"Your snacks are delicious, ma'am—"
The plump witch who sold snacks also cleaned the train carriages. As he passed her, Percy nodded and smiled, then stepped off the train.
The Hogwarts Express had stopped at Diagon Alley Station. Some of the passengers boarding here were headed for King's Cross Station. By the time Percy squeezed through the endless stream of people and emerged from the station, the sky above had already grown dim. A crimson sun hung precariously over the distant mountains.
He checked his watch. It was already seven o'clock. His gaze fell on the document pouch tucked beneath his arm, and he hesitated.
At this hour, most wizards would normally have finished work and gone home. Perhaps they had even finished dinner and were sitting leisurely in their gardens, enjoying the evening breeze. Percy was not sure whether Professor Lupin was still working at that workshop that had recently risen to fame. If he was not there, Percy would have to make another trip tomorrow.
But he had work tomorrow. Although he currently had nothing to do at the Ministry of Magic, skipping work was not his style. Besides, even though his mission to Hogwarts had failed, he still had to report the result to the Minister for Magic.
After a brief hesitation, Percy decided to try his luck. The conflict last night had made the atmosphere at home even more suffocating. He would rather stay outside and catch some air.
Night was approaching, and many shops had already closed their doors. The few stores still lit by dim oil lamps had little business as well.
The sparse pedestrians on the street hurried along, unwilling to linger outside. After all, the state of security in the wizarding world lately was plain for all to see.
Even in Diagon