THE DESCENDANT OF SLYTHERIN

CHAPTER 4 : KNOCKTURN ALLEY

HARRY POV

On Wednesday, After a quick half a dozen bacon sandwiches each, we pulled on our coats and Mrs. Weasley took a flowerpot off the kitchen mantelpiece and peered inside.

"We're running low, Arthur," she sighed. "We'll have to buy some more today.... Ah well, guests first! After you, Harry dear!"

And she offered me the flowerpot. I stared at them all watching me.

"W-what am I supposed to do?" I stammered.

"He's never traveled by Floo powder," said Ron suddenly. "Sorry, Harry, I forgot."

"Never?" said Mr. Weasley. "But how did you get to Diagon Alley to buy your school things last year?"

"I went on the Underground —"

"Really?" said Mr. Weasley eagerly. "Were there escapators? How exactly —"

"Not now, Arthur," said Mrs. Weasley. "Floo powder's a lot quicker, dear, but goodness me, if you've never used it before —"

"He'll be all right, Mum," said Fred. "Harry, watch us first."

He took a pinch of glittering powder out of the flowerpot, stepped up to the fire, and threw the powder into the flames. With a roar, the fire turned emerald green and rose higher than Fred, who stepped right into it, shouted, "Diagon Alley!" and vanished.

"You must speak clearly, dear," Mrs. Weasley told me as George dipped his hand into the flowerpot. "And be sure to get out at the right grate...."

"The right what?" I asked nervously as the fire roared and whipped George out of sight, too.

"Well, there are an awful lot of wizard fires to choose from, you know, but as long as you've spoken clearly —"

"He'll be fine, Molly, don't fuss," said Mr. Weasley, helping himself to Floo powder, too.

"But, dear, if he got lost, how would we ever explain to his aunt and uncle?"

"They wouldn't mind," I reassured her. "Dudley would think it was a brilliant joke if I got lost up a chimney, don't worry about that —"

"Well . . . all right . . . you go after Laia, are you ready, dear" Mrs. Weasley asked Laia.

"Yes, Mrs. Weasley, you can do it, little bro, go for it, I wait in other side", with that she also disappeared.

"Now, when you get into the fire, say where you're going —"

"And keep your elbows tucked in," Ron advised.

"And your eyes shut," said Mrs. Weasley. "The soot —"

"Don't fidget," said Ron. "Or you might well fall out of the wrong fireplace —"

"But don't panic and get out too early; wait until you see Fred and George."

Trying hard to bear all this in mind, I took a pinch of Floo powder and walked to the edge of the fire. I took a deep breath, scattered the powder into the flames, and stepped forward; the fire felt like a warm breeze; I opened my mouth and immediately swallowed a lot of hot ash.

"D-Dia-gon Alley,"

It felt as though I were being sucked down a giant drain. I seemed to be spinning very fast — the roaring in ears was deafening — I tried to keep my eyes open but the whirl of green flames made me feel sick — something hard knocked my elbow and I tucked it in tightly, still spinning and spinning — now it felt as though cold hands were slapping my face — squinting through my glasses I saw a blurred stream of fireplaces and snatched glimpses of the rooms beyond — bacon sandwiches were churning inside me — I closed my eyes again wishing it would stop, and then — I fell, face forward, onto cold stone and felt the bridge of my glasses snap.