date.	⟶ July 01, 2026.
time.	⟶ early afternoon on a hot summer's day.
location.	⟶ Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions.
speech.	⟶ #70949e english.
	#000000 cantonese.

July was a hellish month. Not only was the little red line of mercury in the thermometer soaring skywards with the speed and determination of a rocket, but it was the mugginess, and it was the humidity. That alone was almost guaranteed to lay the young, the frail, and the elderly down flat.

March checked off two of those boxes. Sweat tickled the junction of his neck and right shoulder, and he brought two fingers up to wick it away, catching the fluttering pace of his own pulse for just a second. He dropped his hand back down to his side. The summer crowds of— his eyes flicked to helpful signage on the unfamiliar street— Diagon Alley bustled all around him. Adults and children alike moved with purpose, some with destinations clearly in mind, while others asked for directions from whomever seemed friendly enough to stop.

March did neither of those things. Instead, he walked slowly, head swiveling left and right, as he searched for anything that even remotely resembled a map or a directory of sorts. The flow of foot traffic weaved around his halting, disruptive pace. Surely there was bound to be one here, for lost, confused, utterly out of place, regular huma-

A heavy hand landed on March's left shoulder, unexpectedly, and his head jerked, turning to look at his father.

"Don't stand around,” Baba said, voice low enough to be lost in the chatter around them. Yet March heard him loud and clear.

”R-right.” With a renewed sense of urgency, he ducked his head back down to peer at his mandatory supply list.

Three black plain work robes, standard model. He cast his gaze outwards again, stepping forward as his father’s hand left his shoulder. A pointed hat, black. His eyes fell upon a storefront with delicate gold lettering curling above the window. A winter cloak, black with silver fastenings. Madame Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions stood proud and tall in violet, and March could see people entering and exiting with their arms full of shopping bags.

July was a month full of miracles, big and small.

March let out a discreet sigh of relief. He checked a glance backward to make sure his father was still walking alongside him, then set off for the store. Everything about this entire trip had been a miracle, really. Baba had planned ahead, traded shifts with a coworker, all just to take him shopping for his books and uniform before school started. Wizarding school. Even when March had woken up this morning, he wasn’t entirely sure if his father was going to follow through with his promise and allow him to go at all. But here he was, with him, and Baba had even dressed a little nicer than he usually did too. March hadn’t seen that dress shirt and slacks combo since the last time he had gotten terribly in trouble at school.

They entered Madame Malkin’s together. Instantly, a wave of cool air hit March in the face, ruffling his clothes and pushing his bangs back. He brought his hand up to smooth down his hair, blinking in surprise. An AC? No… maybe… it was some sort of cooling spell? The confounding question of wizarding air conditioning systems would have to wait, however; Baba made a clipped noise with his tongue, and March came back down to reality, quickly standing at attention.

”What the hell are these people wearing…” The edge in his voice was a familiar warning, and March followed his father’s gaze to the offending clothing items in question.

Racks upon racks of robes in every color under the sun, shoes with heels and buckles and laces, a cloche hat dotted entirely in pearls. Blinged out, March thought, unable to stop himself from staring. There was a feminine mannequin in a velvet evening gown with a feathered hem that floated just a centimeter off the floor, and a masculine mannequin dressed head to toe in an androgynous style, complete with a pointed hat that was tilted on its axis charmingly. The selection stretched far back, and March knew that there were even more clothes for him to see. It was beautiful in here. And, obviously, very, very expensive.

A bright eyed store associate suddenly rushed over, smiling at him and his father with a picture perfect grin. She must’ve smelt the metaphorical fresh blood in the water (or noticed the lost expression on March’s face).

“Hello dears! Shopping before school starts? Come on ahead, and we’ll get you measured up in the back.”

March took a step forward, hesitantly. Unfamiliar coins weighed heavily in the small bag he carried, and he looked over at Baba for any cues on what to do. None were there. He cleared his throat and turned back to the worker.

”Hogwarts, yes, but—” He didn’t know how to phrase this in a way that wasn’t embarrassing. Navigating the currency exchange at Gringotts had been stressful enough; he didn’t need to overspend on unnecessary luxuries on top of that. ”I’m only here for three bla-”

“Yes, yes. Three black robes, a cloak, and a hat. We measure and hem everything here, dear. It’s all part of the process.”

Right. Right. She must be used to the average student’s back-to-school shopping list. It was clear that the worker knew her stuff, far better than March in any case. She ushered him along, and this time he followed.

”Don’t let her sell you nonsense.”

That was the final edict from Baba, before they walked out of earshot.

