44 Chapter 2 - The Burrow

CRASH!

"What in Merlin's name?!" A shout sounded as Vincent came tumbling out of the fireplace. He managed to right himself up during the roll, only to crash against a table, making him fall to the ground.

Vincent coughed, having inhaled some of the smoke in his travel.

"I...Floo travel sucks," Vincent muttered as he sat up to some chuckles.

"First time travelling by Floo Powder eh?" He sat up to see two red heads grinning down on him as Arnya wheeled her way over to his side.

One of them had long hair tied up in a short ponytail. Hanging off his ear was a fang of sorts. The other was shorter in comparison, being more stocky and muscular. Scars and bruises could be seen on his face, and his short sleeves did nothing to hide the numerous burns and scratches on his arms.

The one with long hair got out of his chair and offered a hand. "You alright there?"

"Yeah, thanks," Vincent patted some dust off his arms before grabbing hold of the hand. He was pulled to his feet and taking note of how tall the man was, being a good head taller than he was.

Looking around, he took note that the Weasley's fireplace was in the same room as their large kitchen filled with various mismatched items, different types of chairs, knives, dishes and even the windows were all different, having odd markings and such. On one wall, it had a clock that had, instead of numbers, several looking notices or alerts of sorts like You're Late, Tea Time, and Get Up. What caught his attention the most were the dishes that were washing themselves. He felt interested in it for what combination of spells were used and what else it could be used for. Not to mention how handy it would be.

"Name's Bill, this here's Charlie," Bill Weasley pointed to the other redhead who grinned as he held up a hand in greeting.

"Sup," Vincent couldn't help but grin at Charlie Weasley's casual greeting. "That was some entrance you made there, rather spectacular in fact."

"Wasn't intending it to be," Vincent held out a hand to which Charlie shook. "Vincent Wong, and I'm not sure if Arnya introduced herself."

"Ah, we were about to ask when you came rolling in," Charlie nodded to Arnya. He paused before taking another look at Vincent. "Vincent...Ah, blimey...your the muggle that Ron adducted!"

"Unknowingly in his defence," Vincent gave a wry smile as Bill chuckled.

"It's amazing you were allowed to stay at Hogwarts," Bill said thoughtfully. "A single memory charm would have done the trick."

"Doubt it," Bill snorted, "the Ministry's full of pureblooded old fools to let that happen."

Vincent couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the way the two were talking about the Ministry. Then again, Vincent hardly knows anyone else from the Ministry other than Mr Fudge, Weasley, and Malfoy.

"Mr Malfoy would most definitely be against it," Vincent thought. He then heard footsteps from the next room. "Is that your mother? I should probably go greet her."

"No worries..." Bill glanced at the fireplace as Vincent exited the room. "Wonder what's taking the rest so long."

Vincent wheeled Arnya through around the corner to to find a short, plump, kind looking woman. Mrs. Weasley scurrying around, and cleaning things up from the floor using both magic and her bare hands. After throwing several socks on in a basket, she finally noticed them.

"Vincent! Arnya!" Mrs Weasley scurried up to them as she surprised the two of them with a hug. "It's wonderful to see you both here...My word, I take it that was your first Floo travel by how dusty you are?"

Vincent was taken aback by the sudden kindness the woman showed. He was sure that he and Mrs. Weasley was not particularly close due to the lack of contact, unlike Harry who had visited and stayed over a couple of years back. So he was surprised at the warm greeting she gave him as she hugged Arnya.

"Um...It's good to see you too Mrs. Weasley," Vincent gave an awkward bow of the head as Mrs. Weasley laughed. "Thank you for having us."

"Oh, what a polite young man," she smiled as she looked properly at the boy. "No need to feel to nervous. Just settle down and treat this house as if it were your own."

Vincent gave a small smile as Mrs. Weasley waved her wand at the basket of clothes, making it zoom towards the backyard. "I'm sorry you had to see that, Fred and George, those two leave things lying around everywhere."

