Twisting Alleyway

[sweetpinkpixie]

Knockturn Alley branches off of the brightly lit and benign Diagon Alley. Along this cobble path, you'll find unique items and ideals of the Dark nature. Or maybe you won't. How pure is YOUR blood?

Watch your step and proceed with caution. It's not too late to go back to the brightly colored umbrellas for a mocha and a muffin.

The Alley itself is multi level and winds around itself in a U shape, a small staircase splitting the upper level and the lower level. The upper level is a dead end, though strangely this is where you can access the Gleaming Gytrash, which has had its access changed in order to ensure certain business dealings are less visible to prying eyes. A few other shops are on this upper level, including The Spiny Serpent and of course Moribunds Pub, which overlooks the small staircase leading to the lower level.

Splinter and Kreek's and Borgin and Burkes flank the smaller staircase, and while there are several other dark shops here of an undefinable purpose, you'll also find Twilfit and Tattings and The Coffin House Necromancy Emporium here on either side of the Alley, though which side depends on which way you happen to be going of course, in or out. There is a little nook here between the robes shop and Arkie Aldertons, as if any store which might have been located there before was simply vanished to make some space. The Starry Prophesier can be found here in this nook, its a wagon where certain divination supplies and services are provided by a certain child-eating individual. The main steps will lead you to a few other Knockturn Alley stores and vendors, but also back to the safety of Diagon Alley where the law still counts for something.

[Zoe]

It was funny how when he was a young kid he was so intrigued with the alley, always wanting to cross a toe over, run down the stairs, and return to tell the tale. He had done it once before, and it seemed like he was perhaps one of the coolest kids in the country. Those were much simpler times.

Frankie, of course, was no stranger to the place thanks to his career at the Ministry. Patrols, tracking, arrests -- he had a fair share of those moments in Knockturn Alley. Today was another one of those moments. He was waiting and scouting things out, seeing who was coming and going and keeping a crow's eye out for anything shiftier than usual. From where he was perched on one of the shop rooftops, he had a perfect view of the alley below.

Caw-caw.

[Granger Danger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoe

It was funny how when he was a young kid he was so intrigued with the alley, always wanting to cross a toe over, run down the stairs, and return to tell the tale. He had done it once before, and it seemed like he was perhaps one of the coolest kids in the country. Those were much simpler times.

Frankie, of course, was no stranger to the place thanks to his career at the Ministry. Patrols, tracking, arrests -- he had a fair share of those moments in Knockturn Alley. Today was another one of those moments. He was waiting and scouting things out, seeing who was coming and going and keeping a crow's eye out for anything shiftier than usual. From where he was perched on one of the shop rooftops, he had a perfect view of the alley below.

Caw-caw.

Lyra always had a way of getting lost, even when she thought she knew a place well enough to adventure through it. Apparently she was wrong when she came upon the twisting alleyway that lead her to an unknown dark place that made the hair on the back of her neck stand up. Apparently she wasn't in Diagon Alley anymore, only one place this cold and dark near Diagon Alley could be... Knockturn Alley. Okay... now she knew where she was how did she get out of here? Looking around she bit her lip wondering around in a circle wondering which way to go, she didn't want go face her doom anymore then she probably was.

"Bravery Lyra, where's that Gryffindor bravery at?" Mumbling to herself. Taking out her wand she lit it to have some light to see where she was going, even that didn't seem like a whole lot the place looked foggy to her and downright creepy. She heard about this place, and the stories her grandparents told her at a young age.All she knew she wanted to get out of here as fast as she could and back to safety whichever way that was...

[Zoe]

So far the alley had been quiet. There hadn't been terribly much going on, at least from what he could see from up above. A character here and there he took note of, though they had made it a point to get from point A to point B rather quickly. Though, soon enough, someone did stick out like a sore thumb.

Frankie didn't spread his black wings and swoop down immediately though. For all he knew, the woman was purposefully making her way through the twisting alleyway for one reason or another. So he simply remained where he was, watching and listening to properly assess the situation. Her wandering in circles and mumbling is what eventually caused him to take flight from the roof.

To not startle her, he had flown around a corner and transformed back into his human form before approaching the light her wand emitted. "Pardon me, miss. Need help finding something?" He flashed his Auror badge at her so that she knew he meant no harm and wasn't up to anything shady.

[Granger Danger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoe

So far the alley had been quiet. There hadn't been terribly much going on, at least from what he could see from up above. A character here and there he took note of, though they had made it a point to get from point A to point B rather quickly. Though, soon enough, someone did stick out like a sore thumb.

