Chapter 102: A Night In Budapest
A wide street, with no shops on either side, only simple stalls set up temporarily.
Melvin smelled the slightly damp air and looked up at the sky, where the stars and moon were bright. The high walls on both sides of the street blocked his view, and apart from the kerosene lamps that appeared one after another, he could see no other reference points to determine his exact location.
It was a warm summer night in late July, and Budapest along the Danube River was not too hot. Judging by the air and temperature, they were still by the Danube River.
According to the information provided by those wizards, this was the entrance to the market. Walking straight to the end, the street would lead to the exit, a purely commercial shopping street.
He had originally just accompanied Hagrid for a walk, but now a sudden urge to see it for himself arose.
Summer vacation was the peak season in Romania and also in Budapest. There were still many tourists and merchants at night, and the vendors were very disciplined. Their goods were arranged neatly, and the surrounding area was clean, even tidier than Muggle streets.
Perhaps it was due to the nighttime, but their methods of attracting customers were also very restrained.
Most of the vendors wore hoods and scarves that obscured their faces and did not actively solicit. When a customer stopped nearby, they would first make eye contact, then nod and smile as a greeting. Only if the customer responded would they begin to introduce their products.
“Freshly dug dragon dung, just delivered, still warm!”
“Scales naturally shed by a Ukrainian Ironbelly, two for five Galleons!”
“Manuscript by the Legendary Wizard Voynich, would you like to take a look?”
“A Golden Goblet made by Hermes, it can brew wine that restores youth.”
“…”
Melvin walked and observed, listening with great interest. The items were strange and exotic, and the transaction rules were varied and numerous. He was truly gaining knowledge.
Freshly expelled dragon dung, scales from an Ironbelly. Romania had just imposed martial law, so it was unclear how they managed to transport it… or perhaps it was a fake made from something else.
The manuscript by the legendary wizard was free to read, but one had to share any parts they understood with the stall owner.
As for Hermes’ Golden Goblet, if Melvin was not mistaken, it contained Polyjuice Potion, which could transform one’s appearance into that of another person. In a way, it was also a form of returning to youth.
The most outrageous item was a stone tablet, dug up from who knows where, which they insisted was an authentic Emerald Tablet.
The stall owner, seeing Melvin’s young face, chatted with him for a bit and realized he had a superficial understanding of Alchemy but wasn’t an expert. He immediately beamed with joy and enthusiastically introduced the item, trying to get Melvin to purchase it for a low price of three thousand Galleons. He claimed it contained the ultimate secrets of Alchemy, capable of creating the Philosopher’s Stone, the Primordial Liquid, the Salt of Wisdom, and so on.
Melvin was very tempted and decisively refused.
If there were truly any ultimate secrets of Alchemy in this world, Nicolas Flamel would have found them after searching for centuries all over the world, and they wouldn’t have ended up at such a small stall to be sold to any unsuspecting fool for three thousand Galleons.
Additionally, there were various potions made from Fire Dragon ingredients, their authenticity unknown. However, the stall owners claimed the ingredients were fresh and produced by renowned Potions Masters, and he even heard the name Severus Snape mentioned.
There were also eggs of rare Magical Creatures, including Swooping Evil, Thunderbird, and Occamy, even Phoenix eggs, but no Fire Dragon eggs.
If any of these items were real, this street should have been shut down, and these stall owners arrested and sentenced to at least ten to eight years.
There were also a few items that were guaranteed to be authentic, with stall owners even willing to make an Unforgivable Vow to ensure the transaction. However, those items were very expensive, clearly priced, and some even only accepted bartering.
「 Invisibility Cloak woven from Demiguise hair: Exchange for decoding a piece of Sumerian Cuneiform 」
「 Original Fire Magic: Exchange for another type of Fire Magic 」
「 … 」
Hagrid quietly followed the two professors, looking at the strange and peculiar merchandise. He was surprised to find that the items in his own house were quite valuable. However, it was just a fleeting surprise, and he had no desire to sell them. Galleons wouldn’t be of much use to him anyway.
After walking more than halfway down the street, the market was a bit different from what he had expected. Melvin relaxed and spotted a loose-leaf book in good condition.
