Well, here I am with a new chapter for the new year! Hope that you guys enjoy it!

Disclaimer: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is owned by Hasbro and Harry Potter is owned by JK Rowling.

"Hello"-Normal Speaking

"Interesting..."-Nightmare Moon speaking

'Huh.' -Normal thoughts.

'All mine...' Nightmare Moon's thoughts

---

Groaning, Harry slowly sits up causing Nightmare to fall off the bed from where she was. "Oof!" Standing up, she glares at Harry. "Do you mind?"

Harry just rolls his eyes as Luna snickers. "Brushy, brushy?"

Nightmare's eyes light up. "Do you really mean that?"

Sighing, Harry nods. "Yes, I do. But it'll have to be later." Hearing a sad sigh as Nightmare claps her hooves and nods, Harry rolls his eyes. "And I'll do the same later for you too Luna." He simply hears a squeal as Luna tackle-hugs him. After a moment she let's go as Harry gets up, a book that was on his bed tumbling onto the floor as he grabs what he needs and heads into the attached washroom. Coming out, he rubs the bridge of his nose as he spots Nightmare having a staring contest with his new owl Hedwig. "Do you really have to do that?"

Nightmare just waves him off. "Yes. She is quite the opponent."

Luna just gives her a deadpan look. "You're in a doll. Your eyes are made of plastic. Do you honestly expect to lose a staring contest?"

Nightmare snorts, not taking an eye off Hedwig. "She challenged me. Besides, looking away first counts." Nightmare then smirks. "Thankfully she does not have that 'Stare' ability that one Earth Pony we met did." Luna just flicks a small stone on the floor at her head causing her to whip around. "WHAT THE HAY WAS THAT..." She trails off and glares. "That was low, even for you."

Luna just smirks. "Says you." She then turns and flies over to where Harry is looking out a window over the alley. "So are we going to go exploring today Harry? We don't have to worry about Hagrid picking spots for us to go, and with the time we got..." She lays her head on Harry's shoulder. "Well, I think there's so much to see."

Nightmare just grumbles. "You mean eat..." Seeing Harry about to say something, Nightmare holds up a hoof. "Child, I do not blame you. We have already been over this." She gestures between herself and Luna. "While the little Princess can manifest the way she does, I cannot. This is the closest I can come." She then grins a little. "Besides... If I had permission, I could use her senses..."

Luna's mouth opens and closes several times before she sighs. "Do you promise not to try and possess me?"

Nightmare looks at her with an expression of shock. "Are you offering me what I think you are...?"

Luna just huffs. "Well... I don't like to see anypony suffer so..." She then shrugs before glaring at Nightmare. "Do you want it or not?" Nightmare just nods, still in a state of shock. After a moment, Luna shudders some and grimaces. "Happy?"

Nightmare just nods with a smile. "Very." She makes her way over and jumps up to the window and then scrambles onto Harry's shoulder. She's about to say something when she turns and glares a little at Hedwig as she lands on his other shoulder. "And what do you think that you're doing there." Hedwig barks causing Nightmare's eyes to narrow as she taps Harry's shoulder. "My spot, not yours."

Harry just shakes his head while trying to keep from laughing. "Well, aren't we in a good mood?"

Nightmare looks away from her glaring contest with Hedwig to give Harry a smirk. "But of course." She taps Harry on the shoulder as she chuckles. "We're away from those... creatures you call relatives for the next couple of months at least. So why wouldn't I be in a good mood?"

Harry just chuckles as he heads out the door. "Too true." He then becomes quiet. "What's your opinion on what's happened so far? We were so tired last night from everything that I forgot to ask."

Both Luna and Nightmare become thoughtful as Harry orders his breakfast. It's not until it comes that Nightmare speaks up. "I have mixed feelings over it." Harry turns and regards her as does Luna. "On the one hoof, you will get proper training in your species' magic. And so will come to your full potential." She then lifts up another hoof. "On the other hoof, it seems that these wizards practice a flawed culture. The fact that they hide from those without magic in order to not have to be asked for help proves it. Not to mention the possibility of bribery..."

Luna nods. "I actually agree with her for a change." Looking over the booth to make sure that no one is watching, and there isn't, she makes her way beside Harry and touches him with a wing as he feeds magic into her. "I don't think that we have enough information at the moment to make any real conclusion, but with what Nightmare has pointed out as well as what we know of their schooling system... it's not looking good." Looking around again, she leans down and shovels some eggs into her mouth as Nightmare moans about how it tastes so good. Swallowing, she straightens causing Nightmare to groan in annoyance. "But all we can do is wait and see."

