Eleven Years Ago

10/31

The bright afternoon sun shone above everything; leaves were changing, the autumn air wisping through as everyone was getting ready for the evening festivities that was trick or treating or the parties at the local pubs. Parents were putting out carved pumpkins, children eagerly getting into their costumes and playing around, making sure not to get dirty in the process. High spirits were all around as everyone, mundane and extraordinary, enjoyed the annual day of spooks and treats.

So it started out, everyone paused as a shadow blanketed over everything. Briefly, a lot of people turned to the source, an eclipse! A total eclipse of the sun, it wasn't often that it happened but it was still amazing to see and though rare, it added to the fun, after all, how often did an eclipse like this happen on Halloween itself if ever!

"Good afternoon, folks, this is Vivien Rook here to wish everyone a Happy Halloween." The woman smiled, her short blond hair had pumpkin hair clips in it and she was dressed in a black dress covered with pumpkins. "Now, for those of you out of the loop we have the rare solar eclipse today and I want to remind everyone just a few simple health and safety measures to ensure Halloween is without accidents or injuries. Please, remember that just because this is an eclipse this does not mean look up into the sun; if you have, even for a brief second please seek treatment from your local eye care professional if you or your child have any changes in vision that continue to get worse."

It was a curious sight to beheld as it seemed to have covered the entire country! Over in Wiltshire, Lucius Malfoy looked out for a brief second at the darkened lands from the safety of Malfoy Manor. Shadows covered the forested area that surrounded the Malfoy property, their hedges looked like a snake slithering around the grounds due to the shadows, the only visible thing would be the white peacocks that would wander around. In another room, Narcissa was with their son and getting things finalized for one of their many themed balls that was happening that evening; suppose that one could say that the eclipse happening today added to the atmosphere.

Something about this particular eclipse was making everything…different. Lucius looked at his wand, normally there would be a powerful surge whenever an eclipse did happen but this time it was all over the place, erratic, chaotic, even a simple spell would cause something to go wrong. Such was the case when a house elf, Dobby, had apparated with a tea set, the end result was the spell missed it mark and caused the set to crash on the ground, Lucius sighed and looked over to see Dobby starting to fret, he already knew where this was going.

"Don't you dare whip yourself over this." Lucius snapped at the elf. He watched Dobby whimper before nodding, the order wouldn't be fulfilled. Just another day at Malfoy Manor with a self-masochist house elf.

"Lucius." Narcissa walked up with their son. "You feel it too, right? Something about this eclipse?"

"I'm aware." He greed, he turned to see their son reaching for the window. "Seems our little dragon knows something as well."

"Good evening, witches and wizards and welcome to another year of fall festivities!" Celestina's voice rang out from the radio. "Great Merlin above have you seen the eclipse we're having, not directly I hope because we need our eyes and the only thing that can look directly at it is an eldritch being. No, no, it's been three hours since the eclipse showed up! Three hours!"

That definitely got the Malfoys looking at each other, they knew the eclipse was happening for a while but for three hours like this? Celestina's sing-song voice continued to broadcast through their mild confusion.

"Yes, even the Muggles are confused, but it doesn't hinder their kiddos, it just means more hours of trick or treating and staying up! Yes dear wizards, our world definitely is blessed by this sudden eclipse of course, among the amazing spectacle of the eclipse we did have to send some of our best over to the Muggle side to ease their nerves that no, the end of the world is not here and no this isn't something from the Dark Lord." She had an audible shiver in her voice.

"Now then, while amazing as this is, I'm sure it's no surprise that many wizards and witches felt a surge of magical energy, heightening their senses and deepening their connection to the mystical world. The eclipse also presented an opportunity for magical researchers to study the intricate interplay between celestial phenomena and the magical fabric of our world. This means we've been getting calls from families about the affects that is happening, first call is from the Hanako family. Hello Mrs. Lorelin Hanako, tell me how are you this evening, sweetheart?"

"We're fine." Lorelin started out. "Thank you Mrs. Warback."

"Honey, just call me Celestina, or Cel."

"Only if you call me Lori." She chuckled. "Yes, so…My daughter Izanami has been acting rather odd as of late; she's been fussing about and kept trying to crawl to the Floo network, she's too young to form words or to even get the powder, don't worry. But I'm beginning to sense that she may know that someone is in need of comfort."