This loose-leaf book looked like an ordinary book, with a brass binder and a paper bookmark attached to each page. It wasn’t exquisite but exuded an aura of Alchemy. It wasn’t just a book, but also a wizard’s communication book. By giving the bookmark to another wizard and drawing a portrait on the corresponding page, the two parties could communicate through the bookmark and the page.
Professor Kettleburn stood quietly nearby, watching Melvin go up to inquire about the price.
“Mister, may I take a look?”
“Of course, young sir!” the stall owner enthusiastically introduced, “This is a communication book that came from some unknown family, and it’s brand new. Special offer, only six thousand.”
“Silver Sickles?”
“Mister, you’re quite humorous. Of course, it’s Galleons.”
“Even a Two-way Mirror, which is clearer and more convenient for similar products, isn’t this expensive.”
“You can’t compare them like that, sir. A Two-way Mirror can only contact one person, while this communication book can contact a group of people.”
“Two-way mirrors have other advantages.”
Melvin patiently argued with him. In reality, he did have six thousand Galleons in his pocket, but at this kind of market stall, he felt that the shopping experience wouldn’t be complete without some haggling and back-and-forth.
Just as both sides were about to enter the next stage of their tug-of-war, a clear female voice suddenly came from beside them: “Six thousand Galleons, I’ll take it.”
“?”
Melvin turned around in surprise. Beside him stood a Witch, completely enveloped in a large cloak, wearing a wizard hat with a veil on her head. Her deep emerald eyes shimmered with a faint light, obscuring her face. Her voice sounded very young.
Melvin felt those eyes were somewhat familiar.
The Witch who had cut in midway made eye contact with Melvin, a barely perceptible surprise flashing in her eyes. Perhaps feeling a bit apologetic to this professor, she paused briefly and said, “Sorry, I really need this communication book. I can compensate you.”
“No need, business is business.”
Melvin shook his head. He remembered those eyes now. It was the Auror Witch who had checked their wands and identity information during security checks in Romania earlier that day.
Appearing here at this time, she was likely investigating the case of the stolen Dragon Eggs.
As a Witch, she probably couldn’t afford six thousand Galleons to procure a communication book, so it was likely a decision from the Ministry of Magic.
Being unfamiliar with the place and the people, it was better not to compete with the local power.
“Thank you very much.”
Melvin gave her a slight nod, ending this trivial interlude, and turned to continue strolling and shopping with Hagrid and the others.
…
Eleven o’clock at night.
He felt exceptionally refreshed after his bath.
Melvin casually put on a pair of pajamas and sat by the window with a glass of juice, savoring it slowly.
His shopping trip tonight had yielded some results. His suitcase now contained several Dark Magic Items: a Notebook that could engrave writing on the skin of the writer, a Curse Rune that would cause nightmares with just one glance, and a Mirror made from a Boggart that could reflect fears… they were quite exotic.
Old Abo’s hotel still had poor soundproofing.
Snoring sounds, with similar frequencies, erupted from the next room on schedule, one after another, harmonizing. Perhaps the habits of Care of Magical Creatures professors were always similar. Melvin was somewhat speechless, put his items into his suitcase, and prepared to rest.
“Crack!”
Amidst the pauses in the snoring, a clear tremor of air came from outside the door and window, seemingly from the courtyard, and was particularly abrupt in the night—
That was the sound of Apparition compressing the air.
With the theft case in Romania during the day and mysterious wizards appearing at night, it was hard not to make connections. Melvin pondered for a moment, cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself, and decided to go out and see.
The wooden door of the guest room was quietly opened halfway, then quietly closed. Melvin’s figure melted into the night, leaving no shadow. He walked through the corridor and arrived at the balcony.
Two aged figures stood by the courtyard wall, whispering. It was the Hotel Owner Abo and the old Witch from last night. They were discussing something, and had cast spells similar to a Silencing Charm around themselves.
“…”
The two seemed to be arguing. Finally, the owner Abo compromised, reluctantly stepping aside to make room and gesturing for the old Witch to lead the way.
They seemed to be going somewhere.
Melvin watched their receding backs, pondered for a moment, and chose to follow them from a distance.