It was a little quieter towards the back. March took a big step up onto a wooden stool made of a lovely dark wood. He wasn’t able to catch a glimpse of the pretty carvings along the side, since the store associate had come out with a roll of measuring tape. Floating. He watched it work in wonder. The thing seemed to have a mind of its own, flying over and zipping open to gauge the distance between March’s shoulders. The worker, meanwhile, noted down the measurements.

“As you may or may not have noticed, the supply list states that you are required to purchase three sets of plain black robes, but the fabric type, however, is never specified.” She peered at him over her notepad. “We have an absolutely stunning collection of fine black fabrics for you to choose from, dear. It seems like our silk pieces have been catching on lately, and I’m sure you’ll see a number of your classmates walking the halls in Flitterby silk!” The measuring tape snapped shut, then opened again, stretching from his hip to his ankle. “Of course, we carry plant based fabrics here as well, if you’re more inclined towards cotton and linen blends. Any percentage blend you might want, dear, we most definitely will have. Might I suggest this one here—” She gestured to a dress form a few yards away. It was stuffed with needles, a midnight black fabric pinned on, half finished. “—it’s dyed with ink sourced from Giant Squids! ...Ethically sourced, of course.”

March opened his mouth dumbly.

”Uh.”

It was ridiculous, Eveline decided. She'd been to Diagon Alley a whole month ago, purchasing every supply on her list. The only things she hadn't managed to buy were her school robes, hat, protective gloves, and winter cloak. She'd meant to get everything in one trip, but Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions hadn't had the material Mother had insisted on for the inner lining of her pointed hat in stock at the time.

As a result, Eveline had to make a second trip to Diagon Alley. As if that wasn't bad enough, the heat was sweltering. Eveline felt like she was walking through a sauna. And as if to make things even worse, Eveline had mistaken a visitor of her mother's for a different witch and greeted her with the wrong name, so, as punishment, Mother hadn't even brought the house elves to carry Eveline's bags for them when they were done.

Eveline was absolutely certain that this was going to be the worst day of her life.

Finally, after being bumped around like a pair of bludgers by the ridiculous crowds of shoppers, Eveline and her Mother reached Madam Malkin's. A flamboyant wizard approached the pair immediately. He was well-dressed, Eveline supposed. A lovely lavender tunic with fine silver threading and a matching set of trousers. They were well-fitted. At least he knew how to take proper measurements.

"Oh, darling," the wizard said excitedly. "I can see you two have impeccable taste. Oh, this gown has such lovely support. Let me guess - unicorn hair?"

Eveline's mother smiled.

"But of course," Seraphine said with a polite smile. One that actually seemed to reach her eyes. She seemed satisfied with her choice to bring Eveline to Madam Malkin's. "Eveline, dear? Please run along for your measurements. I've my own business to discuss."

Eveline knew how this was going to end. They would leave with armfuls of bags, courtesy of the assistant who was currently sweet talking her mother's fashion sense.

She kept quiet, obediently walking toward the back of the shop. She didn't need to be shown the way. She'd been here before for gown fittings since she was a little girl. Quite a few of the associates knew her by name, she would wager. She didn't know their names, of course, but she had felt a sense of recognition from the wizard who was currently speaking to her mother.

Another boy was already being measured when Eveline stepped out of the main showroom of the shop. Eveline's eyes swept over him appraisingly. A muggle, she realized. Maybe it was his clothes, or his demeanor, but this boy was certainly not from a proper magical family. Eveline stepped up onto the stool beside his, catching the tail end of the associate's sales pitch. Something about Giant Squid ink or some such nonsense.

Another witch arrived shortly. A plump witch with golden blond hair, brown eyes, and a set of robes that toed the line between blue and gray, but somehow worked on her. Eveline remembered her. She'd been the one to measure Eveline when Mother had thrown a ball to celebrate Eveline's official acceptance to Hogwarts and Eveline had needed a gown.

"Have you gotten Acromantula silk in yet?" Eveline asked politely, barely glancing at March. "It's the only proper liner for the inside of a school hat, you know. Very comfortable, my Mother insists."

The store associate, who was very familiar with the Ashcombes, nodded.

"Of course, Miss Ashcombe. And, as your Mother insisted, we've even stocked dragonhide for your school shoes. Very durable and resistant to scuffing," the witch said with a polite smile.

Eveline didn't need to tell the witch what sort of materials she wanted for the robes themselves. It was obvious that she would only accept the most expensive materials available for her uniform. Her mother was probably making the arrangements even now.

Only then did Eveline finally acknowledge March's presence.

"You're to be attending Hogwarts, then?" Eveline asked curiously. But she didn't wait for an answer before continuing. "I wouldn't worry too much. There are loads of students who come from muggle families. I've been reading ahead. Most of the first year classes are more about the fundamentals than actual magic. Even muggle-born students should be able to manage."