Work Text:
Norman isn’t listening to his uncle Peter ramble about the necessity that Norman be sorted into Slytherin for two main reasons.
First, he doesn’t really care about what his uncle has to say about anything at all whatsoever. To Norman, Peter Ratri is about as important as a particularly annoying little gnat. This is the most important reason.
Secondly, Norman has given little thought about what house he will be sorted into at all. He hasn’t even started shopping for his first year at Hogwarts and he really should not be forced to deal with such utter foolishness this early in the day.
Despite his exasperation with his uncle’s bizarre fixation on blood purity and the sanctity of slytherin house, Norman is very much excited to be shopping for school. He’s visited Diagon Alley before with his father, but he’s never visited any of the shops with a purpose before and he is very happy to be doing so today. He has a mental list of what he wants to do, because he’s just like that, but he knows the dreamy nature of his father’s author’s mind will take them off course.
Norman can deal with diversions. For the most part.
“Can we go to Ollivander's first,” he asks, turning his head from cab they were in. Traveling through muggle london always agitates Peter so James always makes it a point to do just that, plus Norman adores riding cars and James adores spoiling his only son rotten. “I would like to get my wand.”
James chuckles softly, reaching over to light chuff Norman under the chin with his hand. “Whatever you want, sport.” Norman guesses his father has watched The Great Gatsby again. He has a fondness for muggle movies. “Wand, and then what?”
Norman did not anticipate his father actually allowing him to have a plan and sits up at attention before blurting it all out.
James knows it’s going to be a long day with Norman’s excitement and Peter’s overall disgust, but he’s willing to put up with it all. At least for today. Norman will be off to Hogwarts in the morning and then James will no longer have to pretend like he wants his brother in his house for the sake of family.
All will go according to Norman’s plan, he’ll make sure of it.
Only a few things do actually go according to plan and James blames himself for it. Ollivander's went smoothly enough — Norman’s wand is 10.25 inches, made of a sleek cypress wood with a unicorn hair core, and James is quite impressed with it — and Madam Malkin’s goes about as smoothly as James can hope for it to with Peter already tutting about Norman getting his Slytherin robes customized already.
Things begin to go wrong when they try to slip into Flourish and Blott's undetected to buy Norman’s books and their matching blond heads draw the eye of almost everyone within the establishment. James really tries to get away with signing only a few copies and making his excuses, but he doesn’t get very far before he’s mobbed. Peter is, as usual, no sort of help at all whatsoever but they make eye contact over the growing crowd and James’ stomach drops when he doesn’t see Norman beside his brother.
It’s not like he can really blame Norman for escaping the madness of it all, but he would like to know where his son has run off to. Diagon Alley is chock full of things to distract an eleven year old boy and James has no idea where Norman would go first. He mouths a harsh ‘ Find him! ’ before smiling his sweetest smile at a fan while Peter throws his hands up and storms from the store to find his nephew.
( *¯ ³¯*)♡
Emma is sitting on Yuugo’s shoulders with her arms crossed on top of his head as they travel through Diagon Alley together. Lucas and Dina are off...somewhere she doesn’t remember. Probably Flourish and Blott's for her school books? She doesn’t know but she’s very eager to get her hands on them. They were proof, much like the letter hovering in front of her father’s face was proof, that she was going to Hogwarts in a day and then her future will properly begin!
She wants to be an auror like Yuugo. Or maybe a magizoologist like Newt Scamander! Either sounded fascinating and she can’t wait until she can begin her journey to just doing whichever she decided on. She’s considering her options again before she’s immediately distracted by the magical menagerie. “ Dad! Dad, I want to get a pet!”
“You have an orange puffskein at home , Emma,” Yuugo sighs, used to this song and dance but still stopping in front of the cramped little shop. It looks like a maelstrom slammed through it and he really doesn’t want to go in there again. He wonders if Emma can be dissuaded. “What about an owl?” Owls are kept separately from creatures they would otherwise consider to be prey. Also, Eeylops Owl Emporium is just a brighter and nicer place.
