The following days in the vast city of New York were a real whirlwind, full of new experiences for the newlyweds.
Aurelian, Hestia, and Flora set out to fully enjoy everything the metropolis had to offer, taking in both the good and the bad. This was New York in the late 1990s—not the sanitized, gentrified, "clean" version of the twenty-first century. The city back then had a rawer, noisier, and more chaotic charm. There was graffiti in the alleys, music blaring from car stereos, flashing neon lights, and a pace of life so frenetic that it felt as if the whole world were about to end.
And the twins loved it.
They were especially fascinated by the Muggle cuisine of this country. As if they wanted to make up for lost time after eating the delicious but repetitive feasts at Hogwarts, they set out to eat at absolutely every street stall, café, and restaurant they came across.
Right now, the three of them were sitting in a classic American diner with red vinyl seats, their table piled high with every dish the place had to offer.
Aurelian, who had opted for a simple hamburger, looked at the mountain of french fries and sauces in front of his wives and let out a soft sigh.
"My loves, you really need to exercise a little more self-control when it comes to food," Aurelian reminded them, adopting a gentle but protective tone. "Your bodies aren't used to processing so much fast food. It could really hurt you or upset your stomachs if you keep eating like this, not to mention make you gain weight—and I don't think you want that, do you?"
Flora, who was holding a huge hot dog covered in mustard and onions, took a big bite. She chewed elegantly despite the mess on her plate, swallowed, and gave her husband a smile devoid of any guilt.
"There's nothing to worry about, honey," Flora assured him, wiping the corner of her mouth with a paper napkin. "We've got everything under control, tell her, sis."
Hestia leaned over the table, closing the distance between herself and Aurelian. She glanced around to make sure no Muggle was listening and whispered in his ear with a gleam of pride in her eyes.
"A few months ago, we invented a spell that temporarily alters the way our bodies process food," Hestia confided in a whisper. "You could say it purifies them of excesses. It will never, ever let us gain a single gram of weight or get sick, which allows us to eat whatever we please."
Aurelian froze for a second, blinking as he processed the information. Realizing the magnitude of such a magical discovery, he burst out laughing and shook his head, genuinely amused.
"My God… you two really are something else," Aurelian muttered, looking at them with a mixture of amazement and a touch of mockery. "You're two of the brightest and most powerful witches of our generation… and you use your incredible, complex minds to create things like that?"
Flora pointed at him with her half-eaten hot dog, flashing a cheeky, triumphant smile.
"Priorities, my love. We have to be very clear about our priorities when deciding how to use our great talents. And staying perfect for you is priority number one."
Hestia let out a little chuckle, took a long sip of her drink through a striped straw, and nodded.
"Anyway, it's a secret. We'll never share the formula or the incantation for that spell with anyone other than our future children… and you, of course, if you ever need it."
Aurelian raised an eyebrow, looking at them with deep curiosity.
"And why wouldn't they? If they did, they'd become immensely famous overnight. I'm absolutely certain Professor Slughorn would empty his vault at Gringotts and give anything for a spell like that, not to mention hundreds of high-society wizards and witches who pay fortunes for something like that."
Flora finished the last bite of her hot dog and shrugged indifferently.
"That doesn't matter to us in the least," Flora replied coldly. "The rest of them can get fat and rot for all we care. Everything our minds create, all our magic, will be solely and exclusively for us and our family."
Unable to resist, Hestia and Flora slid across the vinyl seats until they were pressed up against Aurelian's sides. They hugged him tightly, resting their heads on his shoulders in the middle of the bustling restaurant, not caring about the stares from the other customers.
"Fame and glory are good for your empire, Aurelian..." Hestia whispered dreamily. "But all we want is for our family to be safe, and for our children to be immensely happy with the best the world has to offer them."
"Maybe, just maybe, if we're in a good mood, someday we'll reveal a potion or two," Hestia added.
Flora nodded, rubbing her cheek against his arm.
"But that's all. Potions are expendable and just a source of money. Spells and secrets, on the other hand, remain within the Gaunt family until the end of the world."
Feeling the immense and overwhelming love his wives had for him, Aurelian felt his heart melt a little. Their affection and loyalty were so unwavering, so exclusive and absolute that they bordered on madness, but he wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.
He tenderly stroked both their heads, ruffling their dark hair a little as he laughed softly.
He raised his hand to get the waiter's attention, who was gliding down the diner aisle.
"Excuse me, buddy," Aurelian said, caught up in the atmosphere. "Bring us another round of three Cokes, served the original way… with a nice scoop of vanilla ice cream floating inside. Please."
