Galleons have been getting harder and harder to earn lately.
Gazing at the desolate Diagon Alley, Mundungus gloomily shut his suitcase. After greeting several fellow traders nearby, he packed up his stall and prepared to head home.
Ever since the Ministry of Magic had implemented that damned shelter policy, many Ministry employees' families had hidden away in the shelters. As a result, Diagon Alley, which had already been quiet enough, was now practically devoid of wizards.
Even the roadside vendors had dwindled in number, because they simply could not earn more than a few Galleons.
Mundungus was one of the victims.
When he had first heard that many people at the Ministry planned to hide in the shelters, Mundungus had been delighted. But after visiting several families who had moved into the Ministry's shelters, his expression had immediately fallen. There was nothing worthwhile there, just heaps of worthless junk that had wasted his precious time.
And ever since then, there had been fewer people in Diagon Alley, making business even harder.
Lately, he had been thinking of other ways to make money.
He wondered how things were going with the Weasley twins, and whether they still needed him to smuggle anything else.
As Mundungus pondered how to make money, his hand froze as he pushed open the door, and his eyes narrowed at once.
Someone had entered his home.
At the very least, Mundungus did not remember subscribing to the Daily Prophet. He could always pick up a copy on the street or in a pub anyway.
His suitcase hit the floor with a bang.
Ignoring it, Mundungus had already drawn his wand and warily scanned his surroundings. Once he was sure no one else was around, he immediately went to check the Galleons he had hidden away.
Only after