Dying to Find
out What's under These Robes, Are You?
Author: Adam Sparrow
Date: 11-14-03 19:02
Sidi was putting the finishing touches on the shop. Adam watched her move from shelf to shelf, table to table arranging flowers, polishing wood and lining up spines. She had lit incense for God knows what this time. He had lost track of the purposes of the multitude of aromatic magical tools she used. There was incense for everything. She ground and formed them all herself. Some weren't so pleasant. She was meticulous with every aspect of her life, not just her magic.
He marveled at her adaptability. Just a few years ago she had been teaching "Gypsy Magic and Culture" at a small respected progressive school hidden away in the Transylvanian Alps. Like Hogwarts it was hidden to non-magic folk. Unlike Hogwarts it had a diverse student population of all magical beings. The only thing she hadn't liked about it was the Vampires.
Her interest in and knowledge of alternative magical cultures was incredible. Because of that, the small exclusive school had sent her to Jamaica to study Vodoun. Adam was a close family friend of the Houngan she had been studying under. It was TeGene who saved his life when over 80% of his body had been ravaged by fire in a mishap on their Jamaican estate. He had introduced them. Adam smiled remembering the introduction.
"Azizi," TeGene had grabbed the scruff of his neck and pushed him toward the beautiful young Gypsy. "Meet the mother of your children."
He laughed aloud.
Now here she was, waiting tables and selling books. All for him or so she thought. She had convinced herself he was an all but forgotten magical being, an Heirgot she called it. Adam didn't feel extinct.
He had drifted off and jumped when her arms encircled his wait and she kissed his neck. "What are you thinking about precious one?"
He smiled at her translation of "Azizi."
How did she know what he was thinking?
"I had a dream last night."
"Did you write it down?"
"Yes."
"It's bothering you. What was it about?"
"Someone died. A woman. Someone killed her. That was it."
"No details?"
Adam rarely discussed his dreams with her. He had bizarre dreams all the time, some of them prophetic. Not even the nightmares bothered him for more that a few minutes after he had awakened. "No."
"Why is it still bothering you?"
"I don't know."
"Why tell me if you're going to lie?"
Adam fidgeted. "I was in the dream. I was watching. I wanted her to die. It made me happy."
Sidi moved to face him. She put her arms around him and kissed him.
"Tell me the truth." She started. "Are you still very angry with me for bringing you here?" There was a long uncomfortable pause.
Sidi smiled a chagrined smile. "Ahhh, your silence speaks volumes. So do your dreams love. Your dream was about your anger and me. Professor Dumbledore says."
Adam's hand slammed down on the counter. "Oh will you please just spare me. I prefer not to spend the next hour listening to you pontificate on the god-like Professor Dumbledore."
"Adam! The man saved your life show respect! He made it possible for us to be here! He did not have to help us!"
He reached into his pocket and waved a rolled up piece of paper in her face. "Your head would turn if he walked by?"
"Oh!" She was livid. "You read my owl! How dare you!" She jumped up trying to grab the note.
"It's my owl. I paid for it." Adam childishly snapped back holding the note far above her reach.
"You are blatantly and purposefully misinterpreting the whole intention of..." She yelled.
"Oh your intention was clear alright." He spat back. "You made a damned fool of yourself."
"I was thanking him!!" She hissed.
"For what!" His voice was off the richter scale. His sarcasm was loud and and clear. "You are not worthy to tie his robes!"
"I'm sure I'm not but I bet you are! Dying to find out what's under the robes are you?"
"You have to be an Heirgot," she lashed out. "You're as stupid as a stick and have the brains of a slug!" Sidi swung her arm as hard as she could. Her fist caught him in the mouth sending him tumbling backward through the glass door of the shop.
Confrontation at the
Hog's Head
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 11-15-03 08:00
A series of swollen, gray clouds loomed overhead, in danger of bursting at any moment to shower Hogsmeade with much-needed rain. Bill sought cover from the impending storm inside the Hog's Head, not merely to avoid the torrent but also because he was following somebody. He observed from the doorway as the person of his most recent investigations sat at the bar and ordered a butterbeer, completely oblivious to her tail.
