Chapter 13: "Don't Worry, I'm Not Going to Buy Anything in Knockturn Alley"

Chapter 13: "Don't Worry, I'm Not Going to Buy Anything in Knockturn Alley"

Early on the morning after buying his wand, Leon and Moody returned to Diagon Alley.

Since there was no need to exchange Galleons this time and it was just the two of them, Moody didn't bother going through the Leaky Cauldron. He simply grabbed Leon and Apparated directly.

To Moody's surprise, Leon's first experience with Apparition was not an unpleasant one. He was only slightly dizzy.

With the wand already purchased, the rest of the school supplies were easy to acquire. In less than half a morning, Leon had bought everything he needed for the new term.

The textbooks were a simple matter. His choice of pet, however, was more noteworthy: a fully-grown Great Grey Owl.

The Great Grey is one of the most imposing species of owl. Considerably more robust than a standard Eagle Owl, its facial disc is a sombre, dark grey. Its eyes are not the typical yellow of an owl but a deep, piercing amber. It flies in near-total silence, allowing it to approach and tear apart its prey with an exceptionally high success rate.

Due to its exorbitant price, few young wizards ever chose it as their school pet. But the moment Leon saw it, he bought it without a second thought. Compared to a plump barn owl or a pristine snowy owl, the Great Grey was a much better fit for his temperament.

Leon gave his new pet a simple, direct name: "Razor."

Seeing that Leon had nearly finished his shopping, Moody spoke up. "Right then, we should be heading back. 'Course, it's still early. If you want to look around a bit more, it's no bother."

Leon was stroking Razor's head. He shook his own. "There's one more thing I need to do today, Mr. Moody. I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you for a little more of your time."

Moody didn't mind. He was on Leon's payroll; strictly speaking, it was an employer-employee relationship. What kind of employee complains about being given a task?

"Sir, I've heard there's a place next to Diagon Alley called 'Knockturn Alley.' Is that right?" Leon asked with a smile.

Moody's eyebrow shot up. "That's no place for a decent wizard. It's only a wall away from here, but the buyers and sellers are all types who prefer to stay in the shadows."

Leon nodded to himself. The shadows were exactly what he was looking for.

Noticing the strange expression on Leon's face, Moody asked warily, "Why do you ask? There's nothing for sale in there that a young wizard like you should have any business with."

"Don't worry," Leon said, shaking his head. "I'm not planning on buying anything."

Moody let out a sigh of relief. To be honest, being this boy's bodyguard was a stressful job. You had to be constantly on your guard, or he'd pull some bizarre stunt on you.

"I'm not planning on buying anything," Leon continued, his voice perfectly even. "I'm planning on buying a shop."

Moody's neck turned with a stiff, slow creak. He stared at Leon, his expression a complicated mess, a large, invisible question mark forming above his head.

Leon's face was impassive. This was all part of the plan.

You don't realize how quickly money goes until you're the one paying the bills. These last few days had been nothing but expenses, with no income. At this rate, even a mountain of gold would eventually be whittled down to nothing. Leon didn't believe in cutting costs; he believed in opening new revenue streams.

At the end of the day, he was just a simple, honest arms dealer. All he wanted was to buy a shop and quietly sell a few pistols, shotguns, light machine guns, sniper rifles, and submachine guns.

"I require a storefront," Leon explained, his tone leaving no room for debate. "One that is prominent enough to attract attention, but is also as far from regulatory oversight as possible. That makes Diagon Alley unsuitable. We'll have to look in Knockturn Alley."

He then made his request, his words polite but firm. "Mr. Moody, I must trouble you to take me there. A first-year wizard who just bought his wand doesn't carry much weight. But if you are with him, I am certain that no one would dare to disrespect me, on account of the fearsome reputation of 'Mad-Eye' Moody."

Hearing this, Moody gave a wry, weary smile. For the first time, he felt a twinge of regret.

Shaking his head, he grabbed Leon's arm. With a deafening crack, the two of them vanished from the main thoroughfare of Diagon Alley.

An instant later, Leon found himself in Knockturn Alley.

Being subjected to Apparition twice in such a short period left him slightly dizzy, but he rubbed his temples and the feeling quickly passed.

He opened his eyes. A narrow, filthy alley stretched out before him. The shops on either side were dark and sinister; it was obvious their wares were not meant for the light of day. Across the way, Leon could see a shop window displaying a collection of unnervingly smooth, polished human skulls. The shop next to it had a large cage by the door, filled with enormous, terrifying black spiders.

From a dark doorway not far off, two wizards in ragged robes were watching him with avaricious eyes, whispering to each other. But a single, hard glare from Moody sent them scurrying away in terror.

"This place is a sewer, filled with every kind of rat that can't stand the daylight," Moody cursed, dusting off his coat in disgust. His magical eye did a full, whizzing rotation. Once he was certain there were no immediate threats, he let Leon step out from behind him.

"Alright, lad, here we are. Have a look around. Tell me where you want to go, and I'll go with you," Moody said gruffly. "But make it quick. The air here makes my skin crawl."

Leon already knew his destination. He scanned the alley and quickly found his target.

In this narrow, dark street, one shop stood out. It was nearly twice the size of any other.

Leon strode towards it. Moody followed close behind, pushing the door open for him. "Don't touch anything in here. Not even the doorknob. Let me."

Leon nodded his thanks, straightened his collar, adjusted his cap, and stepped inside.

A low, dull bell chimed, announcing their arrival. The sound of slow, unhurried footsteps came from the back of the shop. Leon turned his head slightly, taking in the interior.

He saw a glass case containing a pale, dismembered hand holding a candle. On the counter next to it were other strange and morbid curiosities: a pack of blood-stained playing cards, a glass eye that seemed to follow him, a human-skin mask with a terrifying expression, and piles of assorted human bones.

In the corner of the shop, Leon also noticed a large, black, and otherwise unremarkable cabinet.

Just as he was about to look closer, the proprietor emerged from the back room.

He was a stooped man with long hair, so greasy that it was clumped together in strands that seemed to gleam in the dim light. He hunched over, repeatedly trying to smooth the lank hair away from his face, a brilliant, oily smile plastered across it.

"Well, well, look who it is! Mad-Eye Moody? A rare honour indeed."

The shopkeeper's voice was as greasy as his hair, and just as nauseating. His shifty eyes darted between Moody and Leon, and a look of understanding dawned on his face.

He turned to Leon, his smile becoming fawning, his tone obsequious.

"Then you, sir, must be the esteemed Mr. Shelby!"

"Welcome, Mr. Shelby. Welcome to Borgin and Burkes. How may I be of service?"