Chapter 138: Turning to the Alley
Of course, Phineas knew that the carriages were actually pulled by Thestrals, and he could see these creatures as well.
Although Thestrals mainly eat raw meat, they have long been used by many ancient wizarding families to guard their homes. However, because only those who have witnessed death with their own eyes and truly comprehend what death means can see them, most wizards regard Thestrals as incarnations of death.
Naturally, Phineas could see them. After all, he had slain dozens of vampires in the vampire castle. If that doesn't count as understanding death, then very few people would qualify.
Contrary to popular belief in the magical world, not everyone who has witnessed death can see Thestrals. Many wizards have seen loved ones die, yet remain blind to them. Only those who have encountered particularly tragic or violent deaths—and grasped their full meaning—can perceive them. That's why Harry Potter couldn't see Thestrals before The Goblet of Fire, but after witnessing Cedric Diggory's death and truly understanding its tragedy, he could.
Thestrals are highly magical. Simply tell them your destination, and they'll take you there—so long as it's not protected by enchantments, like Number Twelve Grimmauld Place. Places like that are untraceable to them.
The younger students take these Thestral-pulled carriages from the gate near the long bridge outside Hogwarts Castle to Hogsmeade Village, not far from Hogwarts and still within the UK. From there, they board the Hogwarts Express at the magical railway station bound for King's Cross in London to return home.
Phineas, however, didn't need to go through all that. He summoned Puff, who took him directly out of Hogwarts. The castle's anti-Disapparition wards don't affect magical creatures like phoenixes or house-elves. Naturally, Phineas could also have used a house-elf to take him home.
It would have been quicker than a day-long train ride. Besides, Number Twelve Grimmauld Place—the ancestral home of the Black family—was quite close to King's Cross Station.
Phineas didn't linger at home. After storing away his belongings, he used Puff's help to arrive in an alley near Diagon Alley.
Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley are adjacent, forming the largest magical district in Britain. While Hogsmeade is the largest wizarding village, Diagon Alley is the true heart of the British wizarding world—home to numerous shops, Gringotts Wizarding Bank, and even branch offices of the Ministry of Magic.
Diagon Alley is primarily commercial. Though some wizards live there, it's known for stores like Ollivanders, Flourish and Blotts, and the Magical Menagerie. Many shops across the UK maintain branches here.
Knockturn Alley, by contrast, seems like a slum, yet it's a hub of wealth and power. While many impoverished wizards live there, the area is frequented by the wealthy—especially pure-blood families with close ties to its merchants. It's the largest gathering place for dark wizards in the UK.
Despite its grim appearance, Knockturn Alley is vital to the magical economy. Many Hogwarts graduates—especially non-pure-bloods—can't secure jobs at the Ministry and end up working in small shops. For them, Knockturn Alley offers affordable living close to work, even if it's steeped in shadows.
The Ministry of Magic knows all this. It's aware of the dark wizard presence but avoids interfering for three reasons: First, it's dangerous—dark wizards are vengeful. Second, the magical world relies on low-level workers for its social structure. Third, pure-blood families benefit greatly from the Alley's black market and cheap labor.
Shops like Borgin and Burkes and Hals' Strange Magical Items thrive here, selling everything from cursed trinkets to dangerous potions. The Ministry rarely provokes these vendors, knowing the risk of retaliation.
Beyond magic item shops, the Alley boasts a bustling wizard's market, full of dark wizard-run stalls selling rare and sometimes illegal goods—if you know how to find them. There are also potion and herb shops.
At this moment, Phineas was inside one such place: Silver Moon Potions Shop.
The shop specialized in Wolfsbane Potion. Though their versions were defective, they were cheap. Of course, they sold more than that—illegal or restricted potions not found elsewhere in the magical world.
Buffy Brain Elixir, Felix Felicis (Liquid Luck)—these were nearly impossible to find on the open market. But if you had the right connections and followed the rules, you could acquire them here.