The second time that Aiden received a letter from Hogwarts felt almost more exciting than the first. Sitting alone in the manor house, looking over the sprawling lawns and a large lake to the left of his floor-to-ceiling window, Aiden carefully undid the wax seal and unfolded the parchment to read the contents. In the sprawling calligraphy of the Headmaster, the letter detailed the offer of employment as Professor of Astronomy at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, with immediate appointment. Though he wouldn't like to admit to it, excitement spread from his heart in tingles all the way to his fingertips and when he caught his reflection in the silver frame of a nearby photo he could see he was smiling from ear to ear. Finally.

The house elves were in a fluster as their master gave off a list of instructions in quick succession, Aiden would be leaving for the Scottish castle within the hour and there was much work to be done. The young wizard didn't want to delay; whilst his first class would not be until the following week he wanted to get settled into the living quarters and go over the classwork so that he was prepared. Within fifteen minutes the elves had swarmed and then as Aiden approached they scattered to reveal a small pile of personal effects: a trunk no doubt filled with his dark blue robes, cut from velvet and trimmed with silver thread as well as some more casual, contemporary clothing tailored perfectly to his svelte frame. A smaller case containing his accoutrements sat on top, this case had A.V. stamped beneath the Valentino family crest in silver against the black leather. Aiden gave one of the senior house elves a look and it shrivelled in on itself, whimpering "yes, master, it is all there."

With a curt nod, Aiden disapparated with the luggage and made his way to the castle. His dark blue eyes scanned the turrets that looked all that more majestic in front of the pinks and purples of the setting sun. Aiden again caught a glimpse of himself smiling and he could have sworn he saw his baby-faced self staring right back at him. Pride overcame the young man as he took his first step over the castle's threshold and into his new role: Aiden Valentino, Professor of Astronomy.

Watch out, bambini.

Not too long ago, Angel had been sneaking into potions classroom to covertly switch his cauldron out for one of the classroom’s spares. His cauldron had been the same one that his father had used all those many moons ago, back in Dahshur, when he was Angel’s age. Since then it had gotten his four older siblings through their schooling as well as being used during the school holidays by the family for any of their potion needs. It was quite understandable to see that finally, right down at the bottom, the cauldron had worn through and the fixing charm just would not work anymore. What Angel was not prepared for was being caught by his rich friend, Vesta, who took pity on his poverty and placed more galleon in his hands than Angel had ever seen in his lifetime.

With a stern warning not to spend frivolously or get duped into paying too much for his new cauldron. Brass was also stipulated. Angel kept this knowledge at the back of his mind; part of him wished that the ice queen Vesta herself was old enough to join him on his trip into Hogsmeade. He didn’t want to disappoint her with his purchase… but he needed a cauldron ASAP so that he could continue to practice outside the classroom – Angel was smart, but he was smart enough to know that practice makes perfect too.

There was a spring shower this particular trip into Hogsmeade and the droplets of rain made its way through to his skin. It wasn’t hard; the weave of the cloth had hardly any threads left to hold it together. Still, it was a gloomy, humid day as the young man shrugged off his cloak upon entering the supply shop. He was greeted by a very rotund shop keep, with a deep, gruff voice that barked out from under an elaborate moustache. Angel nodded as he replied with the obligatory niceties as his dark eyes searched the overstuffed shelves that would be a claustrophobe’s nightmare.

”I’m looking to purchase a brass cauldron,” Angel said after a couple of minutes and a certain level of impatience growing from deep in his belly. He didn’t want to spend much longer in the dark abyss that was this little shop. ”Where might I find them please?” he asked, with the shop keep lifting a dirty, wrinkled old finger up to point to Angel’s left. ”Open yer eyes, lad,” the growling shop keep said and Angel had to stop himself from glaring back at him. Angel shuffled (because there wasn’t much room to do much more than that) over and lifted a couple to inspect. After a minute or two, he found the cauldron that was just the right size and brought it over to the old man. ”I’ll have this one please.”

”T’irti-five gall’on, if yer please,” the old man held out his hand expectantly. Angel sighed heavily and glanced out the shop window. He only had thirty galleon and he chewed his bottom lip in thought. ”I’ve only thirty, sir,” he finally said, reaching for the cauldron to take it back to the shelf. ”Fine, t’irti it is. Don’ ye be tellin’ yer friends t’ough.” Angel nodded emphatically and handed over his money before taking the cauldron and putting his cloak back on. ”Thank you. Good day,” he said as he quickly slipped out.

Angel nursed his brand new brass cauldron close to his body on his return to Hogwarts. Vesta would be so proud.