Chapter 84: Chapter 84: Gifts, Brawls, and an Adoption
Back at the book signing, after the chaotic photo session, Lockhart generously gifted both Aiden and Harry a complete, signed set of his autobiography.
Molly immediately snatched the stack of books from Harry's hands. "Oh, Harry, dear, I'll hold these for you," she gushed. "Maybe I can even get his signature again! Alright, kids, you go wait outside for me." With that, she plunged back into the adoring crowd.
Aiden stood there, holding his own set of books, completely ignored. 'So love fades, does it?' he thought dryly.
Ron, meanwhile, shot Aiden a look of pure, smug satisfaction. 'Finally,' his expression seemed to say, 'you get what you deserve.'
Aiden, expressionless, simply tossed his entire stack of books to Ron. "They're all yours."
"What?" The sudden generosity stunned Ron. "But what about you?"
"I'll just borrow someone else's in class," Aiden said with a wave, and walked outside.
The others followed, but Draco Malfoy caught up to them near the entrance. "Having a blast, aren't you, Potter?" he sneered. "Famous Harry Potter can't even visit a bookstore without making the front page."
"Stay away from him," Ginny snapped, stepping forward and glaring at Malfoy.
"Oh, how lovely," Malfoy laughed cruelly. "You've even got yourself a girlfriend."
Aiden, who was now walking with his arm slung around Ron's shoulders, leaned in and whispered, "So, he's jealous of Harry, isn't he?" Although Aiden could clearly see the truth of the matter, he didn't elaborate.
Ron looked at Aiden in absolute horror. "Him?!"
Aiden just raised a knowing eyebrow.
Just then, the sharp tap of a cane on the stone floor drew everyone's attention.
"Now, now, Draco. Play nicely," Lucius Malfoy said, striding forward. The aura of a man accustomed to power radiated from him, sharp and invasive. "Mr. Potter," he said, extending a hand. "Lucius Malfoy. We finally meet."
After a brief, cold handshake, Lucius's gaze swept over the others. "Ah, and with that red hair, you must be a Weasley. And this girl," he glanced at Hermione, "must be Miss Granger, from the Muggle world. Potter, Aiden... both of you come from extraordinary backgrounds. Do be careful about the company you keep, lest you lower your own standing."
Arthur, followed closely by the Grangers, saw Lucius and hurried over. "Alright, kids, let's be on our way," he said, trying to steer them away.
"Well, well, if it isn't Arthur Weasley," Lucius drawled, refusing to be ignored. "Not busy with your little raids, are you? I do hope the Ministry is paying you overtime. Such a disgrace to the wizarding name, doing their dirty work like a common lackey."
"Is that so, Lucius?" Arthur replied, his voice dangerously even. "I'm afraid we have a fundamental disagreement on what constitutes a disgrace. As for being a lackey, I'd say you know far more about that than I do."
"Oh, really?" Lucius's cold eyes flickered to the Granger couple. "And what have we here? Two Muggles, without a drop of magic between them. Good heavens, who let these filthy, common creatures in?"
With a furious roar, Ginny's brand-new, heavy cauldron flew through the air. With a loud clang of metal on bone, Lucius Malfoy demonstrated his unparalleled ability to fly backward, crashing into a towering bookshelf. Dozens of thick, heavy tomes rained down on his head.
Arthur, his patience finally snapping, lunged at Lucius.
"Hit him, Dad!"
"Go on, Dad!" the twins yelled, cheering from the sidelines.
"Stop it, Arthur! Stop it at once!" Molly, who had just returned with her signed books, screamed, but the two men were locked in a furious brawl, completely ignoring her.
"Aiden Prewett," Molly said, her voice dropping to an icy command. "Stop them."
Aiden sighed, walked forward, and with seemingly little effort, lifted both fighting men off the ground, one in each hand. He held them out at his sides like two large, flailing, humanoid suitcases. He then cast a gentle soothing charm, and the two men gradually stopped struggling.
"Gentlemen," Aiden said calmly. "It is undignified to fight in a public place."
"Hmph," they both grumbled.
Lockhart, followed by the short photographer, rushed out of the store. "Oh! Did you get a picture of that marvelous brawl?" he asked eagerly.
"Yes, sir!"
"Excellent! Remember to write to The Daily Prophet and tell them that the heads of two ancient and noble wizarding families came to blows over my new book!" Lockhart said proudly, adjusting his bow tie.
Lucius's face, which had taken a direct hit from the cauldron, was already swelling up on his right cheek. He had originally hoped to slip the cursed diary to Ginny to get revenge for the Muggle Protection Act, but Aiden had been standing in his way the entire time. Seeing that the situation had gone south, and not wanting to be caught with the hot potato, Lucius shoved the diary into Lockhart's hands.
"Take your blasted book," he snarled. "Draco, we're leaving." His voice was muffled by his swollen cheek as he limped away, his son trailing behind him.
After finally purchasing all their items, the group prepared to go home. At the entrance of the Leaky Cauldron, Arthur enthusiastically invited the Grangers for a ride in his charming treasure.
"Won't this thing be discovered flying in the sky?" Mr. Granger asked curiously from inside the magically expanded car.
"No," Aiden replied calmly from the front seat. "I added some of my blood to the car's body."
"Blood?" Mrs. Granger's face went pale, and she looked worriedly at Hermione.
"Ahem, my nephew's techniques are rather... special," Arthur explained quickly, completely forgetting about the Kingsport incident. "Wizards don't normally perform blood sacrifices."
"And how is the inside of this car so much bigger than the outside?" Mr. Granger asked, his curiosity insatiable.
"It's an Undetectable Extension Charm, Dad," Hermione explained happily. "The Ministry prohibits its private use, but since Mr. Weasley works for the Ministry, he must have registered it properly."
A cold sweat broke out on the foreheads of Arthur, Molly, and Aiden.
After dropping the Grangers off at their home, Arthur drove the car back to The Burrow. That night, as the family enjoyed dinner, a crisp cry echoed from the fireplace, and an old man in magnificent robes slowly stepped out of the green flames.
"Did I come at a bad time?" Professor Dumbledore asked, his eyes twinkling.
"Professor Dumbledore!" Arthur exclaimed. "Not at all! We were just about to eat. Would you like to join us?"
"Then I shall gratefully accept."
Dumbledore walked over, sat down in Aiden's seat, and casually helped himself to the fried egg Molly had just made for him. Aiden could only clench his fists in silent frustration and find another chair.
"Aiden," Dumbledore said, already enjoying the egg. "There is something I need to discuss with you."
"What is it?"
"I have found a family willing to adopt Mr. Oliver."
"Hmm? When is he leaving?" Aiden asked.
"Oh, aren't you going to ask who it is?"
"Although you, old man, sometimes get your mind addled by sweets," Aiden replied, "when it comes to knowing people, your judgement has never been wrong."
"Ho ho, thank you for your trust." Dumbledore quickly finished his plate. "Well then, I shall see you all at Hogwarts."
Amidst a chorus of goodbyes, Dumbledore vanished back into the flames.
After dinner, the family sat lazily in the living room. Aiden took out the ring wands he had made and distributed them to the Weasley family.
"Uncle, Aunt," he said. "Do you remember the magic I gave you?"
"I remember," Arthur said seriously.
"Now, with these rings, you can begin to practice. You two can study it on your own. As for the others, I'll pull them into the Dueling Association when we get back to school."
"Excellent," Arthur said. "We'll leave it in your hands, then."
"Please, we're family," Aiden said with a wave of his hand, and went upstairs.
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