Hi guys and gals. Just thought I should put up a chapter, since...you know...Sharie did! Lol. Hope ya'll like it and tell me what you think. Your comments on my stories are like...well, I love them like I love my wine! I hope everyone is doing well.

Chapter Twenty-six
"Welcome...to Diagon Alley"

At the back of the Leaky Cauldron, Buffy followed Professor Dumbledore out into a chilly courtyard, then toward a wall, where the seemingly crazy man had stopped to examine the bricks over a trash can. After they were all standing there ready and waiting, he tapped three times with the tip of his wand. The brick he touched quivered and wiggled until, in its center, a small hole appeared, growing wider and wider, until a second later they were facing an archway large enough for them all to walk through. It led out onto a cobbled street which twisted and turned out of sight.

"Welcome," said Albus Dumbledore, "to Diagon Alley."

Peering around Dumbledore, Buffy exclaimed, "Jeepers! There's like...a whole separate town back here!"

Everyone chuckled—including Tom. "It is a whole separate town," said Buffy's friend.

Buffy glanced back at the courtyard they'd just come out of and the building that was the Leaky Cauldron. When they'd been standing in front of the pub on Charing Cross Road, it had appeared to be just a small structure, but now that she was looking back at it, she could see that it was several stories tall. Looks were definitely deceiving!

From where she was now, Diagon Alley seemed to go on for as far as her eyes could see, but she knew that the streets on the other side of the Leaky Cauldron—the Muggle streets—were regular-sized blocks. She walked around out there. They were very close to St Giles in the Fields!

"How does all this fit in here?" she asked, turning to the purple-clad man beside her.

Dumbledore's blue eyes twinkled with mirth. It was a rare occasion that he got to see such delight and wonder over the things witches and wizards took for granted. Buffy was a breath of fresh air.

"With magic we are able to create what we call wizard space, which extends what exists naturally into more. The area of Diagon Alley and its surrounding streets and alleys and shops are located on unplottable land, meaning that they are magically hidden in plain sight to keep our existence a secret."

Buffy's eyes widened. "Wow! I could use some of that at home! My closet isn't even close to big enough for all my outfits and shoes."

"You must have a lot of clothing," Dumbledore said, sliding a glance toward the orphan boy at Buffy's side. "You are very lucky."

Buffy glanced at Tom and blushed. "I am. My mother...she often compensates lack of time at home with...things," she said quietly, realizing that not only did she have so much more than she needed, but she also had a mother to give it to her—which was something that kids like Tom didn't have. Frowning, Buffy looked down.

"Golly!" Vin and Sophie burst in unison—as a distraction. "This is just..." Both let their words trail off as they looked around in amazement.

"Something few Muggles are given the opportunity to see," said Dumbledore, smiling at the two women. "Of course, as Buffy's guardians, you'll both have access when necessary."

Sophie grinned and clapped her hands.

"No ration coupons here?" Vin asked.

Dumbledore shook his eyes. "No. If you have the Galleons, then you can spend them."

Sophie gasped and turned toward her sister. "We must find a dress shop!"

Vin nodded. "Agreed."

Tom smiled at their surprise and delight and Dumbledore motioned them to forward, saying, "Come now."

Behind them, the archway shrunk and the wall repaired itself. In just seconds, all they saw was a solid brick wall again. Buffy quickly went over to it and laid her hand flat upon it. It was quite solid. "I need to learn how to do that!" she said.

Dumbledore laughed. "You will, Miss Summers, you will. By the end of today, you'll have the means to come and go from Diagon Alley as you please. Now, we'll start at Gringotts, the wizarding bank," the man said, beckoning them to follow as he started meandering through the crowded, cobbled street. "And then we'll work our way back, stopping in the shops we need to visit to get Buffy's supplies. I don't think there's a need to buy everything today, if you don't mind returning just before term begins."

"What?! No!" Buffy burst. "I think we should buy everything today. You know, so I can start practicing whatever it is I need to know. Like...everything! You know how far behind I am, Professor."