Celestina's coos were heard. "What a sweetheart of a child you have, that is rather strange, my best bet – according to our renowned astrologer Kimiyo Hoshi, the moon's been associated with intuition and deep inner psyche – means your daughter's senses are definitely off the charts. Hang on, sweetie we have a call from the Truemmons, Mrs. Clarity Truemoon, you're on, dear."

"Given we're from a family of seers." Clarity started out, the sounds of a fussy baby was heard on the other line. "The eclipse is definitely affecting us, more so to others. My daughter's crying as if she's mourning someone and trying to smile as if she's celebrating someone. Her poor little mind's too confused on which she should be feeling."

Mourning someone? The room that the Malfoys were situated in grew cold and quiet as Lucius and Narcissa looked at each other with wide eyes. No, there was no way it would happen, He said that he wouldn't resort to death if he could help it! Still, the fear was too great to brush aside, Lucius grabbed his wand and hurried to apparate over to Godric's Hollow.

It seemed everywhere there was something happening on the day of the eclipse, somewhere in the heart of London settled St. Mungo's Hospital, on the outside it looked like an empty shop with mannequins inside, but on the inside it was as the name suggested being a hospital. Ever since the eclipse happened, the hospital was in chaos as a woman's scream echoed in the halls, to most people if someone is screaming that meant something was wrong. However, in terms of a hospital, it usually meant one thing; a new mother was bringing someone new to the world.

By the time the child was brought to the world, the eclipse had ended at around nine p.m. A man with auburn hair and green eyes made his way into the room where a woman with red hair and hazel eyes laid in the medical cot, the woman looked up at him with a tired smile before shaking her head at him, clearly she wasn't going through that again any time soon.

"You've seen worse, but the second your wife goes into labor you near faint." The woman, Eloise Lindsay, teased him.

The man, Alister Lindsay smiled. "Because seeing you in pain of any kind scared me." He kissed her cheek. "So…boy or girl?"

"Boy, but…" she hesitated a bit. "The doctors took him out almost immediately."

Hearts were beginning to race, even more so when the doctor returned with a nurse and holding a bundle in their arms. The parents were on edge as they handed the bundle to them; the baby was awake, the only thing he had was his father's hair, the rest he took after his mother, what surprised the parents were his eyes. They were hazel brown but they had a bright ethereal glow to them, almost as if they held the stars themselves! The longer anyone stared into those glowing eyes, the more they could see the stars swirl within.

"He's healthy, Lindsays." The doctor assured them. "The entire time we looked him over he didn't fuss, but…" he took his wand out and just held it out before the baby, almost right away, despite not being able to hold anything the newborn kept reaching for the wand. "I believe it's safe to say that he's a wizard."

"So young and yet ready to begin magic." Eloise shook her head. "You're going to be a troublemaker, aren't you?" she cooed lightly at her new son.

Their moment was abruptly shattered by a chaotic commotion emanating from a lower floor. The Lindsay couple instinctively rushed to the door, their hearts pounding in their chests, as distant voices carried snippets of desperate exclamations. Amidst the cacophony, a chilling phrase stood out: "They're still breathing!" followed by the unmistakable sound of spells being cast. The doctor's expression twisted with a mixture of frustration and concern, leaving the Lindsays with a sense of foreboding.

With an apologetic glance, the doctor quickly excused himself from the room, leaving Alister and his wife alone. Alister tenderly kissed his wife's forehead, assuring her that St. Mungo's was well-prepared to handle any emergencies and that they would keep their family safe. Though his words offered some solace, an undercurrent of anxiety still coursed through them both. Clutching their newborn son tightly, the mother sought solace in the embrace, a silent pledge to shield their child from whatever turmoil lay beyond the room's walls.

Descending into the emergency ward, Alister was intercepted by a stern-faced doctor, their worried expression etched deeply upon their features. The urgency in their voice matched the gravity of the situation as they addressed Alister, imploring him to stay clear of the unfolding events.

"What's happening?" Alister inquired, his voice tinged with concern and trepidation.

The doctor's eyes flickered with a mix of sympathy and restraint. "I'm afraid I can only disclose so much, sir. It involves John and Jane Doe—an attempted murder. Rest assured, we're doing everything we can to bring the situation under control."

The weight of the words hung heavily in the air, intensifying the Lindsay couple's apprehension. Alister took a deep breath, steeling himself for the unknown as he complied with the doctor's request, praying that the impending crisis would be swiftly resolved, and the safety of those involved ensured.

