Hogwarts: This professor is too Muggle

"Fifty, Mr. Borgin, this isn't the only business we're doing," Melvin said softly.

"I commend you for your generosity," said Mr. Borgin, in a more sincere tone.

"Now let's go ahead and see what other interesting things we have in store."

The greasy tone of voice once again rang out in the dim shop, occasionally interspersed with a few brief comments.

"This is a hanging noose. Three hundred years ago, a wizard transformed 'Quick Imprisonment' into a dark magic. The thick rope shot out from the wand no longer binds and imprisons the enemy, but suspends them..."

"It's a very good black magic. When the enemy is suspended, they can't cast spells, and being unable to cast spells means they can't break free."

"Yes, the raw materials of this noose are the skins of those hanged wizards, seven male wizards, and the hair of six female witches. It is soaked and tanned with mermaid blood on a full moon night. The magic of resentment and curse ferments from this, and it can quietly wrap around the neck of a sleeping wizard at night, causing him to sleep forever."

"Any wizard with normal intelligence, even a Muggle, should be able to break free before being strangled to death."

"Look at this, the opal necklace. An ancient and vicious curse that has claimed the lives of nineteen Muggles."

"The curse above is almost dissipating."

"A suffocating puppet with rubies embedded in its eye sockets. Whenever someone lets down their guard in front of it, its fingers twitch and point at the back of the customer's neck..."

"And then the angry people smash it with their fists?"

"A vanishing cabinet, a cabinet that can disappear and reappear, used to hide or transport magical items."

"Where's the other half?"

"..."

After picking and choosing, Melvin didn't buy anything else, but Mr. Bogin just smiled bitterly and couldn't refute.

As Knockturn Alley has developed to this day, the Ministry of Magic has somewhat acquiesced. It's not that they can't control it, but that they don't want to strictly control it.

As long as the rats in the gutter don't run out and provoke in broad daylight, the house cats won't chase them into the sewers. As long as these dark wizards don't go out to murder wizards and Muggles, the Aurors won't pester them to the end.

Borgin and Burke hid deep in Knockturn Alley, and had to consider the reputation of the Ministry of Magic, so they dared not openly sell overly dangerous dark magic items. The remaining things only sounded powerful, and using them to curse and murder wizards would only cause a joke.

After introducing the last item, Mr. Borgin's slick voice gradually became difficult, and he added dryly: "The goods in our store are all rare and ancient magical creations passed down from outstanding wizarding families."

"But I need something new."

Mr. Borgin was stunned for a moment, then asked tentatively, "What do you mean?"

"A creation that combines magic and Muggle technology."

Melvin's voice was very soft, but it was very clear to Mr. Borgin's ears. He subconsciously wanted to refute, but he saw those dark eyes again.

"Mr. William, I have never lied or concealed anything from you."

Mr. Borgin's face showed hesitation and struggle. "Muggles do make a lot of interesting gadgets. Some wizards like these things and are keen on modifying their gadgets. Knockturn Alley used to sell them, such as Muggle glass candles with metal wicks that can be lit with magic. There are also similar things like bicycles and alarm clocks..."

Melvin was intrigued.

"But after Umbridge took over the Office for the Prohibition of the Improper Use of Magic, she tightened the scrutiny of these things. She regarded this as a merit for promotion and wanted to put all wizards who touched Muggle things in Azkaban. Now no one dares to do these businesses."

Melvin frowned slightly and asked persistently, "Is there no way at all?"

Mr. Borgin shook his head, seeming to hesitate.

He lowered his head and pondered for a few seconds. The sincerity and goodwill he had accumulated before took effect. He hesitated and said, "It's just that no one is doing business. Some wizards simply love this and work on it privately, only communicating with like-minded people..."

"Anything related to photography?"

"I can't give you accurate information right now," Mr. Borgin shook his head. "I only know they're tinkering with Muggle artifacts. They know exactly what they're researching and what they've produced. If you need anything in that area, I can make some introductions for you."

Melvin had just arrived in London and didn't know any other brokers here, so he had no choice but to agree.

Both parties left their contact information with each other, a one-way anonymous one.

After leaving Borgin and Burke's, Melvin was in a good mood. Although he didn't buy anything he wanted during this shopping trip, it wasn't a complete failure. Even if he returned empty-handed in the end, at least he knew that a group of wizards had begun to get in touch with Muggle technology.

This is good news for the Muggle Studies professors who have not yet started their jobs.

In the evening, the sky was dark.

Melvin held the beautifully packaged wooden box and walked back along the narrow road of Knockturn Alley.

Night fell a little faster than expected. Some shops on both sides of the street had closed down, while others had hung up copper lamps with burning candles inside. The pale light failed to illuminate the road, making it seem even more eerie.

Knockturn Alley is not very lively at night. Dark wizards are also human beings and do not have the habit of staying out at night.

Melvin slowed down when passing by the shop selling Acromantulas. He remembered that there used to be a shop selling troll skins next to this shop, but now it has become an alley that can only accommodate two people walking side by side, with brick walls on both sides.

