Author's note : Hey guys. So thanks for giving this a read. This story by the way, is going to continue, and I will write it for as long as I feel like writing it, and I might change it accordingly. But till then give your reviews and suggestions. Our story starts in Kolkata, and takes place a few months prior to the battle at Hogwarts. I know I might have put in a lot more dialogues than necessary. Sorry. :)
This wasn't the first time for Tanya Mukherjee, to walk along this alley.
She has been traversing this little alley, hidden just around the corner on the eastern side of the main station, ever since she was five. And it was her grand father, who had first shown her this place.
“Tani, if you stop crying, I will take you to an amazing place.”
But Tani had been so busy crying, she didn't really care about what her dadu had to say. She was angry at her mum, who was still alive back then, for not giving her the magic pens she had yearned for since that afternoon, being sold by a vendor who was still within their sight. He was still hoping that her mother would change her mind. But she knew when her mother meant no.
They were at the Howrah station to board a train to Siliguri, where they were going to attend her cousin's marriage. Their train was at around five that evening.
“We still have a little above an hour. Say, Tani? Are you up for a little adventure?” her dadu asked her excitedly.
“I don't want adventure!” she cried in a muffled voice, her face still dug into her tiny bag pack. “I don't like any of you!”
“Now now Tani, that is a harsh thing to say . . . come.” And her dadu picked her up, despite her resistance.
“NOOO!” Tani bawled even harder as she thrashed about. “I don't want to! I don't want to go anywhere! I don't want to go to Siliguri! I don't even want to go home! Leave me alone!”
Her dadu sighed, but didn't put her down. After sometime, Tani stopped her thrashing and dug her tiny, tear streaked face into his shoulder to continue sulking. Her dadu started patting her back.
“Come Tani, you will really like this place.”
And so he had set off.
Even back in that day, the place had looked the same, crammed with makeshift shops and people. But the shops were never the same. You would always find the old shops you had found in the last visit replaced by the new ones. And the shops were also, not the normal shops you would find in any normal street of Kolkata. They were really fascinating, or so was Tani's opinion. Her grandfather would buy her some queer curios at times.
Once she had gotten a box full of colourful beads that never got lost. They were each of a different colour, and Tani was sure they always some how magically managed to appear back in the box no matter where she threw them or lost them, even on purpose, because she never had found a colour or a number missing. Her father would not believe her when she had told him. She even got a book that always made her sleepy no matter how much she tried to read it. She had never managed to finish it, and for some weird reason, she couldn't even remember what the book was about! But again, only her dadu would believe her when she told him.
“Here we are Tani. The Dugon gali.”
It was a small alley with a very narrow entrance which was hardly decipherable, just in between the huge station offices that surrounded it. On the inside, it was strewn randomly with small and queer makeshift shops. There were shoppers around her everywhere, blocking the alley, which was about as wide as three people her dadu's size standing side by side. And her dadu was really thin. But still these people had managed to cram in so many shops by some miracle. But the shoppers had to file in a line to reach anywhere, as walking together was impossible.
“Look Tani! Crystal balls!” her dadu said excitedly, as he pointed at some random vendor.
“Wish to know your dear one's future sire?” The old lady, whose shop it was, croaked, “These crystals are imported all the way from Natal. The best ones for divination.” Tani found the lady queer to the point of scary. Her face was covered with her navy blue saree, and she wore a zillion trinkets. She looked like a giant insect, and her eyes were heavily donned with black kajal.
But then she saw the little crystals displayed at her feet. They were opaque, and she could almost see some kind of smoke swirling within. She thought she could make out a faint bluish glow out of the little orb. They were indeed the most fascinating things she had ever seen in her life.
“Dadu . . . can I have one?”
“What? But there are so many other things to look for! Don't you wish to try out some chocolates? They have it from London here, and they are nothing like the ones you have had.”
But Tani was adamant on the crystal balls.
“Aye Sire. A fine choice she has, your grand daughter.” the lady cackled in a not so amicable way, and Tani didn't like it. But her longing for the crystal balls made her stay. Plus dadu was there to protect her.
“All right Tani, stay right here. Don't go anywhere.” her dadu sighed, as he put her down and got out his wallet.
The lady eyed the wallet suspiciously, as her dadu shuffled through the contents.
“Sire.” she began. “I hope you do know that we don't-”
“Yes I know.” Her dadu cut her short, as he handed her the money. “Ten, isn't it?”
