Chapter 13

As Ethan left the Ministry, completely unaware of the plot surrounding his family, he felt a strange tug in his gut—a faint sense that something was off. It wasn't anything strong, more like a whisper from his family's magic. *Something's wrong,* he thought, though it didn't seem urgent, just a distant echo.

*What does this even mean?* he wondered. *Is my magic trying to warn me?* But the feeling wasn't overwhelming, just a mild unease. He shrugged it off for now, deciding to wait and see if anything actually happened. The sensation wasn't strong enough to make him panic, but it did make him curious about how exactly his family's magic worked.

*I know it's got to do with luck,* he thought. *Does it give me a heads-up when something's coming? Or is it just passive, making me luckier than most people?* Maybe it's like those protagonists in stories who always have good fortune on their side at just the right moment. Or maybe it's something else entirely. He figured he'd test that out later. Right now, he had more immediate things to deal with.

First on his list—new clothes. He couldn't keep walking around in wizard robes, especially in the middle of London. And to be honest, 1970s fashion didn't appeal to him either. He needed something that wouldn't make him stand out too much, but also didn't feel like it was trapped in this era. Maybe Madam Malkin could hook him up with some custom pieces later, but today, he needed something simple.

As Ethan stepped out of the Ministry and onto the busy streets, the noise and energy of London hit him all at once. Cars honked, buses rumbled by, and people rushed along the sidewalks, completely absorbed in their own lives. It was overwhelming in a way that Diagon Alley never was. The magical world was chaotic too, but in a more familiar, quirky way. London, though? This was a different kind of chaos—fast, loud, and constant.

He fell into the flow of the crowd, moving with the steady stream of people as they went about their day. His goal was simple: he needed clothes to blend in better. Oxford Street wasn't too far, and it was known for having every kind of shop you could think of, so he headed in that direction.

After walking for a bit, something familiar caught his eye: *Levi's*. *Jeans. Yeah, that'll work*, he thought. Jeans were timeless, and they'd definitely help him blend in better than wizard robes. Plus, they were a staple of future fashion too, so it was a win either way.

He walked into the shop and started browsing through the racks. A pair of black jeans caught his eye first—classic and understated. They wouldn't stand out too much, not even in 2022. He grabbed a couple more pairs in different colors—one in the standard blue denim, and even a pair in white. Next, he picked out some simple shirts: black, white, navy, and dark blue. Nothing fancy, just solid basics that would do the job.

He added some underwear and socks to his pile and looked around for shoes, but couldn't find anything he liked. After paying for the clothes, he packed them into bags and stepped back outside. The city felt just as busy as it had before, but now at least he had some clothes that wouldn't make him stick out.

Still, he needed shoes. He wandered around for a while longer, searching for something decent. After what felt like hours of walking through side streets and alleys, Ethan was starting to get frustrated. *Nikes should be around by now, right?* But no luck. Eventually, he stumbled across a shop that sold black leather shoes. They weren't sneakers, but they were decent enough for now—simple, sharp, and versatile enough to wear with just about anything.

Satisfied for the moment, he bought the shoes and headed out, bags in hand. It wasn't the perfect setup, but it would do for now. He could always come back later and pick up more stuff. For the time being, he had enough clothes to blend in comfortably and not draw too much attention.

After walking for a while longer, Ethan spotted an alleyway tucked away near a small shop. He slipped inside, away from the busy street, and set his bags down. He opened his trunk, which had been charmed with an extension charm to carry more than it appeared. One by one, he packed away the clothes he'd just bought, making sure everything was neatly stowed. It felt good to have things organized and out of the way.

With that done, he left the alley and continued his walk, only to realize just how hungry he was. He hadn't eaten in hours, and the feeling was starting to catch up with him. He scanned the street for somewhere quick to grab a bite and soon spotted a fish and chips shop wedged between two larger buildings. Perfect.

He stepped inside, the smell of frying fish filling the air. He ordered a portion of fish and chips for one and grabbed a Coca-Cola from the cooler. Once his food arrived, he found a small table by the window and sat down, eager to dig in.

Taking a sip of the drink, his eyes widened in surprise. *This tastes different,* he thought. Then it hit him. *Oh, right. In the 1970s, Coca-Cola still had traces of cocaine in it.* He chuckled to himself, shaking his head. No wonder it tasted so good—it was probably a lot more addictive back then. He made a mental note to watch how much of it he drank.

The food was exactly what he needed. Crispy, greasy fish and salty chips, all washed down with the surprisingly strong-tasting Coke. After finishing his meal, he wiped his hands clean, downed the rest of his drink, and left the shop, feeling a bit more energized.

Checking the time, he realized it was around 1 p.m. *Good. I've still got time,* he thought, as he started heading back toward the Leaky Cauldron. He wanted to spend the rest of the afternoon working on Occlumency. He needed to start protecting his mind, and there was no better time to practice.

As he walked back through London, retracing his steps toward Charing Cross, the streets felt a little more familiar. He reached the hidden entrance to Diagon Alley, tapping the bricks with his wand to enter. The alley was just as lively as ever, with witches and wizards going about their business. After navigating through the crowded street, he made his way into the Leaky Cauldron and gave a nod to Tom, who stood behind the bar. Without wasting time, Ethan went straight up to his room.

Once inside, he set down his bags and took a deep breath. *Alright. Time to meditate,* he thought. Occlumency wasn't going to master itself. He needed to start practicing clearing his mind, focusing, and eventually building up the defenses he'd need to keep his thoughts protected.

Ethan sat down on the floor, crossed his legs, and closed his eyes. He'd read that Occlumency was all about control—being able to calm your mind, push away distractions, and organize your thoughts. But even though he'd read the theory, actually doing it was another story.

As soon as he tried to focus, random thoughts kept popping up. *Did I get enough clothes?* *What was that weird feeling from earlier?* *I wonder how long it'll take to master this...* It was frustrating, but he knew it was all part of the process. Keeping his mind blank wasn't going to be easy.

After what felt like an hour, he opened his eyes. The clock told him it had only been about 20 minutes. *This is going to take time,* he thought with a sigh. But it was worth it. Occlumency was crucial for keeping his mind safe, especially given everything going on. He'd keep at it. 

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