Dumbledore chortled at her enthusiasm. It was good to see after she'd balked at studying. "Don't worry, Miss Summers, we'll get everything you need at the moment and you can return later when you're ready for more. No sense in buying things you don't need yet."

Buffy huffed. "Okay. I suppose that's true," she said, somewhat disappointed—then looked at Vin and Sophie and grinned. "We can come back every week if we need or want to."

Sophie nodded. "That sounds delightful," she said, her eyes wide as they passed the shops. She wouldn't mind coming back here everyday. It would be a lovely change of pace in their ordinarily monotonous days.

The first shop they passed had cauldrons stacked everywhere. So many of them in all shapes and sizes—and colors and metals—piled so high that they wondered if anyone could even get the top ones down.

"We can save buying her cauldron for later," Dumbledore said with a wave as they passed. "Cauldrons are heavy and you won't be brewing just yet."

Buffy's eyes widened. "Brewing? As in...potions?"

Tom snorted—but Dumbledore nodded. "Of course."

Buffy's nose bunched up. "What kinds of potions? I'm not the best cook. I have trouble with a little of this and a little of that."

Tom shook his head. "No. Potions are more precise. You must be exact."

Buffy grinned. "So...more like baking. My pancakes are the bomb."

Sophie frowned. "Pancakes aren't really baking though."

Buffy snorted. "Yes, they so are!" she said. "They don't go into the oven to bake, but...you can't just wing it with pancakes. They require meticulous measuring. Sometimes me and mom add chocolate chips. Yummy sweetness in a cake-like substance equals baking." She nodded.

Tom snorted.

"You question my expertise?" Buffy asked.

Tom shook his head. "I wouldn't know."

Buffy nodded. "Trust me. I do know." She frowned and looked back at the heap of colorful cauldrons at Potage's. "Which is the best?"

Tom shrugged. "It depends what you're brewing, I suppose," he said. "There's gold and silver, which are shiny when they're new, but gold is very soft and not always sufficient. A simple Knockback Jinx can cause a collapse. And silver is necessary for certain potions. Like a Grand Wiggenweld Potion, which is a healing potion. But not always needed. There's pewter and brass and copper as well. Copper is the most expensive, but pewter is all that's required and will suffice for most potions."

Buffy nodded. "Good to know."

Tom glanced at the secondhand robes shop as they passed and wondered if he'd find anything decent in there this year. He grown some and definitely needed a new set of robes before start of term or he'd look ridiculous. Problem was that he should wait until closer to term—just in case he grew some more—but that also meant that more students would be looking then. What if he missed out on something good because he waited. But if he went today, then Buffy would see him picking through other wizards' castoffs.

"Oh look, Vin!" Sophie exclaimed, pointing at Rosa Lee Teabag. "They have a tea shop!"

Vin nodded. "We should stop for tea on the way back," she said.

As they maneuvered through the crowd, Buffy's eyes went from shop to shop. They all looked a bit wibbly wobbly to her, like they could topple over at any moment, but she supposed that they were probably sturdy enough—given that one shop's sign said it was established in 1654. Was there even a building at home that was that old?

"Flourish and Blotts," she said as she walked.

"It's a bookstore," Tom said. "You'll probably buy your school books from there."

Buffy nodded, then looked at him and frowned. "Don't you get your books there?" she asked.

Looking embarrassed, he shook his head. "No. Mine usually come from the secondhand shop." He gestured behind them, causing Buffy to look back.

"Oh. I love used books," she said. "Sometimes they have little notes written in the margins that are super helpful. Though, Giles always rants about people writing in books. 'It's sacrilegious to desecrate published works!' he says."

Tom smiled at the imitation of her Watcher—and because she was clearly attempting to ease his discomfiture. "Sounds like he'd get along well with our librarian at Hogwarts."

Buffy snorted. "Librarians are very fussy about the books!" she said. "You should see some of Giles' books. Very old. Many of them not even in English."

