"Finally!" Hermione shouted, throwing her arms up like she'd just found water in the desert. "If I had to pass one more robe store, I was going to explode."
Her dad raised an eyebrow. "You've been whining about books since breakfast."
"I was being repressed, Dad."
"You think croissants were holding your brain hostage?"
"They're not a replacement for books on Advanced Transfiguration!" she snapped, storming forward.
We had finally made it to La Bibliothèque Déchaînée, a massive bookstore with tall black stone walls, foggy windows, and a silver sign that shimmered with magical flair. It looked like a giant had eaten too many books and was now burping up words. The place practically groaned open for us, like it had been waiting to criticize our reading levels.
Inside, the air buzzed with whispers—not from people, but from the books themselves. They floated, shifted, and occasionally side-eyed you. Dan looked around and whispered, "I feel like these books are about to judge me."
"They are," I said. "And honestly, you might deserve it. To be honest, I have very mixed feelings about being on the opposite end of reading wouldn't you agree Hermione? ...Hermione?"
Hermione had already taken off, speedwalking toward a staircase that wasn't there a minute ago. It grew as she got close, like the shop was building it just for her. Emma followed Dan into a corner marked Muggle Mistakes, and Gabrielle stuck by my side until she spotted animated books making faces at each other.
"Well, I guess here goes another shopping spree." I bemoaned as I trudged toward my fate of an empty wallet once again.
That's when I saw it—a golden shelf glittering in the back, practically shouting at me. Gilderoy Lockhart's complete collection, preening in fancy covers. One of the books opened by itself and winked at me. I gagged.
"Oh no," I muttered.
"Oh yes," Hermione said, popping up beside me with a mountain of books in her arms. "He once beat a banshee using just hair gel and a flute!"
"You actually believe that?"
She nodded. "The Ministry gave him awards!"
"The Ministry also gave us Cornelius Fudge. Doesn't mean they have taste."
Gabrielle poked her head around the shelf with a soft book in her hands. "Is this the one with the magic hair?"
"Memory charms," Hermione corrected proudly. "And yes."
I picked up a copy. "He says here he scared off a sea monster with a signed photo of himself. He even drew sparkles on it."
Hermione snatched the book. "I'll read it and decide for myself."
Gabrielle leaned close. "You may want armor."
I sighed. "If I vanish, just say I was dumb enough to open the book."
"Alright, let's see how much I regret this," I muttered, dragging my handful of books to the checkout counter.
The counter wasn't just a desk—it was a talking piece of furniture with glowing eyes and a lot of opinions. The moment I set my books down, it looked at me and said, "Please declare your purpose, method of payment, and whether you've offended any magical furniture today."
"Purpose: learning with a side of chaos. Payment: gold and charm. Furniture offenses: maybe a snarky candlestick?" I replied.
Hermione showed up behind me and dumped her tower of books onto the desk with a loud thud. The counter groaned. "Oh, lovely. A spine-breaker."
"I'm investing in my future," Hermione said, straightening her stack proudly.
Dan peeked over her shoulder. "That future better come with back support."
Gabrielle wandered over with a tiny children's book in her hands. "Excuse me, I want this one."
The desk's glowing eyes sparkled. "Approved. Adorable."
Hermione frowned. "She gets approved instantly and I get judged?"
"She's small and polite," I said. "You've got dangerous energy."
As Hermione argued for a student discount, I leaned in and whispered to the counter, "What if I gave you a limited edition chocolate frog card of Agrippa and you… overlooked this pamphlet on curse loopholes?"
The counter blinked slowly. "We have a deal."
Gabrielle giggled. "You cheated the desk?"
"Not cheated. I call it… creative shopping."
"You promised to read my book," she said, waving it.
I groaned. "Fine. But only if I get to do silly voices."
"Deal," she grinned.
Hermione huffed, "You're teaching her bad habits."
"No, I'm preparing her for the real world," I said. "Where bribing desks is a survival skill."
I wonder if that desk is for sale.
"My legs have given up," Dan groaned as we reached a floating café table shaped like a potion cauldron.
"Mine surrendered somewhere between the fourth bookstore aisle and the part where the talking encyclopedias tried to debate me," Emma added.
We had stopped at a café on the edge of the plaza, called The Last Spell, which honestly felt like a hint. The chairs hovered just above the ground, which made sitting an adventure in balance and pride. Floating lemon wedges danced inside a giant pitcher of water on our table, competing for who could spin faster.
