Harry Potter: I Get Stronger by Taking Loans - 177

Chapter 177: Borgin and Burkes, Whipping with Iodine for Disinfection

Borgin and Burkes.

It was the largest shop in Knockturn Alley, specialising in dark magical items. Some of its merchandise was downright dangerous. Mr Borgin, the owner, not only sold these objects but also collected all manner of strange and sinister artefacts.

In a dark corner, a large black cabinet stood half-open.

Harry was crouched inside, feeling thoroughly miserable. He’d had rotten luck these past few days.

Thanks to Leonardo, his aunt’s family had become much kinder. They fed him, gave him drinks, and mostly left him alone. He preferred it that way—no one bothered him, and he could read his magical books in peace, getting ahead on the homework Leonardo had set.

Compared to how things used to be, this was paradise.

Thinking of Leonardo, Harry couldn’t help but envy him. Both had lost their parents, but Leonardo had an aunt who clearly adored him. Harry found that oddly comforting.

Everything had been going smoothly until a few days ago, when a house-elf named Dobby appeared out of nowhere.

Stealing his letters was bad enough, but then Dobby had dropped an entire cake on Uncle Vernon’s guest’s head.

Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon were furious, but thanks to the “pressure” Leonardo had put on them, they couldn’t punish Harry.

Harry had even overheard Vernon plotting to board up his window.

Harry had grown increasingly anxious, longing for the start of term. Luckily, before Vernon could act, Ron and the twins arrived to rescue him.

The look on his relatives’ faces as they waved him off was as if they were bidding farewell to a plague carrier.

Harry didn’t care. The thought of returning to Hogwarts made him giddy.

He’d spent a wonderful, carefree time at the Weasleys’. The only downside was that Leonardo had left just before Harry arrived.

Harry had planned to come to Diagon Alley with the Weasleys, but his first attempt at Floo Powder had gone awry. Instead of arriving at the Leaky Cauldron, he’d landed in this strange, terrifying shop.

Good grief, what kind of things did this place sell?

Shriveled hands, blood-stained playing cards, glass eyeballs…

Some of them were even displayed on cushions inside glass cases!

Surely these couldn’t be valuable. They were just creepy.

Harry peered through the cabinet’s gap and watched Draco Malfoy and a man who looked just like Lucius Malfoy talking with the shopkeeper, Mr Borgin.

Finally, Borgin saw the Malfoys out, closed the door, and began muttering to himself.

“Tch… sales… less than half…”

Harry waited, hoping for a chance to slip out.

Just as he reached for the cabinet door—

Creak.

The shop door opened again. A voice called out.

“Mr Borgin, I’ve brought the final products. Once you’ve examined them, we can finalise the contract, yes?”

Harry’s ears pricked up. That voice sounded familiar.

He saw Borgin quickly smooth his greasy hair and adopt a servile tone.

“Mr Grafton, seeing you is like seeing sunlight and fortune itself. I can already taste the pleasure of our cooperation…”

The door swung open, and Harry caught sight of that familiar dark gold hair and those deep green eyes.

Leonardo?

What was he doing here?

Borgin’s attitude toward Leonardo was even more obsequious than it had been toward the Malfoys. Why?

Harry watched as Borgin led Leonardo to a seat, offering tea and biscuits.

Leonardo waved a hand, and several small items appeared on the table: bracelets, necklaces, buttons.

Borgin slipped on a monocle covered in mechanical gears and began inspecting each piece with care.

“Oh, your craftsmanship is as exquisite as ever. No, even better than last time. I find it hard to believe someone so young can achieve such mastery in alchemy. Has Hogwarts improved its alchemy programme?”

“Tell me your thoughts,” Leonardo said, cutting off the praise.

Borgin cleared his throat and began outlining his opinions.

“These alchemical devices are fixed with various magical effects. The most useful is the automatic Protego amulet. It greatly increases a wizard’s survivability. Naturally, the price should reflect that…”

Harry understood that Leonardo was negotiating a partnership—Borgin would sell the alchemical devices, which had impressive effects. But the details, the haggling, left Harry’s head spinning.

Just as Harry was starting to feel his legs go numb, Leonardo and Borgin wrapped up their discussion.

Harry bent down to rub his legs, then noticed Leonardo suddenly look his way.

Instinctively, Harry tensed.

But Leonardo raised a hand and beckoned him over.

Harry hesitated. Why should he be nervous? He pushed the cabinet door open and stepped out.

“Who are you?” Borgin asked sharply, his eyes turning suspicious.

“He’s a friend of mine,” Leonardo said smoothly. “We were playing hide-and-seek, and he somehow ended up here. No harm done?”

Borgin’s expression immediately softened, and he smiled at Harry.

“No problem, no problem, young man. But next time, don’t hide here. The things in my shop are for adults. They can be dangerous for children. For example, that opal necklace beside you has already claimed the lives of nineteen Muggles.”

Harry shuddered and took a few steps away, moving behind Leonardo.

Borgin’s sudden change in attitude was simple: Leonardo was a major client, and his alchemical items were of the highest quality. If Borgin could keep Leonardo’s business, it meant a steady new stream of income.

