Water Lily | E. Riddle

[10] Father And Son

The four of them were heading back towards the Leaky Cauldron since all the shopping had been done and it was time to return home. However, they happened to pass by the sinister path which connected Knockturn Alley to Diagon Alley and it was exactly at that point where Perseus stopped as if quite confused.

An inexplicable force seemed to be tugging him towards the mysterious path, it seemed to him as if his past was calling out to him from within the twisting cobblestones that led deeper down to Knockturn Alley.

Demelza was discussing something with Nathan so she hadn't noticed that Perce had stopped there, however, Eridanus took note of it.

"Uncle Perce, what happened?"

He got no response from him and was a bit worried to see him standing there as if mesmerized, staring ahead as if something magnetic was pulling him in.

"Mum," he called over to Demelza when Perce started walking down the path completely oblivious to the rest of the world, "I'm going after Uncle Perce."

Demelza stopped and turned around in surprise just in time to see Danny following Perce into the Alley calling out his name but receiving no answer.

"Where are these two going?"

"I think Perseus can feel that he's been here before," Demelza replied, "we should go after them. By the looks of it, he's completely following his instincts."

True enough, Perce seemed to be in a trance as he descended down the pathway and deeper into the sinister street. People bumped into him but he paid no heed, it was almost as if he had no control over himself anymore.

"Uncle Perce," Danny caught up with him and grabbed his arm, "where are you going?"

However, his Uncle didn't reply and made no attempt to release his arm from his grip either, but kept moving forward until they reached a building marked 13B on the street. They were standing in front of an old shop's display, the banner on top read Borgin and Burkes Wizarding Artifacts, Knockturn Alley.

He pushed open the door and stepped inside, as a result of which the old bell on it clanged announcing his arrival. A man in his early thirties was sitting behind the counter pondering over the sales register through thick spectacles that covered half his face. He looked up to see who the visitors were and closed the register, "good day, Sir. How may I help you?"

Perce seemed to have not heard him at all for he simply ventured inside the shop, heading straight for the book shelf. Eridanus followed still tugging on his arm to stop him but it was to no avail as he was completely absorbed by whichever sense that was leading him on deeper and deeper in.

"Please do not touch any of the items on display," he was rather vexed at not getting any sort of response from the visitor who was simply absorbed in examining the empty book shelves, "and we currently do not have any books; all sold."

Shortly afterwards, the bell clanged again and Demelza stepped into the shop along with Nathan. He turned to face them and recognized her immediately, "ah Miss Burke, such a pleasure to see you after so long."

"Felix," she acknowledged him, "has Perseus been here?"

Felix Borgin was the youngest son of Mister Borgin and was currently the one responsible for taking care of the shop. Over the years as Caractacus had become too old to handle the business, Mister Borgin had taken over receiving the major share from the sales and placed his son in charge soon as he had graduated from Hogwarts. His two elder sons had set out on an expedition earlier, hence Felix had been the only person aside from himself that he could entrust with the shop.