[Third Person's PoV]
The next day, Arthur decided to tackle the shopping list he had been given. He wanted to enjoy the trip to Diagon Alley with the Flamels, something Penny was more than happy to join in on.
"The replies were already sent out, right?" Arthur asked Merlin as they made their way to meet the Flamels.
"Yes, Art," Merlin said with an exasperated tone. "Ours was probably the first one to come back. Besides, aren't you being a little impatient? We still have all of this month and the next to send a reply. Same with the shopping — we literally have two months."
Arthur rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment as they climbed the steps to the Flamels' home. "I just want to study all the books I'm going to be buying. I want to be prepared, that's all."
Merlin rolled her eyes as they entered the house.
—
Arthur, Merlin, Nicholas, and Perenelle wandered the hidden wizarding world that was Diagon Alley.
Arthur and Perenelle were walking ahead, both buzzing with excitement like children who couldn't contain themselves. Meanwhile, Nicholas and Merlin lingered at the back, exchanging sympathetic looks with each other, clearly used to this sort of energy.
"Alright," Perenelle said, her eyes sparkling with rare enthusiasm, "first things first — let's get you two fitted for your robes and all the clothing you'll need for your term."
Perenelle led them toward Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.
"Welcome, dear customers! What can I do for you today?" Madam Malkin, a small witch with a pleasant smile, greeted them warmly.
"We're here for some early shopping — they need fittings for their school robes," Perenelle said, motioning toward Arthur and Merlin.
Madam Malkin blinked when she got a good look at them, slightly caught off-guard by how cute the pair were, especially Merlin with her unusual silver-white hair.
"Ah, yes, Hogwarts letters have gone out now, haven't they? Very well, come along, follow me to the back," Madam Malkin said, quickly collecting herself.
Arthur and Merlin were soon standing on stools as long robes were dropped over them. Madam Malkin expertly pinned and measured them, working quickly and efficiently.
Before they knew it, the process was done.
—
"Well, that went by rather quickly..." Perenelle said, sounding slightly disappointed. "I wanted them to at least put you two in some cute outfits," she pouted.
"I'm honestly glad they didn't," Merlin scoffed.
"I wouldn't have minded either way," Arthur shrugged with a faint smile.
Now Nicholas took the lead, while Arthur and Perenelle trailed a few steps behind.
He led them to Flourish and Blotts, and when they entered, they were greeted by shelves that seemed to stretch on forever — it was more a maze than a bookstore.
Soon, Arthur and Merlin were carrying towering stacks of books, though Perenelle and Nicholas helped lighten the load by carrying a few themselves.
As Arthur rounded a corner, he accidentally bumped into someone carrying a large stack of books.
Arthur barely staggered, but the other person wasn't so lucky.
"Oof!" the girl exclaimed as her books scattered everywhere.
"Sorry about that, are you alright?" Arthur asked, slightly wide-eyed when he recognized who it was.
She had bushy brown hair that seemed to fly in every direction and two slightly prominent front teeth.
It was none other than Hermione Granger.
"I'm alright. I should be the one apologizing," Hermione said, wincing slightly.
When she opened her eyes after the impact, she froze — Arthur was crouched down beside her, smiling pleasantly.
"Here, let me help you," Arthur said as he set down his own stack of books and began gathering hers from the floor.
"T-Thanks," Hermione stuttered out, her cheeks tinged pink with embarrassment.
Arthur offered her a kind smile as he gathered the fallen books, stacking them neatly in his arms. He let out a small hum of amusement as he glanced at the covers.
"Seems like you're getting a head start too," he said conversationally. "These books look almost exactly like the ones I'm picking up. Decided to get some early shopping done?"
"Y-Yes," Hermione answered with another small stammer. She quickly scrambled to her feet, brushing her robes off before looking up at Arthur, her brown eyes sparkling with excitement.
"I just found out about the Wizarding World yesterday! I wanted to learn everything I could before school starts—" she blurted out, unable to hide her enthusiasm.
Before Arthur could reply, a concerned voice echoed from behind the towering shelves.
"Hermione dear, please stop wandering off on your own!" a woman's voice called, sounding both worried and faintly amused. "This place is an absolute maze."
Arthur turned to see a couple rounding the corner—an elegant-looking woman and a man with a kind smile, each balancing their own precarious pile of books. He immediately pieced it together—Hermione's parents.
