Starstruck

6. Journey to Diagon Alley

It had reached noon by the time the excited potters had left their home to begin their journey to Diagon Alley. They had not taken floo powder as most wizards did (after Harry's nasty experience in his second year he had rather gone off it) but instead decided to drive in a magically enhanced car. They were travelling for little more than around half an hour before the car came to an abrupt halt. Spilling out of the car, the Potters began to walk steadily through the crowded streets of London when young Lily Potter noticed something odd. Her father just come to a stop in front of probably the most unattractive, shabby building she had seen in her life!

A worn out sign read, "The Leaky Cauldron" and in fact, if Lily's father hadn't stopped right in front of this very building she mightn't have even noticed it.

"So this is it!" beamed Harry.

"Sorry but what exactly is what?" asked Albus in a tone suggesting Harry had gone slightly mad.

He looked around in confusion and anticipation as if to see something more impressive than this run-down old shack. But Harry was pointing towards this very building and winked at James, like they knew something Lily and Albus didn't or something. James typically rolled his eyes. He, of course, had done all this the previous year realised Lily. Her head was a jungle of tangled thoughts as she walked through the small door of the pub.

"Er... Dad... why have we come all this way to come to a shabby old pub?" Albus asked incredulously. "How am I supposed to find all the things on my list here!?"

"Shush Albus! Tom will hear. This is the legendary Leaky Couldron, not some 'shabby old pub'" he hissed, punching Albus playfully on the shoulder. "Just trust me, you'll see."

The three Potter children followed him reluctantly through the rusty door, dragging their feet along as they felt all the eyes in the room swivel in their direction. Lily shivered.

"Ah Tom!" Harry greeted the withered hunchback. It was almost as if they were old friends... "Still here I see." What on earth was going on? Lily wondered.

She stepped further into the pub and saw flying rags that seemed to be cleaning tables with no assistance, dancing and swirling as they scrubbed! It amazed her, even though she had lived with wizards all her life as she watched them curiously.

She then scurried after her father, who she realised had retreated into a small outside area near the back of the pub.

"Watch," Harry paused for effect "and learn."

He pulled out his wand and tapped the brick wall in a seemingly random pattern. Nothing happened for a moment, and then the wall swung back to reveal a whole new world, a spellbinding street of magical shops and bursting with wizards!

A small cauldron hopped about, spewing its contents everywhere and a mousy haired boy was chasing after his toad as it bounced of gleefully. Lily and Albus stood, paralysed in absolute awe at the magic before them!

"Welcome, to Diagon Alley" announced Harry and smiled.