The very next day, Ron was full of energy again.
For once, he didn’t sleep in.
Before dawn had even broken, he had already washed up and gotten dressed.
Clutching Scabbers in his arms, he curled up on the living room sofa, startling Molly badly when she came downstairs.
“Merlin’s socks, Ron!
What are you doing hiding here?” Ron mumbled out a vague excuse and managed to muddle through the questioning.
It wasn’t until the twins came down early to clean the garden that the truth came out.
“Ron’s trying to suck up to Vaughn!” “That’s right.
We overheard yesterday that Vaughn’s giving him his Christmas present early—a brand-new wand.” “Indeed, George.
An accurate retelling.
It seems our foolish little brother isn’t completely brainless.
He knows to show respect to his benefactor.” “But he’s not sincere enough, Fred.
He didn’t even dare tell Mum!” “Exactly, George.
The useless pride of a foolish younger brother.” The twins fired comments back and forth, laughing uproariously as Ron nearly exploded from anger.
Then they bounced happily out of the house.
Vaughn was awakened by their cheering.
By the time he got up, the sun had already climbed over Stoatshead Hill.
Golden rays filtered through the window, casting striped patterns of light across the room.
Ginny was still sleeping soundly in his arms.
The night before, she had come over carrying a storybook.
Vaughn had spent at least an hour reading fairy tales to her before finally coaxing her to sleep.
That was one of the reasons the siblings were so close.
Bill and Charlie had left home early for work.
Percy never had patience for anything unrelated to studying.
Fred and George were energetic monkeys every waking moment.
Only Ron and Vaughn were willing to tell Ginny stories.
Of course, Ron only told stories he personally liked, so Ginny had long since stopped bothering with him.
After getting dressed, Vaughn opened the window.
Outside, old Errol flapped his aging wings and hopped through the garden’s weeds and bushes, driving out one garden gnome after another.
The creatures were barely a foot tall, with oversized heads, thin limbs, and brownish-yellow skin, looking like potatoes that had grown legs.
Meanwhile, the twins rode broomsticks overhead.
As Errol flushed the gnomes out, Fred and George swooped down, grabbed them, spun them around repeatedly, and hurled them far into the wilderness.
The air filled with fading screams and the twins’ delighted laughter.
“Those two really can find fun in anything.” Vaughn chuckled and shook his head before returning to the bed and picking Ginny up.
The little girl stirred awake, rubbing her eyes sleepily.
“Vaughn?” “I’m going to Diagon Alley today, Ginny.
You’ll have to go back to your own room.” “Oh…” She buried her head into his shoulder and mumbled drowsily, “I want…
a Chocolate Frog…” “Alright.
I’ll bring you one when I get back.” As he carried her downstairs, they ran into Molly, who had been about to come upstairs and wake them.
“Oh, look at my two little sweethearts.” Molly’s broad frame was large enough to hug both children at once.
She wiped at the corner of her eye.
“Mum is so happy to see you all getting along so well.
Vaughn, you’re always such a thoughtful child.
Looking after Ginny, and now buying Ron a new wand too.
Honestly, I think his old one would have been perfectly fine.” Downstairs, Ron had rushed over the moment he heard the commotion.
At those words, he tightened his grip so hard he nearly strangled Scabbers.
He was terrified that his ill-tempered older brother would take back his promise because of what Mum had said.
Fortunately, Vaughn merely glanced at him.
“It’s alright, Mum.
It’s only seven Galleons.
Besides, using a wand that doesn’t belong to him could affect his studies.” Seven…
seven Galleons…
and that’s all?
Ron felt as though he’d been dumped into a barrel of lemon juice.
Everything about him turned sour with jealousy.
Molly knew how much money Vaughn had, so she didn’t press the issue.
Both Vaughn and Ron were her sons, and she loved them equally.
While she disliked the idea of Ron relying on Vaughn’s money out of principle, she certainly wasn’t going to oppose Vaughn giving his brother a gift.
The fact that her youngest son had to make do with hand-me-downs from his older brothers already filled her with guilt.
Besides, Vaughn was right.
Using someone else’s wand really could have consequences.
So she let the matter rest.
Molly carried Ginny back to her room.
Vaughn washed up, ate breakfast with Ron, and before long it was time to leave.
Molly lifted a flowerpot filled with glittering gray-white powder from the fireplace mantel and addressed the brothers.
“Vaughn, you’ve used Floo Powder before, so you know what to do.
But Ron, you haven’t.
Watch your brother carefully.
Pronounce the destination clearly and firmly.
Diagon Alley!
Diagon Alley!
Understand?” “Yes, Mum!” Ron was practically vibrating with excitement, the tips of his ears turning bright red.
Molly handed the flowerpot to Vaughn.
Vaughn sighed.
He had never particularly liked the stuff.
It always got soot in his hair and on his clothes.
Unfortunately, he hadn’t learned Apparition yet, so this was his only option.
Grabbing a handful of Floo Powder, Vaughn stepped into the fireplace.
He threw the powder down forcefully and shouted, “Diagon Alley!” With a loud whoosh, green flames erupted before his eyes.
Vaughn felt as though he’d been tossed into a washing machine.
His body stretched and twisted while spinning rapidly around a central point.
All around him were equally distorted and bizarre images.
A few seconds later, he stumbled to a stop.
Shaking his head to clear away the lingering dizziness, he brushed soot from his clothes with obvious annoyance and surveyed his surroundings.
He stood in an enclosed passageway.
Several fireplaces were built neatly into dark brick walls.
Green flames flashed repeatedly as witches and wizards emerged one after another.
Some were accompanied by children, likely Hogwarts students who had also received their acceptance letters and come to purchase books and supplies.
After a brief look around, Vaughn simply waited.
A moment later, green flames flared behind him.
Ron came tumbling out, covered in soot, rolling across the floor before crashing directly at Vaughn’s feet.
“Ron, that’s quite the greeting.” Vaughn grinned as he pulled him upright.
Ron was still dizzy and didn’t even hear what he said.
Only after Molly arrived, brushed the soot off him, and led both boys out of the enclosed passageway and into the bustling heart of Diagon Alley did Ron fully recover.
Before him stretched a long street that seemed endless.
Several meters wide and paved with cobblestones, it was packed with witches and wizards wearing pointed hats.
Shops lined both sides of the street.
Their square display windows were divided into neat glass panes, and sunlight poured down from above, making the merchandise sparkle brilliantly.
The nearest shop’s door swung open.
A wizard and witch emerged with a young boy.
The boy was chewing something, and with every chew, his hair changed color.
Ron stared in amazement.
He had already spotted the shop’s sign.
Gambol and Japes Wizarding Joke Shop.
Fred and George’s favorite store.
The place they talked about endlessly.
The place Ron visited most often in his dreams.
In a daze, he heard Vaughn say, “Ron, welcome to Diagon Alley.” At the very same moment, someone behind them was saying the exact same thing: “Welcome to Diagon Alley!”