After leaving the Safe House, Albert used Transfiguration to disguise himself as a middle-aged red-haired man. He could not head straight to Diagon Alley; that would be too conspicuous, putting himself in danger and, more likely, causing trouble for the three of them and their newly opened Joke Shop.
It was best not to let too many people know he was connected to that shop. Otherwise, the Death Eaters might set their sights on him.
After all, what he was about to do would indeed make him some enemies.
When Albert stepped into the Leaky Cauldron, he found the once-lively pub utterly deserted, without a single customer. The elderly proprietor sat behind the bar, and upon hearing Albert's footsteps, stopped polishing his glass and looked up hopefully, expecting the customer before him to sit down for a drink.
Albert nodded to Old Tom and, under the latter's disappointed gaze, passed through the pub's main hall toward the small backyard where the bins were kept.
The entrance to Diagon Alley was here.
Rather than Apparate directly to Diagon Alley, he had come through the Leaky Cauldron's entrance because he wanted to get a sense of the current situation in the wizarding world without attracting attention.
Albert raised his wand and tapped a brick in the wall. An opening immediately appeared, leading to a winding cobblestone path. He stepped through it and entered Diagon Alley.
Diagon Alley had changed completely. Its former prosperity was gone, replaced by dark, deserted streets. Death Eater Wanted Posters were plastered everywhere, while countless ramshackle stalls had suddenly appeared on both sides of the road. Their vendors were wizards who had once lurked on the fringes of the grey market. The Ministry of Magic no longer had the energy to manage Diagon Alley, and all sorts of