“Actually 12 now. You know the demand is ever rising.”
“Gah! You always do that! Pretty sure it isn't even the Azurian kind. Anyway-” he handed her twelve rupees in coins.
Tani thought that she was missing something in this exchange, but she could care the least. She was really happy because she finally got what she wanted. The day wasn't as bad in the end. Her dadu held the crystal, the size of a cricket ball, high enough for her to see.
“Dadu give!” Tani said, as she stretched out her tiny hand.
“Wait Tani. Before I give you this, I want your word that you shall not show this to anyone.” her dadu said sternly.
“I won't!” Tani said immediately, as she reached out for them. But her dadu held it high enough.
“Tani, I want your word. Not even to your parents.”
“Yes but why?”
“Just don't. It is your special gift.” Her dadu smiled, as he finally handed her the crystal. Tani found its warmth spread across her fingers, as she touched it. And she was quite positive that the smoke had stirred when her fingers met the crystal. And even the glow had increased. But it was only for a moment.
It has been almost five years since she last visited this place. That was the year when her dadu had passed away. She was fourteen at the time.
And today, was the day she was supposed to return to college back in Mumbai, and her train was from Howrah station. And for some reason unknown, she had taken out the crystal from the deepest recesses of her bag, where she had always kept it. The crystal had looked ever the same, never tarnishing in its appearance, or beauty.
It had been quite a number of months since she had last seen it. To be honest, may be being at the station all by herself, and maybe because she had happened to witness the little girl bawling at her parents who sat right beside her, might have resulted in the triggering of that memory. Today too, her train was at around five, but that was because it had been delayed. So she had almost three hours at hand to kill.
And so she had set off all by herself. Without any second thoughts.
“Tani, promise me. You will never try to find this place by yourself. If I am not there, do not even think of this place.”
“But why dadu?”
“This is not a place for your kind.”
Tani had felt a little offended. What was her kind? What did he mean? But she didn't say much on that. She went back to concentrate on her 'liquorice wand', some sweet from London they had said. They often sold a lot of things, they said that were from London.
“Sorry dadu.” Tani muttered to herself. “Guess I didn't keep my word.”
Some other time, she would not have even thought of this place. Ever since her dadu had passed away, she felt scared at the thought of coming here by herself. But today, it was different. She almost felt like she had been prompted to this place.
She looked at her crystal. It always gave out a faint bluish glow, that she had never understood. Was it radium? It was surprising to see radium lasting for so long.
Even in her later visits, she had never met that lady again. Not that she was keen to find her. Even now, the memory of that lady wasn't that friendly to her.
But she had always found her crystal quite a mystery. She didn't know its purpose, and she was sure it had one. Her dadu had never openly discussed any of the items he had ever gifted her from here. He had always been a little guarded, and would laugh away any questions related to this place. And when he did answer, Tani was sure he wasn't being honest anyway.
“How old is the Dugon gali? Well I have always known it to be there, but some say it is as old as Howrah. It is quite famous you know.”
But Tani knew that wasn't true because neither her dad, nor any of her friends or any of her uncles knew, that some alley called Dugon gali even existed. But Tani had always remembered seeing the alley packed, so she had wondered whether her dadu had actually told her the truth.
But it was like an endless chakra of two questions.
Should she believe her dadu? Or should she not?
He had always been very hard to take seriously. It wasn't just her who felt a similar dilemma.
And somehow, this little tour back in the alley made her miss her dadu even more.
She was so immersed into the thoughts of her dadu, that it was some time when she noticed certain things she should have noticed before. She had been walking along for the past half an hour, being lost in her own world, before she realised this strange anomaly.
Firstly, the alley was not as packed as before. There were fewer shops, and even fewer people.
Neither has she ever been this deep inside the alley, nor had she guessed it to be quite so long. May be her memory was faltering her, but suddenly the familiarity with this place was fast evaporating.
It was cold. Tani knew, Howrah has never been cold before, at least not in September. And here she was, almost shivering. And she was positive, even in that supposedly tiny alley, that she was quite lost.
Suddenly Tani could feel the starkness of the difference since last time. The place had always been buzzing with a positive energy before, in her past visits. But today, there was a chilly tension that hung like a sword above her. People, in tiny knots, were hurrying away. Everybody seemed to be in a hurry, especially to leave. Most of the shops were closed, and it was just the afternoon.
