Water Lily | E. Riddle

[09] Diagon Alley

Perseus woke up to the sound of gentle tapping on his window. A snowy owl was waiting outside, presumably with a letter tied to its tiny leg. He got out of bed and opened the window, letting the owl hop in. The envelope bore his name and he could easily recognize his cousin's handwriting.

The letter in his hands was from Demi asking him to join them on their trip to Diagon Alley. Eridanus was starting Hogwarts that year, therefore a trip to Diagon Alley was a must as it was the only place from where they could get all of his school stuff.

He gave the owl a few tidbits to devour before it hopped off the window sill soaring away to Hogsmeade. A small smile danced on his face; Demi had written that they would be getting him a wand from Ollivander's as well. He was no doubt rather excited for that.

The clock chimed eight in the morning. Knowing that it would soon be time for breakfast, Perseus carefully placed the letter back in the envelope and headed to the bathroom to freshen up.

As usual, his aunt and uncle were waiting for him at the table. He bid his greetings upon entering the room and took his seat.

"Someone is in a very good mood today," Belvina remarked playfully with a soft smile upon noticing his cheerful outlook.

"I got a letter from Demi this morning," Perseus replied, "they are going to Diagon Alley to buy Danny's school stuff."

"And you're going with them, aren't you?"

He nodded in affirmation, "she said I could buy my wand from there as well."

Herbert affectionately patted him on the back, "I see, so that's why you're so glad."

"Now son, you might want to hurry up with your breakfast," Belvina spoke, "because I'm quite sure they'd be here soon to take you with them."

She was quite right in saying that because true enough, the doorbell rung shortly after they had finished breakfast, announcing the arrival of the Whitburgs. The door opened and a rather excited Eridanus rushed in, hugging both Belvina and Herbert in his usual way of greeting his grandparents.

After them, he turned to Perseus and shook his hand, "how are you, Uncle Perce?"

"I'm fine," Perseus smiled at the boy, "however, you seem quite excited than usual."

"Is it too obvious?" he asked, raising an eyebrow, his features morphing back into a rather serious look.

Perce held back an urge to laugh, "now it isn't."

"But I guess it's normal to be excited," he resumed, "I'm going to Hogwarts and as far as I know, that's quite a big deal."

He gently ruffled the child's head, "of course it's a big deal. Nathan must have told you enough about the school already to make you even more intrigued about it."

Perseus still felt his instincts warning him that young Eridanus wasn't human whenever he was around him, but over the years he had learnt to ignore it. The boy was quite harmless and just as innocent as any other child of his age. Moreover, he had grown quite fond of his Uncle and liked to spend time with him. Therefore, Perce had thought it best to stop being uncomfortable in his presence and accepted him as a family member.

Demelza and Nathan had entered too and after the familiar greetings Belvina had taken them to the parlor, bringing tea for them as well. Perce had stayed in the living room with his nephew who was rather eager to provide him company. Nathan, however, seemed a little under the weather to Perseus, who had been rather quick to notice that the former wasn't in high spirits like the rest of them.

"Dad's not well," Danny spoke up, realizing that he was probably wondering about Nathan's health, "I don't know if Mum told you yet but he lost his job at the end of the term."