In the depths of Knockturn Alley, a swirling vortex materialized, and Luke stepped through, his blond hair concealed under a hood as he surveyed the dim surroundings.
Knockturn Alley was sparse with wizards even during normal hours, particularly around midday, making finding a living sacrifice a daunting task.
As he walked deeper into the alley, Luke noted the absence of ordinary wizards. This was where dark wizards and Death Eaters congregated, far removed from the bustling Diagon Alley. Passing by Borgin and Burkes, where a few wizards perused items, an idea crossed his mind—perhaps he could simply grab someone.
But that thought was quickly dismissed. Bo Jin was a key ally, and capturing him would be a mistake. After all, his shop provided crucial potions and items for many, and he wielded considerable influence.
If anyone in Knockturn Alley knew about dark wizards, it would be Bo Jin. Luke made his way into the shop, his expression neutral but calculated.
"Mr. Borgin, long time no see," Luke greeted casually as he entered.
"Well, well, if it isn't you," Borgin responded, a hint of surprise flickering across his usually somber face. He gestured to dismiss the other customers, who, though disgruntled, dared not protest in Borgin's presence.
"Are you here to sell potions?" Borgin asked with a sardonic smile, recalling the blond-haired wizard who had disrupted his business last summer.
Luke chuckled softly, placing a few bottles of potions on the glass counter from his dimensional space.
"I'm actually looking for information on dark wizards in Knockturn Alley," Luke stated calmly, his gaze steady on Borgin.
"If you're seeking dark wizards, you'll find plenty in Knockturn Alley," Borgin replied cryptically, his tone carrying a mix of caution and intrigue.
Bo Jin picked up a bottle of Veritaserum and inspected it, noting its good condition. Luke's pale blue eyes locked onto Borgin's aged face.
"You know what I mean, Mr. Borgin," Luke stated calmly, his gaze unwavering.
Borgin felt a sense of unease creep over him and instinctively took a step back, putting distance between himself and Luke's penetrating stare.
"Although I'm not sure what your plans are with those fugitives," Borgin began cautiously, "I do have information about them."
With a deliberate motion, Borgin retrieved a copy of the Daily Prophet from under his counter and handed it to Luke. The front page displayed a thin, weary-looking wizard with the name "Marcel Avery" written below.
"Marcel Avery..." Luke murmured, recognizing the name from discussions with Hermione. Avery was a member of one of the twenty-eight pure-blood families and was now on the run as a Death Eater.
"He was escorted by Dementors recently, but somehow managed to escape," Borgin explained, pointing at Avery's portrait. "He visited my shop just yesterday, purchasing soothing agents, likely to ease his fatigue."
"And I happen to know his current location," Borgin added with a smirk, clearly pleased with himself for the intel.
Luke wasted no time. Without hesitation, he handed the Veritaserum potion to Borgin. In return, Borgin, sensing Luke's trustworthiness and power, promptly disclosed Avery's address.
As Luke turned to leave, Borgin muttered with a touch of admiration, "I look forward to our next collaboration."
Luke nodded and left, his mind already planning the next steps in dealing with Marcel Avery, confident that Borgin's information would prove invaluable.
Luke navigated through the labyrinthine depths of Knockturn Alley, his target clear in mind—a Death Eater, but one who posed little challenge to him now.
"Right here?" Luke muttered to himself as he stood before a decrepit wooden building, its facade weathered and worn.
Knocking on the door yielded no response. Luke's lip twitched slightly with annoyance. He withdrew his wand into his robe and clenched his fist, electricity crackling and swirling around it.
"Thunder Dragon's Collapse Fist!"
With a thunderous boom, Luke unleashed a devastating punch that shattered the wooden door into charred splinters.
Stepping into the room, Luke immediately sensed a curse hurtling towards him.
"Avada Kedavra!"
The green light of the killing curse flashed, but Luke's body transformed into lightning, vanishing in an instant.
Meanwhile, Marcel, a tall and gaunt figure hiding nearby, gasped in fear as he watched Luke evade the curse.
"Are you looking for me?" Luke's voice echoed behind Marcel, startling him.
"Are you from the Ministry of Magic?!" Marcel exclaimed in panic, his eyes wide with terror.
Luke frowned, noticing Marcel's erratic behavior—a likely side effect of excessive use of demulcent, a potion known to cause hallucinations.
"Never mind, drinking too much won't affect you as a sacrifice," Luke muttered, dismissing Marcel's condition. He decisively stomped on Marcel's wand and swiftly cast a petrification and binding spell, rendering the Death Eater immobile.
Transporting Marcel into a pocket dimension known as the Divine Space, Luke prepared to return to Hogwarts. It had only been three hours since he set out, and securing a sacrifice had proven easier than expected.
His next objective: devising a plan to deal with Lockhart.
With a vortex, Luke returned to the fourth-floor bathroom at Hogwarts. It was still early evening, leaving plenty of time to spend with Hermione.
.....
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