Frankie didn't spread his black wings and swoop down immediately though. For all he knew, the woman was purposefully making her way through the twisting alleyway for one reason or another. So he simply remained where he was, watching and listening to properly assess the situation. Her wandering in circles and mumbling is what eventually caused him to take flight from the roof.

To not startle her, he had flown around a corner and transformed back into his human form before approaching the light her wand emitted. "Pardon me, miss. Need help finding something?" He flashed his Auror badge at her so that she knew he meant no harm and wasn't up to anything shady.

Letting out a small squeak and shielding herself with her hands, she looked up seeing the man was a Auror and sighed in relief. "Sorry sir I'm a bit lost and trying to find my way back to Diagon Alley, but each turn I do it seems to get darker and creepier. I didn't intend on getting here, I was trying to find the playground to find my husband and son but apparently I guess I went the wrong way obviously." "Can you please help me get out of here? I'll be forever grateful for it." She just wanted out of this creepy place, how can anyone be somewhere so dark and gloomy?

Maybe her wand light wasn't helping her blend in here, but she felt safe having it on. Besides she didn't blend in here anways, she was too good to be down here with this type of crowd. With evil lurking around every corner she stayed close to the Auror. " I..I know this is a bad time, but I'm Lyra thought it'll be better then calling me Miss."

[Zoe]

The showing of the badge could have caused a number of responses. A mad dash in the opposite direction or jinxes being sent his way were not foreign to him; however, Frankie had to admit that a small squeak was new. The woman in front of him must've felt like a mouse in this dark maze of an alley. Frankie offered her a smile as his way of letting her know that she had nothing to fear.

Putting the badge back in its proper place, the man silently nodded his head as the woman spoke, revealing that she was lost. It was fortunate that none of the other shifty patrons who frequented the place had gotten to her first.

"Yes, of course. Follow me, and we'll get you reunited with your husband and son in no time," he reassured her, making a gesture toward the stretch of alley behind her. Frankie's blue eyes were alert and he kept a hand close to his wand in case anyone else about had any funny ideas. "I'm Franklin Paton. It's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance, Lyra."

[Granger Danger]

Lyra wasn't the person to run, she was more like a deer in ghr headlights afraid to move at the moment, but now she seen his badge she was relieved. She didn't mean to let out a squeak, she just didn't know his intentions until just recently. He could've wanted to rob her or knock her out and take her somewhere she'll never see her family again. Being a mouse in in this dark narrow alleyway was indeed how she felt she felt like a mouse trying to find the cheese but running around thr maze to dead ends. Giving him a small smile in return she felt her beating heart calm down.

She hated being lost, but she hated the fact that she was lost in this creepy alleyway in Knockturn Alley. She was glad he seen her and came to the rescue or Merlin knows what would've happened.

"Thank you so much, what can I do to repay you?" Turning around she walkes back the alleyway biting her lip. Her wand tightly in her hands, she kept herself alert and ready for anything. " Would be more pleasurable if it wasn't here, but none the less pleasure to meet you."

[Zoe]

The smile was reassuring, giving him enough reason to assume that she was starting to calm down. While there was nothing she needed to worry about now, the Auror wouldn't have blamed her for not feeling completely safe. One did need to be cautious in Knockturn Alley, regardless of who the present company was. No one could really know what was lurking in the shadows or just around the corner. That was why constant vigilance was necessary.

"There's no need to repay me," Frankie replied, his voice cheerful despite the eeriness around them. "I'm simply doing my job." Well, sort of. It wasn't necessarily in his job description to be escorting lost wives and mothers out of the dark twisting alleyway, but he wasn't going to let that stop him. He didn't want to think about what could have happened if he hadn't.

Around another corner the two went, strolling by the entrance to Borgin and Burkes. His blue eyes briefly glanced through the window of the shop before returning back to the cobbled street in front of them, knowing that the goblin's shop and the hag's cart were just up ahead. "So, what do you and your husband do for work? And how old is your son?" he asked, making small talk. "My wife teaches Creatures at Hogwarts, and I've got three girls and a boy of my own -- all teenagers, except for my little girl who's almost ten."

[Chelliephone]

When she had suggested herself and her husband each take one of the girls for a special day one on one, this was not how Naia was envisioning how her afternoon with Cass was going to go. She stood at the top of the entrance to Knockturn Alley, just a bit aways from the Colored Umbrellas outside of Floreans - which she would very much like to go back to. But negotiating with a 3 year old was not the easiest of tasks, particularly Naia's especially willful youngest who took after Aunt Kimmie far more than she would have liked. And while she WAS the parent and could easily be firm and say this was the wrong way, it would have ruined the fun of the game.

