What Is This Place? ((Payton))

[Gavin Armstrong H6]

‘Creak’ went the rusty old door as Gavin pushed it open. He coughed as the smoky air filled his lungs but stepped into the pub anyways. His eyes burnt slightly from the sudden shift of the outside air and the musty smoke filled air despite the fact it was June so they had no reason to have the fire on technically, as far as he knew. He glanced around nervously knowing coming in was a bad idea – he had to go home. His parents though he was still in the neighborhood at home. What if they went out looking for him? But something – some invisible force – was pulling him further in. Why this pub was there was more important. Inside was the strangest assortment of people Gavin had ever encountered that was for sure. There were people in veils that covered their faces, people wearing top hats, people in pointy hats he saw in movies about witches and they had the cloaks to match, and then a few people in regular clothes. Maybe there was a strange convention of some sort in this brand new really old building nobody else could see? Well obviously these people could see it. But these people were crazy. But he is in there too does that make him crazy?

“Ummm hello.” Gavin barely got out at the bar and the man standing behind it looked over at him queerly. “Coke please.” Gavin got out and the man just looked at him like he were nuts. “I think your lost boy. Here pumpkin juice, on the house, then go find your parent, aye?” The man said eyeing Gavin suspiciously. “Thanks” was all Gavin managed to mutter before slumping down on a barstool and trying to choke down his drink.

[payton]

School was out. Finally. While he loved Hogwarts, and being a wizard, there was something to be said about being back home with his family, even if it did mean that his wand remained in its little box by his bed. Muggle life had not fully started though, as he still had a week before he started his job at the Cafe, meaning he had a few day to say a final good-bye to the world of witches, wizards and magic for the summer.

He pushed open the door to the Leaky Cauldron, and stepped inside. It was easy to see that he looked rather out of place, as he had already become a muggle again, on the outside at least, jeans and an orange muggle t-shirt with a navy Celtic design did not quite fit in with the drap looks and black pointy hats. It did not bother him though and he made his way to the bar and leaned over the counter.
"Pumpkin Juice" he said to to the man who was tending the bar. "You can't get a descent cup of it in the muggle world."

He turned around and leaned his back against the counter as he waited for his drink. He glanced over to see a young boy who looked rather overwhelmed, and he flashed him a friendly smile.
"Don't worry, its all hard to take at first. Soon it will seem so normal you wont even be able to imagine life before magic."

[Gavin Armstrong H6]

Gavin was slightly worried and tried not to make eye contact as a boy who had just ordered pumpkin juice began speaking to him. When they boy mentioned magic though Gavin coughed up his drink out of surprise so it went all over the bar in front of him. "M magic?" He asked looking at the boy who was obviously insane while trying to mop up his mess with some napkins he grabbed from a little ways away."W what are you playing at magic?" He mumbled stuttering. Remembering that he shouldn't talk to strangers though - especially crazy ones - Gavin looked away from the boy and down at the counter while trying to finish his drink as fast as his clamped throat would allow.

'Magic? Man this guy is a nutter. Maybe he is here for the convention? Maybe these people fancy themselves real sorceress'. Maybe he was simply jesting and they know it isn't real - after all you are the one who doesn't know where you are - not he. Maybe he thinks you came for the convention as well. Or maybe he is just a basket case. While either way I had best not find out. I should just head home. Thank goodness he is in normal clothing at least. Some people take things too far that is for sure. And who drinks pumpkin juice? I didn't even know you could make juice from pumpkins.' Gavin thought trying to distract himself from the boy who was waiting for his drink.

[payton]

His pumpkin juice arrived and he turned to lift the glass, taking a sip before he looked back over at the the boy he assumed was a firstie and probably a muggleborn. There was something about that combination you couldn't understand unless you lived it--like it was some sort of dream, or nightmare at times, and you just couldn't wake up from it no matter how hard you tried. You knew magic didn't exist, you had finally come to terms with it, and then some letter that may or may not be real says otherwise. For him, it wasn't until he finally arrived at Hogwarts and stepped into the Great Hall that he finally truly believed.