Emma shakes her head firmly. “Not until I see what they have first .” He’s loath to admit that she absolutely gets this gung-ho behavior straight from him, but he has to admit that she’s quite the determined little lion. She’ll be a strong Gryffindor, he thinks.
And so he compromises. “You only get one pet at Hogwarts. Oe owl, one toad, or one cat. Do you understand?”
“One owl, one toad, or one cat!” Emma repeats happily before she drums a beat on Yuugo’s head. “Inside, please!”
Yuugo sighs and steels himself for the chaos that will be Emma discovering every magical being inside the very same magical menagerie that he purchased his first cat before he takes the steps necessary to enter it.
After some fussing and fighting, Emma leaves victorious with a young, cream and orange colored Norwegian Forest cat held happily in her arms. She walks beside Yuugo now, close to his left while he carries the traveling carrier in his right hand. She’s named her Carole, because the witch in charge told her that the cat was born around Christmas, and Yuugo knows that Emma is already in love with the little thing. he can’t blame her.
( *¯ ³¯*)♡
Norman knows and accepts his father’s fame for what it is. He is perfectly capable of respecting that his father is a renowned writer in both the muggle and magical worlds but he does also want to have time with his father (and maybe his uncle, sometimes) where they’re not being interrupted by his devoted fans.
It’s less likely to happen in the muggle world where James uses the pen name William Minerva and hides his face from everyone except for die hard fans, but he’s not as careful in the wizarding world and fan interactions tend to happen. Norman gets it, he is his father’s target audience after all, but he just wants his father to himself no matter how selfish that may seem.
And so when the crowd in Flourish and Blott's gets too thick, Norman slips his hand into his father’s pocket to grab a handful of galleons from his pouch and blends into the crowd to escape. He doesn’t have much time to himself because Peter is relentless when it comes to hunting Norman down and bothering him endlessly, but he has every intention of enjoying what alone time he has.
Diagon Alley is full of options in which to hide and get lost in — including an owl emporium which Norman greatly considers spending all of the money he’s taken in but resists barely — but Norman settles on Florien Fortescue’s ice cream parlour for maximum fun. There’s nothing better than ice cream.
Except maybe owls. Owls would be up there for Norman.
To his credit, Mr. Fortescue does not question why Norman’s little eleven-year-old self is alone at the ice cream parlour and gives him an extra scoop of mint ice cream when he peeks over the counter to pay. Norman assumes he’s used to the odd child trying to escape from the chaos of back to school shopping. Norman is grateful for it all and settles down at one of the inside tables to dig into his ice cream.
“Dad, can I get ice cream?” A little girl’s voice asks from outside and Norman finds himself looking up out of curiosity. She has fire red hair and a pretty cream and orange cat held in one arm as she points to the ice cream parlor. Her father looks a little exhausted from the day, but he hands over a few coins.
“Do you wanna sit inside and wait for me to hunt down mom and uncle Lucas? Merlin knows where the hell they are.” He sounds a little put out by that fact, but he’s in good humor otherwise. He drops the couple of galleons into his daughter’s hand when she bobs her head quickly. “Be safe. Tell old Florien if you don’t feel safe, okay, Emma?”
“Okay!” Emma beams as she carefully coaxes her cat into the carrier before she snaps it closed and carries both carrier and her galleons into the surprisingly empty shop. She has a small bounce to her step as she walks up to the counter to order, standing on her toes in her shiny new boots to pay for her cone.
Norman thinks she looks nice and he decides quickly that he wants to be her friend. He doesn’t know how to do that, though, and holds his spoon in his mouth in thought before Emma turns and beams at him. Before he knows what’s happening, Emma is in front of her with her strawberry ice cream cone and her cat carrier and a bright smile on her face.
“Hi! I’m Emma,” she says, pointing to the empty seat across from Norman with her pinky finger. There’s a bandaid on it and Norman vaguely wonders what happened. “Can I sit here?”
Norman nods with the spoon in his mouth before taking it out again so he can introduce himself and act like his father taught him some manners. “Of course. I’m Norman.”
