Ravindar stroked the crumbs from his beard. He was breakfasting at the Leaky Cauldron. He had taken a room the previous night. Newly arrived back from his summer in the Punjab at the street school he had set up years before. He hated to leave but he was to return for a second year at Hogwarts. Hogwarts paid well and he used his money for good. Not just lovely robes. The crumbs fell onto his newspaper. It was open at a half page advert. An advert for werewolves to escape. Come to a camp in America for a week. A month. Longer. Ravindar had never seen it in the newspaper before. But he had been away in India all of the school summer holiday. Run by ELF. Who were ELF?

He was distracted by someone taking the table next to him. He recognized the young witch first. Then her mother.

"Miss Shacklebolt." Greeted Professor Singh. "Nadine!" He got to his feet to embrace her. The last of the breakfast crumbs tumbling from his robes. They had last seen each other at Balfour and Johann's wedding. Ravindar Nadine and Balfour had all been in the same year at Hogwarts. But Ravindar had been in Gryffindor of course. Now Nadine's daughter was his student.

"You look well." He said. He always said it. It was polite. "How is your summer? Is it time for school shopping?" He asked Aoide.

Aoide had been impatient to leave the house and head to Diagon Alley. Her father had kissed her and her mother goodbye before heading to the Ministry for work, and Aoide had already been ready by the fireplace with her shoes on. Eventually her mother had been ready, and they had taken the floo to the Leaky Cauldron for breakfast. Aoide’s mum was an auror, and she had the day off which was why they were coming into town before the weekend. It would be slightly quieter, avoiding the last minute Hogwarts rush.

The about-to-be-second year noticed Professor Singh as her mother approached the table. He wasn’t the only wizard in the world to wear a turban, but he was one of the few Aoide knew who did. His beard looked longer than she remembered, and his skin a little darker. He was just as gracious and warm though, greeting her as Miss Shacklebolt, which made her feel very grown up.

“Professor Singh!” Aoide greeted brightly, and bowed. Her teacher swept her mother into a hug, just like he had at the Spectre wedding back in the Spring. It was strange to think that her teacher had been in the same year at Hogwarts as her mum. He hadn’t really brought it up at school until they all met. It had felt strangely awkward, while also really cool to have a connection. After all, Feliks had his grandmother teaching at school.

“You look well. How is your summer? Is it time for school shopping?” Aoide nodded brightly, perching on a chair at the neighbouring table, facing her teacher.
“I got my letter with the list for second year,” she explained, unfolding it from her pocket.

She was wearing lilac robes with short sleeves and her hair was beautifully knotless box braided[1] by Nadine at the start of the summer, with matching extensions. It had taken hours as it had been done by hand rather than magic, and she had been incredibly patient, knowing the results would be good (and that her mum would tell her off if she kept fidgeting!) It had taken charms to stop them from frizzing up after a fortnight. She was sad that she was probably going to have to take them down before school to be able to look after them, as she wasn’t confident about charming it herself.

1.	If you’re curious  Jasmine Brown - The Tea on Box Braids was super helpful re hair care and The Natural Hair Addict - Knotless Box Braids or Regular box Braids pros and cons for the difference.

“Ravindar! How blessed,” Nadine exclaimed, recognising her old school friend, who now taught her youngest. Gosh he was always so impeccably turned out, even for breakfast at The Leaky Cauldron. She had robe envy.

“You look well. How is your summer? Is it time for school shopping?”
“I got my letter with the list for second year.”

Aoide was keenly unfolding her letter, as if a Hogwarts professor wouldn’t know what was on it. Ravindar was so good with her. He’d been gracious at the Spectre wedding back at Easter too. They’d fallen so out of touch through all the years, but had spent time regaling stories of adventures abroad.

“Thank you, you look wonderful. I must have the details of your tailor.” Nadine clasped his forearm in both hands. “I’ve the day off so we are on school shopping before the crowds. Are you doing similar, before the term begins?”

Second year! It was only yesterday that Aoide was casting her first spell in his transfiguration classroom. One day she would take her NEWTs and he would feel exactly the same.

"Thank you for your kind words. These are from one in Delhi so a longer trip from London." He put his hand on hers. "Finding my bearings. I have been away. Back to Punjab in June. Then a little of everywhere." Nadine and Aoide were not here to receive a lecture on his travels. "Have you been on your travels too?" Ravindar asked Aoide this question. To make her feel included. And took her letter to study. "Transformation Through the Ages. Plenty of those in second hand. Who would be without Standard Book Grade 2? Jigger already for Professor Storm?"