She pushed a strand of hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear, waiting patiently as the man behind the counter pulled a dusty bottle of the refreshing drink from beneath the counter and served it to her. She had absolutely no qualms of drinking the aged butterbeer, as Bill noticed when she casually twisted the cap, tossed it onto the equally dusty counter top and took a hearty swig from the bottle.
Deciding to make his move, Bill moved away from the front door and approached the bar. He took the empty stool next to her and ordered a butterbeer for himself. His presence did not go unnoticed by the object of his interest, but she didn't move from her seat. Instead, she threw him a long, annoyed look and went back to her drink.
"You don't come here often, do you?" Helena said, after a brief, awkward silence. She didn't look at Bill, and merely watched the fingers on her right hand as they rubbed the dust from the bottle of butterbeer.
"Not terribly often, no. Why do you ask?" Bill questioned, turning to look at Helena.
She shrugged and kept her gaze straight forward. "Haven't seen you in here before," she replied. "You seem much more a Three Broomsticks kind of guy."
"Funny, I used to think the same of you," Bill said. He watched her facial expression, but it didn't change. In fact, she didn't deign in necessary to make any sort of response. So, Bill continued the conversation, "Helena, you've changed since last year and I think it's a much graver situation than simply being upset with Charlie or yourself or whatever reason kept you from telling Charlie the truth about Julian."
"Bill, just say what you really mean. You've obviously been giving this a lot of thought." For the first time since his arrival, Helena turned to look him in the face.
Bill eyed her levelly and said, "Very well, but perhaps we should go some place more private," but Helena shook her head and insisted they stay at the pub. She took another sip of her butterbeer and encouraged Bill to continue, despite the penchant for patrons of this particular establishment to overhear everything.
Bill took a swig of his own drink before lowering his voice to just a notch above a whisper. "When you met Adriana that night and learned her secret, didn't you find it all very odd? Weren't you concerned, if not for her than for yourself?" Bill didn't give her a moment's chance to answer. "No, you were not. In fact, I believe you were beside yourself with delight. Look what I found. A woman with a deep, dark secret. But what's more, I'm not shocked by this revelation, I'm intrigued! But why, Helena? Why did you lie to me about Adriana? Why did you keep yourself and Adriana hidden from all of us? What were you trying to gain?"
Helena raised an inquistive eyebrow and felt the beginnings of a smirk tug at the corner of her lips. "Clearly, I've gained nothing from any of it. I haven't seen Adriana in months. I don't know where she is, what she's doing, who she's with. Hell, I don't even know if she's alive anymore. She could be dead, Bill. Have you ever thought about that?"
Bill turned away and fingered his bottle of butterbeer, not wanting to imagine Adriana's corpse lying somewhere unknown, perhaps lost forever. At the same time, he wondered if her death would ultimately be a better situation than life as an agent of the Dark Lord. He naturally didn't want to imagine her serving Voldemort either, but this was a far easier situation to picture because he couldn't shake the feeling that this was the actual case.
"Why are you really working at Twice Told Tales, Helena?" Bill asked quietly, attempted to get to the bottom of things once and for all.
"I told you why," Helena responded hotly. "I thought you were a good listener."
"I thought you were an honest person, but evidently I was very wrong. Why do you keep lying to me?"
Helena shot him a venemous look. "Maybe you need to mind your own damn business."
"You know, I can't believe I never realized it before but I don't think we ever really knew you at all. I think you're a fraud, Helena Tufton. You've been playing all of us, especially Charlie. I don't know what your motives are, but you can damn well believe I'm going to find out."
Bill downed the rest of his drink, stood up, threw a few coins onto the counter top and left the Hog's Head without a second glance at Helena.
