More Tools for Eavesdropping

[Kudri Donovan]

The alley was dark, as it usually was, despite the sunshine that was pouring through the streets behind him. There was just something about this place that filtered out the light and gave it an eerie atmosphere that frightened most people away. Many witches and wizards didn't even know this alley existed, and very few of the ones who did dared to venture down it. They felt safer in the more open space of Diagon Alley where mobs of people were almost always wandering from store to store. This part of the shopping district was devoid of crowds, and those who could be found were usually alone and skulking through the shadows.

But Kudri had no intention to hide his presence. He strode down the dim path that connected the two areas, his footsteps echoing slightly against the brick walls on either side. The distant sound of the crowds in Diagon Alley could still be heard but were growing fainter as he kept walking and eventually emerged from the narrow alleyway into the slightly wider lanes of Knockturn Alley. There was no noise, but the silence was almost deafening, so thick that it felt as if it could suffocate anyone who entered. Kudri barely noticed it, though. He had a destination in mind and simply let his feet lead the way without thinking about his surroundings. There was a witch who tried to stop him along the way, brandishing a tray of human fingernails in his face, but he brushed past her without a word. Her angry shrieks followed him down the rest of that street.

As soon as he turned the corner, he stopped in front of a building with a large, unwashed front window. The broken sign that hung from above the door announced that this was the place he was looking for, Borgin and Burkes, and that it was currently closed. Kudri peered through the grimy window in search of what he had come for. It should have been on the counter next to a bloody deck of cards, but it wasn't a very large object so he put his face as close to the window as he could without touching its dirty surface and took a closer look. There, round and covered in a thin layer of dust, he thought he saw it, a small glass eyeball.

Now all he had to do was wait for Borgin to open up the shop. It wasn't particularly early, but the man wasn't exactly known for punctuality. Not that Kudri could really complain about that since he was notorious for a lack of that same quality. Still, it annoyed him that he would have to wait.

He went up the three steps to the shop's front door and banged loudly on it. He knew that the man lived in the upstairs apartment so if he made a loud enough ruckus he might actually get his lazy arse down to work. After five minutes, however, there was still no sign of the owner so Kudri stepped down to the cobbled road and looked around for a good throwing object. All the stones around were too small to make a decent noise, though, so with a small sigh (as if he really cared about what he was about to do), Kudri pulled out his wand and cast a simple exploding charm at the man's apartment window.

"Borgin, get down here!" he shouted up at the gaping hole that used to be a window.

There was a loud shout just before an old, partially bald man with missing teeth poked his head out of the hole, his face furious and his eyes bulging.

"Who the devil just broke my house?!" he demanded, squinting down at Kudri with murder in his eyes. It took him a long while before he recognized who the culprit was, and upon noticing him, his eyes widened in shock. "Oh, my apologies, Mister Donovan!"

"Whatever, Borgin. Just come down here. I want to buy something from your miserable little shop."

"Yes, sir! Just let me fix up this mess and get a decent change of clothes."

The man disappeared from the hole and a moment later had the whole spot repaired, good as new. Kudri smirked at the man's change in attitude. He was used to being treated with respect, but it never failed to please him when it happened. It also amused him that the man felt it necessary to change into better clothes. He doubted whether Borgin owned anything that could be considered "decent" even by such people as the Weasleys. But he would let the man have his way this once. He would just stand outside the shop until he got his sorry arse downstairs to open the door.

[Kane Kirpatrick]

Kane too was coming from Diagon Alley, this time having purchased quite a few new goods, some of which were a bit more strange than others.

Turning into Knockturn Alley was not uncommon for him, though it did quite seem like no one noticed him walk into the area. He was not one to flaunt something like his 'unholy calling,' or whatever it was those prudish Gryffindors were calling it these days...

His Jarvey accompanied him, of course, riding in his cloak pocket and insulting just about everyone they walked past.

"Yer a sorry excuse fer an' ol' lady!"

"Oi, sellin' fingernails 'cause ya can' sell anythin' werth sellin'?"

"Lookie 'ere, an' ol' man who tinks 'es gonna pick yer pocket Master!"

At this, Kane stared angrily at the man, who had his hand half in the pocket the Jarvey was in, and half out, with a fully sheepish look on his face. There was a small pause before Kane snorted, causing the man to take his hand out of the pocket empty and scuttle off, out of Kane's reach. Not that it mattered; Kane knew that if the man had stolen anything, then the Jarvey would have told him so.

"Rex, keep to yourself."

"Yes Master..."

