A broken Hogwarts

Chapter 124 The trip to Diagon Alley

The early morning in Shafiq Manor is quiet and serene. The beautiful white roses slowly opened their petals that closed at night in the morning light. Several little flower fairies that had recently moved in lazily lay in the stamens, flapping their shiny transparent wings.

Owen finished feeding his magic pigeons and rabbits, stroked the soft fur of the rabbits one by one, and then let the magic pigeons fly out, watching them fly lightly in the blue-gray sky in a line, and finally landed on the On the edge of the fountain in front of the manor.

He left the conservatory, and as soon as he entered the hall, he saw Mr. Albert in formal attire, ready to go out.

In the Shafik family, Mr. Albert manages the family property, manages affiliated forces and personal connections, maintains and expands the family's wealth and power, and Ms. Adeline also helps from time to time.Although he seems to be busy with business, he has to take care of the potion business and is a member of the Wizengamot, but he is not usually busy. Many things can be handed over to his assistants, but some social entertainment is still inevitable.

"Good morning, Dad. Going out so early?" Owen said with a smile.

"Yeah, a gathering of potion masters." Albert looked at the time and said in a relaxed tone, "They really know how to pick the time..."

Owen watched his father leave in a hurry, then walked to the study without any haste, and saw Ms. Adeline here as expected.Apart from attending some banquets and dances with her friends, she likes to stay at home and study magic most of the time, either reading in the study or doing magic experiments in her laboratory.

After saying hello to his mother, Owen scanned the books on the bookshelf and asked casually, "Mom, what happened to the snake I brought back during the Christmas holiday?"

"That blood-cursed orc?" Ms. Adeline shook her head slightly, "I've studied it for a while, and I've gained some results. But it's hard to tame, very aggressive, and it has the curse power and strength of black magic on it. The toxin in it is dangerous, so I locked it in the dungeon."

"You know, there is basically no way to lift this curse. It has completely become a beast, losing all humanity and memories of the past, although it is much smarter than ordinary animals..." She smiled slightly, calmly His dark green eyes stared at Owen gently, "It's a cunning little animal. You can deal with it according to your own will, but be careful not to be deceived by it."

Owen pinched his chin and pondered for a while: "Just close it first, I don't need it now..." He brought Nagini back just to confuse Voldemort, and he was a little interested in the blood curse, but now he doesn't With that mind and energy to study it, he still has a lot to learn.

He continued wandering around the spacious study room, which was a small library with rows of antique bookshelves full of well-maintained books.He saw a copy of "The Dark Arts: Dueling Spells" on the top shelf of a bookshelf, and tiptoed to take it down with great difficulty.

After scanning the catalog, Owen skillfully copied it into the space facing the wall, and then heard Ms. Adeline's footsteps walking slowly.He put the book back on the shelf where he could reach it, then turned to look at his mother approaching and asked, "What's the matter, Mom?"

"A letter from Hogwarts." Adeline held a yellow parchment envelope in her hand, looked at the bookshelf behind Owen calmly, and handed the letter to him.

Owen glanced at the handwriting written in green ink on the cover, leaned against the bookshelf and opened the envelope.The letter informed him to take the Hogwarts Express train from King's Cross Station to school on September [-], and also listed a list of new books to be used this year, such as "Standard Spells, Level [-]" and "Dark Magic". Fundamentals of Defense.

Owen raised his eyebrows. What about Gilderoy Lockhart's book?Isn't he the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor this year?That's right, under his butterfly effect, the current situation is basically in chaos, and no one can tell what will happen in the future.

He put away the envelope indifferently, and then heard Adeline say, "Are you planning to go to Diagon Alley to buy books today?"

"Is there anything I need to bring?" Owen asked.

"No." Adeline said, "Today, a well-known author is holding a new book signing at Lihen Bookstore, and it will be very chaotic."

"Gideroy Lockhart?" Owen looked thoughtful.

