5 Chapter 5: Diagon Alley
"How do we get to Diagon Alley?" Alaric was curious.
"Apparition, it's a convenient spell but makes people uncomfortable." Dumbledore took out his wand. "Hold on to me, child, and be careful not to vomit."
Alaric felt a blur before his eyes, and then everything started spinning. However, in the chaos, he saw clear spatial patterns, a narrow space channel barely accommodating two people.
He felt like being sucked into a narrow rubber tube and then expelled again. The space he originally occupied exchanged places with another.
In the blink of an eye, they appeared in an alley. Perhaps due to his innate talent, Alaric didn't feel anything special.
"Meow~"
But, the cat Himari in his backpack meowed, obviously feeling a little uncomfortable.
"How do you feel?" Dumbledore looked at Alaric with concern. "Wizards experiencing Apparition for the first time usually have some adverse reactions."
"I feel great." Alaric reassured as he gently patted the cat's head, finally calming her down. "I feel like I can do it a few more times."
"Oh, you're truly born to be a wizard. Wool's Orphanage always produces some geniuses," Dumbledore exclaimed. Of course, the next sentence was just a mutter to himself and not meant for others to hear.
The two walked forward in a narrow alley and finally stopped in front of an inconspicuous little pub.
"The Leaky Cauldron," Dumbledore introduced, "This is a well-known place. The Leaky Cauldron is enchanted to ensure that ordinary Muggles won't notice it when there's no one leading them!"
It was a small and dirty pub that people passing by didn't even glance at. Their eyes slid from the large bookstore on one side of the street to the record store on the other, as if they couldn't see it at all.
Although it was a famous place in the wizarding world, the inside was dim and dilapidated.
Nine elderly women sat in the corner, drinking small glasses of sherry, one of them smoking a long pipe.
A young man with a tall hat was chatting with the old bartender. The bartender's head was bald as if it were a swollen walnut.
When the two entered, the buzzing chatter immediately stopped, and everyone nodded and smiled politely at Dumbledore, who politely reciprocated each greeting.
The barkeeper picked up a glass and said, "Professor Dumbledore, are you personally picking up the new student?"
"Yes, a new student from the Muggle orphanage," Dumbledore replied.
"Is young Harry doing well? He'll be going to Hogwarts this year too!" Tom spoke as if bringing up something delightful, and others nearby perked up to listen.
"Hagrid will be in charge of escorting Harry!" Dumbledore explained, then led Alaric into the courtyard, where there was only a wall made of stacked bricks.
"The entrance to Diagon Alley is here. You must remember the way to enter Diagon Alley," Dumbledore reminded, lightly tapping three times on a special spot on the brick wall with his wand, saying, "Alright, stand back, Alaric."
The brick that was touched by the wand shook and began to move. A small hole appeared in the middle, and the opening grew larger. In no time, they were faced with a wide archway wide enough for both to pass through, leading to a winding, cobbled street with no end in sight.
Turning around, Dumbledore opened his arms and said to Alaric, "Welcome to Diagon Alley."
Following Dumbledore, Alaric stepped into the magical world for the first time.
He understood that his life would bid farewell to ordinary. The fame and fortune of ordinary people would no longer be his pursuit. His future would be accompanied by legends.
Everything would begin in this little alley.
The alley was filled with various strange shops, street vendors standing on the side, and people buying things. Most of them recognized Dumbledore and nodded in greeting.
The old man led Alaric through the alley, nodding to others while introducing each shop and what Alariccould buy in them.
Finally, they arrived in front of a snowy white building, much taller than the surrounding small shops.
"This is Gringotts," Dumbledore introduced, "Gringotts is the wizarding world's bank. Here, you need to exchange Muggle currency for wizarding Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts."
Next to the shiny bronze door of Gringotts stood a goblin wearing a deep red and gold uniform. They were about a head shorter than Alaric, with a dark and clever face, sharp beard, and long fingers and feet.
As they entered, the goblin bowed and greeted them. Then, a second door appeared in front of them, silver, with the following inscription:
"Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed,
For those who take, but do not earn,
Must pay most dearly in their turn.
So if you seek beneath our floors
A treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have been warned, beware
Of finding more than treasure there."
