You are part of our family, and if you are going to be involved in all this then we should also go and get used to this world you are going to be a part of. Plus, I have a feeling Astrid will have a lot of fun there."
"Hmm, alright then. But, if we all are going to visit, then I think I should make some equipment to protect you guys. We never know what we might run into, and not all wizards are open-minded about Muggles and Muggle-born. In fact, most of the elite wizarding families despise Muggles and Muggle-born." Alcor said.
He immediately immersed himself in various books on enchanting and books describing various popular protective artifacts. He himself experimented with many ideas, even taking inspiration from muggle shows, films, and comics.
Finally, after two weeks, he was able to make protective three bracelets, one for each member of his family. Each of them was made with personalized designs he made them choose by showing them catalogue from famous muggle jewelry stores.
They were made from the purest silver he could find and refine, heavily enchanted with all kinds of protective charms he knew. The charms would be powered by high-purity precious gems at the center of each bracelet, which was infused with prana until it was saturated.
To make them even more distinctive, Alcor had permanently transfigured the precious gems into various forms. Veronica had a transfigured ruby in the form of a Rose, Kane had a sapphire in the form of Wolf's head, and little Astrid had a pink diamond in the form of a cartoon-ish star with a smiling face.
He made sure that the bracelets would be bound to each member and could not be removed unless the person consciously wanted to without their minds beings influenced by external sources.
The day after he gifted them with the bracelets, the whole family got into Kane's car and were off to a trip to the Diagon Alley.