And with that she goes back to eating her portion Harry set aside as Nightmare makes various sounds. After they're done, Harry looks at Nightmare in amusement. "Well? Shall we?" Getting up, Nightmare seems to stagger drunkenly over to where Harry is. Harry just picks her up and lays her on his shoulder as Luna laughs. She clamps her mouth shut a moment later with Harry's next words. "I wouldn't laugh Luna, I remember someone being almost the same after the first few times."

Grumbling as she blushes, Luna gives a little huff as she walks out the door. Entering the alley, she calms down as her good mood returns. "So where to first?"

Looking around the crowds, Harry shrugs. "Let's just walk around and see." He spots a small kiosk and grabs a map of the alley from it (after paying a few knuts for it). "Well, this should help I think."

Nightmare nods, her next words causing both Luna and Harry to roll their eyes. "We should stop by the bookstore again, after all that book on curses looks interesting."

Luna is about to say something when she stops and points to the side. "I wonder what's down there?"

Looking over to where she's pointing, both Harry and Nightmare raise their eyebrows as they see the small off-shoot. "Hm, looks interesting." He then glances at the map in his hands as an eyebrow raises. "And it's not on the map for some reason." He then shrugs. "Well, let's go have a look see shall we?"

As they walk into it, they glance around causing their eyebrows to raise. "My. The stores here are much smaller than in Diagon." And indeed they are since most are not even half the size of the ones in the main alley. Also, there's far fewer people there as well. Looking into one of the windows, Nightmare nods. "Nic nacs it seems. No wonder then."

Luna then flutters up with a gleam in her eye. "Can we go into that one over there Harry?"

Shrugging, Harry walks over. Entering, he has to smother a laugh as Nightmare glares at Luna as they've entered a toy store. Before he can say anything, a slightly motherly looking woman with brown hair and hazel eyes comes up. "Hello sir, may I help you?"

Harry just shakes his head. "No, but thank you Ma'am."

He's about to say more when she notices Nightmare and gasps in delight. "Oh my word! A Pegacorn! How very charming!" She then looks at her closely. "Is she yours?" Nightmare grumbles as she leans back making the woman's eyes widen even more. "And one that is animated and intelligent!" She then looks at Harry with a sparkle in her eyes. "You simply must tell me where you got her! I can after all tell that she isn't one of ours."

Harry just blinks. "Um... I made her and one day she kind of... woke up."

A large grin stretches across her face at that. "Truly! That is most impressive. One that comes about through accidental magic is stunningly rare, especially if she is as intelligent as she seems to be."

Harry just slaps a hand over Nightmare's mouth as she goes off. Suddenly, he realizes what she's talking about. "Wait, you have some like her?"

The woman nods. "Indeed I do, in fact..." She suddenly stops and slaps herself on the forehead. "Goodness me! I am so sorry, but I not only forgot to introduce myself, but to introduce you... I mean get your name. My mind can be such a bother." She holds out a hand as Harry's lips twitch into a smile. "I'm the owner of this little piece of joy, Winifred Poe. Most just call me Winnie though."

Harry grasps her hand with a large smile. "I'm Harry Potter."

She's silent as her jaw drops causing Harry to take a step backwards. "OH MY!" She then grins hugely. "Not only do I have Harry Potter, THE Harry Potter, but I'm also looking at a toy he made!" She then notices him slightly freaked out and calms down. "Sorry about that. Didn't mean to scare you."

Harry shakes his head. "That's okay, no harm done." Harry then looks around. "So... what are the ones like Nightmare like?"

Blinking, Winifred shakes her head. "Sorry." She gestures for him to follow her. "As you may well know, you can magically enchant objects to be animate and sentient after a fashion."

Nightmare bristles a little, but says nothing as Harry makes a thoughtful noise. "Well... actually I didn't."

Winifred just shrugs. "Well, we can. The most commonly seen ones are the pieces for Wizard's Chess. At Hogwarts, you also have the suits of armor." She stops in front of several plushies that are moving around in a pen causing Harry's, Luna's, and Nightmare's eyes to widen. "What most don't know is that they're easier to do then to animate stuffed animals or to give them sentience."

Nightmare blinks and looks over at her. "How so? It's just magic after all."

Winifred shakes her head. "Actually no." She gestures at the pen. "Anyone could enchant an object with animation and sentience. Making it last is a whole other issue. With hard objects like suits of armor or chess pieces, the problem is solved because they have runes carved into them. They allow the spells on them to be permanent." She reaches down and picks up a stuffed dog that barks. "Stuffed animals on the other hand, due to being unable to have runes carved into them, have to undergo a complicated process involving a very specific pattern of spells that must be cast. Together, they create a permanency that will last a few decades before needing to be redone." Suddenly she stops and sighs before looking at Harry sheepishly. "Sorry, this type of thing I love going on about but... sometimes I forget that some people might not understand what I am talking about."

