Tuesday; 2pm

Back home, the deep, dark and foreboding dregs of a town or city were Mairead's usual stomping grounds.  In Dublin, it had been the slums near the airport that her family had usually set up camp.  She'd spent countless evenings sneaking around dusty alleys and hanging around darkened subway stations - first impressions rarely held much credit with her. 

So, the obviously deep, dark and foreboding entrance to the biggest side-street off of Diagon Alley did little to deter Mairead.  Nor did the signs and ominous posters hanging up in the front windows of the first few stores.  There was little she could have taken from those signs, anyway.  And, she hardly gave the absence of other kids a second thought.  The only thought in the back of her head was that this was the place where the underlings of society were likely to be.  She assumed, therefore, that meant her.  And, maybe, there was a second wand shop there.  One that was more willing to put up with her sorts.

The change in atmosphere was apparent within a few steps of the foot of the alley as was there a change in the type of items displayed.  The wares in Diagon Alley were, in their own way, bright, exotic and almost whimsical.  Down this street, though, grey seemed to be the prevailing color.  But, Mairead still didn't give it a second thought as she passed the shops, peering in each of the windows as she passed. 

The contents of one window proved to catch her eye, though.  Just inside the window, in a large bin, were bugs.  Large, furry and rather ominous looking bugs.  She'd call them spiders but they bore no more resemblance to the tiny eight legged things that crawled across a log than a goldfish did to a hammerhead shark.  She stared through the window for several long moments.  Curiosity finally got the better of her and she looked around quickly before slipping into the shop. 

"What ... what are those?"  Mairead asked to no one in particular.  They looked rather unfriendly but, so far, Mairead had learned that things were often deceiving in this world.  "I ... are they supposed to be pets?"  She asked, again, to no one specific.

Niobe Thursby had been right behind the short little witch as she entered Skulk & Slithers.  She had her nose buried in some notes, so hadn't taken notice of such a small kid in Knockturn ally.  But she took notice when the little girls' fingers were inches from a barrel of spiders.

Niobe acted quickly, shoving her quill and parchment hastily in her pocket and reaching for the girl. She leaned over, and put a hand on her shoulder.  Her fuzzy dreadlocks fell around her face, obscuring her expression and mouth from any on-lookers.  She was trying to look ... motherly? It was ill-fitting on the independent reporter, but she didn't want to draw too much attention.  She was after all here on her own errand.

"Don't touch, missy," she said in a whisper.  "How old are you - what are you doing down here?" Niobe looked around for anyone who could be responsible for a young witch.  The ghost floating around the back room - probably not.  The hag near the decapitated mangrove babies - also not likely.  Was this kid really alone in Knockturn.

"Where's your mum? You need to get back to Diagon," she ordered, her voice still low, and trying to move the kid away from the poisonous beasties.

Before Mairead could even dream of getting her curious fingers into the barrel of scuttling legs and beady eyes, someone grabbed her by the shoulders and held her back.  "Wha - why?" Mairead said, her voice sharing none of the whispered tone the person behind her had.  "I was just gonna see what it did," she protested with obvious annoyance.  Mairead turned quickly towards the one who'd restrained her and her eyes flew wide open with surprise. 

Almost as quickly, though, the surprise faded to curiosity and intrigue.  She hesitated a moment, half expecting yet someone else to grab her shoulder to control her curiosity.  But, when no one did, Mairead reached a hand out to slowly, intent on running her fingers over one of the clumps of hair.  It looked funny and it looked like it should feel just as funny. 

Mairead continued to watch the strange woman just as the woman's own gaze moved quickly around the dark shop.  She was, clearly, looking for something but whatever she was looking for was considerably less interesting than the woman herself. 

Truthfully, Mairead shrugged her shoulders.  "I don't know," she replied.  Indeed, she didn't know where her mother was.  She only knew the basics.  "She's back in Ireland.  I donno where though.  Probably near Kildaire.  I was just looking around - I know how to get back to Diagon Alley."

The clues came together like a puzzle and Niobe saw the whole picture.  The rough Irish accent, the well-worn clothes, lack of a mum - the little one must be a Traveller! Niobe supposed they must have wizarding folk among them as well.  It didn't surprise Niobe one bit that this little witch wasn't being watched by anyone.  In a quick moment, Niobe decided the young girl might help her with her errand.

