Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. The song is from the rock opera Streets, performed by Savatage, lyrics by Paul O'Neill. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. Also, this fic contains references to fairytales and other fanfics – see if you can catch them all.
Author's Note: Although this doesn't actually break canon, it bends it pretty liberally in places. Those of you who don't like this might do well to consider it an AU.
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Streets
*****
Come and play
It was the two days before the end of the summer holidays, and Harry sat alone in his Leaky Cauldron room. Alone, that is, except for an exceptionally talkative mirror.
"C'mon Harry. You can't waste your entire vacation holed up in here! Get out and have some fun!" the mirror said.
"I haven't wasted it. I've been out nearly every day since I got here. But there's only so many knots and grooves I can admire on the Firebolt, and I've tried nearly every flavor that Florean Fortescue offers. If I don't lay off the ice cream, I'll end up bigger than Dudley. What else is there to do?"
"Who says you need to do anything? Why don't you go bask in the sunshine or something?"
Harry looked at the mirror as if it were more than a little unusual. "People don't bask. Snakes do. And besides, the sun's almost down."
"Well, then go set the Monster Books loose or something. Goodness knows we've needed some excitement in these parts. Only don't tell anyone I set you up to it, or I'll be doing bathroom duty for the next month. You wouldn't believe what we see in there…"
Harry cut the mirror off before it could say any more. "If I didn't know you better, I'd think you were trying to get rid of me," he said, noticing the twinkle in the mirror's glass. "Planning a little rendezvous with a special someone?" he teased.
"Yep, I just want you gone so I can continue my sordid affair with the fireplace. Puh-lease. I'm an inanimate object – I spend all my time nailed to the wall. It's not like I'm about to be swept off my mountings by a common bedroom fixture."
"Hey! I resent that remark," came the fireplace's gruff voice. Harry jumped – it had spoken only a couple times before, and Harry hadn't quite got used to it yet. Being in a room full of talking magical artifacts was a new experience, and it could be a little disconcerting at first.
"I didn't mean it, dear," said the mirror. "Actually, I think you're kind of hot." The fireplace seemed subtly pleased with that, the logs inside it stacking up just a little straighter. Harry couldn't help but chuckle a little.
The mirror continued: "Mr. Potter here's looking for something to do. Any suggestions?"
"Well, when I was a boy, we'd have belching competitions to see who could spit the most soot into Muggle London. Quite fun actually; although once this lady flew in with an umbrella and had her chimney sweep friend clean me out. That wasn't fun at all – he may have been a tiny chimney sweep, but he had an enormous broom!"
Harry exchanged a glance with the mirror, which appeared to be snickering quietly to itself. "Er, that must have been nice, but I don't think it'll do me much good. I've never been one to belch soot, you see, and even if I did, I don't have anyone to compete with."
"More's the pity, more's the pity," the fireplace went on, and then began regaling Harry with tales of its youth. Harry tuned most of it out. His idea of fun was not having a heart-to-heart with the hearth. Fires were nice and warm and comfortable, but really quite boring to talk about.
"And then there's always the Floo network…" he heard it say.
Floo network, Floo network. Where had Harry heard of that before? Of course – that's how he'd gotten to Diagon Alley last year. Except…he had taken a brief detour through the shady dealings of Knockturn Alley first.
Knockturn Alley. Now there was an unpleasant place. Harry shuddered a little, thinking of the sinister shops and dark dead-ends it held. Yet it also held a certain allure. It was certainly a change from the bright yet familiar stores along Diagon Alley. Perhaps a brief late-afternoon tour wouldn't be so bad, as long as he was back by dark.
After all, he had defeated Riddle's diary last spring. He was a year older, and had learned much in that time. And it was only a quick jaunt. He'd just take a look, satisfy his curiosity, and be back for dinner. What harm could come of that?
"Thanks for your help, Mr. Fireplace," he interrupted, cutting off its tale of a jolly bearded fellow and a fire that had been left burning a tad too long.
"What did I do?" said the fireplace, perplexed. It didn't seem too happy about having its stories interrupted, but even fireplaces are grateful for gratitude.
"Gave me an idea. I'm heading to Knockturn Alley – it's about the only place around here that I haven't already explored."
"Knockturn Alley? But Fudge told you to stick to Diagon Alley! He'll have my figurehead for this if I let you go!" the mirror said.
