"This is Knockturn Alley. It sells some Dark Arts items. It's best not to come here alone without an adult wizard accompanying you."
Lucien explained it casually to Harry.
Hearing this, Harry nodded frantically. The environment and atmosphere here also made him uneasy.
However, Harry was still very curious. Why had those people run away when they saw Lucien just now?
Seeing Harry still covered in soot, Lucien took out his wand and pointed it at him.
"Scourgify."
"Reparo."
Harry instantly changed from a grimy lump of coal back into the neat and tidy boy who lived, and the broken glasses on his nose were repaired once again.
After the soot was gone, Lucien also noticed that Harry's complexion was much rosier, no longer as thin and pale as last year.
It seemed the Dursleys no longer dared to skimp on Harry's food.
After walking a few steps, Harry heard some smacking sounds. He looked back at Borgin and Burkes but did not notice anything unusual.
Unable to suppress his curiosity, Harry finally asked,
"Umm.. Lucien, just now, why did those people run away when they saw us come out?"
He remembered the old witch most clearly. She looked about seventy or eighty, yet she ran with surprising agility, as if fleeing from something terrifying.
Lucien put away his wand, his tone unhurried.
"Oh, when I came here before, I ran into thieves, robbers, swindlers… and some who tried to curse me with Dark Arts."
Hearing this, Harry immediately became nervous, as if he were the one facing those villains.
However, seeing Lucien's calm expression, the encounter at the time had probably not been truly dangerous. Harry relaxed a little, but still asked with concern,
"Lucien, you weren't hurt back then, were you? Did you remember what those criminals looked like? Should we call the police—oh no, I mean—report them to the Ministry of Magic?"
Lucien shook his head.
"I'm fine. As for what they looked like…"
"There. They look like that."
Lucien pointed upward, and Harry followed his gesture and looked into the sky.
Seven or eight shabbily dressed people were hanging upside down in the air, as if bound by invisible chains, forming an inverted cross shape.
Their eyes were tightly closed, and dried blood stained their necks and bodies. Torn clothing revealed gaping wounds.
However, their faces were remarkably clean and smooth, so much so that passersby could clearly see their features, as if any blood that reached their faces was automatically wiped away.
And Harry also realized what the "smacking" sounds he had heard earlier were.
Several whips were suspended around the hanging figures, swishing through the air and striking their bodies, producing those sharp smacking sounds.
Harry's eyes widened in astonishment. He also noticed a transparent barrier beneath those people, seemingly to prevent blood from dripping onto pedestrians passing below.
Strangely, Harry even felt a somewhat incongruous sense of "consideration" in the scene.
Thinking back to their recent conversation and the way the others had reacted when they saw Lucien earlier, Harry understood. Those who had tried to cheat, rob, or even curse Lucien were now all hanging there, being whipped.
These people had received the punishment they deserved, paying the price for their malicious intentions.
And the others in Knockturn Alley, seeing them being flogged like this, naturally understood Lucien's methods and the consequences of provoking him.
So when Lucien came out just now, those people had fled as if they had seen a ghost—no, more like criminals seeing the police.
"So Knockturn Alley is actually so dangerous, and the people here are all up to no good…"
Hearing Harry's muttering, Lucien chuckled softly.
"Some were driven by their own greed and attacked me on their own, while others…"
Lucien tilted his head and gestured toward Borgin and Burkes behind him.
"Others were secretly instigated by the person we just saw."
Understanding that Lucien was referring to Mr. Borgin in the shop, Harry frowned and asked in confusion,
"Then why were you still discussing things with him just now?"
Lucien's tone was calm.
"Give people a stick, then give them a carrot. They'll be more loyal, and their work efficiency will also be higher."
"That person has many connections in this alley. He's quite useful."
Harry looked up at the people hanging in midair again and could not help asking,
"So you hung these people very close to Borgin and Burkes?"
Lucien nodded.
"That's right. I was afraid he wouldn't hear clearly. Closer is better."
Harry looked at the people suspended there. Even when the whips struck them, they made no sound. He suddenly thought of something.
"Um, Lucien, they… they seem to be… still?"
Actually, Harry wanted to remind Lucien that those people looked a little dead.
Lucien did not even look up at them and reassured Harry calmly.
"Don't worry. The whips contain healing potion, which seeps out at regular intervals. It won't let them truly die."
"The healing potion has been improved, and the effect is quite good. Do you want to learn it after school starts?"
Harry nodded instinctively, indicating that he wanted to learn new potions.
But as for applying healing potion to whips, whipping and healing people at the same time, Harry was at a loss for words, unable to decide whether it was a genius design or a devilish one.
"What, do you feel sympathy for those people?"
Faced with Lucien's question, Harry shook his head, his voice soft but firm.
"No. If you hadn't been able to subdue them at the time, Lucien, they wouldn't have shown mercy either. Magical knowledge and power are both very important."
Over the past year of acquaintance and study, Harry had seen Lucien use magic to repel Quirrell and Lord Voldemort, and he had also seen Lucien use wealth and influence to restrain his aunt's family.
All of this made Harry realize that, whether in the wizarding world or in Muggle society, possessing enough power was necessary to protect oneself. Not to bully others, but also not to be bullied by others.
Looking at Harry's reaction, Lucien thought it was quite good. A child who had experienced the harsh realities of life from a young age would not easily become an indecisive "saint."
Dumbledore planned to cultivate Harry's courage and boldness, but he had never asked him to be purely good.
The savior who could resist and even defeat Lord Voldemort could be kind and gentle, but he could not be weak, and certainly could not pity those who were not worthy of sympathy.
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