“Hi, Norman~” She sits down and sets the carrier on the floor as she smiles brightly at him. “You’re going to Hogwarts, right? What house do you hope you’ll be put in?”
Norman doesn’t really have a hope. He knows his bloodline and his family’s expectations. “I wouldn’t mind Slytherin or Ravenclaw — what about you?” He takes another spoonful of ice cream and hopes that they might still be friends if they get sorted into different houses. They’re barely friends now but they’ve only just met.
“My mom and dad are both Gryffindors, so I think I wouldn’t mind that! But I’d be okay with any house, though. I just want to make friends.”
“You can count me as your friend. Your first Hogwarts friend.” Norman says with a firmness he isn’t aware that he possessed and a smile so soft he actually blushes a bit.
But Emma seems absolutely delighted with the prospect. She’s very earnest and Norman thinks she’d be a wonderful Gryffindor. “Friends!”
“Friends,” Norman agrees, holding out a hand to her. she shakes it easily, giving his hand a firm squeeze. “No matter what house?” He adds after a moment, just to be sure that his almost indisputable future as a Slytherin won’t come between them.
Emma gives him a look that makes him feel like a right idiot. Perhaps he was wrong to ask. Perhaps she will hate him— “No matter what house,” She says easily and squeezes his hand again.
They pass the better part of an hour sharing little stories about each other and finishing their ice cream — Emma is delighted to learn that his father writes books and Norman is enchanted by the fact that Emma is the daughter of two famous duelists — before Peter opens the door to the ice cream parlour and Norman counts his fun as over for the time being. Until he sees the cage in Peter’s left hand.
“Is that an owl ?” Norman gasps as he stands up quickly, hurrying over to Peter to take the offered cage and marvel at the pretty barn owl inside of it. She’s unbothered by the treatment and Norman loves her. Peter looks relieved.
“I know you..felt bad about the situation at Flourish and Blott's and we were going to get you an owl anyway. This way it’s just..an apology.” Peter is trying really hard to be sincere so Norman lets him get away with it. He loves his pretty owl and gently rubs his finger against her neck, grinning as she hisses happily. “And who is your friend?”
“I’m Emma!” She waves happily at Peter, resting her other hand on the table. “Are you Norman’s uncle?”
Peter nods once, considering Emma thoughtfully. Norman knows that he’s sizing her up for what house she’ll end up in. He just hopes that Peter isn’t rude.
“I am. Are you here alone?” Not rude, but Norman knows the concern is fabricated. Peter doesn’t care but he appreciates the effort.
Emma shakes her head. “Nope! I’m here with my mom, dad and uncle! dad went to go find them so he let me sit and wait here and that’s how I met Norman!”
One look at Peter’s face tells Norman that he is not used to someone speaking so excitedly and so quickly in his direction. It’s a funny expression, it really is, and he starts to snicker before laughter overtakes him and Emma immediately joins in.
Peter is swiftly reminded about how much he hates children.
( *¯ ³¯*)♡
Peter suffers through the duo teasing him for a few minutes before James and the rag tag bunch of people that Emma called her parents and uncle arrived to collect their spawn. He watches the two children exchange information before flicking his eyes up to Yuugo.
He’s from James’ year at Hogwarts. They all are and they were all Gryffindors. Emma will most likely be one as well and Peter has every urge to end the friendship right now in this moment.
But James is staring at him in a way that’s clearly a violent challenge that he doesn’t want to pick up so he looks away. They have things to do, after all, and perhaps the children won’t be friends once they’re sorted. Perhaps Peter won’t have to lift a single finger to keep the Gryffindor away from their Slytherin family. It doesn’t seem likely, though.
The day goes by efficiently after all of that and they return to their london residence to get Norman actually packed for Hogwarts.
Peter is minding his business with the daily prophet when he catches wind of a conversation between James and Norman.
“What will you name your owl?” James asks as he sets Norman’s books and quills into his trunk. He has no expectations because he adores his son. Peter is a little disgusted.