Home Away from Home
Again
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 11-15-03 10:44
Lawerence and Vera's plane had landed early that morning. They had spent the last two weeks of the summer in Australia. Aunt Maribel picked the two up at the airport. "How was the trip?" she asked, smiling lightly, as she helped the two grab their bags from the luggage carrousel.
"GREAT!" Both said in unison. They had spent time in Lawrence's house, or what would be his house when he came of age. They had gone to several performances in the Sydney Opera house.
Aunt Maribel chuckled, and blinked when they had come back with one more bag than they had left with. "I take it you did a lot of souvenir shopping." The two laughed. "Of course Aunt Maribel, since this was Vera's first time in Australia, I kind of spoiled her." Lawrence said and grinned. The trio left the Airport and Aunt Maribel would take Vera home first. "We will see you on Diagon Alley tomorrow my dear." Aunt Maribel said as they dropped Vera off at home.
"Bye Vera. See you tomorrow." He kissed her cheek and helped her carry her bags inside.
He waved goodbye to Vera before slipping back into the car with Aunt Maribel. "This I believe is the best summer vacation I've ever had. And I think I made Vera's last summer as a Hogwarts student memorable." He smiled. "This is Vera's last year at Hogwarts."
"Oh? I didn't realize she was a year ahead of you. What are you going to do when she's gone?" Maribel asked, it was a logical question, but not one he was willing to face just yet.
"I don't know yet Aunt Maribel. I really don't want to lose her. I have something special for her since we've been together for a year now. Also, I got her something special for the end of the year. I want you to keep it a home when we go back to school." Lawrence grinned.
"Alright. Tell me about it when we get home. You must be exhausted. I'll make you some lunch and then you can head to bed."
"Alright." Truth be told Lawrence was too excited to go to sleep, but he would appease Aunt Maribel and at least pretend to sleep for a bit.
What Do I Do?
Author: Sidi Ross
Date: 11-15-03 10:58
The glass shattered as Adams shoulders made contact. The wood from the old door gave little resistance and splintered allowing glass and wood to tear into the back of his knees and legs. His damaged ligaments and tendons screamed in pain. It rained glass. He threw an arm up to shelter his face while still holding the area Sidi's angry fist made impact. He tried to twist to his side to break his fall. There was an ugly crack as his head hit the brick edging of the walkway. He lost consciousness as a seizure claimed his body.
Sidi screamed and ran to the door. Large brown stains had already appeared from the damage to his legs. She climbed over him pulling her scarf from her head in the process. More blood greeted her on the walkway and on his face. She tried to clear his airways and roll him to his side as to allow the seizure to pass without his choking to death.
"Oh God." She cried. "What do I do?" She was alone. She had no idea how medicine worked here. Were there doctors? Were there ambulances? My God there were no phones! She sat sobbing while tying the scarf around the wound on his head.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry...Somebody help me please." She sobbed to no one.
Slowly people came from nowhere to watch. She heard a boy excitedly tell his friend how the witch took out the muggle, someone call her a Death Eater and it made her cry harder. She tried to work a spell but couldn't concentrate. She was useless. She was a seventh daughter of a seventh daughter Gypsy and she was completely helpless.
Junior
Astronauts and Some Shocking News
Author: Nevvyn
Date: 11-15-03 18:55
We rise early and eat breakfast with another family who is doing the same tour that we have arranged. They have but one child, a teenaged son who is about as spoiled as it is possible to be. Think of all the endearing qualities of Draco Malfoy, multiply by two, and you have a rough approximation of 'Lenny'. I dearly hope we are not on the same tour bus. If I am forced to endure his insolence at close range, I may slip and use a bit of magic on him. At any rate, we are finished and in the car while they are still arguing about waffles or french toast. It is a short drive up the coast to the Kennedy Space Center.
