My fourth piece for the 'Rubik's Cube Challenge' - Diagon Alley


Diagon Alley was one place that Harry had alway loved to linger, it's mayhem and chaos refreshing and beautiful. Often times during his summer before third year he had sat on a bench and enjoyed an ice cream from Fortescue's as he watched the busy street of harried shoppers hurry back and forth.

It was as unknown as he could get- people rushing from shop to shop didn't stop to stare or shake his hand, demanding his time.

During the war with Voldemort Harry hated the empty and quiet streets. It seemed to show the damage that 'He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named' had enforced in his rule of terror. The only people brushing by were nervous- their eyes averted and shifting as they slipped through the alley trying to avoid being seen.

When Harry managed to return finally after the war, he felt a sheer relief to know that the Alley was back to it bustling glory of unworried people who had places to be. He had sat there for hours and observed the cracked streets, the stores that were still empty because some people had not returned from the war.

Despite the sadness of semi-broken state of the alley, it was the sight of wizards and witches running back and forth that made Harry know that the world would heal, and seeing this made Harry know it would all be worth it.

All the terror and scars that the war had left would heal, until they were just bitter memories of loved ones who could never return again.

Years later, although his family thought it peculiar Harry still visited the street for hours on end to see the people he had protected go through the ordinary acts that he had risked his life for.

Just as it had years ago, the bedlam of the magically alley brought peace to him and gladness to his heart.