𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐅 𝐖𝐈𝐒𝐃𝐎𝐌

Chapter 13

The boys woke up excited for their trip to London and washed up and dressed quickly. Draco picked an outfit for Harry from his own closet. Harry slid on the dark midnight blue slacks and a cream colored short sleeved shirt with the same midnight colored trim that ran up the line of buttons. The blue was also on the edges of the collar of the shirt. The outfit was light and comfortable for the day trip. Draco wore a similar complimentary outfit with tan pants and a bright white shirt with a light brown textured vest. Pleased with their choice of attire, they made their way up thru the winding corridors stopping only once to share a heated kiss before the trip begun.

The two were talking about duo-casting and ways to find complimenting spells to cast with each hand for the most effect.

“…yeah, but if they came from the left with a binding curse, wouldn’t a simple stun be better?” Draco questioned.

“No. Think about it. If you cast a binding curse on the left, you’d need more of a blast or a take-down hex on the right to keep the second attacker out long enough as to not revive the first hit too quickly…” Harry explained.

“However, boys, I think that if you cast ‘expelliarmus visioniscolus’ to each enemy, that would be the better plan, for your opponents would be weaponless and hindered by blindness first,” Professor Snape interrupted as they rounded the corner. They noticed that their professor was decked out in flattering black jeans, short black boots and an airy crisp white shirt with black and silver buttons. Snape’s hair was in his now familiar pony tail at the back and trailed down and over the collar at the back. The man was remarkably fit and was, in his own way, handsome.

Harry gave his professor a mocking bow to his superior knowledge, “As always, professor, you are fountain of wisdom,” Harry teased.

“I must have lost my mind by agreeing to take you two out in public. You will refer to me as ‘Severus’ for the remainder of the day. I don’t wish to draw any more attention than necessary,” the professor admitted as they entered the Great Hall to find Dumbledore waiting for them.

Upon seeing Dumbledore, the boys stopped and gawked. Was this the Headmaster? If so, they’d have never known him. He had transformed his long beard into a small muff that rounded with his chin, and his long hair was seemingly gone and he wore a brown bowler atop his head. He was dressed in a nice but plain brown suit coat and matching slacks and looked simply like someone’s grandfather. When Harry came closer he looked over the Headmaster from top to bottom very closely.

“I can’t believe it. I never would have known you in this, sir,” Harry said in surprise.

Dumbledore smiled, “That, dear Harry, is precisely the point. You may choose to call me Albus or Professor, today, gentlemen. I have opted to portkey us into the study of a friend of mine in London. She will be expecting us. Dumbledore pulled out his pocket watch  and held it in his hand and the other three laid a finger on the object. With a swish of his hand, they felt the tug of the portkey and vanished.

With a tiny ‘pop’ they appeared in a cozy and comfortable room that was not lavishly decorated, but was very nicely apportioned. The house was older and Harry could smell the faint odor of lemon cleaning solution and the tiniest hint of cigar smoke lingering within.

A small framed and frail looking woman with gray hair wound in a loose bun entered the room and went straight to Dumbledore.

“Oh, Albus. It’s so good to see you, my dear.” They hugged lightly as she placed a tiny kiss on each of his cheeks. “And Severus, as always it’s a pleasure to see you as well. You look quite charming. And let me guess….” She said quite kindly in Draco’s direction. “This would be Lucius Malfoy’s son. Yes, Draco, I believe. It’s nice to meet you. You look so much like your father.”