Chapter 3: Diagon Alley

After careful consideration, Kyle decided it was best to play a trick on the twins and keep the news about the Three-Headed Dog to himself.

Who said he didn't have a fondness for magical creatures? Sure, he wasn't Newt Scamander and didn't have that unique touch, but creatures like the Three-Headed Dog were rare, even in Greece. If he missed this opportunity, it would be hard to see one again. All things considered, it was better to have some fun with Fred and George.

But to ease his conscience, Kyle slipped out of the twins' hold as quickly as possible and gave Chris an apologetic look. Chris, understandably, was baffled. One of the twins had the same confused expression.

They had been just about to carry out their plan—sprinkling some confetti-like powder over Kyle's head for a little mischief—but Kyle ducked and ran at the last second. Unfortunately for the twins, they had already thrown the confetti! It could have happened a second earlier or later, but of course, it landed at the worst possible moment.

The twins stood there, dumbfounded, watching the confetti make a perfect arc through the air—only to fall on the other twin's head.

"Shh..."

Suddenly, both Fred and George were furiously scratching their heads like agitated baboons. Their already messy hair became even wilder, a true bird's nest of confetti and chaos. Honestly, even the Sorting Hat looked more dignified at this point.

"Oh, Fred, George, what are you up to now!" Mrs. Weasley's voice rang out, clearly embarrassed as more people began to stare at the scene. Her cheeks flushed, and she marched over to the twins, grabbing each of them by the ear and dragging them away, her face red with both anger and humiliation.

At least in the alley, away from the main street of Diagon Alley, fewer people could see them. On the main road, it had been mortifying—her sons imitating baboons in front of everyone.

"By Merlin's beard!" she muttered under her breath. 'If this keeps up, the Weasley family's reputation will be ruined! Ruined!'

Her actions were swift, and the twins, though grinning at first, were soon breathing heavily, their earlier bravado crushed. Kyle swore he saw tears welling up in their eyes, and if that was true, he could only marvel at how alike they were—even their tears appeared in the same spots.

On the other side, as Mrs. Weasley escorted the twins away, Mr. Weasley looked visibly relieved. He hid his embarrassment with great difficulty, urging the rest of the group to move ahead and start their shopping without waiting for the twins.

At the back of the group, Kyle had positioned himself beside Ron, struggling to suppress his laughter. However, the moment he looked up and caught his mother's gaze, his whole body tensed. He forced a grin, an awkward and polite smile plastered on his face.

Diana had an uncanny sixth sense—nothing ever escaped her notice. Since childhood, Kyle had learned that he could hardly ever get away with anything. His only saving grace with his transmigration secret was that she hadn't given birth to him for five or six months after he arrived in this world. If not for that, he was convinced his secret would've been discovered long ago.

Really… Kyle scratched his head, thinking to himself. With a mother like this, there's no such thing as privacy.

Diana, sensing his guilt, didn't say a word but gave him a warning look before turning her attention elsewhere. It wasn't all that serious—Mrs. Weasley was just overly worried.

Fred and George's antics were notorious at Hogwarts, and word of their exploits had spread through the wizarding world, even reaching Diana's ears. She had heard stories of exploding toilet seats, sneaking a sack over Mrs Norris during a nighttime stroll, and throwing rotten eggs under Slytherin freshmen's seats, accusing them of having accidents in class. Compared to all that, imitating baboons in the street seemed minor.

People who witnessed the scene would probably just laugh it off. There was no real threat to the Weasley family's reputation—unless you asked a certain pureblood with long blonde hair, but he wouldn't be named here.

Mrs. Weasley's strong reaction came from her not yet being accustomed to the twins' troublemaking. After all, Bill, Charlie, and even Percy had been outstanding students, and in her mind, she still saw Fred and George through that lens. She couldn't quite reconcile their behavior with the image of her older children.

Granted, Bill and Charlie hadn't been entirely well-behaved at home or in their early school days, but no one could deny that they were top students at Hogwarts. For Mrs. Weasley, it was as if she couldn't let go of the expectation that Fred and George would follow in their older brothers' footsteps.

To put it in perspective, imagine the prim and proper Percy suddenly imitating a baboon in the street. That would give anyone pause.

But this phase wouldn't last forever. Give it a year or two, and after more news about the twins' escapades from Hogwarts, Mrs. Weasley would grow accustomed to their ways. And, in time, she'd learn to handle their antics with far more composure.

...

Not long after the little episode with the twins, the group split up. Since Ron and Ginny were not yet old enough to attend Hogwarts, the Weasleys only needed to buy schoolbooks for Fred, George, and Percy. However, as a new student, Kyle had a long list of supplies to get, with the most important item being his wand.

Kyle didn't need directions—he knew Diagon Alley like the back of his hand. Before long, he reached his destination: the small, slightly run-down shop.

Ollivanders Wand Shop: Expertly crafted wands since 382 BC.

Kyle stood in the doorway, a bit speechless, as he always was when he visited the place. The shop looked so neglected, with thick layers of dust on the windows. You could practically scrape the grime off and mold it into a sculpture right outside the door. Did wizards have a preference for old, worn-out things?

Gringotts and the Flying Broomstick Shop both look clean and well-maintained, Kyle thought. But this place...

Then again, Ollivanders was the most renowned wand shop in the wizarding world, and maybe that was part of the charm—exclusivity wrapped in mystery and age. Perhaps looking ancient is just part of the magic of being an elite shop, he mused. But Gringotts, also an exclusive business, didn't look like it was falling apart. He had wondered about this for a long time, even asking Chris and Mr. Weasley in the past, but neither had given him a clear answer.

Standing there now, Kyle could only shrug, deciding to chalk it up to the eccentricity of a master craftsman. After all, Ollivander's reputation was unparalleled, and it was important to maintain good relations. Asking why his shop was so rundown might offend the legendary wandmaker. That was a conversation best left untouched.

However, Kyle did consider a different option: since Ron would be starting school next year, he could discuss it with Fred and George and see if they'd be willing to poke around for an answer.

Don't say I'm cheating my friends, Kyle thought, smirking to himself. I'm cheating Ron Weasley. What does that have to do with his beloved family and friends—It's only Fred and George's younger brother Ronald Weasley asking.