Chapter 3 Diagon Alley

Damian opened the door early the next day to find Harry Potter waiting outside. "So how are we getting there?" he asked "Broomsticks?" he added rather hopefully.

Harry started laughing "No something entirely more conventional I'm afraid."

And so with some disappointment Damian was led away to a very old Vauxhall Corsa. Getting into the back of the car he found himself sitting next to a very small red headed girl who looked roughly the same age as him, Damian assumed this must be his Uncle's daughter.

"Hey second cousin nice to meet you I'm Lily, you must be so excited about today, I know I am and I've been to Diagon Alley hundreds of times. I can't wait to show you Uncle George's and Fortesques and ..."

"Lily let him breathe," said a voice from the front of the car. Damian turned to see a woman in the front of the car who looked like an identical grown up version of the girl he was sitting next to.

"I'm Ginny, Harry's wife," the women said, smiling kindly at him "And this is our daughter Lily Luna Potter."

"Right then folks lets go," said Harry starting up the engine.

As they approached the motorway Damian glanced out of the window and saw trees and houses zip past. He had a slight suspicion that they were travelling a lot faster than would have been reasonably possible from the average 20 year old Corsa. He wondered what his Grandparents would have made of it, even their Jaguar didn't go this fast.

He sat back and relaxed as he listened to Lily tell him more about the wizarding world. He learnt more about Hogwarts and what they would be taught there and he was fascinated to hear about the numerous magical animals that inhabited the country. He couldn't believe he'd lived amongst dragons and giants without knowing about it. He also enjoyed Lily's company, after she'd calmed down from her initial overexcitement he had found they got on really well. She too was starting Hogwarts in September and was the last in her family to go as both her older brothers had already been there for one and two years respectively. They would apparently be meeting them there later as they were helping out at a joke shop their uncle owned. Damian found the idea of a wizard joke shop frankly ridiculous but was still very much looking forward to seeing it.

"So you really had no idea you were a wizard?" asked Lily after a pause in the conversation.

"Nope, none at all. Even Dad had no idea despite growing up with Uncle Harry." Damian noticed Ginny purse her lips at the mention of his Uncle's childhood.

"I expect you may have accidentally done magic before," said Harry. "Most young witches or wizards produce some kind of magic, especially when emotions are running high. Sometimes it can even be quite powerful."

"I managed to levitate my brother over our garden fence when I was still in a cot," said Lily proudly.

"I'm still pretty sure that wasn't an accident," said Harry.

Damian thought back to all the strange things that had happened to him throughout his life. If he had accidently used magic it would certainly make sense. He wondered if he could blame once forgetting to wear his trousers into school on accidental magic, he suspected in this case it was just him being remarkably forgetful.

"Here we are then," said Harry pulling the car into a side road.

"But...we couldn't possibly have got here this quickly."

"Well I do know a man who just loves to fix cars," said Harry grinning to his wife and confirming Damian's earlier suspicion. "So Damian, are you ready for the Diagon Alley experience."

"Let's do it," said Damian eagerly.

After some funny business involving tapping a wall with Harry's wand and walking through an unknown man's pub they made it to Diagon Alley. After it had been given such a build up Damian was fully prepared to feel let down once he stepped on to the Alley, however, he was not disappointed. Never before had he seen such vibrancy and colour in one place. As they started to wander down the busy cobbled street he could see something new in every direction. From exploding fireworks to flying broomsticks each shop seemed to contain something more interesting and surreal than the last.

"Right then," said Harry bringing them to a stop. "Let's get the boring stuff out the way first."

Somehow Damian doubted that any of the shops here could be considered boring. Nevertheless as they made their way to Forester's bookshop Lily started to moan to her mother about wanting to check out brooms.

Despite Harry's warning Damian still found he quite enjoyed his time in the bookshop, it was interesting to see all the areas of study that were possible although he was rather alarmed to be attacked by one of the books he had attempted to read. His uncle laughed this off, suggesting it was Hagrid having a sense of humour. Apparently the same half giant who had made his father fear for the safety of his bottom also taught Care of Magical Creatures at Hogwarts. Damian was relieved to hear this wasn't a subject you had the option of taking until your third year.