The Jarvey was quiet for a bit, but, eventually, the insults started again. Kane did not make any mention of it being wrong; it was just something the Jarvey did, after all. It was under special circumstances that Kane let the Jarvey even exist to begin with. The thing was in a well, dying, and Kane could have put it out of its misery right there and then.

But he had other plans for his little spy. Despite his inability to keep insults to himself, Rex had always been good in getting into the most random of places at the most opportune for Kane times. That was what kept Rex at Kane's side now.

However, Kane was not here to spy, or allow Rex to give too many insults; he was here to purchase a particularly potent item that he heard was carried in Borgin and Burkes.

The sound of an explosion in the distance caused Kane's eyebrow to move in an upward direction, though he did not say anything.

"Whut an absolutely pathetic explosion!" Rex said, purely to be a voice in the din. Kane grunted a reply, before moving towards the explosion. It just happened to be coming in the direction of Borgin and Burkes...

Curious.

He took his time getting there, on the chance that the disaster would have been taken care of quickly, or at least before he got there.

When he arrived, he of course had a wonderful sight to behold.

Borgin was apparently woken up rather early in the morning... well, early for him anyways.

At the steps stood Kudri Donovan, who looked to be impatiently waiting for the old coot to open the store.

Of course Borgin was late. Kudri had absolutely no patience in the matter. At least Kane would have attempted to be subtle with it.

Subtle would have simply meant... less noise, more collateral damage, of course.

He shook his head and crossed his arms against his chest before he made himself known.

"Donovan," he started, approaching the storefront, "What happened to that subtle thing we've been trying? I know Borgin's tendency to be... casually late has completely confounded the both of us, but you could at least try before blowing his flat up."

There was a slight grin on his features, and his moss green eyes flickered with the entertainment he looked to be expressing.

"Last minute supplies? Are we trying to get back to our old tricks before Rosenthorn decides she's actually good at her job?"

If his brow could quirk any higher at the moment, it would have.

"Kudri, I don't think Rosenthorn's going to be without her defenses..."

It was not without extreme caution that the boys should have even thought about packing strange items in their trunks, seeing as they were on a sort of probation from dark magic ever since McGonagall found out a few years back. Despite this, they still managed to practice... smaller things... Whether dear old 'Minerva' knew about it or not was much beyond either boy at this point, and, with Rosenthorn being the only thing between them and Dark Arts practice in school, as opposed to at Kudri's house (Voldemort forbid Kane do something other than a simple Levitation charm at his own place), or at some random undisclosed location that they would eventually have to Disapparate from simply because they were always going to be watched by Shaklebolt and his mundane Ministry Aurors.

"Though, I must say, this has to be the best welcome to seventh year gift anyone could have thought of... No more McGonagall... and we've got the Hufflepuff Queen? She'll have her hands full..."

[Kudri Donovan]

Kudri heard the sound of footsteps coming ever closer but refrained from acknowledging whoever was there because, to be completely honest, he doubted anyone else in this hovel deserved his attention. The only reason Borgin was being graced with his presence was because he had something that Kudri wanted, and as soon as he had it, the man would go back to being scum. He ignored the other person, until the sound of Kirpatrick's voice fluttered through the air and into Kudri's ears. He half-turned, peering slightly over his shoulder to quirk an eyebrow in Kane's direction.

"Subtlety didn't do a damn thing," he replied before turning back to watch for any movement inside the shop. Borgin had better hurry up, he thought, or he's going to have to deal with more than a mildly annoyed Kudri Donovan. "The old gaffer must be deaf in one ear. Blowing out his window was the only option, or at least it seemed that way at the time. Even if there were better ways of going about it, it was certainly the most entertaining." His deep green eyes flickered mischievously. "Besides, he repaired the hole after resorting to name-calling. No harm done, unfortunately."

Deciding that Borgin was taking entirely too long in his efforts to locate some "decent" clothing, Kudri took a step forward and sat himself down on the second step in front of the closed door. In this position, he also had a better view of who he was talking to.

"Just a trinket I thought I'd pick up. Figured I could use another means of spying on people."

Not that he wasn't already adept enough at spying and eavesdropping. If Kudri was exceptionally skilled at any one thing, it was definitely gathering valuable information without being noticed. And, of course, putting that information to good use, at least from his standpoint. Many people at Hogwarts had been blackmailed by him, and no matter how careful they were with their secrets afterward, he still managed to somehow find them out. For this, he was both hated and admired.

