Early the next morning, just as the first light slipped over the rooftops of Godric's Hollow, Tyler was already awake. The manor was still quiet, the corridors dim and cool, but Timo had begun moving through the house long before sunrise, preparing everything his young master might need for the trip.
Under the house-elf's fussy attention, Tyler washed, bathed, and dressed with barely a wrinkle left for him to smooth himself. By the time he changed into a brand-new robe, dark, neat, and properly fitted, he looked less like a child heading out to shop and more like a young heir preparing to inspect his property.
When he entered the dining room, breakfast was already waiting. It was the sort of breakfast Tyler actually enjoyed, warm, flavorful, and carefully prepared, rather than the heavy British food he still had no interest in forcing himself to like.
Timo stood near the table with both hands folded, watching Tyler with eager eyes as he ate. The house-elf had prepared more than enough, as usual, and seemed delighted whenever Tyler took another bite.
"Timo, all right," Tyler said after finishing his meal and setting down his cup. "We're going."
"Yes, young master, we can leave at once," Timo said quickly. He hurried out from the kitchen and came to Tyler's side, practically bouncing on his bare feet. "Please hold Timo's arm tightly."
Tyler reached out and took the house-elf's thin arm. Timo snapped his fingers, and with a sharp crack, the two of them vanished from the manor.
House-elves were not weak in magic. In fact, their magic was unusual, old, and different enough from wizarding magic that it could slip through certain protections most witches and wizards had to obey.
They could Apparate with ease, and they could bring others along with them. More importantly, house-elves were not restricted in the same way wizards were, which meant that even places protected against ordinary Apparition did not always stop them.
Hogwarts Castle was the most obvious example. Wizards could not simply Apparate in and out of the castle grounds, yet house-elves came and went almost freely as they handled the countless invisible duties that kept the school running.
Of course, their method was not perfect. House-elf Apparition made a much louder crack than wizard Apparition, and anyone nearby with sharp ears would notice it immediately.
Tyler could Apparate on his own. He had learned long ago, despite his age, and he was fully capable of moving himself without help. Still, if there was a house-elf ready and willing to do the work, he saw no reason to waste his own effort.
They reappeared in London, near Charing Cross Road in the City of Westminster. The morning air smelled faintly of stone, dust, and early traffic, but the sound of the Muggle world seemed to dull around the narrow entrance of the Leaky Cauldron.
The Leaky Cauldron was both a small inn and a pub, shabby enough that most Muggles walked straight past without noticing it. To the magical community, however, it was one of the most important doorways in Britain, a quiet bridge between ordinary London and the hidden world behind it.
Inside, the pub was dim and nearly empty because of the early hour. Only a few chairs had been taken down from tables, and the air still held the stale warmth of last night's fire. Behind the bar, the old landlord was polishing a glass with the patient expression of a man who had been doing the same thing for decades.
Tom, the landlord, was nearly bald, with a narrow face and skin wrinkled like a dried walnut. He looked shabby at first glance, but there was a sharpness in his eyes that reminded visitors this was not merely an ordinary pub. The Leaky Cauldron had seen half the wizarding world pass through its doors, and Tom saw more than most people guessed.
Crack.
The sudden sound of Apparition rang through the pub. Tom jolted slightly, then looked up as Tyler and Timo appeared near the entrance.
"Oh!" Tom said, blinking before his expression warmed into recognition. "Look who it is. Mr. Blake, back in Diagon Alley again?"
"Good morning, Mr. Tom," Tyler replied politely. He gave the old landlord a calm nod, his voice steady and composed. "I received my Hogwarts letter yesterday, so I've come to buy my school supplies."
Tyler had been to Diagon Alley more than once over the years. Living in the wizarding world meant it was impossible to avoid the place for long, and because of that, he was already familiar with Tom, the Leaky Cauldron, and the way the pub worked as the gateway to the alley beyond.
"Ah, yes, the new Hogwarts term is nearly upon us again," Tom said, setting the glass down. "We'll be seeing plenty of first-years over the next few days. Parents, trunks, owls, lost children, nervous children, and at least one child who tries to bring home something they absolutely shouldn't."
