A Prophecy of Two Boys

Chapter 2

(Edited: 30/06/2020)

Chapter 2

Harry's Point of View

Once everyone had stopped laughing at Percy and me (we still didn't understand what on earth was so funny) Lily decided that we needed to go to Diagon Alley for our school supplies.

I stared with narrowed eyes at the lit fireplace. Of course, Percy and I had seen our parents use the floo network before, but we'd never used it ourselves. Charles went first, stepping carefully into the flames after dropping his handful of floo powder into them, stating; "Diagon Alley," in an almost arrogant voice.

"Come on Harry. You're next." Lily smiled. I nodded, cautiously copying Charles. One minute we were standing in the fireplace at Potter Manor, the next we were moving quickly through a tight space, surrounded by darkness. I shut our eyes tightly in an attempt to prevent the soot from getting in them. I hugged our body too after grazing our elbow on what felt like a rough brick wall.

I tripped as I exited the fireplace at the end, but managed not to fall flat on our face. Charles sneered at us when he saw our bleeding elbow, but I ignored him, touching our elbow lightly, and sending a small spark of magic to clean and heal the cut. Charles' eyes widened slightly, but then he hid his surprise by regaining his sneer.

"Can't you even travel through the Floo properly?" He laughed nastily. I narrowed our eyes.

'I don't like him.' Percy stated flatly, mirroring my own opinions on our brother.

A small sigh escaped our lips. 'Unfortunately we're stuck with him,' I replied. 'You know, being blood related and all.'

"Charles." James had stepped through the fireplace now. "Leave Harry alone. As I remember you skinned your entire arm the first time you Flooed. Besides, I can't see anything wrong with him!"

Charles glared at the floor. "He cut his elbow."

"Where?" Lily had now joined us.

I trained our gaze on the floor. "Its fine, I healed it."

A small gasp came from my parents. I heard it echoed from behind us, and suddenly became aware of the pub-full of people staring at us. We were standing in a warmly lit room with the occasional wooden beam standing out amongst the numerous tables. It looked like something out of one of the Lord of the Rings films (Lily's muggle childhood had led to Charles and me watching several films...)

"Morning Mr Potter, Mrs Potter, Young Charles." The old man behind the bar grinned at our family. "Whose is this, then?"

"This is our youngest son, Charles' twin Harry. He doesn't like crowds much, so he usually stays at home, but we needed to get their school equipment today, so we had to bring him along." Lily smiled as she replied, the lies slipping off her tongue easily. Well, I guess they were only half-lies really. Percy and I – before we started being ignored – had never liked crowds when we were younger. In fact, we were feeling a bit uncomfortable now as well... perhaps it wasn't so much of a lie as a half-truth...

"Hello, sir." I greeted the Bar-keeper politely in a small voice.

Whispers broke out all around us, and Lily and James hurried to move us out the back of the pub. Percy and I frowned as we reached a brick wall. James didn't miss a beat, however, tapping it with his wand so that the bricks parted to reveal the famous Diagon Alley. I tell you, books can't fully describe the beauty of Diagon Alley. Small cobbled streets, with old-fashioned shops build in a Mock-Tudor style lining them filled our sight. Witches and wizards rushed about their business chatting and laughing as they did so. We grinned. This place was brilliant!