Ohey were alone in the car on the way to the Leaky Cauldron, Maverick finally asked Isabel what their mothers had been talking about.

  Everything! Isabel's mother had spilled all the beans, with Isabel stuck sitting awkwardly between them. Maverick thought that if it were him, he would have no problem faking a faint to get out of it.

  He was gd to hear that his mom was okay with their retionship. Her only worry had been that Isabel was still in school, but after Silvia patiently expined how things worked in the wizarding world, she had e around.

  "What?" Isabel asked, gng sideways at Maverick, who was at the wheel with a silly grin on his face.

  Maverick scratched his nose. "Nothing... bet you were really embarrassed," he said with a chuckle.

  Isabel rolled her eyes and gave him a light pun the shoulder. "Of course I was! If I'd known, I would've goh you to meet your No-Maj queen," She said, looking at him with an expression, clearly plotting some payback for leaving her alone.

  "Right, right…" Maveriodded, still ughing. "ime, I'll make sure to take you."

  They talked more, and before it was four o'clock, they reached Charing Cross Road and parked the ear the Leaky Cauldron.

  Maverioticed Isabel was slowly returning to her usual rexed toh him, which he was gd for. He really didn't want her being awkward around him all the time. It was her straightforwardhat had attracted him in the first pce—well, that and the fact that she looked geous.

  "What a weird way to ehe ter of magical Britain..." Isabel couldn't help but ent, standio Maveri front of the worn-out looking pub.

  Maverick chuckled softly. "For turies, Muggle-borns have used this pce as a gateway— their first glimpse into the magical world." He g Isabel with a small smile. "It may look old, but it holds tless stories."

  Isabel shot him a sideways gnce, raising an eyebrow. "You sound like an old man."

  He ughed, raising his hands. "Hey, I read it in a book!" With that, he pushed the creaky door open aured for her to follow. "e o's go."

  Chime, chime.

  With the soft sound of bells, Maverid Isabel stepped i looked the same. It felt the same. Even the ers seemed the same, sitting at their usual spots, murmuring over drinks or flipping through copies of the Daily Prophet.

  Maverick let out a nostalgic sigh. Just then, a familiar voice called out from he bar.

  "Well, well, if it isn't a familiar face! Back from your trip abroad?"

  Looking ahead, Maverick spotted Tom behind the bar, his usual friendly toched with his ever-odd appearance.

  o him was a little blonde girl, reading a book that rested on the ter. She robably sitting on a tall stool, her head barely reag above the surface as she focused on the pages.

  Maverick walked up to the ter, with Isabel close behind. As they passed the long tables, a few ers gheir way. Maverick barely noticed—he was used to the curious stares by now. Isabel, however, didn't spare them a sed gnd pletely ighe attention.

  "Mr. Tom, it's been a while! Good to see you," Maverick greeted.

  Tom returhe greeting with his usual wide grin. To anyone else, it might seem a little creepy, but Maveriew it was sincere.

  Mavericed at Isabel, a small smile on his face.

  "Bel, this is Mr. Tom, the ndlord of this pce," he said, then turo Tom. "Mr. Tom, this is Isabel, my girlfriend..."

  Isabel blushed slightly, but only for a moment. She gave a polite little bow. "Pleasure to meet you, sir..."

  "Girlfriend, you say..." Tom said, grinning even wider, making Maverick sigh.

  Just then...

  "Wow... your hair is so beautiful..." A new voice suddenly interrupted, making all three of them goward it.

  The little blonde girl, who had been pletely lost in her book, was now staring at Isabel with wide, admiring eyes.

  "Ah..." Tom made a small sound aured to the girl. "This is my granddaughter, Hanna," he said with a wide smile. "She likes to visit during her Muggle school holidays..."

  Hanna, still staring at Isabel, blinked and quickly looked down at her book, her cheeks turning a shade of pink.

  "Why, thank you, Hanna..." Isabel smiled warmly. "Yours is beautiful, too..."

  Hanna gave a shy smile, her eyes flig back to her book, though she clearly looked happy.

  Maverick watched the girl, and his memories stirred. Future wife of Neville... he thought inwardly, but kept it to himself. He didn't want to say or do anything that might ge the plot—not until he was absolutely fident in his own strength.

  "Hello..." Maverick spoke up, drawing the girl's attention. Hanna slowly raised her head, shyly thanked Isabel, and then g Maverick.

