The Sibylline Code; A Harry Potter Next Generation Fanfiction

2: Diagon Alley-Part 1

AN: Well hello there! Here is your update, on time as promised! Hope you guys like this chapter! Well I'll stop typing/talking whichever you prefer! Hope you guys enjoy! Don't forget to vote, comment etc...
Aardvark :)

CHAPTER 2 - Diagon Alley, Part 1

"This is the Leaky Cauldron, a pub. You should come through this entrance, whenever you come." Professor Flitwick waved us towards it. I raised my eyebrows slightly at the idea of a magic place being in such a small, unnoticeable place- I wouldn't have realised it was there if he hadn't mentioned it!- but followed anyway. Mum and Dad hung back, looking hesitant. I turned around looking back at mum and dad expectantly. Professor Flitwick however, seemed to be expecting it.

"Mr and Mrs Karthi, come this way. You see that bookshop? Right next to it-"

"Is a video store." Dad finished, frowning. "What pub?"

"Mr and Mrs Karthi, the Leaky Cauldron can be seen only by those of magical ability. So, if you just follow us... you will be able to see inside, it's just the outside has been enchanted to stop intruders."

As soon as we got inside the pub, Mum and Dad suddenly gasped, as they looked round eagerly. Even I, I admit, was fascinated. People were laughing and talking, a few people waved to Professor Flitwick- a bit more like a café, not really a pub. A lady was attending the bar, levitating a glass. She had dirty blonde hair and ragged clothes. She smiled at Professor Flitwick, nodding as he passed.
"Oh hi professor!" She exclaimed
"Hello Daisy! Just passing" he added gesturing to us. She nodded knowledgeably and smiled and me. I nodded back awkwardly, before following Professor Flitwick through, and going into the back garden. He took out a long stick- ("Yes, it's my wand"), and tapped some bricks. He lowered his sti- wand, and I jumped as the bricks moved, rearranged themselves.

"Welcome, to Diagon Alley." Neither Mum or Dad, made any sign that they'd heard him, though they probably did. They were too busy taking in the sight. Dad's eyes were staring, fixated on a particular shop- one called 'Second Hand Brooms'- while Mum's eyes were round as saucers, staring dumbfounded at the posh clothes shop where laced old fashioned robes were displayed in the window. I groaned internally. Even in the wizarding world my mum's paradise clothes shops existed! I glanced away from the shops, down the twisted, cobbled street. It was full of young and old, but they were all happy and excited. There were a lot of children, though most of them were probably also going to this... school. It filled me with dread as I once again imagined having to live with happy, weird people like this. What would they take me for? Some sort of freak? Probably. Although I'm used to that, I never had to live with my enemies before! My mind suddenly flashed with various images of how they could possibly murder me in my sleep. Each more ridiculous than the last. I suddenly heard my father start stammering and I was brought back to reality.

"Excuse me, Professor... would we be allowed to give Asha a broom... you know, a broomstick?" My dad asked, still staring dreamily at the polished wood inside. Professor Flitwick chuckled.

"Impressed, are you? These are just second hand brooms, nowhere close to best quality! But no, I'm afraid First Years aren't allowed to bring their own broomsticks." Dad looked so dazed trying to comprehend that these brooms weren't the best, I don't think he even head Professor Flitwick's answer. "If you want, we can go to 'Broomstix', or 'Quality Quidditch Supplies' later?" That snapped him out of it.

"Of course I would! Now, should we buy Asha's equipment?" He added with forced authority, obviously embarrassed by his day dreaming!

"Naturally... however, as I told you, you will have to exchange some Muggle money. There are machines over here to do so."

"What's a Muggle?" My mother asked, as we made our way towards the machines.

"A non magic person." Professor Flitwick said, as we got to the closest one. Mum squinted at the sign. "It's easy enough to follow. 17 sickles in a galleon, 29 knuts in a sickle. And one galleon, for the exchange rate in Diagon Alley, is £4.97 for one galleon, 1 sickle is 29p, and 1 knut is 1 penny. Got it?"

