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"I am so glad I get to have you as a guide. I can't believe my parents made me change schools on my 7th year."
Hermione Granger can only smile at their new schoolmate Alex Russo. They are on their way to Hagrid's. She's going to start the tour from the grounds first then finally inside the castle.
She is amused at how the Thunderbird from Ilvermorny didn't seem to really find the move difficult despite her complaints. By the way she conversed with her and from the contents of her ranting, her adventurous nature can be seen vividly. If anything, Hermione was sure Alex Russo loved her parents' idea.
"I mean, Waverly Place was my home. And well, it's where my heart is." Alex continued. "It seems to me there is a but coming next." Hermione giggled, not making any attempt to hide her amusement.
"See!? That's why I love, love that my guide is a witch! I can't even share these things with Justin -- he's my older brother -- and my baby brother Max. He's totally out of the equation. If I was assigned a wizard guide? What now? I am probably going to die of frustration and pent up feelings." Alex almost rapped in her response.
"Pray tell, what is it that kills you out of frustration?" Hermione engaged, by which time, they were already by the door to the hut of Hogwarts' Keeper of Keys and Grounds.
Alex Russo didn't even shy away from telling her story even as they had tea with Hagrid. "That lad must be one heck of er guy, yeah?" Hagrid commented as he raised a cup of tea for a toast.
Hermione nodded in agreement, raising her own cup to give Alex a salute of sorts. Not that they were given many information about the young wizard. They just knew she saw him at Camden Market in muggle London. The way Alex described her feelings upon seeing the wizard though was enough reason to suppose he was worth toasting teacups for.
"So, to my surprise and delight, Justin is actually acquainted with him. You see, my brother and mom were the first ones to leave for London. About a month ahead. And Justin, being the charismatic person he is -- you should really meet him, I'll get you two acquainted if you don't have a boyfriend, what am I saying? You can meet even if you have -- anyway, Justin already made friends." Alex continued even as she and Hermione made their way to the castle.
Unbeknownst to the newcomer, she answered a question Hermione had in her head the whole time. She wondered how Alex knew someone was a wizard in muggle London especially since she didn't say anything peculiar about the young man. There are in fact a lot of English guys who are cute and blonde. And they are not necessarily wizards.
"It was funny really. Justin was supposed to give me a tour but then he suddenly got a call from the ministry -- he's found work there I think, my older brother is smart -- and said he just called a friend as substitute." Alex relayed looking at Hermione checking if it was alright to go on. She realized she's the only one talking.
"Aaand?" Hermione asked giving Alex a smile, reassuring her she's interested with what the witch is sharing. "You could assume I complained like what I'm doing now, while following my brother out the house. Aaand, I heard someone laugh. Merlin have he got a lovely accent too when he spoke! You all do!"
"I'm guessing that's when you learned your brother was friends with the same wizard you saw at Camden." Hermione injected, letting Alex know she was listening and was genuinely interested. "Correct!" Alex said, clapping her hands. "He is the most gorgeous person I've seen."
"And I don't mean that because he was wearing pants -- wait, you call it trousers right? -- navy trousers and white button up shirt, like freaking prince Eric! You do get my reference right? The Little Mermaid? He is in fact the absolute gentleman."
"You know that because he toured you around for a day?" Hermione asked. She didn't really mean to judge the witch she was with. It was a genuine question. She wished she knew how to assess people that easily so she doesn't have to end up broken like what happened last year.
"We kind of hangout for a week." Alex said as they finally stepped foot in the castle. "He opened doors for me, pulled out chairs, we drank tea! I used to think it tasted like grass, not that I've tried eating it before, but you know what I mean."
"Sounds like a real charmer." Hermione commented. Not like someone she used to date. She was right to break up with him. And Alex's account just solidified that. If there is someone who can be how Alex described this wizard to be, then what are the chances that she just happened to pick the wrong person to like?
"He is! He totally is! And he introduced me to his best mates, we watched Quidditch games. They are handsome too. But not as much as he is. He is pretty much my whole summer." Alex continued gushing.
"Did I mention what I wore the first time we got introduced? Faded blue jeans! And this baggy old white shirt that showed one of my shoulders. He took me to Highgate to drink tea while I was looking like Julia Roberts to his Richard Gere!"
"The best part is, he didn't mind." Alex finished. "Well I wouldn't either. You can wear whatever you want to wear without worrying about people judging." Hermione said as if she was preaching advocacy.
"Well, I initially thought that it was charming he didn't judge my choice of outfit. But I also appreciated that he bought me slippers when I wasn't looking. Cause I did need those after walking for a few minutes in my high heels." Alex relayed as they made a left turn to the library. "I guess I shouldn't have been mad at Justin when he kept telling me to wear flats. My brother was just being thoughtful and I learned that from an acquaintance's deed."
"Cut long story short, I love Waverly Place, it's my home. But Circe! I love the English." The newcomer whispered as they entered the no noise zone. "We decided to live in muggle London because that's as close as we can get to living like we're still at Waverly. I went to no-maj school in my formative years and had no-majs for schoolmates."
"I'm glad someone got to give you a tour around the muggle part of London." Hermione sincerly said. "I am too. And I absolutely adore the London boy. Well, at least that's where I saw him first and where I got to know him." Alex responded.
"That's Madame Pince, she's very strict. Make sure you have a note from the professor if you want to go to the restricted section." Hermione said, as they nodded to the librarian. Alex whispered a soft okay in response.
"Anyway, he seems like a really nice guy. So, has this London boy got a na--" Hermione started to ask, getting back to their topic, but she was cut when she bumped onto someone. Looking up, her eyes widened. She just bumped onto the last person she hopes to cross paths with.
"Alex." The student they bumped onto said, giving the newcomer a nod. "Him!" Alex hissed, gesturing to the Slytherin. "Granger." He said, acknowledging Hermione's presence too.
Hermione was not able to stop herself from exchanging glances with the obviously confused wizard. Out of all the blondes! How was she supposed to have guessed Draco Malfoy was the London boy?