Bill accepted the two shimmering strands of elven hair with visible delight. Tucking them carefully into a crystal vial, he smiled warmly.
Then, with a flourish of his hand, he waved away the payment entirely.
And with that, he personally walked them to the door, wishing both families well as they left his shop.
Outside in the sunlight of Diagon Alley, Aragorn couldn't help but feel a touch of awkwardness. His intention had been to pay for the wands, yet the elven couple's generous offer of hair had made it unnecessary.
Still, the matter weighed little on his mind for long. The children's happiness was payment enough.
So, accompanied by Anlomir and Alanil, Aragorn led the way toward another stop, the Magical Creatures Shop.
The moment they entered, a riot of sound greeted them.
Cages lined the walls and ceiling, each containing strange and wonderful beasts: owls of every kind, sleek fire snakes coiled in glass terrariums, salamanders flickering like living embers, and even invisible toads whose croaks echoed from seemingly empty cages.
There were rabbits that transformed into hats, jewel-crusted fire crabs, and tiny mice that danced on two legs when music played.
The air was warm with the faint scent of hay and magic.
The shopkeeper, a cheerful wizard with spectacles perched crookedly on his nose, greeted them with enthusiasm. He proudly explained that many of the creatures were hybrids bred using magical techniques personally passed down by Lord Sylas himself.
"The Lord taught us to weave enchantments into the bloodlines," the man said with pride. "It's thanks to his guidance that we now have new breeds, winged horses, hippogriffs, even small phoenix-kin. The larger ones, of course, must be pre-ordered, space is rather limited in here."
He laughed as he gestured toward a cramped back room, where something that sounded suspiciously like a baby hippogriff snorted softly.
The shopkeeper continued,
"The Pegasus, of course, are favorites among the elves, most of them are bred in Lothlórien and the Valley of the Dead. As for the Hippogriffs, well, they've become the exclusive mounts of the Wildlands tribes."
Amid the chatter, Anlomir pressed his face to a large cage where an eagle-owl spread its magnificent wings, its eyes gleaming like polished bronze. Alanil, meanwhile, was captivated by a snowy owl as white as fresh snow, its feathers glimmering faintly with a silvery sheen.
Seeing their fascination, Aragorn approached the counter.
"We'll take these two," he said.
The shopkeeper's eyes widened with delight, those were his most expensive owls.
"An excellent choice, sir!" he exclaimed, his voice brimming with excitement. "You've chosen descendants of the Great Snowy Owls kept by the Lord of Hogwarts Castle himself! That eagle-owl there is a hybrid between a Great Snowy Owl and a mountain eagle; strong and swift as the wind. And the snowy owl, ah, that one's a cross between the Great Snowy and a Common Snowy Owl. Beautiful, loyal, and clever beyond measure!"
He leaned closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially.
"They're the finest messengers you'll find in all of Middle-earth."
Both children beamed, each reaching carefully into their cage. The birds, as if sensing their new owners, nipped their fingers affectionately and settled close.
Aragorn, however, paused.
The mention of the Great Snowy Owls stirred an old memory. As the chieftain of the Dúnedain of the North, descendants of the Númenóreans, he had once visited Annúminas, the fallen capital of Arnor. There, he'd heard the old stories whispered by his people:
"The Lord of Weathertop," they said, "had once gathered the last of Númenor's great owls and taken them eastward."
Now, hearing the shopkeeper's words, Aragorn realized the truth behind those tales.
The owls of Númenor had not vanished, they had found sanctuary under Sylas's care.
The purchase complete, the group continued their shopping, collecting books, robes, cauldrons, and other necessities for Hogwarts.
Yet as they packed the last of their supplies, one question remained.
"How do we return?" Anlomir asked, glancing at the silver Portkey badge that had brought them to Diagon Alley.
Aragorn held up his own badge, inspecting it carefully, but the once-vibrant runes on its surface were now dull and inert.
"It seems its magic was one-way," he said.
The families around them murmured similar concerns, unsure of how to leave.
Fortunately, they were not left to worry long.
At both ends of Diagon Alley, Aurors in gleaming uniforms patrolled diligently. When they noticed the confusion among the new students' families, they approached with professional calm and kind smiles.
"This way, please," one said politely. "The Lord has arranged for return travel through the Ministry of Magic Tower. We'll escort you there."
Following their guidance, Aragorn, Anlomir, Alanil, and the rest made their way toward the western end of the Alley.
There, towering above the rooftops, rose the grand spire of the Ministry of Magic Tower, its white stone glimmering with enchanted runes, and banners of blue and silver fluttering in the breeze.
As they stepped inside, the group fell silent.
The incredibly spacious hall on the first floor left everyone who entered in awe.
At its very center stood a vast magical fountain, the water shimmering in hues of gold and silver beneath the light of floating orbs. Rising proudly above the pool was a majestic golden statue, a likeness of Sylas, astride a roaring dragon.
In one hand he held his wand aloft, from which streamed a thin ribbon of golden light that poured endlessly into the basin below. The water caught the glow and scattered it in rippling arcs across the marble walls, painting the air with faint sparks of living magic.