He took another sip of his drink before moving closer to the boy, that same easy going grin on his face.
"I know, I've lost it and I should be hauled off to some padded room. Luckily, I can use my wand to unlock the doors."
His grin widened and he raised his eyebrows, pulling his wand out of his pocket for the boy to see.
"Your not the only one who did know magic existed and then had an owl fly in and drop them an letter."

[Gavin Armstrong H6]

Gavin couldn't help but let out a small chuckle when the boy suggested he be carted off to a padded room. 'Is this guy for real? That strip of wood is "wand" like from the fantasy books? How original he is' Gavin thought not able to keep his eyes from rolling a wee bit. Suddenly the boy mentioned receiving a letter and it all clicked in... the letter. 'But the letter was just a dumb joke. It would seem not. It has to be - magic isn't real. Then how did this suddenly appear? Why is this boy talking to you? You really don't think Jheylon even could have gone this far had he wanted to do you? Who knows what Jheylon is capable of. Don't be ridiculous. Me ridiculous! You are the one fighting that magic is real.' Gavin thought before realized he was staring at the boy slack jawed. He gave a small cough and looked away. "W what is this place? What's it got to do with the letter? Why couldn't I see it before? Can my brother see it now? I have a twin brother by the way. Why is this here? Magic isn't real - magic can't be real." Gavin began slow and stuttering but finished more quickly as if she was babbling though his voice was still rather shaky.

[payton]

He raised his eyebrows as he watched the boy, resting an elbow casually on the counter top as he watched him. He could only imagine what was going though the boys mind, after all, he had probably had all those same thoughts when he was a first year. "Easy there mate, one question at a time."

He sent the firstie and easy going smile and took another sip of his drink before he addressed the questions. He was obviously far less bothered by the situation. "Your in the Leaky Cauldron, its a wizard pub and in of sorts. Not a half bad place either; the pumpkin juice is good, and so is the butterbeer." That said he glanced over the counter at the man who was tending it and gave him a smile. He had started stopping by a couple times a month a few years ago, when he started to miss the wizarding world. "Now...what was next...Ah! Thats right, the letter. It has to do with the letter because the letter stated you were a wizard, and what better place for a wizard to be than in a Wizard pub and in." He flashed another grin, his eyebrows raising quickly before he drained his glass of pumpkin juice and looked back at the boy. "As for the rest of the questions...You couldn't see it because it is hidden from muggles, muggles being people who aren't magical, unless your brother is a wizard too, no he can't see it, its good to know I'm not the only one who has a twin, and the Cauldron here serves as a portal to the wizarding community of London." He paused for a moment then nodded, agreeing with himself that he had covered everything.

"I'm Payton Moore by the way. Wizard extraordinare."
He grinned again, his eyebrows raising at the boy before he looked back over the counter and tapped his glass to let the man tending know he wished for another.

[Gavin Armstrong H6]

Gavin took a deep breath when the boy told him to slow down and only ask one question at a time. 'Wizard pub', 'letter stated you were a wizard', 'hidden from muggles', 'muggles being people who aren't magical', 'no he can't see it', 'not the only one who has a twin' Gavin heard the answers flash in his mind an click together. It made perfect sense and yet made none whatsoever at the moment. As Gavin was processing all this the boy introduced himself as Payton Moore and Gavin realized he had gone a conversation nearly without even exchanging names with him. "I'm Gavin Armstrong - muggle. I'm no wizard - I can't be a wizard. I am only a kid, come on. I know no tricks. Things just happen but it's not my fault. Everyone has strange things happen to them - that does not make them wizards. I don't care what some letter says I am not a wizard. It's just not possible - it isn't. I mean... how? Why?" Gavin said going through stages of calm, angry, and deflated within minutes. He slumped in his seat and brought the glass to his lips once more only to find it empty.

"Can your twin see it?" He finally asked a minute later looking up at Payton eyes pleading for... something - he didn't even know what.

[payton]

He glanced over at Gavin, giving him a please-to-meet-you smile before picking up his glass and taking a sip of the refreshed pumpkin juice, glancing over to see that Gavin's glass had been emptied as well.
"One for him too."

Satisfied with the cool pumpkin juice he had been longing for ever since he left Hogwarts he looked back over at the firstie.
"Trust me, your a wizard. The owls are never wrong. Don't worry though, it will all make sense eventually. Its just...new."
It was then that Gavin's glass was refilled, and Payton smiled thankfully at the tender, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a few wizarding coins, handing enough to the man to pay for his two drinks, as well as Gavin's.

