Everyday Players at Hogwarts..

Chapter 288 Knockturn Alley
As the sun sets, the cobblestone ground turns dim.

The scattered wizards on the street also began to return to their homes.

Penelope's golden curly hair gleamed in the dim sunlight, and a slight blush appeared on her fair face.

Kate was hopping around like a rabbit, grabbing Ryan's right hand.

"Ryan, let's just go back."

"If this continues, Penelope will probably still be immersed in that ghost book even after dark." Kate raised her head boredly and looked at Ryan eagerly.

She knew what kind of abilities Ryan had. For example, when she was traveling with Ryan before, Ryan waved his hand and a gray thing called a dimensional wall appeared.

As they walked towards it, they appeared in Albania - the place to travel.

"No, don't you think it's rare in Diagon Alley at this time?" Ryan refused softly. Kate's mouth was pursed, almost hanging a bottle of oil.

Diagon Alley is the largest and most prosperous trading center in the wizarding world, but it is not as brightly lit as other trading centers.

On the contrary, as soon as dusk falls, all shops except those near the Leaky Cauldron will be closed.

Late at night, the Leaky Cauldron was the only bar with lights on.

This is actually all because of Diagon Alley’s neighbor - Knockturn Alley.

At night, when Knockturn Alley officially opens, dark wizards from all over the world gather here to exchange their collections.

But things have been different lately, or at least they have been different since Ryan started sweeping Knockturn Alley.

Dark wizards still exist.

However, those guys who killed innocent people indiscriminately and committed evil deeds all disappeared one by one.

Other slightly better lands were also taken in by Borgin and Burke, contributing to Borgin's industry of pirating Skywalker's Alchemy Workshop.

Today, Knockturn Alley might as well be a giant flea market.

Many items banned by the Ministry of Magic are traded here.

The most interesting thing is Fudge. He thinks all this is his own credit, and he even boldly takes people to Knockturn Alley for a secret patrol.

Finally, outside London, he reappeared naked.

During the few days when he was gone, the efficiency of the Ministry of Magic improved again.

He also brazenly attempted to order the closure of Knockturn Alley.

But no one paid any attention to him.

After all, Knockturn Alley is one of the purebloods' money bags. Especially now that it has been suddenly cleaned for some reason, this is undoubtedly more important.

As for Fudge, who is he?

And Fudge, once again, mistakenly believed that all this was due to Dumbledore!

Dumbledore's reputation means his orders are not respected!

So he once again discussed with his chief military advisor Umbridge how to discredit Dumbledore.

"Well, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor is pretty good." said Fudge after reading the Daily Prophet.

Knowing all this, Ryan couldn't help but pray for Fudge and Umbridge, praying that they would not end up worse than in the original world line when facing Voldemort - entering Azkaban.

However, there is another possibility.

Ryan noticed one thing, that is, after Fudge's two sudden disappearances, the Ministry of Magic had discovered that it would be better without him.

His trick of using Dumbledore's power to bully others was no longer useful.

Especially now that he is actively trying to get rid of Dumbledore's influence.

Maybe Fudge would be gone before Voldemort could make his move. This was very possible.

Fudge is a man who lives up to his name.

Very blessed.

Because of Crouch senior's downfall, his correspondence with Dumbledore, and the need for a seemingly gentle minister in peacetime, the incompetent him unexpectedly came to power.

In the original world line, on the eve of Voldemort's official comeback, he was lucky enough to step down, unlike the unlucky Scrimgeour who lost his life.

Even in the end, he didn't stay in Azkaban for long.

Maybe, this time he will step down early because of his own good fortune.

That would be hilarious if that were true.

But it all started with Ryan - his cleanup of Knockturn Alley.

It is also because of this that Diagon Alley at night, away from the Leaky Cauldron, can be visited by people.

There are fewer people now, but people are not used to it yet.

In addition, there is the impact of Fudge's disappearance here not long ago.

As the night deepened, Ryan and the other two, who had cast magic to reduce their presence in the surroundings, gradually began to retreat.

But it was more because of Penelope who had come to her senses. "We can go now."

"But I never imagined Knockturn Alley would be so lively at night," Kate said half expectantly and half hesitantly.

I was looking forward to it because I had been thinking about going home for a long time.

The reason for her hesitation was that she found herself unusually curious about the hustle and bustle of Knockturn Alley.

"Shall we go shopping some more?" Penelope said hesitantly, noticing Kate's expression.

She was very embarrassed now, having watched for so long without realizing it.

Wasted so much of everyone's time.

Since Kate wants to go shopping, let her go.

As for the safety issue, doesn’t we have Ryan?
So, Ryan and the other two, who had concealed their presence, came to Knockturn Alley, which was strictly forbidden by their parents.

In the daytime, it was a dingy alleyway lined with shops that seemed to deal in the dark arts.

The shop windows on the street displayed some shrunken human heads in a gloomy manner, a large cage filled with huge black spiders, green poisonous candles, and stacks of what appeared to be dead people's fingernails.

That's what happened when Ryan and his friends passed by during the day.

But now, although those disgusting things still exist, they have become inconspicuous in the night.

What's more, various stalls have been set up on the stone floor that has become as white as a mirror.

To Ryan and the others' surprise, there were no obvious, disgusting, or horrifying black magic props here.

On the contrary, this place is more like a wholesale market for magic potions - the kind that specializes in wholesale of precious items and is not allowed to be sold directly.

The black, calloused feet of a giant monster, the green, crystal clear venom of an acromantic spider, the hot blood of a unicorn with a cursed smell, the feathers of a thunderbird that shines with lightning and is locked in an insulated, transparent bottle.
In addition, on the other side, some brand new, strangely shaped wands caught Kate's attention.

Some of them are purple with a dreamy mist, some are hollow with feathers burning like fire, some are more like an iron rod, reflecting dazzling cold light under the moonlight, and some are as white as jade, with illusory transparent birds entwined around them.
Kate pulled Ryan and Ryan nodded. The next second their unnoticed existence reappeared and twisted into three burly black-robed wizards.

Before Ryan and the others could say anything, the old man at the stall said in a tone that seemed arrogant but actually lacked confidence: "Look! This is my latest wand - Dream Traveler Poplar, Duel Master Red Oak, Soul Messenger Silver Basswood, Extraordinary Laurel White Ash"

Then, in Ryan's mind, Kate's excited voice sounded, "Ahhh, so cool, I want it even if it's a Transfiguration!"

(End of this chapter)