  "Yrandfather is one of the ki people I know. You're very lucky."

  Maverick's words made Hanna smile widely, and her awkwardness disappeared instantly.

  Tom chuckled, his grin widening. "That's very kind of you to say, young Maverick."

  Maverick returhe smile, though his brow twitched slightly at the question.

  "Here to book a room?" Tom winked, his wide grin in po matter how pyful the gesture was meant to be, it always came off as a bit creepy when it came from Tom.

  "Diagon Alley!" Maverick replied quickly. "Isabel's an Ameri witch... I'm giving her a tour."

  "Right, right. Well, you go ahead. Have a good time," Tom said, gesturing with his hand, his grin never fading.

  Maveriodded and g Isabel. "e o's go..."

  They both gave Hanna a friendly smile once more before walking away.

  Maverick led Isabel out to the back of the pub, into the empty courtyard.

  "What's this pce...?" Isabel asked, eyeing the brick walls and the couple of barrels scattered in the very empty courtyard.

  Maverick chuckled, walking up to the front wall and pulling out his wand. "Watch..."

  Just as he was about to tap the wall, a voice called from outside.

  "Just a moment, please..."

  The voice carried a heavy British at. Maverid Isabel turo see a middle-aged womaering the courtyard. She wore a green robe and a pointy hat, her outfit practically shouting, I'm a witch.

  "Thank you..." the woman said before turning around auring with her hand. "Hurry up. The sun won't wait all day."

  A moment ter, anure stepped through the door—a little girl dressed in normal Muggle clothing.

  The woman turned baaverid Isabel. "Thank you," she said with a polite smile.

  Maverick smiled back. "It's nothing..." He turned again, raising his wand.

  As he tapped the wall in a circur pattern, the woman took a good look at Maverid Isabel.

  When he finished, Mavericed at Isabel, curious to see her rea.

  The bricks began to twist and shift, rearranging themselves into an arched entrao his disappoi, there was no amazement on Isabel's face.

  She simply raised an eyebrow and looked at him. "What?... You do realize I'm a witch, right? Long before—"

  "Ahaha..." Maverick ughed nervously, cutting her off. He should have expected this ck of surprise from Isabel. But he couldn't help it—he had been blown away the first time he saw the magic.

  However, the little girl who had e with the woman looked utterly awestruck. "Brilliant!" she excimed, her wide eyes glued to the entrance.

  The three of them g her, amused.

  "Well, yes... wele to Diagon Alley," the woman said to the girl with a warm smile. "The heart of magical Britain."

  She then turo Maverid Isabel. "Are you both fners?"

  "I am. He's not," Isabel answered quickly, pointing to Maverick before he could speak.

  "A British Muggle?" the woman asked, raising an eyebrow at Maverick.

  Scratg his head, Maverick let out a small pulse of suppressed magic, just enough to dispel any doubts.

  The woman's eyes widened in shock. "Such precise magical energy manipution... I've never heard of someone so young at the Great Magus rank!"

  Maveristantly regretted his decision.

  Seeing his rea, the woman softened, realizing she might have overstepped. "Ah, five me. I never meant to pry, young man."

  Maverick quickly waved his hand, brushing it off. "It's fine. I'm no Great Magus. Just a little better at cealing my magic..." he expihinking quickly of a pusible reason. He had no iion of revealing his advanced ability in magical energy manipution to aside his circle just yet.

  'A little?' the woman thought, doubtful. She wasn't sure even she could suppress her magic with such ease.

  From what she could sense, even with just magic suppression, Maverick's trol ical Energy Manipution was at least as good as hers.

  But in the end, she decided not to press the matter. Prying into someone else's magi her view, was very rude, and she wasn't the type to do that.

  Quickly brushing off her curiosity, she gave a small smile and said, "I'm Minerva Magall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Gesturing toward the little girl beside her, she added, "This is Skyler Woodly, one of our new first-years starting this term."

  This time, it was Maverick's turn to be surprised; her youthful appearanentarily threw him off guard.

  He had read that Magall was one of the elite Great-Mages of Britain, and unlike in the Harry Potter books, witches and wizards had longer lifespans the higher their rank.

  Even Mr. Sder, nearing a hundred, only had white hair but looked far younger ahier than anyone his age should, he thought inwardly.