11/1

With the wife and kid at home for the time being, someone had to take care of the tailoring shop. Alister was at the counter with an embroidery hoop as the occasional customer came by for holiday shopping, it seemed like everyone and their families wanted a quilt this year as they were selling like hot cakes. Still, it wasn't just the upcoming holiday that got everyone in a joyous celebration, Alister heard from the grapevine that Voldemort was dead. He was glad that the Wizarding War was over, but he couldn't celebrate like everyone else, so many people died and so many had to go into hiding…Alister was one of those who had to go into hiding because of it.

He couldn't blame Dumbledore or the ministry because of that, they were in dark times and having people go into hiding was the best they could do. But they didn't have to worry about that again, Voldemort was gone, everything was right in the wizarding world. The muggle world however, was another story, Alister watched as a man came into the shop; he was dressed in a suit and looking like he had entered the Twilight Zone. Round enough to look like a beachball with whiskers akin to a walrus, Alister knew him as Vernon Dursley, there was only one other reason he'd be here alongside getting the occasional holiday piece from the shop…

"I swear, I'm starting to think I'm becoming this town's underground information center." Alister looked up at him. "Before you say anything, yes, I'm aware of the oddly dressed folks celebrating in the streets." he said in a tired tone. "I'm going to need you to be very specific about what it is you want to know."

"Why the unusual clothing?" Vernon demanded. "The owls are acting weird, I want you to tell me everything you know about what's going on."

Alister rolled his eyes and set the embroidery hoop down, leaving a half-finished rose in place. "Let's see, those unusual clothing are called robes, and believe me capes, cloaks, and robes are making a comeback for the cold season." He took out a catalog and showed him a page with a black cloak with red lining inside. "Case in point. As for the owls, there are diurnal owls instead of the nocturnal ones."

Vernon nodded, seemingly satisfied by Alister's answers, he looked at the rose before looking around the store. "And they're not going to escalate, are they? The celebrations are going to be tamed?" he watched Alister nod. "Where's your wife, isn't she usually in the shop?"

"Clearly it's been some time since you visit us." Alister had a light smile. "She's at home with our son, he was born yesterday."

"She was pregnant?!" That threw him in a surprised loop, his eyes lit up and a smile graced his face. "I would've never guessed, well…I hope everything went well." Vernon went over to pick up a holiday quilt. "Speaking of yesterday, what do you know about the eclipse that lasted for six hours?"

Alister just shrugged. "Wish I could tell you, I'm just as lost as you are." He rung him up and placed the quilt into a bag before handing it back to him. "It's probably a freak phenomenon of nature, similar to how you have 'rains of blood' which is really just the red dust of the sand getting into the clouds and mixing with the water." He leaned on the counter. "As for the delivery, everything went well; Chrys is a healthy boy and Ellie is at home taking care of him."

"Chris? Short for Christopher I'm assuming?" Vernon asked, the smile not leaving him.

"Short for Chrysanthos, it's Greek for Golden Flower." Alister explained with a fond smile on his face. "I was touring over in Greece, where my friend Alex is from, and after hearing the name I just knew that was the name I wanted to name our child, it's unisex too so it works out in the end."

The smile fell for a little bit. "Oh…well, kind of unusual, but I suppose it works."

Alister watched as Vernon turned to leave with the quilt. "Before you go Mr. Dursley, I want you to keep in mind that there's a reason reality is stranger than fiction. It's best not to expect anything to go with the notion of 'normality', it's best to remember that before you lose everything in the process."

*
Present Day

6/13

The cool breeze in the afternoon could only signify one thing; fall was starting to approach and summer would be over! To many, the idea of starting school again wasn't entirely ideal and would do whatever they could through any means to keep the summer spirit alive.

But that's the muggle world, and like every year around this season they would believe the strange owl migrations were at work. Such was the town of London, over the Thames and a stone's throw away from the grand city was a two-story house nestled in the rural outskirts with not many neighbors around. The Lindsay household was a very peculiar one, on the surface it was normal enough; a mother who ran a quilting store in the city and a father who played a professional sport, and of course their only son who was softspoken and light on his feet that with the way he acted, one wouldn't have guessed the Lindsay couple had a son unless they introduced him.

