Like everything else in the wizarding world, Diagon Alley seemed to be adjusting to the influx of muffle inhabitants. Quality Quidditch Supplies had a large sign in its window advertising the fact that they now also carried 'Muggle Sport Stuff.' In a storefront that had been abandoned during the war a new show had opened called Mugglez. Hermione had to hand it to Pansy Parkinson, a muggle clothing store with purposefully misspelled name was a brilliant business move. Muggles were hard workers, the same as witches and wizards and they had started taking jobs as soon as they arrived. Most shops now employed at least one muggle. A lot of the farming of both magical and non-magical crops was now being done by muggle farmers. The Ministry of Magic had even opened new departments solely devoted to muggle issues such as housing, law enforcement, and education. Leaders, scouts, and all other workers devoted to rescue efforts in the virus plagued muggle world were now drawing salaries from the Ministry of Magic in England and the Magical Congress in America. Magical businesses that also catered to muggle needs were sure to make a fortune in this new society that was being built.
“You know,” Rick looked over at Carl as they checked out the display of jeans in the Mugglez window. “You and your sister could do with some new clothes while we're here.”
Carl's face fell. “Dad, we're in a magic shopping center. I don't want to shop for clothes.”
Hermione laughed. She couldn't help but be reminded of her first visit to Diagon Alley when she was a child. She had wanted to see everywhere and buy everything. “Carl, I'll make you a promise. If you let your dad take you shopping here, I'll take you to the joke shop run by my friends and let you get one thing. My friend, Fred, even told me last week that they have a new prank line for muggles...magical pranks that require no magic to operate.”
“You so have a deal.” Carl headed into the shop without another complaint.
Before grabbing the door to hold it open for Hermione, who was pushing Judith's pram, Rick pulled her into his side and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “Thank you, darlin.'”
***
“Granger, is that you?” Pansy spotted her as she browsed through the baby department with Rick as they waited for Carl to finish up in the fitting room.
Hermione pasted a polite smile on her face. “We're not in school anymore, Pansy. You can call me Hermione.”
“Oh,” Pansy waved a heavily jeweled hand. “Of course. Is this your daughter?” She bent down to smile at Judith in her pram. The infant didn't look like she cared for the Slytherin woman anymore than Hermione did. “She's darling.”
Hermione blushed deep down to her roots. She went to correct Pansy but Rick beat her to it.
“Judith's mine, ma'am.” Rick nodded as he turned his southern gentleman act up to eleven. “Hermione's just the saint of a woman who puts up with us. The name's Rick Grimes.”
“Oh,” recognition passed over Pansy's overly made-up face. “I've heard of you. You're one of the muggle survivors of that nasty little virus.” She spoke of the virus that had almost ended the world like it was simply a nasty flu bug and she was suddenly looking at Rick and Judith like they were second-rate human beings. “You folks have a look around. Come find me if you need anything.”
Rick raised an eyebrow at Hermione once Pansy was gone. “She doesn't like muggles but she owns a store for them?”
“Pansy likes money and muggles have it,” Hermione laughed dryly. “Just ignore her. She's been a joke ever since she suggested we hand Harry over to the Dark Lord during the Battle of Hogwarts.”
“Okay, they fit. Can we go now?” Carl reappeared with a few pairs of jeans in his arms.
“Gladly,” Rick took the clothes from the as the small group made for the register. “Maybe once we've finished out shopping, Hermione will let us take her to dinner at The Leaky Cauldron.” He winked at her.
Hermione grinned at him in return. “Only if you let me repay you by taking you lot for ice cream afterward.”
“I'm absolutely cool with all of this,” Carl voiced his approval.
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