She didn't flinch as the girl lightly fingered her fuzzy lock; Niobe knew they were a little out of the ordinary.  Instead she kept her voice low and hoped to appeal to the young witch's likely mischievous nature. "You want to help me out, yea? I'm Niobe.  You want to stick with me a moment and do me a quick favor.  Then we can get back to Diagon together and get a bite to eat? I just need ya to stick by me and follow my lead a few moments as I talk to the shopkeeper. Think you can do that for me? What should I call you?"

The Verbatis quill Niobe used to keep notes was wriggling in her pocket, trying to write down what was being said.  Niobe rapped it smartly - it needed to be still a moment.  She'd need it to work soon enough - she needed to find out if old Slither Jr had a line on any Runespoors...

The clump of hair felt as strange as it seemed like it should.  It was oddly spongy - almost like half-dried peat moss at the bog's edge in the height of summer.  "Doesn't it hurt?" Mairead asked.  She knew whenever she got mats anywhere near that in her hair, they usually pulled like the dickens.  Especially when her mum was trying to brush them out. 

Mairead's eyebrows lifted curiously as the woman asked her if she wanted to help.  It seemed easy enough - just play along with whatever game this woman was cooking up.  It was a role Mairead knew quite well.  Tito, her friend at home, had her fill that role on a regular basis. 

But, this woman wasn't Tito.  And, it was clear she was eager about achieving whatever Mairead helping her would be able to achieve.  If Mairead was anything, she was opportunistic.  She'd learned to take advantage whenever a scenario asked for it.  "A gallon," Mairead whispered, holding her hand out for the coin.  "I ... I mean, galleon."  Should she have asked for more?  No - probably not.  If one asked for too much, they ran the risk of the other person just turning them down, rather than negotiating.  Or, better yet, agreeing. 

"Then, I'll be whatever ye want me to be.  And, I'll eat lunch," she added.  Just to make sure that the request for payment didn't take place of the free food. 

Niobe wasn't surprised when the charming little witch with a quick tongue demanded a golden galleon up front.  But so amused was Niobe that the price almost seemed worth it, not only to help ensure the cooperation of the appropriately pitiful sweet-faced witchling.

Niobe guestured in the charming hand magic she'd been taught by her aunts and conjured a galleon from her purse into her own palm, as if drawing it from behind the little one's ear.

"Here we are. One galleon for a very sick little girl..." Niobe said slyly with a wink.   Then, relying on the girl to be quick, Niobe stood up.  Her expression was immediately harried and taking the little girl's hand in her own, she trooped quickly up to the counter.

It was unmanned at the moment, so Niobe pounded relentlessly on the little bell.

"Hello! Hello! I need the manager please! The manager! Hello! My daughter's very ill and I need to see the manager straight away!"

There was no price negotiation - there probably really hadn't been a chance to do so.  Mairead's fingers closed firmly around the golden coin and, after giving it a fond and excited grin, she slipped it safely in her pocket.  Then, she turned her attention back to the task at hand. 

Confusion wrinkled Mairead's face and she slowly shook her head.  "I'm not a ve... oooh," she said as comprehension set in.  She grinned slyly.  Sick little girl was something she was quite well versed in.  It was remarkable how much more money she made playing music on the street if people thought she was sick.  Tito had always encouraged the act. 
As this woman ... what did she call herself?  Mairead couldn't remember.  But, as the sheep-haired woman stood up, Mairead quickly spat into her hands.  She ran her slimy hands through her hair, giving it an even more ruffled look than it already had and, after another spit, slimmed up her face.  There was no time to go running in the sun; the saliva would have to do for feverish sweat. 

"Mum," Mairead moaned pitifully as she took the woman's hand with one hand and tugged the neckline of her shirt up over her mouth with the other to cough roughly into her shirt.  She sniffled as she leaned against the woman's side. 

"Hey - wha?  What's going on?" a long-faced young man asked, poking his head out of the back room.  He eyed the woman and the girl before his head disappeared.  "Richardson!" he called before stepping out behind the counter.  "He's coming.  Don't know why you'd come here, though.  Looks like she needs St. Mungos."  The clerk clearly didn't share sheep-haired woman's urgency.  Mairead gave a deep-chested, wracking cough.