Naia had drawn up a treasure map for her tiny constellation, and the end result was supposed to be Sugarplums where the 'treasure' was a set amount of galleons Cassiopeia could use to buy whatever she wanted for herself and her big sister at home. But whether it was the understanding of a 3 year old or Naia's own poor art skills, they'd gotten turned around the entirely wrong way and now Cass was ADAMANT they should be going further into the alley.

.. She REALLY did not want to do that.

"I don't know, love. I really think this might be the wrong direction... Why don't we ask for a second opinion?" Maybe if she could convince a stranger to back her up the small one would finally listen to her. Brown eyes scanned back behind them, looking for anyone she could flag down and beg for help.

[Harron Peasley]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chelliephone

When she had suggested herself and her husband each take one of the girls for a special day one on one, this was not how Naia was envisioning how her afternoon with Cass was going to go. She stood at the top of the entrance to Knockturn Alley, just a bit aways from the Colored Umbrellas outside of Floreans - which she would very much like to go back to. But negotiating with a 3 year old was not the easiest of tasks, particularly Naia's especially willful youngest who took after Aunt Kimmie far more than she would have liked. And while she WAS the parent and could easily be firm and say this was the wrong way, it would have ruined the fun of the game.

Naia had drawn up a treasure map for her tiny constellation, and the end result was supposed to be Sugarplums where the 'treasure' was a set amount of galleons Cassiopeia could use to buy whatever she wanted for herself and her big sister at home. But whether it was the understanding of a 3 year old or Naia's own poor art skills, they'd gotten turned around the entirely wrong way and now Cass was ADAMANT they should be going further into the alley.

.. She REALLY did not want to do that.

"I don't know, love. I really think this might be the wrong direction... Why don't we ask for a second opinion?" Maybe if she could convince a stranger to back her up the small one would finally listen to her. Brown eyes scanned back behind them, looking for anyone she could flag down and beg for help.

Recently Leander had been spending more and more time in the UK. So much so that he thought he might consider getting a second property - a brief, insubstantial thought, as fleeting as the sun often was in this country. He'd stayed away for a long time after everything that had happened, and after finding out Zinnia was officially married, he'd considered never returning. The idea of seeing her again, after everything, was almost physically painful. It didn't seem to matter the years, or the jobs, or the flings. Or at least it hadn't, until recently. He couldn't exactly pinpoint the shift, but maybe it was his brothers insistence that he stop moping around and look at how good his life was. Maybe it was the thrill of a new job.

The new job was what had brought him to London this week, and Leander tightened his coat around himself as he headed up the steps from Knockturn Alley, his wares collected and concealed inside a hidden pocket. It wouldn't take much to get them back to Italy, where he had a buyer already lined up. As he reached the top of the stairs, a brief wind tousled his hair and he reconsidered, once again, that second property. Why would he spend anymore time here than absolutely necessary, when Florence existed? Reaching a hand up to rearrange his blonde locks, he offered the woman and child a small, cursory smile. "Excuse me, please."

Weird location to be standing with a kid, he thought for a moment, before shrugging the thought away. After all, what did he know?

[Chelliephone]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harron Peasley

Recently Leander had been spending more and more time in the UK. So much so that he thought he might consider getting a second property - a brief, insubstantial thought, as fleeting as the sun often was in this country. He'd stayed away for a long time after everything that had happened, and after finding out Zinnia was officially married, he'd considered never returning. The idea of seeing her again, after everything, was almost physically painful. It didn't seem to matter the years, or the jobs, or the flings. Or at least it hadn't, until recently. He couldn't exactly pinpoint the shift, but maybe it was his brothers insistence that he stop moping around and look at how good his life was. Maybe it was the thrill of a new job.

The new job was what had brought him to London this week, and Leander tightened his coat around himself as he headed up the steps from Knockturn Alley, his wares collected and concealed inside a hidden pocket. It wouldn't take much to get them back to Italy, where he had a buyer already lined up. As he reached the top of the stairs, a brief wind tousled his hair and he reconsidered, once again, that second property. Why would he spend anymore time here than absolutely necessary, when Florence existed? Reaching a hand up to rearrange his blonde locks, he offered the woman and child a small, cursory smile. "Excuse me, please."

Weird location to be standing with a kid, he thought for a moment, before shrugging the thought away. After all, what did he know?

