Hogwarts: What wicked thoughts could a little wizard possibly have?

Chapter 5 Diagon Alley

But Ron rallied the next day.

Unlike usual, he didn't sleep in. He finished washing up before dawn, then cuddled up on the sofa in the living room with Banban in his arms, startling Molly who got up later.

"Merlin's socks, Ron, what are you doing hiding here?"

Ron stammered and tried to cover it up until the twins, who had gotten up early to clean the garden, came out and told their mother the truth.

"Ron is sucking up to Vaughn!"

"That's right, we overheard Vaughn saying yesterday that he wanted to get his Christmas present early this year—a new wand."

"Yes, George, your repetition is very accurate. It seems our silly little brother isn't so stupid after all; he knows to treat his sugar daddy with respect."

"But he's still not being honest enough, Fred; he's even afraid to tell his mother!"

"Yes, George, silly little brother, your useless pride."

The twins, one after the other, made a joke, which made Ron furious. He then skipped and hopped out of the house.

Vaughn was awakened by their cheers.

When he woke up, the sunlight had already crossed Weasel Mountain, casting dappled stripes through the window. Ginny was still fast asleep in his arms.

Last night, she came to me with a storybook, and Vaughn read her fairy tales for at least an hour before finally putting her to sleep.

This is also one of the reasons why the siblings are so close. Bill and Charlie left home to work early, Percy never had the patience for anything other than studying, and Fred and George were as lively as monkeys all day long.

Only Ron and Vaughn were willing to tell Ginny stories. Of course, Ron only told stories that interested him, so Ginny had long since stopped paying attention to him!

Vaughn got up, dressed, and opened the window. He saw old Errol flapping his aged wings, hopping and skipping through the garden weeds and bushes, driving out goblins that were only a foot tall, brownish-yellow, with huge heads and thin limbs, looking like potatoes with legs.

The twins, each riding a flying broomstick, soared through the air, catching the goblins Errol had driven out, shaking and spinning them before tossing them far into the wilderness.

All that remained were the screams that faded into the distance, and the twins' joyful laughter.

"Those two guys seem to be able to find fun in everything they do!"

Vaughn chuckled and shook his head, then went back to bed and picked up Ginny.

The little girl was startled awake. She rubbed her eyes sleepily, yawned, and said, "Vaughn?"

"I'm going to Diagon Alley, Ginny. You need to go back to your room and sleep."

"Oh..." Ginny buried her head in his shoulder and mumbled sleepily, "I want... a chocolate frog..."

"Okay, I'll bring it to you when I get back!"

As they carried Ginny downstairs, they ran into their mother, who was about to come up and call them.

"Oh—look at these two little darlings, my precious babies." Molly, with her broad frame, could easily hug both her children at the same time. She wiped her eyes. "Mom is so happy that you two siblings love each other so much. Vaughn, you're always so thoughtful, taking care of Ginny and even buying Ron a new wand... Actually, I think his old one is perfectly fine!"

Downstairs, Ron, who had rushed over upon hearing the commotion, clenched his fists in fright.

He nearly strangled Banban to death. He was terrified that his brother, with his wicked personality, would break his promise to his mother.

Fortunately, Vaughn only glanced at him: "It's alright, Mom, it's just seven Galleons. Besides, using a wand that doesn't belong to him might affect his studies!"

7...7 Galleons, and that's all?

Ron felt like he'd been shoved into a bucket of lemon juice; he felt sour inside and out.

Molly, knowing her son was wealthy, didn't say anything more. Vaughn and Ron were both her sons, and she loved them both. Although, based on her educational philosophy, she didn't want Ron to spend Vaughn's money, she wouldn't object if Vaughn wanted to give her younger brother a gift.

She already felt guilty that her youngest son could only use his brothers' old things, and Vaughn was right that using a wand that didn't belong to him would indeed have an impact, so she didn't stop him anymore.

Molly carried Ginny back to her room.

After washing up, Vaughn had breakfast with Ron. Seeing that it was getting late, Molly took a flowerpot filled with grayish-white, shimmering powder from the fireplace and said to Vaughn and Ron:

"Vaughn, you've used Floo Powder before, you know how to make it, but Ron, you've never used it before. Pay close attention to your brother's demonstration later, make sure your pronunciation is clear and strong, Diagon Alley! Diagon Alley! Got it?"

"I know, Mom!" Ron said excitedly, his ears turning bright red.

Molly handed the flowerpot to Vaughn, who grimaced. He had never really liked these things; they would get his clothes and hair dirty.

However, he hasn't learned Apparition yet, so this is the only way he can use it.

Vaughn grabbed a handful of Floo Powder, jumped into the fireplace, and slammed the powder down on his feet while yelling, "Diagon Alley!"

With a bang.

Green flames rose up before his eyes, and Vaughn felt as if he had been put into a washing machine, his whole body stretched into a long strip and spinning rapidly around a point, surrounded by equally distorted and bizarre scenes.

A few seconds later, he staggered to a stop, shook his head to dispel the lingering dizziness, and disgustedly brushed off the cigarette ash on his body while looking around.

This is a closed alleyway with several fireplaces neatly embedded in the dark brick walls, green flames rising and falling, and wizards and witches emerging one after another, some even leading children, probably having received their Hogwarts notices and bringing their children to buy books and supplies.

Vaughn didn't observe any further. He waited in place for a while, and then green flames ignited behind him. The next moment, Ron rolled out, covered in soot, and collapsed at Vaughn's feet.

"Ron, what a generous gift!"

Vaughn chuckled and pulled him up.

Ron was so dizzy that he couldn't hear what he was saying at all. It wasn't until Molly arrived, brushed the ash off his cigarette, and pulled the two brothers out of the closed alley and into the bustling Diagon Alley that Ron finally came to his senses.

It was a long, seemingly endless street, only a few meters wide, paved with cobblestones, crowded with men and women wearing pointed wizard hats.

The street is lined with all kinds of shops, each with a square window divided by glass panels. Sunlight streams down from above the alley, making the windows and the goods inside dazzling.

The door of the shop closest to the alley entrance opened, and a pair of witches led out a boy. The boy chewed, and his hair changed color as he chewed.

Ron's eyes widened—he saw the shop's sign: The Playful Magical Joke Shop, Fred and George's favorite shop, which they had told him countless times.

It was the place he visited most often in his dreams!

In his dazed state, he heard Vaughn say to him, "Ron, welcome to Diagon Alley!"

At the same time, someone behind us was saying:

Welcome to Diagon Alley!