Dark Beginnings

Chapter the Third

Diagon Alley

'Gotta keep running, I will not go with them no not again they will not give me to another family like them, they will not give to Aunt Marge, I wont have it. Ahh a bus stop, on I go to where I can get with the amount of money I stole from that Police Officer'

These were thoughts of the small boy running down the street, after fleeing the police building in Little Winging. 'What a stroke of luck a bus is coming right now'

He stood in line and when his turn came he asked, "Excuse me sir where is this bus headed?"

The elderly driver leaned down and said "Well this one is headed for London my lad, for a boy like you rides for fifteen pounds, of course I'll need your parents permission."

"Yes, sir, I'm going to London and that's my grandmother over there." Harry said pointing and waving to an elderly kindly woman, who happened to be a neighbor of the Dursley's who happened to have a fascination with cats, who babysat him sometimes. She waved back, and then hurried off. "You see, she has an important appointment she couldn't miss, something about her hip and first opening in months, can I still ride I have the money."

"Well hop on then lad, I'll take ye word on it."

'Hmm, that worked out quite well didn't it what a stroke of luck Mrs. Figg walked by. Well off to start anew in London then.'

Years later Harry Potter awoke with a start with a squeeze from Myrddin. "Wake now Harry time to clean yourself, and prepare for Dumbledore."

"I'm awake, I'm awake"

Harry got up from his bed and went to take a shower and dress to get ready for what should promise to be an interesting day.

"Be sure to wear your best to give an impression young human"

Albus Dumbledore strolled up to the orphanage feeling a little bit antsy, 'I hope that Harry agrees to come I would hate to have to use heavier handed tactics to get him to attend Hogwarts. But alas he must go'

As soon as he entered he went straight for Matron Denise and handed over a file folder "Good morning Denise I think that you will find that all the papers are in order here, and I'm that if Harry agrees to it that we can go shopping for his school things today is that alright?"

"Well it's all here, with a seal from the board of education, so it's fine by me as long as Harry wants to go he can go, just be back in time for supper or if you eat out lights out is at 8o'clock sharp for the young ones."

"Of course he'll be back in time for his supper."

KNOCK KNOCK

Harry stood and answered the door "Well you've come back and proved yourself to the Matron then have you?"

"Yes Harry my boy I have indeed, now are you ready to go to Diagon Alley and get your school things?"

'Diagon Alley eh, never heard of it, perhaps its an exclusive place, wizards only, I suppose I'll find out soon enough' Harry laughs, "Are you sure the Matron cleared you, I'm sure she didn't your insane there is no such place as Diagon Alley, not here in London I would know I've been all over."

"You would be surprised how much you overlook if you don't already know it's there, well have you got your things?" A nod of the head. "Let us be off then"

"Yes into the wild blue yonder beyond the rainbow I'm sure you bloody loon."

"What was that Harry losing my hearing at my old age."

'Deaf my arse you picked up that whisper, now think fast' "Yes I wonder what, I hope to find out soon." Harry gives a grimace 'Damn it , Dumbles 1 Harry none'

'Ahh thinks fast on his feet that's good, but very sarcastic'

A half hours walk later filled with many questions by Dumbledore and silence from Harry, they arrive at the Leaky Cauldron.

"Here we are Harry the Leaky Cauldron one of the entrances into Diagon Alley Wizarding market."

"That's a book store old man, and a shoe shop."

"Ahh, but look in between them Harry what do you see"

'Look in between there is nothing there unless he can make it appear by magic……damn there is the Leaky Cauldron ruddy magic hiding things from me'"Apparently I overlooked the pub sir"

"It only reveals it's self once it is pointed out to someone Harry my boy"

"Nope I musta missed it, that's a right stupid idea to that one, who would be foolish enough to do that, what if everyone died then the next generation doesn't know where to go and then it's a big space that no one can get into."

"I never thought of it like that, hmmm, good point Harry, but I don't see that ever happening though, if everyone died who knew the location then most of the wizards in Britain would be dead and it wouldn't matter anyway"

"The people who aren't wizards could probably use the space for something"

"True, but it'll never happen."

"I still think it's a stupid idea."

Albus sighs, "Well shall we go in then."

'Hmm Albus 1 Harry 1'

Albus quickly steered Harry through the crowd until he noticed a stuttering man with his wrapped in a turban. "Ahh, Professor Quirrell, I'd like to introduce you to one of your future students, this is Harry Potter he is here today to pick up his school things. Harry this is Hogwarts professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts."

