Introduction to the wizarding world
“-so like, I was just wondering if you could... you know... be less.... chaotic?” Skull asked carefully.
Reborn raised an eyebrow at the purple haired teen as the two of them walked through the streets of London.
”...less chaotic?” Reborn asked in amusement. Skull flailed his arms, Oodako, who was atop Skull’s head, did the with his tentacles.
”I mean, like, well,” Skull stuttered around for words, and Reborn made an amused sound.
”Very well, I shall do my best to be... less chaotic,” Reborn said, and Skull gave a relieved sigh.
”Oh, we’re here,” Skull hummed. Then he promptly veered off the streets and... disappeared. Reborn froze, looking around. Then Skull reappeared.
”What are you waiting for Senpai? Wait... ah.”
A look of realisation appeared on his face, and he face palmed, groaning. “How could I forget...? Senpai, this might sound like an odd request, but please close your eyes and grab onto me.”
Reborn raised a sceptical eyebrow at the purple haired ex-Acrobaleno.
”Excuse me?” he asked.
”I know, it sounds weird,” Skull grimaced. “But, uh, you’re a muggle. Not a wizard or witch of vampire or- well, you get the idea. So uh, there’s a bunch of anti-muggle charms and spells around the entrance to Diagon Alley. You might get a little... sick, if you just stride into the place.”
Reborn looked at the abnormally serious Skull, then sighed and closed his eyes, reaching out a hand and grabbed Skull’s hand.
”Can we get going now?” Reborn asked in irritation.
”Yes!” Skull squeaked, and Reborn stumbled a little as he was pulled gently towards his left. They walked for a bit, and Reborn suddenly felt a wave of warmth, and Skull cleared his throat. “Uh, we’re here, Reborn-Senpai.”
Reborn opened his eyes and looked around. The place... didn’t look very impressive. Until he noticed the subtly little quirks. The odd picture that moved and smiled. A women mixing her tea with a spoon without touching said spoon. The newspaper being read by a man that had strange advertisements selling broomsticks and wands.
He was almost too absorbed in observing the strangeness he almost didn’t notice the barkeeper heading towards them. Almost. The barkeeper gave a toothless grin.
”Hello, hello, table for two?” he asked.
”Ah, no,” Skull said. “We need to get to Diagon Alley please, Tom.”
Tom nodded, grinning.
”Nice to see young fella’s like you unashamed of your sexuality,” he said, winking.
Reborn blinked, then glanced down at his and Skull’s still entwined hands. Skull noticed too and flushed a deep, bright red.
”No!” he squeaked, quickly letting go. “No- um, that’s not- oh Merlin, this is a misunderstanding!”
Tom chuckled, nodding.
”Course it is. Anyway, you know where to go?” he asked. Skull nodded, still flushed red in embarrassment.
”Come on Senpai,” Skull mumbled, hurrying away quickly. Reborn glanced at the old barkeeper, before following the flustered teen, and shoving what’d happened into the back of his mind... as well as the strange feeling that’d emerged when Skull had denied the misunderstanding.
They arrived at a bar cellar, and Reborn sighed.
”If I have to close my eyes again-”
”No!” Skull yelped, shaking his head vigorously. “No, hold on, ok? Just, ah, found it.”
Reborn watched as Skull frowned at the wall in front of him. Reborn, Leon and Oodako watched curiously as Skull mumbled something to himself, and began tapping bricks. “Mm, from the trash can... three up... two across... and there.”
Skull stepped back and Reborn watched with wide eyes, that he quickly got rid of, as the walls crumbled and seemed to fold into itself, revealing a bustling place full of colour and people. Skull grinned at Reborn’s momentary awe. “Welcome, Senpai! To Diagon Alley!”
Some time later...
Skull hummed to himself as he and Reborn and their familiars entered the dusty old shop.
”Hello!” he called loudly, and three people jumped, turning to the newcomers. The people who’d come in first nodded at the old man, who appeared to be the owner of the shop, and exited quickly. The old man smiled.
”Hello, here for a new wand?” he asked. Skull hummed and nodded. “Mind, who are you young man? I don’t recall selling you your wand,” the man said. Skull grinned.
”Well, technically you didn’t. I consider myself someone else from my younger self. But my first wand broke in a, ah, accident.”
”I see, and do you remember the wand’s components? It may make this easier.”
”Eh, yeah. But seeing as I’ve changed, I don’t think it’ll help much.”
”Let’s hear it first.”
Skull nodded and glanced at Reborn and said, “You might want to take a seat, Senpai. Last time I came here, it took my about half an hour to find my first wand.”
Reborn raised an eyebrow, but nodded and sat down on a creaking chair all the same. Skull turned back to Ollivander. “Right, my first wand... to my memory was... 10 inches, pretty flexible. Albus wood. Unicorn core.”
Ollivander stared at Skull for a while, then nodded, smiling.
”Ah, I see. You’re him, aren’t you? Have you found what you’re looking for?” he asked softly. Skull gave the man a smile, scratching Oodako who was atop his head.
”Yes, I think I have.”
They exchanged smiles, which Reborn found rather infuriating. Ollivander clapped his hands once loudly.
”I think I have just the wand for you,” he said and bustled off somewhere.
...it turned out he didn’t. In the end, there were eight broken wands piled in the corner, half the counter had been blown up, several lights had been busted, and Reborn was now on his feet, warily eyeing the Cloud. Skull grimaced.
”Sorry,” he said and Ollivander shook his head
”No, no... I’m sure there’s a wand out there somewhere...” he said, looking close to crying. Then an idea seemed to hit him. “Oh! Wait here a moment.”
He want off again and Skull and Reborn waited, and then Ollivander came back, holding a dusty, dark purple box. However, the old man held the thin box warily, like it could combust at any given moment. Skull watched him with curiosity.
”Mr. Ollivander? Are you alright?” Skull asked.
”Ah, I’m fine. It’s just... this wand inside was more of a... experiment than anything. Something I made back in my prime days out of curiosity. Here...”
Ollivander held out the wand to Skull carefully, looking at him warily. “Eleven inches,” Ollivander stated. “The core is from the feather of a Feng Huang, or in Japanese; Hou-ou. Very rigid. And the wood...”
Ollivander grimaced. “When I was younger I wondered what would happen if I combined different woods together. This was the result. The wood is combined of ebony, ash, cedar and dogwood.”
Skull hesitated for a second, and then grabbed the handle of the wood. Purple flames flickered and the room darkened. Reborn looked around warily, and Ollivander gaped in awe. Then the moment ended and Skull set the wand back into its box.
”Well, I think I found my wand,” Skull said, his voice rather high. “How much do I owe you?”
Even later...
Skull slumped into his chair, groaning as he put his feet up onto the table.
”Thank Merlin that’s over,” he sighed. Reborn glanced at him.
You were the one dragging me around everywhere,” he pointed out, and Skull pouted.
”Details,” he humphed. Reborn resisted the urge to reach out and ruffle the teens hair, and instead cleared his throat.
”So where are we supposed to go tomorrow?” he asked, and Skull hummed.
”Well, the letter said nothing about where we were said to go... so, I think we should just go to Kings Cross Station,” he said.
”...Kings Cross Station? Why?”
”Well, Platform 9 and 3/4 is there of course! Ah, you run between 9 and 10 to get there. Either that, or we could just Floo there. Floo Travel is where you travel through fireplaces. But I think we’ll take the train,” Skull said, nodding to himself.
Reborn gave up trying to understand and just nodded along.