"Fudge said not to wander into Muggle London. I'm not – this is still part of the wizarding world. I just want to explore a little, check the place out. I'll be back by dinnertime."
"I still think it's a bad idea. All sorts of nasty things happen in Knockturn Alley, and people have been known to vanish entirely. The streets are really dimly lit and twist around in circles. You'll end up getting lost and depriving us of your company!"
"Didn't you just want to get rid of me? Besides, it's only for an hour or so. What could happen?" Harry asked.
"In case you've forgotten, Harry, the last time you went exploring you came across an unconscious girl, a basilisk, and a homicidal diary," said the mirror, it's voice bordering on hysterics. "Trouble seems to have a knack for finding you, and I'm not going to be responsible if you run off and end up meeting You-Know-Who again! And Fudge said you had to be back here by dark! Look, the sun's already low. You're going to get lost out there, and then the innkeeper'll come up here to see where you are, and I'll have to tell him you went to see Knockturn Alley, and then all hell'll break lose and I'll be lucky to find myself in one piece."
"Oh, do be quiet," Harry replied, putting on his shoes. "I'm going. I'll be back long before dark." Harry walked out the door, leaving the mirror ranting to an empty room.
*****
Somewhere
Out there
Alone and out of place
Streets of illusion
Sooth the shattered faith
It didn't take long for Harry to find himself in the twisting passageways of Knockturn Alley. The streets were narrower here, but had none of the bustle and crowd of Diagon Alley. Harry passed by one particularly dilapidated storefront that looked like it hadn't had a living soul occupy it for fifty years.
"Sylvia's Spirit Shop," the sign read. "Purveyor of fine equipment for ghosts, spirits, haunts, and poltergeists." Figures, Harry thought. A dead house for dead people.
Harry walked over to the storefront and pressed his face up against the glass. He couldn't see much inside; it appeared to be totally dark. Just what could a ghost need in the afterlife, anyway? Chains, maybe, though that seemed to be rather clichéd among ghosts today. He'd have to ask Nearly Headless Nick when he got back to Hogwarts.
He peered deeper into the shop and found himself staring into the wispy and unsubstantial face of what had once been an old lady. Her face and body looked as if they had been cut into ribbons in a most grotesque fashion. Harry jumped backwards with a start – he had expected that all the shopkeepers would at least have all their internal organs intact. He tried to avert his eyes, as it seemed somehow rude (not to mention nauseating) to look at someone who didn't have all her skin on.
"Move along now," she said in a voice that reminded Harry of the anti-smoking commercials Uncle Vernon was always making fun of. "If you're not going to buy, don't stand there scaring away customers."
Harry decided it wasn't prudent to argue with an angry ghost – he might end up looking worse than she did - and headed down the street a couple stores. He found himself underneath the "Welcome to Knockturn Alley" sign. Apparently the store here had diversified since his last visit, since it was now selling numerous varieties of mischievous candle products. The display window included Laughing Candles, Floating Candles, Ghostly Glow Candles, and High-As-A-Kite Candles. Down in front, a sign read "Procrastination Candles – the favorite of university students everywhere". Harry had heard of these – while lit, they prevented anyone who inhaled the smoke from doing anything productive. A couple of unscrupulous wizard businessmen had introduced them to Muggle university campuses, and they had caught on like wildfire. He didn't doubt that they'd be showing up at Hogwarts soon, though he figured Professor McGonagall would put a quick stop to that practice.
He briefly considered buying some of the more harmless products. Laughing or Floating candles might be a neat prank to play on his dorm mates, and he doubted that they could be all that dangerous. But then he remembered the mirror's rather theatrical performance when he had mentioned even visiting Knockturn Alley, and shuddered to think of what it would do if he actually bought something here. For that matter, he doubted Fudge or any other authority figure would be very pleased with him. He moved on, giving the candles one last look.
The next couple of stores were either boarded up or closed. He passed by the spider store, where two enormous spiders appeared to be untangling their legs. Ron would just love this shop … if Harry ever managed to drag him within a hundred meters of it. An unsettling feeling came over him, and so he hurried onwards.
Next was a store called "Ye Olde Arcane Rituals", and then, on the other side of the street, Borgin and Burkes. Harry paused briefly and pondered going inside, but decided against it, remembering what transpired last year when he ended up in there. Nothing in there could possibly interest him – he hoped.