"Of course she'll have her hands full," Kudri agreed wholeheartedly. "Rosenthorn wasn't a very adept Deputy, much less a full blown headmistress. McGonagall just had her there to do simple everyday chores that she couldn't be bothered with." It wasn't a secret that Kudri had very little respect for the former Hufflepuff Head of House. Then again, most people in the school regarded all Hufflepuffs as either push-overs or simply crazy, so he wasn't off the mark on that one. "Oh, life will be grand this term, at least in the beginning. I doubt it'll take very long for her to appoint a Deputy to take care of everything, but at least the first few weeks will give us free reign of the school."

He grinned wickedly at the thought of not having McGonagall around to track their activities. After she had lectured them at length about the evils of dark magic, she had forbidden them from using it and had kept a very, very close eye on them. It had made practicing anything useful quite a challenge... but Kudri had always liked a good challenge. It made life more interesting.

"And I've figured out a way to get around any luggage searches they might be putting us through when we get to school, so I'll be packing anything and everything that will make this year entertaining."

As he spoke, a small bell rang inside the store as the door opened behind Kudri. He stood and turned to face Borgin, his expression icy as he strode past the man and into the musty smell of the shop to get a closer look at what he hoped what the glass eyeball he had come for.

[Kane Kirpatrick]

Kane quirked his brow.

"Another means of spying? You should just get your house elf to hunt around in an Invisibility Cloak. It would be much more simple."

He shook his head, and eyed the storefront. Borgin did indeed have this ability to be so fashionably late that both of the boys would get so annoyed at him. He knew this game plenty of times; they had blown things up and made a general nuisance so much that Kane was surprised that Borgin did not just stay perpetually awake just to make sure he did not have to fix anything.

"Well, I went through the list of instructors, and the candidates for Deputy Head had to have been, at some point, established in a friendly relationship with Rosenthorn. That automatically takes out Professor McDemiguise and old Ignus... not that Ignus would have mattered that much. He apparently disappeared. That does not leave much for options. Sure, Rosewolf could take that position, but I highly doubt she will... and there's always Vespers."

Kane had, of course, passed things by poor Professor Vespers enough times for him to think that Roibin just was not aware enough to be a Professor. Of course, Professor McGonagall probably thought he was the best thing since sliced bread.

"But I don't think Rosenthorn's even that crazy. Vespers is young enough to be an older brother..."

The luggage search was easy enough as well, seeing as Kane heard there was a rather nice theory going around about pockets and how to manipulate them properly.

His brow only quirked when Borgin opened the door, and he followed Kudri in, opting for a rather neutral expression as he passed by the man.

"I myself am after something I had pre-ordered from China. My father said it would help me focus on my Animagus form a little more, but he neglected to mention that it was part of the 'Dark Arts' set of things that I 'Should Not Do at Home.' Clearly he is starting to go senile."

He shook his head.

"And it's about time too."

Glancing over at Borgin, the grin cracked a little wider.

"So where's that summoning box thing?"

Borgin responded simply by swiftly running to the back room to obtain the item Kane was describing.

"I say if I play my cards right, I'll have my Animagus form all set by the end of this month. What do you think?"

[Kudri Donovan]

Kudri gingerly picked up the glass sphere from its place on the counter and began to examine it, turning it over, this way and that. It was definitely what he had thought it was from the other side of the grimy window, which was incredibly lucky for Borgin. If he hadn't had the eyeball in the shop, it was likely that Kudri would end up destroying the place in a rage, not really because he couldn't hold his temper, but because it was just so amusing to watch how the man reacted to things.

"You think I haven't tried the house elf? I managed to smuggle him to school fifth year, but it was only for about three weeks before my uncle decided to ruin all my fun and come fetch him. Apparently our servants belong in our home, not following people around for me."

He rolled his eyes as if that idea was preposterous, which it was in his opinion. They owned enough house elves to be able to spare one and still be able to get the housework done. After all, the only person who lived regularly in the Donovan mansion was his Uncle Drake. One man did not need that many servants.

"I just figured it wasn't worth the hassle to sneak him out of the house. Besides, I prefer to do my spying myself. It just doesn't feel right sending a house elf. It's an entirely unfair advantage; house elves have magic that we just don't even know about."

Kudri turned his attention back to the eyeball for a brief moment before motioning toward Borgin.

"What are its properties?" he asked, his tone turning business-like. "Anything special about it?"

"That there is a fine item, Mister Donovan," Borgin replied in his oily voice. "It's a spying mechanism that lets you-"

"I know what it bloody well does, Borgin," Kudri snapped. "I meant what's special about it? Can you cast additional spells on it to enhance its abilities or does did the creator take preventative measures? I don't really want anything backfiring on me."

