Hogwarts: Novel Era of the Wizarding World

The next morning, Adam stood in front of Hermione's house, hands tucked into his jacket pockets as a crisp breeze blew through the street. George sat behind the wheel of their car, his fingers drumming the steering wheel as he watched Adam knock on the door. A moment later, the door swung open, and Hermione stepped out, a bright smile on her face, her parents standing behind her.

"Be careful, love," Mrs. Granger said, giving Hermione a quick hug. "And don't forget to call if anything comes up."

"We'll be fine," Adam reassured them, glancing back at George in the car. "My dad's with us."

The drive was quiet at first, George's curiosity slowly building as they left the familiar streets behind. His eyes flicked between the road and the rearview mirror, where Adam and Hermione were whispering excitedly.

"So," George finally said, breaking the silence. "Diagon Alley. What's it like? I've only heard bits from you, Adam."

"It's... hard to describe," Adam replied, leaning forward a bit. "It's like stepping into another time. The buildings, the shops, everything feels different. Old. Magical. Wizards have their own way of life, their own culture."

"And it's mostly safe, right?" George asked, glancing between the two kids. "I mean, considering... you know, magic."

"Mostly," Adam repeated. "There are just certain places, certain people, you'd want to avoid."

As they neared the address Professor Flitwick had given them, Hermione's excitement grew. "Last time, I didn't get to see much. I'm looking forward to seeing everything properly."

Adam chuckled, sharing her excitement, but also keeping his mind on what was ahead. "You'll love it, once we get inside."

When they arrived near the Leaky Cauldron, the air around them seemed to shift. The streets bustled with regular Londoners going about their business, completely unaware of the magic hidden in plain sight. Adam pointed ahead. "There. The Leaky Cauldron."

George squinted through the windshield. "Where?"

"That place," Adam said, pointing directly at the pub's entrance.

George stared. "That old, run-down shop? You're joking, right?"

Adam exchanged a glance with Hermione before shaking his head. "It's not run-down. It's a magical pub. You just can't see it because... well, you're a muggle."

George looked puzzled. "So, to me, it's an abandoned shop?"

"Exactly," Hermione said. She had also read about the magic used on the wizarding world spots. "But don't worry. Once you're inside, it'll look normal."

George parked the car and got out, his eyes still trying to make sense of the invisible barrier separating him from the magical world. As soon as they stepped inside the Leaky Cauldron, the atmosphere changed completely.

The interior of the pub was dimly lit, the wooden floor creaking underfoot. Old-fashioned lanterns hung from the low ceiling, casting flickering shadows across the stone walls. Wizards and witches in long robes sat at tables, sipping from tankards and discussing their daily lives in hushed tones. A faint scent of herbs and pipe smoke lingered in the air. George's eyes widened in surprise.

"Well, I'll be..." he muttered, looking around. "It really is a different world in here."

Adam smiled at his dad's reaction. "Told you."

As they made their way toward the back of the pub, Adam spotted Tom, the innkeeper, bustling about behind the counter. The grizzled old man, with his bald head and toothy grin, noticed them and walked over. "Ah, back again, are we?" Tom said, his voice carrying a friendly rasp. "The boy with Filius and the girl who got herself a bit lost last time, eh?"

Adam chuckled and introduced them properly. "Yeah, that's us. I'm Adam Taylor, This is Hermione Granger, and this is my dad, George Taylor."

Tom's cheerful expression faltered slightly when he shook George's hand, his gaze sharp as he sized up the muggle. "Ah, so you're a muggle then?" He glanced at Adam. "You two heading to Diagon Alley?"

Adam nodded. "We are. Just going to pick up some books and maybe look around a bit."

Tom's smile thinned. "You might want to rethink that with your father coming along. Diagon Alley's mostly safe for young wizards, but for muggles, it can be... a bit tricky. Especially today."

George, sensing something off, frowned. "What do you mean by tricky?"

Tom leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "Certain families—you'll know them when you see them—don't take too kindly to muggles wandering about. They're old-fashioned, if you catch my drift. Today's a busy day for Hogwarts supplies, and a lot of them are out with their children. Pure-blood families, if you will."

Hermione stiffened slightly at the mention of pure-bloods, she had read about them quite a bit in the various books and magazines she had previously bought. Adam felt his heart sink a little. He knew exactly who Tom was talking about—the likes of the Malfoys.

