Chapter 2 - The Slumbering Alley
London was shrouded in an atmosphere of tension as the afternoon progressed. The streets, usually bustling, carried an air of unease, with heavy clouds overhead threatening to rain. A cold wind swept through the alleys, lifting dry leaves and small debris. Few passersby, both Muggles and hurried wizards, walked briskly, sensing the growing urgency in the air.
Inside the Leaky Cauldron, the contrast was stark. The normally welcoming pub was filled with witches and wizards murmuring nervously. Every table was occupied, and the noise of whispered conversations mixed with the clinking of glasses and the occasional sound of chairs being dragged. The soft lighting from candles cast shadows on the stone walls, enhancing the sense of tension.
Ron Weasley was seated near the entrance, chewing gum impatiently. His eyes frequently darted to the door. He shifted constantly in his chair, his restlessness visible in every gesture. The other patrons, equally tense, cast furtive glances toward Ron, curious and concerned.
The bartender, with a serious expression, continued to clean glasses and take orders with mechanical efficiency, trying to maintain normalcy amidst the charged atmosphere. The distant sound of London traffic and the continuous murmur of the city outside only reinforced the feeling that something significant was about to happen. The usually cozy atmosphere was now imbued with anxious anticipation, making it clear that the fragile peace could be shattered at any moment. The air was filled with the familiar scent of butterbeer and beef stew, but there was a noticeable unrest among the patrons. Worried glances were exchanged as everyone seemed to try to understand what was happening in Diagon Alley.
A middle-aged witch, her face marked by worry, approached Ron. "Mr. Weasley, you're an Auror, aren't you? Can I come with you? My two daughters were in Diagon Alley when it happened, I need to see them" said the woman.
Ron took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but for now only authorized personnel can enter. But I've heard that everyone is okay, just sleeping."
The woman seemed relieved, yet worry still lingered in her eyes. "Thank you, Auror Weasley. Please, find my girls."
Ron nodded, trying to convey a confidence he didn't fully feel. He knew time was crucial and that the situation in Diagon Alley needed to be resolved as quickly as possible.
As the woman stepped away, the door to the Leaky Cauldron creaked open, and Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody entered, his magical eyes spinning as he surveyed the scene. His presence immediately silenced some of the murmurs in the bar, and he made his way straight to Ron, his expression serious and determined.
"Come on, Weasley. We don't have time to waste. Diagon Alley awaits" said Moody.
With a nod, Ron followed Moody, his heart racing as they prepared to face the mystery that awaited them.
Ron followed Moody to the wall with the secret passage to Diagon Alley. The passage was open, and two Aurors stood guard.
"All the fireplaces are temporarily inaccessible throughout Diagon Alley, and no one is managing to apparate within the perimeter either" Ron reported, keeping pace with Moody.
Moody, moving quickly, asked, "Have you gone in?"
"I took a quick look, but I preferred to wait for you, sir" Ron replied. "Apparently, everyone is sleeping and can't be woken up without magic. They've also used magical energy tracing to check where such a powerful spell came from."
Moody stopped abruptly and turned to Ron. "And?"
Ron took a deep breath before answering. "Apparently, from nowhere, sir. All the magical energy seems to have been drained from Diagon Alley."
Moody furrowed his brow, clearly intrigued. "Drained? This is much worse than I thought. We need to find the source of this and fast. Let's go."
With a nod, Ron followed Moody through Diagon Alley. The sight was bleak: witches and wizards lay on the ground, sprawled on the cobblestones, all immersed in a deep sleep. A floral scent filled the air, making the atmosphere even more disconcerting.
Moody stopped and looked around, spinning 360 degrees to observe the impressive scene. He then turned to Ron. "Has anyone noticed the pattern?" said Moody.
"What pattern, sir?" asked Ron, confused.
Moody pointed to a woman lying on the ground. "By the position they're in, they all knelt before they fell asleep."
Ron looked closer and realized Moody was right. All the wizards on the ground seemed to have knelt before succumbing to deep sleep, their postures suggesting a sudden and collective surrender.
"Why would everyone kneel before passing out? It doesn't make sense" asked Ron.
Moody shook his head, fearfully. "I don't know yet, Weasley, but it looks like we have another dark worshipper wanting to show his power."
As they observed the scene, a young Auror approached them, clutching a gadget with a glowing crystal. Bruna Nichols, who appeared to have recently left school, approached with an air of urgency. Her brown skin glowed under the dim street lights, and her straight, jet-black hair fell loosely to her waist, swaying as she moved.
"Mr. Moody" she called.
Moody tried to hide a sigh of exasperation. "I don't have time, Nichols. We'll talk later."
"It's important, sir," she insisted. "I made some modifications to this device, it can now indicate the amount of magical energy used."
Moody, still walking fast, said, "And apparently no magic was used, right?"
She smiled, excited. "More than that, sir. This device can detect negative magical energy. I stumbled upon this function by accident and decided to keep it. It turns out that that shop," she pointed to Crystal Eye, "is filled with an absurdly negative amount of magic, comparable to a Muggle traffic jam at the end of the day. Which is highly unusual for a shop that sells magical items."
Moody stopped, intrigued, but clearly trying to dismiss her. "Great work, Nichols. Wesley and I will enter the shop. Nichols, take this device to the Auror on the outer perimeter of Diagon Alley now. We need to find any traces of drained magic and figure out where the attacker fled."
She sighed and said, "I had suggested that, sir, but he told me to go around waking up the affected."
Moody cursed under his breath, took the machine reluctantly from Nichols, and said, "Let me talk to him."
Turning to Ron, he commanded with a resolute expression. "Weasley, enter the shop. We can't waste time. And take Nichols with you, every precaution is necessary."
Walking side by side toward the shop, Nichols nervously clasped her hands and looked up at Ron with a glint of admiration in her eyes. "Mr. Weasley" she began, her voice laden with respect and a hint of nervousness, "I just wanted to say that I am a great admirer of all your work against... He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Having the opportunity to work alongside you is a great achievement for me."
"Thank you, Nichols" Ron smiled, slightly embarrassed by the sincere admiration.
Together, they proceeded towards the shop, crossing a grim scene: wizards and witches lay all around, asleep from the mysterious spell that had swept the area. Hurried mediwizards moved among them, trying to reverse the effects with their wands.
The path was silent, except for the murmurs of those waking up confused and the commands of the mediwizards. When they reached the shop door, Ron and Nichols stopped, wands in hands, exchanging a look of determination. They were ready to face whatever lay behind that entrance, prepared for any surprises the night still held for them.