Extraordinary (Sign it Series; BOOK 2)

Chapter 50

Maddy was dolled up just as she had been during the day she snuck into Hogsmeade. Her hair was pink (complementary of Tonks, who had stopped by before work and insisted on helping), and her eyes were brown, the exact same shade as her father. Darienne was beside her, holding her hearing aide carefully in her hand, as if afraid to put it in.

Sirius sat beside Maddy as a dog, his head on her lap as she ate porridge. Remus had told him countless times he wouldn’t be going to help Fred and George, and while he knew it deep down, being a dog helped dull the pain. He’d be alone in the house for the first time since July; no Dari to babysit, no Remus to scold him when he wasn’t off doing order stuff, no Tonks to give him updates on the Ministry and his favourite elder cousin. He’d be utterly and completely alone.

Remus lightly tapped Dari’s shoulder, Eat please, he signed, seeing the little device in Dari’s hand, We’re leaving soon.

Dari nodded, slowly putting her hearing aide in, before starting to eat her own porridge.

Maddy tossed a strawberry into Sirius’s mouth before clapping to get her father’s attention. You know the address, right?

Remus nodded, before scolding Sirius for the pitiful look he was receiving, “We’ll bring you a dog biscuit back if you behave.”

With a snort of laughter from Maddy, a sigh of confusion from Dari, and a glare from the black dog on the floor, the group finished up breakfast before Maddy and Dari were ushered out the door by Remus.

◼◻~◻◼

Diagon Alley was rather dismal, in Maddy’s opinion, when the school year was running. All the shops were open, but only elderly adults roamed the streets. A group of children about Dari’s age, all in matching children's Quidditch gear, ate ice cream outside of the ice cream shop, their parents at work, but beside them, Maddy herself and Dari were the only children walking around.

Is it normally like this? Asked Darienne, staring ahead at the empty street. Maddy suddenly remembered Dari had never been to Diagon Alley, or anywhere magically besides Grimmauld Place, and now, the Knight Bus. The way her fingers slid across the upholstery during the ride made sense now. At least she didn’t get bus sick like her elder brother did.

Remus stopped to reply, “Not usually,” making sure if Dari was unfamiliar with any words she could read his lips. “If you get a Hogwarts Letter in a few months, you’ll barely be able to see the street when we come shopping.”

Dari nodded, through her eyes widened, slightly, and allowed herself to be lead through the buildings.

I found it! Maddy signed, though no one noticed until she ran ahead to the boarded up building in the corner. A builder stood on the roof, wand fully extended, floating a large replica of Fred — or George — above a torso. The actual twins stood on the ground, a giant hat at their feet. Maddy ran up to them and smacked their arms simultaneously to alert them of her arrival.

“You’re hair’s pink,” stated Fred, while George welcomed her and asked where Remus and Dari were.

Maddy pointed behind her to where the two were walking. What’s your giant face for? She asked? Isn’t that a little excessive?

“We plan to draw people’s attention by advertising big,” George explained. He patted the hat on the floor as if it were a puppy. “The more outrageous and over the top it is, the more likely people will want to stop by.”

Remus, who had arrived with Dari, looked impressed as the head connected and the builder shouted down. “Clever.”

“I know,” said the twins.