Right around noon on Saturday, August 11
The Leaky Cauldron
Just outside Diagon Alley

The Leaky Cauldron wasn’t one of Tessa Fenneken’s usual haunts. Particularly this time of year, the usual magical London crowd was augmented with excited families, nervously checking their shopping lists or catching a bite to eat before heading into Diagon Alley.

Across the table from her, her brother Jack had his nose buried in a book on Quidditch strategies. Her youngest brother was on the verge of entering his sixth year — he’d made the Hufflepuff team as a chaser the year before, and ever since, he’d been obsessed with nothing but the sport.  That was the only reason she’d begrudgingly agreed to let him tag along today when her mother had asked. As soon as they passed Quality Quidditch Supplies, Tessa knew he’d peel off to go stare longingly through the window with his friends.

It was only a few minutes past noon now, but Tessa couldn’t help herself from looking impatiently towards the door. It wasn’t as though she was concerned. Even though he was a Muggle, Anton had proven that he had had no issue finding the Leaky Cauldron, and she’d gone shopping with him and Micha once before back in March. But the German teen had a bad habit of letting his excitement lead him into trouble.

Suddenly, she spotted them — Anton first, his blonde hair bleached nearly white from the summer sun, and his younger brother alongside him.

She snapped twice in Jack’s direction, rising to her feet. “That’s them! Come on.”

Without waiting to make sure that her brother was following, she was up and weaving through the crowd, making her way to the Schafers. It hadn’t really been all that long since she’d last seen Micha, but she would have sworn that the soon-to-be Hogwarts student had grown several inches since their last visit together.

“Hi,” she said cheerfully, flashing a smile first at Anton and then favoring his younger brother. “You ready? Do you think you remember how to get us through into Diagon Alley, Micha?”

You know that feeling of being certain you heard a familiar voice amidst a crowd of chatting people?  You heard it, you're sure it's there but you have to listen really closely to convince yourself.  Then, once you find that person, that voice comes in loud and clear. 

That's what finding the Leaky Cauldron was like for Anton.  He knew it was there but the anti-muggle charms still tried to throw him off.  His eye kept wanting to track to the neighboring building and it wasn't until he really focused that he saw it. 

Of course, Micha just saw it right away.  Lucky kid. 

Anton tapped Micha's shoulder on the sidewalk right outside the pub to get his attention and signed a quick reminder for his younger brother to turn off his cell phone.  With a flicker of regret and uncertainty, Micha nodded and powered down his phone.  Mobiles had become such an unquestionable part of every kid's identity these days - or ... muggle kid's identity, at least ... but for Micha, it was his primary means of communicating with those who couldn't sign.  Anton understood his worry. 

The problem was mum and Micha were constantly feeding off of each other's worry. 

Micha tucked the phone away safely in his pocket before leading the way into the Leaky Cauldron and the magical world beyond.   

---

After patting his pocket to make sure the phone was safe, Micha stepped through the doorway and scanned the interior pub for Tessa.  Tessa, as Micha understood, worked for the Ministry of Magic and Anton had convinced her to be their guide to the magical world.  They'd explored Diagon Alley once back in the spring but Anton had recommended a pre-school return visit. 

Anton spotted the blonde witch before Micha had and, with a slight tug to his shirt sleeve, had pointed Micha in her direction.  Micha grinned at Tessa and then waved shyly at the boy who was with her before turning to Anton who signed a translation.  He grinned and nodded before shrugging, slightly, before waving a flattened palm in a gesture of ambivalence. 

It's back in the alley, Micha signed as Anton translated.  You poke the magic bricks with a wand.  I don't remember which bricks, though.  Micha dropped his hands but his brother seemed to keep talking, despite the fact Micha was done.  Or, where you end up if you hit the wrong bricks.  Is that the way to Narnia? 

Tessa's eyes darted back and forth between Micha and Anton as the older brother translated, even though she couldn't really understand the signing. Back in the Werewolf Capture Unit's office, she'd been incredibly annoyed when the Muggle teenager had broken into the Ministry of Magic[1] simply to ask her to play tour guide, but she understood now why Anton was so protective of his younger brother. Layer on the fact that Micha didn't have a magical parent, and it made a little bit more sense why Anton was so intent on forcing his way into the magical world.

"I think that's through the wardrobe," she said with a laugh, flicking a quick glance to Anton before flashing a grin at Micha for his joke. "Maybe we'll pop out through the weirwood in Winterfell? Or open a Door into the Dark Tower?"

It wasn't often that she was appreciative of the pop culture obsession of her Capture Unit teammates, but Tessa willed a silent thanks to Harris and Sasaki as she led the others through the busy pub to the back courtyard. If nothing else, at least their constant yammering gave her enough knowledge that she could banter with the Schafers.

Clouds hung heavy in the sky overhead, but the air outside was warm and pleasant. The courtyard was clearly a busy thoroughfare today. Up ahead, Tessa could see the wall closing behind the last family that had passed through into Diagon Alley.

"This is Jack, by the way," she told the Schafers, casting a look back at her brother. There was no mistaking the two Fenneken siblings, either: both shared the same honey-blonde hair and the same pert nose, though Jack's was still patently stuck inside his book. "He's going to be a sixth year in Hufflepuff; that's one of the Hogwarts houses."

