The soft, golden light of late afternoon filtered through the enchanted glass windows of Books & Baubles, casting a warm glow over the tidy rows of bookshelves. The shop had a charm that felt distinctly like home—partly because it was, but mostly because every corner bore the personal touches of your family. The shelves were crammed with an eclectic mix of books, from rare magical tomes and instructional guides to whimsical children’s stories with animated illustrations. Each section was labeled with handwritten signs, in Remus’s neat script or Sirius’s bold scrawl, depending on whose handwriting you happened to prefer that day.

The scent of parchment and leather-bound covers mingled with the faint aroma of the tea Remus always kept brewing in the small nook behind the counter. A section by the window was filled with plush chairs and an assortment of mismatched pillows—“the perfect reading spot,” as your dad Remus had declared when the shop first opened. Sirius, of course, had added his own flair, scattering magical trinkets and curiosities around the shop, much to Remus’s chagrin.

You stood near the counter, carefully unpacking a box of newly arrived books. They practically hummed with magic, their covers shimmering as though alive. One particularly stubborn volume kept flipping itself open, glowing faintly with a soft purple light until you sighed and secured it with a ribbon charm.

Upstairs, Sirius was making noise. Loud noise. The occasional bang or crash was followed by a muttered spell and what sounded suspiciously like a bark of laughter. You knew he was likely rearranging the loft space, which doubled as storage, though “rearranging” with Sirius often involved testing charms on objects that didn’t quite need them.

The enchanted bell above the door chimed, announcing a customer’s arrival. You glanced up, smoothing your hands down your apron as the faint clink of coins being counted rang out from behind you.