Harry shakes his head. "Actually, I understood some of that."

Winifred claps her hands. "Goodie!" She then places the dog back into the pen. "So is there anything that I can help you with? With Nightmare there, I'm going to assume that you weren't looking for another toy."

Harry shakes his head as Nightmare has to bite her tongue to prevent ranting about being called a toy. "No, I was just looking around." He suddenly stops and smiles. "Actually... do you have anything that Nightmare could use?" Nightmare looks at him in shock and surprise as does Luna. Seeing this, Harry smiles. "You've been there for me for a long time Nightmare. Consider this a thank you gift."

Nightmare stares at him for a moment before looking away. "While this pleases me, I would like you to know that you don't have to do this."

Harry just smiles. "I know. But I want to." He turns back to Winifred as Nightmare clears her throat. "So... do you have anything?"

Winifred nods. "As a matter of fact, I do. Follow me." Harry follows her and is soon in a section with a selection of toy clothing. "Here we go. Does this help?"

Harry nods. "It does actually. Thank you." Winifred just waves her hand before leaving since another costumer enters the store. Harry then looks over at Nightmare. "So? See anything you like?"

She jumps down from his shoulder and starts walking around. "Hm..." She suddenly stops. "These look good." Harry sighs as he rubs the bridge of his nose as he sees her gesturing at night themed socks made for dolls.

Sighing, Harry shakes his head with a small smile on his face. "Should have known..." He then smiles. "Well? Go ahead and pick some."

Nightmare's face lights up as she canters into the isle looking at the socks. "Ooo! This looks good!" She then gasps. "And they have multiple pairs of the same socks! YES!" She grabs a pair and looks it over as Harry watches with an amused expression on his face. "And the pictures even move!" A few minutes later finds a chuckling Harry walking out the door with a shrunken bag in his pocket and Nightmare on his shoulder admiring her new socks that she's wearing. "Quite nice of her to add the dirt repelling charms." Luna grumbles a little causing Nightmare to smirk. "Jealous much Little Princess?"

Ignoring Luna glaring at the doll on his shoulder, Harry glances around with a thoughtful look before glancing at the map showing the shops he got the day before. Seeing this, Luna turns from her glaring contest. "Something wrong Harry?"

Even Nightmare turns to him as he shakes his head in confusion. "It's this map... For some reason it doesn't show this part of the alley..."

He jumps a little as a voice speaks up behind him. Whipping around, he's confronted by a boy in his late teens with long red hair and a tooth hanging from his ear. "Something the matter?"

Blinking for a moment, Harry shrugs. "Um... this place isn't on the map..."

The boy makes a thoughtful noise."Can I have a look at the map?" Harry nods and hands it over. Looking it over, the boy chuckles. "You got one of the older ones kid. This one is about three years old." He hands it back to Harry and holds out his hand. "Name's Bill Weasley by the way."

Harry smiles as he shakes Bill's hand. "My names Harry." Having enough of every one gasping at his name, Harry decides to leave his last name out of it. "So why are things so different then?"

Bill looks around and gestures back to the entrance of the alley. "They found this portion of the alley about a year ago after a drunken wizard near the Leaky Cauldron got angry and knocked a hole in the wall." He then waves a hand at the alley around them. "Turns out that this place was sealed off from the rest of the alley about little more than 326 years ago during the Great Plague. Apparently the families here were hard hit by it and after the... err, 'cleanup' was done, they sealed it off and eventually everyone forgot about it."

Harry blinks a little but before he can say anything, Nightmare speaks up. "How the hay could they have forgotten about it? There had to be maps and such. And how do you know so much about it?"

Bill is a bit surprised at the doll but then shrugs. "There was various wards on the entrance and they only weakened enough recently to allow the place to be discovered by chance." He then chuckles. "And as for how I know about this place?" He then grins. "I was an Apprentice Curse Breaker at the time and cut my eye teeth as it were on the Wards here. Of course, it didn't take long for several shops to open as people moved in." He then reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small map and hands it to Harry. "Here, I don't use this anymore so you can have it." He then ruffles Harry's hair a little after Harry thanks him. "No worries, hope you have a good day mate." He's about to walk off when he stops. "Oh, and if you see two red headed twins and they try to give you something, don't take it."

