The two hurried away.
Fred blinked and suggested quietly, "Why don't we follow them and have a look?"
"I've never been to Knockturn Alley." George seemed tempted too, "Mom never lets us go to those kinds of places."
"Mom's right." Percy said sternly, "You all stay here, don't go anywhere."
George seemed to only just notice he was there, exclaiming in surprise, "Oh, Fred, we're being scolded by a Prefect..."
"Is he going to take points away from us..."
"For being disobedient..."
"Ten points from the Leaky Cauldron?"
"Hey, shut up!" Percy said, blushing.
"Okay, Prefect!" Fred responded with a cheeky grin, then turned and asked, "Kai, do you want to check out Knockturn Alley?"
"No, I don't." Kai shook his head, "But I suggest you go have a look."
"Why?" George never expected Kai to say that.
"Because I brought a camera today."
Kai patted his pocket, "When Mrs. Weasley is giving you a beating, I can definitely get the best photos.
If we sell them to the Daily Prophet, we might even get Ginny a new robe."
Hearing this, Ginny, who had been worried, suddenly burst into laughter.
She looked up at Fred and George, seeming to urge them to go quickly.
"Oh, Ginny, we're your brothers!" George said, dissatisfied.
Ginny pouted, "But I want a new robe more."
"We'll buy you one!" Fred said grumpily.
"And a new wand, as long as you stay away from that jerk Kai."
George glared at Kai, gritting his teeth, "Damn, why did we invite you to Diagon Alley."
Amidst the laughter and play, everyone's worries lightened.
Kai also informed them that the Floo Network's fireplaces are traceable; even if Harry isn't in Knockturn Alley, they can search for him at the Floo Network Administration under the Department of Transportation.
Although such records are generally not open to the public, they're confident any search for Harry Potter would not be refused.
Afterwards, the group left the bustling Leaky Cauldron, and headed to Diagon Alley through the backyard entrance.
Fred and George kept their promise, taking Ginny to Madam Malkin's to buy her a new robe.
When they came out of the shop, they saw Ron with Mrs. Weasley, Harry, and Hagrid walking over.
Before visiting the robe shop, George had pacified Ron with an ice cream to stand guard at the Gringotts entrance.
It was directly opposite the entrance to Knockturn Alley, ensuring anyone coming out could be seen promptly.
"You were right, Kai." Mrs. Weasley shouted from afar, "He was really in Knockturn Alley, and when we got there, he was being pestered by a strange old bugger."
"That's good... Potter, you're unhurt, right?" Kai asked, looking at Harry.
"No." Harry shook his head, though his expression was still a bit dazed.
"Harry, Harry!"
Harry suddenly heard someone calling him, looked up, and saw Hermione standing at Gringotts' entrance not far away. She ran over, her bushy hair flying behind her.
"Why do you look so scruffy... Hello, Kai, Fred, George, and Percy, it's great to see you again... Are you going to Gringotts, Harry!"
"We'll go when Mr. Weasley arrives." Harry said.
"Then we can go together."
It was only now that everyone noticed Mr. Weasley was not with the group.
"Where's Dad?" Ginny asked.
Mrs. Weasley raised her head in confusion, looked around, clearly not knowing the answer either.
"Oh, sorry... Molly, kids."
Fortunately, at that moment, Mr. Weasley came striding towards them, wiping his shiny bald head and explaining quietly, "I think I just saw Lucius Malfoy in Knockturn Alley, but he disappeared in a flash."
"Malfoy?" Harry, who had been talking with Hermione, turned and said, "Is it that Slytherin Malfoy? I saw him and his father in Borgin and Burkes."
"Yes, that's him!" Mr. Weasley asked, "Did he buy anything?"
"No, he was selling things."
Mr. Weasley nodded seriously and with satisfaction, "Ha, I knew it, he's scared too..."
But before he could say more, Mrs. Weasley dragged him away.
"We've already delayed for quite some time... Kai, dear, are you going to Gringotts?"
Kai shook his head.
"We're not going either." Fred and George said in unison.
"Then meet at Flourish and Blotts in an hour to get your textbooks, and for you two... Don't go to Knockturn Alley!"
After leaving a few more instructions, Mrs. Weasley headed off to Gringotts with the others.
As soon as she left, Fred and George bounded away joyfully, running towards the Magic Joke Shop.
It's a joke shop in Diagon Alley, much larger than Zonko's in Hogsmeade.
Kai didn't follow them but went to another shop instead.
"Madam Prewett's Enchanted Plant Garden."
It's a shop selling herbs, and Kai would always visit every time he's in Diagon Alley to see if there are any rare species.
The shopkeeper, Madam Prewett, recognized Kai, her frequent young wizard customer, and smiled, "What do you want to buy today? The Cloak Grass is growing extremely well recently."
"No need for Cloak Grass, I have plenty at home." Kai thought for a moment, and asked, "Do you have Armor Pumpkin?"
"No." Madam Prewett shook her head, "That's a rare item, the entire British Magical Realm might not even have one."
"Professor Sprout's greenhouse has some." Kai said to himself.
Then he continued to ask, "Sphinx Orchid... preferably the golden one."
"No."
"Lovage..."
"No."
"Mimbulus Mimbletonia..."
"No!"
...
"How do you dare run a shop with nothing in stock?" Kai muttered quietly.
Madam Prewett's forehead vein twitched.
This kid thinks rare plants are what... cabbages you can buy anywhere?
If it weren't for Kai spending a lot on a previous purchase here of an Eight-Leaf Flower, she'd have kicked him out long ago.
Madam Prewett forced a smile. "Except for the Sphinx Orchid... if you can wait, we can help find the other plants, but it might take some time, about a year.
Moreover, you'd have to pay a 200 Galleon deposit."
"A year? That's too long." Kai shook his head.
He just wanted to try his luck, having them would be great, not having them was no big deal, and waiting a year was unnecessary.
Additionally, while these plants aren't cheap, two hundred Galleons... as a deposit? The markup is way too high, and he wouldn't waste money like that.
Just as Kai turned to leave to find Fred and George, he suddenly noticed a large water tank in the corner, with something inside that looked like octopus tentacles.
"Is that Gillyweed?"
"This plant is quite obscure, even Potion Master Shops rarely sell it."
"Yes." Madam Prewett replied casually, "I must have been out of my mind to buy it from that Greek witch, ever since the Bubble-Head Charm, the British wizards haven't needed it."
"The Bubble-Head Charm really is a great charm." Kai said offhandedly, "By the way, just out of curiosity, how many Galleons did you pay for it?"
"Twenty..." Madam Prewett said a bit pained.
"So expensive..." Kai clicked his tongue, "What a pity, I was curious about what it's like to breathe underwater, but twenty Galleons..."
After hesitating for a moment, Kai shook his head again and walked out of the shop.
"Never mind, this game is too extravagant."
"Wait a minute!"
Madam Prewett suddenly called after him, "For a regular customer, if you want it, I can give you a satisfactory discount."
"Isn't that a bit improper..."
Kai paused, naturally returning to the shop.
...