She then turned to Arnya and knelt down so that her eyes levelled with hers. "Arnya dear, how are you?"

"...Very well thank you," Arnya replied after some thought.

Mrs. Weasley nodded as she stood up. "Now, can I get you two anything? Water? Biscuits?"

Before Vincent could reply with anything, a wooshing sound echoed from the kitchen, quickly followed by three more.

"Oh their back are they?" Mrs. Weasley noted as Fred and George's laughter echoed from the kitchen, making her raise an eyebrow. "Now what trouble did they cause this time?"

Two more wooshing sounds came from the kitchen before a rather angry voice sounded. "Now what did you two give that poor boy?! His tongue had grown several feet! Had I not interfered in time...!"

"But dad, we just 'dropped' it," Fred's, or was it George's, voice answered. "Besides the little git deserves it right Harry?"

"Whether or not he deserves it is not the question here," Mr. Weasley huffed angrily. "Just wait till your mother hears about this..."

"Tell me what?" Mrs. Weasley raised a brow as she entered the kitchen, making everyone fall silent. She spotted Harry and smile at him. "Hello Harry, dear."

Her eyes then widened slightly at the sight of Sirius before tearing up slightly. "Sirius Black, I've read the newspaper. I'm sorry for all that you went through."

Sirius waved it off with some discomfort. "Over and done with, don't worry about it. And please, call me Sirius."

"Call me Molly," Mrs. Weasley shook hands with the man before remembering her husband. She turned back to Mr. Weasley. "Tell me what, Arthur?"

Vincent a tap on his shoulder and turned to see two girls, a bushy brown haired one and a small red head.

"Hermione, Ginny," He grinned at the two of them as did they.

"What's happening?" Hermione asked Vincent who shrugged.

"Something about Fred and George's joke on Harry's cousin or something I think," Vincent said thoughtfully.

"...anything to do with Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes—"

"Wizard what?" Vincent looked questionably at Ginny who mouthed, 'later' just as Hermione spoke up.

"Why don't you show Vincent and Harry where their sleeping Ron," she called.

Ron looked visibly relieved at leaving the room, as did Harry. "Right...Let's do that."

"Yeah, we'll come..." George was cut off by Mrs. Weasley.

"You stay where you are!" Mrs. Weasley glared at the twins who shrunk back.

Vincent took one last glance back before following the group through the house, pushing Arnya along. As he was climbing the stairs, he got a good look at the questionable design of the hous. Without magic, this house would definitely have tumbled over.

"Any architect would cry at the mere look of this house," Vincent looked further up to see the rest of the house kind of tilting to the side somewhat. "Well, there goes physics. It's pretty cool actually."

"...Weasley's Wizard Wheezes?" Harry's question about something that Mrs. Weasley mentioned brought Vincent's attention as they neared the second floor, something that both Ginny and Ron laughed at before explaining.

Apparently, Fred and George had been inventing several items for the hope of opening a joke shop. Fake wands, trick sweets, and bunch of other toys that piqued his interest. It seemed that Mrs. Weasley didn't take to their ambitions very well since it appeared to affect their grades.

"I think it's pretty neat that they something their aiming for," said Vincent. "Not to mention that some of the things you mentioned sound cool, if not a bit dangerous."

"Well...I guess," Hermione's voice trailed off in thought before she shook her head. "Still, they do need to spend more time on their studies—"

"What is all that noise—oh, hello Harry, Vincent, Arnya," Percy poked his head out of a door. "I hope you don't mind keeping the noise down. I've got a very important report to hand in and it's rather hard with all the noise."

"Oh, sorry Percy," Vincent apologised. "What's the report on?"

"A report for the Department of International Magical Cooperation," said Percy smugly. "We're trying to standardize cauldron thickness. Some of these foreign imports are just a shade too thin—leakages have been increasing at a rate of almost three percent a year—"

"That'll change the world, that report will," said Ron. "Front page of the Daily Prophet, I expect, cauldron leaks."