Inwardly, Niobe was delighted and had to scowl violently to cover up a grin.  The little girl was brilliant! She had become instantly pathetic and her wet hacking sounded contagious.  Urgency was a major factor in getting people to do what you needed.

"No!" she said with the growl of a mother bear.  "Not Richardson! Get me Skulk or Slither.  Do we look like we need to speak with a Richardson? This is important. Now!" and she kept on ringing that damned bell.

The long-faced clerk looked offended and bothered, but perfectly happy to pass along this loud and pesky customer.  Loud and pesky were two traits that made a potential client unwelcome in Knockturn shops.  They just drew too much attention.  Another very helpful factor in getting people to do what you wanted.

Upstairs a door slammed.  The clerk directed Niobe and her 'daughter' around the back of the counter.  Behind a curtain was a scowling man with firey red sideburns and eyebrows and not another hair on his head.  His pale skin was sallow and unhealthy, and his eyes sat in pools of deeply wrinkled purple eyelids.  His jacket was clearly made from the hide of a Chinese Fireball dragon.  Very expensive. Quite illegal.

Niobe again had to mask her pleasure with a scowl.  She clutched Mairaed protectively by the shoulders, holding the child in all her clammy sickly glory in front of her.  "Finally," she said with appropriately indignant tones.

"Someone who can help me.  My little one, she's deathly sick and I can't show my face at St. Mungo's.  Far too much of the Ministry there to welcome the likes of me and my kin."  She was laying on the accent as thickly as she could, trying to match her little helper's more rustic tones.

"The old hag in our village can brew up a remedy but she needs something a bit rare.  And fresh.  Understand me, Skulk?"

It was like slipping into that all too familiar role that someone dons when in the company of a friend they've known for ages.  Or, like a tattered, softened-with-wear dressing gown.  Mairead was quite the experienced actress when it came to the deathly child routine.  Fever, chills, hallucinations - even bad breathing - had all been implemented at one time or another while panhandling.  On one or two occasions, she'd even sat in the midst of a mosquito swarm so she could look like she had chicken pox.  It seemed convincing, too.  The shopkeeper thought twice before grabbing Mairead and chucking her out of his shop. 

She shifted her weight to the leg closest to the lady with the sheep hair and scratched at her calf with the top of her other shoe.  Mairead let out a long, hacking, spittle-laden cough (taking great care not to cover her mouth) as the lady banged on the bell.  The man behind the counter gave her an alarmed and indignant scowl before ducking back into the back. 

Mairead followed the woman around the counter, stealing glances at the tanks and jars they passed as they slipped through the curtain.  For a moment, she stared wide eyed at the man in the strange jacket before casting a curious glance at the woman.  But, she quickly remembered her current task when she was presented to the fellow and coughed again, this time letting the coughs carry her a few steps forward towards the man. 

"Whatchit there, kid!"  Skulk, who had been lounging leisurely in his chair just a few moments before, quickly scrambled to his feet and moved back from Mairead.  He brushed the front of his jacket with his hands.  "You should train her to cover her mouth," he said, huskily to Niobe, whom he eyed suspiciously. 

"What are you looking for, exactly," Skulk asked, casting another cautious glance at Mairead.  He was, quite clearly, torn between being cautious with this pair and getting the girl out of his shop as quickly as possible.

"Serpent scales," Niobe said in a hiss and a very pointed glance.  "The orange kind, if you get my meaning.  Something I can't get at some Diagon apothecary. Sellaphix told me to check with Skulk & Slithers because you'd have what I need fresh."

Mairead chimed in with a renewed peal of wet cough.  Niobe hugged her close and petted her head. "I've got the gold if that's what you're holding out for," Niobe said. 

Skulk shushed them again, "Keep it down! The Ministry's been round my shop more than enough, thank you very much! You think you'll get that kind of scale singing it loud like you are? But..."  His wet eyes glinted.

"But... you say you have the gold?"

Niobe's mind was racing with excitement.  Was she on the cusp of making a deal to buy actual Runespoor scales? She hadn't actually envisioned her little ruse would get this far.  She figured she'd be found out long before they actually started talking about a price.  Apparently the sweet little Traveler waif was enough of a boost to the illusion than she'd thought.