The shadows were growing longer now, and Harry figured it was time for him to head back to the Leaky Cauldron. Because of Knockturn Alley's narrowness, much of the street was cast in darkness, and it wouldn't be long before Harry would have to find his way back in the dark. He didn't much like the prospect of this – aside from this being Knockturn Alley, where scary things happened after dark, he would have to deal with the innkeeper and Cornelius Fudge if he came back much after nightfall. They wouldn't be pleased, to say the least.
That unnerving feeling came back, a sense that someone was nearby. He turned around and scanned the street – nobody. He shuddered, remembering what had transpired right before the Knight Bus picked him up. This felt similar somehow, as if he was being watched. He couldn't be, though – no one was around. Unless… unless what was watching him wasn't human. Harry didn't want to think about that. He began to turn around, planning to head back immediately.
And then he saw it, in the alleyway besides Borgin and Burkes. A pair of gleaming dark eyes. A hulking black canine form. It was the dog he had seen on Magnolia Crescent, the death omen from Flourish and Blotts. It let out a low growl, and its eyes fixed on Harry. He did the first thing that came to mind. He ran.
*****
I've been a sinner
I've been inside my head
I sit here staring
Never quite caring
And this is where it has led
Harry ran until he had reached the end of the network of narrow streets and cobblestone paths that comprised Knockturn Alley. Heart pounding, he forced himself to think over the situation rationally. A death omen? It couldn't be – it was just an ordinary dog. This place must have tons of strays around. No need to worry about overgrown supernatural mutts. Now, which way out? The sun was down now, and the last glimmers of twilight would soon be fading away.
He looked around, taking stock of his surroundings. He was in a cul-de-sac, hemmed in by the backs of three storefronts. A stack of crates lay piled up by one wall, but there was no way out other than the path by which he had come. He could go back that way, but there were reasons other than the dog to avoid it. Knockturn Alley becomes a dangerous place after dark, full of shady dealings. He needed some form of protection before he was willing to brave that.
He wished he had remembered to bring his wand with him. As incompetent as Lockhart had been, he had managed to teach Harry some of the basics of dueling, and Harry felt confident in his ability to hold off an attacker long enough to run away, at least. But that was with magic – without a wand, he was no better off than an ordinary Muggle. What he needed was a weapon.
Perhaps there was something in one of those crates. These shops sold all sorts of things; maybe some of their discarded inventory would be useful. The stack was taller than he was; he'd have to stretch the reach in. He stood on tiptoe and dangled his hand over the edge of the top box…
…and promptly lost his balance as the crates came tumbling down on him. Shaken but relatively unhurt, he stood up and brushed himself off. Someone else would have to worry about the crates, for the wall behind them now caught Harry's eye. Two bricks stuck out at unnatural angles, looking decidedly out of place. Harry walked over and touched one of them – nothing. He tried twisting it – it seemed to give a little, but nothing much happened. Then he grabbed both bricks, and pushed.
The wall disappeared. Or rather, a man-sized section of the wall disappeared. Harry peered through the opening. It led to a bustling, well-lit alleyway, full of apparently reputable wizards and witches. "Saikik Alley", the street sign read. Well, wherever it was, it was better than heading back through the twists and turns of Knockturn Alley in the dark. With any luck, there'd be an opening to Diagon Alley on the other side.
Stepping through the opening, Harry found himself in the middle of wide thoroughfare. There was nothing behind him – apparently, this entrance was one-way only. To his right, a shop sold Remembralls of all different sizes, shapes, colors, and flavors. (Flavors? Who'd need to taste their Remembrall?) A little further down on the left, a building apparently served as a school for wannabe psychics. Its sign advertised: "Develop your latent psychic talent! You too can know what other people really think about you!" Although Harry could understand the appeal of this, he wasn't sure he really wanted to know everything that other people thought – some things were better left unsaid. He moved on.
A fortuneteller was practicing her craft at a makeshift table by the side of the road. Normally Harry would have passed on by, but there was one question that had been nagging at the back of his mind since his visit to Flourish and Blotts. He pulled a couple of Sickles out of his pocket and sat down for a reading.
"Interesting, very interesting indeed," she began, taking his palm in her hand. "Such a tragic past – poor boy, it must haunt you constantly."
Harry squirmed a little at that – he did not want to be reminded of this. "Can we get to the future please?" he said.
