Chapter 168
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"Where is this place where we are exactly?" I asked, feeling that my senses couldn't sense many things from outside the dome.
"Well, it might not look like it because of the lighting, but we're underground," Nick replied, and I nodded in understanding.
"I can only imagine why, it must be difficult to hide a structure of this magnitude" my father commented.
"Well, in my experience, almost every ministry of magic and wizarding community in the world are hidden underground" Mrs. Flamel said. She then turned to us with an air of mystery, "But make no mistake, this is just the boarding and information point for our community. There's still a lot for you to see."
With that said, the Flamels began to lead us to one of the marble doors, and above that door I saw a sign that read "Sector D7" and "Commercial Area" in French.
"Commercial area? We weren't going to the ministry?" I asked Nick.
"Well, yes, we are going to the ministry," he said.
"But then why don't we go through that door?" I asked again, pointing to a door with "Sector B14" and "Ministry of Magic" written on the sign above it.
"Because we can also get to the ministry by going through the shopping area, and on the way you'll be able to see a lot of our French wizarding community," Nick replied, stopping in front of the marble door.
Nick then, without saying much, put his hand on the door handle, and instead of the door opening, Nick disappeared.
"Wait... Was this supposed to happen?" my dad asked, blinking at the place where Nick should be.
"Hehe, don't worry. The doors are here for looks and charm only, they are actually Portkeys" Mrs. Flamel answered, but that answer only made my dad stare at the doorknob with a frown on his face.
And I, seeing my father looking at the doorknob like that, could only shake my head at him.
"Hmph" I huffed, walking past my dad and looking at him mockingly.
As I passed my father, I looked at him with a superior look and put my hand on the doorknob, and immediately I felt a sensation of being pulled by the belly button, and then everything around me started to spin.
When everything stopped spinning, I balanced myself easily before I tripped, already getting used to the Portkeys' way of travel.
"Well, I see you don't suffer much from the effects of traveling through the Portkeys," Nick said, standing by my side to help me if I needed it.
"Of course, a little magical trip isn't enough to bring me down," I said, but then I took a look around and marveled at what I saw.
The shopping area of the French wizarding community appeared to be a larger merger of Diagon Alley and the Cathédrale des Séraphins. And if that wasn't already amazing, the place still had that flamboyant and gorgeous style that only France could have.
Everything and everyone around me carried with them a magical air, and I didn't say that just for looks. The streets, shops, and people looked totally different from the shops and people in Diagon Alley. The wizards and witches around me wore elegant and designer clothes, something to be expected, since France is also known as the country of fashion.
The stores in the Commercial Area ranged from huge stores with whimsical and modern architecture, to small but cozy stores. When I glanced at these stores, it felt like I was in a mall in my old life and world. Compared to Diagon Alley, which is an old-fashioned and simple place, here it seemed to be more modern, and it may just be my opinion, but the magic plus modern things makes everything more beautiful and amazing.
And looking up, I noticed that we weren't underground anymore, as the sun was shining above us with a clear and blue sky, and I could feel the fresh air rushing past us.
"I've only been here for a short time but I've been impressed by so many things" I muttered.
"Hahaha, I know how you feel" Nick said, "I've lived for so many years and yet I can still find something in this big world to impress me"
I was going to say something else, but I felt some magical fluctuations coming from behind me, and I turned around and took a step to the side, only now noticing that a large, three-foot oval platinum plaque was floating in the place where I had appeared, probably being the place where Portkey teleported us.
Behind this sign I could see that the shopping area stretched as far as my normal eyes could see.
'I thought there would be another door on this side' I shrugged.
The first person to appear in front of us was Cele, who, showing incredible balance, did not fall or stumble.
"Ethan!" she exclaimed, running up to me and hugging my legs, "Mom and Dad, they let me use the Pol...Pot...Poltke by myself!" she said, jumping up and down, with me holding back my laughter as I saw her shuffling to speak Portkey.
"Yes, I saw that, and you were amazing," I said, patting her head.
Shortly after that, my father and mother appeared, stumbling a little but managing to stay on their feet.
"Why didn't wizards just make a regular door?" my mom grumbled, "If I have to use another Portkey today, I'm going to take the wand of the first French wizard I see and shove it deep into your—"
"Wow, calm down dear, Cele is here" my dad said, but then he walked over to my mom and whispered, "But just in case you want some help..."
"Brother" Cele called out to me, turning to me, "What is Mom going to do with the wand of—"
"Oh look, Cele, a magic ice swan," I said, pointing to a display in front of a magical store, luckily managing to distract Cele.
"Well, I see you all arrived well" Mrs. Flamel said as she was the last to arrive.
"So, how are we going to get to the ministry?" I asked.
"Please don't be another Portkey!" my father muttered, clasping his hands in a prayer.
"Hahaha, no, we're not going to use another Portkey" Nick said, making my parents sigh in relief, "The ministry, being one of the most important places in our community, has several entrances, and one of them is in the center of the Commercial Area"
"Hmm, here in France things are well organized... Britain should learn a little thing or two from you" I commented, earning a nod from Mrs. Flamel.
"I've always thought so, but wizards, both in Britain and elsewhere in the world, are hardheaded people who can't listen to someone else's opinion, especially if this opinion goes against the concept of right and fair for them and also their traditions" Mrs. Flamel said, and I could see Nick sigh wearily.
"I wish all wizards were a little more open-minded," Nick muttered, loud enough for us to hear, "Sorcières stupides, always thinking they're right, but we all know they only have a gros bâton enfoncé profondément entre ses fesses and —" (Stupid wizards/A big stick thrust deep between your buttocks)
"Nick!" Mrs. Flamel said in warning, preventing Nick from continuing his cursing, but from what I understand Nick has a certain contempt for ultra-traditionalist wizards.
"Sorry," he said to us, an embarrassed smile on his face.
"Don't worry, I'm the only one in my family who knows some French, so they must not have understood anything you said," my mother said, and I looked away innocently.
"Good, good thing," Nick said, "But that matter aside, we're not that far from the entrance to the ministry, so let's get going."
With that, Nick, Mrs. Flamel, my family and I continued our tour of the Commercial Area, enjoying the scenery and attractions like the tourists that we are.
End.
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(End AN: I was so busy these days that I forgot that the new season of The Umbrella Academy was coming out.
Stranger Things, The Umbrella Academy and The Boys. There are so many good series to watch that I start to worry about not having enough time.
And even better is that by the end of this year, another series that I really like will have a new season, Alice in Borderland.
Are you excited for any series? Or is there a series that you like that you want to have a new season?)