Mrs. Eloise Lindsay, as always, was the first to rise each morning. And every morning she would kiss her husband on the cheek before starting the day; brushing out her long red hair and making her skin glow with a skin care routine. After which, she would head downstairs to begin the morning; getting the morning tea ready for her and her family, collecting the morning paper and collecting the mail, if any, from the owls. Such was the day when she opened the door to see a golden barn owl sitting on the railing of the steps, gently petting it's head and thanking it, she brought the mail in and sat it on the table. The Sun newspaper from the city and a letter for her son.

Chrysanthos Lindsay

1630 Revello Drive

Curious. Eloise looked it over, there didn't seem to be a return address on it and on the back was a wax seal. Wait, a wax seal? She knew enough by now to never expect anything less from the wizarding world. She just set it back on the table and waited for the rest of the family to awaken. She didn't have long to wait, as like clockwork, Mr. Alister Lindsay had made his way over to give his dear wife a kiss on the cheek before helping himself to the morning blend and reading over her shoulder to see what was happening in the town today. His eyes had lit up when he saw the article about the owls and their strange flight pattern starting for he knew that it meant that the letters for the school year were being sent out!

Unlike the muggle world, the wizarding world was always excited around this time of year. They went to a school of magic, who wouldn't be excited for their acceptance letters!

"You have that look in your eyes." Eloise teased him.

"And what look would that be?" Alister challenged, kissing her on the cheek. "Excitement? Our son will be receiving an owl soon."

"The owl already came." She picked up the letter and held it up for him to see. "Honestly, while seeing the darling owls is fun and all, you really need to start sending your mail like a muggle."

Alister just had a pout. "Then how will you get your daily dose of owl pets?" he laughed when she just elbowed him in reply before looking upstairs. "Is Chrys still asleep?"

"Oh let him sleep in, it's Friday after all and still part of summer break."

As this was going on downstairs, upstairs was another story. Laying in bed and sleeping the morning away laid a boy with auburn brown hair; at the start of the night he was sleeping with ease but now things were looking different. He thrashed in his sleep as images of two figures in shadows were having some kind of battle – at least, he assumed they were fighting, there was fire everywhere and one of the figures tried to strangle the other. It was too much bear, he found himself screaming.

He was screaming, and that scream alerted the parents from downstairs.

"Chrys" Eloise approached him. "Sweetheart, what happened?"

The boy looked up at her, he was breathing heavily and sweat covered his forehead. "Mom…there was fire…someone was being strangled"

"Hey, hey." She sat on the bed and held him close, rubbing his back in comfort. "It's going to be okay, you just had a nightmare." After making sure he was still and relaxed, she moved her hand to his brown locks and pushed some hair out of the way so she could see her son's face. "There's a surprise for you on the kitchen table."

Chrys raised an eyebrow at that but nodded. "Okay, I'll be down." He pulled from her embrace and watched her leave his room.

It took a few minutes before Chrys was able to wake up completely for the morning; he dressed in a basic black t-shirt with a white mask and rose on it and a pair of jean shorts. He made his way downstairs and poured himself a cup of the morning tea, still hot with the help of his father casting a spell on the teapot to keep things hot and fresh for the family. He sighed happily at the taste, the sweet and spicy taste of apple cinnamon tea made everything better after a rough night's sleep. Chrys just smiled at his father, silently letting him know that everything was going to be fine as he picked up the envelope before him.

His honeyed eyes lit up at the sight of it that he almost dropped the teacup. "No way…Dad? Is this…what I think it is?"

Alister chuckled at his son's expression. "You tell me, open it and read what it says."

Not wasting a second longer, Chrys carefully broke the seal and took the folded letter out; there were two parts, and the first was an acceptance letter, seeing it, he felt his heart stop and a breath leaving him

Dear Mr. Lindsay

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of necessary books and equipment

Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

"Dad…Dad this is!" Chrys was starting to shake with excitement. "Oh my god…I'm going to Hogwarts!"

His excitement got the rest of the family excited, Eloise watched with his amusement as Alister held his son and even spinning him around in the air. There was talk about the school, about inviting Alister's friends over to celebrate one of these days, even school shopping.

Her mind had wandered some, remembering the day she was introduced to the world of magic; true, Muggles weren't entirely suppose to know – or so the Ministry had said. But upon meeting Alister that day, she just knew, the Wizarding World wasn't at all subtle with hiding from muggles and that meet was all she needed. The meet that would lead to Alister telling her about his school, Hogwarts, an on-campus site with four dormitories. It was the dorm part of the school she wasn't too excited over, she wasn't going to see Chrys for most of the year except for holiday breaks and the summer. Even if Hogwarts wasn't a school of magic, she'd feel the same way about him staying on campus.

