Chapter 9: Borgin and Burkes
Knockturn Alley was a twisted alleyway infamous for shops devoted to the Dark Arts. Decent wizard folks stayed away from the area since it was frequented by suspicious and degenerate individuals with corrupt intentions. The wares and objects sold there had no purpose in the ordinary life of a wizard or witch.
As Harry and Hermione walked through the gloomy alley, severe-looking vendors hissed at them.
"A dozen shrunken heads at five sickles!" an ugly shopkeeper growled at the boy.
"Are ye looking fer hueman toenails, young laday?" a toothless witch muttered from a window. "I hev three peunds in stock!"
"Know the future deaths in your family!" an old woman hollered from her cubicle shop.
"Psst! Do you want to purchase house-elves?" a gaunt man in a cloak asked Harry, matching his stride.
The boy shook his head and quickened his stride, leaving the shady vendor behind.
Hermione and Harry had hoods pulled over their heads.
"Really?" he had complained when the little witch had voiced her plan. "How will hoods prevent us from getting detected? People will know instantly we are kids."
"They are charmed, Harry!" Hermione had fired back. "I got them at a joke shop. To a stranger, we'd both appear much older than we are."
Now that they were in the heart of Knockturn Alley, the duo pulled their hoods close to their ears.
They said the shop names aloud as they passed them.
"Cobb and Webb's," Hermione mouthed. "Ye Olde Curiosity Shop."
"The Coffin House," Harry joined in. "Paradise for necromancers. That one is scary."
"Dystyl Phaelanges. Human bones for inhuman needs."
They passed a worn-out sign that said, "This way to the Knight Bus Stop."
"Fledermaus and Tanner Bats & Skins. Ugh."
"Shyverwretch's Venoms and Poisons."
"The White Wyvern Pub."
"There…!" Hermione exclaimed under her breath, gesturing at a large shop dominating the alley side. A sign above the establishment read, "BORGIN AND BURKES. Since 1863."
At the entrance, Malfoy and Riddle stood casually, waiting for someone.
A busy-looking man with frayed hair stepped out and smiled at the blonde boy. He was Mr. Borgin, one of the two owners of Borgin and Burkes.
"Young Master Draco, what a pleasure to see you! Delighted! Please, please come in…"
Hermione tugged at Harry's sleeve as Riddle and Malfoy followed him into the shop.
"What?"
"Follow me," she whispered, walking past the dark artifacts shop. The boy followed him since he did not know what else to do.
Hermione found that the adjacent shop was closed shut for repairs. She looked around to make sure nobody was watching and then drew her wand.
"Alohomora," she chanted, pointing it at the door. It unbolted with a click.
The little witch slipped in, pulling Harry along.
"Hey, we are going to get into a lot of trouble if someone catches us," the boy protested. However, part of him was covertly curious about what Riddle and Malfoy were upto.
"Shh," Hermione warned. Inside, the furniture had been turned upside down. There were no inhabitants. She walked to the south wall and looked around for a crack.
Indeed, because of the rotting masonry, there were a handful of holes in the wall.
Hermione peered into one. She could look into Borgin and Burkes. Harry knelt and joined her.
"How may I be of assistance, Master Draco?" Borgin asked. "I must show you, this one came in just today, and very reasonably priced—"
The shop was large, dimly lit, and dusty. But the cracks showed a decent view of the inside.
"I'm not interested in your hustle artifacts, Borgin," Malfoy interrupted him. "Just give me what I came here for."
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