*CAUTION! THIS CHAPTER HAS CONTENT THAT MAY BE UNSETTLING TO SOME READERS*
Knockturn Alley was just how I remembered it; dark, run down, and rusty. Very few people inhabited the streets, and those who did kept their faces concealed with hats and hooded cloaks. I stood a ltitle closer to scabiior as someone hastily hurried past us.
"Where would you like to go?" Scabior asked while rearranging the bags in his hand.
"I don't know." I looked around. I hadn't been since my father was alive, so I couldn't remember much. Everything was basically brand new to me, besides the look in general. "What do you suggest?"
"That depends on what you're looking for."
"Weapons. Knives and stuff."
"Don't you think you have enough? You got five from us and one from Vincent."
"I like them. Besides, you have more than that. And a sword."
"I have two swords." He laughed. "Okay. Point taken. How about we start at Bargin and Burkes and work our way down from there?"
"Sounds good to me." I guestered for him to lead the way. He took me into a good sized shop that was dimly lit. When we opened and closed the door, a little brass bell connected to it rang. An old, stooping man with hair greasier than my own came out from a room bbehind the counter and looked at us.
"Is there anything in particular you are looking for?" He asked while pushing back his nastey hair.
"No. We are just looking." Scabior replied for me. the man seemed to sneer at this, but didnt' say anything. Scabior went to look at something in the back of the store, while I stayed at the front, admireing some long handled daggers in a display case.
"Those are forged with poison." The old man pointed out. I looked up at him.
"Oh? Really?"
"Yes. It's so potent that one stab can kill a man in a day."
"May I see one?" I asked, tapping on the glass.
"Of course." A sly smile slid across his face as he took out a set of keys, picked one, put it inn the lock, and turned the kay. "Which one, my lady?" He parted his lips and I saw that he was missing a couple yellowish teeth.
"That one." I pointed to a simple one with a thick, leather handle. As he started to get it out, I noticed soemthing moving out side the shop out of the corner of my eye. I turned and looked out the window into the street.
A shabby, skinny dog that was nothign more than fur and bones scurried by, carrying something brown in it's mouth. Behind, chasing it was a big, bulky man, yelling and cursing at it. He took his wand out and was shooting curses at it. The one soft spot in my heart that was reserved for animals sprung up, and started to pump anger through my body; anger at the man who was being so cruel to the poor, helpless animal.
"Hold on a minute..." I mumbled to the salesman and wondered out the door. the man had chased the dog halfway down the street so I had to run and catch up with them. He turned the corner into a small alley way between two buildings. I finally had caught up with him when he had the poor pup backed into a dead end. He was just raising his wand when I spoke.
"Hey, leave it alone!" My voice was dripping with authority. As Uncle Severus told me beforeI went to train the Snatchers, if I wanted it I had to show it. He whipped around to see who had shouted at him. the dog, seeing an oppertunity to escape, ran by us, taking the object with it. the man looked at me with curious anger.
"Are you lost, little girl?" He asked in a mocking tone. I rolled my eyes; why was it that men saw me as small and fragile.
"No."
