HP/LOTM: Hogwart's Mind Dragon

"How are you here?" Draco asked, his surprise evident.

"Took a wrong turn with the Floo," Aiden said, feigning awkwardness.

An uncomfortable silence fell between them, both boys lost in their own thoughts. Draco was wondering why this irritating Prewett wasn't leaving, and Aiden was wondering what was taking Lucius so long.

Meanwhile, at the counter, Borgin was presenting an item. "Oh, look at this. Unparalleled quality," he said, holding up a small, black diary.

"That is a special item, and it is not for sale," Lucius said coolly, taking the diary and putting it away. "By the way, I have another batch of items at my home. I will require you to come and collect them."

"Of course, Mr. Malfoy. Of course," Borgin bowed.

Lucius offered no reply and turned to leave. "It is always a pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Malfoy," Borgin's oily voice called after him.

"Alright, Aiden," Lucius said with a curt nod. "Draco and I will be leaving." He gestured, and his son followed him out of the shop.

Aiden turned back toward the counter and saw Borgin grabbing Harry by the collar of his robes.

"Looking for something else?" Borgin sneered.

Aiden stepped forward and pulled Harry away, placing himself between them. He smiled at Borgin, a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Perhaps he was just lost, drawn in by the... malevolent aura of this place."

Then, ignoring Borgin's sputtered curses, Aiden grabbed Harry and pulled him out of the shop. They burst out onto the grimy street, only to be stopped by a hunched figure.

"Where are you two going in such a hurry, my pretty little things?"

An ancient witch stood before them, holding a tray filled with what looked disturbingly like human fingernails. She squinted at them and grinned, revealing a row of mossy green teeth. Other shadowy figures began to emerge from the alleyways, surrounding them.

"Get out of our way," Aiden hissed, his heterochromatic dragon eyes scanning the crowd. The sheer draconic intimidation in his gaze made the surrounding wizards flinch and take a step back. Harry, too, took a nervous step backward, and Aiden took his hand.

'If you'd gotten lost here alone, kid,' Aiden thought, 'tomorrow's Daily Prophet would have a front page story about the invincible Savior meeting a very sticky end in Knockturn Alley.'

[Ding. Or perhaps: 'Shocking! The Weasley Family Actually Did This...']

Aiden pulled Harry close, slipping them both into the crowd's conscious blind spot, and they moved carefully toward the alley's exit. A huge figure was blocking their path.

"Hagrid!" Harry shouted, his relief shattering Aiden's concealment charm.

"Harry! Aiden! What're you two doin' down here?" Hagrid boomed, striding toward them. His immense size was more than enough to make the lingering wizards scatter.

"Oh, it was awful, Hagrid! We got lost," Harry said dejectedly.

"Look at yeh, all covered in soot," Hagrid said, brushing some grime from Harry's shoulder.

Aiden snapped his fingers. "Scourgify." The soot on Harry's clothes vanished instantly.

As they stepped out of Knockturn Alley and back into the bright bustle of Diagon Alley, Hermione saw them and ran over, her parents trailing behind her.

"Harry! Hagrid! Aiden! There you are!" she said, then her eyes immediately fixed on his glasses. "Oh, for goodness sake, Harry, why are they always broken? Oculus Reparo." She took out her wand and mended them with a practiced flick.

"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Granger," Aiden greeted them politely.

"Hello, you must be Aiden," Mrs. Granger said with a gentle smile. "Hermione has told us so much about you."

At that moment, the rest of the Weasley family descended upon them.

"Oh, Harry, I finally found you!" Molly cried, pulling him into a tight hug. "I was so worried!"

"Great, everyone is finally together," Arthur announced. He looked at Hermione's parents. "And you are?"

"We're Hermione's parents," Mr. Granger introduced himself.

"Oh, splendid!" Arthur beamed. "Muggles, are you? We must have a good drink later!" He excitedly shook Mr. Granger's hand, and the two hit it off immediately.

"Well," Mr. Granger suggested, "we were just about to take Hermione to Gringotts to exchange some money. Shall we meet at the Leaky Cauldron later?"

"No need for all that trouble," Aiden offered. "I can exchange it for you directly, at the official rate, with no limit. It just so happens I need some pounds, and arguing with those goblins is always such a hassle."

"Oh, that's wonderful news!" Mr. Granger joked. "In that case, I'll have to exchange a bit more."

The large group made its way to a brightly lit shop on the main thoroughfare.

"Prewett's Alchemy Miracles," Arthur read the sign, impressed. "You just put your name on it so boldly?"

"Why not?" Aiden replied with a shrug. "The Borgin family does the same. Besides, who would target an alchemist for no reason, except for a madman?"

Inside, the shop was packed with customers. "Oh, it's run by goblins," Mr. Granger noted with interest.

Molly led the group through the crowd with ease, as if she had been coming here since she was a child. Aiden looked over the counter and saw a familiar face.

"Griphook? Aren't you supposed to be at Gringotts?"

"Ahem, Mr. Prewett," the goblin stammered. "I am merely here to... help."

But his flimsy excuse couldn't fool a hypnotist. "Forget it, I'll just see for myself," Aiden said, his eyes glowing faintly. "Hmm... Gringotts, contract, Prewett... Good heavens, you goblins actually treat Gringotts as your private property?" he said aloud, revealing the secret. "No wonder. We signed an operating contract with the goblin nation, and you just come here to work after your shifts there."

Under Aiden's mental probe, Griphook looked utterly defeated.

"Oh, Mr. Prewett, what are you doing?" Mr. Granger asked, confused.

"Dad, that's Legilimency," Hermione explained. "It's a type of mind-reading magic." Her parents both took a subtle step back.

"Don't worry, Mr. Granger," Aiden said, his eyes curving into a beautiful smile. "Under normal circumstances, I only use this magic on my enemies. Oh, and in business, of course. Commercial activities are bound to involve a little deception, so it's harmless to use it then."

"Come on, we've wasted enough time," Arthur called out.

"Griphook, give the day's proceeds to Uncle Arthur," Aiden ordered.

The goblin retrieved a heavy box. Arthur opened it a crack, and the brilliant golden light that shone out made him gasp. He immediately snapped it shut, looking around cautiously.

'They'll definitely have to go to Gringotts later,' Aiden thought with a smirk.

His pockets suddenly much heavier, Arthur's posture seemed to straighten. "Children," he announced grandly. "Go and buy your respective school supplies." He took out a handful of Galleons and distributed them, and Percy led the younger wizards away.

Now, with the children gone, it was time for the adults to begin their own activities. Arthur enthusiastically pulled Mr. Granger toward the Leaky Cauldron.

"Hey, Tom!" Arthur called to the barman. "A round of butterbeers for us!" Then he turned to Mr. Granger, his eyes wide with curiosity. "Mr. Granger, can you tell me that thing you call a 'telephone,' can it truly allow you to communicate across thousands of miles?"

"Of course," Mr. Granger replied. "And communication technology is much more advanced now than it used to be."

"And what about your life as a... a dentist? I'm very curious about that, too."

The two men chatted enthusiastically while Molly and Mrs. Granger exchanged looks of fond helplessness.

***********

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