Legacy Disowned - Book 2

Chapter 28 - The Yonderworld Market

The following day arrived, grey and dreary. The snow on the ground muddled into murky slush beneath Sebastian, Darling, and Ominis' feet as they trudged the familiar trek to Hogsmeade. It was a Saturday, with other students chatting and laughing around them as they made the trip, but the three of them walked in a tense silence.

Darling was still decidedly not happy that she had been overruled. Ominis had made it clear he was perfectly content to let her stew in her resentment for as long as she liked. Sebastian on the other hand, simply did not dare test the new and uncertain boundaries of their friendship just yet.

He was starting to feel as though his mere presence was a burden on her, an unwanted strain on her already stressful life. But after finding out just what Yonderworld Market was, Sebastian knew he could not allow her to go without him.

From what she and Sharp had explained, it was a commercial hub, not unlike Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade. But rather than catering to witches and wizards, it was ruled and populated by all manner of magical beasts, creatures and beings. Very few humans knew of its existence, and even fewer were granted access. For the most part, only those who existed on the outermost fringe of wizarding society were welcomed.

Apparently, Sonny Darling and his generations of predecessors had been one of the rare wizard frequenters, often conducting and acquiring business there. As a result, Darling had not only visited, she'd even stayed there a handful of times. But no matter how familiar she may be, the idea of remaining at the castle while she ventured into such a wild and lawless place to meet a goblin was not something Sebastian could accept.

They arrived at the Three Broomsticks to find Professor Sharp already waiting for them, a bag of floo powder at the ready. Sirona barely even glanced up from her cleaning as he began distributing a handful to each of them. Evidently having the stoic Potions Master as their chaperon was enough to dissuade any questions.

"The Leaky Cauldron?" Sharp asked Darling in a low voice. She nodded, taking a step forward, but he put out an arm to stop her. "I'll go first, then the rest of you follow."

Darling let out a small grunt of discontent, which the Professor replied to with a pointed and knowing look.

Smart, Sebastian thought sadly. At this point, he wouldn't put it past Darling to try and give them all the slip. The thought stung more than he liked to admit. But he shook it off, waiting, watching as Sharp, Darling, and then Ominis each stepped into the fireplace and disappeared in a flash of green flames before he entered the grate himself.

"The Leaky Cauldron," Sebastian spoke clearly, and was immediately swept up by the familiar, warm and dizzying whirl of floo travel before being deposited safely in the dimly lit pub.

Having grown up so close to Hogsmeade, Sebastian had only ever been to London a handful of times, and not in many years. Still, he knew the Leaky Cauldron, Diagon Alley, and Gringotts. He'd even tried to sneak a peak down Knockturn Alley a time or two. But he'd never even heard of this "Yonderworld Market."

Where could such a place be?

Seeing as they were here to meet with a goblin, he thought perhaps it would be somewhere in the direction of Gringotts? But just as Sebastian was considering this, Sharp nodded at Darling to lead on. She did not make for the walled courtyard at the back of the pub that connected to Diagon Alley at all. Instead, she strode right out the front door and into the streets of muggle London.

Sebastian had never ventured this way in his life, but Darling certainly seemed to know where she was going. They passed by play houses, restaurants, music stores and book shops, but nowhere that looked suitable to hide a magical bazaar teaming with beasts and creatures. It was just an ordinary muggle city with absolutely nothing magical or mysterious to be seen.