"I'm getting there. To see the future, we must first understand the present. Patience, my boy, and all will reveal itself. Ah yes, a student at Hogwarts. Mischievous and impulsive – that may get you into trouble. A couple of devoted friends, but few connections besides them." She paused, concentrating on the pattern of lines on his hand. "I see many threads here, many possible futures. The future is what we make of it, so my readings can never be one hundred percent certain."
That was it? Harry felt gypped. "Then what the heck am I paying you for? I've heard much the same from Professor Dumbledore!"
"I'm not finished yet," the fortuneteller calmly replied. She closed her eyes, and intoned: "One thread stands out above the others. It seems you are in for a difficult year. The past will come back to haunt you. Old enemies may seem your friends, and old friends may seem your enemies. You may find out things about yourself you never wished to know. Beware the forest – unpleasant things live there. And remember – life is more than just eating, sleeping, and breathing." Her eyes flicked open.
"Umm, yeah, thank you," Harry said, standing up. That was thoroughly disappointing. A good fortuneteller could at least have avoided speaking in riddles. All that, and he still knew nothing more about that dog that kept popping up. At least it was only a couple of Sickles – any more, and he would have seriously considered reporting her to the Department of Gypsy Fraud.
He walked on down the street, mindful of the need to get home before the innkeeper came to check on him. This came out on Diagon Alley, right? He certainly hoped so. It was nighttime now, and Harry did not want to go back the way he came. The stores here were fascinating, though – Harry couldn't wait to show Ron and Hermione. All sorts of arcane lore graced the sides of this alley, and they would eat it up.
Saikik Alley ended in a large open plaza. A fountain stood in the center, its pool surrounding a statue of a cherub. No sign of Diagon Alley anywhere. Heart sinking, Harry decided to try asking around before braving the trip back through Knockturn Alley.
"Excuse me sir, can I get to Diagon Alley from here?" he asked, pulling aside a passing old wizard.
The wizard didn't speak, but merely pointed to the statue.
Harry walked over to the fountain, wondering what he was supposed to do. He climbed up on the edge of the pool. Was it the water? The statue? He dipped his feet into the water. Nothing happened. He walked over to the statue and tried pulling an arm. Still nothing. Then he tried clasping his hand over the cherub's outstretched palm. The cold granite fingers wrapped around his, he felt an odd warmth, and then…
…he stood in front of Ollivander's Wands. Apparently this portal was also one-way only, as there was nothing that indicated a way back to Saikik Alley. He'd have to drag Ron and Hermione through Knockturn Alley if he wanted to show them his new discovery, but at least he knew –or thought he knew - the way. Giddy with anticipation, he headed back to the Leaky Cauldron.
*****
Glitter in the dark
Don't sleep
Red eyes sunken and stark
Dream deep
In her arms where you are safe
These streets
Never sleep still they never wake
When Harry met Ron and Hermione the next day, the first thing on his mind was his discovery of Saikik Alley. In the excitement of seeing his friends, though, it soon slipped away, and he found himself regaling them with tales of blown up aunts while nibbling at ice cream. After that, Hermione bought a most disagreeable cat, and they headed back to the Leaky Cauldron. By dinnertime, Saikik Alley was hidden in the far recesses of his memory, and he and Hermione found themselves listening to tales of the Weasley's Egypt adventure.
"The pyramids must have been so interesting!" Hermione managed to interject in between Percy's bragging about how the tour guides were so impressed with his knowledge. "All that history in the middle of the desert. It must have felt like you'd been transported back three thousand years."
"Yep," said Fred – or was it George? "We were hoping they'd use Percy as a demonstration of the mummification process, but they said he's too stiff already and could go straight into the sarcophagus."
Everybody except Percy laughed a little at this. Mrs. Weasley shot George – Fred? – a warning look, but Harry could see her eyes twinkling too. Percy's lack of a sense of humor was legendary, and just about everyone agreed that he needed to be taken down a peg or ten occasionally.
Percy snorted. "That particular tour guide didn't know anything. He said the bodies were embalmed with napalm instead of natron. I had to correct him before Fred and George got any ideas," he said.
"Too bad," Gred – or whoever the other twin was – replied. "Exploding Corpses could have been a neat pastime, sort of like Exploding Snap. Hey, maybe we can make a business out of it!"
"Fred," said his father sternly. "The last time you two got near explosives, you nearly blew up Gryffindor tower. Not to mention earning yourselves a month's detention. That will not happen again. Do you hear me? Not again."
"Aww, Dad," said George. "Now someone else will end up patenting the idea, while we remain poor Weasleys."
