Evening,
6:06 PM,
London, W1 District,
No. 7, Charing Cross Street, West.
A black Ford pulled into the driveway.
Roy Stark stepped out of the car, dressed in his usual charcoal-gray checkered shirt, khaki pants, and Cordovan loafers. He called out toward the house, "William, come help me with these! I've brought back some excellent wine from the Leaky Cauldron."
Almost immediately, a small orange head poked out from the second-floor balcony and meowed down to him, clearly asking if he'd brought any snacks.
Roy wagged his finger at the ginger cat and gave it a mock warning.
"Not a chance, Boba Tea! I tell you, keep eating like this, and you'll be as round as a pumpkin! , You're coming to the gym with me tomorrow, and we'll get that belly down to size!"
But before he could finish, another head peeked out from the marble-railed balcony.
This one belonged to a ten-year-old girl with her hair in two playful buns and dressed in a floral dress. In her hand, she waved a toy wand.
"Hi, Dad!"
"Hello, Annie, but…don't tell me you've snuck back into your brother's room?" Roy frowned at her.
"How many times have I told you not to fiddle with his strange things? Last time, a balloon exploded in a cloud of smoke, and we nearly had the fire department here!"
"And put that wand away—the guests will be here soon. Where's your brother?"
"I'll go find him! I think he's down in the basement brewing potions," she said, sticking her tongue out playfully as she grabbed her skirt and darted back inside.
Her footsteps faded as she disappeared down the hall, her voice ringing out, "Come on, Boba Tea, let's go on an adventure in the basement!"
Boba Tea took a few seconds to consider, then lazily trotted along, short legs wobbling as it followed her.
Roy laughed and shook his head, looking exasperated yet amused.
A few minutes later, the door swung open, and out walked a twelve-year-old boy.
William was dressed in a short-sleeved shirt and light jeans.
His thick brown hair and well-defined features hinted at a strong, athletic frame—a look achieved only through long hours of fitness training.
"Back from Diagon Alley again, Dad?" he asked with a calm smile.
"Sure am. Got these wines thanks to Tom's connections; he brought them in from overseas. There's a touch of orange-flavored Felicitas Potion in them, and I've already sampled one—the taste is superb."
Though Roy wasn't a heavy drinker, he enjoyed a good wine on quiet evenings alone.
He wasn't a wizard, but over the past year, his growing knowledge of the magical world made him an expert on things William had yet to master. He could now talk at length about Diagon Alley's fine spirits, listing them off with enthusiasm.
"My old college buddy, Eris, hasn't tasted these yet, so tonight I'm planning to open his eyes," Roy said with a grin.
Eris Granger was Roy's university classmate. They'd studied in the same field, graduated together, and both pursued the lucrative career of dentistry.
Eris had spent years in Manchester until relocating to London with his family last year.
William vaguely remembered meeting Eris when he was much younger, though the memory was hazy.
Over Easter, Eris had visited again with his family, but William had been busy "saving the wizarding world" at Hogwarts. So this would be William's first time seeing his dad's friend since crossing into this new world.
"Drinking and driving isn't allowed, is it?" William raised an eyebrow.
"Ah, but that's easily fixed," Roy said with a sly grin. "You brewed that quick-recovery elixir last month, remember? We can drink to our hearts' content, then take a dose afterward—it keeps the blood alcohol levels well within the limit."
William was left speechless, Roy was more than enough to become the new Muggle Studies professor at Hogwarts.
"Come on, help me carry these things in," Roy called, beckoning him over. "Got a crate of drinks and snacks here—all from that little shop on Diagon Alley."
Though underage wizards couldn't use magic at home, potions sometimes proved even handier than wands.
From his pocket, William pulled out a small purple bottle and tipped a single drop of rose-scented liquid onto his tongue.
—Strengthening Solution.
On the surface, he looked no different, but he hefted two large crates with ease as if they were as light as feathers.
Roy gave an approving whistle as they walked toward the house, his excitement evident.
The scent of various dishes filled the living room.
Every surface gleamed: copper pots and pans radiated a rosy sheen, the wooden tabletop sparkled, and plates and glasses sparkled under the warm lights.
Leanna set down a dish of braised vegetables and handed Roy a fruit pie, topped with syrup and berries.
With everything laid out, Roy opened a bottle of Firewhiskey and placed it at the table's center, alongside a few choice appetizers.
At 6:25, the sound of tires crunching on the driveway signaled the arrival of their guests.
"Oh, there they are." Roy stood up, gathering Leanna, the two kids, and one particularly round cat as they went outside to greet their visitors.
A Dodge RAM—a car practically made for muscle-bound men—was parked in the driveway.
Sure enough, a tall, brawny man with a head of curly brown hair climbed out, a gift in one hand and a smile on his face.
"Hey, Roy, long time no see."
Roy strode over, and the two exchanged a quick fist bump before embracing.
Not long after, a striking woman with curly blond hair stepped out, wearing a long dress. Then a younger girl climbed out from the back seat.
The girl clutched a massive Encyclopedia Britannica to her chest, her bushy brown hair wild and untamed.
Annie cast the girl a mischievous look, as though she'd already prepared some "special gifts" for her.
Eris and his family had come over for Easter, and William recalled that Annie hadn't exactly gotten along with the girl last time.
"Well, then!" Roy gave William a nudge forward. "Come say hello to Uncle Eris and Aunt Emma."
William quickly greeted them, his tone light and polite.
Eris gave him an approving pat on the shoulder. "My, haven't you grown! William, this is my daughter…come on, Hermione!"
The girl peeked out from behind Eris, her wild mane framing a curious face, eyes darting between the new people.
Hermione…wait, that Hermione?
William squinted at the girl, looking closer.
He didn't remember Harry Potter's storyline too well, but he certainly remembered the "Golden Trio," so there was no mistakig a name like Hermione.
But was this the same Hermione Granger?
The girl before him did fit the description—frizzy hair, slightly large front teeth, even a set of braces. Surely, it was just a coincidence, right?
Annie suddenly tugged on William's shirt, as if she wanted to tell him something.
Hermione, meanwhile, gave Annie a quick, disdainful glance, then lifted her chin, giving the smallest, smug "hmph."
The tension between the two was palpable.
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