Chapter 4 – Knockturn Alley

Meissa groaned as slashes of sunlight filtered into her room, burning her eyes once again. She had just woken from a bad dream and shuddered. 'Morning sleeping beauty' Lucien's voice brought her into reality with a jolt. She frowned at him. 'What time is it?'

'Eight thirty… we want to be up early otherwise the trains will be packed'

'Trains?'

'Yes, we've got to get your Hogwarts stuff… and I think you need some new clothes and stuff' Lucien eyed her black clothes, folded as neatly as possible on the chair by her bed. They looked rather tatty now.

A short time later, they were trudging down a busy London street, in search of a small, non-descript pub.

Lucien had explained about Diagon Alley as they had fought their way through the morning rush hour of the London Underground. It sounded like the sort of place one would certainly not describe as non-descript but Meissa decided it was no use pointing this out. 'There it is' said Remus, pointing to a doorway that Meissa had almost walked straight past. They walked quickly through the small, crowded bar and out of the back of the pub. Meissa, who had been expecting at least a gate, found her self staring at a blank brick wall. 'Now then, lets see... aha' Lucien said, drawing his wand and tapping the wall. Meissa looked at him sideways, wondering if he was losing it.

Then a sound of brick being grinded against rubble made her turn back to the wall, to find it twisting and turning out of sight to reveal what she could only describe as an enchanted street. Her mouth dropped open in awe. Remus pulled out Meissa's list of equipment for Hogwarts. 'Right, Gringotts' he said, and strode down the street towards a large, white stone building, leaving Meissa and Lucien to struggle through the crowd to catch up with him. As they neared the building, Meissa saw odd little figures standing either side of the large heavy bronze doors. She blinked, having realized that they were in fact particularly fierce looking creatures, with long hooked noses, greyish skin and blood red eyes. She hurried past them to follow Remus into a vast, grand marble hall. Two long counters stretched out ahead of them, and behind the counters sat more 'Goblins' Lucien whispered in her ear. She raised her eyebrows. Remus led them over to a particularly disgruntled looking creature. He took the little Gold key that Remus had held out to him and examined it closely. 'Where did you get this?' the Goblin asked, his piercing glare turning on Remus. 'Albus Dumbledore' Remus replied. The Goblin seemed to raise an eyebrow, though Meissa could not be sure. Then the Goblin turned its cold stare on her. 'Ahh... it is true that I never thought I would be opening this vault… so soon' the Goblin smirked coldly.

After a stomach turning ride through the dark, murky tunnels in a maze of torch lit passages, Meissa had collected a small bag of the strangest coins she had ever seen, they stepped back out of the white building into the harsh, bright sunlight, all feeling slightly sick.

'Right, I think we should…' Remus trailed off, having realized he was in fact talking to himself. He spotted Lucien glued to the window of Quality Quidditch Supplies. 'It's the Venus 800, the fastest broom... what?' said Lucien, noticing that Remus had paled considerably. 'Where's Meissa?'

'I thought she was with you'

Remus shook his head, grabbing the back of Lucien's shirt and feeling sicker than he had at any point in Gringotts.

Meissa peered through the window of a large shop with black tinted windows. It's name was written in large silver letters - The Apothecary. A large group of bustling teenagers suddenly came pouring from its doorway and Meissa fell back into another doorway to avoid them. She found herself facing a long alley that lead straight off the street. A large black gate hung on its rusted hinges at the other end of the alley, and Meissa found herself compelled to find out where it led to. As she approached it, she read the words 'Knockturn Alley' scrawled across it. She pushed the gate, which screeched as with the sound of metal rusting against metal, and stared down the grottiest looking street she had ever seen. Glancing into the window of the nearest shop she saw a row of what looked suspiciously like human fingernails sitting amongst a display of other unpleasant objects. She read the name of a small, black book. 'Potion and Poisons - Know Your Enemies'

Just then a tall wizard strode from its doorway in a whirl of black robes. Meissa peered up into at him as she stumbled on the curb of the pavement. The wizard flicked his greasy black hair off his face and looked down at her with a slight frown. 'This is not the place for a young witch, such as yourself' he said, in a strange silky voice. Then swept past her down the street, She was not unnerved by what he had said, but slightly taken aback by the fact that he seemed to have recognised her.

She was busy watching him retreat down the twisting alley, his black robes billowing out behind him, to watch where she was heading along the cobbled stone street.

She suddenly collided with someone painfully and fell to the pavement with a smack. Gazing groggily up

at the wizard, who swept his sleek blonde hair out of his eyes and straightened his robes before glaring at her with - surprise. 'Well, well, well…I never thought I'd see another Lestrange... down here' she gaped at him. 'You should be more... careful' he said, in the same patronizing drawl.

'Get away from her Malfoy' Meissa turned to see Lucien standing there, an intense look of loathing plastered over his handsome face.

'Well, well... what a surprise. Ah... Remus Lupin too' drawled the man, as Remus caught up with Lucien and stopped dead. 'You look different Lupin, very different, from what I remember... well... as much as I would love to stay and chat' he nodded to Meissa, smirked and turned on his heel. Remus had stiffened and stared after him with a look that Meissa could not place. 'Come on, Meissa'

When they had trailed back through the small alley and were once again in the crowded street of Diagon Alley, Lucien turned to Meissa 'What were you thinking? You don't understand do you, that there are many witches and wizards down there that would love to meet you' 'I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to... I just got carried away-'

'You do the robes, I'll do the books' Remus interrupted, and traipsed off through the crowd. Meissa stared after him, the sick feeling in her stomach was twisting. Lucien led along to Madam Malkin's robe shop, but she could tell that his thoughts dwelled on Knockturn Alley. 'So... how is it that you get your uniform before you know what school house you'll be in?'

'The robes are bewitched. They'll change' said Lucien, matter-of-factly. Meissa was glad when they met up with Remus again, he sent Lucien off to get her potions ingredients as well as a pewter cauldron and scales whilst he took her to a dusty shop called 'Ollivanders'. She read 'Makers of fine wands since 382 BC'. She rolled her eyes and entered the shop. The strangest man she had ever laid eyes on was staring at her with fierce, grey eyes. 'Ahh... Ms Lestrange. Well, here's a face I have been waiting to see' he stated, a fierce smile twisting on his face to match his eyes.

'Every wand has a core, either Phoenix feather, Unicorn hair or Dragon heartstring. You look like a Dragon heartstring kind of girl' said the wizard. Remus cleared his throat as Meissa wondered whether she should take this as a compliment or not. Ollivander turned his piercing gaze on Remus 'It can't be... Remus Lupin... you look well'

10 minutes later they stepped out of Ollivanders, Meissa having purchased a 'Black Maple Heartstring, eight and a half inches'.