And with those words he walks off leaving Harry glancing over the map. Luna watches him and smiles. "He was nice."

Nightmare just waves it off. "Yeah, yeah. Nice guy and all that." She then looks at Harry. "So where to next then?"

Rolling his eyes, something catches his eye. "This looks good."

Luna looks at the name and snorts. "'Mundane Emporium'? Wonder what's in there with a name like that?"

Harry shrugs a little as he starts walking, Luna beside him unseen by all but him and Nightmare. "Who knows? Besides, not much more to do then explore." They soon find the shop in question and enter it to find what looks like a normal (thought quite small) second hand electronics store. Hearing a hooting noise, Harry looks up to see an animated owl figurine hooting. "The Hay?"

From the back of the shop, comes a voice. "I'll be right with ye'!" A moment later red headed man comes out from the back. Seeing Harry, he smiles. "Weel now, hello there laddie. How can I be a service?"

Looking around, Harry can only shake his head in amazement. "For some reason. this I'm surprised about this place being this..."

The man chuckles as he nods. "'Mundane'?" He then glances around his shop. "Weel, it is out of place, now isn't it Laddie?" He then sits into a chair behind the counter. "Tis' somethin' that I been wanting to for quite a while now." Glancing Harry over, he nods. "Muggle raised are ye'?" Harry's eyes widen before the man points to his shoes. "Muggle shoes Laddie. Only Muggleborn like meself and Muggle raised wear them." He then rubs his hands together. "Now then Laddie, have a look see around dinnae get many customers around 'ere."

Harry glances around and Nightmare roll her eyes. "Harry, none of this would work at Hogwarts." Harry is about to say something when the man chuckles. "What?"

The man shakes his head, still grinning. "This be not normal muggle items ye' see. These be able to work even in Ol' 'Ogwarts they can." He taps a cassette player near him. "Ye' see Laddie, these not be normal muggle items. Oh, no." The man grins as he chuckles. "They run on magic." He then waves around the shop. 'What ye' be seeing here is the only shop authorized like ta sell enchanted muggle objects."

Beside Harry, Luna scrunches up her face in thought. "'Authorized'? Why would you need to be authorized to enchant objects?"

Harry echoes her question causing the man to turn solemn. "Ye' do need to be authorized to enchant muggle objects. Tis' many laws for it." He then sighs and shakes his head. "'Muggle Baiting' they call it. It's when a wizard enchants an object with abilities it shouldn't have and uses it ta 'Prank' unsuspecting muggles. Usually in various mean-spirited ways." He then leans back in his chair and nods. "But I know a thing or two about laws being a former Auror. No laws are broken since none O' these items have a function that they were not designed for. Only difference between them and their actual muggle counterparts is tha' they can be used in places like 'Ogwarts and run off the magic. Everythin' else?" He shrugs. "Th' same." He then leans forward. "So then Laddie, lookin' for anythin' in particular?"

Harry walks farther into the shop and pokes around a little. "Well... do you have any stereos or tapes?"

The man smiles and soon after, Harry leaves with some less gold on him, but a bag full of items and a smile on his and his companions faces. After a moment, Nightmare turns and regards Harry with a smirk. "You know that we've likely been gouged, right?"

Harry snorts in amusement. "Of course we were. But with him being the only provider of this stuff..."

Luna now looks at the bag with a frown. "Hopefully it works."

Harry chuckles slightly darkly. "Well... if it doesn't and he lied, well... all I got to do is say something..."

Nightmare's face lights up as Luna rolls her eyes. "And he would be ruined. Ooo! I am so proud of you!" Luna just rolls her eyes and mumbles about Harry spending too much time with her.

---

That night finds Nightmare reading a new book of spells when she hears something. Turning, she sees Harry shivering due to him kicking his blanket off. Shaking her head, she walks over and pulls it back up. Watching him for a moment, she smiles brushes some hair from his forehead when she suddenly stops. 'Wait... why am I acting this way?' She then looks at Harry with a frown. 'He's nothing more than a pawn... right?' She then grimaces. 'Have I... become weak?' Angry, she glares at Harry's sleeping face for a moment before her anger melts away with a sigh. "I wonder... what is it about you that affects me so? That makes me want to protect you?' Silently growling, she hops off the bed and climbers onto the window sill. Looking out over the darkened alley, she turns inwards for a time.

'So like me... dark, twisting and... lonely.' The last thought comes unbidden to her as her frown deepens. 'Lonely? Where did that come from?' Her mind flashes back to when she had gone to war with Celestia. '[/i]I was never lonely. I had plenty of subordinates and servants.[/i]' She then remembers how while she had many serving under her, she didn't know them. Never talked to them as her, Luna, and Harry talk. They were always distant to her. She suddenly remembers something Harry said to her...

