It was rather amusing how quickly Knockturn alley could empty out when there was aurors around, or anyone official for that matter. As Robert stepped out of the cover of the shadows of the alley he took a glance up and down the street to see that the place seemed deserted. There was a lot of noise coming from the inn that he was sure they had just been in, it was one of Robert’s favoured places to spend time and spend a penny on a drink or two. ‘The Eagles Claw’ was one of the quiet of pubs along the street; it tended to have the least trouble any ways.
Robert tried to hobble up the street, he needed a wand, but he had no money for a new one right now, Lycas had seen to that. But without one he was defenceless and with a bunch of aurors milling around the area he needed something, just in case.
The door of the Eagle clattered open and several aurors filed out, Robert took a struggled step to the side, keeping his eyes fixed on the ground he didn’t need to be interrogated with any question right now. If anything all he needed was somewhere to sit and perhaps a strong drink to numb the pain, drink always did that, numbed everything.
Anyone else would have thought Robert’s next plan of action was crazy, and that the pain must have cause him to go insane, but he had his reasons. He limped across the street and through the doors of ‘The Eagles Claw’ into the unusually busy brawling pub. It seemed that with trouble there always came those curious enough to poke their noses in and find out what was going on. It seemed that those that had not made a disappearing act and either returned to their businesses or left the street completely had followed the noise and were now milling around in the pub.
Robert struggled to find a seat but as he shuffled past the bar, a man seemed to drag a stool out of mid air and offered it to him. Robert gave the man a sideways glance, but took the seat none the less.
“Seem to be struggling a bit there,” the man wheezed, he wasn’t an elderly gentleman, but it seemed that years of drink and smoking had taken the better part of his life, “Mind if I ask what happened?”
“Yes in fact I do,” Robert snapped, he wasn’t here for idle chit chat; he wanted to know what the aurors were looking for and what was going on. There was no one left to tip them off, Robert, Kristof and Nicholas were the only ones that had survived. Well there was Lycas but Robert had a feeling that he wasn’t going to do anything that would compromise his ‘work’.
“Well, it seems like you have had a rough time,” the man then turned his back to him and returned to chat to the man sat on his other side. Robert sat waiting until he could catch one of the barmaid’s attentions and quietly ordered a drink. He could only order a glass of water because his pockets were lined with nothing but the small fluffy bits of tissue. Stupid house elves didn’t know to empty the pockets first.
“You don’t know the half of it,” Robert muttered beneath his breath, but then remained quiet, he needed to keep his head clear and his ears open. He was waiting to catch any snippet of information that was circulating the pub, he could hear voices coming from the rooms upstairs and he imagined the one shouting was probably Archie the bar keeper. A rather ruthless old man that didn’t like things disturbed, he liked to believe he ran a tight ship and was often confused that this pub was not in fact a ship bound for some port on the seven seas.
The patrons of the pub muttered amongst themselves, Robert could distinguish very little of what was being said, he got the odd ‘Auror’ or ‘investigation’ but there was nothing that caught his attention.
“- thank you very much. As you can see there was no one staying last night so if you would be so kind as to leave.” The small grey haired man ushered the aurors through the groups of tables and to the door, “Make sure the door doesn’t hit you too hard on the way out.”
Robert liked the attitude of the small man, he took trouble from no one and always gave just as good as he got. He wouldn’t like to get on the wrong side of him that was for sure, Robert took no trouble from anyone himself, but Archie was one man that he wouldn’t like to rub up the wrong way.
As the elderly man passed Robert and back behind the counter he gave his glass of water a glance and Robert a strange look.
“Not the usual Campbell?” the elderly man gave Robert a strange look as he passed behind the bar, grabbing a couple of glasses that needed to be cleaned.
“Seems some sticky fingered urchin thought that it would be funny to walk off with something that didn’t belong to them,” Robert growled, he knew exactly who it was that had his money, and somehow he was going to make sure he got it back. Robert was rather resourceful and knew that he would get his hands on Lycas eventually.
“Lousy little filchers, probably one of those rotten kids, Diagon always seems to be full of them during this time of year, it’s often worse along there then it is around these parts,” Archie then began to poor a glass of firewhiskey, “On the house, but don’t try your luck, that’s all you’re getting.”
Robert grunted a thank you to the man and looked over his shoulder trying to spot any one that wasn’t a regular; the fuzz had left so anyone left hanging around where they weren’t wanted was just looking for trouble, or information. There were still a couple of people muttering amongst themselves but they soon left allowing the ‘The Eagles Claw’ to return to its usually quiet self.
He returned to his drink, and with a flick of his hand caught the attention of Archie once again, if Robert wanted information, who better than the man that had been in the middle of it all. He knew that Archie wouldn’t let on to anyone that Robert had been asking question, Archie kept himself to himself and made sure that anything said between himself and his regulars remained that way. He was loyal to no one, but knew that the best way to keep out of trouble, his dislike for authority would mean that he would be more than happy to give Robert a few details.
“So what’s with all the Monkey’s running around the joint?” Robert kept his voice low; he didn’t need anyone else listening in on the conversation. “You are not one for causing trouble, so what did they want poking their noses in where they were not needed?”
“That lot he nodded towards the door pulled a stall out from behind his side of the counter and sat opposite Robert, he placed the glass that he had been drying for the past ten minutes down to the side and arched his fingers, “Looking for trouble where there is none, you see. Just because these places aren’t that pleasant doesn’t mean that we are always doing something wrong. There hasn’t been proper trouble around here in many years; nothing like it was back in the day, with old Voldy and his little crew. I know that there are still some that believe in his ways, hanging around these parts, those looking in hope for the return of someone to lead them. But I’ll tell you something, they aren’t having a mother’s meeting up in one of my rooms that’s for sure.”
“So, what or who were they looking for?” Robert prodded gently; he didn’t want to give too much away, for all Robert knew Kristof could have managed to get them inside without the old sailor knowing.
“They wouldn’t tell me exactly, but I kept hearing mention of illegal imports, meetings and hunting groups,” the man waved a hand nonchalantly, “I don’t really care what they were looking for, there was nothing like that going on under my roof. I told them that the only people that we had staying were Mrs Norbetreen, The Farnham brothers and Oscar, but I had to kick him out, he was causing too much trouble for my liking. I still think he’s passed out in the alley out there.”
Well that explained the man in the alley, Archie wasn’t one for caring about people, as long as his customers were happy and they were paying for meals, drinks and rooms, then he was happy. He would get rid of anyone that caused any trouble just as easy as he would get rid of yesterday’s Daily Prophet.
“I’m afraid that’s all I can give you,” the old man said standing up from his seat and grabbing the glass again.
“Well I need to be going anyway. I have a couple of things to do, people to see you know, but thanks,” Robert nodded with his usual dark gaze, the alcohol had done nothing to reduce the pain, he needed something stronger, but without any sign of Kristof and with no idea where he would now be hiding, Robert would have to settle for something over the counter at the apothecary. He downed the last of his drink and tapped it gently a couple of times on the counter before stepping down from his stool.
“No problem, Campbell. You take good care of that leg now.” He said with a knowing look and a small twinkle in his eye.
Robert nodded at the man, a small smirk playing on his lips as he limped his way out of pub. He had plans, and they first started with him getting a wand and something to shut out the pain of his leg. He needed space inside his head, and with the flashes of red that lit up inside his head every time he set his foot down, there was no way he could think straight. The door creaked and slammed shut as he stepped out into the street, once again.