"The issue is closed. Ginny, weren't you just itching to tell Harry about your little experience with the mummy?"
Ginny blushed furiously and looked down at her plate. She squirmed a little but remained silent – evidently they wouldn't be hearing her story any time soon.
"C'mon Ginny," Fred said. "Tell him about how you were so scared that…"
Mrs. Weasley cut him off. "Fred, if Ginny doesn't want to tell the story, that doesn't give you the right to tell it for her. Besides, we all know how you like to embellish," she scolded.
"Oh all right," he said. "We can talk about the time George and I wrapped ourselves in bandages and crept up behind Ron. Boy, did he jump. I've never seen someone run through those tunnels so fast."
Now it was Ron's turn to blush scarlet. Harry empathized with him a little – nobody likes to be made fun of in public, particularly not in front of his friends. But in a way, he envied Ron for all the good-natured teasing of his brothers. It showed how close his family was, that they could ridicule each other and still remain on good terms at the end of the day. If Harry said anything remotely negative about Dudley, he got locked in his cupboard for a month. We can only hurt the ones we love, and then it shows just how much we love them, he thought.
The conversation then turned to Percy's appointment as Head Boy, a somewhat less interesting topic. Fred and George kept up their wisecracks, which seemed infinitely funnier when directed at Percy, who just seemed to invite it. Percy's comments about rule breaking, however, jolted alive the memory of Saikik Alley, and Harry suddenly felt the overwhelming need to share his discovery with someone.
When dinner ended, Harry pulled Ron and Hermione aside. "I've got something to tell you," he told them.
"Is it important?" Hermione said, yawning. "I'm tired, and we've got a big day tomorrow."
"Yes," he answered. "I went exploring yesterday – started with Knockturn Alley, but that's not what this is about."
Hermione and Ron's eyes widened at this. Now fully awake, Hermione interrupted. "Knockturn Alley? Are you crazy? That's a dangerous place – if Fudge knew, you'd be in really serious trouble. I hope you aren't asking us to go back there with you."
"Will you shut up and let me finish? Anyway, while I was exploring there, I came across this portal to a whole 'nother street. It's called Saikik Alley, and it has all sorts of really cool shops and stuff. There's fortunetellers, and training courses, and lots of bookstores" – Hermione seemed to perk up a little at this – "and lots of neat magical devices."
"And you want us to come explore it with you?" said Ron.
"Exactly," said Harry.
"Sounds cool. I'm always up for a change of surroundings," said Ron.
"But Harry," Hermione objected, "do we have to go through Knockturn Alley to get there?"
"Umm, well," Harry said, "I haven't found any other entrance. It's not like we'd be lingering long though. We just walk to the end and twist a couple bricks and we're out of Knockturn Alley."
Hermione didn't seem convinced. "Absolutely not. Harry, Knockturn Alley's a dangerous place after dark. All sorts of Dark Magic go on there. Remember what happened when you ended up there last year? Even just passing through, we're liable to be kidnapped or worse. To say nothing of the trouble we'd be in if the adults found out!"
"Relax, Hermione," Ron said. "It's not like Harry never came back from last year's adventure. We'll be going together, we've all been trained in dueling, and to be honest, you're the most frightening witch I've ever known." Harry chuckled inwardly at that – sometimes, Hermione's knowledge did seem a little scary.
"Fine then, you guys can go. Don't expect me to tag along though!" With that, Hermione turned around and headed upstairs, leaving Ron and Harry alone in the parlor.
"Suit yourself!" Ron called after her. Turning to Harry, he suggested, "How about we meet down here after Percy goes to sleep? We're in the next room over, so you should be able to hear his snoring."
"Okay. See you then. Don't forget your wand – we want to be prepared in case we meet anything in Knockturn Alley."
On that note, they each headed upstairs to their rooms.
*****
Gardens bloom and grow
Children awaken
To a world they know
Harry had to wait quite a long while before Percy fell asleep. Percy's Head Boy badge and Scabbers's rat tonic had disappeared, prompting an argument that kept most of the Leaky Cauldron awake. Seeking to end this confrontation, Harry headed downstairs to look for the missing items.
He found more than he bargained for, though. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were having an argument in the parlor, an argument about … him? Yes – they were debating whether to tell him certain information. Information that Sirius Black was after him.