“Minerva.” Norman is fawning over the owl while sitting on the ottoman. He offered to help pack when they first came back but James won’t let him. Peter is not surprised. “Her name is Minerva.”
This, though, surprises them both and James lets out a quiet “Oh..” of surprise.
Peter knows that James is going to have a hard four months until Norman comes home for christmas. He doesn’t have an owl to name after his only son but he is probably soothed by Norman’s choice to name his own after his pen name.
It’s disgusting and Peter snaps his daily prophet a little before he continues reading. they ignore him. They always do.
( *¯ ³¯*)♡
The platform at king’s cross is as crowded as it is every september first and Emma wonders faintly if she will be able to find Norman again amongst the crowds of Hogwarts returning and first time students. She’s excited all the same, though. Hogwarts is so close.
Dina kneels in front of her and cradles her face in both hands. They wear equally excited smiles and Yuugo can’t help but take a quick picture of it. They pretend to not notice the sharp flash and hug it all out.
“Write to me whenever you have time,” Dina insists, straightening Emma’s clothes and kissing their daughter on the nose. “And write me straight away when you get sorted, okay?”
Emma bobs her head quickly, resting her hands on Dina’s shoulders. “Okay! I love you.”
“And we love you~ Hurry, you want to get a seat!”
Yuugo helps Emma get carole and her trunk into the train and gives her a firm bear hug. “Be safe, kiddo.”
Emma doesn’t know what can go wrong at a school but she promises she will do her best. saying ‘I love you’ is hard for Yuugo and so he kisses his daughter’s head before slipping off off the train to join Dina.
Norman clings to James as they say their goodbyes. Peter is left at home because neither truly wants to deal with him and he has already said his piece.
“You know I won’t be disappointed if you aren’t in Slytherin,” James whispers into Norman’s hair, holding his son tight and kissing the top of his head. “You will succeed in any house and I will be proud of you all the same.”
“I know.” Norman knows it all to be true and yet hearing the words soothes him all the same. “I’ll write.”
“Please write. I will, too.” Of course he will. All James does is write.
Norman bobs his head and checks the time. He doesn’t want to cut the moment short but he also doesn’t want to miss the train. “Father..”
James shushes him and gives him one last squeeze before handing him Minerva’s cage. “Take her. I’ll get this inside for you. I’ll be with you.”
It’s an easier way to part than saying goodbye. One can always carry their loved ones in their heart. “I’ll be with you,” Norman whispers back before he steps onto the train with Minerva.
James bumps into Yuugo as he comes out from setting Norman’s trunk inside. He smiles as he says, “Do you think they’ll find each other?”
Yuugo bobs his head once. “I do. They’re in the same car.”
James smiles at that and is glad he and Yuugo get along. He’s sure that they will see much of each other over the next seven years.
Norman finds Emma by herself with Carole the cat in an empty cabin and sits across from her with a smile. He hangs Minerva’s cage on a hook above himself and bites his lip. “So. Hogwarts?”
“ Hogwarts .” Emma whispers in awe and together they beam at the prospect.
There’s a short knock on their door before a boy with dark hair hanging over his left eye opens it with a small wave. He holds a book under his arm and a licorice wand behind his ear and both Emma and Norman know they’ll like him. “Can I sit here?” He asks, tapping on the door a little anxiously. He looks like he’s awaiting rejection.
Emma doesn’t allow that. “Of course! I’m Emma and this is Norman—“ he offers a short ‘Hi’ and a wave before she continues “— and we can all be friends”.
He raises a brow. “You don’t even know my name.”
Norman inclines his head at him and holds up his hands in a shrug. “You can alway tell us,” he points out, grinning at him.
The boy squints before he sits beside Norman and sighs as if he is going through a great deal to share his name. “I’m Ray.”
“Welcome to the friendship, Ray!” Emma cheers loudly, apologizing when Minerva squawks and Carole hisses at her in distaste.
Ray thinks his next seven years at Hogwarts are going to be filled with an army of misadventures because of these two, but he finds himself...excited for the prospect. School hasn’t even started and he has friends. He likes that. He likes it a lot.