unforeseen [h.p.]

THE DOUGLAS TWINS

"Amelia, do you know where we buy the required books for third year students?" Alex asked her aunt while studying the list of books she would need for the upcoming school year. The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 3)... Unfogging the Future... The Monster Book of Monsters. The last book intrigued Alex quite a bit. It was for the subject Care of Magical Creatures, which she was the most excited about.

"Oh, yes, that would be Flourish and Blotts, they carry all shipments of Hogwarts books you'd need. It's the only shop I actually know," she replied, laughing a bit at herself.

They'd just left Gringotts Bank, a place Alex thought was very...interesting. The whole place was run by goblins, who Alex would think were very cute if it weren't for the threatening message engraved on the front door. Alex won't be planning to rob from Gringotts any time soon.

After Mark presented Alex's key, a goblin named Griphook took them on a very delightful journey on a railway cart which had Alex green not even halfway to her safe. She really hated the transportation in this world.

Inside Alex's safe were heaps and mounds of gold, silver, and bronze coins. She'd never seen so much money, whether it be muggle or wizard, in her whole thirteen years of living.

"It's all yours," Amelia had told her. "Your parents were quite the power couple, can't you tell?"

Now, Mark had gone back home and Alex walked with Amelia on the cobblestoned streets of Diagon Alley, enjoying the sound of her coins jingling in the little bag she'd been given to keep them.

Amelia led Alex into a store with hundreds of tall shelves stocked with all sorts of books. Immediately they were assisted by a store manager.

"Hogwarts?" He asked abruptly, looking down at Alex.

Alex's reply came out as a question, "Um--yes?"

"Stand back," he brushed them aside. He pulled on a thick pair of gloves, grabbed a long knobby walking stick, and proceeded toward a very large iron cage that held about a hundred copies of vicious books. There were torn pages flying everywhere as the books snapped and ripped each other to pieces.

"Oh my," Alex muttered. She and Amelia watched nervously as the manager hastily opened the cage door, reached in and yanked out one of the thick, ferocious books. Slamming it down on the counter, he forced it shut with one hand and shut and locked the cage door with the other.

From under the counter he retrieved some thin rope, and then struggled to bind the book closed, getting bit once and snapped at several times in the process.

Once he finally had it subdued, he pushed it across the counter toward Alex, who recoiled away before hesitantly picking it up and observing the burly book. It had a pretty green cover and across the front were golden letters that read The Monster Book of Monsters.

Looks can be deceiving.

"That's the sixth time I've been bitten today!" cried the manager, who looked extremely stressed and disheveled.

"I hope the creatures you take care of aren't as monstrous as that book," said Amelia, eyes wide.

"I'm never stocking them again!" The manager poked the walking stick through the bars at the books who were simultaneously destroying each other. He sighed. "Is there anything else I can help you with?"

Alex moved quickly to say no, wanting to get the hell out of there, but her aunt spoke faster.

"Oh yes, we need..." Amelia took the supply list from Alex and stalked off with the manager, leaving Alex alone in the front of the store with The Monster Book of Monsters.