Diagon Alley

But the next day, Ron had pulled himself together again.

He did not sleep in or laze in bed as usual. Before dawn had even broken, he had washed and dressed, then curled up on the living room sofa with Scabbers in his arms, giving Molly quite a fright when she came downstairs.

"Merlin's socks, Ron, what are you hiding here for?"

Ron mumbled his way through an excuse, only telling his mother the truth when the twins came out early to clean the garden.

"Ron's sucking up to Vaughn!"

"That's right. We overheard yesterday that Vaughn said he'd give him a new Wand early as this year's Christmas present."

"Yes, George, an entirely accurate recap. It seems our foolish little brother isn't completely stupid. He knows he should show respect to his benefactor."

"But he's still not sincere enough, Fred. He didn't even dare tell Mum!"

"Yes, George. Our foolish little brother's useless pride."

The twins took turns teasing him, laughing until Ron was fit to burst with rage, then skipped cheerfully out of the house.

Vaughn was awakened by their cheers.

By the time he got up, the sunlight had already climbed over Weasel Mountain, streaming through the window in mottled stripes. Ginny was curled up in his arms, still sleeping soundly.

Last night, she had come to him clutching a storybook. Vaughn had read her fairy tales for at least an hour before finally coaxing her to sleep.

That was one of the reasons the siblings were so close. Bill and Charlie had left home early to work, Percy never had patience for anything beyond studying, and Fred and George were as lively as monkeys all day long.

Only Ron and Vaughn were willing to tell Ginny stories. Of course, Ron only told stories that interested him, so Ginny had long since stopped paying attention to him!

Vaughn got up and dressed, then pushed open the window. He saw Old Errol flapping his aged wings as he hopped through the weeds and shrubs in the garden, driving out Goblins that stood only a foot tall, with yellowish-brown bodies, enormous heads, and thin limbs, like potatoes that had grown legs.

Meanwhile, the twins each rode a Flying Broomstick, swooping back and forth overhead. They grabbed the Goblins Old Errol had driven out, shook and spun them around, then hurled them far into the wilderness.

All that remained were their increasingly distant screams in the air, along with the twins' delighted laughter.

"Those two can find fun in anything they do!"

Vaughn shook his head with a laugh and went back to the bed to pick Ginny up.

The little girl woke with a start. She rubbed her sleepy eyes, yawned, and said, "Vaughn?"

"I'm going to Diagon Alley, Ginny. You need to go back to your own room and sleep."

"Oh..." Ginny buried her head in his shoulder and mumbled, "I want... Chocolate Frogs..."

"Okay, I'll bring some back for you!"

As he carried Ginny downstairs, he ran into their mother, who had been about to come up and call them.

"Oh—look at my two little sweethearts, my precious darlings." Molly's ample figure could have wrapped both children in one embrace. She wiped at the corners of her eyes. "Mum is so happy that you siblings love each other so much. Vaughn, you're always so sensible. You look after Ginny, and you're even buying Ron a new Wand... Honestly, I think his old one is good enough!"

Downstairs, Ron came running over eagerly when he heard the commotion, only to clench his fingers so tightly in fright that he nearly strangled Scabbers.

He was terrified that his ill-tempered brother would go back on his word in agreement with their mother.

Luckily, Vaughn merely glanced at him. "It's fine, Mum. It's only seven Gold Galleons. Besides, using a Wand that doesn't belong to him could very well affect his studies!"

Seven... seven Gold Galleons, and that was only?

Ron felt as though someone had shoved him into a barrel of lemon juice. He was sour from head to toe.

Knowing that her son was quite wealthy, Molly said nothing more. Vaughn and Ron were both her sons, and she loved them both. Though her principles of education made her reluctant to let Ron spend Vaughn's money, Vaughn was willing to give his younger brother a gift, so she would not object.

Her youngest son could only use his older brothers' old things, which already made her feel terribly guilty. Besides, Vaughn was right—using a Wand that did not belong to him really could have an impact. So she stopped trying to stop them.

Molly carried Ginny back to her room.

After washing up, Vaughn ate breakfast with Ron. Seeing that it was getting late, Molly took down a flowerpot filled with glittering grayish-white powder from the Fireplace mantel and said to Vaughn and Ron:

"Vaughn, you've used Floo Powder before, so you know what to do. But Ron, you haven't. Watch your brother's demonstration carefully. You must pronounce it clearly and forcefully: Diagon Alley! Diagon Alley! Understand?"

"Got it, Mum!" Ron was thrilled, the tips of his ears bright red.

Molly held the flowerpot out to Vaughn. He pursed his lips. He had never liked this stuff much—it dirtied his clothes and hair.

But he had not learned Apparition yet, so he could only travel this way.

Vaughn grabbed a handful of Floo Powder, stepped into the Fireplace, and slammed the powder hard at his feet while shouting, "Diagon Alley!"

With a bang.

Green flames surged up before his eyes. Vaughn felt as though he had climbed into a washing machine, his entire body stretched into a long strip as he spun rapidly around a single point. All around him were equally warped and bizarre sights.

Only several seconds later did he stagger to a stop. Shaking his head to drive away the lingering dizziness, he brushed off the soot clinging to him in disgust while looking around.

It was an enclosed alley, with several Fireplaces set neatly into dark brick walls. Green flames flared up one after another, and Wizards and Witches emerged from them, some with children in tow. They had probably received Hogwarts letters as well and had brought their children to buy books and supplies.

Vaughn did not look around any longer. He waited where he was for a moment. Then green flames ignited behind him, and the next instant, Ron tumbled out, filthy and covered in soot, landing face-first at Vaughn's feet.

"Ron, such a grand bow?"

Vaughn grinned as he pulled him up.

Ron's eyes were spinning so badly that he did not hear what Vaughn had said. Only after Molly arrived as well, dusted the soot from him, and led the brothers out of the enclosed alley and into the bustling Diagon Alley did Ron finally come fully to his senses.

It was a long street that stretched out of sight, several meters wide. The cobblestone road was packed with men and women wearing pointed Wizard hats.

All kinds of shops lined both sides of the street, each with square display windows divided into panes of glass. Sunlight shone down from above the alley, making the windows and the goods inside gleam brilliantly.

The door of the shop closest to the alley entrance opened, and a Wizard and Witch came out with a boy. The boy was chewing, and his hair kept changing color with every movement of his jaw.

Ron's eyes went wide—he saw the shop's sign: Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, Fred and George's favorite shop, the one they had talked about endlessly in his ear.

It was the place he visited most often in his dreams!

Still dazed, he heard Vaughn say, "Ron, welcome to Diagon Alley!"

At the same time, someone behind them was saying:

"Welcome to Diagon Alley!"