Rory shivered in the cold London night air, she was wrapped in several layers but still felt as if her face was just going to freeze solid. Jess walked ahead of Rory but she gripped onto his hand tightly, afraid to let go. He had led them down a dark and winding side street in the more seedy part of London.

"Are we almost there," Rory asked as she quickened her pace.

"Yeah, just stick close," he replied, like Rory was planning on doing anything else...

They were weaving through the dark back alley because Jess had a friend living there. Once they arrived at the YHA Jess had rung him up and his friend mentioned that he knew something about a gateway to another world. Personally – Rory thought the friend was lying or was high on something...

"What's your friends name again," Rory asked as they began to slow down.

"Well his real name is Gregory Weinstein," Jess replied. "But once he moved back here he needed more of street cool name, so now he's called Shadow." Rory let out a laugh.

They came to a stop in front of a thin grey house; it was sandwiched between two huge factories that had gone out of service years ago. From a dirty window on the second floor Rory saw a pale face quickly draw away, she slowly moved behind Jess. Moments later the door opened a crack.

"Who's there," called out a scratchy voice that had a strong cockney accent.

"Hey man, its Jess," replied Jess. The door opened fully and it revealed a thin man around 20, he had greasy brown hair that flopped over his narrow brown eyes. His clothing was covered in dirt Rory wondered what color they actually were. From the house wafted the distinct smell of ripe sweat, Rory smiled to suppress her gag reflex.

"Jess, it's been ages!" Shadow replied bringing Jess in for a tight hug. Rory made a mental note to wash Jess's clothing quite thoroughly once they leave. Shadow then fixed his eyes on Rory, "Who's the skirt?" he asked and Rory opened her mouth to object but Jess cut her off.

"This is my girlfriend, Rory," Jess replied bring Rory in close next to him.

Rory offered him her hand to shake. "Rory Gilmore," she said and Shadow shook it lightly.

"Shadow," he replied.

"Pleasure, I'm sure." she finished secretly wiping her hand of his sweat when he let go.

"This can't be discussed outside," Shadow said. "Come in."

They entered the dark room that was filled with thread born furniture; in the corner near a broken window hummed a small fridge and next to that was an unpolished wooden table.

"So, you mentioned a gateway..." Jess said as he stepped sheepishly over a sleeping bullterrier.

"Let the lady sit," Shadow said and he motioned for Rory to sit on the low and suspicious smelling couch that was held together by duck tape. Rory smiled uncertainly as she lowered herself onto the green couch.

"Why are you looking for a way into that world," Shadow asked, he took out a packet of smokes and took one for himself, he offered the packet to Jess who took one, Shadow walked over to Rory who was eyeing the dog, he handed out a cigarette.

"Oh, no thank you, I don't smoke," Rory said shaking her head, Shadow snorted.

"Loosen up, lass," Shadow said as he threw the cigarette pack onto the table, Shadow lit up his cigarette and as he lit Jess's cigarette he asked – "Where'd you find her?"

"So, the gateway," said Jess, ignoring Shadow's rudeness.

"The wizarding world aint in great shape," Shadow said taking a long puff from his cigarette. "There's a war raging on between good and evil!"

"Which side are you on," Rory asked looking up at Shadow coolly.

Shadow let out a harsh laugh, "You're acting like Potter! A word of warning little girl – life's not a fairytale, the good doesn't always win..."

"Hey, Shadow," Jess said firmly. "Get away from her, just talk to me."

Rory crossed her arms and glared at Shadow as he walked to the other side of the room to where Jess stood.

"The gateway is at a little pub not far from here," Shadow said. "But You can only see it if one of you have magic in your blood."

"That won't be a problem, Rory's a witch," Jess said, Shadow's eyes flickered over to Rory hungrily.

"A witch eh," he asked, Jess cleared his throat and Shadow looked back over to him. "Most witches, whether they knew or not, generally find out at 11 when the school letter comes, didn't she get a letter?"

"That's none of your concern," Rory muttered.

"What's the name of the pub," Jess asked.

"The Leaky Cauldron," Shadow replied rather reluctantly.

"Thanks man," Jess said moving towards the door, "Keep in touch, ok?"

"Going so soon," Shadow asked, his voice now sent shivers down Rory's spine. She quickly pushed herself up off the couch with out realising there was a broken bottle next to her. Pain shot up through her hand as blood seeped out through the gash on her palm.

She let out a cry as she looked down at the blood that now fell onto the floor in a puddle. Jess ran up to her and took hold of her hand.

