Chapter Ten: Diagon Alley
At a few minutes before two o'clock, we stood in front of the common room fireplace with the Floo Powder. One by one, we threw it into the fire, called out "Diagon Alley!" and stepped into the flames. Hermione had the beetle jar with her.
I'd never been to Diagon Alley before. After I agreed to write Harry's book for him, he'd taken me to Hogwarts (where the real Dumbledore had graciously welcomed me), Hogsmeade, and the Dursleys. (Uncle Vernon was happy at first that I wasn't "one of those freakish types", but when he found out I was writing a book on those who were he ordered me out of his house.) However, I couldn't take any more time off of work, so I didn't have the chance to visit Diagon Alley. All the things I wrote about it came from Harry's descriptions.
It was even more marvelous a place than I had imagined it. Going past all the shops I had written about was like dreaming about a place and then discovering that it really existed. There were magical moving mannequins in the windows of Madam Malkins, displaying flashy holographic robes. The new Firebolt Superior was in the window of another shop, and there was a cluster of young wizards eyeing it wistfully. A witch with a stand on the corner was shouting, "Sorceress Serena's Magical Makeup! We're having a sale, only ten Sickles at the most!"
"Come on, Jo!" said Harry, but he was smiling, and I could tell he was remembering how awestruck he had been his first time in Diagon Alley.
We approached the Leaky Caldron. Outside, a tall witch with blue hair and teal robes turned and stared at me. 'J.K. Rowling," she said, her voice filled with wonder. "Never thought I'd have the honor....I'm Azure Phipps, Ms. Rowling, pleased to meet you."
Now Harry was almost laughing. "Can you see what it was like for me, now?" he said. "Sorry, Miss Phipps, but we've got to go inside." He led me through the door.
"Hello, Harry," said the man behind the counter. "Got your owl. I'm going to give you the back parlor."
"Thanks," said Harry, and we went through the door the man was pointing to.
Most of the people we'd sent letters to were already there. The back parlor truly looked like a parlor; aside from tables, there were overstuffed armchairs, end tables with doilies, and a roaring fireplace. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were sitting on an emerald sofa together. "You must be Joanne!" exclaimed Mrs. Weasley. "I was so disappointed before that I didn't have the chance to meet you, but Harry said you had to get back to work....I'm so delighted with your books! Now, I don't want you to listen to any witches or wizards that don't like it and think that Muggles will take it seriously. Our kind has existed without Muggles knowing for centuries, and we'll keep doing it, no matter what you write. I was a bit scared, at first, when Harry said he was telling his story to a Muggle author, but the second I finished the first chapter of the first book all my fears left. You've done a wonderful job...."
"Don't talk her head off, Molly," said Mr. Weasley. "Hello, Joanne. I like your....what are they called again....the denim trousers with the metal teeth-like fastenings in front."
"Jeans," I said, smiling.
"Fascinating....now, what is this meeting all about?"
All the people in the room looked up at his words. I turned to Hermione. "Can you bear to go through it all one more time?"
She could.
"Well, I'm glad you came to us right away," said McGonagall, who was standing by the fire. "I have to admit, Ms. Rowling, I'm not happy that you broke wizarding law, but I did think it a bit suspicious that people wanted to make an example of you. I mean, it's a fairly obscure law, and it hasn't been properly enforced for a few thousand years. But that's a small matter now. Defeating Voldemort should be our only priority."
"We called you all because we know you all have the skills this needs," said Hermione, who was looking quite confidant, considering the circumstances. "Professor Snape, you've been a Death Eater, you can help us by telling us how they operate. Mr. Moody, you're going to be one of the best resources we'll have." I looked over at Alastor Moody, who was seated on a stool and kept glancing around suspiciously.
"We ought to establish some sort of chain of command, and give out assignments," said the ghost of Professor Binns, who was hovering by the door. "Some of us ought to return to the castle and spy on him. I volunteer myself...he can't kill me, after all. Now, I don't mean to be patronizing," he said, turning to Harry, Ron, and Hermione, "but I think that those who are still underage should leave the castle immediately and lay low for a while."
"I agree," said Moody. "Wherever they stay, they should have a Secret-Keeper."
"And a reliable one," said Sirius bitterly. Remus put his arm around him.
"They can stay at The Burrow," said Mr. Weasley. "Joanne too. No offense, but-"
"I know. I'm a Muggle, he can kill me far more easily. No offense taken."
"I think Professor McGonagall and Mr. Moody should be the ones in charge of this," said Hermione.
"I agree," I said.
"Let's put it ter a vote," said Hagrid. All were in favor.
"Then there's the matter of this beetle here," said Hermione. She held up the jar and explained.
"She can go with me," said Moody. "I'll figure out if she's a Death Eater or not."
"I think all the young ones should go back to The Burrow right away," said Professor Flitwick.
"I'll go with and put the charm for the Secret-Keeper on the house," said Moody.
"An' I'll send yer things over straight away," said Hagrid.
"All right. We should meet back here tomorrow for more planning," said MacGonagall. "The meeting is dismissed."
"Come on now Joanne, let's go home," said Mrs. Weasley. "It's going to be quite crowded, but that's all right. You and Hermione can share Ginny's room.