Percy went slightly pink as Vincent looked thoughtful. "Standardize...Is it just cauldrons or are you going to make reports on other products to make sure that whatever is manufactured is up to standard in terms of quality."

Percy's eyes shone excitedly. "Indeed, there are plenty of objects that are either hastily transfigured or made. If the Ministry doesn't set a standard of what the supposed quality of an item is, then anyone would be able to give out inferior products that could endanger the—"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Ron rolled his eyes as he continued upstairs.

Percy glared at Ron's back before slamming the door. Vincent just blinked before following in pursuit.

"Hey Hermione, Ginny, where about is Arnya staying?" Vincent asked the two girls who glanced back.

"Arnya can stay in our room," Ginny replied without any hesitation. "It'll be a bit crowded, but we'll make do. If that's alright for you, Arnya?"

Arnya seemed to be visibly distracted by something outside, making Vincent tap her shoulder. She looked back at him.

"Is everything alright?" Vincent asked.

Arnya looked thoughtful for a moment before nodding. "Yes. I'm alright."

Arnya rolled herself up the stairs without Vincent as he stayed behind the group to look out the window. All he could see was the setting sun behind the distant trees and grassland...

...and the sky that was dyed a brilliant purple.

...

Axel looked up at the sky with a complicated expression before heading into the Leaky Cauldron. His blood red eyes and spear attracted quite a few eyes as made his way through to the entrance of Diagon Alley.

"Stares here, stares there, so nerve-wracking," Axel grumbled in his head as he tapped on a few bricks, opening up the entrance. "Now...it should be around here—found it."

Ollivander, looking through the wands on the shelves to make sure that they were in top condition, heard the front door open and close. "Stores closed."

"I'm not here for a wand," Ollivander looked back to see Axel looking around the shop with frown. "Just here to take a look at the great Wandmaker, Ollivander himself since an acquaintance of mine's out of town. Haah, ya think my dear sister would have notified me before hand of such things. Now I have to wait around to get back."

Ollivander raised a brow at the vampires complaints.

"And why, might I ask, would I attract the attention of a Noble such as yourself?" Ollivander placed a wand back in a box before going to his counter.

"Vincent Wong," Ollivander's eyes narrowed. "I'm curious, why would such a famous Wandmaker such as yourself would aid someone that is unable to wield your works. Perhaps it's his attitude? Maybe something about him caught your eye. Whatever it is, you helping the kid out raises no small number of questions. Perhaps you could quell my curiosity."

Ollivander just silently stared at Axel with those eyes that seem to look deep into your soul. Axel's expression didn't change, but he felt rather uncomfortable around such a man. The old mans eyes then traveled to the blood red spear, appraising it with great interest.

"That spear of yours..." Ollivander observed, clearly ignoring Axel's question. "Noble Vampires have the habit of creating a signature item that represents their power and status with their own blood and soul. It's a part of them, a part of their own flesh and blood."

"Your point?" Axel asked, although his grip over his spear twitched slightly.

"That spear of yours..." Ollivander repeated as he narrowed his eyes. "The relationship you have with that spear is not one of kinship, no, it's more like the relationship between that of a wizard and his wand. It's almost as if...it chose you."

Axel's eyes looked to his spear and back to Ollivander. He scratched his head as he sighed. "Alright, waste of time. Really not in the mood to be evaluated. I'm heading out, heard there was a nice coffee shop around here. Might stick around there for the next couple of days. Hopefully I don't see you around old man."

Ollivander watched as Axel trudged out the door with great interest. "That Noble does not have the aura of a vampire, could he perhaps be...?"

Ollivander shook his head as he turned back to recheck his stock, only to glance at a couple of blueprints he had forgotten to store away on his counter, one that showed a rod embedded with several gems and had odd engravings etched into it, and another that showed an arm band of sorts.

"That boy, really does come up with the most fascinating ideas," Ollivander chuckled to himself as he tucked away the blueprint. "Makes one wonder what he'll come up with next."