"Err..." Quite honestly, the only thing I got from that was 1 knut is the same as a penny.

"Never mind... I'll write it down for you... and Mr and Mrs Karthi, the exchange rates are there, on the machine too." Professor Flitwick added, while scribbling something on a piece of...?

"Is that papyrus?" I asked. Was I going to have to write on that?

"No, it's parchment. Maybe we should get some of that first? Would you like to make a start on... how about we go to Amanuensis Quills first? We can buy your quills and such, and then we can visit Madam Malkin's? After Madam Malkin's, we can go to Potage's Cauldron store, and so on. I suggest we leave Ollivander's and the apothecary until last- you have no idea of the amount of people who manage to smash their scales, or lose their ingredients! And, of course, we may go anywhere else you want- within reason." He added hastily.

"Can we go to the broom store?" My dad asked eagerly. Professor Flitwick laughed, a much lower laugh than you'd expect from someone his size.‏
"Yes, we may. I suggest we go to 'Broomstix', as 'Quality Quidditch Supplies' is... well.... about Quidditch... and I don't think I would be able to explain it to justice, Asha will learn about it soon enough at school anyway! How about we go to Amanuensis, it's just this way. Madam Malkin's is next door."

That took longer than expected, due to the fact that my parents were arguing over whether or not the colour-changing-with-your-mood ink (mum), or the acidic ink (dad) was better. I personally preferred the invisible ink, but Professor Flitwick said I wasn't allowed to buy that, because then the teachers wouldn't be able to read my essays. I resisted telling him that was the point, but he smiled, and agreed to let me buy the glow in the dark ink.

My parents seemed much more excited than me about Madam Malkin's, quite possibly because I couldn't care less what the uniform was- unless it was something hideous. I bit my lip as I was measured, and my dad snapped photos- of his 'little baby' growing up, and how I had only been 140cm last time he measured me. Pfft! Dad had always been the girly one in the house despite being the only male! My mum was too busy examining the colour change robes to gush.

The cauldron shop wasn't as interesting. I mean, it was great and all, but dad had his eye on the invincible-jelly cauldron, mum had her eye on the colour-change-with-potion-success cauldron, and I had mine on the lava one. Shame really, I had to buy pewter, which no one really liked.

We made our way through the shops, mostly with the same pattern (Flourish and Blotts being one of the exceptions!), eventually stopping as a flash of light burst in front of us. Startled, we all turned, to see an alarmed red head running out of a shop, followed by... a flying mechanic bird? Looking up, I saw another red head roaring with laughter, on the doorstep of the most vibrant place around. I looked down, and picked up a slightly battered box. The man was wearing a tag, which said 'Ron'. As he approached, I passed him the box.

"Sorry...Peeves got a bit... well, peeved, and George is being his, normal, idiotic..." He puffed, but not finishing his sentence. "Oh, hey Professor! How's the new batch looking?"

"Goodness, not Peeves again, why did you let him into your store...and they're no worse than you are!" Professor Flitwick squeaked. My mother nodded as she does, pretending to know what he was talking about. She didn't fool the ginger guy though. Ron's face broke into a grin.

"You don't know who I am, do you?" He asked.

"Of course not, Ronald, why would they?"Professor Flitwick asked briskly.

"Err... no reason." He said glancing at my mum, "Just wondering if anyone told them. Anyway, I need to go back now... are you coming to Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes? It's a joke shop." Ron added. We looked at Professor Flitwick, who nodded and we followed Ron into the vibrant, orange shop.

AN: Well there you go! Sorry about the cliff-hanger etc. I need to confirm with Catlee but seeing as this is a 'part one' we could send the 'part two' a bit earlier than Saturday...but we'll have to see! Thanks guys for being amazing and stuff...
Well don't forget to vote, comment etc...
Aardvark :)