With their energy recharged after lunch, Aurelian and the twins continued their sightseeing tour with the goal of reaching the famous Statue of Liberty.
In an effort to experience city life to the fullest, Aurelian suggested they take the subway. However, as soon as they descended the damp, dark stairs to the New York subway station, an unbearable stench of urine, dampness, and garbage hit them all at once.
Hestia and Flora immediately covered their noses, grimacing in disgust. The place was gloomy, noisy, and covered in grime. After just a few steps, they spotted a homeless man sleeping on a piece of cardboard, and from the shadows of a column, a woman with torn clothes, a vacant stare, and clearly under the influence of drugs staggered toward them, holding out a trembling hand to ask for some money.
Hestia and Flora's instincts kicked in, but Aurelian was quicker. He grabbed them by the shoulders, spun them around, and quickly led them back to the surface, out into the sunlight and fresh air before either of his wives could hurl some unforgivable curse in the middle of the platform.
As soon as they were on the sidewalk, Hestia took a deep breath, trying to clear the foul smell from her nose.
"By Morgana… How can people live like this?" she whispered, looking horrified by the human misery she had just witnessed.
Flora brushed off her dress, gazing toward the subway entrance with utter disdain.
"Those weren't people anymore, sister," Flora remarked coldly. "They were just empty shells."
Aurelian patted both of them on the back to calm them down, and they resumed their walk toward the harbor.
"Just forget what you just saw," he asked them gently. "The Muggle world has wonders, but it also has very deep wells of despair. Something they desperately try to hide without really seeking to fix it."
Hestia looked at him, still a little shaken by the image of the woman.
"Do you know what was wrong with that person, Aurelian? Her eyes… there was nothing behind them."
Aurelian sighed, his expression growing a little more somber.
"She was dead while still alive, my love," he explained frankly. "There are substances that Muggles create to escape their reality, but sometimes those substances end up consuming them. That woman no longer lives; she exists only out of sheer inertia and necessity."
Flora and Hestia exchanged a knowing glance and decided not to say anything more on the unpleasant subject.
Finally, they reached the harbor and boarded a ferry that carried them across the sparkling waters of the harbor to Liberty Island. It was noon; the weather was perfectly sunny, with a refreshing breeze, and the immense green-copper structure rose majestically and breathtakingly against the clear sky.
As they walked along the island's paths, admiring the monument's grandeur, Hestia tilted her head, curious.
"Why exactly do they call it the 'Statue of Liberty'?" she asked, looking up at the torch the statue held aloft.
Aurelian chuckled softly, finding the irony of the story fascinating.
"It's quite a curious and somewhat cynical story to explain, if I'm being honest," he began, slipping his hands into his pockets. "Of the two world wars that ravaged and shattered the non-magical world in this century, the United States was the major—and almost sole—beneficiary. They entered the wars late, suffered no major losses on their own territory, and took advantage of the fact that the rest of the world was literally left in ruins to rise economically as the most powerful country on Earth."
He paused for a moment, pointing at the statue.
"In theory, this colossal statue was given to them by France as a gift to commemorate the United States' independence long ago and to celebrate the friendship between the two nations—along with other trite and insignificant things that Muggle politicians like to say in their speeches. But in the end, it's just a symbol of their own ego."
Flora shook her head slowly, watching the tourists take pictures.
"Muggles are very, very strange people in some ways," Flora declared with conviction.
Hestia nodded fervently.
"You said it, sister. You said it."
After touring the island, they walked away from the crowds and found a quiet spot. They sat on the grass, in the cool shade of a large tree, with a view of the Manhattan skyline on the horizon.
Aurelian leaned back against the tree trunk and wrapped his arms around them.
"I have something to tell you, my beautiful wives," Aurelian announced with a smile. "Tomorrow we're leaving the city. I've decided we'll take a road trip to make our journey across the country much more interesting."
Hestia and Flora lit up immediately. They smiled from ear to ear, nodded enthusiastically, and snuggled against his chest, hugging him tightly.
"That sounds wonderful, my love!" said Hestia, kissing his neck.
"We'll go wherever you want to take us," whispered Flora, closing her eyes in bliss.
They may have looked happy, but the truth was quite different; in their minds, Hestia and Flora shared a slight sense of panic. Neither of them could quite figure out what on earth their husband meant by a "road trip." Would they have to ride in a carriage pulled by beasts? Or walk for days through the streets?
But they quickly dismissed their worries. If their beloved and infallible husband said they'd be going on a "road trip," it was surely going to be something grand, extremely comfortable, and very enjoyable.
Right?
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