Dathan sat behind the counter at Borgin and Burkes, his loyal wolf Eligos laying beside his chair. As he munched on some heavily salted almonds, his cold eyes watched as an old, wrinkled wizard in a cloak and hood hobbled in using a cane. The old man wreaked of the alley outside, and Dathan was tempted to cover his nose with the handkerchief to block out the stench, but that would make him look like a poor businessman. For all he knew, this crone could be quite wealthy.

The suspicion that the elderly wizard had money grew when the man took interest in five glowing black stones on display, enough to make Dathan rise and walk over. Eligos looked up from his slumber for a moment as his master did so, but then went back to sleep. Dathan picked up more of the stench as he moved closer, but again he decided to grin and bear it.

"I see you are interested in the Dark Stones of Denomolas," said the store owner. "Legend has it with the proper spell, the stones could make even the most noble wizard or witch do wicked things." Dathan didn't know the spell himself, though he wished he did. Still, mentioning things like that about the objects he sold peaked interest in them.

"How much ye want for one, Mista Burke?" cracked the old man. The suspicion of this man having wealth then faded.

"I'm afraid they are only sold as a set," he said. He then gave the price, which was a very high one. The old man gasped and laughed.

"That much... for the lot of them? Five silly stones?" Dathan was now irritated, and nearby his wolf could sense his irritation. He rose and moved a bit closer to the two.

"There is nothing... silly... sold in this store, old fellow," he said. "Now, do you wish to purchase them or not?"

"Supposed I just decide to take'em?" snarled the old man, who went for his wand. Dathan did nothing in reaction. Eligos, however, rose and growled at the man. He was also prepared to leap on the man. The coward scattered away and Dathan smiled at his pet before briefly stroking the fur on his head.

"Good boy, Eligos," he said.

JULIETTE ELISE O'REILLY

Knockturn alley. It was not a place Juliette was unfamiliar with, as she had journeyed to the forsaken place many times in her almost eighteen years. Mainly it consisted of picking things up for her mom while she was out, or if her mother just didn't feel like leaving the house. After Jules' father died, her mother grieved which was natural. However, it had been almost six years since his death and Patricia still had her moments when she wouldn't leave the house for days or maybe a week. Not paying much attention to her children never ceased though. They were all used to it by now, so it wasn't that big of a deal. Juliette was now their mother figure despite being on a year or two older and she didn't mind. She was just glad she had Hogwarts to look after them while she was working.

Strolling down the alley, she sported a dark cloak to fit in with the wicked that polluted the place. It was also a precaution of her own. The last thing she needed was someone she knew finding her down there; especially an auror. After graduation she had become an auror-in-training in order to keep up with everything that was going on within the ministry, as well as learn their techniques which she could use on them later. It was a risky business, but she was ready to do anything to keep her cousin's army on top and ready when it was time to strike.

Reaching Borgin & Burke's, Juliette was almost ran over by a man who was scattering out, obviously afraid of either the man on the inside or the wolf that served as companion. A smirk appeared naturally on the girl's lips as she lowered her hood and stepped inside. For a moment, she looked around before her hazel eyes fixated on the man and wolf standing only a short distance away. "Now, now Mr. Burke, it's never nice to scare the customer's away." She teased lightly as she walked forward, sure he would know she was not serious. After all, she had known him since she was old enough to visit the shop with her parents. "How are you and your companion today Dathan?" She asked, a genuine smile on her lips. She respected the man and actually liked him, making her interaction much more real than what it would be toward others.

Dathan was a devoted follower of the Dark Lady, a right hand man who was willing to do anything and everything the woman commanded of him. He believed in her ideas for the future of the world of magic, and would do anything it took to help her achieve that dream. No matter how many had to suffer... or die. A man like Dathan Burke had few friends and allies in the world, and The Dark Lady, Kiera O'Reilly, was on of those few. And that was why he would go so far as to kill... or even die for her and her cause.

Juliette O'Reilly was another matter altogether. He didn't hate the girl, didn't even detest her at all to be honest. But the girl was still a bit young, and Dathan had always had a general distrust for the young wizards and witches about him. He even loathed going into Diagon Alley during the times of the year when Hogwarts students were there. But whatever disdain he had toward Juliette, he hid as not to upset Kiera. Plus, Juliette had been undercover in the Ministry as an Auror, and even Dathan had to admire that sort of risk.

Dathan smirked back when Juliette told him it wasn't nice to scare off customers.

"I never scare off those who know a good bargain when they hear one, Juliette," he said, his voice cold and emotionless. "Deadbeats are another matter altogether, and besides I can't afford to have rift raft dark wizards like that around my shop given the nature of the... other business conducted here." He of course referred to the secret meetings being held in the back there.

"As for Eligos and myself, we are doing well enough," he said. "And you? Any interesting tidbits from your work at the Ministry?"

Eligos simply sat there by his master and watched the girl, showing neither kindness nor aggressiveness. Like Burke, the wolf did not like that many people.

JULIETTE ELISE O'REILLY

Words: 398 Outfit: Here SHIN OF ADOX

It was always so grimy and dingy. Shrouded in a cloak that was more like a cape with its hood down and the fine fur trim around the shoulders and collar, Dorian d'Avolos could not banish the thought from his mind that this Knockturn Alley was a perfectly modeled stereotype. They certainly weren't going out of their way to camouflage the nefarious nature of what went on in these parts. It was a veritable cliché. One might come to question what an individual who stood out like a sore thumb such as d'Avolos, a status given in no small amount due to the nearly gaudy amount of white and ivory he was wearing, would be doing to risk plain visibility - and the stains of dirt and soot - in such a place. But as was always the case with Dorian, he had a purpose, a plan... and, if need arose, an excuse. He was after all the editor of Wizarding London's preeminent news source, The Daily Prophet, and it would certainly be plausible that he was out exploring, in search of his paper's next big story. The truth be told plainly, it was rather something much simpler than that - he was bored. And to remedy this ailment, he'd made the spur decision to call upon his oft-surly acquaintance, and fellow artephile, Dathan Burke. However, as he arrived, leaning and resting his clothed forearm against the doorway to Burke's shop, seemingly fearless of any filth, Dorian noted that Dathan was not alone. Rather, he was in the company of a comely young thing whom he recognized as another in the service of the Dark Lady, in fact her Ladyship's own baby sister. There was, of course, the wolf as well - Eligos it was named - with which Dorian had a much more tenuous relationship, largely due to his remarking, only half-jokingly upon first meeting Burke, that the beast would make an exquisite cloak. No doubt, the wolf did not take kindly to the complement nor had its master. "Isn't that the question I ought to be asking our young Miss O'Reilly, Dathan? Dorian cooed with the sort of demeanor one might expect from a spider seated in its web. "But please, do share, Juliette. I do so love juicy morsels of gossip and I promise... I shall quote you warmly." His closed-lipped smile was downright wicked. @dathan JULIETTE ELISE O'REILLY

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