(A/N: Bonus Chapter! Enjoy!)
Dawlish hesitated, then spoke up. "You know, I think the Auror department would be interested in your Protective Ring. The Shield Gloves too. We might be able to arrange a bulk purchase from the Ministry."
Adrian's face lit up. He'd been working toward this moment for weeks. "That would be fantastic! Thank you, Captain."
"Don't mention it," Dawlish said. Ellison and Savage nodded, promising to spread the word at the Ministry.
"By the way, Captain Dawlish," Adrian said, as if the thought had just occurred to him, "did you come here after hearing about the shop?"
The three Aurors exchanged uncomfortable looks. Finally, Savage spoke, a bit defensive. "We received a mission from the Ministry. Someone reported that you're selling dangerous dark magical items here. I've no idea which dunderhead made the complaint."
Dawlish shot her a look. Did she really just admit that?
Adrian frowned, thinking. "Miss Savage, has the Ministry been inspecting other shops in Knockturn Alley?"
"I don't think so..." Savage said slowly.
Dawlish and Ellison's expressions shifted. If the Ministry were truly cracking down on dark magical items in Knockturn Alley, they wouldn't target just one shop. There were at least three dark magic dealers in the area, Borgin and Burkes being the most notorious. Those shops had been reported before, but the department had always turned a blind eye.
Something wasn't right.
"It must be those dark wizards trying to get revenge!" Savage said, anger flashing in her eyes.
Ellison nodded, looking equally upset.
Dawlish stayed quiet. He could picture it now: a woman who'd suffered at the hands of dark magic, dedicating years to research in this terrible place because she had no other choice. And just when she finally had something to sell, rival dark wizards tried to shut her down. It was cruel.
Adrian was about to press further when a soft, clear voice echoed through the shop.
"Excuse me, Aurors. Would you be able to find out who filed the complaint? We'd like to know who we're dealing with."
Everyone turned. A young woman in dark green robes stepped out from the back of the shop. Her long hair fell loose over her shoulders, and a small black creature perched there, round and fluffy, with enormous eyes.
Adrian blinked. Irene looked different. She'd removed her rings, and her usual neat appearance had been replaced with something more... vulnerable.
'Hiding the dangerous items,' Adrian realized. That explained why she'd waited to come out.
The three Aurors were immediately taken with her. Combined with the story Adrian had painted, they looked at Irene with open sympathy.
"Don't worry, we'll look into it," Dawlish promised.
"Absolutely," Savage added. "I'll ask around the Ministry. We'll find out who did this."
Ellison nodded firmly.
"Thank you," Irene said, her voice warm. She glanced at Adrian. She'd only caught part of the conversation, but whatever the boy had said, it had worked. The Aurors were eating out of his hand.
As they talked, Irene quickly picked up on the identity Adrian had created for her, a struggling researcher dedicated to fighting dark magic. She played along perfectly, even building on it, and within minutes Savage was calling her "Irie".
"Irie, what is that?" Savage finally asked, pointing at the fluffy creature on her shoulder. "Is it a Puffskein? It's adorable!"
The creature's fur had turned gray-black, and its eyes were absurdly large, far too big for any normal animal. It made the thing look even cuter.
Under Savage's gaze, the creature hopped slightly, making a soft chirping sound.
"It's an alchemical creation based on a Pygmy Puff," Irene explained. She glanced at Adrian. "The price is..."
"One Galleon for the basic version!" Adrian said quickly.
"That's it?" Savage's eyes widened. "Can I buy one?"
"Of course. It'll take a day or two to make. This one is just a display model."
Savage looked thrilled. "I can wait! Can I hold it?"
Irene smiled. "Be careful. It's fragile. Don't channel any magic into it, or it might break."
Adrian raised an eyebrow. Alchemical creatures ran on magic, how would magic break it? But Irene had already drawn Savage in completely, so he turned his attention back to Dawlish and Ellison.
"Captain Dawlish, is there anything else you need?"
"I think I'm done," Dawlish said, shaking his head. The Protective Ring had cleaned him out.
"Are you sure?" Adrian gestured toward a pair of ear-shaped devices on the counter. "These are Extendable Ears. You hold one, and you can hear everything happening near the other. No magical signature, so they can't be detected. Perfect for surveillance work. They're only sixteen Sickles, less than a Galleon."
Dawlish, who'd been ready to leave, paused. That... was cheap.