The Alley

Part Five: The Alley

"But how?"

Willa sighed and gave Emma a pleading look. The blonde witch grinned
at her friend, eyes moving to the utterly stunned face of Frank
Longbottom as he gazed upon Willa like she was a House Elf who just
propositioned him. The loud noises of the Leaky Cauldron swarmed
around them, making it quite difficult for Frank's parents, who were
sitting just three booths away, to hear their conversation. And that
was a good thing because Willa had taken the opportunity to enlighten
Frank about her true identity. About bloody time as well. Emma was
pretty sure if Frank kissed her once more, Willa would thrash him
good.

"It's quite simple really," Emma finally answered Frank with a
mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "When Aunt Hermione and Mr. Harris
were busy conceiving Ronnie, Willa was made right along with her."

"Cute Em," Willa scowled at her.

"And that's not what I meant," Frank retorted, losing the dazed
expression as he frowned at his friend. "How on Earth did this
happen? I mean twins? And Aunt Hermione never mentioned this to
anyone?"

"I'm thinking all the other adults know," Willa shrugged, craning her
neck to see two of the aforementioned adults. Ginny and Neville
Longbottom didn't seem all too concerned with what the three teens
were up to, chatting it up loudly with some person who Emma had
informed her was Seamus Finnigan. Willa personally didn't see much
past Neville Longbottom. Besides Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and her
own mother, Neville Longbottom was one of the most famous wizards
from the war. He had personally taken down Voldemort's right hand
witch, Bellatrix Lestrange, in the final battle. Willa couldn't
believe how lucky she was to meet him, and all these other people.
The kids back at Salem were going to be so jealous!

"But we don't know why no one ever mentioned it," Emma continued for
her. "It just doesn't make any sense. Why would each parent take
just one child and then proceed to live entirely separate lives?"

"Maybe it's an issue of joint custody," Frank suggested, recovering
from his shock just a bit to start spouting off some legal
rhetoric. "In a few rare divorce cases, the Ministry is know for
splitting everything right down the middle. Everything, including
possessions and children."

"Are you serious?" Willa demanded. "That is seriously messed."

"Accent," Emma reminded the girl with a soft kick to her ankles.

Willa made a face and corrected herself. "I mean, that is bloody
messed up. Complete rubbish and all that."

"Is she making fun of us Brits?" Frank asked in amusement.

"You'll get used to it," Emma assured him. "She makes fun of
everyone. It's quite off-putting actually."

"Bite me," Willa retorted, her accent dropping once more. "You know
you adore just as much as you adore Ronnie, Emma Potter, so don't
even try to act that way."

"Speaking of Ronnie, exactly how long do you plan to carry this out?"
Frank interjected once more. "School starts in a month you know.
And there's no way you would be able to fool Professor Dumbledore.
That man's sharp, doesn't miss a step at all."

"Well, then I guess we have one month to figure everything out,"
Willa shrugged. "I know at some point we're going to confront our
parents about this, but I don't know how or when. But rest assured,
I'm giving Dad and the others a verbal smackdown for keeping this
from me."

"Violent little thing isn't she?" Frank grinned.

"She's a beater," was all Emma had to say.

"And she was also raised alongside Vampire Slayers, so she does know
quite a bit about handing out smackdowns," Willa warned them, a
teasing smile on her face. "Luckily for you, I'm not in a
particularly violent mood today."

"You sure about that?" Emma needled her.

Willa just rolled her eyes and stood up out of the booth. "Enough
talk. Let's get our butts to Diagon Alley. There is no way that I'm
leaving England without seeing this place at least once. Aunt Wills
had the best things to say about it."

"Diagon Alley it is," Frank agreed. "And along the way, perhaps the
two of you could explain to me how exactly this hair-brained idea
came about?"

"Ronnie's fault," both girls responded, to which Frank just rolled
his eyes.

"Sure, like I believe that."

~*~

They spent about an hour inside Flourish and Botts. Frank was
seriously starting to lose his patience with the girls, whining about
going to the Quidditch shop. Emma was inclined to agree with him,
but Willa wouldn't leave the shop easily. She was intent on finding
something nice and rare for her Aunt Wills.

"I may be angry about all the secrets, but that doesn't mean she
isn't a kick ass aunt anyway," was the girl's explanation. And so
she spent a good fifty minutes wandering up and down the stacks,
engaging the manager in small talk every now and then, before finally
pulling a book off the shelf.

Emma sighed in relief, ambling over to Willa and peering at the book
over her shoulder. "'Lost Earth Magicks'?"

"Aunt Wills is all into the Earthy thing," Willa explained. "I think
someone once tried to convince her to use a wand like I do, but she
gave it up after a while. Always said that she didn't need anything
but the Earth under her feet to ground her."

"Well hurry up and buy the damn thing," Frank grumbled
irritably. "We've spent an hour in this shop. I want to go look at
the new Firebolt line."

"That's out already?" Willa demanded, her eyes wide. "Damn, I need
to get me one of those."

"They're very expensive mind you," Emma warned her. "I don't think
Aunt Hermione will appreciate you buying one today."

