The Dark Knight Rises

Chapter 10: Men and their Cars

Chapter 10: Men and their Cars

Inaudible chatter could be heard from the receiver of the frowning tall black man as he watched his partner Dawlish receiving money from the shopkeeper of the dingy establishment in Knockturn Alley. Not even wanting to know what contraband goods were being sold there to warrant such a payment, the dark man stoically continued watching the Alley deep in his thoughts.

The showers continued pouring unabated, in a world that most didn't even know existed, the man could be seen hiding from the showers, deep in his thoughts knowing he should report what he saw but couldn't. Or rather wouldn't. He stood close to one of the pubs deep inside Knockturn Alley, dressed to the brim in a dull, brown trench coat.

He was tempted to pull out his cigar as he now saw his blond-eyed short partner approach him. He came close, pulling out a bit of the galleons he'd just received.

"Don't suppose you'd want a taste?"

Silence was the only response the dark man found appropriate for the situation he found himself in.

"I just keep offering, thinking maybe someday you'll get wise."

"There's nothing wise in what you do, Dawlish," said the tall, dark-skinned man morosely.

"Well King when you don't take the taste, it makes us guys nervous," said the blue-eyes man as he lit up his Cigar.

The taller man quickly turned to his partner and sharply said, "I'm no rat..."

Turning to look out into the street as the populace moved as though everything were normal and totally fine, Kingsley continued, "With a government this bent, who's there to rat to anyway?"

Dawlish simply let out a bellowing laugh bellying of his shorter stature as he disposed of the Cigarette that he'd just started and told Kingsley, "Let's head back, it seems to be quiet today. No reason to stay wet and cold out here for nothing."

Two distinct pops could be heard as they apparated back to their precinct in the alley to fill out their reports for the night.

With all the Auror precincts being warded against all direct transportation into the building using Apparition or Portkeys; they reappeared at the entrance to the precinct, and without even a glance or farewell, Dawlish headed on his merry way to meet his Auror buddies. Choosing not to mind him Kingsley decided to actually go and finish his reports.

Kingsley Shacklebolt contemplated a lot of things as he walked to his office, it seemed that crime lately had spiked into levels unseen before the First Wizarding War. The Auror department had seen an increase in the variety of drugs being brought into Knockturn Alley and they'd detained several Portkeyed containers containing even heroin and crystal meth. Level V drugs.

They were rumours all around that they were connected to Francesco Zabini and his mafia but there was never any evidence to pin them down to it. The Department of Justice was doing its best, but they faced obstacles everywhere, especially with the entire Auror unit in these sides, Knockturn Alley, being paid off by Zabini and his cohorts to look aside on matters of their business inside the alley and the judges being 'convinced' to pass light sentences or let criminals go free entirely. People had thought that with the fall of Voldemort, twenty years prior, things would be better but only the surface had improved, and the criminals had evolved to being smarter. It was only for some measly five years that everything had gone smoothly and the Light side of the Wizengamot had used the time to pass several laws aimed at making the vast majority of the people's lives better, after their time had passed the Neutrals and the so called 'Dark' faction had stopped the passing of such laws and criminals had used the relaxed laxity to begin their operations en masse.