"Time turner?"
"Yes, the time turner... You know, before I was imprisoned in Azkaban, I had been doing some resale business on the black market... You also made a lot of gold Galleons at that time, didn't you? Voldemort completely failed this time After that, I gradually ran out of money, so I started to go back to my old business... "
In the study of McNeil's house, Nott and Walton were talking quietly.
To be honest, Nott was not completely lying, because he was indeed a second-rate dealer who made a living by swapping objects.
As the life of the Knott family has become increasingly difficult in the past century, in order to continue to survive, almost every generation of their family has been selling off their property. And this has also allowed their family to accumulate many personal collectors and traders.
So starting from Nott's father, their family finally took advantage of this resource and became a black market dealer reselling various magic items, collectibles and precious materials.
Yes, in fact, what he and Mundungus do for a living is actually similar.
It's just that compared to the latter, the objects he and his father dealt with were of relatively high value—at least Mundungus's favorite low-priced second-hand crucible, which the father and son would definitely look down upon.
And when it comes to Mrs. Parkinson going to him to consult about a time turner, from another perspective, isn't it similar to his "old business"
So to be honest, Nott's excuse was not just a random one.
Just as Walton nodded clearly, Nott just paused for a moment and quickly continued:
"And just last night I met a customer who wanted to purchase a time turner... Do you know? As soon as he said this, I thought of you!"
"I remember, when we were sent to the Department of Mysteries by Voldemort, you seemed to have taken a time turner from the cabinet in the Hall of Time, right? Although this thing itself is of high value, because of its special nature, you are willing to There have always been very few people accepting it... You see, when I have the chance to take action this time, my first thought is you, brother!"
"Oh, does this sound good? Well, thanks, you are indeed a good brother!"
Walton naturally didn't think too much, because what Nott said was indeed the truth - although the time turners are rare in number, they are all precious research supplies from the Ministry of Magic. Even if there are sporadic circulation underground, dare to There are also very few people who buy them home.
Once it is discovered, to some extent, it will be much more serious than collecting black magic items.
"By the way," Walton thought for a while and suddenly said worriedly, "Who is the wizard who asked you to buy the time turner? Could he be an Auror?"
"Come on!" When Nott heard this, he immediately waved his hand and said, "You also know the situation in London now - the entire Ministry of Magic is already in a state of distress, right? At this time, how can they bother to do this kind of fishing? Trick?"
"Well, that's true," Walton couldn't help but nodded, "When I sneaked out yesterday, the department was already in chaos... So, what price did the other party offer?"
"It's not settled yet... After all, time turners are rare and the probability of not finding them is very high, so people have to see the goods first before they are willing to negotiate the price." Nott said, "But don't you still believe me? Don't worry. , I will help you negotiate a good price!”
…
More than half an hour later, Nott came out of McNeil's house after chatting with the other party in the study for a while. After the door behind him closed again, Nott patted his breast pocket gently, with a satisfied smile on his lips.
Now that the time turner is in hand, it's time to figure out Mrs. Parkinson's purpose.
Obviously, this is not an easy task without a clue.
While pacing along the road in front of McNeil's house, Nott fell into silent contemplation again.
"In normal times, the black market is definitely the most likely place. People who want to buy such illegal items usually seek transactions there. But... judging from the situation in London these two days, even wizards who dare to go to the black market Yes, it can't be Navannatha Parkinson..."
Nott murmured to himself, thought about it, and nodded involuntarily.
"Yes, at this time, hiding quietly at home is the most appropriate choice. Therefore, while she is still staying at my house, it is definitely right to go to Parkinson's house first."
As soon as he thought of it, Nott took a deep breath, and then decisively apparated away from where he was. The next moment, he appeared near Parkinson's Mansion.
"Tuk-tuk—"
Not long after Nott stepped forward and knocked on the door, Sita, the Parkinson's house elf, opened the door for him.
"Hello, sir!" The elf bowed to Nott, and then said very politely, "Sir, do you have anything important to do when you visit Parkinson's house?"
