Borgin & Burkes

[Laurasia]

Barty quickly entered the shop, ushering Cedric in behind himself. The shop was small, dark, & dusty with his usual displays of dark items placed around on shelves.

Barty went directly to the counter, leaving Cedric to look around for himself. He rang the bell & waited for the proprietor to finally emmerge to help him. A small, scowling man came from the back room & stared at Barty wide-eyed.

Barty smiled & let out a chuckle. "Borgin, my man! Don't just stand there, come help an old customer." The older man stammered a bit & stepped to the counter. "Barty Crouch Jr?! It can't be...you're dead!" Barty laughed heartily. "Presumed dead. Come man, you deal in the Dark Arts. Is it so unbelievable that a wizard could fool the Ministry?"

Mr. Borgin glowered a bit at this comment & mumbled under his breathe, "I didn't realize that you would be able to figure out..."

"What's that Brogin?" Barty asked with an angry twinkle in his eye & a flick of the tongue.

"Oh! I was just saying that I didn't think that a wizard such as yourself would have stayed in hiding is all," he stammered with a nervous chuckle.

"Uh-huh...Well my miraculous 'resurrection' wouldn't be much of a surprise if I had announced my presence now would it?" He eyed the man for a moment before continuing. "Anyway, I'm here to call in some favors is all. I need some new clothes & a potion for a head cold. I know that it's not your usual wares, but I assume that you can accomodate an old customer."

"Of course, Mr. Crouch," Borgin said in a manner much like a house elf. Barty glared at him hard. "Barty!", he blurted out abruptly. Borgin flinched & bowed his head apologetically. "Of course! Of course! I'm so sorry Barty. It's simply been so long since I've seen you, I had forgotten." He pulled out a piece of parchment & a quill, setting the items on the counter. "Just give me a list of what you need, along with colors & sizes. I'll run in the back & get you that potion," he said while disappearing into the backroom once more.

Barty relaxed once more & took up the quill. He quickly jotted down a few lines & sat the quill back down. He turned to be sure that Cedric was still alright & found him looking through some of the wares for sale.

Borgin came back out with a small box of vials & sat them in front of Barty. "I appreciate how difficult it may be for you to get back here should you need more of the potion, so I shall give you this small crate of it just in case the cold is a stubborn one." He picked up the parchment & scanned the contents carefully. "Very good. Very good. And...where shall I send the items?" He looked between arty & Cedric, apparently noticing the boy for the first time. "What's your name? Are you who he is staying with? If so, I shall send the items to you," he asked with a wary look. He was uncomfortable with new patrons. The fact that the supposedly dead Barty Crouch Jr had brought him in with him didn't ease his nerves one bit.

[Brandybuck]

As Barty left him alone to look throughout the store, Cedric began to curiously browse. he did not dare touch anything out of fear that it would lunge at him if he did. He bent down to look at a few dusty book with chains across them. There was a sign that stated that the proprieteer only could touch these items. Cedric raised his eyebrows, and strolled across the store to the other side. He heard Barty speaking in a low, angry voice to the proprieter.

As he was leaning over a bowl full of red water, he suddenly heard the man address him. Cedric did not want to give the man his real name, so he looked to Barty. However, the man had already turned his attention back to Barty. Cedric breathed a sigh of relief, and waited for Barty to commence his business.

[Laurasia]

Barty glanced at Cedric in a reassuring way when Borgin addressed him. He cleared his throat to get the mans attention once more. "Don't worry about him, Borgin. He's just an acquaintance of mine. Why don't you simply send me an OWL addressed to 'B.J.' when the order is ready for pickup? That should work just fine I think."

Borgin eyed the boy once more as Barty described him as an "acquaintance". He didn't like new people coming around, especially with "dead Death Eaters". He couldn't help but wonder what it was that they were up to. He widened his eyes & shook his head when Barty mentioned sending the OWL. "Oh, yes, I suppose that would work. Though you would still need to pick it up. Perhaps you would prefer if I had it delivered?" he asked, obviously trying to find out more about this "acquaintance" of Barty's.

Barty stepped into Borgin's line of vision, obscuring Cedric. "Thanks, but I can manage Borgin. Now give me a receipt," he said in a flat voice with a flick of his tongue. Borgin gaped at Barty for a moment & then suddenly cleared his throat. He had forgotten how touchy Barty Jr could be, but he remembered his impulsiveness clearly. He knew that he did not want to make the man feel threatened in any way. "Of course Mr..." he stammered & looked at Barty's widening eyes. "Um...I mean...Here you go Barty." He quickly scribbled a receipt & shived it into the man's hands. "I'll get that order filled as soon as possible." He plastered a fake, nervous smile onto his face & hoped that Barty would leave quietly.

Barty looked over the slip of parchment that Borgin had shoved into his hand & tucked it into his pocket. "Thanks Borgin. It's nice doing business with you again." He winked at the man with another flick of his tongue & then turned to Cedric. "Here," he said, handing him the small case of vials. "Are you ready to go?"

[Brandybuck]

Cedric watched the exchange between Barty and Mr. Borgin with half-fear, and half-curiosity. he saw the way that Barty was able to frighten the other man so easily. He was uncomfortable that Mr. Borgin kept glancing his way, as if to study him. He looked to his feet and tried to stay out of his vision.

Just then, Barty handed him a box of vials. "What are these Barty?", he asked as he followed the other man out of the store.

[Laurasia]

"Pepper-Up Potion for your cold, Ced," Barty stated as he walked out the door of the store. "Let's head over to the Hogs' Head & see if any of my old friends happen to be there."

[Brandybuck]

Cedric was surprised that Barty thought enough of him to get him something for his cold.

"Thanks, Barty..I..um..do not really know what to say."

At the mention of the Hog's Head, Cedric got a mischevious look on his face.

"Can't stay out of the bars, can you Barty?"

OOC: I will let you guide this into the other thread dear.