Felix walked into the dirty inn and looked around for a while, there are only a few customers in the inn, and one of them is a short, fat witch draped in a thick veil.
"Well, I don't think he's here yet."
He sat in the distinct seat by the window, the innkeeper came over, "What do you want to order?" He asked in an unpleasant tone, and Felix smiled and said in an indistinct voice, "A firewhisky."
It didn't take long for the innkeeper to a large goblet with a clear flame and a blue liquid in it.
Felix had no intention of drinking it because there is a suspicious stain on the goblet. But firewhisky is the code word he had set before.
A few moments later, the thickly veiled witch stood up, and Felix thought she is about to leave, but instead she got up and sat in front of him.
" It's for someone else, ma'am." Felix frowned.
"I am," the witch let out a masculine voice that sounded deliberately low, " while I don't know who recommended me to you, the Hog's Head Inn is not an ideal place for meeting, I am banned from here a decade ago and have to wear some disguise to be here."
Felix looked at the " Witch " in surprise, he tapped the edge of the table, then the space around his table became hazy, and the sound got confined in the narrow space.
He regained his original voice and asked curiously, "Mundungus Fletcher?"
Mundungus muttered, "Who the hell tipped that off to you? I prefer to be called by my codename - The Many-Faced." He positioned his back to the innkeeper, so he relaxed and lifted a corner of the veil to reveal his bearded face, his eyelids droopy and his eyes bloodshot.
He picked up the firewhisky, "You're not going to drink it? It's a too obvious kid, in reality, you must be a man of status, and class-" he took a sip, "unlike me- hiss~" he sucked a deep breath and a cloud of steam spewed from his mouth.
Felix laughed, " On me, but if you didn't bring what I want-"
"Oh, another threat, I've been hearing this kind of crap too much in life!" Mundungus said, glancing around furtively - though unnecessarily, it looked more like an ingrained habit - as he pulled a flattened package from under his belt and grinned, "You'll be satisfied with ..."
Felix made the package automatically open, revealing its contents - a dusty, silvery plate. His hand brushed over, the dust on the plate instantly disappeared, and Mundungus looked at him with caution.
The plate revealed its original appearance, which appeared to be a shallow stone basin with ancient runes and symbols carved around its rim. It's a Pensieve.
"It doesn't seem to be in very good shape ...," Felix said lightly, while constantly sensing the state of the Pensieve and evaluating the possibility of restoration.
"Ha, it's quite good, If it's new, I wouldn't have kept it in my hand for 2-3 years." Mundungus took a sip of wine and stared at Felix, "You're an alchemist? From Knockturn Alley, or from Order's side? Or maybe that fallen man's side?"
"Nothing to do with you, Mundungus."
"Oh never mind, I thought, we could establish a solid bond, no need to go through an intermediary, it's too shady, I need to pay a fortune to get an honest deal, you know." Mundungus muttered, " it's cost two sickles, if I hadn't heard the other party wanted a Pensieve, I wouldn't have come."
Felix chuckled, "You'd make more, aren't you smugglers just after profit?"
"Hey! I wanted to do something big and successful when I was young ... I almost thought I made it and managed to get close to a big man, to whom I was loyal, but in the end, I found it's a lot easier to fit in these gray corners."
"Or rather, gray tombs?" Felix said casually, as he held the Pensieve up, carefully examined the runes and symbols on it.
Mundungus isn't half ashamed, "I gotta live - at least 200 galleons, we lost one man and another half dead trying to get this."
Felix glanced at him, he doubted that even if he gave this guy 200 galleons, Mundungus would honestly share it with his companions, and Even the companions he was talking about would be a makeshift group.
He thought deeply for a moment, "200 galleons? At most a hundred, I'm not an idiot, this thing is rubbish in your hands, and I have no guarantee that it can be restored as good as new. If you want more, that's okay - but I need you to get some information for me."
"A broker? No problem! This old Mundungus is well-informed." Mundungus said smugly.
"I'm interested in some ancient, dangerous tombs of ancient wizards," Felix said lightly, "and likewise, ancient, fascinating runic creations, which I won't turn down ..."
Mundungus' bloodshot eyes went wide, "I need a deposit! A deposit ..."
"Bang!"
A bag embroidered with green and blue patterns appeared on the table, making a "clattering" sound that sounded clear and pleasing to the ear.
Mundungus swallowed a mouthful of saliva, he opened the bag, the golden light inside almost dazzled his eyes.
"What charming little things ... listen to their voices ..." he stretched out his dirty hand, "you are a generous man, this job, I will take it! It's done, you just have to wait in peace-ouch, what's that!"
As Mundungus reached for the bag, a small gray-green snake suddenly appeared and bit him. The snake moved its small body and became a transparent glass bottle in front of Felix.
A few drops of blood remained in the bottle.
Mundungus stared at him with an ugly face, seemingly ready to explode.
"I've inquired about your reputation, Mundungus Fletcher, a smuggler, liar, thief, burglar ... I can't trust your words seriously, and to prevent you from developing bad thoughts, I think - it's better to take some precautions."
Mundungus still angry, but he seems to have thought of something, his expression became calm.
"I never go back on my word, it's all a smear against me out there! But ... whatever you want, now, there won't be another snake coming out of the bag, right?" He glanced at Felix, who made an inviting gesture. He muttered, "Slytherin." and tucked the bag inside his women's gown.
Felix said, "One hundred galleons is considered the price for the broken Pensieve, the other nine hundred galleons, you can use it to collect and buy artefact, or to snoop ... whatever you want, I don't need modern stuff, and don't fool me with dark artefacts."
"As long as I think it's worth it, you'll get a steady stream of money from me."
Mundungus looked at the black and white mask on Felix's face getting smoother, "How do I find you?" He considered the deal seriously now.
Felix tossed him a stone, which is a variant of the Fever coin. "Infuse it with your magic, and as long as you're in Hogsmeade, I'll find you."
"I'm more certain you're an alchemist." As Mundungus put the stone away, he muttered, "It's not fair, you know me and I don't know you."
Felix said, "You will know, but it will take time for us to build trust."