"It hurts," Rory said, trying her best to appear brave in front of Shadow who was walking over to her with a white towel. Jess brushed her brown hair behind her ear.

"Its ok, Rory," he said to her as Shadow dabbed at her wound. Finally all the blood was gone and they all looked down onto the small gash.

"Oh," Rory muttered, slightly disappointed at the small cut. Shadow still held the blood stained towel as he gazed down at it. He began to raise it up to his nose, Rory couldn't help her upper lip from curling in disgust as Shadow sniffed her blood!

"Potter's blood," he muttered.

"Excuse me," Rory said her voice shaking slightly as he looked up at her in malice.

"You're an enemy to the Dark Lord," Shadow began as he advanced upon her. "So you must parish!"

Jess was first to react as he tugged on Rory's arm and dragged her out of the house at break neck speed. Neither of them dared to look back at Shadow as he ran from his house screaming threats after them. They wound back through the narrow alley until they were met by Kensington Street that was lit by the purple early morning sun.

"What the hell was that," Jess panted as they quickly walked down the street.

"I think it had something to do with Harry," Rory replied. She was carefully inspecting each building they passed, hoping to catch a glimpse of The Leaky Cauldron. The quicker they got to The Leaky Cauldron the quicker they were out of Shadow's reach.

"I guess your mom was right about the whole 'great enemies' thing," Jess said. "Rory, stop for a minute!" he called out and Rory obeyed.

He walked up to her and took hold of her left hand where it had been cut, he ran his finger down the side of it and Rory cringed.

"That looks deep," he said, looking up at Rory. "Come on, I'll take you to the hospital."

"No," Rory said, taking her hand away from Jess and continued to walk.

"Rory," Jess called up after her and when he realised she wasn't going to stop he ran after her. "We need to get you to a hospital, you may need stitches!"

"No, Shadow said that The Leaky Cauldron was around here," Rory said, her eyes sweeping from left to right.

"Yeah, he did say that – right before he tried to kill you!" said Jess.

"All the more reason to keep running further away from him," replied Rory.

"Rory, stop!" Jess said, reaching out and grasping hold of her arm, they stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, the rest of the crowd just swept by them as if the two of them had disappeared. "I love you, Rory! And my main focus right now is not Shadow or The Leaky Cauldron its making sure that you're ok."

"Aw, that's sweet," Rory said, she brought Jess in and kissed him, she felt his hands as they rested on the small of her back. Rory opened her eyes and gazed at the building they were kissing in front of her. She let out a squeal and Jess drew away.

'What's wrong?" he asked and Rory jumped up in down, too happy to actually speak. Jess turned around slowly and realised what had made Rory so happy.

In front of them stood an old building, a set of gargoyles leered down at them from the roof. The door was made of thick wood and had been nailed to the old hinges with wrought iron nails, and right above their heads a sign squeaked on its metal pole, and printed in large black letters were 'The Leaky Cauldron'.

"We're here, Jess!" Rory yelled, she threw her arms around him in a tight hug. "We made it!"

"I-I can't believe it," Jess stuttered and they began to walk towards the door. As Rory reached out and hauled the heavy door open, she glanced behind her to make sure no one was watching – but everyone continued to walk by as if they didn't see her.

They walked into a room that was hard to make out in the light that came from gas lamps that hung from the ceiling on chains. The room was filled with long tables where a few oddly dressed men sat as they whispered in hushed tones. On one side of the room was a long bar that looked fully stocked with alcohol Rory had never heard of, but seeing as it was very early in the morning it made sense the bar wasn't open. They walked through the room and turned to the left where a little booth sat and in it sat a plump woman. She wore a purple silk cloak over a brown velvet dress and her brown hair fell loosely around her hard and wrinkled face.

"Hello my dears," she squeaked, sitting up straight as they approached. "Are you looking for lodgings?"

"Oh yes thank you," Rory said with a heavy sigh. She reached into her pocket and brought out all the money she had, Rory figured that 2000 dollars was good walking around money considering her situation.

"Oh dear," the woman squeaked, smiling at Rory. "Are you new here?"

"You could say that," Jess muttered.

"I'll take your muggle money," she said kindly. "But you really must get some magic money if you're going to go shopping in Diagon Alley."

"We're planning on doing all that once we're showered and redressed," Rory replied looking down at her dirty clothes and the lady laughed as she turned behind her and opened up a cupboard. But instead of a small space the cupboard burrowed deep into the brick wall, the old lady turned on the light and it lit up the glittering gold and silver keys that crowded the large walls. She shoved her hand deep into the hole to the point that her shoulder was the only thing visible. With a triumphant squeak she brought out a long silver key.