The old man chuckled at his own words. Then he leaned forward slightly and asked, "Have you had breakfast, Mr. Blake? If not, you're welcome to have something here. It's still early."
"Thank you, but I've already eaten," Tyler said. "I want to finish my shopping in Diagon Alley as soon as possible, then return home early."
"Fair enough," Tom said with a small shrug. His smile was friendly but not intrusive. "Then I hope you enjoy your time in Diagon Alley."
Tyler nodded again, then led Timo through the pub and into the small back courtyard. It was a walled space with nothing especially impressive about it, only a rubbish bin, some weeds, and old bricks that looked no different from any other wall in London.
To a Muggle, there would have been nothing to see. To a wizard, the place was a lock waiting for the proper touch.
Timo stepped forward and tapped the correct brick above the rubbish bin three times with one long finger. At once, the wall shuddered. Bricks began folding back on themselves, sliding aside in a rippling pattern until an archway opened before them.
"Diagon Alley," Tyler murmured as the hidden street appeared ahead.
It was the busiest and most prosperous shopping district in Britain's wizarding world. Shops lined both sides of the street, selling everything from robes, wands, and cauldrons to owls, spellbooks, potion ingredients, and strange objects that looked dangerous even behind glass.
At the far end stood Gringotts Wizarding Bank, white and imposing, with its polished bronze doors and goblin guards. Even from a distance, the bank seemed to look down on the rest of the alley with cold, financial dignity.
"Timo, let's go," Tyler said.
He stepped through the archway into Diagon Alley, and Timo followed closely behind him. The opening narrowed after they passed, the bricks sliding back into place until the arch was once again only a solid wall.
Because it was still early, Diagon Alley had not yet become crowded. A few witches and wizards were already walking along the cobbles, and several shopkeepers were sweeping their doorsteps or arranging displays in their windows.
The shops themselves were open. Signs creaked gently above the doors, and enchanted displays moved lazily behind glass. A stack of books in one window kept rearranging itself by subject, while a cage of owls in another shop blinked sleepily at the morning light.
"Let me see what I need to buy," Tyler said.
He pulled out the list that had arrived with his Hogwarts letter. The parchment listed the equipment every first-year student needed: robes, books, a wand, a cauldron, scales, phials, and the rest of the standard items required for school.
After scanning the list, Tyler folded it neatly and put it away. "Timo, we'll go to Madam Malkin's first."
"Yes, young master," Timo said at once. He had no objection, because a house-elf's duty was to follow his master's orders and take pride in doing so properly.
Tyler brought Timo into Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. The moment they stepped inside, a short, plump witch in a mauve robe came forward with a broad smile, her eyes bright with professional warmth.
"Buying Hogwarts robes, dear?" Madam Malkin asked. "You've come to the right place. Best robes in Diagon Alley, and we'll have you sorted out in no time."
"Yes, madam," Tyler replied.
"Lovely," Madam Malkin said. She gestured toward a footstool near the center of the shop. "Stand up here for me, dear."
Tyler stepped onto the stool. A measuring tape flew over at once, hovering around his shoulders before sliding down to measure his arms, chest, waist, and legs with quick little flicks.
"Oh, don't worry, dear," Madam Malkin said as she moved toward a rack of black cloth. "This won't take long at all."
She began working on the Hogwarts robes with practiced speed. The style was simple enough, plain black school robes, but the fit still mattered if one did not want to look awkward for the entire year.
"Madam," Tyler said while the tape measured the length of his sleeve again, "please make my robes a little larger. I'm still growing, and they may not fit before the school year is over."
"Oh, of course," Madam Malkin said immediately. "Children your age grow like weeds. A little extra room is only sensible."
"Also," Tyler added after a brief pause, "I need to buy a black robe in an adult size as a gift."
Madam Malkin's smile widened, and she reached for another roll of fabric without hesitation. "Of course! Of course! That's fine."