Two days later, the Anderson family drove to Charles Street. Albert's grandfather and grandmother lived at number 21.
The family made time to visit the two elders every year, and Albert always stayed with them for a few days during the summer holiday.
"Dad, I'm here to see you."
"Albert! Come here, let me look at you!" Luke completely ignored his son, walking straight to his grandson and beaming. "Herb said you received your Hogwarts letter! That's wonderful! If there's anything you want to buy, you just tell me..."
"Dad, I already took Albert to Diagon Alley in London to get his supplies," Herb said helplessly, clearing his throat. "I also brought you a present."
"I'm not a child; I don't need presents," Luke said, glancing at his son before taking Albert's hand. "Get inside. You have to tell me what magic you've learned."
"Luke's been this excited for days, just like a little boy," Shansha, Albert's grandmother, said to Herb and Daisy. "He never told me about any of this before. I only found out a few days ago. It's so good to see you, Nia! Did you miss me?"
"Brother won't let me touch his wand. He guards it like I'm a thief," Nia immediately tattled to her grandmother.
"Herb, watch Tom. Don't let him run off," Daisy said, grabbing the packages from the car. She had her husband carry the cat cage, knowing the cat would bolt the second he was let out.
"Can Albert really do magic?" Shansha asked, finding the whole thing fascinating. She never imagined her grandson was a wizard.
"Yes! He can make his wand light up. And he practices in his room in secret every night!" Nia said, holding her grandmother's hand and listing Albert's "crimes." "He said if I got the wand, I'd probably blow up the whole house!"
"Mom, you don't know, that wand is really dangerous. Let me tell you..." Herb said, carrying the cage and babbling on about what he'd seen in Diagon Alley.
"Albert just thinks it's dangerous to experiment," Daisy added. She had been reading A History of Magic and was beginning to understand the wizarding world.
"Oh, Daisy, it's not as bad as you think."
"No, Mom," Daisy insisted, taking Albert's side completely. "In fact, even in the wizarding world, they don't let children just play with wands. Our son is very responsible."
"How do you know that?" Herb asked.
"If you had bothered to read those books, you'd know," Daisy chided her husband. "Can't you be a little more involved? He's our son."
"Don't worry, Albert's never been one to need worrying about," Herb replied, knowing his son's mature personality.
"Even so, you should pay more attention," Daisy said, carrying the parcels inside.
The moment Tom was released from his cage, he bolted and ran around like crazy. Shansha and Daisy went to the kitchen to prepare tea and dessert, while Luke listened intently as Herb and Albert recounted their trip to Diagon Alley, filling in each other's details.
Luke, of course, already knew that wizarding portraits moved and was familiar with Dumbledore. He took the Chocolate Frogs Herb had brought, put them in a large glass jar, and set them on the mantle as a decoration.
"I actually wrote to Headmaster Dippet back in the day," Luke said, his voice distant. "I asked him why I never received my letter." After so many years, he had made his peace with it. "Because I had no magical ability—a Squib, as they call it—my family sent me away when I was eleven. They gave me to a distant, non-magical relative to raise."
"How could they do that?" Herb asked, his voice tight with anger. He felt his father's family had gone too far.
"A Squib is a source of shame for a wizarding family," Luke said softly. "They do their best to hide the secret. Sometimes, they even pretend that person never existed."
"Don't be sad, Grandpa," Nia said, patting his arm.
"It's been many years. I'm over it now, and I've completely cut ties with that side of the family." Luke lifted Nia onto his lap. "Still, Albert being a wizard is a surprise. When Herb didn't get his letter, I truly gave up all hope."
As they talked, Albert showed them the new magic he'd learned. He demonstrated the Wand-Lighting Charm, the Repairing Charm, the Cleaning Charm, and the Unlocking Charm. These were the four spells he had managed to learn, thanks in large part to his Level 2 "Wizard Bloodline" skill.
He wasn't very skilled yet, but the sight of a cracked teacup slowly mending itself and a puddle of spilled tea vanishing from the table was still astonishing to his family.
"Me too!" Nia looked at her grandfather. "I want to learn magic, too! Albert is just being sneaky and keeping it for himself!"
Luke looked at his grandson, deferring to him. He knew Albert had his own mind and wouldn't be pushed.
"You can try," Albert said, looking at his sister, "but only if you do exactly what I say." To be honest, he was also curious if Nia had magical talent.
"I will! I promise!" Nia nodded frantically.
"You agreed too fast. Forget it. You weren't even listening to me," Albert said, his face serious.
"I was! I was listening!" Nia argued.
"First, repeat after me: Lumos."
"Lumos!" Nia repeated, knowing it was a spell.
"Slowly, a few more times. You can't get it wrong, or who knows what might happen," Albert instructed. "In a minute, I'll let you hold the wand. You are not to poke anything with it. You are not to point it at anyone. You are not to say any other spells. And you are not to get angry if it doesn't work."
"I know, I know," Nia said impatiently.
"What did I just say?" Albert asked.
"Don't poke... don't..." Nia had already forgotten. She pouted. "I'm not you! How am I supposed to remember all that?"
"If you can't remember the rules, I can't give you the wand," Albert said firmly.
"But... fine! Say it again," Nia compromised.
The rest of the family chuckled, watching Albert handle his sister. He had her completely under his thumb. Nia was a handful, but Albert knew exactly how to manage her.
After Nia finally recited all the rules back to him, Albert handed her the wand.
Nia took it, trembling with excitement, but a sharp glare from Albert made her settle down. She took a breath and tried the spell. Nothing happened.
"Deep breath. Concentrate. Try again," Albert said, putting a hand on her shoulder.
The Lumos charm was one of the simplest. If she couldn't... it likely meant she didn't have the talent.
"Lumos!" Nia tried several more times, but not even a spark appeared.
"You're rushing it," Albert said gently, stroking her hair. "The more you rush, the more it'll fail." He glanced at his grandfather.
Luke gave him a small, sad shake of his head. Albert knew what that meant.
"I... I don't have any magic, do I?" Nia's face crumpled. She looked heartbroken.
"I don't know," Albert said, trying to soften the blow. "Maybe it's just because you're still too young."
"I hate you, Albert! You're just lying to make me feel better!" Nia cried. "I don't have it!" She threw the wand on the floor and ran out of the room.
Albert sighed and picked up his wand, looking in the direction she had run.
Kids are so much trouble.
"I'll go talk to her," Luke said, standing up. He walked off to find his granddaughter. He, of all people, understood exactly how she felt.