"And yes, Dillion, thats my twin, can see it. He's a wizard too." His answer was slow and careful. It seemed that the little fellow got worked up rather easily. "But none of my other siblings are."

[Gavin Armstrong H6]

Gavin sent a grateful grin at Payton as he made sure Gavin's drink was refilled. 'Another few minutes won't kill me. There will hell to pay for being out this late anyways.' he thought. His heart lightened as Payton said his brother - Dillion - was a wizard as well. "So... so maybe Jheylon's letter is just late? Right? Maybe his will come tomorrow and I can show him this place and... What if it doesn't? How do your parents feel? Your other siblings? I mean... you still see them right? They still talk to you? They know right? So everyone in here is magical? How... how does it happen? I mean are random people just born that way? What if they made a mistake?" Gavin took off again before remembering he was only supposed to ask one question at a time. "I will still have my brother right?" he all but begged the older boy.

[payton]

A light hearted laugh escaped as the little fellow started off again asking to many questions to be answered all at once. Questions were good and all, and at least he seemed to have come to terms with the magic thing, but he had to learn to relax a bit.

"Hold it mate, remember to breath there. Being a wizard doesn't take away the need for oxygen."
He laughed again, then smiled at Gavin, never seeing as if he was judging when he did it. It happen to be one of the things he was good at. He could laugh with out hurting people--for some reason, it just worked for him.

"Now, first thing to address is this brother thing. I'm sorry to say Mate, but chances are if an owl came for you and not him, then yours Bros probably a muggle. Muggleborns, wizards with muggle parents, are rather few and far between. Your born with it, so its not something you can change, or really have any choice over."
He grinned, sipping at his drink again before his eyebrows raised as they always did when there was something more to say.
"As for my family, I still talk to them, I still live with when when I'm not at school, still love me and the whole deal. Basically they were shocked, but supportive, and that goes for the whole family. Your brother is going to be jealous like you wouldn't believe though."
He grinned at that, hopping it would make the little fellow feel better. There was something about knowing you could do things you siblings can't that always brightened the day.

[Gavin Armstrong H6]

‘Breathing yes that would be a good idea.’Gavin thought at Payton’s suggestion. He let out another small chuckle – hearing the older boy laugh certainly was a calming factor. His heart dropped in his chest all the way down to what felt like his stomach when Payton said Jheylon would likely not be recieving a letter. He was certainly glad to hear Payton’s family were ok with it though. In his heart of hearts he knew he had no reason to worry – his family would accept him no matter what – and this was just another no matter what that they hadn’t considered. But it was always nice to hear an assurance that it was something that could be accepted. He gave Payton a small smile as his heart restored itself but an inch or two below where it belonged. Thoughts of how and when he was going to tell him family didn’t even enter in – they would know eventually and they would be ok with it – they had to be. A mischievous grin came upon his face as Payton said Jheylon would be jealous. He of course didn’t wish his brother to have an ill feelings but… it was about time Gavin had something or was able to do something his brother would desire instead of the other way around.

As he took a drink and looked around a thought occurred to him. “Umm Payton? Why is it I have never seen any indication that there were wizards before? I mean I understand that this pub was hidden and so I would assume the other stores and things would be hidden the same but… wouldn’t people notice people in pointy hats moving from invisible store to invisible store and things?” Gavin asked suddenly astonished he had never had any indication that there were wizards before.

[payton]

As he took another sip of his pumpkin juice he decided he was going to have to show the little fellow around Diagon Alley. Just because the he was a muggleborn it didn't mean he couldn't get a head start on the wizarding world. He then shrugged and looked back over at Gavin who had asked him something.

"Most of the time Witches and Wizards live in magical communities away from the muggle world. Muggles have this habit of over reacting when they see magic." He grinned and sipped at this drink again. "So most of the time they don't see us because were not around. Those who are, are muggleborns or understand muggle life so we can live with out being noticed. Even Diagon Alley, thats the wizarding market of London, is separated from all the muggles." He tried to picture all the muggles he knew seeing Diagon Alley and he laughed. "They would all think they had gone mental if they saw the Alley."

