The Days leading up to Eliza and Melanie's Diagon Alley trip was agonizing for both of them. Melanie couldn't wait to see the magical community stuffed to the brim with wizards and shops. Eliza dreaded being immersed into the world she avoided.
When the day finally arrived, Eliza was a nervous wreck. She anxiously fidgeted with her wand while waiting for Melanie to knock on her door. Eliza felt sick to her stomach and she paced the living room floor hoping to shake her apprehension about the trip.
It wasn't as though any news from the magical world had surfaced, but the Eliza had been feeling increasingly uneasy. Perhaps it was due to the odd hours that her neighbor had been leaving and returning at night, or maybe it was the mysterious fires and muggle deaths (even though these events were relatively few compared to the first war). Eliza could tell something was going on. On more than one occasion, on the nights that the wizard next door was home, Eliza saw him glare at the terrible mark on his left arm as though he hated the sight of it, as though his black eyes could sear the mark off his skin and forever erase the Dark Lord. Something was definitely going on.
But Eliza wasn't going to let her paranoia detract from Melanie's joy. This first venture into Diagon Alley would be a monumental step for any young witch or wizard, and Eliza wanted Melanie to have the best day possible.
When the young girl finally arrived, Eliza dug out an old jar of floo powder that had been buried in her closet. As she explained the travelling process to Melanie, Eliza threw a handful of powder into her fireplace making the flames glow bright green. Nervously, Melanie stepped in first, shouting "Diagon Alley". Eliza prepared the flames again and stepped, hesitating slightly. It was terrifying, thinking about returning to that world. Taking a deep breath, Eliza stepped into the emerald flames and hurtled to the place she dreaded most: home.
Melanie was amazed by Diagon Alley. After being thoroughly charmed by the Leaky Cauldron and entranced by the cobblestone street that was teeming with magical folk, the pair headed to Gringotts to exchange Melanie's muggle money. A little while, and several explanations about goblins and other magical creatures later, Eliza decided it was time to get Melanie's wand. Of course they went to Ollivander's because he made the best wands in all of Britain.
"Ah, Miss Black, I wondered when you would be coming in again," Said Mr. Ollivander as Eliza and Melanie walked in his store. "And this is your daughter, getting ready to go to Hogwarts?"
"It's Mrs. Slope now," Said Eliza, pleased that he recognized her all these years later. "And this is Melanie Davenport. She is one of my students and it's her first time in Diagon Alley." Melanie smiled brightly.
"Ah yes, well it is a pleasure to meet you Miss Davenport," said to Melanie. "I remember when Eliza here came in to get her wand – cherry, 11 ¾ inches, unicorn hair core? Yes I remember every wand I sell. As soon as Eliza picked up that wand she pointed it straight at me and healed a paper cut. I've never seen anything like it. Now don't you try something like that, she was very lucky that the spell even worked…" Eliza smiled as the wand maker told Wide-eyed Melanie tales about selling wands. The pair headed down one of the narrow aisles and Eliza sat down to wait.
On the table beside her chair sat the most recent issue of the daily prophet. Eliza picked it up, feeling a little nostalgic as she scanned over the front page. She frowned slightly as she read an article about Harry Potter's bizarre claims that Voldemort had returned. It seemed odd that they were accusing the boy of lunacy when the last time she had been amongst her own he was being celebrated as Voldemort's defeater.
On another page, Eliza saw a small article that mentioned her deranged cousin Sirius Black. As she recalled, he had been the cause of Lily and James Potter's deaths. Everyone in her family had been pleasantly surprised by Sirius' treason. Everyone except Eliza. She hadn't been supportive of his involvement with the Order of the Phoenix, but she despised his change of heart even more.
The sick feeling that Eliza had that morning was coming back. Something was going on and she didn't know who was telling the truth but she wanted nothing more than to hide in her cottage on Spinners End.
"They say he's back," She heard Mr. Ollivander's voice say quietly. Looking up, she saw the man giving her an intense look. "They also say he's mad," he said, waving at the picture of Harry gracing the cover. "But I don't believe it. Something is going on and the ministry is trying awfully hard to cover it up."
Eliza shivered at his words. She didn't know what to think or say, she just knew that now was not a good time to be back in the wizard world. Looking over the wand makers shoulder, she saw Melanie coming up to them beaming as she carried her new wand.
"9 ½ inches, walnut, dragon heartstring core," she announced, waving the wand slightly and giggling when blue sparks shot out the end. They paid for Melanie's wand and Eliza gave Mr. Ollivander a knowing look as they left. She had a feeling that Mr. Ollivander was right but didn't want to say the words. How terrible that Melanie was about to join the masses of young witches and wizards going to Hogwarts in just a few days and the threat of Voldemort would be hanging over their heads. Eliza wanted nothing more than to tell Melanie to stay home and hide from the dangers of magic.
Despite all of Eliza's fears the day was not completely ruined by the dreadful news. Melanie's excitement was contagious and the girls had a great deal of fun buying books, robes, and potions supplies. It wasn't until dinner at the Leaky Cauldron that Eliza heard any more murmurings about the Dark Lord. She tried her best to shut out the rumors but they were there, stuck in her mind.
That night, after returning home to her cozy cottage, Eliza had her dream again. She could see the blazing home before her and the dark mark glowed sinisterly above the flames. Waking up in a cold sweat, Eliza went downstairs hoping to seek solace in her neighbor's sleepless night too. But he was not there and as she stared at his dark house, she never felt so alone.