Why didn’t Borgin try to use underhanded means to seize Leonardo’s treasures, despite his youth and obvious wealth?

A shiver ran through Borgin’s body as he remembered the screams that had echoed through Knockturn Alley just days before.

He decided not to worry about the boy who had appeared out of nowhere, covered in soot, his face smudged with grime—nothing like the legendary Boy Who Lived.

After Borgin courteously ushered them out, Harry followed Leonardo. Outside was a filthy alley, lined with shops selling dark magic items.

A few ragged witches and wizards saw them and immediately ducked away.

An old witch who had been facing the opposite direction turned, dropped a tray of what looked like severed fingernails, and fled without a backward glance. Her speed was shockingly agile for her age.

Harry knew those people weren’t afraid of him. They were afraid of…

He glanced at Leonardo beside him.

“This is Knockturn Alley,” Leonardo explained casually. “It sells dark magical items. It’s best not to come here alone without an adult wizard.”

Harry nodded vigorously. The atmosphere made his skin crawl.

But he was curious. Why had those people run at the sight of Leonardo?

Leonardo saw Harry’s soot-stained face and pulled out his wand.

“Scourgify. Reparo.”

Harry instantly transformed from a grimy coal ball into the clean-cut Boy Who Lived, his cracked glasses mended.

Now free of soot, Leonardo noticed Harry’s cheeks were rosy, no longer as pale and thin as they had been last year.

Ah, the Dursleys hadn’t dared to starve him again.

They hadn’t gone far before Harry heard a series of sharp cracking sounds. He looked back at Borgin and Burkes, but saw nothing unusual.

Curiosity got the better of him.

“Leonardo, why did those people run when they saw us come out?”

He remembered the old witch most vividly—she’d looked ancient, yet her escape had been lightning fast, as if fleeing from something terrifying.

Leonardo put his wand away and spoke calmly.

“I’ve had run-ins here with thieves, robbers, fraudsters… even someone who tried to curse me with dark magic.”

Harry tensed, imagining himself in Leonardo’s place.

But Leonardo’s expression remained serene, suggesting the danger had passed without incident.

“Leonardo, you weren’t hurt, were you?” Harry asked, concerned. “Did you remember what they looked like? Should we report them to the Ministry?”

Leonardo shook his head.

“I’m fine. As for their appearance…”

He pointed up at the sky.

Harry looked up and saw seven or eight ragged figures hanging upside down, suspended as if by invisible chains, forming a cross shape.

Their eyes were closed, their necks and bodies caked with blood, torn clothes revealing raw wounds.

But their faces were clean and unmarked, as if the blood stopped before it could touch their skin.

Harry finally understood the source of the cracking sounds.

Several whips hovered around the figures, lashing out and producing the noise.

He noticed a transparent barrier below, preventing blood from dripping onto the street.

Strangely, Harry found the scene almost… considerate?

Remembering the earlier conversation and Borgin’s reaction to Leonardo…

Harry realised the people who had tried to cheat, rob, or curse Leonardo were now hanging here, receiving their punishment.

The residents of Knockturn Alley had watched this spectacle and understood Leonardo’s methods and the consequences of crossing him.

So when they saw Leonardo, they fled like criminals fleeing the law.

“Knockturn Alley is dangerous. The people here aren’t friendly…”

Leonardo chuckled.

“Some are driven by greed and attack me directly. Others…”

He nodded toward Borgin and Burkes.

“Others are secretly encouraged by people like Borgin.”

Harry frowned.

“But why did you still do business with him?”

Leonardo’s tone was calm.

“Give someone a stick, then a carrot. They’ll be more loyal and efficient.”

“That man has connections in this alley. He’s useful.”

Harry looked up at the figures again.

“Did you hang them close to Borgin and Burkes on purpose?”

Leonardo nodded.

“Yes. I wanted him to hear. Closer is better.”

Harry stared at the suspended figures. Even as the whips cracked, they made no sound. He suddenly thought of something.

“Leonardo, they seem… quiet.”

Harry was trying to say they might be dead.

Leonardo didn’t look up, his confidence unshaken.

“Don’t worry. The whips are filled with healing potion. It seeps out every so often, so they won’t actually die.”

“The healing potion’s been improved. It’s quite effective. Want to learn how to make it next term?”

Harry nodded instinctively, eager to learn a new potion.

But the idea of whipping someone while simultaneously healing them—was this genius or madness? Harry was momentarily speechless.

“Do you feel sorry for them?” Leonardo asked.

Harry shook his head, his voice soft but firm.

“No. If you hadn’t subdued them, they wouldn’t have hesitated to hurt you. Magic and power are important.”

Over the past year, Harry had seen Leonardo defeat Quirrell and Voldemort, and watched him use wealth and influence to keep his relatives in line.

He understood now that whether in the wizarding world or the Muggle world, having enough “power” was essential—not to bully others, but to protect oneself from being bullied.

Leonardo was pleased with Harry’s response. A child who had experienced hardship was unlikely to become a soft-hearted pushover.

Dumbledore was trying to build Harry’s courage and resolve, but he had never demanded that he be a saint.

A saviour who could stand up to and defeat Voldemort could be kind, could be gentle, but never weak. Never one to pity those who did not deserve it.