80 Chapter 80 "South Diagon Alley"
On August 11th, just seven days before the 422nd Quidditch World Cup, Skyler retrieved a peeping glass from his suitcase.
Utilizing advanced space magic, this enchanted mirror allowed him to transcend spatial constraints and observe distant scenes.
Due to its potential for misuse, the Ministry of Magic strictly regulates the peeping glass.
Skyler acquired this particular one from the Borgin and Burkes store last month, paying a hefty sum of 100 Galleons.
Unlike Nobita from Doraemon, Skyler's purpose for obtaining the peeping glass was serious.
He delegated the task to Dobby, configuring the sight glass to focus on Little Hangleton Town, specifically Riddle House.
Though the Riddle family hadn't resided in the house for years, the locals still referred to it as "Riddle House."
Perched on a hillside, the mansion displayed signs of neglect—sealed windows, incomplete roof tiles, and a rampant creeper reclaiming the structure.
Currently owned by a tax-deducting rich man, the mansion received minimal attention, except for retaining the original gardener, Frank Bryce.
Through the sight glass, Skyler observed Bryce, already ailing, tending to the flowerbed amidst encroaching weeds.
Mischievous boys on bicycles disturbed the tranquility, pelting stones at Riddle's House.
Despite his limp, Old Bryce brandished a cane, hoarsely admonishing them.
If Skyler's memory served him right, Old Bryce's days of suffering were soon to conclude, precisely on August 16th, the upcoming Saturday.
Today, Skyler is headed to Diagon Alley to meet with the girls.
Having informed his parents, he's set to spend the remaining summer days at his friends' house before traveling to Devon with them to witness the Quidditch World Cup.
Skyler's parents express delight upon learning that his friend is a Greengrass family member.
After cautioning Skyler to be careful and safe, Lucius hints that he and Draco will also be present, suggesting the possibility of a meet-up in the arena.
Understanding Lucius's subtle warning about potential troublemakers aligned with Death Eaters during the Quidditch World Cup, Skyler recalls his father's recent interactions with various pure-blood families, sensing a plot in the making.
Exiting the fireplace at the Leaky Cauldron Bar, Skyler takes a moment to freshen up and exchange greetings with Tom, the bar owner, before departing.
Diagon Alley, England's largest wizarding commercial area, begins at the Leaking Cauldron Bar on Charing Cross Street in London and is divided into three parts.
The "North District," stretching from House No. 1 to Gringotts Bank, is the first part. A side road opposite Gringotts leads to "Knockturn Alley," the second part. Continuing south leads to the "Southern District," constituting the third part.
As one of Europe's finest wizarding shopping streets, Diagon Alley thrives with almost 300 shops in the north and south areas, excluding Knockturn Alley.
Skyler has never meticulously counted the stores, but he knows Madam Primpernelle's Beautifying Potions was a shop located at 275 Diagon Alley. This shop helped witches get rid of "warts and worse," emphasizing the street's extensive offerings.
As far as Skyler knows, the only place in Europe that can rival Diagon Alley in prosperity is the Montmartre Secret Corners Trail in Paris, France.
The north area of Diagon Alley caters to young children and students, featuring pet shops, joke shops, bookstores, stationery shops, etc.
This explains why protagonists in the original works often explore this area, giving readers the impression of only a handful of shops in Diagon Alley.
Commercial activities in the South District are more sophisticated, targeting middle-class and affluent adult consumers.
Characters like Harry and Ron, being financially constrained, might not have ventured here by the end of the original book.
Upon arriving at the fork in front of the Gringotts' gate, Skyler spots Daphne, Astoria, and Meredith eagerly waiting.
The well-dressed girls—Daphne mature and beautiful, Astoria pure and beautiful, Meredith noble and elegant—greet Skyler with joyful smiles.
Despite their original plan to head straight to Greengrass Manor, Skyler leads the group southward through Diagon Alley, making a stop at a "magic shrinking house" at Astoria's insistence.
Inside the shrinking house, a magic spell reduces everyone to the size of a mouse.
The experience resembles scenes from the Muggle masterpiece "Alice in Wonderland," adding a whimsical touch to their journey.
They traverse a mouse hole, cross a small waterway on a leaf, climb dandelion flowers along branches, and drift across a large grassland on a dandelion in the wind.
Finally, they arrive at an inconspicuous tree hole, passing through it to regain their original size, concluding the enchanting experience.
Their next destination is the House of Illusion, an entertainment venue inspired by Muggle movie theaters.
Illusion magic utilizes crystal orbs or skulls to project images from the operator's mind. Initially designed for fortune-telling masters to share divination results with customers, it has evolved into a unique form of magical entertainment.