By the time they stopped for lunch he had been kitted out with most of his school supplies as well as his school robes, not something he had enjoyed trying on in the heat that the sun had for once blessed Britain with that summer. They did not seem the most practical of clothing but were apparently the norm for witches and wizards, he supposed it was a small price to pay for getting to use a wand and a broomstick.

Harry had selected a small cafe away from the hustle and bustle of the main street. Damian wasn't sure what to make of wizard food. It was certainly interesting and judging from his squid soup, erratic. Every mouthful he had taken had given him a different taste and whilst the nicer tastes had certainly been pleasant the last spoonful had left a rather sour taste in his mouth. Lily had been rather unsympathetic only offering him some sweets that had the same tendencies as the soup. So his sour taste had soon been replaced by one of bogies which was not quite the improvement he had been looking for.

Glancing up from his pumpkin juice Damian noticed a small crowd seemed to have gathered outside the cafe and were excitedly pointing towards him. Wondering what wizarding etiquette he could possibly have broken to cause such a reaction he turned to Lily.

She grimaced "Ah yes we forget to tell you this might happen."

"What, what did I do," said Damian, a note of panic in voice.

"Oh don't worry love it's not you,' said Ginny.

"It's me, I'm kind of famous," said Harry simply. His expression indicated this was not a fact he was particularly pleased with.

"Oh," said Damian realisation dawning on him "So what are you famous for?"

"Oh nothing much, the papers have all blown it out of proportion to be honest."

"Harry don't be so silly." His wife snorted, a look of derision on her face "The reason he is famous is because he saved the world from the most evil and powerful wizard that has ever existed."

"Yeah we'll probably be learning all about it at school" said Lily miserably. Clearing this wasn't something she was looking forward to.

Wow, thought Damian, he had really misjudged his Uncle. When Harry had first come round to his house Damian had barely believed he was a wizard now it turned out he was some kind of super wizard saviour.

"Look Damian, I suppose I did technically save everyone, and as much as it embarrasses my daughter you probably will be learning about it at school but just please bear in mind I really am just a regular guy and I really didn't sign up for any of this," he said, scowling at the crowd that had already starting to increase in numbers. "It's always worse this time of year just before all the new kids start school. Anyway since my cover's blown looks like you two are going to have to finish up by yourselves." He did not look very pleased about this. "We'll meet you in the Leaky Cauldron at four o'clock. One minute late and neither of you will be going to Hogwarts."

By three thirty Damian had made the best two purchases of the day so far. First they had gone to the pet shop where he had bought himself a magnificent striped owl he had named Irwin and then they had made their way to Ollivander's to buy their wands. A rather creepy old man who looked like he was on his last legs had greeted them. He had at first expressed his disappointment that Harry was not with them but had soon set about finding them both a wand. Lily had taken five attempts to find a wand that suited her. Apparently the wand would choose the wizard, it seemed a rather scattergun approach to Damian and he was sure the man was just randomly picking up wands.

He had then nervously waited for Mr. Ollivander to find him a wand but he need not have worried for the first wand that was placed in his hand had been the right one.

"I knew it," squeaked Mr. Ollivander "I knew I had the right one for you. Twelve and a half inch oak wand made from unicorn hair. Absolutely perfect."

Damian was happy to admit that he had been wrong, the old man certainly knew his wands. As soon as the wand had touched his hand Damian had known there was something special about it, he could instantly feel the magic flowing through. He looked down at his wand and smiled. It felt odd to seem so connected to such an object but holding it now it already felt like a part of his own body.

So, carrying all the things that they had needed to buy, they made their way to the joke shop of which Damian had heard so much. As they got closer to the shop Damian saw that it actually had a closed sign hanging from the door and two boys were sitting on the floor outside in animated conversation. They jumped their feet at the sight of Lily approaching. At a guess Damian would have put both boys at a few years older than him and Lily. He was struck by how different they looked; one was stocky and black, the other skinny and white with a mop of jet black hair that reminded Damian very much of his Uncle.