But now what? She wasn't actually interested in buying Runespoor scale - that'd be a crime barely less serious than Skulk selling it.  What was she supposed to do once she had it? Tromp down at turn herself in? Write it up in the Daily Prophet? If she busted Skulk's, she might as well pack her things and move to Barbados for as much love she'd be getting around London.

"Ah ah ah ah," she shook her finger at him in what she hoped was a motherly way.  "I want to see the scales first."

Eyes widened, Mairead looked over her shoulder at the woman, surprise written across her face.  Serpent scales? she mouthed silently before looking back at the man with a cough and a renewed curiosity.  Serpents.  Serpents were snakes, right?  Eww.  Snakes.  For the first time, Mairead started to wonder what, exactly, she'd agreed to. 

As this was her first time at home and she'd never managed to successfully sneak into the zoo's repitle house, the opportunity to see these creatures had never arisen.  She'd never seen a snake in person before, though she'd seen plenty in the movies.  They all seemed creepy and she'd never been eager to experience her first encounter.  And, she'd never seen any orange snakes in the movies. 

She coughed again, covering her mouth with the hem of the woman's shirt, but she couldn't resist a slightly suspicious glance up at the woman. 

"Mum..." she moaned, not wanting to necessarily blow her cover but still feeling the need for a little clarification.  "I don't ... yer not getting the whole ... snake, right?" 

The man behind the counter seemed antsy and quickly waved the woman quiet.  Clearly, he wasn't entirely comfortable with the request but, like with most things, money won out - or the promise of coins was winning out.  Slightly wary of what, exactly, the man was going to bring back out, Mairead watched the fellow closely as he went to gathering whatever it was he was going to get.

Niobe thought her demand would have gotten them thrown out for sure! But Skulk had turned his back on them and disappeared down some stairs.  She held the little girl more tightly, quite sure she was getting them in deeper than she'd planned.  But the Gryffindor boldness was keeping her planted, keeping them both in character.  If Skulk really had Runespoor in the shop, she'd know the truth soon enough.  And that was the game, wasn't it: the finding out.  The truth be out.

When the little girl spoke, Niobe bent low to speak into her ear.  "No, no, course not. These sorts of snakes are too dangerous to keep live.  You're doing fine, just fine.  Keep the bogeys coming.  This Skulk's a bonafide criminal - and we're going to prove it.  Fancy that, eh?"

The little pep talk while meant for the girl, who seemed a bit scared, but did just as much to steel Niobe's nerves.  So bold she was feeling now, that she turned and peeked out the curtain that obscured them from the front of the shop - only a couple of cloaked browsers. 

But then, she saw her! The red and gold robe of a full-on, on-duty Auror.   She was standing outside of the shop, rolling up her sleeves.  Drawing her wand.  And in here, Niobe was seconds away from being in a very compromising position.

Skulk's boots fell heavily on the stairs as he began to emerge from the basement.  But Niobe only had a split second to see a glint of fiery orange in the great jar he was carrying.  Because the long-faced clerk had spied the Auror, too.  He cast a spell that sent a menagerie of diricawls shrieking.  Skulk swore and shot a daggering glance at Niobe and her 'daughter'.  And with a crack, he Apparated.

Niobe held Mairaed tight and did the same.

***

"Shite!" Niobe swore as well and rubbed at her face.  The summer wind was blowing her rope-like hair around.  "Shite, shite, shite!"

They were on the roof of the Daily Prophet in Diagon Ally, Niobe's go-to Apparition location.  She dropped to her knees and started checking the little girl over.  Side-Along Apparation could make children's tummies turn over, especially if they'd never done it before.

"I'm sorry, we had to be out of there.  In the pursuit of truth we were about to do something quite illegal. There was an Auror.  You're alright, yeah? You're all here..." Niobe was counting the little girl's fingers, checking for any splinching.

So, she wasn't about to find herself wrapped up in the death grip of some hissing, spitting, electric orange serpent.  She'd never seen pictures of orange snakes nor had she ever heard of them in any legends or folklore that she'd come across but, with no second thought, Mairead was convinced.  Orange snakes must have been among the first serpents that St. Patrick freed Ireland of.  Briefly, Mairead's unease dissipated but, the woman's second comment only served to stoke it again.  "A ... a criminal?  What kind of ..." Mairead had started to ask, but she grew quiet again when she followed the woman's gaze to the red robed woman in front of the shop. 