They were almost to a cross street when a tiny woman, her hair sticking up every which way, hurried up to them, then went up onto her tiptoes and peered into Buffy's eyes. "Young lady, you're injured," she said. "If you'll just step into my shop, we'll get you fixed up. Free of charge, of course."

Frowning, Buffy took a step back and looked around for Vin and Sophie. They were currently standing at the window of the next shop with Professor Dumbledore. The wizard was pointing at something in the window and both Vin and Sophie were nodding.

"Um. Thank you, but I'm fine," she told the woman.

"But you're not!" the woman exclaimed, moving back into Buffy's space and pointing at her eyes. "Your eyes are green and...I can see injuries all over you."

Buffy snorted. "My eyes are always green," she said, looking down at the woman as she stepped back and pulled out her wand. "Hey! What are you doing with that?!"

"I'll run some tests," the little witch said. "As I said, free of charge."

Taking Buffy's elbow, Tom put himself between his friend and the witch from the Healer Shop. "She's quite healthy, thank you," he said sternly. "We don't need your services today."

The witch tsked at him, then put her wand away and studied Buffy further. She even reached up and touched Buffy's forehead—where the recent cut had been. "My dear, I can see that you're in need of healing. Won't you let me help you?"

Buffy shook her head. "No, I'm good thanks," she said, allowing Tom to pull her away from the odd, rather intrusive woman. She looked around her as they went. "Is everyone here that peculiar? I mean... hello, personal space totally breached here!"

Still holding Buffy's arm, Tom looked down at her. "Witches and wizards can be quite...eccentric, I've learned."

"You're telling me," Buffy said, her eyes going to a sign at the cross street. "Horizont Alley," she said. "Hah! Horizonally! Hey, I get it! Diagonally! Is there a Vertically too?"

Tom laughed. "There is, actually. Just 'round there," he said, pointing off to their right.

Buffy glanced that way, then her attention was pulled another way—to a window full of brooms. "A whole shop with brooms? Does the wizarding community do a lot of sweeping? Hoover could make a killing over here! Who needs that many brooms anyway?" she queried, her eyes going to the signage above the shop. "What's... Quidditch?"

"A game played on brooms," Tom responded. "Or rather, a sport. It's very popular at Hogwarts. Each House has its own team."

Buffy frowned. "Do you play?"

Tom shook his head. Not only was he not interested, but Slytherin's team was rather exclusive. The boys who played didn't even let one try out for the team unless you were in their circle—which he was not.

"This is where you'll find your wand," Tom said with a gesture at the next storefront. "There's another wand shop in Carkitt Market, but most people use Ollivanders. He's considered the best by most."

"But not by you?" she asked.

Tom shrugged. "I like my wand," he said.

Buffy looked at the peeling gold letters over the door of the shop. It read, Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C.

"Hmm. Old place," she remarked, her gaze going to the dusty window that displayed a solitary wand, which was lying on a faded purple cushion. "Not very attractive, is it?" she added, her nose wrinkling. "Someone really ought to dust in there and clean the window."

Tom smirked—then nodded down the street. "Everything is old here," he said. "There's Gringotts."

Buffy turned and stared at the imposing snow-white multistoried marble building. Talking about appearances! It towered over the neighboring shops, but how it remained upright was questionable. She'd thought the shops looked ready to topple, but Gringotts...there was nothing stable-looking about it! But it was spectacular the way the sun glinted off the tall columns in front.

"Looks totally cattywampus to me," she commented, her head cocked to the side. "I mean, who constructed the buildings here? They're all like...inverted trapezoids on top of parallelograms. With all...diagonal lines and tippy sides.

Tom frowned, his head tipping to match the angle of Buffy's. "Well, we are in Diagon Alley."

Buffy looked at the dark-haired boy and nodded. "This is true. I just wonder how everything remains standing."

"Magic, I would guess."

"Oh! Look at the little...men?" Sophie exclaimed in front of them.

As they approached, Buffy leaned into Tom and whispered, "What are those things?" she asked, as she eyed the pale uniformed humanoid creatures on either side of the huge bronze doors.

