Julian spent the free period before dinner hanging out with Harry, Tracey, and Daphne, the four of them sprawled in a quiet corner while the conversation inevitably circled back to the Lumos variation he had shown them.
"You mean you have more than just this one version?" Tracey asked, staring at him in disbelief.
Julian lifted a shoulder in an easy shrug. "It is a really simple charm with a ridiculous number of potential uses," he said honestly.
"Which one is your favorite so far?" she pressed, curiosity shining in her eyes.
"At the moment, the blinding flash version," Julian admitted. "But that one is still a work in progress, since it affects me too."
"What does it actually do?" Daphne asked, leaning in a bit.
"It creates a super bright flash that blinds everyone nearby," Julian said. "Unfortunately, the caster is included in that 'everyone' right now. I am trying to work out how to exclude myself from the effect, but figuring that part out is slow going."
"That sounds awful," Tracey said with an involuntary shiver. "Imagine just randomly getting blinded while you are minding your own business."
Harry laughed. "You would just be experiencing what I go through every day," he said dryly. "I do not wear these glasses for style, you know."
Julian watched him with faint amusement. Wow, he really is starting to pick things up from me, he thought.
Meh. A little more like me is probably good for him anyway, he decided, and let the thought go.
"It is a good thing I am not sharing that version of the spell then, is it not?" Julian asked in a teasing tone.
"That is cruel," Tracey groaned. "How can you tell us about something that awesome and then refuse to share it?"
"Try making it yourself if you want it that badly," Julian said with a scoff.
"But you are supposed to be my endless bag of bragging material," she said, clutching her chest theatrically like he had betrayed her.
Julian snorted. "Oi, when did I ever agree to that?" he asked, pretending to be offended.
Harry and Daphne were both trying not to burst out laughing at their back and forth, and failing miserably.
"But my bragging rights," Tracey insisted, turning wide puppy dog eyes on him.
"Ha. Joke is on you, I am immune," Julian declared, laughing.
"No," Tracey whispered in mock horror. "Nooooo!"
"It is over, Tracey. I have the high ground," Julian said, doing his best impression of a certain galaxy based wizard.
"Never. Quick, Daphne, seduce him," Tracey said dramatically, giving her friend a little shove.
Daphne just stared at her, deadpan. Julian matched the look perfectly. Harry, meanwhile, was practically folded in half, wheezing from laughing so hard.
"Too much?" Tracey asked after a moment, cheeks pink as she took in the unimpressed stares.
"Yes," Julian said calmly. "Any hope of me sharing brag worthy spells is officially gone."
Tracey's face fell into absolute heartbreak.
"Do my eyes deceive me, dear brother?" a familiar voice chimed from nearby.
"Not in the slightest, my fine sibling. Two of our housemates enjoying some Slytherin company," another nearly identical voice replied.
"Fred and George, or is it Gred and Forge at the moment?" Julian asked casually as he turned and spotted the twins.
"Ooh, if it is not our crafty business partner," one of the twins said, recognizing him at once.
"We knew you were a man after our hearts the instant we met you. Breaking the unspoken house rules, are we?" the other added with a wide grin.
The twins dropped down on either side of Julian like they belonged there.
"We approve," they said in perfect unison.
Julian grinned and looped an arm around each of their shoulders. "Everyone, this is Fred and George, fine purveyors of mischief and fun. Fred and George, this is Tracey Davis, Daphne Greengrass, and of course you already know my best mate, Harry."
"A pleasure," the twins chorused together, both flashing their trademark smiles.
"So, what can I do for you gentlemen," Julian said, "besides the stink bomb you are trying to stick to me, of course."
The twin on his right froze for a second, then chuckled. "So you caught that, did you? What gave me away?" he asked, genuinely curious.
Julian lightly patted his shoulder. "I could feel your muscles moving, very slowly," he replied with a smirk.
"Oh? That is some impressively sensitive hands you have there, mate, to pick up something like that," the twin said, sounding impressed.
Julian shrugged. "I make jewelry. Comes with the territory," he said.
Being able to sense the smallest changes in metal was a critical skill for any decent smith. You could not always rely on sight when metal was glowing hot and too bright to look at directly. Touch picked up what your eyes could not.
"Are you trying to make us jealous, because it is working," the other twin said, eyeing him enviously.
Julian laughed. "Do not act like you two are not talented in your own way," he said, giving them a bit of sincere praise.