While Naia made it a point to not be judgmental as often as possible, considering her twin and very best friend was in a class of individuals who often was merely for her infliction, the whole idea of being so close to Knockturn Alley with her small child was making her entirely more anxious than she usually was. So much so, that as she spotted someone heading their way from a distance she clutched Cass' hand a little tighter and tried to be a little firmer in her tug to get her daughter to return closer to her side - and then even closer still to the ice cream shoppe situated behind them. But then as the person approached even closer, she realized how silly she was being - had she not just fervently hoping for someone else to happen by so she could hopefully beg for an assist here?

Her hand loosened on Cassiopeia again and she returned the man's smile. "Step to the side out of the nice man's way please, Cass!" She gently reminded her child, as she sidestepped a bit as well. "Before you pass by, could we bother you for a second opinion? My daughter seems to have found a map and we're at a bit of a crossroads on deciphering it."

Please help.

[Harron Peasley]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chelliephone

While Naia made it a point to not be judgmental as often as possible, considering her twin and very best friend was in a class of individuals who often was merely for her infliction, the whole idea of being so close to Knockturn Alley with her small child was making her entirely more anxious than she usually was. So much so, that as she spotted someone heading their way from a distance she clutched Cass' hand a little tighter and tried to be a little firmer in her tug to get her daughter to return closer to her side - and then even closer still to the ice cream shoppe situated behind them. But then as the person approached even closer, she realized how silly she was being - had she not just fervently hoping for someone else to happen by so she could hopefully beg for an assist here?

Her hand loosened on Cassiopeia again and she returned the man's smile. "Step to the side out of the nice man's way please, Cass!" She gently reminded her child, as she sidestepped a bit as well. "Before you pass by, could we bother you for a second opinion? My daughter seems to have found a map and we're at a bit of a crossroads on deciphering it."

Please help.

Nice man. Leander's lips curled into a proper smile at that, wondering when the last time he'd been called nice was. Or any positive adjective, actually. It was a fleeting smile, though, as his attempt to continue past the duo was foiled by the woman's question. With a glance back at the alley from which he'd emerged, and then another at the expensive watch on his wrist, it was the eventual look at the little kid that had Leander's shoulders raising in a shrug.

"I guess I could try to help. I've known a few treasure maps in my time."

Most of them were completely fake, and those that had been real had lost all purpose over time, but all were still worth a great deal to the right customer.

[Chelliephone]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harron Peasley

Nice man. Leander's lips curled into a proper smile at that, wondering when the last time he'd been called nice was. Or any positive adjective, actually. It was a fleeting smile, though, as his attempt to continue past the duo was foiled by the woman's question. With a glance back at the alley from which he'd emerged, and then another at the expensive watch on his wrist, it was the eventual look at the little kid that had Leander's shoulders raising in a shrug.

"I guess I could try to help. I've known a few treasure maps in my time."

Most of them were completely fake, and those that had been real had lost all purpose over time, but all were still worth a great deal to the right customer.

Was it fair for her to drag other people into her own parenting issues? Of course not. But sometimes it was much easier to get her strong willed daughter to listen to strangers than her own parents. If Naia simply continued to insist the map was wrong, the little one would get upset and they’d have to go home due to the tantrum of the century. A stranger? Well… she had SOME semblance of playing polite enough to not cause a stink with someone she didn’t know.

So… sorry sir.

Her eyes she was sure conveyed the amount of gratitude she currently felt at the man taking a few minutes - especially when she caught his look to his watch. If she remembered her own manners, she would have released him immediately. But desperate times called for desperate measures, okay? Gently prying the map fully away from Cass, she held it towards the stranger. “Oh thank you! Well, we seem to have a difference of opinion. Looking at the map, my daughter thinks it’s showing we should be going TOWARDS Knockturn alley. But this looks like it’s going towards the opposite end of Diagon Alley… right?”

[BanaBatGirl]

Zara stood at the very corner where Knockturn Alley began, her curiosity getting the best of her as she craned her long, fair neck out and over to see what she could. She was hoping that old crone that read palms and did other Muggle tricks was out at her cart today, as she fancied a bit of mischief.

Should she brave it and just go or give it a few more? It wasn't yet noon yet, after all... the redhead glanced down at her watch and tapped her foot indecisively. Should she stay or should she go?? She needed a sign telling her what to do, or better yet, someone to follow...

[Wood'sLittleFlower]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BanaBatGirl

Zara stood at the very corner where Knockturn Alley began, her curiosity getting the best of her as she craned her long, fair neck out and over to see what she could. She was hoping that old crone that read palms and did other Muggle tricks was out at her cart today, as she fancied a bit of mischief.

