Chapter 6: Potter Manor!
{Diagon Alley, London}
{10:41 A.M, 1 August 1991}
The atmosphere at the table was somber. Since they were in public, Lily controlled her emotions, but the look in her eyes, and the emotions hidden in her bright green eyes made Alex a little uncomfortable.
"I'll be honest..." Alex started, he knew the situation was uncomfortable, and no matter how much he wanted to say that she was just a character from a book series, he couldn't ignore the level of emotion she was displaying.
"I have lived all my life knowing that you guys have... you know." Alex spoke uncomfortably, to say someone was dead right in their faces was a bit awkward.
"I just have gotten used to the idea. I knew I was different but a world filled with magic feels so surreal." Alex spoke, his eyes dared upwards as Hedwig dive-bombed the table. He lifted his hands and Hedwig slowed down her descent before she settled on his arm.
"Hey girl, did you love flying around?" Alex asked. He preened Hedwig for a few moments and after making sure that Alex was okay Hedwig flew away again.
'Did the Muffilato charm mess with her senses?' Alex thought as he turned back to Lily and James and spoke.
"What I was saying was that I have gotten used to my independence, while magic seemed incredible, I don't know..." Alex shook his head. He didn't know how to put his thoughts into words.
'How do you tell someone that I'll take your money and the Potter library, but with no strings attached.' Alex thought.
"You don't need to worry about that, there is a room back home with your name on the door. I know we made mistakes but both of us just want the best for you," James replied, he knew being forceful would have no results. He was a teenager once and forcing something would just cause Alex to run away in the other direction.
"Good..." Alex sighed, he took a breath of relief as the waiter came back with their ice cream floating on a tray.
'Is that because of a levitation charm, and if it is, is someone else casting it because she is using her hands to hold a tray.' Alex thought as the waiter served the dessert to everyone. Alex was about to dig into his portion when he noticed that the girl was practically vibrating in her place.
"Can I have an autograph?" Sienna asked she couldn't believe she had an opportunity to meet the Boy Who Lived. The rest of her friends would be so jealous.
Alex blinked a couple of times before he replied, "Yeah, miss sorry for the confusion. I'm Alex Potter, Harry Potter's twin brother. You could try asking for Harry's autograph in Hogwarts, I'm sure he'll be delighted to fulfill your wish."
Sienna nodded at Alex and then walked back in a dazed expression. It wasn't until she had walked back to the ice cream shop that she realized what happened as she looked at Alex digging into his ice cream.
'Did he say he was Alex Potter? Didn't he die with Fleamont and Dorea Potter...' Sienna thought before she could think about it anymore the man she could recognize as the current Lord Black appeared in front of her and spoke, "Miss Sienna, how about we talk for a bit."
...
Alex looked at Sirius as he began talking to the girl and asked, "Bribing?"
James nodded, "Yeah, we don't want you, Harry and Rose to be burdened by the press just yet."
"Hmm..." Alex nodded as he took another bite, the ice cream was not anything special.
"So, tell me about Hogwarts." Alex diverted the topic since it was their first meeting, keeping the conversation friendly and light was the key. Plus he wasn't in any mood to play the part of an angsty teenager when magic was just around the corner.
"Hogwarts," Lily smiled unconsciously, "It is a school unlike any other, aside from the various forms of magic you could learn it has one of the largest Library in the United Kingdom." Lily gushed.
James rolled his eyes at his wife, "Ignore your mom, she's a bit of a nerd. Hogwarts has many exciting places to explore like the Forbidden Forest, and quidditch grounds, you could go flying or swim in the Black Lak- Ow~" James exclaimed dramatically as Lily hit him at the back of his head.
"The Forbidden Forest sounds quite you know... forbidden?" Alex asked as Sirius sat down back on the table.
"Oh no, it's a fun place to explore, this one-time Prongs and I were sneaking around the forbidden forest to spy on the Great La-" Sirius stopped midway as he realized that everyone was looking at him with incredulous expressions.
"Dude, what the hell?" James asked as Sirius avoided eye contact with a furious Minerva and a smiling Dumbledore.
Albus was feeling a lot better now, he realized why Alex was a little silent and muted, he had likely unconsciously started relying on his Occlumency shields to hide his emotions. But the way his face lit up when he was petting the owl eased him a lot. Tom was quite sadistic even before he came to Hogwarts, but Alex was completely opposite to him in that regard.
'If he's as talented in magical arts as he is mature then he would become someone great... though his Occlumency shields would make it difficult for him to learn esoteric magic.' Albus thought. Seeing that the atmosphere was light and good he allowed everyone to have a good time.
...
{20 Minutes later}
Albus looked at his empty plate a little scornfully, he quite enjoyed the lemon-flavored ice cream, he might even have a new favorite.
"Should we go back to the Manor, I need to do a few more tests just to be safe," Dumbledore spoke, but the bright atmosphere was interrupted by his words.
Lily looked at Alex to see if he was against the idea but he was already agreeing to Albus's request, "Sure, do we need a doctor or something?"
"Uh we could call Poppy, but Alex had all his vaccinations done before the accident so there is no need," James responded.
"Yeah, but I'm not getting squeezed through a tube again... I would rather walk back." Alex spoke in good humor. He had tried cracking a few jokes but other than Sirius everyone else was too tightly wound at the moment.
"We'll take the floo from Leaky Cauldron," Sirius suggested.
"The what now?" Alex asked, he knew the place of course but he was getting good at pretending he didn't know that place was a real thing.
"The Leaky Cauldron, it's a... what do you call it, a hotel!" Sirius replied.
"A hotel named Leaky Cauldron? Who comes up with these names..." Alex muttered getting a good nudge from Sirius.
"What do you say pup, want me to buy you your very first broom? You don't want to look like an idiot in your very first flying lesson, if you look good enough you might even get some brownie points with the ladies, so?" Sirius asked, he suggestively wiggled his eyes.
"Sirius!" Lily admonished, the idea of Alex flying a broom when she had just barely got him back was horrific to her.
Sirius held his hands up in imitation of 'You got me' before he winked at Alex. Alex had to admit that Sirius was definitely not funny with his words, it was his antics that got everyone.
Everyone walked through the door and Alex saw the whole place go still, he had noticed this before too. Whenever the whole group would walk, people would stop and stare. But since that was in the crowded street, it wasn't that impressive. As he saw every eye staring at either Dumbledore or at James or Sirius, their group slowly made their way to the fireplace.
James threw a galleon toward the top and said, "Good day Tom!"
The barkeeper then started hovering as a wall between their group and everyone else as James used the Muffliato charm again and explained, "See the floo is also one of the methods of travel that Wizards use, to do that you need to properly say out loud your destination after burning the floo power. Watch me!"
James spoke as he walked over and picked up a pinch of floo powder, "The Manor's wards should recognize you so just come after me okay." James spoke as he threw the floo powder into the Fire. The small flame turned into a raging green fire as it illuminated the area around them.
"Potter Manor" James spoke clearly as he walked into the fire and disappeared. The fire died down and it went back to its original place.
Alex took a step forward without anyone prompting him to do so, he threw the floo powder and repeated the steps.
"Potter Manor..."
...
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AN - Next chapter, finally exploring the game system a little bit!
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