Harry headed back upstairs, having found the rat tonic under a table. Was this excursion still a good idea? Most people didn't head into the center of Dark Magic with one of Voldemort's top Death Eaters after them. He could still change his mind – Ron might be disappointed, but he would understand.
Ron and Percy's door was open, so he just walked in, handed Ron the tonic, and left. He was sorely tempted to tell Percy that Fred and George had his (Big)Head Boy badge, just to shut him up. But in the end, he decided to let the twins have their fun and hope that Percy would just give up and go to sleep. He headed back to his own room to wait.
Harry's thoughts returned to Black. Thirteen Muggles with one curse! Harry doubted that any magic they could work would have an effect on a hardened criminal like Black. Black wouldn't take prisoners either – if he wanted Harry dead, Harry would die. Certainly, the Leaky Cauldron was a safer place than nighttime in Knockturn Alley.
On the other hand, there was still some question as to whether Black was anywhere near London. He'd kept repeating, "He's at Hogwarts" while in Azkaban; logically, that would be the first place he'd look. And as evil as Knockturn Alley was, it was still in the heart of wizarding London. Harry doubted Black would be foolish enough to walk into a place that was frequented by large crowds of wizards, any one of whom might recognize him. If Black were to try anything, there'd be witnesses around to help. Besides, Harry and his friends would only be in Knockturn Alley for a couple minutes.
The shouting next door had died down, replaced by a heavy snoring. Percy was asleep, finally.
Harry scowled at the ceiling. There was probably nothing to worry about; why was he agonizing so much over this? He wouldn't be able to go to Hogsmeade this year; he might as well have a little fun while he could. They'd be back in an hour or so, anyway.
He was just about to head downstairs when the memory of the beast on Magnolia Crescent passed through his consciousness. He shivered involuntarily. It couldn't be a death omen – not this early, at least. The fortuneteller had implied that he'd at least live to get to Hogwarts. Surely, this one excursion wouldn't lead to anything.
What to do when you know the worst is coming… he thought. Well, he certainly wouldn't just lie in bed and brood about it. Might as well go out and have some fun first. He put on his shoes, and headed downstairs to meet Ron.
*****
Somewhere the light's kind
Somewhere they seek the day
Somewhere there's no scene
Somewhere the air's clean
But somewhere is so far away
Ron was already waiting in the parlor when Harry arrived. He sat in a chair by the fireplace, twiddling his thumbs. "All set?" he asked.
"Yeah," Harry replied. No point worrying Ron about Sirius Black. They headed towards the door.
"Wait!" came a familiar voice from the top of the stairs. Hermione stood there, dressed as if she would be accompanying them. Figured, that she would change her mind.
"Weren't you going to sleep or something?" Ron said. "I thought this was all too dangerous, and you had better things to do, and we'd all get in trouble." Harry had to admit that Ron could pull off a decent parody of Hermione's voice.
"With all the racket you guys were making? I don't think I'd have made it to sleep before daybreak. No doubt the other patrons feel the same way."
Ron grinned sheepishly, though he didn't seem very repentant.
"Hermione, are you coming with us or not?" asked Harry.
She shrugged. "I guess so. Somebody's got to keep you guys out of trouble." She started down the stairs, holding herself like an arrogant debutante.
"Taking her bloody time, too," Ron whispered to Harry. "At least if some beast comes chasing us, they'll catch her first."
"I heard that, Ronald Weasley!"
Ron stuck his tongue out at her. Hermione looked as if she was about to turn her back on them and head right back to her room.
Harry felt the need to try and bring some peace to his feuding friends. "Look, Hermione, either you're in this with us or you don't come along at all. We don't need the company of Miss High-And-Mighty right now."
Hermione seethed, apparently furious that Harry had taken Ron's side.
"And Ron, save your sniping for your brothers. They actually enjoy it."
Ron didn't seem too happy about that, but he held his tongue.
"Good, let's go then. You'll like this place, trust me."
They headed out the door and entered the bustle of the nighttime streets.
*****
Glitter in the dark
Don't sleep
Red eyes sunken and stark
Dream deep
In her arms where you are safe
These streets
Never sleep still they never wake
Knockturn Alley seemed completely different at night. Instead of being decrepit but harmless structures, the stores took on a sinister quality to them, like sentinels guarding some dark secret. They stood high above either side of the street, casting long shadows in the pale moonlight. The streets themselves seemed alive, but in a perverted, twisted way. Everything was different – the night brought out the true character of Knockturn Alley.
