The Real Hogwarts Chapter 63 Diagon Alley
The clean streets were bright and clean, but perhaps because it was already evening, there were not many tourists.
It has been a year since Jon entered Hogwarts, but this is his first time to come to Diagon Alley. Unlike the original book, this is not a place that welcomes him at all. He is not eligible to buy new textbooks, school robes and wands here. He even has to sneak in with a completely non-existent identity.
So he did not feel very relaxed while walking on the cobblestone road, but always followed Dumbledore half a shoulder behind, and came to the door of a potion shop slowly.
Dumbledore pushed the door open and walked into the potion shop with Jon. The shop owner, who seemed to be checking the account book, looked up at them and spoke in a tone that was not very enthusiastic.
"It's almost time for us to close, my two guests. If you need anything, please tell me directly and I will recommend a suitable medicine for you."
Dumbledore did not speak at first. His eyes were not on the shop owner or any bottle of potion on the shelf. Instead, after entering the door, he stared at a boy who was huddled in the corner and wiping the shelf with a rag.
The boy looked to be about the same age as Jon, with short chestnut hair and a linen robe that was dirty and a bit too big for him. It didn't look like it fit him very well.
The shop owner obviously noticed Dumbledore's gaze. He frowned slightly and shouted at the boy.
“Smith.”
The boy named Smith stopped what he was doing and turned to look timidly at the three adults.
"Ai, Mr. Aikmo."
"You don't need to work here anymore, go back to the cellar first and don't disturb the guests here."
Smith agreed weakly, then lowered his head like a mouse that wanted to hide its presence but was being stared at by everyone, and walked out of the potion shop quickly.
"Perhaps you are in a mood to speak up for what you want now, gentlemen?" Edgecombe looked at Dumbledore and the others.
He seemed to be pushing the boy away with disgust, but Jon could feel that his behavior was more like protection.
Dumbledore blinked and looked at him with a smile on his face.
"We don't want potions. Do you have Phoenix Tears in your store?"
Ikmo's expression suddenly changed. He looked at Dumbledore deeply and answered softly.
"This is a rare item, sir. We usually don't put it on the shelf."
Dumbledore said .
"Then let's take a look at what's outside these shelves."
Ikmo did not stop them from entering the inner room without being invited. Instead, he walked carefully to the front of the store, checked that there were no suspicious , and then closed and locked the door completely.
After doing all this, he quickly walked into the inner room, where Dumbledore and John had their Transfiguration spell removed, revealing their original appearance.
"Mr. Dumbledore, I thought you guys wouldn't be here for a while."
This potion shop owner named Edgecombe was obviously a person planted by the Order of the Phoenix in Diagon Alley. Even if the Ministry of Magic usually conducted strict inspections, they could not monitor every aspect of the entire wizarding world.
It would not be difficult for the Order of the Phoenix to hide their own people in a busy street like Diagon Alley if they wanted to. After all, there was no shortage of pure-bloods and half-bloods with traceable backgrounds among their members.
Dumbledore said, shaking his head.
"If you come too late, you will miss a lot of time for preparation. There is still more than a month before the school starts. It would be best for Jon to get more familiar with the life of the boy he will play in the next year here with you."
At this time, Aikmo's gaze turned to John, who was standing next to Dumbledore. An expression of admiration appeared on his face, and he walked forward and stretched out a hand.
"Peter Edgecombe. I was surprised when I heard from Dumbledore that you were really just a child who had just been exposed to magic for a year. But I believe in his vision. You must have unique qualities. He will not let a child sacrifice his life in vain."
Jon also stretched out his hand and shook hands with Ekmo.
"My name is Jon Green, Mr. Aikmo, and I will be under your care here for the next month or so."
" Don't rush to talk about taking care of me yet." Ikemo said with a wry smile, "Once the plan officially starts, in order to ensure your safety, I will clear all the memories of you and this plan from my mind. Then I will treat you as the real Smith, and I will treat you the same way I usually treat him, so there is no need to take care of him."
Dumbledore patted him on the shoulder and said, "Let me have a few more words with Jon alone. You go and do the work on the boy first, Pete."
Ikmo nodded, then he left the inner room and walked towards the cellar where Smith was.
When they were the only two left in the room, Dumbledore looked at John with a serious face.
"You still have a chance to regret it now, Jon. If you think this is too dangerous, I can still take you back to the carriage. I can still find other ways to deal with the thing in the castle later. Don't feel embarrassed or ashamed to ask. After entering the castle, you will have to rely on yourself. I can't give you any more help."
There was not much tension on Jon's face, he even smiled.
"No one is more suitable than me, Professor. I was actually hesitant at first, but after thinking about it carefully, my teacher taught me magic, the school imparted knowledge to me, and you have been protecting our safety. It doesn't make sense for you to be the only one to pay while I just sit back and reap the benefits. I believe that if any student on the carriage arrives when the school needs them, no one will back down. Besides, there is something in that castle that the teacher wanted me to get before, and this is just the right opportunity."
Dumbledore looked at John's serious face and smiled calmly. At the same time, he lifted his glasses and rubbed his sore eyes.
"After all, I am too old to listen to students saying these things. Well, there are a few key things I want to remind you of in the end."
He said solemnly.
"After the Polyjuice Potion is made, it can only maintain its efficacy for a month at most, so the potion I prepared for you is also a month's supply. After that, you have to find a way to make it yourself. Lily told me that you have fully mastered the specific refining process. As for how to obtain the potion materials after arriving at the castle, someone will contact you proactively."
"As for the magic of the 'school contract' on the Muggle students, I will cast an almost identical one on you later. This will deceive the people in the castle. You don't have to worry too much about the rest. The contract is just a constraint used to impose domestication and education. It does not mean that you will just obey after signing it. Ikemo will also give you a note later. It records the personality and living habits of the boy you are going to play. I believe you will read it carefully without my reminder."
"Finally." Dumbledore handed a scarlet feather to Jon. "Whether you get that thing in the end or not, as long as you feel that you are in danger of being exposed and discovered, you must hold on to this feather. No matter where you are, Fawkes will bring you back."