"What have you two done now," said Lily, an air of exasperation in her voice.

"Us, do something, how dare you make such an accusation little sister," said the boy who was obviously one of Lily's older brothers.

"Yeah Lily how dare you. When have we ever been anything other than kind, charming and responsible," said the other boy.

"Umm, how about all the time," said Lily.

"I can't believe I'm hearing this from my own sister," her brother said with mock indignation.

"So what did happen then?" she asked them.

"Well me and James were hard at work."

"Working as hard as a house elf we were."

"When suddenly some fireworks start going off and the place is on fire."

"Nothing to do with us of course, we were busy working."

"No nothing at all to do with us, I mean we might have had a small firework fight but I'm sure that had nothing to do with fire."

Lily burst out with laughter "Oh of course not, absolutely nothing to do with you"

Damian was torn between roaring with laughter and attempting to work out why two boys who looked so different could finish each other's sentences as though they were twins.

"Anyway aren't you going to introduce us," Lily's brother asked.

"James, Fred, this is Damian Dursley. Damian, this is my idiot cousin Fred Weasley and my idiot brother James Sirius Potter. Pranksters and troublemakers in chief of Hogwarts."

"Dursey. Well I didn't see that one coming, still, hope to see you in Gryffindor in September," said James.

"Ah yes, new students what fun," said Fred with a worryingly maniacal glint in his eye.

"Well, we'd best help with the clear up, see if Uncle George has calmed down," said James wearily.

"Yeah we'll have to make it up him."

"Maybe we could get him that toilet seat he's always wanted."

"Right then, see you in September Damian, take it easy," said Fred as both boys went through the shop door, from which Damian could see an array of different coloured flames and smoke.

"Are they going to be alright," he asked, not so sure he'd have been able to walk so casually into a shop that was on fire.

"Oh yes, Uncle George is used to this kind of thing happening especially where my brother and Fred are concerned."

"How come there so..."

"Similar," said Lily "Yeah everyone says so. I'm not sure really. They've always been really good friends, I think they play up to it a bit though. Fred's Dad used to have a twin so I think he likes seeming them together. Don't worry about them though, they're a bit mental but they're a lot of fun. Anyway let's start heading back to the Leaky Cauldron, I bet Dad's going to die of shock when he sees we're early.

As they started making their way back along the street manoeuvring themselves between throngs of shoppers Damian remembered something James had said. "Lily what's Gryffindor?"

"Ah yes Gryffindor, for the noble and brave. It's a school house," she added seeing his confusion.

"So how many houses are there?"

"There's ...oh crap, I think I've dropped my purse, wait here I'll be back in a sec."

Lily turned around and ran back in the direction they had come from leaving Damian by himself. He was standing near some of the market traders so with some time to kill he decided to see what goods were on offer.

"You sir, you look like you're on the lookout for a bargain." Damian took a suspicious look at the first trader he came to. "One broom handling kit. Five knuckles, no questions asked."

Quickly concluding that there were just as many dodgy individuals in the wizarding world as there were in the muggle world, Damian wandered further down the street examining the other market stools. Looking at some fancy quills he was surprised when he heard a voice coming from the other side of the alley. "Come here boy."

Damian looked around to see who had called out. Puzzled he spotted an old woman who strangely appeared to be beckoning him over. Intrigued he wandered over to her. She was sat behind a withered old table with a strange assortment of objects on it. "Do you wish to see what the future holds for you boy?"

Taking a long look at her Damian concluded she looked rather like the stereotypical witches he had seen on TV. She had long wild grey hair, wore a ragged cloak and even had a slightly croaked hat. Judging from the rest of the market traders he had met Damian was not convinced that witch fortune tellers would be any more reliable than the ones fake ones he'd met in the circus's his Dad used to take him. Everything was telling him to walk away from her but he was curious.

"Are you real," said Damian bluntly.

The witch gave him a curious look "Why would you think I'm not real. Do you regularly imagine things?"

Damian was caught off guard by her sardonic tone "That's not what I meant. Is what you do real? Can you really read the future?"

"No one really knows what the future will hold. I see glimpses, some more important than others."