*************Flashback****************

Blinking, Harry looks at Nightmare. "Hm? What was that Nightmare?"

Rolling her eyes, she sighs and repeats herself again. "Of course you're not alone." From where she is beside him, she subtly gestures at the rather crowded dining room of the Leaky Cauldron. "You're surrounded by people!"

Harry just shakes his head. "A person can be all alone in a crowd you know." Nightmare just scoffs...

***************Flashback End**********************

Blinking, Nightmare repeats what Harry said. "'One can be all alone in a crowd...'" She quietens as she continues watching the alley when she notices a small light slowly making its way through the darkness She becomes mesmerized as she watches it bob. Unbidden, her mind begins reviewing memories of the times she's spent with Harry. As the light enters the tavern below, a feeling of peace washes over the usually turbulent mind of the dark alicorn as darkness returns to the alley. She then turns to where Harry is sleeping and softly chuckles. She stands there for a moment before hopping down and heading for a door. 'A nice walk sounds good right about now.' Walking to the door, she uses a small burst of magic that leaves her feeling more than slightly tired to turn the doorknob as she leaves. Once out, she walks down the hall and into the dark main floor of the pub when she stops as she sees a grungy man sitting with his head in the fireplace while green flames burn in it. 'Now that is interesting...'

Keeping to the shadows, she gets close enough to hear the conversation, causing her eyes to narrow. "Aye Headmaster. The boy is perfectly fine and sleeping soundly. Visited a number of places today as well. Seemed to enjoy himself."

A moment passes before a voice comes through the fireplace. "I am glad to hear that he was safe and enjoyed himself Mundungus. Please do keep an eye on the boy but do not interfere unless he is in danger. While I am sure that he is safe at the moment, it is always better safe than sorry."

The now identified Mundungus nods. "Of course Headmaster. I've got some
dealings in the alley anyways so it's no trouble to keep an eye out."

A tone of disapproval enters the other voice. "I do hope that you are not doing anything illegal Mundungus."

Mundungus seems to chuckle nervously. "Of course not Headmaster. Anyways, I'll keep an eye out tomorrow as well." After a moment, the other voice thanks him and the fire goes back to normal. Reaching up to a vase on the mantle, Mundungus takes a pinch of something and throws it into the fireplace before calling out an address. Sticking his head back in, he calls out. "Oy! Sean, you there."

A low, growling voice soon answers. "Wha's the big deal Dung! Do yeh have any idea as to the time?"

Mundungus just snorts. "Of course I do, but now's the best time since no one's here. So... do you have the money? Grabbing the storage crystal from Geodesic's place wasn't easy I'll tell you!"

Sean grumbles. "Don' have th' money on myself at the moment. But ah should by the 'morrow."

After a little bit, Mundungus pulls out as the flames once more turn back to the same color. Stumbling over to a nearby chair, he pulls out a bottle and starts drinking it. After a bit, he pulls out a longish crystal that's softly glowing. Looking it over, he grins as he slurs his speech. "'Ou'll be making mee a purty knut ye wil..."

Getting up, he starts stumbling for the door, unaware of Nightmare before she darts between his legs, tripping him. Flailing, he smacks his head on a table causing him to be knocked out. Nightmare just strides up with a smirk. "Well now... that worked better than I thought." Seeing a glint, she walks towards it before realizing that it's the crystal. Picking it up, she looks it over, and takes note of the small runes etched in the surface. "How perfectly smart these human wizards are. Creating something that can act as a magical battery. You will be [u]very[u] useful to me." She then notices a sharp knife on the floor causing her to darkly chuckle.

---

Walking into the main dining room the next morning, Harry glances up at the tired Nightmare on his shoulder. "Are you sure you're okay Nightmare? You've been moving around kind of... gingerly if you don't mind me saying so."

She just waves him off before softly grunting, not moving much. "It's nothing that you should worry about."

They walk by some witches who are whispering. "Did you hear about this morning? They found a naked wizard down here. Apparently he must have tripped and knocked himself out!"

The other witch scowls. "Those bloody perverts. Probably come to try and peep on us in the middle of the night." Harry gives the woman a weird look since she looks like she's not about to win any beauty pageants (and more likely break any mirrors that she looks into). "Hopefully they threw him in jail! Good riddance I say!"

Shaking his head, Harry sighs. "People are so weird..." Nightmare just smirks before wincing as she places a hoof on her side for a moment. The action going unnoticed as Harry and Luna sit down...