Compared to Diagon Alley, the goods sold in Echo Alley are more dazzling, more trendy, bold, and filled with creativity.
In Diagon Alley, if there weren't Vid's new inventions, the things sold in the shops wouldn't change much year by year, at most a few new books in the bookstore or a new model of Flying Broomstick in the broom shop.
Other than that, its appearance hasn't changed much compared to ten years ago, twenty, or even fifty years ago.
But Echo Alley closely follows Muggle trends—the shops play popular punk music and Hip-Hop, the robes in the robe shops seem to mimic the Batman movie, real vampires dress themselves like vampire counts, and Vid even saw Wizards wearing ripped jeans and Martin boots under their Wizard's Robes.
Vid took a steaming "Big Pot Coffee" from the shop assistant, holding the handle of the Cauldron-shaped cup, glanced over the street at those young people dressed in hip-hop style, then turned to Selena and asked:
"Ms. Goldstein, I thought you've always insisted on completely isolating from the Muggle Society?"
Selena held her coffee as if she were attending a meeting, turned to Vid, and said:
"Isolation means setting up barriers in positions, emotions, law, and life, but it doesn't mean burying our heads in the sand, knowing nothing about the changes around us—that's not protection, but ignorance, a way to self-destruction!"
Her gaze also swept over those very "Muggish" decorations and said, "To ensure our world isn't noticed, we must know them better than anyone else, so we can perfectly blend in and avoid their scrutiny."
"So... to hide in a forest, you first become a leaf."
Vid felt that what she said made a lot of sense, much better than the obstinate and conservative mindset of some in the UK, yet somehow it didn't seem quite right.
He thought for a while and slowly said, "But when you embrace their rich and colorful culture, mimic their trendy attire, immerse yourself in their wonderful music and art, can it really be as you say—no bias at all emotionally?"
"Of course." Selena said without hesitation, "Our history is filled with memories of being persecuted by Muggles, establishing emotional bonds with them will inevitably lead to exposure, persecution, and even destructive warfare. Every American Wizard knows they must never trust or fall in love with a Muggle!"
She didn't deliberately lower her voice, and Vid noticed that a few young people sitting in the shop started making faces upon hearing Selena's words, and someone showed a disapproving expression.
Moody snorted, "People aren't machines, Madam. You can only represent your own thoughts, but you can't control what others think."
"My thoughts are the thoughts of most American wizards!"
Selena said stubbornly and earnestly, "There might be some individuals with different thoughts, but the vast majority of us believe the Rappaport's Law is correct, abolishing it is the real mistake!"
Vid shook his head, didn't comment, and after finishing his coffee, said, "Let's go back, I'm a bit tired today."
Selena certainly didn't object, she would prefer these foreign wizards not to go out, to prevent increasing their workload.
...
The day of the Alchemy Competition is getting closer, and the guests at the White Bridge Inn have quietly increased. When Vid and the others returned to the hotel, they saw a tall, stern-looking young man with short gray hair checking in.
In the moment they passed by, he heard a cold, distinctly accented voice say:
"Lev Zakharov, I booked a room three days ago."
His accent was somewhat similar to Natalia's, and Vid, who was going upstairs, couldn't help but glance back.
The young man had broad shoulders and a tense jaw, exuding a near-military sternness and focus, his fingers thick on the counter, and the back of his hand had burns and corrosive marks.
Beside him was a large suitcase, without any unnecessary decorations, only a few symbols carved near the wheels.
"What? Met someone you know?" Lupin paused and asked.
"No." Vid turned and smiled, "But maybe... we've encountered a competitor in the competition."
"Oh?"
Lupin also glanced back, then said, "That person doesn't look like an Alchemist... more like an Auror."
They reached the third floor, and just as they were approaching that heavy wooden door at the end of the hallway, Moody, walking ahead, suddenly raised his arm, blocking Vid and Lupin behind him.
"Something's off." He whispered hoarsely, his normal eye squinting, and his Magic Eye swirling madly, scanning the hallway and walls up and down, "It seems like there's someone inside the room, my magic..."
His voice suddenly stopped, both eyes fixed steadily on the door, his brow furrowed.
The atmosphere instantly became tense, Lupin turned sideways against the wall, Magic Wand already in hand, Vid also instinctively pressed to the side to avoid becoming a target once the door opened.
Just as they were about to break in, the most alert Moody, after a moment of silence, directly reached out and pushed open the door.
"Wait, Alastor..."
Lupin's attempt to stop him wasn't finished when Moody had already pushed the door open, and Vid, following in, saw a small guest in the middle of the room—
Dobby stood beside the chair, clutching the hem of his clothing, nervously yet expectantly looking at the doorway.
Upon seeing Vid, he immediately exclaimed excitedly, "Vid Gray, Mr. Gray, Dobby did it! Dobby brought your items safely on time! All the way very carefully, absolutely unnoticed by anyone!"
He took out a pencil case, offering it to Vid with both hands, his big eyes gleaming brightly looking at him.
Vid immediately stepped forward and took that essential pencil case, the brass lock—which was the wardrobe space doorbell—swaying slightly in his hand.
Everything was intact.
Vid reached out to pat Dobby's head and sincerely said, "Thank you, Dobby, you did an outstanding job, more reliable than I could've imagined! You really helped me a lot, truly!"
Dobby was so happy he almost fainted from joy, the hardships of the journey seeming to vanish at this moment.
He next heard Moody give an unnatural cough, turning his face awkwardly to say, "Hmm... indeed... not bad... better than some careless wizards."
This acknowledgment from Mad-Eyed left Dobby in disbelief, even reaching up to touch his own ears.
Lupin, the last to enter, had already cast the Quietening Charm and Colloportus Charm before anyone said the first word. Standing by the door, he smiled and said:
"Now that's better, with a Poppet around, Vid's safety has a better guarantee."
Vid corrected, "It's our safety, Remus."
"Yes, I misspoke." Lupin said to Dobby, "To travel such a long distance unnoticed, and precisely find us... Dobby, you're a truly reliable friend and warrior. Vid having your assistance is his good fortune!"
"Dobby… Dobby knowing Mr. Vid is the luckiest luckiest Dobby too!"
The House-Elf clenched his fist, an unprecedented determined expression on his face, "New York is dangerous, Dobby wants to stay and help too! He can keep watch, and help send messages, very very useful!"