"It seems to be called this name." Adeline said not too concerned, "He has a great reputation, especially welcomed by many witches. However, the books he wrote are not very rigorous, and they are somewhat interesting fantasy stories."

The implication is that Owen can read his book, but just read it as a story, and don't take it as a truth to learn.

"I see." Owen nodded.

Adeline watched his eyes quietly, then raised her hand to stroke his hair suddenly, and said softly in a slightly hoarse voice: "It's best not to touch black magic before the fourth grade." After she finished speaking, she walked from behind Owen He took out the book he had taken earlier from the bookshelf and put it back in its original place.

"I know." Owen smiled helplessly.

Adeline glanced at him with those beautiful and deep eyes, and the corners of her mouth curled down slightly, feeling a little headache.She understood that Owen had always had his own opinions, and once he decided on something, it would be difficult for her to stop it, and now he seemed to be interested in black magic.

She doesn't mind Owen touching the field, but not right now.Although its influence on people is not obvious when the field of black magic is not deeply involved, but for immature children, they lack mature judgment and self-control, and are easily seduced by the characteristics of black magic , taking it as a shortcut to become stronger and getting deeper and deeper, and finally unable to extricate himself.

"Let's make an agreement, Owen." She thought about it, and then said slowly, "First learn the Patronus Charm, and then you can get in touch with this field."

"Huh?" Owen looked up at her in a daze.

"The Patronus Charm is a widely spread white magic, and it is closely related to the mind and self. Many wizards believe that the Patronus can protect the wizard's mind from being invaded by darkness, although there is no evidence to prove this statement." Adeline took a book from the shelf on the other side, "But I found that it is indeed useful in this regard. Although it is not that effective, it can at least serve as a wake-up call."

Owen took the book from her hand with some confusion, nodded obediently and said, "Okay, Mom."

After talking for a while, he bid farewell to his mother, walked out of the study quickly, and the smile on his face gradually faded.He glanced at the book in his hand with a deep expression, and said with a slightly joking tone: "Patron saint..."

However, for him now, the Black Demon Guardian is indeed his patron saint.It couldn't protect his heart, and even dragged him deeper and deeper into the dark realm, but it could guard his life, and even help him kill.

Owen raised the corner of his mouth slightly, and put away the book in his hand.He hugged Melet, who was sleeping late, and rubbed her for a while in the living room, and precisely pinched the critical point of the little guy's anger, leading her into the fireplace, and came to the garden villa in London.

Nearly two weeks had passed since Harry's birthday. During this time, a group of young wizards used this place as a party base, often bringing snacks or gadgets bought during travel.It's just that this is the Muggle living area, and they play in the house most of the time.

"Hi, Owen, how are you?" Harry was already waiting here, looking at him eagerly.

"Each bottle of this potion can only shield Zongsi for seven days, remember the time." Owen threw several bottles of potion to him.

Harry caught it in a hurry, and couldn't wait to run out to deal with the traces on him that he hated so much, and he still didn't forget to say loudly: "Thanks, Owen!" Anyway, he owed Owen enough, not bad He owed a little, and he kept it in his heart.

"I'm going to Diagon Alley, do you want to go with me?" Owen asked casually as he was about to leave through the fireplace.

"Wait for me!" Harry yelled.He hastily dealt with the traces on his body, waved his wand nervously, and then ran back with some money in a hurry.

"Um... Floo powder?" Although Harry had seen his friends come and go from the fireplace many times, it was the first time Harry had used it.These days he obediently stayed in the house to do his homework, enjoying what could truly be called a vacation, and didn't go out to wander around.

"Yes, you have to clearly state your destination, and pay attention to the soot. Close your eyes, clamp your arms tightly, and don't move around..." Owen briefly said the precautions, and then watched the other party sprinkle the smoke into the fireplace A handful of floo powder entered the rising flames, and then coughed violently in the fire and shouted out the destination.