And to make matters worse, she was absolutely sure she was being followed.
Before she could investigate any further on her instinct, her eyes fell on a couple of foreigners in cloaks, hurrying away with packages.
This didn't make any sense. What was this place? She had never seen foreigners here before. Neither did she think the roads were this broad. They were of the same structure as before, made of stones, but she couldn't recall them being as broad as now.
But before she could figure out any further, Tani heard a scream a few blocks ahead, and then she witnessed the blast.
BOOM!
It blew away a major chunk of the office building right in front of her.
She staggered and fell, unable to withstand the impact and the debris. People were screaming and running amok around her.
And then she glimpsed upon the most horrific but senseless scene ever. A bunch of dark hooded figures, with their masks on, were marching forward, towards her, with sticks held out as guns. One of them had it pointed up in the air, and what she saw up there, almost made her vomit her guts out.
There were levitated bodies. Ten or twenty bodies of people who probably had just died from the crash. And they were hovering in mid air, just like that, above the masked group. Each of them were bloodied and disfigured. Some had their limbs missing.
But before Tani could absorb any further, she was knocked out.
*
Tani had a train to catch. She was at the Howrah station. Her train was at five. Now was not the time to sleep because she would miss the train. She needed to get up right now.
But getting up was very difficult. Her body was stiff and wouldn't listen to her. Somewhere behind her, in the middle of her back, she felt a muffled pain, as if somebody had hit her quite hard over there. The floor where she lay was cold as stone.
Tani managed to open her eyes, the tiniest bit.
Where was she?
It looked like a room, with a lot of mess. Just above her were wide glass windows from where light was streaming in.
Was this the retiring room at the station? She must have fainted on the platform, and so people must have carried her here.
But wasn't she at Dugon alley?
Slowly, she started to get up. Her body was aching, but she managed to sit up at last.
She finally got the chance to see around. Whatever this place was, it sure wasn't the retiring room. Nor was it anywhere inside the station. Where was she?
She looked around her, and she saw boxes. There were also vessels atop that looked like kadhais. There were many of those. But they were a little oddly shaped. She had seen them before at Dugon gali. They were called . . . but she couldn't recall the name.
“Ah dear, you are awake already.” came a voice from behind her which made her jump. It belonged to a very old and stooped lady in her late sixties, wearing green robes and a cloak, who came into her vision, carrying a tray with a giant mug full of tea. She also happened to be a foreigner, and she spoke in a heavy British accent.
“Here.” she handed her the mug. “You were lucky you know. They don't like your folks much around here. Had they seen you, they would have immediately taken you. Luckily you were right beside our shop, and my grandson Joshua happened to see you. He has gone to check on the damage as of now.”
Tani just kept on staring. None of this made any sense. She recalled being lost in the alley, and that horrific scene that still sent chills through her spine. But it didn't make any sense, whatever she had seen. And whatever she saw. Why were there so many foreigners here?”
The tea looked greenish.
“What is this?” asked Tani, cautiously examining it.
“Drink it. It isn't poison. It is in fact herbal. I have even put some crushed bezoar in it, just in case. You look pretty battered to be honest.”
Again, none of it made sense. But sure she looked battered, as she was covered in dust and debris from the blast which had happened just a few feet away from her. She even had some cuts.
Without thinking further, Tani took a sip. It tasted disgusting and she almost gagged, but she immediately felt a warmth seep through her from her throat, which made her feel better.
Despite the terrible taste, she had already finished half the mug.
“I am sorry, but where am I?” Tani asked after she had gotten over some of the numbness and fatigue that still persisted mentally and physically.
“Oh you are at the cauldron repairing workshop of the Leaky Cauldron. Your folks are quite fond of cauldrons, aren't they? You are always taking them back to your place.” said the lady. “I have never quite understood the obsession.”
“Cauldrons . . .?”
“For potions. Dear, you have hit your head quite hard.”
Tani had some trouble understanding the lady's accent.
“But what place are you talking about?” Tani asked. “And what folks?”
“Oh dear . . . I must give you a memory replenishing potion after this, but I need to brew it. Perhaps I should put it for brewing right away . . it will be made in an hour . . .” the lady muttered to herself.
“I'm sorry what?” Tani asked.
“Never mind dear. Currently You are in Diagon Alley. And your folks meaning the Indian folks we have around here, coming all the way from Calcutta.”