"Oh... no, there's nothing like that. You can do what you want to it! I must point out, however, that its only limitation is that it cannot deal with sound. Makes sense, dunnit? And eyeball can't see-"

"I'll take care of that. How much?"

"20 galleons, sir."

Kudri set the sphere on the counter, and Borgin went into the back room to fetch a box for Kudri and the pre-ordered item for Kane.

"I think that it would be hilarious if you ended up as something like a dung beetle," Kudri said, turning his attention back to Kane as he pulled out a coin pouch and began counting out his money. "Though I suppose it would make for easy eavesdropping, being so small. I never bothered with an Animagus, though. My form would be too large to be of any use to me."

His Patronus was a coyote, and while he might be able to fit himself into slightly smaller spaces in that form, it still wasn't ideal. Now, if he was something small enough to be effectively invisible to anyone he wanted to spy on, it would have been worth it.

"I bet you five galleons, though, that you can't pull it off in a month."

Kudri's mouth twisted into a challenging smirk. It didn't really matter to him whether or not Kane managed it. He just liked to gamble. He had no idea how far along in the process he was already or anything like that so it wasn't a smart wager. He just wanted to be a wise ass.

[Kane Kirpatrick]

Kane paid very little heed to Kudri as the other snapped orders at Borgin like he was unwashed trash. Granted, he would not be surprised if Borgin was indeed that trash that no one liked washing, but that was not how people got things done around here, especially in Knockturn Alley, where Borgin was likely to go mad and kill both of the younger wizards where they stood.

Not like either of them could not take Borgin on at all, but the point still stood that it was at least good to <i>treat</i> people with some modicum of respect.

As Borgin returned with the box, Kane snatched it out of the man's hands and began to inspect it. It was black, as many items in the shop were, with writing adorned in silver wrapping itself all around the box. It was no bigger than a Muggle shoebox (like Kane would know what that was), and it was clear that there were other contents inside of it. Kane, however, did not bother opening the box. He had other plans for it, and none of them involved letting Borgin in on them.

"I trust there are no damaged goods?" Kane asked, eyes narrowing. Borgin shook his head.

"Of course not, Mr. Kirpatrick."

"Good. If I find that they are, I'm going to come back and blow up your head instead of your house."

He sneered at the small man.

"You can't grow those back.... how much for this?"

"I would have to say about 30 galleons..."

Kane scoffed at the number. Despite the fact that he had more than enough money for such a trinket (he had money for about ten of them at <i>least</i>), he was not going to pay such a price.

"I'll give you twenty and no more."

"Mr. Kirpatrick, I had to go through quite a network to procure one of these-"

"Twenty and you get to keep your head."

"... Twenty galleons it is!"

Kane gave the man the aforementioned twenty galleons, before giving Kudri a shake of the head and a sigh.

"If you must persist on betting money away... ten galleons says I can do it by exactly midnight on September 31st, not a day later. And I'll bet you another five to guess it right. Sticking with dung beetle? I have my eyes on something much more nasty... a Hungarian Horntail would be handy. Not in the sneaky bit mind you, but sometimes one has to make some sacrifices."

[Kudri Donovan]

While Borgin was dealing with Kane's purchase, Kudri patiently (for once in his life) waited, fiddling with the glass eyeball as he did so. There were so many things he wanted to try with this gadget to enhance its abilities, but he could experiment with that on the long train ride to school. He always got a compartment to himself, away from the hustle and bustle that everyone else caused, so he could plot and scheme in peace.

"Fine, ten galleons it is," Kudri agreed as he placed the sphere into the box that Borgin brought over to him. The inside was lined with padding so the object wouldn't break. "And I don't think I'll take a wager on what form you are just yet. I need some time to think on that one first."

Or send his trusty new spy to figure it out for him, he thought with a suppressed smirk.

Borgin packed up the item and rang Kudri's purchase up on the ancient cash register on the counter. He handed the man the appropriate number of galleons, not trying to haggle him down because he honestly didn't give a damn about price... the more of his parents' money he could spend, the better, in his opinion.

With parcel in hand, Kudri was ready to leave the dingy shop and its disgusting owner behind. He'd had quite enough of Borgin for one day, though he had to admit that he would like to see Kane blow his head up. Unfortunately, the man had been a little to agreeable to let that happen.

He was halfway out the door when something down the street caught his eye. He immediately ducked back into the store and started laughing at Kane. This was such perfect timing!

"You might want to hide out in here for a moment," he informed him. "Probably with your back to the window. Or you could hide in the Vanishing Cabinet. I'm sure wherever it takes you, she won't be able to find you."

