Chapter Sixty-Eight: Journey to Tumble Alley

Though Knockturn Alley and Diagon Alley were separated by only a single wall, their environments and atmospheres could not have been more different. As Karn stepped inside, the black wizards loitering in the alley immediately fixed their gazes on this newcomer. Karn, however, felt no fear—anyone who dared to cause trouble would be met with the art of explosions.

He had five explosive talismans and ten pounds of dynamite on his person. The death of a shadow clone would bring Karn only brief discomfort, but for those in Knockturn Alley, the consequences would be far more dire. If the nearby buildings within a ten-meter radius didn’t collapse, it would only be because their spells of reinforcement had been expertly cast on every brick.

For now, the black wizards only observed, choosing not to act.

Arriving at the entrance to Borgin and Burkes, Karn glanced at the façade before stepping inside. The interior was dim, crowded with all manner of objects, but Karn was exceedingly careful—not touching a single thing.

“You seem unfamiliar, sir. Are you from elsewhere?” A thin man with sharp, shrewd eyes appeared behind the counter, his fingers tapping the desktop with a merchant’s calculating smile. “You can exchange Galleons for any service you desire here at Borgin and Burkes, dear sir.”

“I hope your words hold true. Galleons are no issue for me, so long as you can procure the items on this list…” Karn paid no heed to Borgin and Burkes’ flattery, producing the list of items he sought and sliding it across the counter.

Borgin and Burkes smiled silently as he picked up the list, but as his eyes scanned the contents, his expression changed rapidly—becoming more complex with each line, until at last it was impossible to describe.

“These things are surely unattainable. The only phoenix documented in the British wizarding world resides at Hogwarts, and no one would dare risk themselves to capture a unicorn…”

Karn replied, “So, aside from those, you can get everything else on the list—including Felix Felicis?”

“The network of Borgin and Burkes stretches as far as Romania. As for Felix Felicis, it will require a fair amount of Galleons…” If dragon flesh and blood could be acquired, then the remaining magical creatures’ materials would not be an issue for Borgin and Burkes. But the phoenix and unicorn were beyond reach; if Karn truly desired them, only Dumbledore might provide them.

“Two thousand Galleons, as a deposit. Return here in twenty days, sir.” As Borgin spoke of Galleons, his eyes darted over Karn, a greedy smile stretching nearly to his ears.

“And add that cabinet. Have it repaired. Someone will bring the money shortly.” With those words, Karn fell silent.

“That cabinet comes as a pair. Without the other, this one is useless, even if repaired…” Borgin trailed off, seeing Karn’s unwavering expression. Perhaps he knew the whereabouts of the other cabinet.

Moments later, another man who looked exactly like Karn entered the shop. At the sight of this second shadow clone, Borgin’s eyes widened, though he quickly recalled the Polyjuice Potion. Drinking Polyjuice might indeed confuse others, but in Knockturn Alley, it was best to deter greedy black wizards with strength, not potions… Borgin thought to himself that it was not his concern—he was only here to collect payment. If the stranger died in Knockturn Alley, he would still earn two thousand Galleons.

Once the deposit was confirmed, Borgin waved his hand to indicate everything was in order, and Karn made no move to linger. He had intended to purchase other dark magical items, but his knowledge was insufficient—buying recklessly could mean being cheated. Even the materials and potions he had just ordered would be checked for traces of dark magic by the house-elf upon his return.

“A safe journey, sir.”

“You’d best pray for everyone else,” Karn replied, then left.

Once Karn had departed, Borgin swiftly stashed away the deposit, curiosity gnawing at him as to where Karn’s confidence came from. He decided to follow at a distance to observe.

But just as Borgin stepped out of his shop, a tremendous explosion sounded in the distance. The blast was like thunder from a clear sky, startling Borgin so much he lost his footing and landed on the ground. After a second, he gathered his senses, quickly cast a Shield Charm on himself, and joined the other black wizards hurrying toward the explosion’s source.

Even before he reached the site, Borgin heard the cries of wounded wizards.

“That… that stranger… suddenly exploded…”

“Dark magic… definitely some powerful dark magic… They seemed like twins, exactly alike.”

After gathering information, Borgin hurried back to his shop, his legs moving faster than ever. He hadn’t anticipated that today’s customer would be so utterly ruthless, unleashing such potent dark magic at the slightest provocation. That single explosion had killed at least four or five black wizards who had long haunted Knockturn Alley.

Upon returning, Borgin discovered a slip of paper on the counter. It read: “Don’t forget the time of our transaction, Mr. Borgin.”

“What a madman,” Borgin muttered with a shiver. He set about preparing the requested items in earnest. It was clear he could not afford to play any tricks with this deal—should his shop suffer an explosion like that one, the losses would far exceed five thousand Galleons.

Rumor had it that the incident had even drawn the attention of Aurors from the Ministry of Magic, as the blast had echoed all the way to Diagon Alley. Normally, Aurors ignored Knockturn Alley unless something catastrophic happened, but this was too much to overlook.

After the shadow clone’s death, Karn’s eyes glimmered faintly red, as the chakra’s return carried with it memories of dying, leaving him momentarily unsettled. The Despair Virus, encountering such a situation, quickly set about repairing Karn’s mind.

Within a second, Karn felt fully restored. His transformation had been so discreet that not even the nearby house-elf noticed.

Suddenly, a knock sounded at the door. Phil went to open it, and Hermione entered, her proud little stride betraying irrepressible delight. She thanked Phil as she entered, leaving him so flustered that he retreated to the basement in tears.

“Godfather Karn, here are the results of my recent efforts—a potion to cure scabies. Kettle gave it high marks.”

“Excellent! You truly are my goddaughter. With your talent, I knew you’d succeed. Still, Hermione, you should take a break now and then. If you’d like, I could show you around London.”

Karn, noticing the dark circles under Hermione’s eyes, urged her gently. She was still a young ox—work should be balanced, not excessive.

“There’s one more thing I’d like to ask of you. When term begins, would you deliver a letter to Professor Dumbledore at Hogwarts for me?”