"Goblins. The bank is run by them," Tom explained.

Buffy wrinkled her nose. "Goblins? They look...angry. Why are they scowling? Are they demons?"

Tom barked out a laugh—which drew Dumbledore's attention. "No, not demons and you can't slay them."

Buffy harrumphed. "What good is a slayer that isn't allowed to slay?"

Tom smirked. "Goblins are very serious creatures," Tom said. "And extremely distrustful of witches and wizards."

Buffy glanced at the two red-clad goblin guards. "Well, I don't trust them either," she said with a shake of her head as they started up the steps. "Um. Is it necessary for all of us to go inside," she asked. "I mean, could Tom and I wait out here?"

Vin and Sophie turned toward Dumbledore, who looked at the two teenagers. "No. It's not essential for all of us to enter. If you two wish to wait outside, we'll go in and take care of business." Dumbledore paused, then reached into a pocket. "Here's a few coins to spend," he said, handing Tom a small pouch.

Tom's eyes widened. "Thank you, Sir."

Grinning, Buffy took Tom's free hand, glanced at the goblins again, then tugged her friend toward the steps. "Okay. Bye-bye then."

"Stay close by, you two," Sophie called out. "We won't be too long. Maybe half an hour."

Vin leaned over and whispered something to her sister, which caused Sophie to nod and whisper back. The sisters then looked up at Albus Dumbledore, who added his nod to theirs.

"Perhaps closer to an hour," the wizard said. "We'll trust you both to behave yourselves."

Stopping at the top of the steps, Buffy turned and nodded vigorously—then turned green eyes on Tom. "Of course, Sir," he said.

Grinning, Buffy squeezed Tom's hand and yanked him down the steps. At the bottom, Buffy faced Tom and pretended to chat with him—until she was sure the adults were inside Gringotts and no longer watching.

"Gawd. Is Dumbles like...the most suspicious wizard ever?"

Tom chuckled. "Of me, yes he is," he said—then paused for a moment and looked into Buffy's eyes. "I've told you, I've given people—"

"Reasons," Buffy finished for him. "Yes, I know. You've said. Maybe someday you'll explain yourself."

Tom glanced away. He wasn't about to tell Buffy of his dark thoughts. He was certain she'd turn her back on him if he did.

She harrumphed. "Or not," she said sarcastically when he didn't respond. "Anyway, I've given him zero reasons mistrust me."

Tom shrugged. "You're friendly with me...isn't that reason enough?"

She huffed. "No. I've a mind to give him a reason to not trust me," said Buffy. "Because, you know, if I'm gonna do the time, I might as well have done the crime."

Frowning, Tom said, "I'm not sure you have that in the correct order."

Buffy ignored him. "So. What's down there?" she asked instead, pointing toward an archway that led to a narrow alley off Diagon.

Tom glanced over her shoulder and narrowed his eyes. "What makes you think I know what's in Knockturn Alley?"

Buffy cocked her head. "Just a hunch."

Tom leveled a look at the girl—causing Buffy to sigh. "You keep telling me you're naughty, so you must know about the shady places." She shrugged. "And that alley...looks shady. Literally, at least." She laughed.

"To be honest, I haven't been down there," he said, his eyes going to the dark alley. "I don't make many trips to Diagon. Usually it is just to buy my supplies, then I leave straight away." He didn't mention that there was no reason for him to be here when he hadn't any money to spend.

"But I bet you've heard, yeah?" the blonde pushed.

Tom gave her a clipped nod. "Yes," he said reluctantly. I have Housemates who've spoke of it."

Buffy grinned. "Let's...check it out," she said, starting in that direction.

Tom grabbed her hand to stop her. "Buffy, Knockturn's a seedy place," he said. "It can be dangerous, I've heard."

Buffy grinned. "I'm not afraid of little danger, Tom. As you well know."

Tom sighed. "All right. But don't say I didn't warn you."

Buffy just rolled her eyes. "Come on."