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(lulu) Thanks :) hope you will enjoy all the later chapters too.

(Sarah) Glad you enjoyed it. Hope you wouldn't mind they are not there just yet.

CHAPTER 9

"We are going?" asked John, not really convinced that it was still a part of the plan.

"I promised, didn't I?" said Harry, rather surprised by the question.

The detective was already getting his scarf and coat so John nodded, not really going to say anything that may jeopardize their trip now that Harry seemed to be back in good mood. He couldn't wait to visit a wizarding alley and wondered if it was far and how exactly would they get there... Sherlock must have been thinking along the same lines.

"Where is this Diagon Alley? I've never heard of such a place," he asked rather blandly (Ha, thought the doctor, as if he was fooling anyone with his pretended aloofness. He wanted to see the place as bad as John did – if not even more.)

"Right here in London, of course," replied Harry as they were descending down the stairs. "And a lot closer than you would think."

"Wouldn't people know about it, if it's in London?" asked John curiously.

Before Harry replied, Mrs Hudson stepped out of her flat. "Going already?" she asked.

"Yes we are," answered Sherlock. "I got a new case." Despite his best efforts he couldn't contain his grin and giddiness entirely as he said that. It may be just an ordinary (wizarding!) murder he would be solving tomorrow... But magic was real! Oh, this could be fun! The things he could bring home! He was practically buzzing with energy, wanting to run off.

As with John, Mrs Hudson saw through his rather weak facade right away. "Oh no, what is it? A serial killer?" she asked with trepidation.

"No, no, Mrs Hudson," he smiled. "Not a serial killer – at least not yet. Hopefully, there will be one eventually though – they can't be so dull as not to have a few of their own! But so far it may be interesting even without one."

"Just be careful boys," said the landlady, not even reacting to what Sherlock said.

"Aren't we always," answered John grinning.

"Oh dear..." she murmured.

"Good bye," shouted out Harry before they dragged him away and the doors closed behind them.

"Well, where to now?" asked Sherlock once they stood outside. He was trying to hail a cab – surprisingly it took a lot more effort than usually.

"Charing Cross Road," said the wizard.

"Charing Cross Road?!" asked John and Sherlock simultaneously – though strangely it made sense, they were going to a bookshop, after all... but a whole wizarding alley?

"Yes," nodded Harry. "There is an old pub there that we're going to visit – I doubt you noticed it until now. It's protected. Behind it is the entrance to the Alley."

"Behind a pub?" asked John. "Really?"

"There is no pub there," protested Sherlock vehemently. He, as someone who prided himself of knowing every nook and cranny in London, should be sure of that. He could imagine the street vividly and was certain that he would have noticed a pub apparently established long ago – the only place that could have somehow fit was one abandoned shop that he never heard or saw being open before... could it be...

He had no more time to think about it as a cab finally stopped and they got in. Less than twenty minutes later they found themselves facing the non-existent pub. Sherlock was sulking. John didn't have time to be bothered by that, because he was gaping at the place that never existed - at least it didn't when he usually passed this street.

Harry took pity on them and tried to explain. "Only someone magical can bring newcomers to this place when they are visiting for the first time. But once you know it's here, you won't ever have a problem with it again. You can go here without being accompanied by someone anytime you want now. You will just need to ask Hannah to open the entrance to Alley for you."

"Who's Hannah?" asked John.

"One of the owners," replied Harry. "And a friend of mine."

"How did you make people oblivious to this place?" asked the detective finally after watching people walking around with narrowed eyes. They were not just ignoring the building as something not worthy their attention – their eyes slid over, as if it was not there at all.

"Enchantments," Harry told him. "They are part of the building. If they weren't in place anyone would be able to enter. Shall we go in?"

Sherlock and John nodded

The inside of the pub was nice and cosy. It surprised John; he was expecting it to be in far worse condition. It wasn't crowded; there were only few people there. Sherlock's eyes were darting around, taking everything and everyone in, cataloguing them – almost everyone seemed to be wearing some sort of... robes? Was that the usual wizarding attire? That would explain why Weasley felt uncomfortable when he visited the morgue... The people in the pub were also trying and failing to watch them – no, not them, only their wizarding companion – inconspicuously.

"Hello, Hannah!" greeted Harry the pretty blonde woman behind the counter.

"Harry," she replied happily. "When did you get back? And who are these dapper gentlemen?" She smiled at them in greeting.

"Sherlock Holmes and Doctor John Watson," introduced Harry then nodded towards the woman. "This is Hannah Longbottom." John straightened his back, dipped his head in greeting and gave her a flashing smile in return. Sherlock looked bored. "I am accompanying them to the Alley today. They got the permission under the Exemption," he told her as if that explained everything.

It probably did, because Hannah nodded, absolutely unperturbed. "Nice to meet you," she gave them another sunny smile. "Hope you will enjoy it here."

"They may visit sometimes on their own. If they do, would you open the Alley entrance for them?" asked Harry. "Also, may I leave this here, please?" he raised his bag slightly. "I don't want to run around with it."

"No problem," she agreed easily.

"Thank you," replied Harry smiling as he handed her the bag, then grimaced apologetically. "It was great seeing you, but we ought to be going. I'm sorry."

"Of course," she nodded. "Have a drink when you return. It will be on the house!" she smiled and waved as they disappeared through the back door.

After the doors closed, John shuffled towards Harry to ask something out of Sherlock's earshot. Not that he would have noticed, he was once again thinking over something, a faraway look on his face, but Harry's booming laugh made him turn towards them. John was terribly red in face. Ah!

"He wanted to ask that woman on a date," stated Sherlock knowingly, looking at Harry for confirmation.

"Yep," confirmed Harry.

"And he didn't notice the ring?" Sherlock raised his eyebrows.

"Not at all," shook his head the wizard, while John mumbled something about it being out of sight and it hardly being his fault not noticing that...

"But I don't understand why he is so embarrassed?" admitted the detective confused. "This is hardly the first time his romantic attempts were shot down for one reason or another. He didn't even talk to her."

"That would be my fault," Harry chuckled. "I told him tha-"

"OKAY!" cried the embarrassed doctor, successfully stopping Harry mid-sentence. "Can we instead concentrate on why are we in the backyard facing a brick wall, please?!"

"John, why don't you observe?" sighed Sherlock and, to his friend's relief, he complied and focused his attention on the wall. "This is clearly the entrance."

"Yes," replied John flatly, crossing his arms, "clearly."

Harry didn't say a word; instead he waited for the detective to show off... he didn't wait for long.

"The ground has many footmarks on it. A lot of people walk through here every day. Only someone magical can get it open though, as you told us." He nodded towards Harry. "I also assume that this is one of the first places visited by those who are new to your world – be it Muggles or Muggle-borns – from your comment about it being a 'good start'. That means it is most likely supposed to have a lasting effect on people – you would want to make a good first impression on someone who is getting into something unknown. Meaning the entrance will be unnecessarily showy."

"Right on all accounts," nodded Harry and tapped the bricks with his wand. "But I wouldn't say it's unnecessarily showy."