In the opulent yet somber halls of Malfoy Manor, Lucius Malfoy found himself in a particularly troubling predicament. His recent actions, which involved coercing the other Hogwarts trustees into suspending Dumbledore, had backfired spectacularly. With Dumbledore's return, Lucius was ousted from the school board, a development that boded ill not only for the Malfoy family's reputation but also for their collection of dark magic artifacts.
It was a poorly kept secret that nearly every old pure-blood family possessed two things: a house-elf and at least one dark magic item. The Malfoys, once ardent followers of Voldemort, were no exception. Their allegiance, albeit fraught with Voldemort's mistrust, had been somewhat rewarded due to their ancient lineage and their trove of dark artifacts.
However, Lucius's concern grew as he became aware of Arthur Weasley's keen interest in the Malfoy Manor, particularly after learning that his son had inadvertently exposed the existence of their dark magic vault. The thought of Arthur Weasley storming through their gates and dragging the entire Malfoy family to Azkaban was a constant source of dread.
Lucius had considered selling the dark artifacts, but his preferred outlet, the Bojinbok antique shop, had vanished without a trace. His thoughts then turned to Sean Shafik, a known collector of such items. However, Shafik's reputation for driving hard bargains made Lucius hesitate. By the time he decided to approach Shafik, it was too late—the man had vanished, leaving Lucius with dwindling options.
"Damn Weasley, damn Harry Potter!" Lucius's frustration boiled over, his fist striking the banister with force.
"Control yourself, Lucius," Narcissa chided, her demeanor cool yet commanding. She was aware of the gravity of their situation but refused to let despair take hold. "You must find a way to either conceal or dispose of the dark artifacts. We cannot afford to show weakness, especially not in front of Draco."
Peering out the window at their son, who was diligently practicing his magic, Narcissa noted the changes in him. Hogwarts had transformed Draco from a sheltered child into a more resilient and independent young wizard. This observation brought her some comfort, even as she sought to reassure Lucius.
Lucius, however, was visibly agitated. "Arthur Weasley has made threats against me, and with Bojinbok gone and Shafik unreachable, I'm at a loss," he confessed. The Malfoy family was not in need of money, but finding a secure place to hide their dark artifacts had become a pressing concern.
Narcissa, ever pragmatic, encouraged Lucius to explore other avenues. "We must try, Lucius. I refuse to let our son grow up with his father in Azkaban."
As they deliberated their next move, a black owl with long ears arrived at the manor, dropping a letter on the windowsill. Lucius, preoccupied with his thoughts, expected Dobby, their house-elf, to retrieve it. However, he quickly remembered that Dobby was no longer under their control, a consequence of Harry Potter's intervention.
With a scowl, Lucius stomped over to the letter, his mood darkening further. Little did he know, the contents of that letter would set the Malfoy family on an unexpected course. The letter bore no name, only sealed with black wax marked by a silver handprint. Lucius Malfoy's mind raced to the current ruler of Knockturn Alley, Johnny Silverhand, recognizing the emblem as that of the Johnny Silver Hand store. A wave of unease washed over him, despite knowing it was likely a coincidence. The moment he pondered over Johnny Silverhand, a letter from the man himself arrived. Upon opening the letter, Lucius's expression shifted through a myriad of emotions, all of which were observed by Narcissa. She approached, took the letter from his hands, and read it herself. Like Lucius, she was left puzzled and inquired, "Do you know Johnny Silverhand?"
Lucius shook his head, his expression laden with confusion. "We've never met," he admitted. The couple exchanged a look of bewilderment. The letter offered them a safe haven for the Malfoy family's dark artifacts and even proposed assistance in restoring Lucius to his former position as a director at Hogwarts. Each offer was fraught with risk, leaving them to wonder about Johnny Silverhand's motivations. Lucius hesitated before voicing a thought, his gaze drifting to his left hand, "Could he be..." Narcissa's expression hardened. The stakes were high; being associated with Death Eaters meant Azkaban. Yet, outside of such affiliations, Lucius couldn't fathom why Johnny Silverhand would extend such an offer.
Meanwhile, Draco Malfoy was unaware of the dilemma his parents faced. He found solace in the idea that "Only one's own strength is the most glorious." He aimed spells at a human-shaped target, imagining it as Harry Potter, his resolve hardened by the disdain he'd faced from his peers and the dismissal from his father. His transformation was complete, with Goyle and Crabbe serving merely as sparring partners.
Elsewhere, Mundungus Fletcher felt the sting of contributing to the Little Wizard Fund, a sensation akin to being sliced with a knife. With Johnny Silver Hand's influence growing, wizards previously deterred by the Shafiq family now freely patronized the store, leading to a significant increase in turnover. Kim Ledisley's constant smile and the sound of Galleons clinking were testaments to their success.
John, now seated in his office surrounded by letters, murmured a thanks to "Riddle," his black owl, as he fed it a piece of dried fish. The letters, mostly inquiries from Knockturn Alley's dark wizards about new regulations, indicated a shift in power from the Shafiq family to Johnny Silverhand. John's responses were firm, offering stark choices to those who challenged him—Azkaban or a werewolf's bite. His letters of condolence, marked by a large silver handprint, served as a final warning: align with him or face disappearance from Knockturn Alley. This approach solidified Johnny Silverhand's reputation as a more decisive leader than Sean Shafik.
A letter from Malfoy Manor caught John's attention. He smiled slightly upon reading its contents, remarking, "Lucius Malfoy is a sensible man, but dealing with the Death Eaters requires finesse." Despite Lucius's known affiliation with the Death Eaters, John recognized that his allegiance had been more a matter of convenience than conviction, especially evident after Voldemort's downfall. The first to distance himself from the relationship was Lucius Malfoy, a decision that aligned perfectly with the Slytherin ethos of loyalty, strategic calculation, and self-preservation. Following Voldemort's resurrection, Lucius would inevitably return to his side, yet he was far from being a fervent devotee. The true zealots of Voldemort's cause were the ones languishing in Azkaban, while those on the outside, like Lucius, were merely opportunists, content with playing a supporting role from the sidelines.
"Make good use of this identity," John mused, stroking his chin thoughtfully. The persona of Johnny Silver Hand had grown to be a figure of considerable influence. John was well aware that his activities should not be confined to the shadows of Knockturn Alley. Diagon Alley, the bustling heart where wizards from across the nation congregated, was the real prize.
With his mask securely in place, John descended the stairs. The sight of the mask alone commanded respect and awe from the wizards he passed, a testament to the reputation he had built. This display of reverence did not go unnoticed by the Aurors tasked with surveillance. It was clear to them that someone potentially more problematic than Sean Shafik had emerged on the scene.
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