As Loren and Hermione were about to leave the platform, Neville came over with his grandmother, Madam Longbottom. When Neville first got off the train, she hadn't recognized the sturdy boy in front of her as her grandson.
"Gran, I'm here."
She'd still been peering into the carriage; Neville had already circled her several times before he finally spoke up. Only then did Madam Longbottom notice that the stocky child in front of her was her own grandson. Compared to the start of term, he'd filled out with solid muscle; his face wasn't as round, and his features were more defined.
"Neville, come here—let Gran have a proper look at you. You've changed so much, it's like you're a different person. Are you doing well in your studies?"
She pulled him into a tight hug, voicing one concern after another. Neville didn't dare squeeze back for fear of hurting her, but he spoke quickly: "I made a lot of friends—especially Loren and Hermione. They've helped me so much. It's thanks to Loren that I could change like this. Gran, let go a second, I'll show you what he gave me."
Madam Longbottom released him, curious to see what he'd show her. Neville demonstrated the alchemical gear's functions in detail and even told her about the embarrassment on the train when he took it off.
The more she heard, the more astonished she grew. She wasn't a child like Neville; she understood the value of such an alchemical item—and even more, how impressive someone must be to craft it with ease.
When Neville finished, Madam Longbottom said, "Since your friends came back with you, take me to meet them. It would be rude otherwise."
She followed him over—and, seeing the pair who looked every bit the golden boy and jade girl, she didn't quite know how to begin. Neville spoke first, making the introductions.
"Gran, these are my good friends at school—Loren and Hermione."
Then he turned to them. "Hello, I'm Augusta Longbottom. Thank you for looking after Neville at school. You're welcome to visit Longbottom Manor anytime—you'll always be received."
Loren quickly pulled Hermione into a bow with him. "Neville's our friend. Looking out for each other is what friends do. Thank you for the invitation—we'll be sure to visit Longbottom Manor."
"Loren, Hermione—I'll be waiting for you at home," Neville added at once, afraid they were only being polite.
"Don't worry, Neville—we'll come. I'll write ahead and let you know. They're calling us now—Hermione and I have to go!" Loren said, seeing Ministry officials waving them through the barrier. He wrapped up the talk in a hurry, stepped through the wall with Hermione, and returned to the Muggle world.
After they left, Madam Longbottom took Neville to queue so they could depart the station as well.
Back on the Muggle side, Loren took in the endless flow of people across the concourse. After so long in the wizarding world, he wasn't used to seeing so many at once.
Hermione tugged his sleeve and urged him along—she could hardly wait to get home.
Outside the station they caught a taxi. Half an hour later, they reached their neighborhood at last. They got out at the corner, agreed to meet tomorrow at the little shed, and then split up—it was already after six in the evening.
As Loren walked down his street, he could already make out his front lawn—and the sight nearly made him jump. A party had gathered on the grass. That wasn't the strange part. The strange part was that he recognized Arthur and Molly Weasley in the crowd. Mr. Weasley was holding a toaster and asking Mr. Angus something about it, while Mrs. Weasley was demonstrating to Mrs. Angus how magic could make food taste better.
Loren flicked on magical sight—thankfully, everyone present was a witch or wizard. Even so, he couldn't help marveling at his parents' wide circle of acquaintances.
Someone pushed him from behind—Hermione. Her house was closer to the cab drop-off; she'd gone home first, found her parents weren't there, guessed they might be at Loren's, and hurried back. Finding him standing rooted in the street, she tapped his shoulder.
Loren led her to his house. They'd barely reached the door when Mr. Granger came out with a tray of drinks. The moment he saw Hermione, he tossed the drinks aside and moved to hug her. Quick as a flash, Loren caught the hovering glasses with a Levitation Charm and let them float gently to the ground.
The commotion drew eyes from the lawn. Mr. Angus hurried over, grabbed Loren by the hand, and dragged him before Mr. Weasley to brag about his son's neat bit of wandless magic. "Looks like you really are just as your father said," he crowed.
In letters home, George and Fred had praised Loren to the skies, painting him as an all-round champion unfazed by anything—hardly like a first-year. Arthur Weasley had been skeptical, but seeing wandless levitation firsthand pushed him toward believing the twins.
"Thank you, Mr. Weasley. It's just a small trick—nothing much," Loren said modestly, as he always did with people he didn't know well.
"Loren, you know Arthur?" Mr. Angus asked, puzzled, right as he was about to boast further.
"I'm good friends with George and Fred. We talked about our families, and I've seen Mr. Weasley's photograph," Loren answered lightly. No way was he going to say he'd seen him in a film.
"Dinner's on—go wash up! No one eats with dirty hands!" someone called. Mr. Angus glanced at Mr. Weasley, perfectly in sync. Mr. Weasley drew his wand, sprayed a stream of water from the tip, and then left it floating in midair while the two men washed under the stream.
It actually startled Loren a little. When Mr. Granger joined the "wash-up line," Loren quickly pulled the wide-eyed Hermione in to queue as well.
Dinner began soon after. Everyone gathered around a long trestle table, deftly using Levitation Charms to load their plates. The Angus and Granger couples were practiced and confident—it was clear they'd hosted gatherings like this many times.
During the meal, Loren and Hermione were introduced around. From Mrs. Angus's introductions, Loren learned who the guests were. Most were ordinary wizarding families; he suspected quite a few were parents of his classmates.
Once the introductions ended, the adults fell into their own conversations. Loren took Hermione to a quiet corner; they enjoyed the food while keeping their ears open.
With the alchemical items Loren had given them, Mrs. Angus and Mrs. Granger had been ducking into Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions in Diagon Alley quite often. Add in the hefty stash of Galleons Loren had left at home, and neither of them skimped on themselves when they went shopping at the various women's boutiques along Diagon Alley. Without realizing it, they'd made friends with several like-minded housewives who loved a good browse.
To integrate faster into the wizarding community, the two ladies began hosting parties at home and inviting their new wizarding acquaintances. The money they spent paid off: they'd had the fireplace connected to the Floo Network, and—with Arthur Weasley's help—set up protective wards for the house as well.
Loren was floored. In just a few months, the "status" of both families had changed drastically.
Dinner ended in high spirits. Tidying up is simple in the wizarding world. A flurry of wands and the lawn was spotless again; dishes were cleaned and returned to their places.
At last the guests queued to leave via Floo. To Loren's surprise, the Grangers also took Hermione by the hand and lined up at the fireplace—then whisked home by Floo as naturally as anyone else.
//Check out my P@tre0n for 20 extra chapters on all my fanfics //[email protected]/Razeil0810