Should she brave it and just go or give it a few more? It wasn't yet noon yet, after all... the redhead glanced down at her watch and tapped her foot indecisively. Should she stay or should she go?? She needed a sign telling her what to do, or better yet, someone to follow...

Owen was having absolute rubbish luck in Diagon Alley this summer. Call him a glutton for punishment as the fourteen year old Hufflepuff was back for more. From being knocked on his bum by a rubbish bin, to his lunch being exploded into his lap, there was not much worse that could happen, right?

At least he had the teenage hormones glow-up going for him.

He was honestly half tempted to go and see if he could afford some liquid luck, when his bright ideas took over. Or maybe his hot girl radar. One of those. Instead, he found himself following some super hot redheaded babe toward the much dimmer, much less likely to bring him any sort of luck, alley.

"What are you doing?"

[BanaBatGirl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wood'sLittleFlower

Owen was having absolute rubbish luck in Diagon Alley this summer. Call him a glutton for punishment as the fourteen year old Hufflepuff was back for more. From being knocked on his bum by a rubbish bin, to his lunch being exploded into his lap, there was not much worse that could happen, right?

At least he had the teenage hormones glow-up going for him.

He was honestly half tempted to go and see if he could afford some liquid luck, when his bright ideas took over. Or maybe his hot girl radar. One of those. Instead, he found himself following some super hot redheaded babe toward the much dimmer, much less likely to bring him any sort of luck, alley.

"What are you doing?"

Perrrrrfect, a boy had approached. A noisy nosy boy. This was just the sort of distraction she needed, and a tiger-like smile began to grow on her lips.

Zara half-turned toward the boy and hastily tugged him closer, yanking on the collar of his shirt. "Shhhshhh," she bossed, pressing a manicured finger to his lips, then mamually turning his head so he was looking down the Alley the same way she had been. "Do you see a little old lady, kinda batty, drives a cart for palm readings and tarot cards? It's not worth going down there unless she's here today."

So go see if she's in, in other words.

[Wood'sLittleFlower]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BanaBatGirl

Perrrrrfect, a boy had approached. A noisy nosy boy. This was just the sort of distraction she needed, and a tiger-like smile began to grow on her lips.

Zara half-turned toward the boy and hastily tugged him closer, yanking on the collar of his shirt. "Shhhshhh," she bossed, pressing a manicured finger to his lips, then mamually turning his head so he was looking down the Alley the same way she had been. "Do you see a little old lady, kinda batty, drives a cart for palm readings and tarot cards? It's not worth going down there unless she's here today."

So go see if she's in, in other words.

Yeah, no. Owen was not ANYONE'S errand boy, thank you very much.

As much as a girl sticking her pretty fingers on his face excited him, he couldn't help but scoff at her words. "Why won't you do it?" He wasn't stupid. There had to be good reason for her not wanting to go down there and this brunette was not about to find out. "How about you go look and I stay here."

Right here where old batty ladies were not.

[BanaBatGirl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wood'sLittleFlower

Yeah, no. Owen was not ANYONE'S errand boy, thank you very much.

As much as a girl sticking her pretty fingers on his face excited him, he couldn't help but scoff at her words. "Why won't you do it?" He wasn't stupid. There had to be good reason for her not wanting to go down there and this brunette was not about to find out. "How about you go look and I stay here."

Right here where old batty ladies were not.

Silly errand boy. Thinking too much did not suit his daft pretty face.

"Right, we're going together," Zara decided, linking hands with him and tugging him along toward where she thought the cart lady was, not a bit of fear in her steps, not since there was safety in numbers. "Do you want your cards read or your palms?" Nearly there now...

[Wood'sLittleFlower]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BanaBatGirl

Silly errand boy. Thinking too much did not suit his daft pretty face.

"Right, we're going together," Zara decided, linking hands with him and tugging him along toward where she thought the cart lady was, not a bit of fear in her steps, not since there was safety in numbers. "Do you want your cards read or your palms?" Nearly there now...

She was TOUCHING HIM. Hand in hand. Woah. And he hadn't even had to trick her into it?

This was all very distracting. So much so, that he didn't really realize what she was saying or where she was taking him. Just... Girl. Dreamy. Wow.

Wow..... WAIT. Trance escaped.

He shook his head suddenly, escaping his boy brain, planting his feet, and yanking on her hand. [b]"What are you DOING? Are you insane? She could EAT us."[b] No palms or cards read if they were lunch, ya know?