6 Now Say... Diagon Alley!

"So, are you ready to go, baby?" My mother asked, a sweet smile on her face I couldn't understand. She seemed unreasonably excited, but maybe it was because I was going to Hogwarts. I had no reason to distrust my mother after all. I nodded excitedly, grinning like an idiot. "Well, first we have to go to Diagon Alley, get you a nice wand-" She grimaced. "And a nice pet for your stay there baby. And we can't forget some robes! C'mon to the living room." I silently obeyed, confused by her actions. Weren't we going there by car or something?

Then I realized that sometimes, I wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, to be honest.

My mother and I were now in the living room, in front of the fireplace. She was carrying robust-looking luggage that she then banished somewhere, While she held an undersized traditional wizard hat. Just the size of her palm. All it took was for her to point at the fire for it to now turn into a green inferno, just like how I recognized it from the movies. She reached into the odd-looking hat and beckoned me to do the same.

"Now say, Diagon Alley. You must be clear and concise Yumi, or it'll take you somewhere else okay? This is floo powder, it takes you wherever you want to go when you drop it in here" She gestured to the fireplace. I hummed in interest, taking a handful of powder from the hat. I inspected the powder. It had the consistency of sand in retrospect, but I knew it had to have a magical aspect to it in some way. I put it on the burner for now though. I would have all the books I need to read up on everything magical there is about this world. My mother made sure of that through the books she made me aware of as she packed my trunk. As soon as I took from the hat, she made a motion to throw the wooly container away, but as expected, it disappeared from view entirely, making me even more curious about my mom's abilities.

Letting go of it for now, I balled my fist up and placed it over the fire.

"Diagon Alley!" I said. As clear as I could, fully letting go of the floo powder.

Then with a burst of green, my surroundings changed.

[Diagon Alley]

Diagon Alley, a realm of enchantment nestled within the bustling heart of the wizarding world, is a labyrinthine that beckons with its mesmerizing fusion of magic and commerce. Cobblestone streets wind through a tapestry of intricately designed storefronts, each brimming with its unique allure.

The facades, leaning in on one another as if conspiring in a whimsical secret, boast a delightful blend of architectural styles, ranging from whimsically crooked to elegantly ancient. Awash in a symphony of colors, the shops are adorned with signs that dance and shimmer, announcing their wares with a flair of animated enchantment.

Amid the vibrant tableau, the enchanting aroma of diverse cuisines mingles with the scent of quills and parchment. I looked on with wonderment. It felt significantly clammy, but It was as captivating as I could comprehend. The little puddles on the cobblestone streets from the earlier storm refracted warm-looking light that was pleasing to the eye. My mother toyed with my hair before we stepped further, putting it up in a nice ponytail that made me amusedly think of a pineapple. It cascaded down my face, making her squeal at the length. My mom was happy, and so was I. If she wanted me to keep it long, I would.

As we walked the wet streets of Diagon Alley, multitudes of wizards young and old seemed to be in a rush. Speedwalking here, speedwalking there. It reminded me of when a virus broke in my world. There, people were wearing masks, the bustle from place to place being as rushed as possible.

If I didn't know any better about this world, I would say Voldemort was up and kicking already and causing a ruckus. Until I can make a definite answer as to what part of this timeline I'm in, I'm not making any solid guesses. My mother kept a neutral expression, even as people stopped to look at her in recognition. I could see a shadow of respect in their eyes, slowing down as the passersby steered clear of her. I looked at them and then at her with a raised eyebrow, obviously curious. All this annoying woman did in response was smile cutely, moving to hold my hand. 'Tch, fine. Keep your secrets then' I mentally chortled at that. 'Hypocrite to the extreme right there Yumi'.

The crazy lady led me to an intricate-looking store, adorned with vines dressed over the entrance and windows. The roof is a show of multicolored light. I was once again shocked as they appeared to be... moving.

The lights jumped to and fro around the construction. I could only guess them to be fairies, their tiny little wings beating like hummingbirds. I could only make out their wings at first, but with my six eyes active, I could see cute miniature faces. It was like a mental switch. As my intention was made clear, my eyes did all the work that was needed.

Big eyes and small noises blinked interestedly at me, their voices jittering in a language I couldn't understand. I smiled, seeing my first magical creatures. It was still so jarring to think about, like when you're a small child seeing a strange animal you've never seen before.

It was funny to think that I hadn't seen all of the animal kingdoms in person in my old world, but now I'm jumping to fairies and god knows what I'm about to see in this place. "Come Yumi, You're lagging behind!" My mother gently tugged my hand, peering at me. "Don't mind them, they're fairies. Gentle creatures that only want flowers to tend to and music to hear. They won't hurt you, baby." She chuckled at my expression, mirroring my mixture of wonder and giggling more at my chagrin of her mothering. It seems like, after all these years she had over me, she too was still amazed at the magical world. Before my mother and I could enter, I gazed at the store's banner "Aviana's Special Creatures Of Magical Symphony" Spelled with exquisite small vines, with white roses blooming onto them.

"Hello Hello!" My mother called out.

