Secrets Only Trouble Knows - George Weasley

38 - Pierce Manor

Nova's POV

The next morning I was awakened abruptly by Mum excitedly badgering me to get up, informing me we'd be leaving soon for the surprise she'd promised the four of us kids yesterday. I was certainly curious to discover what it was, but I wasn't so thrilled to leave my bed when it was merely 8:00 AM and I'd only gotten a few hours of sleep; George and I had stayed out on the playground together until nearly four.

After dressing myself and then eating a very quick breakfast down in the kitchen with the boys, Mum, bouncing eagerly on her feet, pushed us all into the den.

"So are you going to tell us where we're going exactly?" Jasper asked as Mum stepped into the fireplace, clearly to use the Floo Network.

"We're heading first to Diagon Alley, but that isn't where we'll be for the day," she answered as she grabbed a handful of Floo powder. "We're just popping out there and then walking to the muggle shop I'm taking you to, which isn't very far away. But I'll explain everything when we arrive. Now, I'm going first— step out of the network when you see me, okay?"

She dropped her powder and yelled, "Diagon Alley!" before bursting into vibrant green flames.

Once she'd disappeared out of sight, I looked to Jasper and the twins.

"Well, I guess I'll go next then," I said, stepping forward to where Mum had just been standing seconds earlier.

A moment or two later, after having repeated the same steps she'd performed, I was magically transported through the Network to Diagon Alley, but not without having been twisted and turned and stretched in what felt like all sorts of directions first. I stumbled out into the wizarding hub when I spotted Mum's face, then waited patiently for the boys to join us.

Once we'd all finally regrouped and dusted ourselves off, Mum began leading us down the long stretch of shops and restaurants. She wound us through the Leaky Cauldron and then brought us outside of the Wizarding boundaries into muggle London.

"The shop we're heading to is actually just down down this road." she informed us with a kind smile. "I think you're going to like the reason we're going to it."

She began walking us down the sidewalk of the bustling city, weaving us through the crowds. Every once in awhile as we walked I'd catch the twins observing the muggles that passed by us, noting their clothes and what they might be carrying. I could tell they were rather excited to be out in London given that it wasn't often that they were immersed in the busy muggle world. Magic folk and non-magic folk lived within two very different, very separate worlds.

After walking for a few blocks, Mum stopped us short in front of what looked to be a clothing store with rather formal attire. Under normal circumstances it wouldn't be out of the ordinary for Mum to bring Jasper and I to a shop like this given that we still needed to find our outfits for our family's New Year's Eve party. However, the fact that the twins were currently with us as well made me throughly confused.

I knew that the twins were "staying with us for the holidays" but Mum hadn't talked about the party in front of them at all, which, to me, made it seem like they wouldn't be attending it. Yet, surely if Fred and George weren't coming to the party Mum would wait to take my brother and I shopping until after the two of them were no longer staying with us as to not be rude and make them feel left out.