Turns Square, London, Tuesday Night
"Snape, how much do you know about this black market?" Lockhart asked casually as Snape and I walked around Turns Square. "I never expected the black market to be in such a busy square."
Snape, however, remained silent, seemingly intent on shaking off an unseen follower. He quickened his pace, ignoring Lockhart's questions. Lockhart was used to Snape's curt behavior and simply added a concealment spell to Sunny, the Golden Snidget perched on his shoulder, before continuing to follow Snape.
After a while, Snape stopped in front of a slender, dark telephone pole. Lockhart, sensing faint magical fluctuations, found it amusing that such a mundane object could be an entrance to the black market. He wondered what would happen if the pole fell due to lack of maintenance, causing an electric shock.
Mimicking Snape, Lockhart reached out to touch a spot in the middle of the pole and pressed it hard. Instantly, his figure disappeared.
He found himself in a bustling place, reminiscent of Diagon Alley but filled with wizards wearing various colored robes, many exuding an aura of despair, darkness, and evil—dark wizards.
Snape, in his clean but cold black wizard robe, fit right in, looking like a large bat among the dark wizards.
"Lockhart, stay close. Otherwise, you won't be able to enter the auction," Snape warned coldly. "You can't wander around the black market by yourself!"
Without waiting for a response, Snape walked forward. Lockhart, unperturbed, followed. He knew that Snape, being the supplier, had the upper hand for now. But the tables would turn eventually.
They entered a hall where a Squib waiter greeted them. Snape handed over an invitation, its surface swimming with dark green marks. The waiter saluted respectfully and led them inside.
Lockhart reflected on the low status of Squibs in the wizarding world and wondered what potential they could unleash if given the chance.
Following Snape through a long corridor, they passed through a black wooden door and entered a small box. The waiter introduced the box's functions, including a projection system for viewing auction items and a button for bidding.
Lockhart cast a counter-spell on Sunny, revealing the Golden Snidget's figure. Sunny curiously examined the magic snacks on the table, occasionally chirping as he ate them.
Lockhart, amused by Sunny's antics, turned to Snape. "Snape, it seems your status here is quite high. If it were me, I'd be sitting down there."
"Focus on the auction, not on useless observations," Snape replied, reminding Lockhart to check his gold Galleons. "Make sure you have enough money."
"Don't worry. I brought all my wealth," Lockhart said confidently. He had collected all his belongings from Gringotts, secured a deposit from the Travers family for the potion supply, and prepared magic items for auction.
Surprised by Lockhart's confidence, Snape didn't press further. He sat down and closed his eyes, waiting for the auction to start. Lockhart also settled down, reading a book while waiting.
"Dear gentlemen and ladies, welcome to the Blackstone Auction."
Hearing the announcement, Lockhart looked up from his book. Sunny, perched nearby, tilted his head curiously at Snape. Lockhart remembered Snape mentioning the value of a Golden Snidge's brain and quickly pulled Sunny back into his lap.
In the projection, a goblin stood on a high platform with a batch of potions. "Dream Soul Potion, prohibited by the Ministry of Magic, helps improve mental power. Starting price: 50 gold Galleons."
The familiar name caught Lockhart's attention. He glanced at Snape, recognizing the potions as those Snape had given him. The final price of 130 gold Galleons brought a rare smile to Snape's face.
Lockhart focused on the auction, purchasing items that interested him. Suddenly, a new item caught both his and Snape's attention.
"Dear wizards, do you want to embrace the goddess of luck? Solve problems like a god?" the goblin auctioneer announced. "Yes, what you have in front of you is the top magic potion in the wizarding world—Liquid Luck Potion!"
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