"Room 20, through these doors, up the stairs and take two lefts," she said handing the key to Rory. "That's 20 muggle pounds."

Rory gave her the appropriate amount and she smiled. "My name's Faye Exordium, just call down here if you have any problems."

"Rory Gilmore," Rory replied with a smile, she looked over at Jess whose face was red checked and matted with dirt; he even had a few blood stains when she had bled on him. "And this is my boyfriend, Jess Mariano." Faye looked at him once with a small smile.

"There is a shower in the room," she said plainly. "Follow the key, it knows where to go."

Rory looked down at the long silver Key that lay still in her hand and just when she was beginning to think the maybe Faye was a little batty; the key suddenly sprang up from her hand and fluttered right near her nose.

She heard Jess mutter an impressed wow as the key darted off through a wooden door in front off them and they followed obediently. It moved so fast that they didn't even get to look around them in the second room where three sleepy Hogwarts students were arriving after a long night of broom flying. (A/N) I wonder who they could be lol

They finally reached a small wooden door marked 20 and the silver key threw itself into the lock that turned and swung the door wide open. There room consisted of a queen sized four poster bed, a trunk at the end of it and a dressing table with a large round mirror. There was a large window but thick red curtains covered it and there was a second door that led to the bathroom. Rory took the key form the lock and it panted in her hand, she closed the door behind her and breathed in deep.

An hour later she had showered and changed, she wore tight blue jeans and a long sleeved black shirt that went down to her upper thigh with a white singlet underneath, she wore some ug-boots and her hair was out in its usual wavy fashion. Rory was waiting for Jess to come back from trying to get there money exchanged.

There was a knock at the door and Rory stood up and ran to the door, she opened it quickly and met the brown eyes of Jess. He held up a satchel and jingled it around which made a jingling sound.

"You bought bells," Rory asked as Jess stepped into the room. She closed the door behind her and walked up to Jess who had opened the bag and was now looking in on its contents.

"No, there's all our money," Jess replied and Rory gazed into the bag that was filled with golden coins and a few silver ones. Jess again shook the bag up and down again and the jingling rang out in the room.

"Oh stop that," Rory scolded. "You're worse then a three year old."

With a laugh Jess handed her the bag of money and walked up to the closed curtains. In a dramatic fashion he threw them open and Rory had to blink a few times to make sure she was seeing properly.

In front of them was a small village, the long cobble road was crowded with people all dressed in silks and velvet of wild colours. The shop windows displayed items that Rory had never heard or even read of! The little village was met by wild trees that swayed in the summer breeze.

"It's quite beautiful..." Rory muttered as she put her pale hand against the glass.

"Come on, let's go and get you what you need," Jess said standing up. He walked up to the bed and handed Rory her cream sweater and pink beanie, she slipped them on and then waited for Jess to put his leather jacket on.

"What do I need?" Rory asked as they left the room. Rory locked it behind them then slipped the key into her pocket.

"A wand obviously, and a few books on spells, maybe a few potions" Jess said with a shrug as they walked down the stairs. A few meters from the bottom was a set of double doors and painted across in purple paint were the words 'Diagon Alley'.

Jess pushed them open and Rory was met by the crowded streets. They all talked energetically as they strolled down the cobble road, all dressed in long sweeping coats and some men even wore top hats.

"Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore," said Rory as they began walking in the sun light. Jess wrapped his arm around her waist as they strolled past flying broom shops and a dress making shop where a child peered in at the uniforms.

"Mommy, can't I buy my Hogwarts uniforms now?" she winged, her mother shook her head.

"You're only ten, sweetie, next year we'll shop for your uniforms," she replied and they walked on.

"This whole world," Rory muttered as she looked around, only just being missed by an owl that flew onto ten arm of an extremely tall man who's head rivalled the roofs.

"Hmm," Jess said. "What did you say?"

"This whole world, Mom kept this whole world a secret from me, making me totally unprepared for dangers that now are only just around the corner..." Rory exclaimed.

"Well, trouble may be metaphorically around the corner, but the wand shop is just around this corner," said Jess as he turned to the right and sure enough a dark shop sat on the street side, they walked through the door that had the name of the shop printed - 'Ollivanders: Makers of fine wands since 382 BC '.

