In Harry Potter as Neville Longbottom - Chapter 54: Trip to Knockturn alley -1

Neville spent the rest of the day with his family. His parents were able to speak now. Although the sentences are broken and often fail to make sense, this shows that their mental age has moved from a newborn baby to a pre-school student.

Still, they have a great fear of wands and magic. They will really become scared when elves use their magic unconsciously. Neville knew there was no immediate cure for this. This is the effect of using a forbidden curse. The parents were tortured to the extent of becoming lunatics and it is not something that can be healed in a year, or two otherwise St. Mungo’s would have healed them ages ago.

Finally next morning, Neville decided to take a trip to Knockturn Alley. The Vanishing cabinet he had needs to be repaired and his own runes are not advanced enough to fix it on his own. Besides, even if he fixed his Vanishing cabinet, he needs the other pair to work.

Surprisingly, both the girls refused his invitation for the trip. Pansy felt it was useless in her current economic condition to make a trip to Diagon Alley and Hermione was excited about practising her own magic and helping Pansy in making those books.

She has a lot of syllabus to finish before the next year starts. After all, for a witch like her, books and knowledge are more important than going on trips.

Neville was also secretly thankful. After all, he had no idea how to deceive these girls and make a trip inside Knockturn alley if they agreed.

Coming out of the floo network, Neville first checked the empty shop. He had already bought a second shop in the Diagon Alley and decided to use this one for personal use. In future, he doesn’t want to come out regularly and meet the shopkeepers wasting time on greetings and other things.

Neville knew the information about the whole market and hence finding the Knockturn alley was not a problem. After a short walk, Neville entered this little gloomy area. Even early morning, the twisting alleyway gives a sense of entering a dangerous place. No doubt another “weed logic”.

Just because the shops here deal with dark magic, they have to be darker in a literal sense. Cursing under his breath, Neville walked around avoiding a few individuals that already look too sketchy even for this place.

Finally, he saw the shop. The birthplace of Lord Voldemort. Yes, not the orphanage where Tom Riddle was born but the place where Tom Riddle worked after graduation, found new targets for his Horcrux and stole enough dark magic knowledge to become a terrifying Lord Voldemort.

Pushing the door of shop 13B inside, Neville entered this shop which is famous for specialising in “objects with unusual and powerful properties”, particularly items that were both “unusual and ancient”.

The shop was ‘decorated’ with strange items like a bone hand or glasses filled with strange books and dead animals. There is even some jewellery placed in the front. However, Neville found there was no one in the shop.

Pushing the bell repeatedly placed on the counter Neville managed to locate a presence hidden deep inside the shop. But he waited for the person to come in front. After all, wandering deep inside this kind of shop is not a simple matter of courage or magical abilities.

Who knows how many hexes and jinxes the owner had placed in a hidden area? So, Neville waited until a black-haired thin man, appearing to be in his 50s, wearing dark coats and pants came out.

“Good morning little Wizard. You are the first customer in many years who made a visit this early in the morning. Tell me, how can I serve you or do you already have anything you fancy?”

Mr. Burke asked Neville while rubbing his hand together. Neville saw the small sign of hands that is often present in greedy merchants, and he was quite amused.

“Yes and No. I do have something in mind but that can wait. What I truly would like is information about the ancient artefacts that you might have here. Anything that can make me interested, I will buy it. Relics, curse objects or even diaries and books on ancient but often misunderstood magic.” Neville said with a smile and flashed his house ring.

Mr. Burke immediately caught the sight of the ring and understood the identity of the wizard in front of him. A smart man only needs a hint.

“Wonderful. I like your kind of inquisitive wizards. Yes, there is a lot of magic that is often misunderstood. Don’t worry, I have a lot of things that can catch your interest. Allow me to bring my registry.” Mr.Burkes went deep inside his shop with a slight jump in his walk and bought a thick register.

“Let me see…. Yes, we have the masks of death. It is said these masks represent all sevens sins of a man. Greed, Lust…you know the regular ones Muggle preach about.

Also, The Hand of Glory – Insert a candle and it gives light only to the holder! Best for those who seek some adventure on a dark night.

Then there are some ancient artefacts like The Ominous Mask and The Opal Necklace, but their origins and the nature of magic are too old and had been forgotten. But you can buy them if you want to research their magic. However, be warned, I personally would not recommend anyone like A lord of the House touching them without protection.

Rest you can check them out here.”

Mr. Burkes like a kind shopkeeper introduced various relics and dark items but also gave a simple warning to his customer. After all, he doesn’t want a customer like a lord of the house dying inside his shop. Given the current political atmosphere, he is afraid that he will be directly punished with a kiss from Dementors.

“Interesting. Very Interesting. I want to have a tour myself. Can you please make sure, the security measures are safe? I don’t want to have an accident this early in the morning.”

Neville was seriously attracted by all these relics. He knew there are often misplaced relics that will end up in this shop and it might bring them a hidden surprise. Plus, The Hand of Glory and The Ominous mask was already on his list of must buy.

They are ancient and had very strange magic and their purpose is not fully explored. They are definitely the best materials for research. The Necklace or the Masks of Sins do not interest him as their purpose was quite clear in the registry.

Checking other items placed on display and looking inside the registry, Neville also found a few other interesting items. But then something stopped him in his tracks. He saw down the list in the P letter section- Pensieve.