Being early birds, we are able to park in the first row and, after locking the car, we hurry over to the Ticket Plaza. There are a few folks in the normal ticket lines, but no one at the window marked 'Prepaid', which is where I think I am supposed to go. I step up and give my name, and the lady riffles through a short stack of envelopes. "Ah! Yes! Flynn!" She extracts one envelope and opens it, examining the papers and other contents. "Are these your grandsons?" she asks.
"They are, indeed!" I reply with a smile. "James, Patrick and Michael!" The three lads nod in turn, acknowledging their names.
She hands the envelope through the opening in the glass and tells us to each select the proper name badge and to put it on and to wear it at all times. Patrick wants to know if we can keep them and she explains that the badge is his to keep. He proudly clips it to the front of his shirt, as do the rest of us. The lady tells us to use the right-hand entrance gate. We walk up to this gate and hold our badges in front of a sensor of some sort. There is a buzz and a click, then the gate swings open to admit us. The first thing we do is go make arrangements for the special bus tour, which leaves in fifteen minutes. We go stand and wait at the bus boarding platform, keeping a careful eye out for Lenny and his parents. Fortunately, our bus is filled and leaving as they approach the platform.
The bus tour is grand. With our special badges, we get to go into places which are not normally accessible to the public. The driver keeps up a running commentary on various things that we are passing but not stopping at. We do, however, stop at a number of interesting places; the Apollo / Saturn V Center, the LC-39 Observation Gantry, and the International Space Station Center. We are all entranced by what we are seeing. From the top of the Observation Gantry, we can see the Space Shuttle Discovery, sitting on Launch pad 'A'. In another week, this vehicle will blast off for a twelve-day mission of tests and experiments. The Vehicle Assembly Building is also quite impressive, as they are readying the next shuttle for its scheduled launch in September. All-in-all, the bus tour takes almost four hours. Our next great priority is LUNCH, not LAUNCH, as Michael so cleverly explains.
After we have satisfied our hunger, we take in the IMAX presentations. We are treated to simulated low-level flyovers of the planet Mars, based on actual photographs and maps of the 'Red Planet'. The effect of the very large, curved screen is somewhat dizzying, but very realistic. In the other IMAX theater, we view a film on the proposed 'L-5' Space Colony. We visit the 'Rocket Garden' where various space vehicles are on display. We have fun at an exhibit on the history of space exploration, where we are led about by a little robot tour guide. In another place, we are allowed to enter a mock-up of the space shuttle. There are also interactive displays such as trying to land the shuttle, what does the 4G lift-off force feel like. We also have a chance to experience the one-sixth gravity environment of the moon. By the time we finish all of this, we are about saturated with space. I suggest we head back to the Inn, and stop for supper at a little place we saw on the way here this morning. The Lads agree, and so we bid a fond farewell to the astronauts and the rocket ships, and go back to the mundane world of automobiles and soft beds.
We arrive back at the South Beach Inn with full tummies and tired feet. The desk clerk has a message for me. I am to call Joyce Finnegan as soon as possible. We hurry to our room and I dial the number, curious as to what she could be wanting. Did we leave something behind? I don't recall that anything was missing. When I finally get Joyce on the line, she has some very sad news for me. It seems that James has had a massive heart attack and has passed away this very afternoon. She was thinking that it would be good if we could attend his wake, which will be held tonight. After giving her my condolences, I tell her we can be there in a little over an hour. The Lads have been listening, and have understood the situation. By the time I hang up the telephone, they are already packing their bags. I make a quick check of the room to ensure we have not left anything, and set the Lads to packing our things down to the car. I stop by the office to check out and pay the bill, explaining the situation in a few words. The manager is quite sympathetic, and does not charge us for the extra night. Within ten minutes of ending the phone call, we are on our way back to Kissimmee.
There are a number of other vehicles parked along the edge the drive when we arrive. On the deck, there is also a rather tattered flying carpet, although it would not draw anyone's attention, being camouflaged as a piece of artificial turf. Fardle meets us at the door and bids us enter. From this, I gather that it is strictly a gathering of James' magical friends and associates. We make our way through the kitchen and dining room, where tables are loaded with food and drink. The living room has a goodly crowd, most with glasses of strong drink in their hands. James is propped up in his motorized chair, with his fingers curled around a half-full glass. Joyce sees us and rushes over.
