Alexander was having a wonderful dream.
He was lecturing and beating up the racist hat.
Then—
"WAKE UP, Alex!!"
His body was suddenly shaken violently.
Alexander groaned, half-asleep, trying to bury himself deeper into his pillow.
"Stop its summer, let me sleep more."
The shaking only got worse.
"UP AND AT 'EM!"
His eyes snapped open.
Two identical bright red heads filled his vision.
Freckles.
Grins.
Alexander jolted upright in bed.
"…Why are you two in my house?"
Fred blinked.
George blinked.
Then both smiled wider.
"We live down the street."
Alexander froze.
"…Wait what?"
The twins exchanged a look.
"Yeah," Fred said casually.
"We all live near Ottery St. Catchpole, Devon," George added.
"Did you not know?"
Alexander stared at them in disbelief.
"No."
The twins tilted their heads.
"When I moved here," Alexander said slowly, "I was still… depressed. I didn't leave the house much."
The twins' smiles softened for a brief moment—
Then immediately brightened again.
"Well!" Fred clapped his hands.
"Good news!" George continued.
"There are other wizarding families nearby, too."
"But first—plans!" they both said together.
Alexander rubbed his face.
"No. Breakfast first."
Downstairs, Eleanor Chen was already in the kitchen cooking.
The smell alone was enough to fully wake him up.
She turned as the three boys walked in.
"Good morning, honey."
Alexander sat down.
"Morning, Mom."
She glanced at the twins fondly.
"Did you not know your friends lived nearby?"
Alexander sighed.
"No. I didn't."
Eleanor chuckled lightly.
"Well, now you do. Enjoy your breakfast with your friends."
She placed plates in front of them before continuing,
"Your dad already left for work, and I'll be leaving soon as well. Stay safe and have fun with your friends."
Alexander went to hug her.
"Bye, Mom."
Eleanor returned the hug warmly, clearly happy to see him spending time with others.
Then she grabbed her things and left for work.
The moment the door closed—
The twins stood up instantly.
"Come on!"
"We'll show you our house!"
They quickly ate, and Alexander sighed, but went upstairs to change anyway.
A few minutes later, the three of them stepped outside and began walking.
The countryside air was fresh, open, and quiet.
Rolling green hills stretched into the distance.
After a short walk—
Fred pointed ahead dramatically.
"There she is!"
George placed a hand over his heart.
"Our beautiful home."
Alexander looked in the direction Fred had pointed.
The Burrow stood before him.
A chaotic, multi-story magical house that looked like it had grown upward purely out of stubbornness.
It was lopsided in several directions.
Held together by magic more than architecture.
Red roof tiles were stacked unevenly.
Windows were placed wherever space allowed.
It looked like a former farmhouse that had extra rooms added again… and again… and again.
Seven stories tall.
Alexander stared silently.
"…You live there?"
"Yep!"
"Home sweet home!"
He paused.
Then nodded slowly.
"…It suits you."
The twins beamed proudly as they led him toward the wonderfully chaotic building that was—
The Burrow.