"Okay, you must speak clearly..." Owen also grabbed a handful of Floo powder and walked into the fireplace, closed his eyes and recalled the words Harry just yelled out, and spit out words that were exactly the same as what the other party said.Since he agreed to be a companion, he didn't mean to lose him... He shouldn't have asked that question just now...

The body quickly arrived at the destination while spinning rapidly. Owen stepped out of the furnace door, and saw Harry getting up from the ground covered in soot, dazedly holding up the broken glasses and carefully observing the surroundings.This is clearly not Diagon Alley.

"I don't quite understand, how did you call Diagon Alley Knockturn Alley?" Owen swung his wand to sweep away the ashes on his body, and looked at the surrounding merchandise with his shoulders crossed: a withered human hand, a stack of Blood-stained playing cards, a dull glass eyeball, several hideous masks, and all kinds of human bones and instruments of torture.

His eyes stayed on the deck of cards, and he looked at the introduction with some interest: Lucky cards, which can make the owner win every bet.

After hearing Owen's voice, Harry turned around in surprise and joy: "Owen, why are you here? This is not Diagon Alley!"

"I followed you." Owen didn't take his eyes off the stack of cards.

He must have heard the whispered conversation between the two. A hunchbacked man appeared behind the counter, stroking his shiny hair back with his hands, and showed a clear expression after seeing the appearance of the two.Then, with a cunning and polite smile on his face, he said in a joking tone: "Welcome, two little wizards who walked through the wrong furnace door. How do you plan to compensate me for messing up my shop?"

Harry looked at him with some embarrassment, and pulled Owen back a step vigilantly.This place doesn't look right in any way.

Owen glanced at the dirty and blackened floor and the dusty windows and counters, and said with a slight smile, "If you think of it as 'dirty', Mr. Borgin."

"Excuse me, are you..." Bojin's cunning expression became a little more serious. After reading countless people, he could naturally see that Owen was not a man to handle.

"Owen Shafik." Owen said his name softly with the same polite smile on his face.

"Ah, you are the young master of the Shafiq family. It's a pleasure to meet you." Bojin said in a slippery tone.He stopped paying attention to Harry, who was very embarrassed, and seemed to mistake him for Owen's follower. "Want to buy something?"

Owen smiled, and looked at the stack of cards on the side again: "It can really make people win every bet?"

"Of course, I never deceive customers." The smile on Borgin's face deepened.

"I don't believe it." Owen said with a smile, "Unless you can beat me with it. Ah, I am very confident in my own ability."

Borgin grinned, and said regretfully, "Well, I don't know how to use it. Although it can bring you good luck, it can also bring you disaster." He added slickly: "I didn't deceive the guests, I just didn't tell the whole story."

"You are an excellent businessman, Mr. Bokin." Owen's expression did not change at all, but he said in a soft tone, "Can you tell me about this mask?"

Eventually, Owen walked out of the store after Borgin bowed and smiled, toying with a black grimace mask.According to Bo Jin, this "fool's mask" can cover a person's face, height, body shape and smell, and is a good helper for robbers.It is classified as a dark magic item because of its brutal crafting process that is not known to outsiders.

Harry just glanced at the mask in Owen's hand, and didn't express any opinion. In fact, he also felt that the mask was quite useful, although it looked a little scary, and its origin seemed to be very questionable.He looked around the environment, repaired his spectacle lenses with a spell, cleaned up the ashes on his body, and followed Owen through the complicated and winding alleys.

"Owen, are you familiar with this place?" He stuffed his wand back into his pocket.

"It's okay." Owen said, "Hold your wand and be vigilant. You must never put down your weapon in Knockturn Alley. This is a paradise for dark wizards."

Seeing Harry pinching his wand nervously, Owen nodded, and then said with a sly smile, "Go straight along that path and you'll be able to get out. Come on, I'm optimistic about you." After finishing speaking, he gave I chanted an illusion mantra, and my figure disappeared instantly.

"Owen?" Harry panicked.

"No way, I'm not very familiar with the Disillusionment Curse, so I can only use it on myself." Owen's lazy voice came from one side.

