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Chapter 10: Helpful Family
Chapter 10: Helpful Family
One of the busiest streets in London.
Crowds of people bustled back and forth, and a tall, slender young man stood by the roadside, studying an address he had copied from a book. He wore a black robe that was out of place in the modern world.
Despite the numerous curious gazes from passersby, Sherlock paid them no mind.
While he wasn't particularly sociable, he had a thick skin and could easily ignore the odd looks.
The address of the Leaky Cauldron he had copied from the Wizard's travelogue matched the reality perfectly.
Right in front of Sherlock was a dilapidated bar that seemed out of place among the modern shops, and it was just opening for business.
However, the pedestrians on the street seemed oblivious to this bar, which was even more distinctive than Sherlock himself, not even glancing in its direction.
After over a month of studying at home, Sherlock had gained a general understanding of the basics of the Wizarding World's magic.
The charm that made Muggles ignore the bar was clearly the Muggle Repelling Charm, one of the most commonly used spells by Wizards in front of Muggles.
This charm only affected Muggles, and for Sherlock, a Wizard, the sign of the Leaky Cauldron was glaringly obvious.
Leaving home for this trip was a risky move for Sherlock.
He knew nothing about the original owner's social connections in the Wizarding World. If he encountered any acquaintances at the Leaky Cauldron or Diagon Alley, he would risk exposure.
However, this trip to Diagon Alley was unavoidable.
He needed to purchase various magical supplies for his upcoming journey to Hogwarts and also visit the original owner's vault at Gringotts to withdraw some money for everyday use.
Despite knowing the risks, Sherlock had no choice but to venture out from his home.
Besides, it was something he would have to face eventually.
Fortunately, the original owner was a recluse, so the chances of running into acquaintances were slim.
Ignoring the fourth shy attempt at conversation from a young woman, Sherlock crossed the street and entered the old Leaky Cauldron.
The rough wooden tables and chairs, the creaking bar door, the brick fireplace, and the simple chandeliers with candles hanging overhead made Sherlock feel as if he had stepped back in time from the modern city street.
Here, his attire no longer stood out.
Most of the patrons in the bar were dressed similarly, and a few elderly witches even wore exaggerated pointed hats that would make them the center of attention among Muggles.
Sherlock's arrival caused little stir in the Leaky Cauldron.
Most of the Wizards drinking at the bar didn't even glance his way, and only the bar's owner and bartender, Tom, noticed him when he entered.
"Ah, a new face. What would you like to drink?"
Even though no one here recognized the original owner, Sherlock maintained his aloof demeanor. It was always better to be cautious.
"Butterbeer, please."
He ordered a drink that was called beer but wasn't, and sat at an empty table in the corner.
Soon, Tom brought the Butterbeer to him. Sherlock's distant attitude discouraged any attempts at small talk from the chatty bartender.
Sherlock took a light sip of the Wizard's specialty drink.
The sweetness was almost cloying, not quite to his taste.
After just one sip, he set the Butterbeer aside and sat quietly at the table, waiting patiently.
Sherlock wasn't unwilling to enter Diagon Alley directly through the Leaky Cauldron; he simply didn't know how to do it.
He had found the Leaky Cauldron, and he remembered that the entrance to Diagon Alley was in the back courtyard, in front of a wall.
All he needed to do was tap a specific brick on the wall with his Wand, and the entrance would open.
But which brick was the right one?
Even if the book had mentioned this detail, he couldn't possibly remember it.
Of course, he could try tapping each brick one by one to find the correct one.
However, if another Wizard walked by during his attempts, it would be awkward.
They might suspect that Sherlock was a Muggle spy!
So, he decided to use a better way to enter Diagon Alley.
After sitting in the chair for about fifteen minutes, a couple entered the Leaky Cauldron with their daughter, who seemed to be shopping for school supplies for the new term.
The couple didn't look like Wizards; they appeared more like ordinary Muggles.
However, their daughter, with her bushy curly hair, had a Wand visibly tucked into her pocket, clearly marking her as a young Wizard.
The family didn't linger in the Leaky Cauldron but walked straight through the bar and toward the back courtyard.
Sherlock, who had been waiting, stood up calmly from his seat, pulled out a few Knuts he had found in his study at home, and paid for his drink at the bar.
When he reached the back courtyard, the little girl's family was standing by the wall, counting the bricks.
"Do you remember which one it is?"
"Of course I do! How could I forget something so important, Mom?"
The girl tilted her head and used a trash can as a reference point.
"Three up—two across—yes, that's it!"
She muttered to herself, then drew her Wand and tapped the designated brick lightly.
The brick she tapped began to tremble and move, forming a small hole that grew larger and larger. Soon, a wide archway appeared, leading to a winding, seemingly endless cobblestone street.
Sherlock, standing behind them, watched the entire process and clearly noted the position of the brick the girl had tapped.
He then moved past the "helpful" family.
"Excuse me, coming through."
The family didn't realize they had been used by Sherlock.
This was the couple's second visit to Diagon Alley, and they still found everything here incredibly fascinating.
Sherlock maintained his aloof demeanor and walked down the main street of Diagon Alley toward Gringotts, missing the conversation behind him.
"Where should we go first, Hermione?"
"I have plans to meet Harry and Ron today in Diagon Alley, so we should head to the entrance of Gringotts to wait for them", Hermione Granger, a second-year student at Hogwarts, told her father.
(End of Chapter)
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