Later, savvy wizards acquainted with the Muggle world seized business opportunities.
They enlisted screenwriters to employ illusion magic, transforming stories into dynamic images for audiences.
The result? Instant popularity with works like "Wizards vs. Aliens," "Let the Curse Fly," "How to Train Your Dragon," and more, each born through this magical fusion.
Approaching the ticket office, Skyler encountered a sweet-looking young lady with a delightful smile.
As she glimpsed the Gringotts' limited-edition entertainment VIP card he retrieved, her smile widened, adding an extra layer of charm.
There are only five hundred black gold VIP cards crafted from pure black gold in the UK, and to Skyler's knowledge, he stands as the sole underage cardholder.
Using this exclusive card for spending in high-end establishments grants not only a 20% discount but also a complimentary upgrade to VIP seats.
These wider, softer, and more comfortable seats come with the added luxury of having meals and beverages delivered directly to them.
Securing four tickets, Skyler and his friends aim to watch the latest romance movie, "Time and Space Traveler."
The narrative unfolds around Tim, a 21-year-old man who unravels the secrets of time magic.
Armed with the ability to journey through time, he attempts to revisit a pivotal summer to alter his relationship with a crush.
However, the poignant lesson emerges that love cannot be forced, and regardless of temporal manipulations, those who don't harbor genuine feelings won't reciprocate.
Tim then encounters another love interest, inadvertently triggering a cascade of butterfly effects and calamities in the future world. In a poignant resolution, he exhausts his magical abilities to erase time travel traces, relinquishing the newfound connection.
Oblivious to his efforts, the girl eventually marries someone else, leaving Tim with the bittersweet aftermath of his temporal endeavors.
Skyler stirred from his momentary slumber as the poignant melody of the film's ending song echoed.
Upon opening his eyes, he beheld the three girls with reddened, swollen eyes, surrounded by a sea of "Parfitt tissues" – an entire pack depleted.
Astoria, unable to contain her tears, still sobbed intermittently.
Slightly awkward, Skyler employed a spell to help the girls tidy up, and then treated them to gummy candies, true to the advertised promise of maintaining happiness every day.
He couldn't help but quip about the earlier suggestion to watch "Doctor Strange vs. Black Panther Animagus," reiterating the sentiment that girls often find solace in emotional movies.
After indulging in a high-end restaurant for lunch, Skyler consulted his special pocket watch for the time, hinting at the need for old readers to revisit the ninth chapter of the first volume for insight into its significance.
The Diagon South Area still harbored many unexplored gems, such as the "Miaomiao Flying Heaven House" simulating a gravity-free universe, the "Magic Plant Aroma SPA" tailored for women, and the "Beautiful Girl Dream Massage Club" catering to men.
Skyler regretfully acknowledged that these places would have to be reserved for another time, particularly the last one, considering he hesitated even with a girlfriend by his side.
Reflecting on the limitations of time, Skyler sighed, not due to a lack of entertainment in the wizarding world or financial constraints but the sheer scarcity of time itself.
Dismissing claims that wizarding entertainment is scarce, Skyler guided the three girls to their final destination of the day – an inconspicuous small shop with no sign, only a pair of crossed silver spears painted on the door.
At the entrance stood a young witch with a fiery figure clad in a leopard-print tight-fitting battle suit.
Observing the newcomers, she gripped her wand with vigilant eyes, prompting Skyler to swiftly present his identity plate from the Medieval Wizards' Association.
Despite initial wariness, after thorough inspection, the witch returned the nameplate to Skyler with a smile. "You're the young Malfoy who's been in the limelight recently? You are even more handsome in person compared to what I imagined you look like, and so young too!" she exclaimed.
"Thank you for the generous compliment, Miss. I've been fortunate to receive support from many influential individuals on my journey. Today, I've brought my friends to attempt the silver spear test, aiming to enhance our practical combat abilities," Skyler explained sincerely.
The scrutinizing gaze of the witch traversed the four individuals before she responded, "Alright, please follow me."
Guiding them through the drawing room into the inner hall, the deepest part housed five doors.
The left and right doors stood ajar, while the three central doors remained closed.
Worn and marked with age, these three doors emitted an ancient simplicity.
The witch clarified, "The three doors in the middle require a warrant from one of the four great wizards of the Silver Spear to open, representing hell-level difficulty. The left door signifies easy, and the right door, signifies medium. Which challenge would you like to undertake?"
"Medium. Can the four of us enter together?" Skyler inquired, reluctant to expose Astoria to unnecessary risks.
"Of course," the witch affirmed. With a key in hand, she unlocked the wooden door on the right and extended an inviting gesture for them to enter.
