XLVIII. Diagon Alley

                                    

                                          
Regulus Black awoke on 21 July feeling rather sad; it was his last day at Malfoy Manor. He hesitantly got out of bed, dressed into his normal clothes for the day, and made sure that his bags were all properly packed. 
                          
When he reached the dining room for breakfast, Narcissa smiled at him. "Good morning, Regulus! Are you ready to go?" She asked as he sat down across from her and grabbed a few waffles from the plate in the middle of the table. 
                          
"Yeah," Regulus said, though his voice was laced with much more sadness than Narcissa's. 
                          
"Well, before I take you home, I was wondering if you'd like to go to Diagon Alley to get your school supplies? I've gotten permission from your parents, and if you have your school supplies list-" 
                          
"I do!" He said, excitement coursing through his veins. 
                          
"Well, excellent! Once you're finished with breakfast, we can go straight there." She gave him a smile and stood up from the table, seeing as how she had already finished her breakfast. 
                          
"Ok! Thanks, Narcissa!" And he ate his breakfast with a renewed speed. 
                          
Nearly twenty minutes later, Regulus was withdrawing the list of needed supplies from his bag. Once he was sure that he had everything he would need, he called for Kreacher. 
                          
"Hello, Master Regulus!" Kreacher exclaimed as soon as he had apparated onto the end of the bed. "How has you been?" 
                          
"I've been very good, Kreacher! How are you?" Regulus asked, smiling at the old elf whom he hadn't seen since the day he came to Malfoy Manor. 
                          
"Kreacher has been being good! Does Master Regulus need Kreacher to take his things back home?" 
                          
"Oh, yes please, Kreacher. Thank you. Hey, when I get home later, do you maybe want to play a game of Gobstones?" 
                          
Kreacher nodded and flapped his ears happily. "Kreacher would love to, Master Regulus!" 
                          
"Ok! Well, I'll see you later, then." 
                          
"Goodbye, Master Regulus!" Kreacher said happily, and he grabbed the boy's bags to apparate them back to his bedroom at home. 
                          
When Regulus descended the staircase, Narcissa was already waiting in the entrance hall. She gave Regulus a smile, and gestured towards the front door. "Ready?" 
                          
He nodded his head vigorously, sliding his wand into the inside pocket of his jacket. "Ready!" He said. 
                          
She smiled and opened the door, leading him out into the yard where they could apparate away. They arrived inside of the Leaky Cauldron minutes later, and Regulus stumbled forwards. Oh, how he hated side-along apparation. 
                          
"Alright?" Narcissa asked, keeping her grip on his arm to help steady him. 
                          
Regulus nodded his head, though he kept his eyes closed so that he wouldn't have to see the room spinning. "Alright." He said, his voice wobbly from the nausea and twisting of his stomach. 
                          
Narcissa gave him a few moments to compose himself, and when he finally had, she led him towards the back. Regulus looked around at the groups of people behind the Leaky Cauldron, all either waiting for someone, or just chatting on their way out of Diagon Alley. When Regulus looked back, it was to see the wall in front of him slowly dismantling itself brick by brick, forming a large archway. 
                          
"Come along, Regulus," Narcissa said, and she walked into the busy alleyway beyond. 
                          
Regulus glanced at the witches and wizards that were bustling about on either side of himself, all there for different reasons. Some were just there to hang out, some were going to or coming from their jobs, some were going shopping for things that they needed around the house, and some were going shopping for school supplies, just like him. He looked around for anyone that he might recognize, but he didn't notice any familiar faces in the crowd.