[Kane Kirpatrick]

(Ugh short and small and stuff)

Kane did not notice Kudri leave the store, and when he came back in, his eyes quickly scanned the streets of Knockturn Alley. He shook his head.

"The girl is too crazy to not smell me out... hiding from her is useless," he muttered, before giving his friend a look, "I've got more important things to talk about anyways... C'mon, let's get out of here..."

Kane left the store, and, assuming Kudri followed, he began conversation with the other boy. There were quite a few things to discuss, and he was the one to discuss with after all. He seemed to know just about every girl in the school.

"So tell me about the Holmes girl," Kane started, "You know, Rena... Gryffindor sixth year is it? I hear you two spend weeks together during the summer..."

He only heard that sort of thing through rumors, so it could have been incredibly off. However, before he decided it was good to be 'out with it,' he should make sure Kudri knew the girl first.

"That's what I hear anyways."

[Kudri Donovan]

Kane had a point, Kudri admitted. Bella Kendrick was in insane psycho who was uncannily adept at stalking whoever she was obsessing over at the time. Hiding from her would undoubtedly prove fruitless.

Walking out into the street where she could see him, however, was perhaps not the best solution in Kudri's opinion, but he said nothing on the matter.

At Kane's inquiry, he quirked an eyebrow in mild surprise at the topic of discussion. Of all the possible subjects Kane could bring up, Rena Holmes was the last one Kudri had expected. His friend rarely showed interest in the girls at school, but for what other reason would he want to know about Rena?

"Yeah, I know her," he replied carefully, unsure what this was about. "Her mum finds it necessary that we spend time together over the summer. Personally, I figure it's an excuse for her to get drunk with my uncle."

It had been a ritual since they were young. Rebecca Holmes would invite Kudri over to see Rena and would then proceed to go out drinking with Uncle Drake. It was the only time his uncle showed any interest in what Kudri was doing. Rena, however, seemed to have a different opinion of the whole thing. There had been a time when Kudri made an effort to get her to like him, but she was very adamant in not succumbing to his whims. She was one of the few in the school he hadn't been able to seduce. Stupid Gryffindors with their stupid prejudice against Slytherins...

"Why so interested?" Kudri asked with a sly tone to his voice, though he wasn't sure whether he was going to like what came next. "Sure you can't fancy her..."

[Isabella Kendrick]

Of course Bella was there. She had perfect timing like that.

The truth was that her sister was driving her nuts so she had decided to seek other company. And where else would Kane be? Knockturn Alley, of course!

The distinct dreariness of this place compared to Diagon Alley didn't seem to bother her in the slightest. If someone didn't know better, they would have thought she had wandered in accidentally and just didn't happen to notice that this was a much darker, dangerous place than the sunny street behind her.

She wasn't quite to Borgin and Burkes when she saw a rather familiar figure emerge from the shop and then promptly stick his head back inside. Of course Kudri would warn him she was coming! He had been forced to deal with her himself about two years ago. The thing about Bella was once she got what she wanted, she moved on. End of story.

When Kane came outside and started walking like he had no inkling she was even there (he could play hard-to-get so well!), Bella bounded up to them and walked behind them for several paces - it seemed today was not a good day for stalking - before butting into the conversation. As if they had meant to include her.

"Rena Holmes would never take a liking to you, Kane," she piped up. "She's very anti-Slytherin. Besides, I don't believe she'd be very accepting of your goal for world domination, or stamping out all the Muggleborns, or whatever it is you're after. Her best friend is Muggleborn, after all."

Like Bella wasn't, herself. And she still thought Kane would like her someday? Deluded...

"So where are two going?" she asked, managing to start walking between the two boys.

[Kane Kirpatrick]

Kane took the moment to glance casually back at Bella, before turning around and continuing the conversation with Kudri. Clearly he could have cared less at what Bella thought. As a matter of fact, if she was found in a ditch at some point, face down, and quite deceased, he would have been Kane-giddy at the thought.

Kane never got truly giddy, however, so anyone who wanted to see that sort of thing would have just had to wait for the world to end, life to cease, and Kane to be the only one left alive. Only then would he be happy enough to proceed in an un-Kane-like giddy dance.

"I fancy her very much, thank you," Kane replied grumpily, "She is intelligent, with no deformities or imperfection, and adorable in my opinion."

He almost smiled at the thought of the girl in his mind. Clearly he had thought way too much about it over the summer.

"My father has given me the ultimatum, Kudri," he continued, "You know, the one where I marry Daphne by the end of my graduation if I have not found a girl... and I have found one... Rena Holmes..."

He gave Kudri a skeptical look.

"Why, are you jealous?"