"But it's safe for wizards?" George asked, clearly growing more concerned.

Tom gave a small nod. "Safe enough. As long as you keep to yourselves and avoid any unnecessary attention, you should be fine. But with your father here... well, let's just say there are folks who aren't as welcoming as they should be."

George's frown deepened, his protective instincts kicking in. "And what about you two? If it's dangerous for me, I don't want you wandering around on your own either."

Adam exchanged a glance with Hermione. He didn't want to go back now, not after coming this far. "Dad, we'll be fine. We'll steer clear of any troublemakers, avoid anyone who looks suspicious. We're just here to look for some books and maybe find a place to practice magic. We'll be quick."

Hermione nodded eagerly beside him. "We'll keep to the main streets. Nothing to worry about."

George looked from Adam to Hermione, his concern clear in his eyes. "Are you sure? You know I don't like this idea, especially after what Tom's said."

"We'll be careful," Adam promised, his voice steady. "If anything seems off, we'll come right back."

Tom, sensing the tension, offered a solution. "I've got a room upstairs where your father can wait. It's quiet and comfortable, away from any prying eyes. They won't be gone for long."

George's shoulders relaxed slightly. "A room, you say?"

Tom grinned, giving Adam a knowing wink. "Two galleons for the day, though. Business is business, after all."

Adam blinked in surprise at the price but fished out the coins, handing them over with a wry smile. "Even now?"

"Always," Tom replied, pocketing the galleons with a twinkle in his eye.

With a final nod from George, Adam and Hermione headed for the back of the pub. The stone walls grew narrower as they approached the brick wall that served as the hidden entrance to Diagon Alley. Adam reached into his pocket, fingers brushing the small piece of parchment where Professor Flitwick had written the sequence of bricks to tap. He took a deep breath. It was time.

The brick wall shifted with a soft rumble as Adam and Hermione passed through, entering Diagon Alley. The bustling street stretched out before them, teeming with wizards and witches in various robes, their faces alight with excitement or determination. Shop windows displayed sparkling enchanted trinkets, colorful broomsticks, and bottles of strange potions. The air was thick with the scent of parchment, ink, and a hint of something sweet, likely from the nearby Honeydukes shop. Adam's heart quickened with the overwhelming magic in the air, the energy of the place humming around him.

"Here we are again," Adam said, letting his gaze drift across the scene. "This is Diagon Alley."

Hermione's eyes shone with excitement as she took in the sights. "It's even more magical than I remember," she said, her voice filled with awe.

They walked together, weaving through the crowd, as they made their way toward Flourish and Blotts, the famous bookstore where wizards and witches bought their schoolbooks. The store's large windows were packed with every kind of magical tome imaginable, some floating mid-air and flipping through their pages on their own.

Inside, the air was musty, filled with the smell of old paper, ink, and the slight metallic scent of magic. The shelves stretched from floor to ceiling, crammed with thick, leather-bound books and delicate volumes on every subject imaginable. Previously, Adam and Hermione both had a list of books to pick up, but now they had time to really explore and dive into the subjects that interested them.

"These books are so much more detailed than anything we had before," Hermione mused, her fingers gently trailing over the spine of a thick book on advanced Transfiguration. "I feel like we could spend days in here."

Adam grinned. "We could... but we don't have all day." He reached up to pull down a book about magical creatures, skimming the title. "I'll grab this one. It's supposed to be great for beginners."

Hermione nodded, flipping through the pages of a book on potion-making. "I've been meaning to get something more detailed on potions. I want to learn more about ingredients, how they work together."

Adam raised an eyebrow. "Starting with the hard stuff, huh? You're braver than me. I'm sticking to the easy spells for now."

They spent the next couple of hours browsing, occasionally discussing their finds. Hermione seemed to be in her element, pulling books from shelves and skimming through them. Adam was more focused on picking up the essentials—books that would help him understand magic better. As they moved from one shelf to another, they even found themselves discussing what they'd read.

"I wonder," Hermione said, flipping through a book on charms, "how much of this we'll actually be able to use in our first year."

Adam shrugged, his gaze flicking over a book on the history of magical creatures. "We'll probably learn the basics first. But I don't think Professors would mind us knowing more."

