Chapter 14: chapter:14
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James just let him. Instead, James just said, "Nice of you to join us."
Alex mumbled something unintelligible.
"He's not a morning person," James told Harry. Then to the both of them, he said, "The tailor will be here at ten."
Alex groaned.
"He's fitting you both for dress robes." Then, just to Harry, he said, "Harry, he'll also be fitting you for some everyday clothes. Just enough until we can make it to Diagon."
"Thank you," Harry said quietly. He didn't know what Diagon was, but getting clothes of his own for the first time was exciting. Even more so, since they would actually fit.
James waved it off, saying it was his job to provide for Harry.
Several thoughts went through Harry's head, none of them nice. He kept his mouth shut though. He'd learned the hard way to keep his thoughts to himself.
Alex's place was placed in front of him by Mippy. He turned his attention fully towards his food.
A moment later, Hames said, "Right then, I'm off."
He gathered the paper up, and stood to leave the room, then paused. "I hate to do this, Harry, but it's unavoidable. I'll be gone until Monday morning. I truly am sorry. I wanted to spend your first weekend back with you, help you adjust."
Harry wondered what was so important, but didn't ask. Instead, he said, "I'll be fine."
Turning to Alex, James said, "I expect you to behave. Make Harry feel welcome. No venturing off to your friends, no friends coming over."
"For the whole weekend?" Alex asked, shocked.
"Yes, the whole weekend."
"Ernie and I had plans," he whined.
"Cancel them."
"Ugh, fine," he snapped and stabbed at a sausage viciously.
"And no taking Harry out flying. I wont be here to help if someone gets hurt."
"Whatever," Alex said.
James sighed. "Harry, stay inside for the weekend, would you. The garden can be a bit much, I don't want you to get hurt or lost."
Harry had no problems agreeing to stay inside. He was already planning to explore the library some.
"Right. I'll see you boys at breakfast Monday," he said, then left.
Harry sipped on his tea, which was somehow staying at the perfect temperature, and wondered what to say to his brother. Alex seemed to have more in common with Dudley than him, from the little bit Harry had seen of him. He even ate as messily as Dudley.
Harry was eying James' paper, contemplating reading it, when Alex finally spoke.
"I'm going flying after before the tailor gets here," he said around a mouthful of food.
Harry grimaced. It took everything for him to not snap at the other boy to chew with his mouth closed.
"But we can listen to the match later."
"The match?" he asked.
"Quidditch match. The Magpies are playing the Tornadoes."
Harry had no idea what Quidditch was, and said as much.
"It's the best sport in the world. You'll love it!" Alex said. His eyes lit up as he launched into an animated conversation about it. He never told Harry exactly what Quidditch was, but he explained all the teams and why the Magpies were his favourite.
Conversation petered out after that, and Harry grew tired of watching the other boy eat.
"I'm going to read," he said.
There was a lot of catching up to do, and so much he didn't know. According to the letter, the term started in just over a month, and he had no idea how he would survive at Hogwarts. Every conversation so far had left him with more questions than answers about the world he'd been unceremoniously dropped into. Sure, Harry had spent years pretending to be dumb, but he'd never actually felt it until now. Part of him wondered if the muggleborn students felt the same way.
Two and a half hours later, he'd skimmed through Hogwarts, A History, and learned a little more about the houses and the school. He'd flipped through History of the Blood War learning a little more about the war, and gone back over the leaflet three times. His notes had more than doubled in length. He was contemplating going down to the library when Alex came to fetch him.
Waiting for them in the drawing room was the tailor. He was an older man, short, with sandy hair and pale skin. On his head was a wide brimmed, pointed hat, and he wore a bright yellow floor length medieval robe trimmed in green brocade.
"Mr. Cropper, meet my brother, Harry," Alex said.
"Well mat, Heir Potter. Mr. Ennis Cropper with Kildare's Wizardwear," the man said with a bow. His voice was nasally and deep."Well met, Mr. Cropper," Harry stuttered out, mimicking the words the tailor had used. Harry had read that he was the heir, but he wasn't sure exactly what that meant.
Alex snickered beside him. "Mr. Cropper's been the Potter's tailor since Dad was a boy."
Cropper stared at them, his eyes going back and forth between Harry and Alex in amazement.
"This way, boys, come on, come on," Cropper said, clapping his hands and ushering them farther into the room.
The entire area just through the door had been completely taken over. Two identical stations stood next to each other, each one with a squat platform placed in front of a three-way-mirror.
They were each directed onto one of the platforms. Harry stepped up onto his and looked at himself in the mirrors. He didn't look quite as small and malnourished as he had in his cousin's cast offs. Compared to Alex though, he was still too skinny and his washed out skin looked sickly against the pale blue of his jacket.
Suddenly, there was a tape measure flying all around him, and he gaped in shock at it. Floating next to him, was a piece of parchment. A quill furiously took notes."Lift your arms, Heir Potter," Cropper said.
Harry did as he asked, and said, "Just call me Harry." The Heir thing was too new to be comfortable. Especially since Alex made a face every time it had been said.
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