It was like we entered into a world of enchantment. As if Diagon Alley itself wasn't impressive, The floor kept the decorated motif of its title outside with vines and white roses. They all collectively set paths to bookshelves and emporiums of all creatures. Ordinary or Magical. The frankly huge candles that sat with metal stands that reached the ceiling suddenly lit up, violet infernos swayed back and forth at a more than steady pace. Stepping into the store, fantastical creatures roamed inside while others stayed in their cages. From snakes slithering on the ground to owls, ravens, falcons, and even pigeons to name a few, all wandered throughout its interior. Mixtures of species I even laid eyes on.

Fusions between Koala's and lemurs, a cross between a monkey and a bat. It was so...bizarre! Amidst a symphony of colors, sounds, and bewitching aromas, The boundaries between reality and fantasy blur before my eyes. I noticed the interior was more vast than what the exterior would lead you to believe. A cathedral-like space, suffused with an ethereal glow emanating from luminescent crystals embedded in the walls and ceiling, accompanied by the aforementioned candles I noticed earlier.

A net of foliage and all types of flowers, ranging from striking reds to vivid blues grew above. They most likely kept this place odor-free. Most likely a charm as well to help. Animals roaming around can surely cause a place to be unpleasant to have a sense of smell in. The owls and the like emitted melodious hoo's and songs as we invited ourselves in, almost as if in greeting. As we ventured, I was introduced to the sight of fairies once again by the bookcases. I think I appeal to them in some way! They continued to steal glances at me, jittering about. If only I could understand them...

The store's shelves are adorned with jars of rare and magical ingredients, from the feathers of a thunderbird to the scales of a sea serpent. Mysterious herbs and enchanted crystals twinkle in delicate glass vials, and the very air seems to be charged with magic. And there we saw the shopkeeper at the center of it all, who looked at me with twinkling brown eyes, her smile widening even more at the sight of my mother.

The shopkeeper, a witch with a long, flowing orange robe. It appeared to sparkle with a soft glow. She had a petite stature and was incomprehensibly attractive. Her skin reminded me of the fresh color of newly made honey as her face was yet another perfectly symmetrical face I would recognize in this world. No doubt she would appear to be younger than she was I thought. Her snazzy red hair was styled in an impressive pixie cut, reminding me of documentaries set in an earlier time period of my world.

Speakeasy's they called them.

She sported an exotic red and orange feather in her hair that sparkled like her robe, hypnotizing to the eye.

She moved gracefully among the creatures in a quick fashion, tending to their needs and ensuring that each being received the respect and care it deserved before laughing brightly at my mother, squealing as she did the same. "Ahh! How long has it been since I last saw you Aesira!" They both rushed to embrace each other, "Oh my god! That robe looks so beautiful Avi, How have you been!"

You could guess how awkward I felt, my mother swaying back and forth with the woman. But I finally learned her name. Aesira. A name as stunning as she is. It appeared to be a semi-emotional reunion for the two, so I just hung back for a few seconds, my eyes following the fairies amusedly. They seemed to be playing their own version of tag, and the one that was "it" was being evaded like the plague.

"And oh my, is this your son?! What a handsome young man you've brought me!" She went for my cheeks, pinching both of them softly. I laughed at her antics, reminding me of my mother oh so fondly. "Hellooo" I jeered awkwardly, still having my cheeks pulled. She pulled me in for a hug, smelling of lavender, kissing my cheek repeatedly as my mother giggled uncontrollably. Sighh, another one?

"Alright Alright, Okay! Okay!" I chuckled, gently prying her off of me as she finally relented. She smiled up a storm before my mother started talking. "Yumi, this is your Aunt Aviana. She met you when you were just a baby. She helped me raise you for a little while." She said, her tone oddly uneven at the last part. I chose not to mind for a while, smiling at my Aunt. "Nice to meet you, Auntie! Thank you for helping Mom, even if I don't remember you that well. Sorry." I scratched my head nervously.

I genuinely don't remember her, which was interesting in and of itself. Maybe I could learn occlumency to uncover some memories before I was transmigrated. "Oh don't worry about that honey, you were so little after all! I would be surprised if you did." She waved me off, turning to Mother "Well, what do I owe the pleasure for your visit today? You wanted to catch up?" She asked, excited to get going. My mother responded with a girly laugh of her own "That, and my son is starting his curriculum in Hogwarts! I know it's a little late but you know how I am, I just couldn't let him go so early!" She looked at me. Auntie Avi nodded in approval, seemingly understanding. "I know what you mean. Well then little Yumi, take your time picking out a pet for yourself! Me and your Mom will have to catch up on a few things. Explore the store to your heart's content!" She snapped her fingers, and a burst of warmth echoed through the interior as magic seemed to envelop me.

I wonder what that was all about? Saying goodbye to my mother for now, I watched as they disappeared through a thick moss-like door in the back, leaving me to my own devices. The bat-monkey watching from a pole above laughed at me, sticking it's tongue out to make fun of my situation. Okay? Neat. Now I'm alone in a store full of strange creatures. Clearly, The God has a sense of humor.