"Sean, this is a lie..."
Raymond and Alice continued to persuade Sean, but his decision was firm and unchanging. Despite his reluctance, Sean knew he had no choice but to attend Hogwarts. The looming threat of Voldemort and his Death Eaters in London made it clear that staying was not an option.
Running away wasn't Sean's style. Besides, fleeing was only a temporary solution. His billions in assets were in the UK, and he couldn't tolerate the thought of wizards wielding magic around him unchecked. One bad day, and an Avada Kedavra could end everything.
Sean needed power to protect himself and his family. With strength in hand, he could stand tall and face any threat.
Amid the chatter of his parents, Sean shook his head and walked to the door. When he returned, he was holding a large owl.
"Sean! Put it down! It's going to hurt you!" Alice exclaimed, covering her mouth in shock.
Sean's eleven-year-old frame struggled to hold the owl. He placed it on the sofa with effort and sighed in relief. "Don't worry, this is the postman from Hogwarts. Raymond, get some food for it while I write a reply."
Sean headed to the study, retrieved a pen and paper, and sat at the dining table to write. Raymond, meanwhile, went to the kitchen, cut some raw meat into pieces, and cautiously brought it to the owl's mouth. The owl, with its white fur and specks of gray, looked adorable despite its size. Raymond was still wary, but Alice, noticing the owl's calm demeanor, began to pet it.
The owl seemed to enjoy Alice's touch, closing its eyes in contentment. "My God, Raymond, maybe we should get an owl as a pet!"
Raymond, still uneasy, replied, "Don't worry, Mom. When I go to school, I'll get you another one."
Sean sealed the envelope and handed it to the owl. The owl took its time, pulling out a gold Galleon from its feathers and placing it in front of Alice before picking up the letter and flying out the window.
"This..." Alice was bewildered.
Sean explained nonchalantly, "Meals, coins in the wizarding world, made of gold."
"Oh my God! It even pays for meals. It's... so cute!"
"Sean, can you really buy this owl?" Alice asked, her eyes sparkling with hope.
Sean nodded. "I'll buy it for you, Mom. But today is the 28th, and the train ticket attached to the letter is for the 31st. We have only three days. I need to hurry."
"Mom, I'm going to Diagon Alley tomorrow. It's a wizard's market. Do you want to come?"
Alice, excited by the idea, nodded eagerly. Sean smiled, ready to leave when Raymond grabbed his arm.
"Sean, you won't go without me, will you?"
Sean laughed, and Alice joined in, leaving Raymond confused.
The Next Morning
After breakfast, the Sebastian family got into the car with a box of pounds prepared by the butler, Seth.
"Okay, here it is," Sean said, looking at the Axe Bar. He took a deep breath.
Raymond and Alice looked around, puzzled. "There's nothing here," Raymond remarked.
Sean remembered the Muggle repelling charm around the Broken Axe. He took his parents' hands and led them towards a seemingly solid wall. Their eyes widened in shock as they approached.
The scene shifted, revealing a dark, damp bar. The patrons didn't pay much attention to their arrival. Sean spotted a small door leading to Diagon Alley but approached the bar first, placing the Galleon on the counter.
"There's no drink for children here," the bartender said gruffly.
"I'm going to Diagon Alley. Please open the door. Here's a tip," Sean responded.
"Oh! A new student at Hogwarts. Why don't you open the door yourself?" The bartender's face appeared from behind the counter, scrutinizing Sean.
Sean shrugged. "As you can see, I come from a Muggle family."
The bartender laughed, a strange, unsettling sound, and pointed across the room. "You're not a Muggle. Muggles don't know Diagon Alley. See that family over there? That's a Muggle family."
Sean followed the bartender's gaze and saw a familiar sight: Hermione Granger and her parents standing helplessly. Their eyes met, and Sean waved them over.
"Tom, can you open the door for me?" Sean asked, addressing the bartender by name.
Tom's eyes widened in surprise. He pocketed the Galleon and said, "I knew you weren't a Muggle family. I'm happy to serve you, young master."
Tom led them through the small door and tapped the wall in a specific pattern. The bricks rearranged themselves, revealing the entrance to Diagon Alley.
As they stepped through, Hermione's father, Wendell, introduced himself. "Thank you very much. My name is Wendell Granger, and this is my wife and daughter."
Raymond shook his hand, smiling. "I'm Raymond Sebastian."
The Grangers' expressions changed to shock. Hermione gasped, "Are you the Sebastian family? The ones who started out in arms?"
Realizing her faux pas, Hermione blushed and looked down.
Raymond laughed, easing the tension. "Yes, that's us. It's nice to meet fellow parents of a new Hogwarts student."
The families shared a moment of connection, their children's future bound together by the threads of magic and destiny. Diagon Alley stretched before them, filled with wonders waiting to be discovered.