Hermione nodded thoughtfully. " When we go to Hogwarts, maybe we could try out a few of the spells in the book after school... when we're not too busy with homework."

Adam chuckled. "You're already thinking ahead to homework? Maybe I should take a page from your book."

As they moved further into the store, deep in discussion about the merits of different charms and their potential uses, a voice broke through their conversation.

"Not even knowing about these kinds of things, you two must be muggles."

Adam and Hermione stopped, frowning as the voice rang with a sarcastic disdain. Both of them turned toward the source, and standing a few feet away, leaning casually against a shelf, was a boy who couldn't have been older than them—perhaps 11, just like them. His golden blond hair was slicked back neatly, and his pale face had an almost arrogant look to it. His eyes, a sharp, cold gray, bore down on them with an unmistakable air of superiority. He wore an expensive-looking set of robes, trimmed in silver, and his posture screamed entitlement.

Hermione blinked, clearly confused. "Who is that?" she muttered under her breath.

Adam, however, didn't need any time to process. His heart sank as recognition washed over him. "Draco Malfoy," he muttered, his voice low enough to be only heard by himself.

He cursed silently in his mind, cursing his luck. So soon, he thought. Meeting one of the most troublesome characters this early wasn't exactly ideal. Especially at this age, when this kid was out of control in looking for trouble.

With a quick glance at Hermione, Adam gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Let's go, Hermione," he said firmly, already picking up the books they'd chosen. "We've got what we need."

Hermione, still puzzled, nodded quickly, her face set in a frown as they made their way toward the checkout counter. Adam could feel Malfoy's gaze following them, sharp and scrutinizing.

"At least you two know your place," came the voice again, dripping with condescension.

Adam gritted his teeth but didn't turn around. He thought, ' It was really infuriating to deal with this kid.'

Adam could feel the tension rising in his heart, but he knew it was better not to engage with Malfoy—especially not now. The last thing he needed was to make a scene when they were alone and powerless.

They paid for the books, and Adam took a quick glance around the shop, wondering if anyone else of Malfoy's caliber was nearby. Lucius Malfoy wasn't far, if Draco was here, and it would be better to leave sooner rather than later.

"Ready to go?" Adam asked, looking down at Hermione.

"Yeah, let's get out of here," she replied, her voice tight with irritation.

They moved toward the exit, their pace quickening as they left the bookshop behind. As they stepped out into the bustle of Diagon Alley, Adam could hear Malfoy's voice faintly from behind them, but they didn't turn back. He wasn't worth their time.

"Just watch yourselves next time," Malfoy had called after them, though his words lost all power as Adam and Hermione pushed forward.

Adam glanced at Hermione, the unease still gnawing at him. "Let's keep our heads down for now. We don't need any trouble."

Hermione nodded, though she was still clearly unsettled. "Who was he, really?"

"Someone we'll likely see a lot more of, I'm afraid," Adam replied quietly. "But don't worry, we'll handle it."

They walked through Diagon Alley, the noise of the crowd swirling around them, each lost in their own thoughts. Adam felt that their day wouldn't go as smoothly as planned with such a bad luck and also Malfoy being around—but he also knew that no matter what, he and Hermione would face whatever came their way together.

Adam and Hermione walked briskly through Diagon Alley, doing their best to avoid drawing any attention. Adam's thoughts were focused on one thing: they couldn't afford to be noticed, not with Malfoys and other Pure-blood families possibly lurking around. He knew he was being too cautious but right now, he was in for no drama. He felt the weight of that last encounter—Malfoy's words still echoing in his mind making him feel angry. But, to his relief, the alley was mostly busy with ordinary shoppers, and he didn't spot anyone else who seemed to have the same superiority complex as Malfoy.

They passed a number of shops—apothecaries selling rare ingredients, a broomstick shop with a dazzling display of new models, and even a couple of cafes filled with witches and wizards sipping on butterbeer—but no sign of anyone that looked like trouble. A few times, they caught a glimpse of Malfoy from a distance, but he was heading in the opposite direction, lost in his own world, and Adam was happy to leave it at that.

After wandering for what seemed like hours, searching for a quiet place where Adam could practice magic without interruption, they were both starting to feel the frustration of their mission. They'd explored every corner of Diagon Alley that seemed even remotely promising, but there was no ideal spot to be found. Every place either had too many people, too many eyes watching, or was just too public for any real practice.