“So what am I doing here? Isn't the station nearby?” Tani asked even more confused. “This is Dugon gali isn't it? In Howrah?”
“Dear dear,” the old lady shook her head sadly. “That is what your folks call the Diagon alley in your tongue. Weird pronunciation.No offence, but I could never speak it myself. But you must have been in Diagon alley in Calcutta, before you came to Diagon alley in London.”
“In London?!” Tani exclaimed. What was the lady talking about?
“Yes dear, we are currently in Diagon alley, in London.”
“I don't get it, how did I come to London? You are lying!” Tani exclaimed. “This cannot be London! That is impossible!”
“Dear! I understand your confusion due to your ailment but I have been very well known for my honesty and integrity!” the lady huffed. “I shall never lie to a fellow witch or wizard especially in these dark times! Especially not to someone my grandson had just saved!”
“Sorry.” Tani said immediately. “But how can this be London? Don't you think that is impossible? I was in Kolkata this afternoon, just a while back! I wasn't catching a plane but a train!”
“Dear, just why isn't it possible to be at London? You were at Diagon alley there weren't you? And what is this plain you are talking about? How can you catch a plain surface?” asked the lady, this being her turn to be confused.
“Huh?” Tani felt even more confused. “I meant plane! As in an aeroplane! You need an aeroplane to do intercontinental travelling . . .” but the lady's confusion hardly ceased, so Tani tried to make a gesture to mimick an aeroplane flying through the air with her hands, and then gave up as it didn't make any difference.
“Miss er . . . I don't think this is London. This has to be Howrah er Calcutta . . is all I think.” she added.
“Yes dear, you are yearning for your place I get it. You can go back there after you have taken some rest. And it is best if you do, because London is not safe, not in these dark times.” the lady said.
“Go back? How?” Tani asked. This lady was definitely more loony than she had thought. First of all she was at Howrah and not London. And even if hypothetically she was in London, how did she suppose she could return back to Howrah?
“Dear, the wall passage of course. You really have lost your memory, haven't you? Can you tell me your name again?”
“Tanya.”
“Tanya? That is a pleasant name. And I am glad you remember that at least. I am Mrs. Rosalin Humfrey. It is a pleasure. But you must have more tea and a memory replenishing potion before you leave.”
“No I think I will miss my train if I do. How long have I been out by the way Mrs. Humfrey?”
“Aah . . must have been five hours or so.”
“WHAT? OH NO I missed my TRAIN!”
“But dear, after that death eater attack, I hardly think that is of any consequence. Perhaps you should think on how to get back home and suspend all your travel plans for a week. And please don't visit London again, it is indeed not safe for your kind.”
Tani had questions, but the lady wasn't really helping her get to the answers, despite all her niceties. In fact she annoyed her a bit.
But at that instant, a tall figure crept into the shop. He was a young man who must have been a year or two older than her. He had a skinny figure, but carried the disposition of a man who was decisive. Also he seemed to be in a critical state of urgency. He had straight and auburn hair that swept neatly above his brows, although a little messy at the moment. His green eyes looked exhausted but alert.
“This place isn't safe any more.” he said in a deep rumbling voice. He also happened to have a wooden stick in his hands which he held like a weapon that could save his life.
“Oh dear . . . what now?”
“We have to leave tonight. You start packing.”
“But . . why? We are pure bloods aren't we?”
“Does it make any difference? Almost fifty have been killed. And the attackers weren't all death eaters. Some were snatchers. They won't care about blasting the building next door or being ruthless in general. Plus, we can't harbour her here. We have to take her somewhere safer.” The boy pointed at her.
“Well she can go back to her place right?” Mrs. Humfrey asked.
“It is not so simple. Some of the death eaters have escaped into Calcutta and are currently wreaking havoc there. They have taken over the portals.”
“But surely the ministry-”
“Oh haven't you heard? The ministry has fallen. Scrimgeour has left his position and cannot be 'found'. And no one knows the whereabouts of the order. Harry Potter is already dead for all we know.”
“Oh dear. What now-?”
“Pack. We need to leave.”
“Excuse me!” Tani interjected. She felt really annoyed. “I really don't get it. Why should I come with you? I am not going anywhere without an explanation!”
“You really don't know anything right?” the boy almost sounded exasperated. “I happened to know your grandfather Arvind Mukherjee. Anyway I think I have the right to be discrete because I also happen to be the one who saved your life. So be grateful and listen to my orders if you wish to live. ”