"I ... who -" she had started to ask just as several strange things happened at once.  Heavy foot falls announced the return of the shopkeeper, the place was filled with a horrifying shriek and, suddenly, the sheep-haired woman had grabbed Mairead by the arm.  "Hey!  Wha-"

With a sudden, gut wrenching lurch, the confused question died in her mouth.  Or, was sucked out of it, it felt like.  The woman's hand felt like it was getting twisted away from her but the woman didn't let go.  Instead, Mairead was pulled with her into sudden, stomach-lurching darkness.  She wanted to scream but, when she opened her mouth, the only sound she heard was her ears popping. 

Then, just as suddenly, her feet touched solid ground and she doubled over as her stomach lurched violently.  "I ... béadánaí"   she muttered, straightening up as the woman started cursing.  "I ... what was that!?" she said, glaring at the sheep-haired woman.  "An auror?" she asked, baffled by the term but watching the woman suspiciously as she checked Mairead over.  "Where else would I be?" Mairead, finally, looked around.  They appeared to be outside and on a roof top.  Though it still didn't, exactly, make sense, Mairead was able to (somewhat) piece together what had happened.  They'd moved.  Without moving.  Somehow.  "That was magic?" she asked, surprised and, admittedly, impressed. 

Niobe sighed out a nervous laugh when the little witch seemed to be all there, part and parcel intact.  And instead of being scared, the bold little thing was still as bright and curious as ever.  Niobe wondered how old she was - if she was bound for Hogwarts soon, she must certainly be a Gryffindor.

Still crouching there, Niobe smiled.  "Absolutely that was magic," she said, "Apparition.  Adult witches and wizards learn to instantly disappear to another place.  But it can make some ill and if you're not careful you can leave bits of you splinched behind.  But look - we're all here, so no worries!" Niobe held up all ten of her fingers. 

"That witch in the red was an Auror - they work for the Ministry, trying to stop any Dark Arts or illegal magic.  Which is just what we proved was going on in that shop! I didn't really fancy having to explain that I wasn't actually trying to buy Runespoor scales - just trying to try to buy them so I'd know Skulk and Slithers had them.  And they do!" Niobe's face was triumphant.  "No hard proof, but I've got a lead."

Niobe stood up and peered down at the girl.  "Is there anyone who's probably having a fit about where you've been? Your mum or dad? Seeing as how I almost got us both arrested and then Side-Along Apparated you away I could be in a boiling cauldron if I don't put you back..."

Mairead shook her head in disbelief.  Magic was, clearly, awesome!  One could just grab people and end up anywhere (with a little upset stomach).  And, if you could drag other people along unwillingly?  That could be fantastic!  For a moment, Mairead could see herself dragging a hand-flapping Eirene to some random rooftop and leaving here there.  Like the ultimate game of hide-and-seek!  Though, not only did one do their best to avoid getting found, they also avoided getting hidden!

"So, those orange snakey things are as bad as they sound?"  Mairead had, already, come to that conclusion but sought conformation anyway.  More to ensure she had full bragging rights in the future.  "Runespoor.  What are ye gonna do now you know they got em?"  She asked, curiously.  "I mean, ye can't write about it, right?  Otherwise, won't those people know?  They didn't look too friendly."  Then, a far more important thought occurred to her.  "Am I gonna be in what you write, too?  That'd be wicked!"  She had been in wizarding England for only a few weeks and already she was making the paper! 

With a sheepish grin, Mairead shrugged off the woman's concerns.  Granted, Mairead had no idea how her parents would react to the whole apparating away bit but the rest of it was probably just stuff her parents had grown to expect.  Her mother would be upset, alright, but in a resigning way.  Her father would probably have been amused, unless her mother was around, then he would have tried to appear angry.  If they knew, that was.  "Naw.  Me mum and da's back in Ireland.  And if we did get arrested, they'd just be glad it wasn't for actually stealing nothing.  I mean - if ye didn't pay to get me out, they might have gotten angry."  She shrugged again.  As usual, she was probably underestimating what would anger her mother but this woman didn't know that. 

"Wait..." Mairead said, looking at the woman, suspiciously.  "This isn't yer attempt to get out of buying me lunch, is it?"  Mairead crossed her arms over her chest as she watched the woman.