Megan Potter - A Saga of the Heart - Book 6 - Dark Temptation-

Chapter 10 - Secret dealings

It was a little difficult to fit all under the Cloak. They were four, and had grown a great deal since Megan had first gotten it.

"Look, he's turning left!" Hermione said.

"Knockturn Alley..." Megan said darkly. "What could he want down there?"

"Come on, or we'll lose him!" Cedric said.

They trudged along as quickly and quietly as they could.

"Look, he's there!" Harry whispered.

They saw him talking animatedly inside Borgin and Burkes.

"I wish we could hear them," Hermione said.

"We can! Look!"

Harry pulled out an Extendable Ear.

"Brilliant, Harry!" Cedric said.

They pressed the ear against the door.

"... You know how to fix it?" Malfoy was asking Borgin.

"Possibly," he allowed reluctantly. "I'd need to see it. Won't you bring it to my shop?"

"I can't, it must stay put." Malfoy said.

"Well I'm afraid, sir, that without seeing it, it sounds pretty close to impossible, I..."

"Perhaps this will make you more confident?" Malfoy asked coldly.

He showed him something but with his back to them, Megan couldn't see what. But when she saw Borgin's face again, he looked terrified.

"Tell anyone, and there will be consequences. A family friend, Fenrir Greyback will be dropping in occasionally to make sure you're giving the problem its due attention."

"Oh, that won't be necessary..."

"That is for me to decide." Malfoy snapped. "Keep this safe, I'll need it."

"Perhaps you want to take it now?"

"Of course not, you idiot! How would I look carrying it down the street? Just don't sell it. And not a word to anyone, not even my mother, understood?"

And he turned round to head for the door.

"Get back!" Cedric hissed, pulling them away from the door.

Not a moment too soon, because the door opened and Malfoy strolled out, looking pleased with himself. When he was gone, Megan and the others exchanged looks.

"What d'you think that was all about?"

"Dunno. Anyone see what the thing he wanted kept for him was?"

"I think I did. Wait here."

"Hermione!"

But she'd already slid out from under the cloak and stepped into the shop. Harry put the ear back against the door.

"Morning," Hermione said coolly.

Borgin cast her a suspicious look. Megan watched her look around, wondering what in Merlin's beard she was up to.

"Is this necklace for sale?" she asked.

Megan and the boys stared at each other.

"If you have a thousand Galleons," he said.

"Oh. No, I don't have quite that much. What about this skull?"

"Sixteen Galleons."

"So it's not being kept for someone?"

Borgin's suspicious look deepened.

Hermione, what are you doing?! Megan thought anxiously.

Apparently, Hermione was aware she'd been rumbled because she said:

"You see, the boy in here, just now, Draco Malfoy, he's a friend. I wanted to get him a birthday present, but if he reserved something, I don't want to get him the same thing... uh, let's see..."

Megan bit her lip.

"Out!" Borgin barked.

Hermione hurried out and Borgin strode up and put on the "CLOSED" sign.

"Nice try," Megan said.

They hurried back to the joke shop, and only removed the Cloak when they were inside. Mrs Weasley and Hagrid looked nervous, having noticed their absence.

"We were in the back, honest," Ron said. "You must have missed us."

Megan wasn't sure how much they believed them, but to her relief, they didn't pry.

Megan thought a lot about Malfoy's attitude in Knockturn Alley. What worried her most was that look of contentment on his face. And she had a nasty feeling she knew what he had showed Borgin to scare him like he had. But there wasn't much she could do about it yet, so she kept her thoughts to herself. Harry on the other hand, wouldn't stop talking about it, seeming frustrated that the others weren't as curious about it as he.

"We all agree it's fishy, Harry," Hermione said impatiently looking up from her copy of Advanced Translation of Runes. "But as we've said before, there could be a hundred reasons!"

"He did say something about keeping an object safe," Megan said. "And it sounded like Borgin had another of the broken objects, and Malfoy wants – or needs –, both."

"Exactly!" said Harry enthusiastically.

"D'you reckon?" Ron asked.

"Yeah!" Harry agreed. "Think about it! His father's in Azkaban! And if anyone likes getting back at someone, it's Malfoy! He'd want revenge!"

"Yes, but what could he do?" Cedric asked.

"That's the point, I don't know!" Harry said. "But he's up to something, and I think it's serious."

"... I think he's right." Megan said slowly. "When Borgin didn't want to do what he wanted, he showed him something. It wasn't an object or money, like I first thought. I wonder if it wasn't the Dark Mark."

"What?"

"Megan, that's crazy! He's sixteen! He can't be a Death Eater!"

"You saw Borgin's face when he showed him whatever it was! Why else would he have looked so scared?" Harry said. "You think so, don't you, Megan?"

Megan, not wanting to be dragged into it like that, got up.

"I'm not sure either, Harry. It fits but we can't just go on hunches. I'm going to see if Mrs Weasley needs a hand."

She headed out and down to the kitchen. Fleur was discussing the wedding plans with Bill. Mrs Weasley was eyeing them while supervising the Brussels sprouts.

"Ah, Megan! I was just thinking of coming up to see you. I thought we should review the security arrangements for tomorrow."

"Okay."

"We'll have Ministry cars again, and then Aurors will be waiting for us at the station."

"Will Tonks be there?" Megan asked.

"I don't think so, I'm afraid, dear. Arthur told me she'd be stationed elsewhere." Mrs Weasley said.

"All right. D'you need help with anything?" Megan offered.

"Oh, no, thank you, dear. You'd better finish packing, I want you all done by tonight, if possible, so we don't have the usual last minute scramble."

"Yes, Mrs Weasley."

It was, in fact, smoother than usual the next morning. All their trunks were packed, owls in cage, Crookshanks in his travel basket... Megan had Mira at her heels, but she wouldn't be going with them. Mrs Weasley had asked her whether she could keep her as a guard dog. Megan would miss her, but knew she'd be more help here than at Hogwarts when it was so heavily protected.

"Goodbye, Mégane," Fleur said kissing her cheek.

"Bye, Fleur."

And they set off.