"Did you seriously just challenge a bookshelf to a duel?" I asked Hermione.
"They were being condescending!" she argued, sipping her café au lait like it hadn't just tried to drown her in Latin.
"You yelled at it in Latin back," Dan said, eyes wide. "That's not normal."
Gabrielle opened her pop-up storybook and giggled as a tiny dragon sneezed out a puff of cinnamon.
"This is the best part of today," she said happily.
"I agree," I said. "Magic books are fun, but dragons that sneeze pastries? That's peak wizarding culture."
Fleur stirred her drink calmly. "We still have a few more shops to visit before we return."
Hermione perked up. "Do any of them sell enchanted ink? Or rare bookbinding tools? Or—"
Emma raised her hand like she was in class. "We're only buying things we can fit in the suitcase, remember?"
Dan groaned again. "We may need a second suitcase. Or a third spine."
I grinned and reached into my coat, pulling out a small, plain-looking case. With a snap of my fingers, it expanded into a full-sized trunk.
"Already covered," I said proudly. "This thing isn't even close to full yet. We could fit half the bookstore and still have room for Gabrielle's dragon."
I took a bite of a glowing croissant. "This is made of actual starlight. I'm eating something that should be illegal in six countries."
Hermione gave me a look. "You've said that about at least four meals this trip."
"And I'll keep saying it until someone agrees with me.
"Alright, everyone," Fleur announced as we finished our drinks. "It's time to make our way back."
Gabrielle let out a small sigh. "But I liked it here."
"You'll like dessert even more," Fleur said with a smile.
We walked through the plaza one last time, the sounds and smells of the magical market buzzing around us. Cinnamon, roasted almonds, and whatever was currently arguing with a teapot on the corner blended into the atmosphere.
"Did that broom just insult me?" Dan asked, slowing his pace.
"Depends," I said. "Did you call it a mop first?"
He blinked. "...Maybe."
Eventually, we arrived at the Delacour Estate gate. Jean-Paul was already waiting with a jar of green Floo powder in one hand and a cloth in the other—probably for wiping soot off travelers too proud to ask.
"One by one, please," he said cheerfully. "Speak clearly, and don't trip."
Hermione went first, vanishing into the green flames with practiced ease. Emma followed, then Dan, who called out "Flamel Château!" before disappearing like a slightly nervous wizarding dad.
Gabrielle gave me a smile and held her storybook tight as she stepped into the fire and vanished.
I turned to Fleur. "Thanks for today. It was… a lot, but the good kind of lot."
She nodded. "You're welcome anytime."
"Duly noted," I said, stepping into the fireplace.
Green flames whooshed around me, and after a moment of spinning, I stumbled out into the Flamel Château's giant hearth. Nicholas was already there, sitting with a mug of something hot and judgmental.
"Did the market survive you?" he asked.
"Barely," I said. "But I only left it slightly more dramatic."
Perenelle peeked in from the hallway. "Dinner's almost ready."
Gabrielle appeared behind me and tugged my sleeve. "Voices. You promised."
I sighed. "After dessert. Then we'll see how loud that dragon can sneeze."
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Gabrielle fell asleep halfway through the dragon's third sneeze, her head gently resting against my arm. Her book flopped shut in her lap, still occasionally letting out a tiny snore. Fleur noticed first and gave a soft smile.
"She's out," she whispered.
Jean-Paul appeared moments later with Floo powder in one hand and a soft blanket in the other. Together, they carried Gabrielle into the green flames, vanishing with a swirl of sparks. Perenelle smiled fondly as they disappeared, then turned her attention to Hermione and Emma.
The kitchen smelled like warm pastries and spice. Hermione sat at the table, reading one of her new Charms books with the intense focus of someone preparing for a magical exam that didn't exist. Emma sat nearby with Perenelle, both of them sipping tea and chatting in lowered voices.
"...and then she hexed the soup spoon for stirring too judgmentally," Perenelle said, laughing.
"No!" Emma gasped. "What did it do?"
"Refused to stir again. Out of principle."
Dan had already gone to bed, claiming his feet needed a week of magical therapy. I had just stood up to stretch when Nicholas appeared in the doorway, looking thoughtful.
"Sky," he said. "If you have a moment… I'd like to speak with you."
I nodded and followed him down the hall, curiosity already tugging at my thoughts.