Carefully, she took the second part of the letter and read over the list; three sets of plain work robes (black), one plain pointed hat (black) for day wear, one pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar), and one winter cloak (black with silver fastenings). She shook her head with a soft giggle; oh wizarding world, never change with your style and appearances.

"And of course, your mother will be going school shopping with us." Alister said, looking over at her.

Eloise was brought back to the now when she heard that. "I beg your pardon?" She looked up at him. "You know it'll be cheaper if I make the robes and hat for him, right? So it's really just books and equipment."

"Our robes are enchanted, my dear." He chuckled. "Of course, if you'll let me work my magic on them, I don't see why we can't have you make them."

Enough was enough. Chrys made an audible groan to get their attention. "Guys do you really have to do that in front of me?"

"Do what? Be loving and kissing?" Eloise teased. "Kissing, like this?" she kissed Alister in front of him.

"Seriously mom? Oh my god." Chrys threw his hands in the air. "If you need me, I'm going to be in my room writing my response letter." He turned and went towards the stairs.

"Keep it up, Chrys." Alister called. "You're going to find that special someone too, and you're going to be just like your mother and I." he started laughing when Chrys just slammed the door in response.

*
Diagon Alley was…strange to say the very least. Walking down the cobblestoned streets and watching the other witches and wizards wander about and visiting the various old looking shops for whatever it is they needed. Assortment of restaurants with tables outside and shaded by colored umbrellas, a few shops selling pet owls – his mother would approach and greet the owls, she really loved those feathery creatures.

Chrys smiled and looked around some more; quill shop, broom shop, healing and potions, another pet shop. This place had everything! Still, even as he took in the wonders of the shopping district, he had went into his silent and invisible role; now that they were in the wizarding side of things, they would be gaining attention pretty soon from Quidditch fans. He had his mother to hide behind whenever someone would come up to them and ask his father questions about his Quidditch career and his team. This just made school shopping a little difficult.

"Hey." Eloise gently tapped Chrys' shoulder. "I'm going to the robes shop to see if they have a pattern I can buy. Will you be okay?" she asked softly.

Chrys nodded, he and his mother each had their own pouches of galleons, sickles, and knuts to buy whatever they want alongside the school supplies. Taking a look at his father, he smiled and just made his way to get a wand; he'd figured he'd rip that bandage off first to save the stress of it al. Neither he nor his mother were worried about being separated, Alister had assured that no matter where in Diagon Alley they went, he would be able to find and regroup with them, they just had to stay at the shop they would be.

Narrow and shabby building, the shop was clearly old. There were wands on display on a faded purple cushion in a dusty window, the small shop had a single chair in the corner of the room and there were shelves upon shelves of narrow boxes containing wands that went right up to the ceiling! And it also seemed empty, Chrys walked up and rang the small bell on the counter before taking a step back.

"Hello there, young man." An elderly looking man appeared, if Chrys had to guess, this was Ollivander himself. "How can I help you?"

Chrys held up the school list and set it on the counter. "I'm…here for a wand."

"Of course, it's that time of year after all." He looked at at him, squinting his eyes a little as if to get a better look at him. "Forgive my asking, are you Alister's boy?"

Chrys nodded to confirm it.

"A fine wizard your father is; and I'm not talking about his quidditch career boy." He turned and went down the lines of wands, climbing up a ladder before taking a box out and returning to Chrys. "Blackthorn wood with dragon heartstring. Like father like son, as they say." He handed the wand to him. "Well go on, give it a wave."

Chrys picked it up and looked around before doing so, it was a disaster to say the very least; the chair nearly went flying through the window, it just left a crack in the glass instead. The silent horror in Chrys' hazel eyes said it all, he was ready to accept paying for the damage.

"Oh don't you worry about that old window." Ollivander put the wand aside. "I've seen it all my boy; accidental fires, whirlwinds, you name it." He turned and looked around the rows. "I should've guessed that despite the striking image was the only thing you two had in common." He paused at the sight of one of the boxes in silent wonder. He took it out and approached Chrys again.

"It's not often these are made, but sometimes a little mix is what's needed." He opened the case to Chrys. "Kelpie whisker core nestled inside Ebony and Maple wood."