Harry was glad that he had both of his friends with him. If he got lost (which seemed increasingly likely now), at least they'd be lost together.
"Umm, Harry, do you know where we are?" Ron asked.
"Of course I do. We're in Knockturn Alley." Well, it sounded better than "We're lost."
"Good. I'd hate to think we were lost," Ron said.
Hermione clung to his arm now. Her earlier bravado was completely gone now – she seemed even more spooked by Knockturn Alley than Harry and Ron.
"Harry?" she asked, her voice just above a whisper. "Are you sure it's safe here?" A cat screeched in the distance, making them all flinch.
"Of course it is. We've got you to keep us out of trouble, remember?" Harry knew that was a little unkind of him, but he couldn't resist. The scared, trembling Hermione that was now hanging on to his arm seemed so different from the cocky, self-assured girl that had stood at the top of the stairs.
"And if something does come to eat us, they'll get you first," added Ron. He chortled a little bit, but it was a nervous chuckle, not his typical mocking laugh.
"That's not funny, Ron," Hermione replied.
Ron just shrugged apologetically.
After a few more minutes of seemingly walking in circles, the streets seemed to straighten out. Harry spotted Borgin and Burkes up ahead, and pointed out that they were at least headed in the right direction.
"Look Ron, there's the spider shop. Want to go check it out?" Harry asked.
"Let's walk on the other side of street," Ron replied. Harry snickered inwardly.
They were just one shop away from Borgins and Burkes now. Harry tried to remember where he had run after he'd seen the dog. Left, then two rights. Or was it right, then two lefts? It had all seemed so blurred at the time – he had been more intent on getting away from whatever was in the shadows than in remembering where he went at the time. Harry hoped he hadn't led his friends all the way out here only to forget where the entrance was.
Hermione interrupted his thoughts with a tug on the sleeve. "Harry," she whispered. "Do you hear voices?"
Harry was about to reply that no, he was not going insane, when his ears perked up. Sure enough, voices were coming from inside Borgin and Burkes.
Apparently, they had stumbled across one of those shady deals that Knockturn Alley was so famous for.
*****
From the other side
In the darkness
Your eyes are opened wide
Harry pulled his two friends into the alley besides Borgin and Burkes'. Hermione's eyes widened – Harry doubted that she had expected to actually run into anyone. He put his finger to his lips and motioned Ron and Hermione to be silent. From here, they could hear snatches of conversation from inside the shop.
"Of course, Mr. Malfoy, we have a full range of goods available…" said the shopkeeper. Lucius Malfoy! Harry had seen him in this very shop last year, but he had been selling that time. What could he be interested in now? Up to no good, no doubt.
"Good, Mr. Borgin. As I'm sure you know, dealing with me can be quite … lucrative. Assuming, of course, that I receive the highest quality merchandise. The Malfoys are not known to forgive those who cheat them."
"I wouldn't dream of it, Mr. Malfoy," said Borgin, a little nervously. "Now, if you'd like to browse our display case…"
"That little snake," Ron spat. "No wonder Draco's so nasty. Like father, like son."
Harry shushed him hastily. It wouldn't do to be overheard.
The three of them peeked around the corner, trying to get a glimpse of what Borgin was selling. By sticking just their necks out, they found they could see in through the glass storefront, but still weren't too visible.
Lucius held something that looked like a human femur. From the bits of conversation that Harry overheard, he and Borgin appeared to be haggling over the price.
"Five Galleons! Outrageous! I could get one of these in the cemetery for free, and you're charging five bloody galleons?!"
"These have been specially treated…" Harry strained to hear the rest of the conversation, but Borgin had suddenly dropped his voice. The exchange ended with Lucius handing over a couple gold coins for the bone.
"Gross!" Hermione said, her voice a hushed but disgusted whisper. Harry was inclined to agree – human bones belonged in the ground, not on some store counter. He shuddered to think of what Lucius would be doing with those bones.
The next item was a clear, glass pendant, suspended from a silver chain. Harry had no idea what it was, but Lucius had evidently bought one before.
"Ah yes, one of those," Borgin said. "It's been a good, what, ten years since you bought the last one?"
"Thirteen," replied Lucius.
"Who's the lucky victim this time?" Borgin asked, chuckling softly.
"I'm babysitting MacNair's nephew next week. I figured it was the perfect opportunity to ensure the loyalty of one more servant."
