Jigsaw

CHAPTER 8

“So tell me again why we’re doing this Harry?” Ron grumbled as he pushed his way through the crowded Diagon Alley. Harry looked over at his best friend and rolled his eyes as the pair finally made it through the ‘Sale Time’ crush to get to the practically deserted entrance into the KnockTurn Alley.

“Because I think Draco’s hiding something.” Harry pushed the shimmering business card into Ron’s hand. The red head glanced it pensively for a moment before looking up at Harry for an explanation.

“I found it in Draco’s money pouch.” Ron’s eyes practically bulged out of their sockets at what Harry had just told him.

“You mean you went snooping through Draco Malfoy’s personal things and you stole it! Harry I warned you about this sort of thing.” Ron went to push the business card back into Harry’s possession and storm away but Harry was quicker and grabbed hold of his best friend’s arm before he could escape.

“It’s a business card Ron, you can’t steal business cards they’re usually free.” Harry looked pointedly at his friend who shook his head still in disbelief.

“Yeah, free off the counter of the shop you’re in not out of someone’s wallet Harry!” Harry rolled his eyes and shrugged it off.

“A minor technicality Ron that’s all.” Harry brushed off Ron’s concern and began to drag his friend down the darkened, seedy alleyway of the less reputable part of Diagon Alley. “What I’m more interested in, is why Draco who supposedly is dealing in a reputable property business, is in possession of such a business card?” Harry looked to Ron who shrugged his shoulders uncaringly.

“I don’t know why Harry. Lots of ‘reputable’ wizards buy things from shops down here. For instants my dad used to buy ‘Gnome’ repellant down here because you could only buy the ‘legal’ watered down shit that doesn’t work in Diagon Alley.” Ron looked pointedly at Harry who sighed heavily and continued to drag Ron down the alleyway, very much aware of the sets of beady evil eyes watching them from closed doorways and dusty shop windows.

“Yes alright that’s true but a ‘ dark arts curse breaker’ Ron? What would Draco want with a dark art’s curse breaker if he wasn’t dabbling in dark arts still?” Harry raised his eyebrow in challenge to Ron who pursed his lips together in thought for a moment before finally shrugging his shoulders in reply. Harry smiled secretly to himself having finally broken Ron’s reasoning. “See, you’re intrigued as I am now aren’t you?” Harry watched as Ron rolled his eyes and nodded reluctantly as Harry steered them down a settled of crumbling stairs, getting slowly closer towards the right numbered shop.

“I suppose anything’s possible Harry if what you’re telling me about the women lying naked in his lounge is anything to go by.” Ron looked at Harry who chuckled softly as a two-cloaked figures swept past them, their faces hidden beneath the low hoods. There was certainly a strange clientele who visited the KnockTurn Alley. Harry slowed them to a stop outside a cramped looking set of shops and quietly pointed to the sign hanging above the doorway.

‘Cretan’s Cures for Cruel Curses’

Harry smiled and took the shrunken package out of his pocket and flicked his wand at it, enlarging his invisibility cloak to normal size.

“So what exactly am I supposed to be asking about Harry?” Ron glanced across at his best friend who had already pulled the invisibility cloak about himself and had not completely disappeared.

“Just ask after Malfoy’s account or something, use your imagination Ron.” Ron felt the sweep of air past him as Harry stepped up the steps towards the door.

“And tell me again why I’m doing this and you’re not?” Ron whispered as he pushed open the door to the shady looking store and stepped inside.

“Because I’d be instantly recognizable and they wouldn’t tell me anything.” Harry whispered back as he glanced slowly about the seemingly deserted store.

“Oh and they’re just going to tell me everything too, when I’m an Auror for the ministry.” Ron muttered as he approached the counter and rang the rusty looking bell beside the till. Harry rolled his eyes at his best friend and swept around the store. Just like most stores down in KnockTurn Alley this one was dusty, and full of horrible looking dark wizarding implements and supplies. It was dark too with only a few minimal candles lighting the store. A moment or two after Ron had rung the bell the curtain into the back of the store swung open and a old witch, with a big warty nose and long straggly gray hair stepped up to the counter. Harry smiled to himself as he watched Ron grimace as the woman smiled at him, her green teeth practically falling from her gums and her grossly deformed right eye rotating uncontrollably around in her head.

