15 Conversation (II)

Zach spent some time wandering down the twisted lanes of the Alley. He hurried by Slug and Jiggers Apothecary, the horrid smell wafting from the shop's door nearly blinding him with tears.

He paused outside Madam Malkin's Robes. A small blonde-headed girl appeared to be trying on a Hogwart's robe for the first time. She had on a beaming gapped-tooth grin, as a piece of chalk danced along the edges of the cloth, no doubt drawing corrections to properly tailor the robes for school.

"Make way! Make way!" A rickety cart filled with old brass caldrons careened down the street, pushed by a short wizard in dusty brown robes. Zachary took a step back, only to bump into someone.

"So sorry about that…" His voice trailed off when he looked into familiar bright blue eyes. It was Hettie!

"Miss Adelgrief." Zach straightened up and formally greeted the young woman.

Hettie looked stunned for a moment before smiling at Zach. "Mr. Potter, fancy meeting you here."

"I'm waiting for Alfred." Zach could barely stammer out. Almost impossibly, her smile grew wider.

"Ah. I'm here to get my younger sister ready for school." She glanced through the window and waved at the little girl now bouncing up and down, the floating chalk hovering indecisively over the wildly moving sleeves.

Zach nodded in understanding. Even though he was born without magic, he knew all about Hogwart's books and robe requirements from his siblings.

Hettie hesitated. "Are you going to be in Diagon Alley for a while?" she asked.

Zach couldn't help but feel a twinge of happiness. "Yup. Fred is at Gringott's right now, but we will end up at the Leaky Cup once he's finished. Err, if you want, you can meet us there later."

She looked down for a moment, then glanced through the storefront window before looking back up at Zach. "It depends on what else I need to do with my sister. But if I can, I will try."

Zach smiled. This day was getting better and better. "Okay, then, I hope to see you there. Bye!" With a little bow and a wave, he turned to head down towards the bank.

A small hand on his sleeve stopped him in his tracks. He looked inquiringly at her. "Is there a way to contact you? Um, in case I have any questions for your Department at the Ministry of Magic. Or I need to talk to you…" Her voice trailed off.

'She wants to stay in touch with…me?" Zachary thought. He tried to play it cool.

"My cousin created a muggle communication device that's powered by a magical battery. Do you have your wand with you?"

Hettie nodded eagerly, and pulled out a long elegant wand from a pocket on her teal robe. "What do I need to do?"

Zach pulled out his cell phone and flipped it open. Clicking on a few buttons brought a bulls eye on the tiny screen. "Tap your wand on the screen twice. Not hard, though."

The young woman carefully touched the tip of her wand to the glass twice, then looked at him expectantly. He looked at the phone and saw that her details were uploaded into the Contact Information. They both smiled at each other, before she frowned. Zach found the tiny movement of her eyebrows cute.

"How does it work?" she asked. It seemed an odd sort of communication.

Zach was used to this question. "The device creates a temporary two-way mirror spell between my phone and your wand. You use Dicere Hominem to bespell a smoke ring while picturing me. My device will recognize the magical connection from your wand contact." He paused for a moment. "It's a little complicated, and it doesn't always work. Uncle George has been pushing to allow him to sell them in his store, but Rose won't budge as long as it has spotty success."

"Dicere Hominem? I'm afraid I don't know that one. Is it an easy spell to learn?"

With a crooked smile, Zach shrugged. "I don't know. I can't learn it. When you meet up with us, ask Alfred. He can sometimes get through."

Hettie blushed. In her eagerness to be able to talk to him, she had forgotten Zach's squib status. Awkwardly, she stepped back.

"Okay, then. If I have time, I will stop by The Leaky Cup. I have to go see how my sister is doing." Hettie ducked her head and headed for the stop door.

"I hope you can make it." Zach called out. She turned her head and gave him a smile and a nod.

He turned and headed off, whistling.