At the statue's base, the pool gleamed with a sea of coins, mostly bronze knuts and silver sickles, with a scattering of golden Galleons among them.
No one could quite remember who had first begun the tradition, but it had long since become custom for wizards visiting the Ministry to toss a coin into the pool and make a wish to the Lord's golden likeness.
Whether it brought luck or not was anyone's guess. But faith, once kindled, has a life of its own, and so, day after day, coins continued to fall, ringing softly as they joined the glittering treasure below.
When the pool grew full, the Ministry collected the offerings and donated them to the Twin Trees Hospital, a grand medical institution established by Sylas himself and directed by the famed Lady Amanda, master of healing magic.
Though it was a wizarding hospital, Twin Trees welcomed all, human, elf, dwarf, offering aid to any who sought it within the Lord's domain.
Beyond the fountain, the hall stretched in both directions, its polished floor so reflective it seemed to double the world.
A long row of fireplaces lined one wall, each flaring intermittently with green fire as people arrived or departed through the Floo Network. Owls swooped overhead carrying letters, and sheets of parchment drifted through the air like lazy snowflakes.
The bustle of activity gave the place a rhythm, a harmony between order and chaos, magic and life.
Aragorn, with Anlomir, Alanil, and the elven couple beside him, approached the reception desk, where a kindly witch in deep blue robes greeted them.
"Acceptance letters, please," she said with a professional smile.
They handed them over, and after a brief inspection and a few shimmering verification charms, she stamped each with the Ministry's golden seal.
"All verified," she said. "Welcome, and congratulations to your young ones. You'll find the Department of Magical Transportation on the second floor. Just follow the signs and take the elevator at the end of the hall."
The group thanked her and did as instructed.
The elevator doors opened with a soft chime, revealing a large brass cage lined with glowing runes. With a gentle hum, it carried them upward to the Transportation Department, where clerks in grey uniforms bustled about beneath floating maps of Middle-earth marked with glowing green travel routes.
A wizard in a violet cloak, clearly a senior official, stepped forward and addressed the assembled families with a courteous bow.
"Welcome to the Department of Magical Transportation," he began in a clear, steady voice. "I understand many of you have completed your school shopping and are now wondering how to return home."
He gestured, and a glowing chart appeared in midair, listing the available travel options.
"The Ministry offers three means of return for your convenience," he explained.
"First: You may visit the Portkey Office to register for a new Portkey to take you directly home. Our clerks will prepare one within the hour."
"Second: You may take our specially designed Knight Bus. Simply extend your wand at any roadside after departure, and the Bus will appear. It will take you, and your belongings, safely home."
"And finally, the most convenient of all: you may apply to have your home fireplace connected to the Floo Network. Once approved, Ministry technicians will visit to perform the installation. From then on, you can travel between your home, Hogwarts Castle, and any connected location at will. It will also make school travel and Diagon Alley visits far easier."
"What do you all think?"
The question from the Transportation Department official hung in the air for only a moment before the answer became clear.
Almost every parent in the room nodded or murmured in agreement. The appeal of the Floo Network was irresistible, instant travel across thousands of miles, safe, stable, and perfect for families with young children.
Who would refuse such convenience?
The official's face brightened as he saw the sea of raised hands.
"Excellent! Truly excellent choice!" he said, clapping his hands together with satisfaction. "The Floo Network will make your lives much easier. You'll be able to travel to Hogwarts Castle, Diagon Alley, and any Ministry facility without trouble."
The clerks nearby, sharing his enthusiasm, began distributing application parchments and shimmering emerald ink pens. Parents filled them out eagerly, the sound of quills scratching filling the hall.
For the staff, it was more than paperwork, it was a milestone. Every new home connected to the FlooNet meant the Lord's vision of a united magical world was one step closer to reality.
Once the last form was signed, the senior clerk gave an approving nod and announced,
"Splendid! Our field teams will visit your homes in the next few days to activate your fireplaces. Please ensure you have purchased enough Floo Powder in advance, it will allow you to begin using the system immediately after activation."
Then, with a friendly grin, he added,
"Of course, for those of you in a hurry, you may still visit the Portkey Office and obtain a new Portkey to return home today. However, if you're not pressed for time…"
He leaned forward conspiratorially.
"I highly recommend trying the Knight Bus. It's an experience you won't forget!"
It wasn't every afternoon that so many families applied for full FlooNet integration, it would certainly be recorded as a departmental triumph.
The families, meanwhile, exchanged uneasy glances.
For many of them, memories of their earlier Portkey journey were still far too fresh, the whirling, gut-wrenching motion, the dizziness that left them reeling for half an hour afterward. None were eager to relive it.
"Let's take the bus," one mother whispered.
"Yes, anything but that blasted Portkey," another muttered.
Laughter and murmurs of agreement rippled through the group.
By unanimous, unspoken decision, the Knight Bus it would be.
Aragorn, too, opted for the bus.
Meanwhile, the Alanil family made their own preparations.
As residents of the Elven Valley, their hearths were already enchanted and connected to the Floo Network. When the time came, they approached a Ministry official stationed beside one of the great fireplaces.