Chapter 773: Knockturn Alley’s Welcome Gift
Knockturn Alley was a favored gathering place for Dark Wizards and Wandering Wizards alike. It was a grimy, dilapidated street, with an air thick with an unusual scent—something eerily similar to the burnt aroma left behind when magical potions were boiled dry. The atmosphere was a stark contrast to that of its neighboring Diagon Alley.
Kyle had been here before but had never paid much attention. This time, accompanying Newt in search of the Werewolf, he noticed that the alley was home to a surprising number of shops.
From the entrance to its very depths, Knockturn Alley had nearly as many storefronts as Diagon Alley. However, most lacked proper signs, with some simply hanging peculiar objects by their doors—like a dried finger, a skull, or something resembling a gnarled root.
"These are for dealing with Ministry of Magic inspections," Newt explained, as if reading Kyle’s confusion. "The withered finger signifies common dark magic items and stolen goods, while the skull indicates poisons and objects cursed with lethal magic."
"But most of these shops only sell counterfeits or repackaged second-rate goods. You’d be hard-pressed to find a single genuine item on this entire street.
"After all, in Knockturn Alley, honesty is the most expensive thing of all."
"Don’t people come after them when they get scammed?" Kyle asked.
If he had been sold a fake, he certainly wouldn’t let it slide.
"They used to," Newt said, "but anyone who owns a shop here has something up their sleeve—something valuable or powerful. It’s difficult to take advantage of them."
"Besides, the shopkeepers have long since formed an alliance. Targeting one means going against them all. Even the strongest wizards have to play by the rules here."
"Rules? What kind of rules?"