"Please," Willa waved this off with a snort. "All I have to do is
work Uncle Spike or Uncle Angel over for about five minutes before
they agree to buy this for me. Maybe I should tell Ronnie to get to
work on that. It's definitely something I would do."

"Isn't that a bit wrong?" Emma asked tentatively.

"Probably," Willa assented. "But it's like Aunt Dawn always says:
what are they there for other than to spoil me rotten?"

"Interesting family you got there," Frank chuckled.

"You don't know the half of it," Willa informed her, switching back
to her accent as she approached the register. "I'd like this please."

Emma and Frank stood behind her while the cashier rang up her
purchase, the two of them joking and generally goofing around when
they heard the door chimes go off.

"Well, well, well. Veronica's buying a book. Why am I not
surprised?"

"Uncle Draco!" Willa winced when Emma gave a loud squeal before
rushing towards the tall blonde man who had entered the book store.
Willa frowned as she looked the guy over, knowing that this was Draco
Malfoy and wondering why she didn't realize how much he looked like
Uncle Spike from the pictures Ronnie had shown her. A soft cough
from behind her reminded her that she had yet to pay for her book,
and so Willa turned away from the sight of Emma hugging the daylights
out of Draco Malfoy to pay the cashier. The book cost her most of
what her mother had given to her to spend that day. Oh well, not
like she was going to buy much else anyway.

When she turned back around, she saw Frank grinning as he shook
Draco's hand, the easy smile on Ronnie's boyfriend's face melting
away into a neutral look as his eyes fell upon the person next to
Draco. Willa arched an eyebrow at the scowling boy standing next to
Draco, knowing that this had to be the infamous Xavier Malfoy who
Ronnie failed to get along with. The boy caught her eye and gave her
a particularly nasty sneer to which she just smirked. Like some
snotty little rich boy could intimidate her. Willa had lived through
the destruction of the Cleveland Hellmouth. This boy was nothing
impressive.

"Well Veronica, are we going to be quiet all day?"

Willa snapped out of her thoughts when Draco addressed her,
plastering a bright smile on her face as she went forward to give the
man a quick hug. "Hello Uncle Draco. Did you enjoy your trip to
Italy?"

"Of course," Draco replied. "It might have been better if my son
wasn't such a complete grouch, but it was still enjoyable. And how
about you two? That dismal summer camp wasn't too trying, was it?"

"It's not dismal Uncle Draco," Emma giggled. "It's one of the best
summer camps in the Wizarding World."

"Highly recommended for witches such as yourself," Xavier stated
dryly, the disdainful expression on his face speaking
volumes. "Honestly, a summer camp? How old are you two? Six?"

"Xavier," Draco snapped, sending his son a harsh glare. Xavier just
huffed and stormed off into the Charms section of the store.

"I see he's being his usual chipper self," Frank commented neutrally.

"Honestly, that boy is worse than me at sixteen," Draco sighed.

"I'm sure Dad will disagree with you on that," Emma interjected
cheerily, Xavier's words seemingly not fazing her one bit. "He says
you used to be quite a prat."

"'Used to be'?" Draco repeated with a mischievous grin. "Potter's
gone soft on me. Everyone knows that I was a prat then, and I'm a
prat now."

"Always something to be proud of," Willa giggled.

"Exactly," Draco agreed, pausing to look at her purchase. "Earth
magick? You met one of those horrid American Wiccans didn't you?"

"They aren't horrid," Willa protested. "They just have a different
way of looking at things."

"Whatever you say darling," Draco backed off. "Now, as much fun as
this reunion has been, I best go see about my rather hostile son.
Don't want him to tear down the store in a rage. It might make me
look bad."

Willa giggled and murmured a soft goodbye to Draco before moving past
him to the door. Frank and Emma followed right after, both heaving a
great sigh once they were outside on the street.

"He's gotten surlier than before," Emma muttered. "I didn't think
that was possible."

"Frightening thought," Frank agreed.

"You mean Mr. I've-Got-My-Wand-Stuck-Up-My-Butt?" Willa
snorted. "Please, Xavier Malfoy is not the least bit frightening. A
Fyral demon, now that is frightening. Xavier seems more like an
irritating rash."

"You really are Ronnie's sister, aren't you?" Frank chuckled. "That
sounds exactly like something she would say."

"You best watch out Willa," Emma warned her. "Xavier and Ronnie have
a bit of a rivalry going on. He's bound to try something on you
before the summer is out."

"Well then, I'll just have get him before he gets me, won't I?" Willa
replied smoothly.

"Sounds like you need to visit Uncle Fred and Uncle George," Frank
grinned. "They're great with that sort of stuff."

"Oh Frank, don't encourage her," Emma moaned. "Do you remember what
happened the last time Ronnie and Xavier went to war? Grandma Molly
nearly had all of us thrown into Azkaban for what they did to her
house."

"Well, that was with Ronnie," Willa reminded. "This time, I'll be at
the head of the army. And trust me Em, if there's one thing my Aunt
Buffy taught me to do, it's how to win a war."

Emma felt her heart sink. "Oh bloody hell. There goes my quiet
summer."

~*~