Gently taking it out, Chrys held it in his hands and looked it over. Was it combined with resin? He's seen something similar back in the muggle side of London. Wait, do wizards even use resin? Forcing himself to look away from the details, he held the wand in his hand and gave a flick of it.

Nothing, no damages not chaos. The only that that happened when Chrys held it in in his hand was this wave of familiarity, a familiarity that if Chrys had to describe it was…completion? It felt like his arm was complete when he held the wand. The feeling didn't go without notice by Ollivander, it was as he said that a dual wood wand wasn't made that often, however, there were times they were made as there would always be that one person who may have been suited for it.

Maple and Ebony were a curious duo together, but that certainly didn't stop them from being made; they were most suited for those who didn't really fit the standard mold of the wizarding world. And one look at Alister's son, Ollivander knew, and after seeing the failed feeling with blackthorn confirmed it all.

"Sir?" Chrys finally spoke up. "How was this made? Was resin used?"

"Resin?" the man repeated before chuckling. "Oh, no, no, no, my boy! A little transfigure magic can go a long way, but I suppose I can see why you would ask that." He folded his hands. "Now then, I believe it's safe to assume you're happy with your wand?" He watched Chrys nod. "Seven Galleons, my boy."

Chrys took the pouch he had out of his pocket and dug for the gold coins, he left an eighth galleon on the counter and said that it was for the window. He thanked the man and left back outside where his father stood waiting for him with a basket of books in one arm and an owl cage in his other hand; the two gave each other a wordless greeting before walking side by side to the Cloak shop where they found Eloise standing in the doorway with a woman and laughing. Eloise had paused in her laughter and turned to see her husband and son before wishing the woman well, and meeting up with them they still had a full shopping list to complete still.

*
"Alright, you're right, it's been amazing here so far." Eloise chuckled.

The family had finished their shopping and were taking a small break at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor; it was a wonderful day for it, to just be sitting outside in the sun and also under one of the colorful umbrellas. Surprisingly, they offered treats for owls – little popsicles with mice in them were kept in a separate freezer. Their newest member of the family was a barn owl named Karnak, Eloise had named it after someone from a musical. Even now, she would find herself petting the owl while enjoying her own treat.

"So," Eloise turned to Chrys. "Let's see the wand."

"Mom, really?"

Chrys took the wand case out and the wand; slender and straight made with the jet black wood of ebony and the sharp white lines of the maple wood; the handle was ornate and had a blue agate gem nestled at the bottom. Every time Chrys looked at it, he couldn't help but to stare at its beauty and design, heck he couldn't really bring himself to put it away, he just wanted it in his hand at all times!

"A very interesting wand, kiddo." Alister held his hand out and let Chrys hand it to him. "You don't see too many magic users with a dual wood wand, what's the core?"

"Kelpie Hair." Chrys answered.

"A wildcard of a wand; adaptability and resourcefulness." Alister nodded in approval, he then looked at the agate. "A very interesting choice in gemstone here."

"A communication stone." Eloise looked at it. "I would've personally done an emerald or something of that nature."

"Agates are also earth stones in general." Alister returned the wand to his son. "Of course, on the topic of wands; there's going to be strict rules following that, Chrysanthos"

That got his full attention, using his full name could only mean that something serious was to be said or done.

"There will be no wand uses outside of Hogwarts, if you're going to be using your wand outside of school it'll be done strictly at home." Alister said sternly, watching as his son gave a look of disbelief. "I'm not kidding, Chrysanthos, you and I live on the Muggle side and you will be found out if you're remotely caught using it before the age of seventeen."

"But I used your wand before and no-one harped at me about it!" Chrys protested.

"Because the Improper Use of Magic Office knew you were a child and didn't know better, you got a warning that day. But you're now going to Hogwarts, you're now old enough to know better." Alister stared his son down. "I'm not too happy about this arrangement either, but rules are rules, Chrysanthos. If you absolutely have to use magic in the muggle world it should only be for self-defense, that's the only exception to the rule."

Chrys was still not happy. "What about the whole 'the ministry can suck a cock' line you like to spew out!"

"Language, young man!" Eloise snapped. "And you know your case is different; your father's allowed to use magic in front of me because we're married and even then he uses it at home or when he's in the wizarding side of the veil." She pointed the sundae spoon at him. "No wand uses outside the house or Hogwarts and that's final, do you understand us, Chrysanthos?"