"I'm so glad you could make it on such short notice," she says, giving me a little hug. "James will be happy as well. Just the other day he said it would be grand if you could attend 'Finnegan's Wake'! He always did enjoy his little jokes!" She smiles and introduces us around the room... Not by our assumed names, but as Nevvyn and the three Toms. We are greeted warmly by the entire group of witches and wizards. Most are associates from the school where he and Joyce taught. We stand about, eating, drinking and reminiscing. We take turns in telling stories of our working with James through the years. There is both laughter and tears in abundance. The crowning touch is when Fardle slips into the next room and puts a record on the machine. The jolly strains of The Clancy Brothers singing 'Finnegan's Wake", fill the entire house. We all join in on the chorus, which is about all I can remember of the song.
The evening wears on into the night. By ones and by twos, the guests say their last good-byes to James and depart into the darkness. Finally, we are left alone with Joyce and James. She makes one final phone call to the McCarthy Mortuary. Frank 'Finn' McCarthy arrives shortly to take James away. He is very understanding about the old Irish customs, and stays long enough for a quick bite to eat and a glass of the good whiskey punch. It is late when he leaves, and Joyce approaches me. "You will be staying the night!" she states, rather than asks. "I've already had Fardle take your things up to your rooms. In the morning, we can take care of the books in the library."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Morning comes and the smell of breakfast drags me from the bed. I hurry to dress and go downstairs, to find my Lads already seated at the table with Joyce. She is getting a first hand report on what we did at Disney World, and seems to be quite enjoying their stories. "Well now!" I announce my presence. "We're you going to let me sleep all day? Usually you are pestering me to be up and about as soon as the sun peeps above the horizon."
"You are usually carrying on about how you need your 'beauty sleep'!" replies Tom with a laugh. "And see how much better he looks, for just that extra hour," he tells the others. This gets a good round of chuckles from everyone, including myself. I sit down and join them for breakfast, and Fardle rushes over with a plate of food and a mug of steaming coffee. The lads continue with their tales while I eat.
After breakfast, we adjourn to the library. From somewhere, Fardle has obtained a great number of wooden packing crates, which are stacked in the center of the room. We all set to work, transferring the books from shelves to boxes. "I don't suppose you have a branch of WorldWide Wizard Express anywhere nearby, do you?" I ask. Joyce replies that the nearest office is in Miami, and they are not easy to deal with. "Are you then on the Floo Network?" I inquire of her. She explains that they are, via the fireplace in the living room, but it hasn't been used in years. As each of the crates is filled, I shrink them down to the size of a large matchbox. Fardle and the lads tote them into the living room. Soon, the shelves are bare, and Joyce reminds me of the 'secret' shelves. I have to stop and think a minute, counting the days since we were last here. Then, with an air of great confidence, I walk to the shelves and sing out, "First she brought in tea and cake." The shelves rotate as they did for James, just five short days ago. "Tomorrow," I explain, "the password will change to 'Then pipes, tobacco and whiskey punch.' You see, it goes according to the verses of the song, 'Finnegan's Wake.' It's another of James' little jokes. Probably his last and best laugh!" Joyce looks at me in amazement, then starts to laugh as well.
Soon we have all the special books packed away and are ready to start the transport phase. I look around for some Floo Powder, and find none. Joyce has no ideas as to where it might be kept in the house, and Fardle reports that he hasn't seen any about for quite some time. Then I remember my 'emergency supply'. I rush upstairs and look in my medicine kit. Ah... there it is! I return with a small tube of gray dust, stoppered with a cork. "I just hope this enough to get me all the way to Hogsmeade," I say, mostly to myself. I toss it into the fireplace, step into the burst of green flames, and say 'Nevvyn's', all at the same time. There is a great whirling and roaring blackness all about me, then I stumble out into my own Shoppe. I fetch four of the ten-kilo bags from the shelf and, opening two of them, leave them by my hearth. I tuck the other two under my arm and, with a large handful of powder, Floo myself back to 'Finnegan's'. Amply supplied with Floo Powder, we make short work of transferring the shrunken crates, taking six or eight at a time. We finish shortly before lunchtime.
