Freaks: Year Two

The Twisted Tree

Jasper watched as Ethan was talking up ahead to Francis about something or the other but whatever it was, he was quite excited about it. Jasper smiled at the sight, he loved to see his brothers happy.

Although that reminded Jasper of something so he asked, "Why do you think Dad wanted Ethan to stay home?"

Toby shrugged. "I don't know. He has a problem with everything, doesn't he? So who bloody knows," he looked over to Jasper and nudged him. "You did it though."

Jasper nodded letting out a sigh of relief. A part of him had been worried he would have froze up like Christopher had warned him about but he didn't, he had done the spell. He was thankful that he had Christopher to teach him the spells he did as many of them were not even taught to first years.

"Oi! Slow down you two!" Toby called to Francis and Ethan who were having a race. "You don't even know where we're going!"

Ethan slowed and made Francis stop much to his protest and they waited for the other three to catch up with them and as soon as Jasper was in earshot Ethan asked, "Where the hell are we going?"

"Well, we would have had to go take a couple of trains towards this muggle place that opens to Diagon Alley but the Warbecks actually told me there is a floo station near one of the cafes. Apparently, there are a lot of hidden wizarding places amongst muggle towns. It's just a fifteen walk or so, follow me."

The group of them started to head through the neighbourhood, following Jasper and Francis started to talk about all the owls he wanted to see and Ethan started to say how they were all the same which sent them into an argument which Toby had to settle. All the while Jasper was trying his best to convince Edgar about all the fun things they could do there. The Apothecary. "They have real unicorn horns there!" Jasper tried but that didn't heighten Edgar's interest but it did send Ethan on a tangent about how in school, a group of girls were trying to convince everyone that unicorns were real and their evidence was this cheap silver glitter they got at a craft shop.

"There's a joke shop," Jasper told them but looked at Edgar specifically to see if that got his attention and he had looked up. "I haven't been in it but if you want to have a look-see. And of course, there is an owl shop–"

"OWLS!" Francis shouted, bringing his arms up in the air.

Jasper chuckled. "Yes, and there is apparently an ice cream place too. Harry mentioned it–"

"Ice cream? I love ice cream, I want ice cream!" Ethan said, now walking backwards and Toby had to stop him from banging into a pole.

"If we have enough money, I will try," Jasper told them already regretting the mention of ice cream.

They were a few minutes from the floo station and Jasper looked over to Edgar and smiled. "I promise it will be fun."

Edgar looked up at him, his face was unreadable.

Jasper wished Edgar seemed happier about magic. He seemed to be last year, more so anyway. Jasper thought it could have been because of how his parents (well, his mother as his father didn't realise magic was a thing) hated it. Hopefully, once Edgar saw Diagon Alley, he would like it better or at least be excited.

They went through the cafe and met with someone Jasper was sure a wizard and he just asked about Diagon Alley and the old wizard knew what they were there for and so the wizard led them to the back and showed them the secret code (which was tapping a pattern on the wall) to reveal a fireplace with a bowl of floo powder on the mantel.

"Is there any way we can go at the same time?" Jasper asked.

"Sorry lad, one at a time," the old wizard said. "Enjoy your trip though, alright?" Jasper gave a nod.