1.	March 9, 2012 - Tell Us How It's Done, Mate

Anton's hands started to provide a translation of Tessa's pop culture references but, for a brief moment, the flurry of gestures paused.  Micha's own attention flickered from his bigger brother's hands to the look of uncertainty on Anton's face and finally towards Tessa.  When his gaze finally returned to Anton, his brother quickly prefaced with 'no clue which of this is real or joke but... before he proceeded to finish translating what had come before. 

As long as we don't accidentally stumble into Jurassic Park, Anton relayed to the group for Micha.  I'd definitely end up as raptor chowder.  Micha grinned broadly before turning his attention to the brick wall that had fallen back in place after the previous shoppers had passed through. 

One day, he'd be able to command those bricks out of the way - a thought which was simultaneously daunting and exciting.  Until that day ... well ... Micha stepped up in front of the wall and reached out to touch several of the bricks in sequence.  It was closest to what he remembered from last time but, of course, the bricks wouldn't move - whether or not he'd gotten it right.  His fingers alone weren't magic enough. 

A tap on his shoulder drew Micha's attention to Anton and he, finally, looked towards older boy trailing behind Tessa.  Micha grinned broadly at Jack and waved, lifting up on his tip toes in the hopes of being seen over the edge of the book.  Then, Micha poked eagerly at Anton's shoulders, impatient for him to translate. 

Oh Hufflepuff - my brother ... me ...  Micha saw Anton roll his eyes and point at his own chest.  and his friend have bets on which house I'm going to end up in.  His friend wagers I'll be in Hufflepuff.  Micha continued to sign but noticed Anton had stopped talking.  This was the problem with family acting as aides - they were much more prone to censoring when they didn't agree with Micha.  It drove him crazy.  And was exactly why Micha would have to be sly when teasing Anton about his horrible crush on Tessa.  He'd definitely edit anything obvious.

He kicked Anton's foot and glared at him, repeating his signs with more force.  He ignored his brother's eye roll.  I'll happy to be able to get into any one of them, if that means they let me go. 

It had taken Micha's earnest attempt to make friends to get Jack to finally sigh and lower his Quidditch book. Tessa snuck a dry look at Anton: his younger brother was far cooler than either of hers, but he had to understand the occasional exasperation of being the eldest in the family.

Micha was still signing as they walked toward the brick wall that guarded the entry into Diagon Alley. Tessa's gaze flicked between Anton and his younger brother as she drew her wand, doing her best to politely follow the translated conversation. Hogwarts houses often seemed to run in families, but not always -- she and her two brothers had all been in Hufflepuff, following in the footsteps of both of their parents, but she knew of other siblings that had ended up divided. But Micha, without any other magical relatives, didn't have that precedent to follow.

Part of her wondered which house Anton would have been in. Probably Gryffindor.

They'd reached the brick wall, and so Tessa took a second to count the bricks up from the rubbish bin: three up and two across. She reached out to tap the selected marker with her wand, even as Anton translated something unexpected.

The bricks started to shimmer in front of them, with a small hole rapidly expanded to form a large archway. Surprised, Tessa glanced back at the Schäfer brothers as she started through.

"If it means they let you go?" she asked, confused.

She hadn't realized that Micha's magical status was in doubt -- from what Anton had relayed, it seemed very obvious to her that the youngest Schäfer was destined for Hogwarts. Maybe he was just nervous because no one else in his family had attended.

She gave Micha a reassuring smile as they stepped through onto the rounded cobblestones of Diagon Alley. The street was busy today, filled with families and other bustling passerby taking advantage of the nice weather to do their shopping.

"They can't keep you out," she assured him. "If you're magical, you've got a right to be there, and the school doesn't let anyone slip through the cracks -- don't worry. I'm sure someone will come to deliver your letter any day now if they haven't already."

Anton trailed along with the trio of true wizarding folk, grinning with pride as Micha shared in magical-world gossip.  It took a concerted effort to ignore the disjointed pang of jealousy and the feeling of being the odd man out.  The feeling of being included but not quite belonging. 

For not the first time he found himself wondering whether this was what it felt like to be an undocumented immigrant. 

But, he was happy for Micha and that emotion prevailed.  Anton couldn't wait to hear all the stories of friends Micha had made - even, perhaps, the socially shy Jack might be an option.  Maybe.

"If it means they let you go? ... I'm sure someone will come to deliver your letter any day now if they haven't already."

Anton dutifully signed Tessa's response and offered his younger brother a sympathetic grimace as he watched Micha's shoulders deflate every-so-slightly.  A quick signed exchange passed between brothers, primarily focused on whether Anton should explain and what, if anything, Micha preferred to keep private. 

Anton offered a signed translation for Micha as he answered, so his younger brother knew exactly what was being said. 

"The question is not on the school's side - I missed it but two very wizardy looking dudes totally showed up at the front door.  I was very sad to have missed it.  But, this is not about me, so..."  Anton quirked at grin at Micha.  "Don't know if you have any experience with Mums Of Special Kids.  They can be extra helicopter-y."  Anton hesitated and glanced towards Micha.

I don't think there are magical helicopters.  Do you think they have an equivalent phrase?  Dragon mums?  Anton signed to Micha, without translating for the verbally-dependent crowd. 

That's got to be something different.  That sounds more like dance recital mums.  Maybe ... Northern lights mum? Micha replied. 

Unstickable gum mum!

Tick mum!

Ah - we're helpless!  They need a travel phrase dictionary or something!  Micha laughed and Anton turned back to Tessa and Jack. 

"Very protective," he clarified.  "The parental units are having a hard time letting go."