Adisgruntledhmphandheavystepsfollowedhim.“Listen,boy.Iknowyou’vebeenintomythings!YoubetterreturnthemtomeorbythePleiadesyouwillfeelmywrath!”Lastweekithadbeenhisolletionofgoblinweddinghatsthathaddisappeared.Harryfoundthematthepawnshoparosstheway,reentlytradedforastakofAlwynandtheBriarluksreords,whihoially,heterheardbstingfromUmphrey’sftonhiswayhome.
Harryturnedaroundandgavethemanasternstareforalongmomentandthenbrokeoutintosong.“Hoponmybroomstik,baby,don’tthinktwie,don’tjustsaymaybe,”hesang,tryinghardtomimitherooningstylesofAlwynBristleby.HewiggledhiseyebrowsatUmphreyanddesendedthestairs.
He’dspentthefirstdaysestablishinghimself,orArhieEversworn,byrentingaftaboveTheLaughingFox.Therauouspubsattwobloksdownfromthesuspetedmainbaseofoperationsofthepotionsringhe’dbeentaskedtoinfiltrate.IttookhimthreeweekstofigureoutthehalfadozenorsogruntsintheTravertelQuarterwerejustthetipoftheoperation.Harrysawratesofrawmaterials,butneverwitnessedbrewingtakingpethere.He’dspenthisnightslosingatardsanddrinkingheavily,tryingtogainredibilityintheunderworldommunity.Nooneseemedtopayhimtoomuhattention,andhefoundthatheblendedinwithouthavingtodotoomuhtoprovehimself.
“Ithinkit’sthefae,”Ronhadsaid.“It’sjustthefaeofsomeoneyou’dratherfet.”Harrythankedhimforhishoy.“Whatmate?S’notlikeit’syouratualfae.”
Afteranothertwoweeks,he’dtraedrawmaterialdeliveriestoamoreupsaleneighborhood,CremfigHeights,andthegmorousAshtylHotel.Fivedaysafterthat,he’dndedhimselfajobthere.
Sadly,thehotelmanager,ValentinedeRusso,gavehimlittleleeway,inhibitingthedisoveryofillegalativities.Aftermonthsofbasadayshiftporter,he’dbeenpromotedtoafternoonsandnights.HarryouldhardlybelieveitwhenValentinesppedhisshoulder,handedhimthemasterspellkey,andtoldhimhewasirrepeabletotheteam.Withabitmorefreedomanduseofthemasterspellkey,HarrydisoveredthekithenshutdownearlyonThursdayevenings.Allhe’dmanagedtofindoutwasthehotel’sownerlikedtohaveaardsnightwithhisfriends,atleastatosomeoftheotherporters.
HarrymadehiswayoutofTravertelandtoleanerstreets.Hepassedbyabusyfloo-afe,afewhighendlothingshops,andHigginsHandles,thepremierQuiddithsupplyshopinthegreaterEdinburgharea.HeavertedhiseyesfromanewNimbuswindowdispyandfousedonthebrikwallarossthestreet.Ittoohadhangedsinehe’dstpassed.
Giantparhmentspsteredthebrik,MISSIRIbsp;ZIVANTUS—PLEASETAbsp;THEDMLE.1000GALLEONREWARDFORANYINFORMATIONLEADINGTOHERDISCOVERY.Harrypausedtostareatthefaeofayounggirlsmiling,nomorethanfourteenorfifteen,wavingtotheworld.Zivantus?ThatwasthenameofarihphinthropistwhohadabigdisagreementwiththeMinistryawhilebak.Thegirlhadtobehisdaughter.
Hepassedseveralfamiliarfaesofpikpokets,hustlers,andotherwiselowlevelsoundrels.Harrymissedbeingabletowalkthestreetsarefreeandunenumberedbythoughtsofwhomightbewathinghiseverymove.
He’dexpressedhispriklingparanoiatoRonduringhisstFloo-hat.EveryotherSundaym,Harryapparatedtoatinymagialshopjustoutsidetheity.TheelderlyownerslethimusetheirFlooinexhangeforyardwork.TheMinistryhadutilizedtheminthepast,hewassure,butiftheyhadanyideahewasanunderoverauror,theyneveradmittedit.
“Nowyou’reparanoidbeausenoonenotiesyou.”Ronhadshakenhishead.“Isn’tthatwhatyou’vealwayswanted,mate?”