  Maverick blinked, quickly rec from his brief startle, theurhe greeting. "I'm Maverick Caesar, and this is Isabel," he said, motioning to her. "She's an Ameri witch visiting London for the first time, and I'm just showing her around the magical side of Britain."

  "It's o meet you," Magall said, nodding and smiling at Maverid Isabel. "Let's head inside while the sun is still up."

  Maveriodded, gave Isabel a quice, and then walked in.

  After half a year, he was back. The bustling shops, the chatter of witches and wizards, and the st of magical potions filled the air, and the alley still buzzed with its familiar, vibrant energy.

  "Wele to Diagon Alley," Maverick said with a smile, giving Isabel a quice.

  "If you're showing her around, you're wele to join us," Magall offered. "I'm here to help young Skyler gather her supplies, so we'll be visiting all the important spots."

  Maverick figured she probably just wao know more about them—or more specifically, about him. He thought about it for a moment, then decided it wouldn't hurt. Magall seemed like a good person, at least from what he remembered of her.

  He g Isabel first to make sure she was okay with it, and to his surprise, she was already nodding. He chuckled and replied, "Sure, ma'm. Thank you."

  "Call me Professonagall," she said with a smile.

  "So, Professor," Isabel said as they started walking, " you tell me a bit about Hogwarts? I've only heard bits and pieces from my Ilvermorny teachers and my dad."

  Magall's smile grew. "Of course," she replied, leading the way with Maverid Isabel on one side and Skyler oher.

  By the time Magall had finished briefing them on the S and the Houses, they had neared Gringotts Bank.

  "Speaking of," Magall g Maverick. "You say you're a British wizard, but I've never seen you at Hogwarts..." She paused, then added, "Of course, if it's not veo answer—"

  "It's alright, Professor," Maveriterrupted, gesturing with his hands. "I am indeed a British wizard. But I took my exams at Ilvermorny. Just finished my s not too long ago," he answered vaguely, not revealing too much.

  "s, really? How did you do? I'm curious," Magall asked, raising an eyebrow.

  Maverick thought for a moment and decided to aruthfully. Since his future pns involved Hogwarts, ht lying to the vice principal didn't seem like a good idea.

  "Hmm... perfe Transfiguration, Charms, and DADA. Excellent in Alchemy and Potions."

  Magall's eyes widened. "Perfe Transfiguration? That's the Outstanding grade in Britain... Achieving the very best in Transfiguration on the s is extremely rare." Her voice held genuine surprise before shifting to a mretful tone. "Now I'm jealous that Ilvermorny mao snatch up su outstanding student right from under our noses."

  Maverick scratched his nose, feeling a bit embarrassed. He hadn't realized that a perfect score in Transfiguration on the s was so rare. He probably should've downpyed his Transfiguration grade, like he had with Alchemy and Potions, he thought.. But what was done was done.

  They reached the door totts, and Magall g Skyler. "e, my dear. Let's go exge the pounds your father gave falleons." She then looked at Isabel and Maverick. "Will you both be ing?"

  Mavericed at Isabel.

  "We have a bran America, so we'll wait outside," she replied, gng over at a clothing store nearby. "We'll be over there." She poio the shop.

  Magall nodded. "We'll see you both in a moment then..." She smiled at them before leading Skyler into the bank.

  After they entered, Maverick turo Isabel. "I didn't know you were so ied in Hogwarts."

  Isabel smiled at him. "Who wouldn't be? It's sidered the oldest wizarding school in the world, and she's the vice-dean."

  Maverick chuckled. "True. That's what they say in the books. And it really does sound impressive." He raised his elbow toward her and winked. "Shall we?"

  Isabel g his elbow, fused for a moment. Then, uanding, she blushed and slowly linked her arm with his.

  The couple began walking slowly toward the shop, enjoying the quiet moment. Maverick couldn't help but chuckle, whily made Isabel more embarrassed.

  "e on... I'm still me, Bel," Maverick said, trying to ease her tension. It worked, and she gradually rexed, letting go of her awkwardness.

  "I know," she muttered, embrag his arm a little tighter.

  A short walk ter, they reached the shop with the sign that read Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.

  "e on, I want to see the differen British magical fashion," Isabel said, dragging Maveriside.

  —————————

  Author's Note:

  Just a quick update — up to Chapter 69 is already avaible on P AT r30n!

  PAT r30n [.] / RyanFic