"Let's [i]go[/i] already. We absolutely can[i]not[/i] miss the sale," Ross said to his mother with a general American accent and a tinge of urgency.

	"Okay, okay. I'm coming," his mother, Marissa, replied in her subtle Oxford accent, palms held up in defense as she joined him on the porch of their home. It was a quiet, pinkish Tudor house, tucked away in one of London's many wizarding communities - but not in Diagon Alley, unfortunately. They would have to Apparate to Diagon Alley, as per usual.

	Ross scanned her up and down, double-checking her belongings to confirm that his mother did indeed bring what they needed. "Do you have everything?"

	"Yes, [i]yes[/i], it's all here. Are you ready to go?"

	"Naturally," he said casually. "Can I do it this time?"

	His mother nodded and gripped his arm tightly. "Those classes better pay off, boy."

	They were gone with a turn of the wand through space and time. Ross never was accustomed to the sensation of Apparition, but he always enjoyed the thrill of it. When he turned 17, he made absolutely sure to take extra classes in Apparition to perfect his technique, and he became reasonably skilled in the practice. Of course, his mother still took precautions and didn't let him do it as much as he'd have preferred, but it couldn't be helped. After all, though a useful mode of transportation, it came with its dangers, and she worried as a mother would about his usage of it. Luckily for her sanity, his trip around the world would be via portkey.

	Nearly an hour later, Ross and his mother popped out a storefront in Diagon Alley, and he dragged a piece of luggage with him as they trod along. It was a dark green with a single gold padlock on its main compartment, and inside was a space which was extended with an undetectable extension charm. The thing cost him a good 13 Galleons, a good price for a wizard's luggage. Business was all but taken care of; however, Ross still wanted to inspect more wares in Diagon Alley, especially the famed Flourish and Blotts. Where else could he find excellent reading material for his downtime abroad?

	"Okay, love you. I'll see you at home," Ross said as he handed the luggage over to his mother. She accepted it and Disapparated, the suitcase in tow, as he headed the other direction towards Flourish and Blotts. Still somewhat aimlessly he walked along, stopping to stare at the displays in several storefronts.

	Only seven years ago was the blond there, shopping for his first year at Hogwarts. Ross shoved his hands in the pockets of his navy-blue, pin-legged jeans as he pondered the brevity of life. But Hogwarts was behind him now, in his past. He had to do something with himself, to explore the wide, wide world before it escaped his hands. He needed a chance to figure out who he was and who he wanted to be, to find some closure in his struggle for identity. This world tour vacation was just the right opportunity for such a personal journey. Nothing could hide his excitement; he wore it proudly on his sleeve. When the possibility first presented itself, Ross tackled it with full force, and he would daydream about it endlessly. A few weeks of begging, and his mother relented and gave him permission (and money) to go. Ross couldn't be any more grateful. He needed something - anything - to tear him away from the banality of everyday life. He wanted an adventure, a romance of his own.