3 :Breakfast service and Diagon Alley

Max was jolted awake the next morning by a gentle knock on his door. It was Tom, the friendly barman who had given him a place to stay for the night. "Good morning, Max," Tom said with a smile. "Breakfast service started 10 minutes ago, better get a move on. I'll meet you downstairs."

Max rubbed the sleep from his eyes and stretched, feeling refreshed and ready for the day ahead. As he got dressed, he breathed in the scent of fresh bread and hot coffee wafting up from the kitchen below, replacing the musty smell from the previous night.

When Max made his way down to the pub, he was greeted by a lively atmosphere. The Leaky Cauldron was bustling with customers chatting and laughing over plates of steaming food and mugs of hot beverages, some even sipping frothy Butterbeer. Max noticed that the pub was less gloomy in the morning, filled with natural light pouring in through the windows, making the once dimly-lit room from last night a warm and inviting place.

Tom greeted Max with a warm smile and handed him an apron. "Your job is to clear the tables and make sure everything's tidy for the next customer," Tom instructed. "You can also help get food from the kitchen to the right table. I'll be by the bar if you need any help."

Max was feeling nervous as he had never worked in a pub before, let alone served breakfast. But he was determined to do his best and got straight to work.

As Max moved around the tables, he noticed the various customers in the pub. There were witches and wizards of all ages, some dressed in robes and others in Muggle clothing. They all seemed to be enjoying their breakfast, chatting and laughing as they ate.

Max was impressed by the variety of food available, including plates of bacon and eggs, sausages, and fried tomatoes, as well as pastries and loaves of bread. The aroma of the food mixed with the scent of fresh coffee and tea helped create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Despite feeling nervous, Max found himself enjoying the work. He took pride in ensuring that every table was clean and well-stocked, and he even became confident in serving food to the tables.

Once the breakfast service was finished, Tom handed Max a plate of hot food and a cup of coffee with a grateful smile. "You did a great job, Max," he said. "You're welcome to help out any time you like."

Max felt a sense of pride and accomplishment, and he replied, "Thank you, Tom, for allowing me to stay and work here. I'd be happy to help out again." Max finished his meal and drink, said his goodbyes, and left the pub feeling content.

As he made his way outside, Max remembered Tom's instructions to access Diagon Alley by tapping the bricks on the wall at the back of the pub. After locating the correct bricks and tapping them in the correct order, he watched in amazement as the bricks began to shift and rearrange themselves. Before he knew it, he was standing in front of the entrance to Diagon Alley.

As he stepped into the bustling street, Max felt a sense of excitement and wonder wash over him. The street was filled with witches and wizards of all ages, some hurrying off to buy ingredients for potions, while others were browsing the latest books on magical history or shopping for new robes.

As Max made his way down the street, he realized that he had never officially accepted his Hogwarts acceptance letter. A feeling of panic began to rise within him, and he wondered if it was too late to reply. Just then, he heard the sound of flapping wings and looked up to see the same white owl that had delivered his Hogwarts acceptance letter swoop down towards him,

carrying a small envelope between its beak and a small package attached to its feet. The owl gracefully landed on his shoulder, and Max gently removed the letter from its beak and untied the envelope. As he opened the letter, he saw that it was a confirmation letter, urging him to reply as he only had 7 days till the deadline of the 31st of July. This informed Max what date it was and how long he had until the start of the new term.

"Thank you, Jesus!" Max exclaimed out loud, feeling a sudden wave of relief wash over him. He was glad to know that he still had time. However, his exclamation drew some unwanted attention from passersby, who looked at him as if he were crazy. Max felt self-conscious and nervous, coughing awkwardly in an attempt to deflect their attention. He had been hesitant to ask Tom about the date earlier at the Leaky Cauldron, afraid that the question might bring up some unwanted attention or questions.

As Max read further, he discovered that if he accepted, a teacher would arrive to talk to him, as he was a special case joining Hogwarts as a year 5 student. He also noticed the small package attached to the owl's feet, which was actually a pen wrapped in brown paper. Max quickly signed the letter, and as soon as he had, the owl flew off, then he felt the letter in his hand disappear.

Max was bewildered as he watched the owl disappear into the sky, and wondered how the letter vanished so quickly. But before he had time to contemplate this further, he heard an older lady's voice calling his name.

"Hello, Max."