Melvin thought for a moment and walked in. At least the general direction was right.

The alleyway grew quieter.

Turning the corner, Melvin stopped.

Two cloaked figures stood in front, their boot soles grinding on rat skulls in the cracks of the stone slabs.

There was a sound behind me, and when I turned around, I saw two figures appearing behind me.

There were brick walls on both sides, and I had no idea where it came from.

"..."

I thought Knockturn Alley was really a commercial street.

Melvin actually felt a little relieved.

Knockturn Alley is famous for being a gathering place for dark wizards, but it looks just like that during the day. Apart from the scary-looking goods, there doesn't seem to be anything amazing about them. Mr. Borgin is also a law-abiding businessman.

I thought the dark wizards had intimidated each other to achieve a delicate balance and built Knockturn Alley into a harmonious street.

I didn't expect that the main business was not discussed in the store, but was traded deep in the alley.

There were no streetlights in Knockturn Alley, and no shops in front or behind. The area was only illuminated by the faint light from the sky. Melvin observed the four dark wizards.

They all seemed to be experienced veterans, wearing moleskin masks and hiding their bodies in linen cloaks. Each of them exuded the scent of dragon claw powder, which could prevent Aurors from searching for traces based on the smell.

As Melvin observed the four men, they were also observing him.

"I heard there's a new guest in Knockturn Alley?"

A hoarse voice boomed from beneath the moleskin mask: "Knockturn Alley isn't just about Old Borgin's shop. There are other items worth buying, too."

"Are you really here to do business?"

"Pay with one hand and deliver with the other hand."

"What are you selling?"

"Map of Knockturn Alley"

"I thought you built this road and wanted to charge me a toll."

"12 Galleons each."

“It’s a bit expensive, but it’s not unacceptable.”

"Minimum order of 12."

"Bundling is not a sustainable way of doing business."

Melvin patiently persuaded him. He was about to start as a professor, so a little patience was always a good idea. "How about this? I'll buy you a map for 10 Sickles. Consider it a new customer discount. You can also give me maps of other wizarding villages in Britain, with as many detailed labels as possible."

"We only sell Knockturn Alley maps, and we never bargain."

"Aren't you robbers?"

Melvin found that his patience was thinner than he had imagined and was quickly exhausted. He tilted his head slightly to look around the alley, then looked up.

The entire aisle is narrow and long, which makes it a bit troublesome to be attacked from both sides.

The four unruly businessmen in front and behind also realized that the negotiations had broken down, and they clenched their wands, and the atmosphere gradually became solemn.

Melvin felt a little disappointed when he saw that they didn't even have dueling etiquette. He reached out to open the wooden box and remembered what Mr. Borgin had said about it:

“Occasionally it can have unexpected effects.”

Chapter 9 Successful Transaction

【Broken to pieces】

A faint blue beam of light burst out.

Melvin waved his wand, the tip of the wand against the spell.

The dark blue beam of light hit the center of the transparent light shield condensed by the Iron Armor Spell, making a dull metallic collision sound. In order to seize the initiative, the spell released was not strong. With a light flick of the tip of the wand, the Shattering Spell returned to its original path at a faster speed.

Melvin felt a slight shock on his wrist.

The moleskin-masked black wizard dodged hastily, and the other three quickly cast spells to attack.

[fainted to the ground]

【Total Petrochemicals】

"..."

Melvin easily faced the spells coming from both front and back.

Based on the previous conversation and the four people's spellcasting speed and skills, he quickly determined that the one wearing a moleskin mask was the leader, whose strength might be similar to that of the Aurors of the Magic Congress, while the others were just ordinary adult wizards, and some had failed the Defense Against the Dark Arts class in school.

This made Melvin feel a little emotional. The dark wizards who graduated from Hogwarts were also of varying quality.

But dealing with four dark wizards in this environment is still a bit tricky.

Being in a narrow alley, attacked from both sides, without even any cover to hide his body, spells were fired straight at him, and he had to rely on the Armor Charm to fight them off. It was more or less embarrassing that one wand could not defeat four wands.

However, Wizard Duel is not a turn-based game where you fight back and forth. The extreme environment imposes equal restrictions on both sides. Only by making full use of the environment can you gain the advantage. He happens to be a stage designer, and no one knows how to use the environment better than him!

Hidden magic spread along the brick walls on both sides.

"Boom boom..."

The brick wall was silently transformed. The walls on both sides began to wriggle, and the bricks grew rapidly like vines, blocking the top of the alley in an instant.

At the moment when the last ray of dim skylight was extinguished, the leader of the dark wizards wearing a moleskin mask saw Melvin's actions. He took out the remains of a withered hand from the box, with five fingers half-closed and a candle held in the shriveled palm.

Melvin blew a breath, and the flame suddenly rose up, and a pale light circle flashed by.

The shadow swallowed the entire alley, plunging everything into darkness.

The Dark Wizards quickly understood Melvin's strategy, but they didn't know how to respond or how to stop him.