Shoulders dropped in defeat, Chrys let a soft sigh out as he nodded slowly. "I understand, mother."

A few nods of approval before the family finished their frozen treats. After wandering down the streets of the alley, they finally decided on heading home fore the rest of the day. Throughout their time together, Chrys decided to get a better look at some of the other wizards and witches that he would be sharing a world with; some just looked like any other family going out for school shopping, that got him feeling somewhat confident with the upcoming term if it was going to be like any other school – just with magic.

One of the families that caught Chrys' attention were a set of redheads…a rather, large set of them. In all honesty, Chrys was amazed that there was a family that huge, the youngest of the boys looked to be about Chrys' age, and the boy's eyes just grew when he saw Chrys walk by with his family. It was given, Alister Lindsay was the famous Quidditch player, of course anyone would be feeling their jaws hitting the ground when they saw 'The Lindsay Boy' look their way. All one could really hope for was that they tone down the excitement when they meet for classes.

Thoughts were interrupted when he collided with something, or someone. He pulled back and immediately bowed his head in apology. "I'm so sorry!" he cried out.

"Hey, you're fine." A hand settled on his shoulder. "It can be pretty easy to run into someone here in a literal sense."

Chrys looked up at the person before him; a girl with long black hair and bright sky blue eyes. She smiled at him and giggled at his shocked expression.

"Take a picture, it'll last longer."

"Sorry." Chrys recovered. "Are you alright?"

"I told you, it's fine." She assured him again, her gaze went to the group that Chrys was watching before turning to him. "Are you interested in the Weasley family? They're a nice bunch, I'm sure you'd get along with them! Go say hi!"

"Oh, uh no it's fine, I mean…I'm going to run into them at school, right? What I mean is…I was just seeing what types of witches and wizards were here in the Alley."

The girl's grin turned mischievous, "Oh…my…god." She covered her mouth. "You're from the muggle side aren't you!"

The woman next to the girl elbowed her. "Cora!" she scolded. Getting a good look at the woman, Chrys saw she had bright pink hair and dark green eyes, she stared at the girl 'Cora' for a bit. "That's no way to treat someone."

"What? I'm just excited by this news!" Cora grabbed Chrys' hands. "He doesn't mind, right? Right!" She turned to him. "Come on, let's go say to the Weasleys!"

"Oh no!" Chrys pulled from her. "I'd appreciate the offer, truly, but I should get back to my parents before they worry."

"It'll be real quick." She looked up at him with what one could describe as baby-doll eyes. "Please? I promise it won't take too long!"

Chrys looked ahead to where his parents were, they had stopped and moved to the side and were watching over from the distance. It was just going to be a quick 'hello', he should be able to do that and return to his family without a worry. With a small nod, Cora jumped with glee before pulling him over to the group at Flourish and Blots, causing him to stumble along the way.

"Hey, hey!" Cora tapped Ron's shoulder. "Have you met my friend…" She fell silent and looked at Chrys.

"Chrys…" he filled in for her. "Um look, I'm really sorry…I just met her and…"

"I'm Ron, Ron Weasley." The boy interrupted. "Don't worry, I've got just about a million older brothers, I'm used to embarrassing stuff like this. Although I'm usually in your shoes."

"It's nice to meet you, Ron, and…I'm sorry you have to go through that." Chrys shrugged. "I'm an only child so I can't really relate."

"Lucky you." Ron replied. "I guess you're both first years like me?"

"Yep!" Cora chimed with a light bounce in her step. "And I believe my cousin's a first-year too, speaking of…I should introduce you two to him, he definitely needs more friends."

"Whoa…not right now? Right?" Chrys asked. "Cause you said meeting the Weasley family would be a quick thing."

"Did I say that?" Cora looked innocent. "No, no, no, you've only met one of them, you still have to meet the others!" she tried to pull him over to a set of twins. "Come on, say hi to Fred and George!"

But she didn't get far, she felt him break free from her hands as he ran back over to his parents. Cora just watched with a tiny grin on her face; while it was true that she was upset that her new friend ran off like that, she actually found it adorable. She got a lot of information just from the interaction alone; shy, only child, a half-blood, and also son of a famous quidditch player. Oh yes, like everyone with a brain, she recognized Alister Lindsay and his wife anywhere; they were all over the daily prophet and there were talks of a son but there was seldom a picture of him so hardly anyone knew what he looked like, just that the son's name was Chrysanthos.

