A Magical Journey Continues

Diagon Alley

Life with the Knights was nothing like at the orphanage, and what was better: they even had their very own library. Tom rarely left the large room, much to Seth and Abraxas' annoyance and Hope's amusement. But none of them could fault him when he explained that there were only three books in the whole orphanage, and those were children's books. Getting the opportunity to read wasn't something Tom was going to pass up on.

After about a week, Abraxas took his leave, but before that he had forced Tom to promise he'd go outside at least one hour every day. He claimed that it was because he didn't want the shame of being friends with a miss-sort, so Tom shouldn't be too bookish, but everyone knew he was just worried about Tom's health and he wanted to make sure the dark haired boy would take in enough sunlight.

Their Hogwarts letters arrived one sunny afternoon about two weeks after Tom had arrived at the Knight Manor. He, Hope and Seth went down to the breakfast table and saw Mr. and Mrs. Knight already sitting. The two of them were always up early. Even when Tom had come down for a glass of water at 6 in the morning they'd already be up and about. Tom sometimes wondered if they ever even went to sleep at all and he was considering testing this in one of the next days.

"Your letters have arrived, apparently Dippet knows you are here, Tom," Mr. Knight said, handing them each a yellow envelop.

For a few minutes there was a silence when everyone read their letter. Tom's told him to catch the train at platform 9 ¾ at Kings Cross station the first of September as usual. There was also an extra letter he had to hand over to the goblins at Gringotts to receive his school finances.

"We'll go tomorrow," Mrs. Knight decided.

"Then I'll write the others. Maybe we can meet up all together," Hope said.

. . . . .

"We'll be leaving soon," Mrs. Knight told the kids as they readied themselves.
"Tom. Have you ever traveled by Floo before?"

"No, I'm afraid I haven't," the boy replied tensely.

"No problem! Seth will show you how it's done," Mr. Knight told him.

Seth nodded and took a copper pot from the stove. He handed it to his mother and took some glittering powder out of it.

"It's important you speak clearly," Hope explained as Seth threw the powder in the hearth.

"Diagon Alley!"

The green flames rose higher than Seth before he stepped into it and disappeared.

"Do not mutter," Mrs. Knight said.
"Say it twice first."

Tom did as told before Mrs. Knight finally let him take some of the powder.

"Keep your arms tucked in and make sure you don't miss the hearth," Hope told him as Tom stepped up to the hearth.

"Diagon Alley!" Tom spoke clearly as he had practiced.

It felt as if he was being sucked down a tight hole. He seemed to be spinning very fast... the roaring in his ears was deafening... he tried to keep his eyes open but the whirl of green flames made him feel sick... Something hard hit his elbow and he tried to squeeze it even closer... now it felt as though cold hands were slapping his face... When he squinted, he saw a blurred stream of fireplaces and snatched glimpses of the room behind... his breakfast wanted to come up again and he quickly shut his eyes again. He just wished it would stop. Suddenly he felt himself being thrown out, head first and he stumbled before regaining his balance again.