Secrets Only Trouble Knows - George Weasley

38 - Pierce Manor

Nova's POV

I'd gotten only a few measly hours of sleep when I was awakened abruptly by Mum badgering me to get up. George and I had spent longer than we probably should have at the park together the night before, but we'd just been having too much fun. Under the pale moonlight we swung on the swings, raced each other down the slides, made snow angels, and spun on the merry-go-round— over and over and over. Despite the tiredness I knew I'd feel today, I didn't regret a second of it. We felt like the king and queen of the world up there.

When she'd shaken me awake, Mum informed me we'd be leaving soon for the surprise she'd promised the four of us kids yesterday. After dressing myself and then eating a very quick breakfast in the kitchen with the boys, Mum pushed us all into the den, eagerly bouncing on her feet.

"So are you going to tell us where we're going exactly?" Jasper asked as Mum stepped into the fireplace 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, grabbing a handful of Floo powder. "We'll just pop out there and then walk to the muggle shop I'm taking you to, which isn't very far. 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.

I went next. After repeating the same steps she had, I was magically transported to Diagon Alley, but not without having been twisted and turned and stretched in what felt like all sorts of directions first. Despite its convenience, traveling by Floo Network was always a strange and disorienting experience, no matter how many times I'd done it by now.

I stumbled out of the shoot and into the wizarding hub when I spotted Mum's face, then waited patiently for the boys to join us. Once we'd regrouped and dusted ourselves off, Mum began leading us down the long stretch of bustling shops and pubs. She wound us through the Leaky Cauldron and then brought us outside of the Wizarding boundaries into muggle London.

This, too, was another disorienting experience. The contrast between the Wizarding World and the Muggle World was stark, especially in a major city like London. It was like you'd left one age in time and transcended to another where customs were completely different and certain things either did or didn't exist yet. We occupied the same planet, but magic folk and non-magic folk lived within two very different, very separate realms.

As we strolled along the pavement, weaving through crowds, I noticed the twins carried the same sentiment. They curiously observed each and every muggle that passed us by. The Weasley family were of course not complete strangers to the Muggle World, but it wasn't often they were ever fully immersed within it. For that reason, I could tell Fred and George were excited to be trekking through the streets of London, able to take note of intriguing clothing and style, never-before-seen gadgets that muggles held in their hands, city architecture, and more. They were sure to ask us what some things were or the purpose they served later at home.

Mum stopped us short in front of a clothing shop. But not just any; in the display windows were mannequins donning rather formal attire like suits and gowns. Under normal circumstances, it wouldn't be out of the ordinary for Mum to bring Jasper and me to a place like this given we still needed to find outfits for our grandparents' New Year's Eve party. But she'd brought the twins along with us which made me throughly confused.

I knew that the boys were "staying with us for the holidays," but Mum hadn't mentioned the party in front of them at all. That, to me, made it seem as if they weren't attending, so I didn't bring it up to them either. Yet, surely if Fred and George weren't invited, Mum wouldn't have brought them here with us today...