There was only a small space available for them to stand before they were met by the tall shelves messily packed with long thing boxes, the shelves turned and darted about to such a point that Rory wondered if people went in that never came out. Jess began to walk towards the catacombs of shelves when a thin man stepped out from the shadows.

"Easy there, only I go there..." he whispered. The man had thin wiry white hair that almost faded into his pale skin; Rory looked into his eyes that looked like white diamonds that sparkled up at Jess.

"Hello," Rory said with a smile as Jess backed up behind her. The man turned to her and now that she looked directly into his pupil-less eyes she felt her spine shiver.

"Hello, Rory," the man smiled. "I was wondering when you'd find your way here, where you belong." Rory swallowed hard as he darted off into the maze of shelves.

"Are you coming back," she called after him.

"Yes, yes, yes," he replied. "When your father brought in your brother, I knew that he was one child short. When I asked him about where you were he said there was no Rory Potter... But I knew better, there is no fooling Mr. Ollivander."

"My-my brother was in this very shop," Rory asked. Looking around as if he may appear from thin air if she just shut her eyes and thought of him, when she opened her eyes back up Jess was the only one standing in front of her, he had a concern look on his face. Her eyes suddenly began to tear up as her heart ached with loneliness.

"Its ok, Rory," Mr. Ollivander said from behind her, she turned and saw his white eyes staring at her in sympathy through the numerous boxes he had in his arms. "You'll find him, he's closer to you then you think."

He dumped them onto his counter top and Rory walked up next to him. His shaky aged hands took hold of a black box; he opened it and revealed a long red wood wand.

"Red Oak, 11 ½ inches, unicorn hair, and great for charms," he described as he handed it to Rory. "It was your father's." Rory grabbed it eagerly. "Swish and flick," Mr. Ollivander said, demonstrating with his finger. Rory brought it high in the air and flicked it down, a red light shot out of it and headed straight for Jess who ducked down; the red light missed him by a hair and hit the wall with a bang.

"I guess not," Rory muttered, quite disappointed that she wouldn't have the same wand as her father. "What about my bother's wand?'

"13 ½ inches, yew wood, great for dark arts, extremely powerful, with a rare phoenix feather," Mr. Ollivander replied quickly. "The feather is so rare that it made only one other... but its impossible that you would have his wand..."

"Why not," asked Rory.

"Because the only same wand was already sold to a famous wizard many years previous to Mr. Potter receiving his," Mr. Ollivander replied. "To the very powerful wizard - who now wishes to kill you and your brother..."

Rory was speechless as she watched Mr. Ollivander turn back to the pile of wands muttering, "No, no, no, this won't do at all." Suddenly he shoved them all off the table and they clattered to the floor. "All useless!" he ran back into the catacombs.

"Rory," Jess said she turned around and faced him. "Next time you're trying out a wand – don't point it at me." Rory nodded. "Good, oh wait here come Mr. Memory."

Rory turned and saw only three wand boxes in his hand; they were covered in dust and had cobwebs hanging on to the end. He laid them gently down onto the counter top and then ran to the door; he flipped the open sign to closed then walked back over to where Rory stood looking down at the wands.

"These are my special wands," he said. "I keep them in the far back, and only give them to the ones I feel can handle it."

"And that's me?" Rory asked her voice shaky and Mr. Ollivander nodded. He lifted the lids off all three boxes and revealed the wands in them. He pointed to the first one in line.

"12 inches, Red Silk Wood, a scale from a Hungarian Horntail at the tip, strong, capable of great attacking spells," he explained, and then pointed to the second. "13 ½ inches, mad of Willow, thin, with a hair from a pixie making it quite a mischievous wand. The third wand is the only one wand in existence to have Merpeople hair in it, made of ash wood, its 11 ½ inches and great at advanced spell work."

"Do I just pick one," Rory asked, her hands travelling over them.

"Which ever you feel is best," Mr. Ollivander said.

Rory closed her hand and continued to slowly wave her hand over them, her hand suddenly fell onto the table, and she moved her fingers and felt a smooth wooden wand under her fingers. She opened her eyes and looked down at the reddish wood underneath her hand. She picked it from its box and held it high in the air, making sure she wouldn't hit Jess, she flicked it and purple and white sparks flew from the end and floated up to the ceiling.

"We've found your wand, Miss. Potter," Mr. Ollivander said, taking it form her and putting it back in its box. "The only wand in to have hair of Merpeople in it and great for advanced spell work. I knew you were powerful the moment you walked in. Now take this wand, find your brother, and save your new home..."

(A/N) In the next chapter two parties find each other in the face of extreme peril and almost certain death