After my talk with Sirius, I headed back home and saw Hedwig holding a letter.
'Hi Aedan,
I know you said to try and tough out aunt Marge's visit, but I just couldn't take it when she was insulting my parents, so I accidentally inflated her in front of everyone. The Minister said I'm not in trouble, but he was acting weird and wouldn't tell me why.
Anyway, I'm in Leakey Cauldron like you suggested and I plan to get all my shopping done then wait for Hermione and Ron.
Harry.'
I gave Hedwig a few treats and let her fly back to the kid.
'It really did happen huh. Well everything should be on track at the moment, I'll just have to see how Sirius handles the year now that he has some rationality.' I thought as i folded the letter.
The next day I decided I should visit the boy, in order to keep my word to him.
I showed up in a casual white t-shirt and jeans, with a loose ponytail. I didn't do anything fancy or difficult, but I kept getting stares of wariness, amazement, jealousy and lust. I could feel them, but I'm just use to it but on a grander level at Hogwarts.
I casually sat at the bar and just drank some butterbeer while I waited for Harry.
When I was almost done my drink, the kid finally came downstairs.
"Aedan! You came." He said as he rushed towards me.
"Well yeah. Not everyday stuff like that happens. Happy they didn't do anything against the accidental magic. They shouldn't generally though. It's uncommon for people over the age of eleven, but it can still happen at intense moments, It'll happen all the time in younger kids. So the Ministry is actually used to taking care of things. They mostly care more when intentional magic, casted through a wand or other means, is used on or around muggles." I explain to the kid.
"That's a relief. So are you gonna bring me back? You said I should at least spend my nights there." He asked, hopeful to hear a good answer.
"No. It can't happen during this summer anymore, but you did enough. I know what type of people they are and it seems like I'll have to talk to them again. Anyway, it's only about a week away from the 1st, so just relax here while you can and wait for Ron and Hermione." I say as i ruffle is somehow always messy hair. Although he never admitted it, I can always see him relax a bit when I do it.
"That's brilliant." He said with a sigh of relief.
"Yeah, so you'll have the week off basically. You've done your homework well, practiced and trained during the summer, so just relax and have a bit of fun in the wizarding world." I say with a bright smile to the boy.
"Really? Wicked!" He cheered in a small celebration.
"Alright, well since I'm here I was going to check the shop. It's been a while because I've been focusing on opening the second one lately, so this will be good." I say with a chuckle at his reaction.
"Can I come too?" He asked when he heard.
"You want to see the brooms again don't you?" I said with a knowing smile.
"Yeah. I can't help it. They're just so good! How are you so good at everything?" He exclaimed with some envy.
"A lot of studying, trial and error, training, support, ingenuity and drive." I answered the kid seriously. "So come on, I now have to prepare the bucket you'll drool in on top of checking the place out." I tease as I got up and paid for the Butterbeer.
"Hey! I don't drool over it!" He tried to defend himself in embarrassment.
"Hahaha! Say that to the puddle you left last time." I joked with a hearty laugh, with a slightly red Harry following me.
The week quickly passed for me since I was working on a tricky project the whole time. I needed dragon fire for my ritual, and there's no way in hell I'll be able to have four dragons simultaneously breath fire around me. To even get to that step I would need four dragons in extremely close proximity to one another, so gotta work around that.
I'm basically making a container and preserver. The first part is pretty easy for me. Just use a strongly protected metal box which activated an immensely powerful suction when a great source of heat nears it. Then you seal it and done. But what's hard is that I need to maintain the fire, so I need a way to keep dragon flames going for at least two days. One day to have someone go to the dragon and collect some fire and the other to properly prepare in a calm and steady manner.
It was then once again time to depart for Hogwarts. Susan and I said our goodbyes and boarded the Hogwarts Express.
I quickly found an empty cabin and properly put my stuff away. I sat down just in time for a beautiful Victory to come in, wearing a simple dark green summer dress, which hugged her nicely developed curves, with the necklace I had gotten for her still holding its prominent position around her neck, her black and slightly wavy hair resting on her shoulders, emphasizing her noble feature and beautiful emerald eyes.
She quickly stowed away her things, locked the door, obscured the windows and pounced on me.
"I missed you." She said softly as she pressed her lips on mine hungrily, as our tongues greeted each other.
"I can tell. Now let me show you how much a missed you." I responded after getting a small breather and having my turn on the offensive.
We continued for about a sweet half-hour until I could feel our friends reaching the platform, forcing us to separate. Now they know we are together, but we don't like doing this kind of stuff in front of them and it helps to keep it a secret.
Our two friends joined us and we talked about our summers to one another.
"You guys wouldn't believe how great the Scamander's house is. They've got an entire reserve in his basement filled with a bunch of different beasts. It was so fun to play and take care of them all. He's even invited me next summer to learn from him again!" Said our very energetic Christian.