[Gavin Armstrong H6]

“Market in London separate from ‘muggles’? But… how does that work? I know all of London like the back of my hand… there is no room – not even a small space on the map to hide a single shop – never mind a whole market…” Gavin sputtered taking another sip suddenly feeling rather parched. “Can I see this alley then? Is it far? Since I am technically a part of this magical…” Gavin started before stopping abruptly – rather afraid of what he had just said. He was a part of this world? He was a part of this world. Yes he was now a part of it… he thought. Rather terrifying to wake up one day only to find out this whole world existed that you never knew about. And then worse to find that you are meant to be in it. A big adjustment – one he was not positive he was ready for – especially if he had to do it without his brother. They had always done everything together – how would he handle being part of something his brother could not be?

[payton]

He nodded, remembering when he felt the same way. He lived in London, he knew every corner and every store...how could there be this whole other part that he had never been to before...but it seemed that there was.
"I know its odd, but trust me, its as real as the pumpkin juice your drinking. I can take you there now though if you want. Its through a wall out back and you have to know just the right bricks to tap. See, it is in London...its just in a place where muggles can't get to it."
He flashed Gavin a wide smile before he jumped off his stool, his eyebrows raised again as he waiting for Gavin to accept the offer. It had been the little fellow's idea, but it was still entering a whole new world.

[Gavin Armstrong H6]

Gavin gave a sheepish grin as Payton offered to take him to the Alley. How was it so near? Gavin knew this area and there was no space to hide an Alley… But then there was no room for his pub either… Somewhat hesitantly Gavin got up from his seat and with feet that felt like lead he trudged toward the brick wall that Payton had indicated. He laid a tentative hand on the bricks as if they were going to spring to life any second and looked back at Payton. He then took a step back and waited for the older boy to show him what needed to be done.

[payton]

He grinned slightly, glancing back at the boy before pulling out his wand and tapping the exact right brick. After a moment, the bricks started moving. The slid over and turning, moving away from the middle, and before you knew it, you could see straight into the alley. It was bustling with witches and wizards, some dressed as normal as any muggle and others wearing black robes and painted hats. Over the years the wizarding world had become so normal to Payton, but to a muggle born entering it for the first time, he knew that it would be over whelming. Nothing was the same here. Everything seemed, old, for lack of a better word. The air smelled heavily of herbs muggles had never smelled before, and no part of modern civilization existed here.

Payton stepped forward and through the open arch, then looked back over his shoulder at Gavin.

[Gavin Armstrong H6]

Gavin watched entranced as Payton touched what seemed to be a specific brick. The wall quivered and wiggled and slowly pulled away revealing an alley filled to the brim with interesting looking shops. The stars could be seen shinning bright high in the sky and Gavin was reminded once more of how much trouble he would be in when he arrived back home. Oblivious to the boy beside him Gavin stepped forward into the abandoned street as if in a trance. He pressed his nose up to a nearby shop window and watched the stars glitter off the scales displayed and some liquids that were sitting in the window before remembering he wasn’t alone. He looked over to Payton and gave him a rueful grin. “What… I mean… Wow” was all he could choke out before turning back to the windows.

[payton]

He stood near the Gavin, watching his expression. The ally still seemed amazing even to him, and it was almost 7 years ago now that he first came here. He could still remember when he stepped out into the cobblestone streets for the first time, it felt like he was in a completely different universe, or the world was playing some twisted joke on him and altered reality. Caitlin had always liked Fantasy books growing up and it seemed more like a plot from one of her novels than what had become his life.

"I know...there is no way to describe it other than that. Just wait until you see it in the day."
He took a few steps down the street and peered into one of the windows. It was a quidditch shop with the latest broom model displayed--he didn't play, and only had mild interest in the game, but Dill seemed to have taken a shine to it.
"You should have a list of things you need for school. You'll have to come back when everything is open. If it makes you feel better, I can meet you in the Leaky Cauldron again and help--I know it all seems off at first, especially when you look at your list and it starts talking about potions ingredients and sizes of cauldrons."
He grinned at his comment, his eyebrows raising. He decided that helping a firstie along may be a good time.