Alex waited patiently in the conference room, his fingers drumming lightly on the table. The atmosphere in the lab was a mix of tension and excitement.
After several minutes, Dr. Cook returned, his expression a mix of amazement and urgency.
"Mr. Anderson," Dr. Cook began, his voice filled with respect, "I've just been instructed by the Minister himself. Tomorrow at one o'clock in the afternoon, you are to attend your honorary citizenship and allegiance ceremony at Buckingham Palace. Her Majesty the Queen will personally recognize you for your contributions to science."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Honorary citizenship? What does that entail?"
Dr. Cook adjusted his glasses. "It's a rare and significant honor. An honorary citizen is someone who is recognized for extraordinary contributions to the nation or humanity. While it doesn't grant the full rights of a native-born citizen, it does allow you certain privileges, such as residency and the ability to own property. Tomorrow's ceremony will be conducted with great formality: you'll swear an oath of allegiance in the presence of Her Majesty and receive a ceremonial document as a symbol of your status."
Alex nodded thoughtfully. "Very well. Thank you for arranging this so quickly, Dr. Cook."
After exchanging pleasantries, Alex left the lab and returned to his hotel. His thoughts, however, were on Harry Potter.
The boy had faced Voldemort alone last night and was likely still recovering. Determined to do something kind for him, Alex decided to go shopping.
The sun was still high in the sky as Alex strolled through the streets, browsing various shops. He ordered a custom-made suit for himself, for his use tomorrow.
He purchased snacks and several sets of modern, comfortable clothing for Harry and Ron, including sneakers for Ron.
For Hermione, he crafted something unique: a pair of gold drop earrings with diamond cat heads, modern yet charmingly magical in design.
Satisfied with his purchases, Alex made his way to Diagon Alley. After a brief visit to the Owl Post Office, he sent the gifts to Hogwarts, paying more than a galleon for expedited delivery.
With his errands complete, he returned to the hotel to prepare for the next day's event.
Meanwhile, at Hogwarts, the Great Hall buzzed with celebration as students marked the end of the school year.
Gryffindor was ecstatic, having won the House Cup. The cheerful chatter was interrupted when several owls swooped in, delivering packages.
"Who's sending posts now?" a student muttered, glancing at the unexpected deliveries.
"Isn't it a bit late for mail? We're leaving tomorrow," another added.
The largest package landed in front of Harry, a smaller one dropped near Ron, and another, neatly wrapped, was placed before Hermione.
"Who's sending you stuff, Harry?" asked Seamus, leaning over to peek.
Harry read the label on the package and looked up, astonished. "It's from Mr. Alex!"
"Mr. Alex? That man who saved the unicorn?" Neville asked curiously.
Encouraged by the Gryffindors, Harry opened the package. Inside, he found neatly folded outdoor and indoor clothes. On top was a letter, which he read aloud:
Dear Mr. Potter,
I commend you for your bravery in facing the Dark Lord alone, and also I congratulate your house for winning the House Cup. I invite you to accompany me on visiting some places this summer. Since you will be on vacation from school, I would like to invite you to travel with me.
-Sincerely, Alex
Ron's jaw dropped. "Wicked! You're going to travel with him? I bet he's got some amazing places in mind!"
As Harry processed the invitation, Ron eagerly tore into his package. Inside were a pair of sneakers, some casual modern clothes, and chocolates. "Awesome!" Ron exclaimed.
Hermione opened hers more carefully. Inside was a letter with the words 'Congratulations, witty!' accompanied by a small winking character next to Alex's name.
She felt a pang of disappointment at not being invited like Harry but gasped when she opened the box.
"Oh my…" Hermione held up the gold drop earrings, the diamond cat heads sparkling brilliantly under the light. The girls around her let out envious murmurs.
"They're exquisite!" Parvati said, her eyes wide with admiration.
"How much do you think those are worth?" Lavender asked, awe in her voice.
"Probably a lot." Another Gryffindor commented.
Hermione blushed, gently placing the earrings back in their box. Her earlier disappointment faded into gratitude as she thought about Alex's thoughtful gesture.
With that, the school year at Hogwarts came to a close as students packed their trunks and prepared for their journey home.
Harry felt a mix of excitement and worry. Though he had replied to Alex's invitation the night before and agreed to go, he couldn't help but worry, his Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon might not agree with his decision to leave the Dursleys house.
Harry hoped to avoid spending the vacation cooped up at their house, enduring their harsh treatment and neglect once again.