"That's great mate. Learning from The Newt Scamander is a dream for any magizoologist, I'm sure it'll help you tremendously. Might even get the new grade I created on your NEWT's next year." I say as I pat his back.
"Yes, from what I've read about the man he is truly close to his creatures and believes for the betterment of their care. It will do you a lot of good to be around him and not just following your parents in the wilderness." Said our Saintly James.
"He's even participated in the taking down of Gellert Grindelwald back in the day. So he should have a lot of interesting to stories to share. I've also heard he's not really welcome in America due to him somehow losing a bunch of creatures in New York or something." Added my Tory.
"Yeah he's the best. So what about you guys?" He asked with a bright smile.
"Aedan was incredibly generous as he's given me the opportunity to start learning Goblin Smithing arts. I've begun learning many things which I'm unfortunately unable to say due to a vow, but this has been incredibly fulfilling. They like that I am respectful and talented. Though they do wish I was a bit more bloodthirsty apparently. Oh, did you know they call Aedan Bones-Crusher in their city?" He suddenly asked as he explained his summer, getting my two other friends to very quickly look at me for an explanation.
"It's nothing, just a goblin name I received when I was a kid. I participated in a fighting tournament to get more experience and they stubbornly wanted to experience my full strength and test their trained bodies against my fist. So I did proper punches and ended up breaking the bones of anyone who wanted to challenge me." I explained embarrassingly.
"Hahahahahaha haha Ha! That's great! Why'd you never say anything? Oh! Is that why you always look like you're trying to be careful and gentle?" Realized a laughing Christian
"Yeah, if I'm not careful with most things I'll break them, so I'm always paying attention to everything around me." I said while scratching the back of my head.
"Hmmm. Sounds like you could be quite the beast." Seductively whispered Victoria in my ear, causing my imagination to run wild for a bit.
"But yes, it was a wonderful summer and i now get what that ring of yours mean. It frankly unbelievable you are a true friend of the goblin nation. And I was told to pass you a message Aedan." Continued James.
"From who?" I asked curiously.
"They wouldn't tell me, but they said that they are almost ready. Do you understand it?" He asked with a calm curiosity.
"Oh I understand it alright. That's very exciting news indeed." I say with a very excited smile.
"So what's almost ready mate?" Asked a very curious Christian.
"A special piece I ordered. Looking forward to the finished product." I replied with my smile still plastering my face.
"So a new toy then?" Added in Victoria.
"Something like that. I'll show it to you guys when i actually get it." I reply, to which they nod.
"What about you Victoria? Any progress?" Then asked James to our female member.
"Yeah I'm making headway. The books you sent me have helped tremendously Aedan. I couldn't have possibly guessed that muggle medicine was so advanced. I was very happy that you kept sending me the things I was looking for. It probably saved me a decade of researching minimum because we haven't studied the brain nearly as much as we should. We haven't studied much of anything that really happens inside of us as we should. It has opened a completely new door for me and my magic." She excitedly explained as she looked at me with tender eyes.
"Anything I can do to help." I say as I squeeze her hand.
"That's so sick! Tory's becoming a super matron, James is going to be the best enchanter in existence and I'm going to be the best magizoologist on the planet! So what were you up to to shock the world this summer O mighty Raven?" Asked Christian in an exaggerated manner.
"Aside from my grades, I've become an animagus and I've released four books to really rattle how things are at the moment." I say as if it was a simply matter.
"You're an animagus! You've got to teach me! Pretty please mate." Suddenly begged Christian.
"I would also like to have that ability, but have you registered yet? I haven't heard of any new animagus making the news." Asked a concerned James.
"And knowing you, those books are going to make quite the splash aren't they?" Asked Victoria with an excited smile. It always gives her immense pride and happiness when her man shows his immense abilities, because even him showing a hint of what he can really do is enough to shock everyone. It also excites her to know he can rock the world so easily.
"To go in order: yes I can guide you, I'm actually mentioning it because I want to help you all become ones as well, no I haven't registered yet because I wanted to do it with you guys, and of course my books are going to cause a splash, I've been preparing for their release for years." I answer with pride.
"You're still the best mate!" Happily said Christian.
"I wonder what animal I would turn into?" James questioned himself.
"Another skill to learn is never a bad thing." Tory said mostly to herself.
"Usually your animagus form will be hinted at by your Patronus." I say to the three of them.
Victoria actually has a Hippogriff so it could be tricky, Christian is a wolf, and James is a freaking dove like the nickname wasn't enough.
'It will be interesting to see the final result of their transformations' I thought to myself.
"Alright, I think we chatted enough, we are all prefects and whatnot, so let's get changed and head to our carriage." I declare to break everyone out of their merriment at the thought of becoming animagi.