Muggles often say that where there is light, there is also darkness; where there is justice, evil will follow.
The brighter the light, the deeper the shadow.
Just like human nature—it has both a light and a dark side.
Compared to Muggles, the wizarding world lays its darkness bare, without any attempt to hide its cruel realities.
Take Knockturn Alley, for example. Right next to Diagon Alley, it's home to the highest concentration of dark magic shops in Britain. The alley teems with wizards of questionable backgrounds, and even Dark Wizards willing to do anything for the right price.
This chaotic place—one that should never exist under sunlight—is separated from the lively Diagon Alley by nothing more than a wall.
And now, a familiar figure has appeared here...
...
Tap, tap, tap∼
A black hood concealed the figure's face, and a long, dark cloak covered the rest of their body.
If someone walked around dressed like this anywhere else, they'd immediately be labeled suspicious. Back in the Dark Lord's era, they'd probably have been mistaken for a Death Eater.
But in Knockturn Alley, this getup was as ordinary as it gets.
Almost every wizard passing by wore something similar. This unspoken dress code was like a rule here, making the outfit feel perfectly natural and blending right in...
The constant drizzle only made the alley feel more dangerous at night. With so few streetlights, the darkness felt oppressive.
"Hmm... So this is Knockturn Alley?"
"Boss lady, over here!"
"Keep your voice down! Do you want to draw attention?"
The small figure under the black robe snapped at her companion, her crisp voice drawing a few unkind glances from passing wizards.
The predatory stares from the shadows made the group quicken their pace.
In Knockturn Alley, girls were rare—and often targets.
If the girl hadn't been flanked by two burly bodyguards, a bold wizard might've already stepped up to "test" them.
And it definitely wouldn't have been a casual chat or someone asking for directions...
From their outfits and conversation, it was clear the girl knew exactly how dangerous Knockturn Alley could be—and how to blend in. They weren't lost. They came here with a purpose.
Of course, a few lines of dialogue had already exposed who they were.
When they finally stopped, a large magic shop loomed before them. The display out front was enough to make anyone's skin crawl.
Those were definitely human heads—no matter how you looked at them.
"Borgin and Burkes. This is the place, right?"
"Boss lady, should we go in?"
"Obviously. If Draco told us to come here, it must be safe."
Even though she said that, her stiff posture betrayed her nerves.
If it hadn't been Draco who sent her, she wouldn't have come near a place like this.
Yes, the three standing there were none other than Pansy and her usual bodyguards, Goyle and Crabbe.
It seemed their appearance here had something to do with Draco...
…
Borgin and Burkes.
The largest dark magic shop in all of Knockturn Alley, where every item carries its own dangerous, often unknown power—and most of its customers are just as dangerous.
Naturally, the owner of a place like this had to be powerful. Otherwise, he wouldn't have lasted long in such a chaotic part of the wizarding world.
In fact, back when he graduated from Hogwarts, even Lord Voldemort gave up a Ministry position just to work here.
In that sense, the shop held an air of mystery...
"Let's go. The sooner we get this over with, the better. Draco's counting on us."
"Mhm."
As Pansy pushed open the door and stepped inside, the first thing she saw was a wizard sitting behind the counter. He was running his fingers through his slick, greasy hair in an attempt to smooth it down—an act that made the cleanliness-obsessed Pansy instinctively recoil.
Besides this man, who appeared to be the shop's owner, there were others in the store—hoods pulled back to reveal their faces.
No, not people. Non-human creatures, barely waist-high on Pansy, with oversized ears.
As she took in her surroundings, the man behind the counter, still fussing with his hair, suddenly spoke.
"Show your faces, if you plan to walk through that door. And if I were you, I wouldn't stare at the goblin—even if he is a customer."
"Sorry. I'm looking for Mr. Borgin. Is he here?"
To outsiders, Pansy gave off the air of a cold and composed queen. She was polite, but distant, with a presence that made others hesitate.
As she spoke, Goyle and Crabbe silently pulled back their hoods as well.
The older wizard blinked in surprise at the sight of the three young faces, then quickly offered a knowing smile. Judging by his expression, he clearly recognized her.
"I'm the Mr. Borgin you're looking for. And I know you—no doubt little Malfoy sent you here, didn't he, beautiful Miss Parkinson?"
"..."
Still wearing her chilly expression, Pansy raised an eyebrow at the mention of Draco's name. As if confirming something, she reached into her cloak and set a metal-clinking pouch on the counter.
In that moment, she caught the unmistakable gleam of greed in Borgin's eyes.
"Let's get this over with. I'm sure Draco already explained everything to you."
"But of course. You can trust the reputation of Borgin and Burkes! Ah, here it is. Took quite a bit of effort to get my hands on it—this little item caused quite a stir back in the day."
Clink!
The money pouch vanished, and in its place appeared the item Pansy had come for.
After signaling to Goyle to take it, she showed no intention of lingering. Her delicate face disappeared beneath her hood once again as she turned and led them out of the shop.
Looking up at the still-drizzling night sky, Pansy let out a quiet breath.
Next, she just had to get this into Draco's hands...
...
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