"Diagon Alley," Molly Weasley said, grabbing a handful of green powder as she stepped into the fireplace. "Remember. Not Diagonally or Dragon Alley. Diagon Alley." She threw down the floor powder, and with a loud bang, disappeared.
"Your turn," Mr. Weasley ushered Harry, then Hermione, then Ron. One by one, they disappeared in a puff of green smoke. I was last.
Grabbing a handful of the jade green dust, I stood in the fireplace.
"Elvira Steele, right?" Mr. Weasley asked. I froze.
"Yes sir."
"I know your parents," he said, smiling. "Charming people, they are. They come around the ministry a lot."
"They like to help," I said with a nod. "Whenever they can."
Arthur Weasley smiled. "In you go."
He knew. Not that it was something to hide . . . bit being a Slytherin complicated things sometimes.
I threw down the floo powder, and was transported to Diagon Alley. Landing in a dusty book store, I climbed out, brushing myself off.
"You've got a smudge of dirt on your nose," Harry grinned, adjusting his crooked glasses. A smear of soot spread across his forehead.
"So have you," I pointed at my forehead. When everyone was cleaned up, Ron motioned for us to follow him.
"You have to see Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. They did a bloody well job with it."
We followed him through the cobblestone pathways. Straight ahead was an exact puppet-y replica of Fred (or was it George?) Weasley, holding a hat over his head.
"Number ninety-three Diagon Alley," Ron announced, proudly staring up at his brothers' creation. The building was the only splash of color for miles around, attracting all the younger (and older) customers. I walked to the front door, grinning when I saw the sign on the front.
WHY ARE YOU WORRYING ABOUT YOU-KNOW-WHO?
YOU SHOULD BE WORRYING ABOUT U-NO-POO -
THE CONSTIPATION SENSATION THAT'S GRIPPING THE NATION!
The sign flashed vibrantly. I pushed open the door, a burst of loud toys and vivid colors almost blinding me. Everything was everywhere. It was almost . . . beautiful, in a way.
"They'll be here, right?" I asked Hermione, who gave me a sly smile.
"They own the store, Elvira."
I walked over to a pack of Extendable Ears, looking through the almost lifelike . . . well, ears. Rows of Skiving Snack boxes lined the walls, the exact same ones they'd used to experiment on the students with last year. Ron was checking out the Reusable hangmen, and I turned to see Hermione and Ginny in awe at the WonderWitch products, including love potions, Pygmy Puffs, and ten-second pimple vanishers. The Pygmy Puffs were absolutely adorable: little puff balls that came in assorted colors.
"Oi, look who it is," I heard a voice say. Actually, two voices. Speaking at the same time. "Harry's here!"
"And Hermione."
"And Ron."
"Ginny's here too," Ginny piped up, raising her hand. I turned to see the twins towering behind us. Fred and George (George and Fred?) were grinning from ear to ear.
"Fred, how much are these?" Ron asked, pointing to a shelf behind me.
"Five galleons," one of them said.
"But Fred, I'm your brother."
"Ten galleons!"
"I'm Fred, by the way," the one on the right corrected.
YOU ARE READING
Lumos
FanfictionElvira Steele was a late-bloomer. Her parents were worried she'd be the first squib in their Pureblood heritage, the first non-magic child in their long line of Gryffindors. Of course, they'd love her no matter what the turnout, but were ecstatic wh...
