Hogwarts Part 4
Bucks, Books and Branches
Quatre led Duo to the back of the Leaky Cauldron, which was a deserted courtyard, littered with garbage and completely cut off from the view of the main streets.
"Huh... well this is a familiar sight." Duo had slept in courtyards like this most of his life. There was a small part of him that was tempted to see if there was anything of value in one of the trashcans.
Quatre didn't know whether to laugh at Duo's tone, or cry because he knew what Duo meant. He tapped a brick and watched as the archway for Diagon Alley appeared.
"WOAH! Too bad I didn't have that during the war!"
Quatre pulled Duo through and spoke conversationally as the wall closed behind them. "Who's to say you didn't? There were times that you seemed to pop out of nowhere. No piece of electronic machinery, no matter how advanced, is THAT good." He led Duo towards Gringotts. "And there is also your luck. It was like nothing could kill you! A plague that killed your best friend didn't even seem to touch you, the church that you lived in was destroyed while you were busy elsewhere, the one time you tried to self-destruct didn't work... the list goes on and on." Duo had mentioned a few of the more painful parts of his past to Quatre that time they were hiding from Oz and waiting for orders. He let his pace slow because he remembered his first trip down this street.
Duo kept an eye on Quatre, grateful that he had slowed down a little. There were so many things he had never seen on both sides of the street that he was hard pressed to keep up with Quatre despite the pace. The shops were all breathtaking and looked as if they were new and ancient at the same time. There were carts selling various herbs as well as trinkets that were supposedly novelty items for magical people not raised in the Muggle world.
Quatre chuckled when he notice Duo drifting towards the candy shop. "Duo... wizards have their own money. Any money you have from the Muggle world will be useless. We have to go to Gringotts first." He chuckled as Duo gave the window a mournful look and let out a laugh. "All right! I think I have a few sickles on me. But you're treating me to lunch at the Leaky Cauldron... got it?"
Duo nodded and ran in, dragging Quatre behind.
*****
Twenty minutes later, Duo was skipping towards Gringotts with a paper bag firmly in his hand. When he had seen the name of the candy, chocolate frog, he'd been reminded of a rather gross Monty Python skit. It wasn't until Quatre opened one that he had discovered the truth. He was munching on his own frog at the moment, happy to get some chocolate in his system.
Quatre smiled and walked into Gringotts after Duo. He led his friend to one of the Tellers and smiled. "Hi! This is Duo, Kitty's nephew. She wrote ahead and told you we were coming." He handed a key over and turned to Duo. "You're going to LOVE this part!"
Duo was puzzled, but when a goblin led them to what looked like a mining cart Duo's puzzlement turned into curiosity.
Quatre gripped the sides of the cart and looked like a little kid. "Hang on!"
Duo shrugged and followed Quatre's suggestion. No sooner had he gotten a good grip that the cart took off. Duo let out a yelp of startlement, but soon started grinning like a maniac. Quatre had been right. He had never been on a roller coaster... never had the time or funds to do so. He remembered mentioning the fact to Quatre once. He felt happy that Quatre had remembered. He felt a little disappointed when the cart came to a stop. The goblin opened the vault, and Duo guessed he'd see a few others sharing the same vault. Especially since there was so much in there. When Quatre gave a low whistle, Duo turned and gave his comrade a questioning look. "What? Do I share this vault with some important people?"
Quatre shook his head and chuckled. He was looking forward to the look on Duo's face. "Duo... vaults at Gringotts aren't shared. Everything here... is yours. Kitty once told me that your mother saved wisely and made sure she put all wizard money into Gringotts in case war broke out in the Muggle world."
Duo blinked and looked at the piles. "I'm rich?"
Quatre laughed. "Well... you're well-off." He picked up an empty pouch and filled it with some golden coins. "These are Galleons. The silver ones are Sickles and the bronze ones are Knuts. Seventeen Sickles to a Galleon and twenty-nine Knuts to a Sickle."
"So that's a lot of Knuts to a Galleon." Duo grabbed a handful of Knuts and Sickles and put them in the sack. "Will that be enough?"
Quatre chuckled. "Duo... that will last you the year!"
Duo blinked at a fourth pile, larger than the rest. It seemed to be a pile of baubles. He picked up a box and opened it, smiling at the song it started playing with a woman singing. "My mother... sang like this to me. Odd how I've forgotten until now." He tucked it under one arm and shrugged.
Quatre smiled in understanding. "You don't have to be embarrassed, Duo. You want something that reminds you of your mother."
*****
The rest of the afternoon was spent purchasing Duo's books and supplies. The only thing left to buy was Duo's wand. The two of them were approaching Ollivanders when Quatre cried out.
"TROWA!!!"
Duo blinked as Quatre ran forward and stopped short of someone who was impossible to mistake for. Especially since the youth still had that shock of hair falling over his right eye. He smiled as he approached the pair. He almost laughed when he saw Quatre's stance. The poor guy OBVIOUSLY wanted to hug Trowa, but didn't dare.
"... Never expected to see you, even though I'm glad I did!" Quatre turned to Duo and beamed happily. "Duo... it's Trowa!"
Duo chuckled and clasped Trowa's forearm in a firm grip. They had been brothers in arms during the war. "Man... this is the first time the three of us have been together since that day."
Trowa nodded, knowing Duo referred to the day they had self-detonated their Gundams. "Duo... Quatre... it's good to see you two again." He smiled warmly at Quatre. "Although... you might have to start calling me something else. I hope not."
Quatre tilted his head. "What do you mean, Trowa?"
Trowa opened his mouth to answer when a woman's voice behind him spoke.
"THERE you are! Triton Bloom, where have you been? You know it's rude to make your older sister chase after you! Oh! Quatre... Duo... I didn't know you two were wizards!"
Quatre blinked at Catherine and turned to Trowa. "Catherine really IS your sister?"
Duo held his hand up. "WOAH! Let's get my wand and we can all go to the Leaky Cauldron and talk before I have to get back..." He almost choked on the word that next came out of his mouth. "Home." He had a sudden urge to bolt back to the cottage and cling to his aunt. He managed to brush the urge aside and entered Ollivanders so he could purchase his wand.
"Come in! Welcome! I am Ollivander the 12th. Welcome to my shop. Please have a seat!" The tiny man directed Duo to a chair surrounded by various do-dads. "In the old days, young folks getting their new wands had to go through countless wands to find the right one. Now... it's such a simple procedure! It makes me wonder why the first Ollivander didn't do it. Methinks he liked doing things the hard way." He chuckled and glanced over at Quatre and Trowa. "Ah... good. You two already have your wands. Takes SO much pressure off the boy. Now, young man, just close your eyes and relax while holding out your hand. this chair will call your wand to you.
Duo felt a little silly, but did as he was told. Not thirty seconds went by when he felt a thin piece of wood touch his hand. On instinct, he closed his fingers around the wood.
"Ahhh! Eleven inch oak with a Phoenix feather... nice and stiff!" He looked at Duo expectantly. "Well? Go on! Give it a try! Wave it around a little."
Duo shrugged and gave the wand a little wave, smiling as tiny violet sparkles fizzled from the tip to form an image of a butterfly.
"SPLENDID! This is a fine wand. Of course it is! We at Ollivanders have a tradition of producing the finest quality wands." He chattered a bit more as he told Duo the charge.
TBC...
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