Joyce invites us to stay long enough to recharge our batteries, and Fardle has prepared an excellent luncheon of cold cuts, cheese, and fresh-baked rolls. Our table conversation consists of many thanks back and forth, and a promise from Joyce to come visit after things settle down. All too soon, it is time for us to leave. Joyce asks us to wait a moment, and returns holding a miniature globe of the world, only about ten centimeters high. "I have no use for this," she says, "and I'm sure your Toms will put it to good use." My lads thank her profusely and she gives them each a big hug and thanks for coming to visit. Tom tucks it away in his pack, and we say our final farewells as we walk to the car.
The trip back home is rather uneventful, especially compared to the past several days. We arrive in good condition, having slept most of the way on the aeroplane. We apparate directly from the storage room at Heathrow to our shoppe in Hogsmeade. "Well, lads!" I say. "You'll have quite a tale to tell Dobby when you see him next."
"That should be quite soon," says Tom, pointing at the calendar. "Today is Harry Potter's birthday, and I am sure everyone is invited to the party."
What's Going On?
Author: Dierna ní Cíaran
Date: 11-15-03 19:10
I had gone out for a walk, as usual, when I heard the commotion. Or actually I hear "Death Eater" being shouted and kids screaming. With my nerves already raw, the last thing I want is kids screaming "Death Eater."
"Go on! Shoo!" I yell. And they do, not willing to challenge the local Auror's authority. I look to find a man with multiple cuts across his arm and head, and a woman sobbing, trying desperately to cast some kind of spell. Scattered everywhere are shards of glass.
I point my wand at the floor "Reparo!" the glass whisks up in the air and forms a single pane of glass again.
"What happened here?" I ask, looking again to the wounded man on the floor.
The woman started to sob. "We fought . . . I hit him. Didn't mean to . . . "
I make the woman look at me. "Calm down, Cad e anim dhuit?"
The woman looks blankly at me. "I didn't catch the last part, I'm sorry."
"I asked what is your name."
"Sidi Ross . . . "
"Well, Sidi, I'm Dierna ni Ciaran. I'm an auror". I watch the woman closely when I say that. Her face shows relief at that. Definitely not a Death Eater. "Now, tell me calmly, what happened?" While she explains the fight I examine the . . . man? No I can clearly sense that there is more to this man than appears.
"These are all normal, non-magical wounds. I can heal this easily." I point my wand at the man. "Aesculapius!" A light glows around him and the wounds heal. "There, simple enough. Let's get him inside. Mobilicorpus." We take the man where he can safely recover.
Then I sit Sidi at a table and allow her to recover her equilibrium. "Now Sidi, are you going to tell me what kind of magical creature that man really is - and if he's registered?"
Oh My God
Author: Sidi Ross
Date: 11-15-03 19:36
Sidi looked at the Auror. Her eyes grew as wide as saucers. We're dead! She panicked.
How did she know? Had she somehow accessed his power when she healed him? This woman was not stupid and she wanted an answer. Oh God. Sidi thought What do I do?
"Registered?" She giggled nervously. "Oh, yes. Uh well um...It, uh He, I mean, does not actually belong to me."
Her hand flew to her chest then tugged at the shell that hung from a cord around her neck. More nervous giggles.
"Um yes, uh...Hogwarts. Professor Dumbledore. They own..him...it...this creature, man... I was just taking care of him for a few days. I will make sure I get the registration to you as soon as possible. Is that alright?"