Harry breathed a sigh of relief, then scowled again.There are many ragged wizards staring at him in the dark doorway on the street, even the strangely dressed passers-by seem to have bad intentions, and a few scary old witches at the roadside stalls are full of greed. Looking at him, everything is creepy.

He summoned up his courage and strode forward with a generous expression on his face.In a place like Knockturn Alley, such a little wizard is like a fat and cute little sheep, attracting many malicious eyes.

Owen followed behind Harry invisibly, watching with great interest as he used the Disarming Curse to knock away the wand of an old witch who was entangled with him, but was tightly grabbed by the wrist by the opponent, so he could only use the Body Binding Curse dangerously. broke free.Then, Harry frantically knocked out a guy who rushed out of the doorway trying to snatch his wand, and then ran as fast as a rabbit under the chase of a group of "fanatic fans", and escaped the overturned in the chaos lane.

"Good job." Owen showed his figure and said lightly, ignoring Harry's extremely resentful gaze.

"It's Diagon Alley," he said.

The two strolled along the cobbled road, and Harry forgot the thrill just now, dazzled by the colorful snacks, and quickly filled his hands with ice cream and candies.Owen drank a glass of iced lemonade, thinking about his own affairs, but after a moment of distraction, he realized that Harry was gone.

When he found Harry outside the window of the broomstick store with a dark face, he was with a group of little wizards surrounding the store, staring longingly at the shiny golden broomstick 2001 in the store, with ice cream in his hand All melted.

"Buy a broom?" Owen said quietly.How old is he, he can get lost in a blink of an eye... As expected, traveling together is not suitable for him, he has a sense of sight with children.

"I don't know, maybe I can't afford it?" Harry touched the gold coins in his pocket.

Owen glanced at him, obviously this guy has no concept of his wealth.According to his speculation, although Harry's inheritance was not as good as that of a pure-blooded family like the Shafik family that controlled the business of magic products, it was definitely considered a rich man.

"It's not expensive, you can go to withdraw the money first." Owen went into the store to pick out a Nimbus 2001, and said after checking out.Harry hesitated for a moment, but finally couldn't resist the temptation of the broomstick, temporarily separated from Owen, and ran to Gringotts to withdraw money.

Owen watched him go away with a smile and waved his hands, then came to Lihen Bookstore with ease, and saw a large group of people crowded outside the store.A banner was drawn in front of the upstairs window reading: Gilderoy Lockhart signed for sale autobiography "I Can Be Magic".

The bookstore was crowded with witches of all sizes, their eyes were shining brightly and they surrounded the door tightly, and the wizard who maintained order shouted hoarsely.

Owen didn't like the crowded environment, so he sat down on a bench near the bookstore, intending to wait for the crowd to disperse before going in, and saw the Weasley family with fiery red hair on the way.The short and fat woman who should be Mrs. Weasley broke out a powerful fighting force, hurriedly led her family into the bookstore, let them go in to buy other books, and held a copy of "I Can Magically" with a look on her face. Expectantly lined up.

While Owen was waiting drowsily, Harry came to find him with a broomstick in his arms.He fondled his broom fondly, with a contented expression on his face.

"Going to buy books?" He reluctantly stuffed his broomstick into Owen's small bag that had been cast with a traceless stretching spell, and then looked at the crowded bookstore.

"Go ahead, I'm still one book away." Owen said with a sigh.It seems that this signing will not end for a while.

With great difficulty, the two squeezed into the bookstore through the gap between the crowd, and they were quickly submerged in the crowd due to their small stature.

In the bookstore, Lockhart sat in the most conspicuous position wearing a bright blue robe, surrounded by large photos of himself.He quickly signed his name, blinked at the big camera on the side from time to time, and smiled showing his dazzling white teeth.

"If I didn't know that this was a signing event, I would have thought he was filming a toothpaste advertisement." Harry couldn't help muttering in a low voice.

(End of this chapter)