As their eyes fell on the scene of scattered books and their daughter flushed with embarrassment, Mr. Granger gave a sheepish chuckle.
"I'm terribly sorry if our daughter caused you any trouble," he said apologetically, shifting his books into one hand to offer the other. "She can get a little… overzealous when it comes to learning new things."
Hermione huffed indignantly, shooting her parents an embarrassed glare that only made her look even younger.
Meanwhile, behind Arthur, Nicholas and Perenelle Flamels were exchanging amused glances with the Grangers, trading polite conversation about how easy it was to get lost in Flourish and Blotts.
As the adults spoke, Hermione's gaze shifted curiously towards Merlin. Her eyes widened slightly as she caught sight of Merlin's striking silver-white hair that shimmered almost unnaturally under the warm shop lighting.
Without thinking, she blurted out, "Why is your hair that color?" in her crisp English accent.
Merlin immediately narrowed her eyes, drawing herself up with a scoffing expression.
"Why are your teet—" she began in a cutting tone, before Arthur, anticipating disaster, clapped a hand firmly over her mouth.
"A genetic mutation," Arthur said quickly, offering Hermione a polite and slightly strained smile. "She was born with it. Just something unique."
Merlin gave Arthur an unimpressed side-eye glare but didn't resist. Arthur, meanwhile, shot her a pointed, warning look that practically screamed behave.
Hermione tilted her head thoughtfully, staring at Merlin's hair again before giving a slow, genuine nod. "It's very beautiful," she said seriously.
Merlin blinked, clearly caught off guard.
As Arthur slowly removed his hand from her mouth, she straightened up proudly, flashing a small, almost regal smile. "Thank you," she said simply, her tone far more gracious now.
A moment later, Hermione turned back toward her parents and said urgently, "We should get moving. We still have a lot to do!"
"Just a moment, darling," Mrs. Granger sighed, already used to her daughter's single-mindedness.
Mr. Granger fished a slightly crumpled sheet of parchment out of his jacket pocket, peering at the list written in neat handwriting.
"If you don't mind," he said, turning toward the Flamels with a polite smile, "could you help us with directions? We're trying to find this shop—'Mr. Ollivander: Makers of Fine Wands, since 382 B.C.,' I believe?"
As Nicholas and Perenelle happily started giving detailed directions, Arthur took the opportunity to properly introduce himself.
"I don't think we've been formally introduced," he said warmly, extending a hand. "Arthur King."
Hermione gave a brilliant smile, her earlier embarrassment forgotten, and shook his hand enthusiastically. "Hermione Granger," she said proudly.
"Mer-lynn Syrme," Merlin said shortly, folding her arms and giving a slight nod rather than offering her hand.
With introductions out of the way, Mrs. Granger gently tugged at Hermione's sleeve.
"Come on now, Hermione, we have a schedule to keep."
Hermione frowned in thought, stubbornly planting her feet. "Just a bit longer," she insisted with a determined expression. "I want to pick up a few more books first."
Her parents shared an exasperated glance but relented with a sigh. "Alright, but don't wander too far."
After exchanging a few more polite goodbyes, the Grangers disappeared with Hermione back into the winding maze of bookshelves, Hermione already launching into a rapid monologue about the next books she needed.
Arthur and the Flamels headed toward the front counter to check out. Arthur shifted his arms awkwardly, balancing the heavy load of books as he moved.
As they walked, Merlin elbowed Arthur sharply in the ribs, making him stumble slightly. "Genetic mutation, your face," she muttered under her breath, clearly still salty about his earlier interference.
Arthur grimaced dramatically but couldn't help the breathless chuckle that escaped him. "Ughhh, give me a break," he groaned, setting the books down on the counter alongside her.
Merlin leaned in conspiratorially, lowering her voice into a mischievous whisper. "So..." she purred, her eyes sparkling with amusement, "how did it feel to meet your childhood crush~?"
Arthur's ears turned a vivid shade of red almost instantly, and he shot her a scandalized glare. Merlin covered her mouth to muffle a delighted giggle, absolutely reveling in his flustered state.
"For the record…" Arthur muttered defensively, turning to help the clerk sort the books, "Emma Watson was everyone's first childhood crush. It's not just me."
Merlin only laughed harder, poking him again as Arthur groaned in mortified resignation.
It was going to be a very long shopping trip.
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