And she met him. And now, Ron met him too! She even turned to him with a silent smug expression, almost as if she was telling him to praise her for introducing a celebrity to him. Ron just shook his head at her in disbelief, he honestly couldn't believe that Cora just went and kidnapped someone just to introduce them – clearly the expression he had didn't sway her, and honestly, he was starting to dread the first year at Hogwarts if she was his classmate.

Alister Lindsay, famous Quidditch player of the Blood Orchid's team, Head of the Lindsay Household. A man who was said to be a pureblood wizard and yet for some reason chose to marry a Muggle woman and take her surname! Well, she was rather beautiful, but beauty was only one thing. What was so special about her that he had to bring a half-blood son into the world? There were countless of eligible bachelorettes of the same pureblood pedigree and he disregarded them!

Well, at first despite the prophet talking about the son with little evidence, people thought it to be a rumor. But now, seeing the man himself with his muggle wife and half-blood son, people were now inclined to believe the stories. The son didn't look like much, sure he looked like a younger version of his father but outside of that? What was there to go off of? Well, if there was one thing that a family of purebloods was good at, whatever they wanted they got.

A set of blue-grey eyes watched over the half-blood Lindsay parting ways from the family and started to follow after him. Making sure to keep a distance, he wanted to learn all he could about the Lindsay boy while here, and what did he get in the process? Well, aside from common wand trial mishaps, seeing the Lindsay boy with a dual wood wand was definitely something. Ebony and Maple it looked like, it had a form of elegance to it – probably because of the gemstone in it. Heir or not, the boy was stupid; watching him pay an extra galleon because of a cracked window? Who cared if they broke something in that shop! Those grey eyes had to part from the window when Alister came by with an owl and a shopping bag of books, he watched as the father and son greeted each other with a silent hello before heading off to the robes shop.

That was the next confusing visit; the mother was still in the store was was gossiping with the other wizards and witches and not just the shop owner. They didn't seem to care if she was a muggle, no surprise, there's been times a muggle parent had been able to enter just to go school shopping and that was it. Listening in, he did pick up the muggle had a tailoring business as well and was going to make her son's robes! A muggle making wizard robes! What on earth had this entire world come to?! Clearly, the other patrons at the shop were okay with this, he even heard a wizard praising her for the idea; augh, he was getting sick from this! He was thanking Merlin when the damn muggle made her purchase and left the shop to regroup with her husband and son.

The next stop took forever to convince his parents to agree; they were here to shop for school supplies of the finest materials, they weren't going to waist it with ice cream. But when he told them the Lindsay's would be there, they sang another tune. It was just as informative as the other two visits – for real this time; he managed to hear about how the half-blood was a troublemaker and used his father's wand! Oh, this was just gold. Even more so when he saw them heading off, only for his 'cousin' to go running by and dragging the half-blood to the Weasley family. He didn't know what the conversation was but seeing the boy run back to his family was enough to put pieces together. Weak. This boy was weak! And he was the sole heir of the Lindsay Household! Well, a new project just presented itself.

"I see someone's going around kidnapping celebrities now!"

Cora looked over at the person and crossed her arms. "Aww, you're having ice cream, Ferret! Finally, how do you enjoy it?"

"Don't change the topic, I've saw you dragged the Lindsay heir around."

"So what if I did?" She grinned. "He was interested in the Weasley family and I had to introduce him! I was actually about to introduce him to you, I always know where you're hiding~"

"Freak, you can introduce him at school now go…We have more important things to do right now."

Cora just giggled. "Whatever you say." She turned and started off. "Oh and, I do mean it but…if that boy is sorted into whatever House you're into? Please try not to traumatize him."

"Nope, he's being thrown head first into the deep part of magic when get my hands on him."

"And you call me the freak!" She huffed.

She was the freak! Always finding his 'hiding places' and now in this case casually kidnapping people for her 'have you met this person' game. He'll never understand her, she wasn't entirely related but…Cordelia Black was something else. True, she wasn't related through blood, but with the way she worked she could integrate herself into any family without problems. All of those, were reasons why he will forever refer to her as a freak…but he cared about the freak like she was his family so he suppose he better give her that.

Of course, with the Lindsay household now far from Diagon Alley most likely, it was probably time to finish up here and return to the estate. Chrysanthos Lindsay, oh you just wait…you just wait.