The manner in which Lucius said this sent chills up Harry's spine. It seemed as if he thought nothing of using a child to gain power over his rivals. Even though Harry had no idea what the pendant did, it didn't seem pleasant.
"…twenty three galleons," he overheard. Lucius didn't seem to happy about this, but he handed over the money.
They went through a couple more items, none of which looked too pleasant. Harry was beginning to get uncomfortable – he was squatting, his head craned at an unnatural angle to peer around the corner, and both his thighs and neck had begun to hurt.
Evidently, Ron and Hermione had similar difficulties. "Oww!" came Hermione's voice. "Ron, your elbow's crushing my spine."
"Duck, then. I've got to stand on tiptoes to see over your head."
Harry quickly quieted his friends. They did not want to be discovered. His gaze returned to Lucius and Borgin, making sure they hadn't noticed. They were on the last piece of merchandise now, a round oval shape that looked much like a piece of polished obsidian.
"That's a Soul Vortex," explained Borgin. "When activated, it'll consume any nearby souls that are not firmly attached to a body. They're usually used for getting rid of haunts, dealing with ghosts and stuff, but they can be deadly to sleeping and unconscious people too."
"How easy are they to activate? Do I have to worry about setting it off accidentally?"
"Not easy. A wizard has to concentrate intently for a couple of minutes before it goes off. It'll start glowing and humming, too, so you have warning. It's not going to kill your sleeping wife and children if they roll onto it…"
"Oh, I wasn't thinking about them," said Lucius.
Lucius asked a couple more questions, and then handed Mr. Borgin some coins. He stuffed the Soul Vortex into a pocket, and started packing up his purchases.
A startling thought came to Harry. This alleyway wasn't very deep, and one of the few streetlamps in Knockturn Alley was positioned directly across from it. It wouldn't be possible to hide in the shadows here, not if someone was in the street. And Lucius would be walking right by them when he left the store.
"Quick," he told Ron and Hermione. "We can't stay here – Lucius'll see us on his way out. We need to find somewhere else to hide!"
The three of them had just crept out of the alleyway when Lucius emerged from the store.
*****
On the edge dancers
Here the night hides our sins
And if you listen
While the streets glisten
Here's where our story begins
Lucius spotted them almost at once. His features took on a menacing cast, his lips turned into a sneer. "So, we have a trio of eavesdroppers. Little brats probably never learned to mind their own business. Tsk tsk. Well, you'll find out soon enough that Knockturn Alley does not appreciate people who meddle in others affairs."
He started advancing towards the three children. Harry found himself riveted in place by fear. His legs had turned to stone – he couldn't move even if he wanted to.
"All three of you've been naughty," Lucius continued. "And here, we punish naughty children."
He took out his wand and pointed it at Harry.
The sudden, imminent danger broke the spell that held Harry in place. "Run!" he shouted. All three of them bolted, running past Lucius in a fit of pure adrenalin.
Ron was narrowly missed by a stupefy spell that Lucius had cast. Harry could hear his footfalls behind him, while farther back, Hermione's labored breathing told him that she was still with him too. "Follow me!" he yelled, hoping to stay together.
The terror that gripped him now was far worse than anything the dog had caused. This enemy was real; somewhere out there, an angry Lucius Malfoy waited with wand in hand. He had to get away, had to put some distance between him and Draco's evil father.
He vaguely heard Hermione cry out "Wait!" behind him. He couldn't: his legs were running with a fury that was all their own now. He had to move, had to run. Conscious mind was submerged under his animal instincts, thought buried under the primitive fight-or-flight response.
Buildings passed by in a blur, none recognizable. He wasn't paying much attention to them – the only thing that mattered was that he put as much distance between him and Lucius as possible. He had no idea where he was. Any sense of direction had long been lost to the twisty, shifty streets of Knockturn Alley.
Out of breath now, Harry saw a gap between two buildings up ahead. He should be reasonably safe there – it wasn't easily visible from the street. He called out for his friends to follow him. No answer – perhaps they were just as exhausted as he.
He ducked into the alleyway and looked behind him, hoping to flag down his friends. Instead, his heart sank.
Ron and Hermione had disappeared.
--
Author's Note: This is chapter one of what'll hopefully be a thirteen-chapter songfic. It's a fairly rough draft, and so may change in the future. I've finished up through chapter three, and'll probably put those chapters up in the near future. After that, I'll see whether the response merits continuing on with the remaining chapters.