The Leaky Cauldron

// THIS IS AN OLD CHAPTER. THE NEW CHAPTERS ARE IN VOLUME 2. YOU CAN READ THESE CHAPTERS IF YOU WANT SOME INSIGHT ON WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN LATER BUT SOME EVENTS CAN BE DIFFERENT BETWEEN THE OLD AND NEW CHAPTERS.

After our visit to the menagerie there was still time before night fell and we had to go home.

We continued our tour of the stores with Susan to look for things that weren't on the list. Susan bought two new witch dresses in her size for the start of the school year at Twilfitt and Tatting's. I took the opportunity to have a new tailor-made wizard outfit made for me. I opted for a long coat in black acromentula silk with silver thread runes that draws a snake, and a set of pants accompanied by an anthracite vest. I also bought myself a suitcase with enlargement spells inside, I took the largest one currently on the market. It should be pretty much the same size as Newt Scamander's famous suitcase but mine is a newer model in black leather with extra protective spells so it can only be opened by me. The seller offers to equip it with all the furniture I wanted, but I'll take care of that myself.

Seeing the hour, I was going to suggest we go home but she drags me by force to the leaky cauldron.

"Oh no way, you're not going to run away." But what's wrong with her today?

When we entered the Leaky Cauldron most of the residents were eating their evening meals. Susan is looking all over the place when suddenly she starts pulling me towards a table. Upon closer inspection I can see Hermione sitting at the table and unfortunately next to her are the Weasleys.

Hermione is looking relatively uncomfortable, sitting next to her is Molly and right in front of her is Ron stuffing himself as if the end of the world would happen if his fork ever stopped moving.

"Good evening Hermione, you didn't tell us other people would join us."

"Oh no, I ran into Ron and his family and they offered me to eat with them but sit down with us." Her eyes are screaming 'Please save me'.

"What a great idea, come join us now. Arthur was telling me the other day about an improvement idea he had for the magiphone and he wanted your opinion about it."

"Is that so?" Susan strikes her elbow in my ribs "Ouch, yes, of course we would love to eat with you tonight, I just need to make a call than I'm yours."

I move away from the group a little while Susan settles down next to Hermione and I see Ginny sit down next to her brother.

I find a quiet corner near the entrance of the inn as I call my mother to let her know that we won't be eating with them tonight.

"Do you need me to come and get you?"

"No, we are in the leaky cauldron, we will take the floo network to go home."

"Okay, don't come home too late, you have to take the train tomorrow morning."

I hang up and order two specials from Tom before going back to the table.

"Sean, come and sit down, I kept you the seat next to me." Ginny calls out to me, showing me the empty chair next to her at the end of the table, right in front of Susan, Hermione and Molly. "

"So, Sean, Ginny told me you were giving her a helping hand with learning her lessons, that's very kind of you."

"Oh, it's just that I usually study in the library at set times. And since I give Rose a hand and she's friends with Ginny, I'm happy to help her too, of course. "

"Well, according to her it's thanks to you that she managed to get such a good mark in potions, so I thank you."

"At the same time, he's Snape's favorite. He got tutoring from him to stay ahead of Professor Slughorn's lessons. It's like he wants to be better than us in everything." Everyone is looking at Ron like he just let out a resounding fart. "What? That's true." No, it's not. I got tutoring from Snape but it's for my legilimency idiot.

"Ronald Weasley, I seem to have educated you to be polite to guests." Molly looks at Ron with the look of disappointment that mothers can have when their children are irrecoverable.

"Yes, Ron, be polite to our guests." All that was missing was the intervention of our comedy duo, but I can't tell if it was Fred or if it was Georges who just spoke.

"Look how it is done, Sean would you be so kind as to give me the salt?" This time it's the other twin talking. I really need to find a way to differentiate them effectively.

"Oh, with pleasure, would you like a glass of water as well?"

"Of course, thank you so much" The whole table laughs as Ron, red as a tomato, tries to hide behind his plate. His face is so close to it that he doesn't really need a fork anymore.

"So, you didn't tell me what you did during your vacation?" Hermione tries to get the conversation going again to break the awkward politeness.

"Oh, nothing too bad, we went to spend two months in my old house in Virginia in a muggle town then I went for a walk where we were almost eaten by a wampus cat, and I made a magiphone for the president of MACUSA which cost more than this inn. "I hadn't seen Tom who had just arrived behind my back to bring us our plates." No offense, I really like this place, it has a charm of its own. "

The innkeeper leaves without saying anything, he does not seem to take my comment well.

"A WAMPUS CAT!" Molly puts a hand over her mouth.

"YOU REALLY MEET THE PRESIDENT OF MACUSA ?!" This time it was Percy's turn, who had listened to our conversation with one ear, to react. For him, meeting the leader of a foreign government is the highest honors someone can get.

I begin to relate the two major events of my vacation to an attentive Weasley family. Even Ron ended up putting down his fork to listen to the story of my fight against the wampus cat which I tell by slightly embellishing the story.

"Well, if you ever don't know what to do later, I advise you to become a writer. Okay kids, it's time to go to your rooms. You have to get up early to take the train tomorrow morning and your father has to get up to go to work. Hop hop hop, go to your beds. "

We get up with Susan and even Hermione seems to be carried away by Molly's almost oppressive maternal energy.

"Well, good evening everyone and I guess we'll see each other tomorrow."

Hermione walks us back to the fireplace.

"I'm so sorry for all of this, had no idea they would be here today."

"Don't worry, I don't blame you and Ron barely opened his mouth, so it didn't turn out so bad." My remark makes her smile. "Good evening Hermione."

"Good evening Sean"

And with that we slip away in a green flame bringing us home.

---------- POV Molly ----------

I look at the young boy who has just left in the fireplace and the young girl who is still staring at the ashes when he is no longer there.

"My poor little Ginny, it's time for you to up your game if you want to have this boy, the competition has already started."

Ginny looks at me, blushing from head to toe.