"So do you know what's going to happen to me," said Damian, still not convinced.

"Why don't you take a seat and I'll show you."

Damian stayed where he was.

"The reason most witches and wizards avoid people like me is not because they don't believe in what I say, but because they're scared. Scared that they're not in control of their own destiny. You see, if I already know what's going to happen to someone, then they wonder what the point is in going through life. But, if there's one thing I know about you Damian Dursley, it's that you're no coward, so why don't you take a seat."

Damian stared at the witch "How do you even know my name?" he said quietly.

The witch's forehead of wrinkles scrunched up as she frowned "Maybe I had a vision, maybe I researched it as part of some elaborate trick or maybe it's just something I happen to know. It doesn't really matter, all that matters is you sitting down and letting me show you something about your future."

It wasn't an order but Damian felt strangely compelled to follow the instruction. He didn't know what to make of the old witch. Crazy, deranged or just a fraud, Damian wasn't sure but for some reason he wanted to find out.

He took a determined step forward and sat down opposite the witch "Okay count me in."

"Very good." A smile finally showed on the witch's face. "Now place your hands on the table," she said.

Damian did as she had asked. The witch lifted her own hands up, Damian noticed the hard lines etched into them, and placed them on top of his. Nothing happened at first and Damian thought for a moment that this had all been a terrible joke, but then suddenly he was no longer in Diagon Alley, no longer even if in London, in fact Damian didn't know where he was.

The first thing he saw was himself. A sensation he could only describe as very weird. The other him was walking down a torch lit corridor clutching his wand very tightly and looked on edge. Sweat was pouring down him and he was looking panickedly from side to side.

Damian was confused. This was more than a vision he was actually here physically witnessing something "Umm hello," he called out.

He was rather relieved not to receive a response, feeling fairly certain that however unusual this day had become he would not under any circumstances be able to cope with a conversation with another version of himself.

Vision or not whatever was happening seemed real enough even if he couldn't interact with anyone it in. Damian took another look at the other him. He appeared similar enough, same clothes, same walk, same look, although maybe he was imagining it, but Damian thought the other him looked slightly older. As the witch had told him this was meant to be his future, he supposed this was to be expected, although it clearly wasn't a very distant future. What worried Damian though wasn't his age but his demeanour. The Damian he was seeing looked simply terrified. His eyes constantly darting around, searching for some unknown terror ahead.

The other him continued walking, making his way down the corridor. Damian followed a step behind, staring curiously at everything around him. At last he saw a room ahead lit up. The other Damian saw it too and edged cautiously into it before coming to an abrupt stop. Wondering why he had stopped Damian ran to catch up. Entering the room next to his body double Damian quickly realised why. A man he didn't recognise was laying face up on the floor, his pale body surrounded by a pool of dark red blood. The man was dead.

As the vision began to fade Damian looked into the dead man's eyes. His expression was one of pain. Pain and hatred.

Damian opened his eyes to find himself lying on the cold hard floor of Diagon Alley. He looked up to see the three Potters standing over him. He could see the worry and concern showing in their faces but all he could think of was his vision. Why had he seen himself alone with a dead man and a pool of blood?

"Damian what happened, are you alright?" Harry crouched down next to his nephew.

"I'm fine," said Damian struggling up into a seated position. "I just..." He looked around for the old witch but she was nowhere to be seen.

"Just what Damian?" Harry looked closely into Damian's eyes searching for some sign of trouble.

"Nothing, nothing I must have just fainted. Sorry, I didn't mean to cause any problems." Damian hoped his story was more convincing than it sounded. Harry looked sceptical but said nothing.

"C'mon Damian let's get you inside with a warm drink," said Ginny, her face had become significantly paler highlighting each freckle.

Damian let Harry help him up, ignoring the dizziness he encountered as he got to his feet. As he followed the Potters back to the pub they had started their day at, Damian glanced back to the empty spot the where the witch had sat. He wondered briefly if he'd imagined the whole thing. In fact he very much hoped he had.

A/N Thanks to everyone who's read the story so far and thank you for the kind reviews.