"Hello Professor, sounds like an interesting subject, who teaches Offence Against the Dark Arts Headmaster?"

"Th-th-there is no offence against the D da dark arts taught at Hog ho Hogwarts Mr. Po-Potter." Said Quirrell with a quirked eyebrow.

'Hmm, he's curious, maybe there is something to learn from this bumbling fool, off the record of course' Harry thought to himself. 'From the frown on Dumbledorks face, I don't think he likes the idea'

"Sorry, Harry my boy best keep those thoughts between us, a lot of the offensive magics have been deemed Dark Arts, by the current Ministry."

"Does that mean you know them Professors?"

"Yes some Harry."

"And they still let you teach? Shouldn't you be classified as a Dark Wizard then?"

"Ahh Politics is a fickle thing Harry, I know them, but I learned them in a time when it ok to study the subject, and there will come a time again when it is socially acceptable to study them once more."

"I see" 'I will learn what I damn well please, and a good offence will beat the best defence if they know not how to return the favour' Smiling "Well then shall we continue you on into your fantastical alley with all the school supplies, hmm, this bores me."

Dumbledore looks down with twinkling eyes, and laughs, "Of course Harry, sorry Professor see you this evening then eh."

"Y-ye-yes"

Harry and Dumbledore continue on through the smoke filled pub to a small area just outside with a rubbish bin, and a brick wall. "Well what's this then?"

"This is the entrance to Diagon Alley Harry. Observe." Albus then takes out his wand and taps the correct brick to unveil the entrance to the Wizarding World.

Harry let out a gasp of shock at what had been revealed to him, as the bricks unfolded to reveal the alleyway, and vibrant colors of all the wizard robes. 'Damn I let the old fool hear me in shock, damn damn damn, ahh no matter, it was a discovery about my powers that led to it, magic can be use for more than fighting and teleportation this is both good and ill news, I know nothing of it, yet, it appears to be limitless in its uses, I will discover them all.'

"I must admit I am a little amazed Headmaster, magic has so many uses, will I learn them all at your school." 'I will learn and take everything that you offer Albus before I move to the next as I have always done.'

"Not all Harry my boy, but much. Well on to Gringotts Wizard bank then eh, do try and not stare too much at the goblins."

"Of course."

Albus and Harry proceeded through the Alley with Harry taking in as much as he could with the short amount of time he had, joke shops, clothes shops, potion shops, broom shops, thrift shops, so much to take in that more than one trip would be taken Harry decided.

All too soon they came in front of the banks doors, and Harry scoffed at the warning, 'Someday such things will mean nothing to me.'

Harry and Dumbledore finally came in front of a teller, and Harry looked up startled to see the bizarre creature squinting back. "Key please."

"Of course here is Mr. Potters key and the vault I intend to visit does not need one. You know of which I speak."

"Knashclaw, come and take Mr. Potter to his vault. Griphook, take the headmaster."

"Now Harry , if I am not returned by the time you are wait for me here ok, then we shall shop, for your new school things."

A crisp nod was the headmasters only sign that the boy had heard him at all.

When the Headmaster returned Harry was already come and gone on into the rest of the alley. With a sigh he set out to find him. 'Now where could he have gotten to so quick as that, when I was a young man, I would be at the candy shop the ice cream palour perhaps' no sooner had the thought crossed Albus's mind then he had spied Harry coming out of a second book shop. 'Book shop hmm, shows promise of being well educated then.'

"What have you bought already Harry, a book of the tales of the Mad Muggle that our kind are so fond of?"

"No I asked for the most rare book the shop had, you never know when you wont be able to find them any longer. Get it now even if I don't understand it, so that I will have it for when I can."

"That is very wise, may I ask what the rarest book was?"

"Yes."

"Hahaha well what was it Harry."

"Thought you would never ask, it is called, Dueling Advancements for the modern Hit Wizard by Arthur "Eagle-Eye" Ratherty. And Constant Vilgenlence by "Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody." Harry smiled 'If only you knew of the books I have slipped inside them, street life means stealing is a familiar task to me.'

"Excellent books Harry, and Alastor is an very old friend of mine, bit on the paranoid side, but a good enough man."

The rest of the shopping day went by smoothly with no further chances for Harry to discount any more books inside of his sweater.