“Can I help you sir?” She croaked her voice practically non-existent.

“Um, I was wondering if I could inquire about an account.” Harry nodded to himself as he watched Ron’s professionalism as an Auror step in, despite the fact he could see his best friends hand resting on his wand in the pocket of his robes.

“No accounts, only gold.” The woman croaked again her grotty, twisted hand shaking against her chest.

“Ah, well then I suppose gold will have to do. I’ve actually been sent by a sick friend of mine to collect his order for the month. He’s too ill to collect it himself but he sent me along instead.” Harry quietly crept around the back of the counter and into the back of the shop, all the while listening to Ron as he talked to the woman.

“Name.” She croaked again and Ron happily supplied Draco Mafloy’s name. Harry was sure he heard the woman’s voice go up a pitch at the mention of the name but couldn’t be too sure he wasn’t hearing things.

The back of the shop was small but it was completely stocked to the brim with potions, bubbling cauldrons and dusty tombs. The place reminded him of Snape’s potion classroom only it was far stuffier and the combined bubbling of the 15 odd cauldrons sitting on heat around the room left a stagnant purple haze in the air. Harry cautiously covered his mouth with his hand as he moved over to where an open tomb was lying on a bench beside some very ominous looking pickled creatures in jars. The text unfortunately was in ancient goblin text and Harry had no idea what it said. Harry was still perusing the bubbling cauldrons when he heard the small ding of the cash till ringing up the bill. With a quick dash Harry was back out into the main shop area and could hardly believe that Ron was carrying a brown paper bag with what appeared to be a small vial of potion inside of it. Harry smiled as Ron politely waved at the woman who merely smiled her rotten smile as he exited the shop. Harry swept out of the door at the same time as Ron did and followed the red head a little way back up the Alley until he stopped and spun around twice.

“Harry? Harry? Potter, where are you?” Ron whispered as he spun around his hand flaying about trying to find his friend. Harry chuckled and dropped the invisibility cloak.

“I’m here.” Harry chuckled as Ron practically jumped out of his skin as he spun around to face the smiling face of his best friend.

“Bloody hell Harry, don’t do that.” Ron snapped sharply as he clutched his hand to his chest in an effort to slow his racing heart.

“Sorry, what did you find out?” Harry shrunk the invisibility cloak again and put it in his pocket as he passed Harry the brown paper bag with the vial of potion inside.

“Not much, he collects it weekly not monthly and it costs a fortune. You owe me forty three galleons for that!” Ron whispered pointedly as he gestured to the potion that Harry had taken out of its bag and was inspecting in the dim light. The potion was clear but thick like glue. It shimmered when it caught the light and Harry wasn’t sure but he thought he could see some kind of black things floating in it.

“Yeah, I’ll pay you back when we get home.” Harry muttered as he put the potion back into the paper bag having found the bottle free of labeling. “Did you find out what it was?” Harry inquired hoping that he hadn’t pushed his friend too far.

“Nup, got know idea but she did mention that it was hardly ever asked for, said Mr. Malfoy was her best customer.” Harry nodded and put the bottle away in his coat pocket as the pair of them finally walked back out onto the main street of Diagon Alley where the crowds were just as busy as they’d been before, certainly a far cry from the desolate KnockTurn alley. “Come on Hermione’s meeting us at Socrates’ Sandwich Salon.” Ron led the way through the crowd and Harry trailed after him towards the eatery his mind still on the potion in his pocket. What could Draco possibly want with a ‘curse potion’ every week; the blonde had appeared perfectly able bodied when he’d seen him on Sunday. Harry’s thoughts came to halt though as Harry heard Hermione’s voice calling down to them from the second floor balcony of the ‘Sandwich Salon’. Ron smiled and ordered for both Harry and himself on the way through the packed restaurant, and up the stairs to the second balcony where Hermione was sitting with her book.

“I thought you two were never going to get here!” Hermione laughed as she shifted across on her seat to allow Ron and Harry to sit down around the table as well to wait for their meal.