Tears filled her huge black eyes. She fought hard to keep them at bay. How was she going to get registration to this woman? What registration is she talking about? They were going to have to move again. She didn't even have time to send an owl to Professor Dumbledore.
"Is that o.k?"
Change of Topic
Author: Dierna ní Cíaran
Date: 11-15-03 21:00
"You don't need to get the registration to me. You send it to Amos Diggory at the ministry. Magical creatures are his department, not mine."
The woman was obviously lying; she was too nervous and giggly and tried to avoid my gaze from across the table. Trying to force information from someone who doesn't want to talk is useless, so I brush off the subject for now. I'll get to the truth eventually.
"Anyway, I have to drop by Hogwarts today, so I'll ask Dumbledore about him- what is his name, anyway?"
"Adam Sparrow." She replies then adds, "You know Dumbledore?"
"Who in the wizarding world doesn't?" I laugh. "It's hard not to at least know OF the greatest wizard of this and any other age. I'm a Hogwarts Alumni. But more importantly, I'm also an ally of the Olamh. I'm very honoured to be considered a friend of his." Sidi relaxes noticeably, but suddenly asks, "Ally? Ally against who?"
"You mean you don't know?" I say, incredulous again. "You don't know that Voldemort is back?" I am surprised - and impressed that she doesn't flinch or yell at me not to say the name. Too few people are unafraid of even the mention of "Voldemort."
"I thought he was defeated by Harry Potter years ago."
"Defeated yes, killed no. One of his followers brought him back to full power." I explain the events of a few years ago, the minister's denial of the facts. "Dumbledore has gathered people to fight against Voldemort and his Death Eaters. I am one of Dumbledore's allies. And I'll follow the Olamh to the darkest corners of the Otherworld and back."
Clowning Around
Author: Nymphadora Tonks
Date: 11-15-03 22:05
I was heading toward the Leaky Cauldron when he ran into me. You know how it goes, two persons walk around the corner heading in the opposite direction and bang! Next thing you know you're on the floor with a bump on the head and a migraine as a side dish.
"I'm so sorry!" He said. And offered me a hand to pick me up.
"Just...be more careful next time, aye?" He nodded and as I started walking, the boy stopped me.
"Excuse me, I just have one question...Do you know where I can find Diagon Alley?"
I turned raising a brow. "And why would you be trying to find that place?"
He rustled around in his pockets. "Well because, I got this letter you see...from an..." He paused as if hesitant to finish. "By an owl ma'am."
I grinned. "I see..." I took the letter from him, and sure enough it was for Hogwarts. "Are you crazy boy? Owls don't deliver messages!" I looked at me blankly. And I began to laugh. "I'm only kidding! Yes, I know where that is and I was just headed in that direction." I handed my hand out. "I'm Tonks."
And shaking my hand, "Sora."
Until then I hadn't really noticed he parents standing and watching. "Oh, pardon me Mr. and Mrs. Sora!" I bowed; clearly I was in a clowny mood. "I take it neither of you are a witch or wizard?"
I took their silence as a profound no. "Ah...muggles then...No worries mates, it might be quite...well..intresting and an eye opener at first, but you get on." I winked and before they could say a word gestured them to follow me. Straight to the Leaky Cauldron we went not a word from anyone.
When we stepped into some nodded "hello" and others just looked. Mostly at the family closely trailing me. Once we arrived to the brick wall Sora's parents looked about questioningly. Sora himself anxious to see what would happen next. Slowly I took out my wand and tapped on the bricks. Mouths dropped when the bricks chiseled away, reviling a new alleyway.
"There ya are mates! Diagon Alley...Now uh..." I stepped away from the wall. "I'd love ta join you folks and show you around, but I have urgent business to attend to." I start walking out and finished. "Look for other youngsters and ask for help! No doubt there'll be plenty of Hogwarts students about." And with a wink I was gone.
Once I arrived back at Number 12 Grimmauld place I sent an owl out for Dierna.