"Well, that was a bust," Adam muttered, his shoulders slumping as they retraced their steps toward the Leaky Cauldron.

"At least we got the books," Hermione said, trying to sound optimistic. "That's one goal completed."

Adam nodded absently, but his mind was elsewhere. He still hadn't figured out where he could practice without someone catching him. It seemed like every corner of Diagon Alley was teeming with too many people.

'Now that I think about it, why did I even think it was possible to find a practice place in Diagon Alley?' Adam felt puzzled at his thought as it was a obvious thing. But before he could think more, that thought seemed to be vanished from his mind.

When they finally entered the Leaky Cauldron, Adam breathed a sigh of relief. The familiar, slightly worn but cozy atmosphere of the inn made him feel a bit more at ease. The main room was quieter now, with most of the lunchtime crowd gone, leaving behind a calm hum of casual conversation and the clinking of glasses. They made their way upstairs, where George was waiting in the room Tom had arranged for him.

"Well, well," George said, looking up from the chair where he'd been reading a paper. "What's the verdict, kids? Did you get everything done?"

Hermione smiled, though it was a little tired. "We got the books, but we couldn't find a good place to practice magic." She glanced at Adam, adding with a little shrug, "There's just too many people out there."

George raised an eyebrow but didn't seem surprised. "It's okay, you'll find a place to practise, otherwise you'll also be heading to Hogwarts in about 20 days too." He leaned back, folding his arms with a thoughtful look. "Did you have any trouble with anyone?"

Adam shook his head, relieved that they had avoided any more trouble. "Nothing serious, just ran into a nuisance, but we left him behind quickly."

George's face became worried slightly at the mention of a problem, but he didn't press it further. "I'm sure that wasn't a fun encounter. Well, at least you're safe."

Just then, the door to the room opened, and Tom, the owner of the Leaky Cauldron, stepped inside with his usual grin.

"Ah, the young travelers return," Tom said, giving them a knowing look. "Did you get your work done? All the books and whatnot?"

"We got the books, just no luck finding a good spot to practice," Adam said with a half-hearted smile.

Tom's eyes twinkled with mischief. "Well, you youngsters are always looking for a place to practice, aren't you? You know, if you really need somewhere to practice, you could always rent a room here at the Leaky Cauldron. I'm sure it would suit your needs."

Adam blinked, his mind catching up to Tom's words as he processed the offer. "Wait… You mean, we could practice here?"

Tom nodded with a grin. "Of course. Just make sure you're not mentioning it to anyone. The Ministry's got strict rules about magic outside of school, you know. But as far as I'm concerned, business is business. You're paying for a room, you can use it however you like."

Adam's eyes lit up as the realization hit him. He felt a bit foolish for not thinking of this earlier. "That's brilliant. Why didn't I think of this sooner?"

Hermione smiled, the stress of the day lifting slightly. "I guess we have a place to practice after all."

George, looking a bit bemused by the sudden turn of events, gave a nod of approval. "I suppose it's not the worst idea. As long as you two keep it quiet, no one will be the wiser."

Tom gave a small wink. "Exactly. Just don't get any ideas about causing a ruckus. The last thing I need is a magical accident in my inn. Not that you could cause a ruckus with your magic."

Adam laughed, feeling a wave of relief wash over him. They had a place to practice, and it wasn't far from where they were staying. He couldn't help but grin, already planning in his mind when he could start working on some of the spells he'd learned.

"Thanks, Tom," Adam said with a nod, then looked back at Hermione. "Let's come back again, tomorrow."

Hermione nodded excitedly as she followed behind Adam to the exit of Leaky Cauldron.

George walking slowly and leisurely behind then smiled as he looked at the duo. He felt happy to see Adam interacting with someone like this for the first time. It wasn't that Adam was an introvert or lacked the ability to talk to others, but because of his mature demeanor, George had never seen him display such a childish side before.

Just then his eyes caught on to a faint light coming out of Adam's jacket, specifically his right pocket. He could see that Adam's wand was kept in his right pocket, but he didn't knew why it was shining. But that light lasted only for a second, then it stopped. George not knowing anything about the magical world felt that it was probably something out of his understanding zone so he ignored it and walked with the kids to go home.