Hogwarts: Bloodline Legend-Chapter 557 - 161: Return to Diagon Alley—Nocturne Thrills (Part 5)

Chapter 557: Chapter 161: Return to Diagon Alley—Nocturne Thrills (Part 5)

Ian strained to look outside.

A string of fireplaces and rooms flickered in twisted chaos—each a private household connected to the Feilu Network—and what Ian was doing now was basically illegal border-crossing via the Feilu Network.

"No nose, but plenty of talent."

Ian gave a heartfelt compliment to Tom’s legacy.

Once the scene outside gradually calmed down, he realized he’d arrived in an extremely dim shop—to be precise, the stone fireplace of a spacious and shadowy Wizard Shop.

"Feeling okay?"

Lupin was already waiting for him here. Apparently, after realizing the Little Wizard wasn’t as bedraggled as he’d imagined, Lupin’s tone as he spoke had a hint of disappointment.

"Not bad."

Ian’s eyes scanned his surroundings. Sure enough, just as he thought, Tom’s old room’s fireplace was connected to Borgin and Burkes Wizarding Shop in Knockturn Alley.

The display cases around him all contained nothing but contraband. On a pad inside a glass box sat a shriveled human hand, a stack of blood-stained cards, and a dull, unmoving glass eyeball. Grotesque masks glared down from the walls, and the counter held all sorts of human bones.

Those suggestive, rusted, bloodied fang-like instruments hung from the ceiling—clearly some seriously creepy torture devices.

"Pretty scary, huh?"

Lupin also noticed the Little Wizard’s gaze.

"Yeah."

Ian nodded, looking toward the counter at the front. Behind it sat an old man who hadn’t even bothered to lift his head to look at them, as if he’d grown numb to people appearing from his fireplace.

"Can I buy some?"

Ian’s obvious interest caught Lupin off-guard.

In Lupin’s mind—

Most Little Wizards confronted with the shop’s wares would scream and cry, if not turn at least paper white. So why was this Little Wizard in front of him actually rosy-cheeked and happy!?

Even kind of excited?

"These things aren’t for kids, you know. One careless move and you’ll end up cursed by whatever’s stuck to them." Lupin grabbed Ian, ready to leave.

But Ian shook off Lupin’s hand somewhat unwillingly.

"I’m an Alchemist recognized by Professor Nicolas! Of course I won’t be affected or corrupted by their Magic, and besides, I’ll judge these Dark Arts Props with a critical eye!"

Ian declared righteously, picking up a still-moving severed arm and remembering his black-robed Skeleton under the bed. No idea if this Dark Arts arm could be attached to the Skeleton.

"Probably not."

Ian thought of the Skeleton’s "Magic Immunity" trait and set the moving arm down, then grabbed an eyeball that maybe could be shoved under a Dementor’s eyelid.

Lupin watched Ian’s behavior speechlessly, not daring to leave the shop first. He knew Ian had been tinkering with and studying Alchemy in his room lately.

"These are all Ministry of Magic prohibited contraband."

Lupin sighed, hoping to scare Ian straight with the law.

"I’m not gonna use ’em."

Ian blinked.

Holding the lone eyeball from the display, he looked towards the till. As he raised it, the eyeball spun on its own, glaring bloodshot at Ian.

"Boss, do you have a second one of these?" The eyeball indeed carried some curses, but Ian had already blocked them briefly with his Magic Power.

That trick probably startled the shopkeeper too. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"Kid, a pauper like you—and your pauper guardian—can’t afford it." The hunched old man smoothed his massive slicked-back hair.

He made no effort to hide his opinions.

Merchants know how to size people up. Seeing the Desperate Werewolf Lupin next to Ian, Bogin Bock also figured the Little Wizard wouldn’t have the money.

Of course—

This time he really misjudged.

"Hmm?"

Ian glanced down at his waist. Sure enough, his coat blocked his badge of identity, so he quickly pulled it aside to reveal a long string of keys.

"Ding ding dang dang~!"

The crisp chime was pretty pleasant.

"Open your damn eyes and look again." Ian’s tone was just as sharp—he’d always return people’s attitude measure for measure, and if someone pissed him off by a bit, he was used to paying them back a thousandfold.

"Don’t start anything!"

Seeing Ian dare to smack talk a Knockturn Alley Dark Wizard, Lupin’s nerves went taut. He instinctively gripped his Magic Wand, terrified an enraged Borgin and Burkes would strike.

"He’s just a kid, sorry, please don’t take it personally." Lupin sounded feeble—no choice, even a Gryffindor graduate couldn’t always charge in headfirst.

Knockturn Alley, man!

This was their turf, with so many Dark Arts Props. Even a squad of Aurors would probably get wiped—nervously, Lupin felt like he was about to bite it alongside the Little Wizard.

"Eh?"

However—

The expected attack didn’t happen. Bogin Bock, after being cursed at, only furrowed his brow slightly, but his eyes flashed with a hint of interest when he saw Ian’s keys.

As a black market merchant who’d run Knockturn Alley for years, Bogin Bock was always up-to-date on every happening in the Wizarding World—that’s why he always dodged Ministry of Magic raids.