"Well..." Nott glanced at Sita and asked knowingly, "Is Madam here?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, sir, the mistress happens to be out of town for something right now." The elf Sita said respectfully, "But the master is at home... Of course, if we have to find the mistress, Sita can tell the news on her behalf."
"Mr. Parkinson at home?"
This was something Nott had not expected, because in his opinion, Vanessa's husband should still be at the Ministry of Magic. He was very familiar with that rigid nerd. When he was in Hogwarts, Parkinson, who was in the same class as him, basically spent all day in the library.
"Then...are there any other guests here at the moment?"
Needless to say, this is Nott's biggest concern right now. If there's a guest here, it's probably the one who really wants the Time-Turner! If you can sell the time turner directly to the other party, you will definitely make more money than selling it to Vanessa.
However, the elf Sita shook her head when she heard him ask.
"A distinguished guest did come just now, but he just left more than ten minutes ago..."
A step too late
If he missed it like this, the possibility of finding the other party would obviously be much lower - Nott couldn't help but feel a little annoyed. If he had known better, he would have stopped chatting less at McNeil's house.
Then, Nott frowned slightly and asked:
"Do you know who that guest is?"
"Oh, yes..." Sita nodded immediately, "It's Mr. Macca McClain."
"Mike—"
This name made Nott almost scream out in surprise. Fortunately, he reacted in time and quickly suppressed his involuntarily rising tone.
"Ahem," he coughed lightly, and then asked again, "Then do you know where he went?"
"I'm sorry, sir, I don't know about Sita."
…
Yes, as Nott had just learned at this moment, Maka had left the Parkinson's house.
Because after returning there, he immediately learned the news about Vanessa going out from Pansy's mouth. Although he allowed himself to be patient and waited for a while in the main hall, in the end he still didn't want to waste time and decided to go out to find the other party.
This is not London, and there is no gray fog that can affect the perception of magic power. After analyzing the residual magic power fluctuations caused by Vanessa's phantom near the door, he was familiar with the general location of the other party's appearance.
So just ten minutes ago, when Nott was still chatting with Walton in the study of McNeil's house, Maca had already arrived at the door of his house.
"Bang bang."
Obviously without much effort, the slightly inferior wooden door was knocked by Maka like a broken drum, making him frown slightly.
But the people inside didn't let him wait too long. After a while, he saw the door in front of him opened slightly, revealing a small face.
"Excuse me... is your husband also here to see the head of the family? He is not at home now."
It was Nott's daughter Joy who opened the door, and it may be worth mentioning that Joy's name for her father seemed a little different.
The previous Vanessa probably didn't notice this at all because she didn't care about these little things.
"Master?"
When Maka heard this title, she couldn't help but be secretly curious.
Naturally, he still doesn't know that Joy is Nott's daughter. No, he doesn't even know that this is the home of the former Death Eater Auston Nott. And the reason why he was curious was because this title was not common in ordinary wizarding families.
So he immediately realized that the people living here were probably descendants of a down-and-out family.
Putting these speculations aside for now, Maka said to the little girl behind the door:
"No, I'm not here to find your master... Well, I think a lady came here just now, right? The person I'm looking for is her."
"ah!"
When Joey heard this, he immediately pursed his lips and said:
"Yes, if sir is looking for Mrs. Parkinson, she is indeed resting in the living room."
"Well, very good," Maka smiled at the timid little girl, "I have something to do and I want to see her, please take me there!"
"this-"
Joey shook his head hesitantly and said:
"I have to ask Madam first... Sir, please wait a moment."
Before she finished speaking, Maka saw her suddenly retract her head, and then closed the door again with a bang.
After being stunned for a moment, Maka couldn't help but shake her head slightly.
"Crack."
With a soft sound of the lock spring, the door opened on its own, and then Maka took a step forward and walked straight inside - although it was not good to break into other people's homes without permission, he really didn't want to spend any more time.
"...Mrs. Parkinson, there is a young gentleman outside who wants to see you..."
Listening to the intermittent words of the little girl in the living room, Maka shrugged and immediately walked in from the door.
"Madam, you don't have to guess who it is," he said calmly in the direction of Vanessa and Joey, "It's me, McClain."