“Yeah this place is packed.” Ron laughed as he leaned across and gave Hermione a soft kiss on the lips in greeting.

“So how was the meeting with Draco Harry?” Harry stared in shock at Hermione for a moment before turning to glare at Ron who had the good grace to blush and shrug his shoulders.

“You know I can’t lie to her Harry, sorry mate.” Harry rolled his eyes. He had hoped to keep this a secret for the time being. It wouldn’t do for anyone else hearing about his quest to find professor Snape, after all the wizard was still wanted by the ministry for questioning about his role in Voldemort’s reign. Admittedly Hermione just wasn’t anyone and wouldn’t tell a sole but Ron had promised to hold his tongue.

“Fine, he’s still a slimy git accept with longer hair and slightly taller.” Harry smiled at Hermione who nodded not really that surprised.

“Did you find the professor?” Hermione inquired again choosing her words carefully as a family of wizards took up the table next to them.

“No.” Harry shook his head just as their meal arrived at the table, via a self-levitating tray. The trio took their respective meals from the waiterless tray and with a pop the tray disappeared, leaving the three friends to eat their meal in peace.

They ate in relative silence for the new half an hour, exchanging polite conversation about this and that until something struck Harry and the boy reached into his pocket and pulled out the potion, pushing it across the table to Hermione who was snuggled in Ron’s arms sipping on her milkshake.

“What’s this?” Hermione sat up from Ron and took the potions bottle holding it up to the light to inspect the contents like Harry had done down Knockturn Alley.

“I don’t know” Harry whispered as Hermione uncorked the bottle and wafted a little of the fragrance into her nose.

“Smells musky, perhaps a medicine?” She mentioned quickly as she put it back into his brown paper bag. Harry smiled and nodded.

“I was wondering if you could find out what it was for me?” Harry noticed the way Ron was glaring at him, obviously not happy about having his girlfriend involved with Harry’s search. “Strictly hush, hush though Hermione.” Harry looked pointedly at Hermione who glanced suspiciously between Harry and Ron before looking back at Harry sternly.

“Where did you get it?” She inquired dubiously, her lips pursing together and her arms automatically folding across her chest, having known her best friend and boyfriend had been up to something.

“Only on a need to know basis ‘mione. I just need to find out what it is, and what it does, but if you don’t think you’re up to a challenge…” Harry reached for the brown paper bag with the potion inside it, knowing all too well what his best friends’ personality was like. Almost instantly Hermione snatched it back and put it into her purse.

“Fine, but you will tell me what it is you two are up to or if I find out this is a prohibited substance I’ll turn it into the authorities!” Hermione looked pointedly at Harry who reluctantly nodded.

“Alright but let’s not talk here, tonight at our place instead.” Harry offered to which end Hermione nodded in agreement. Harry smiled at his two friends as he rose from the table having finished off the last swig of his own pumpkin juice. “Great I’ll see you tonight Hermione, and you when you get home from work!” Harry kissed Hermione on the cheek before pointing knowingly at Ron who inclined his head in agreement. With a wave Harry disappeared downstairs and out into the chaos of Diagon Alley, leaving his two best friends shaking their heads in amusement.

TBC>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

A/N Well I hope these three chapters leave you hooked for another day. Do we think that Draco\'s a legitamate buisness man or something far less reputable?? I voted for the later but I believe my muse has something else in mind.... *chuckles evily begins singing \'oh where oh where can Sevie be, my true love, my sole mate, my little bumble bee!\'

I think I truely have lost my marbles, thanks for reading and keep those reviews coming I really do appreciate it.

Also sorry about my \'fucked\' up time line, I tend to be cookoo with seaons and dates and shit, cause England\'s different from Australia so I really can\'t help it, it\'s my inbuilt clock I\'m afraid, but I will try and fix it by writing each and every date/time/season down on paper as I type it into my story. Also to the comment about me keeping Sirius alive in all my stories. Unfortuantely I cried for like a week when I read the chapter in OOTP about old Sirius going, so I appologise if I keep trying to block that essential part of the plot from my mind...it\'s painful but I\'m sure there\'s thearpy out there for me, so there\'s hope yet.

Cheers and thanks for reading

RIFFRAFF