Trouble

Matthew's disguised eyes were sinister. Without changing expression, he pulled twenty vials of Purple Potion from his Undetectable Extension Charm Pocket and said, "Twenty vials of Stunning Potion. You can inspect them."

The short, stout wizard rubbed his hands together and said excitedly, "It's not our first deal. I trust you, Gellman!"

After taking the potions, the short, stout wizard still uncorked one and sniffed it, then nodded in satisfaction. He pulled a pouch of Galleons from his robes and handed it to Matthew. "Pleasure doing business!"

Mundungus Fletcher was a thief who had bought plenty of Stunning Potions from Matthew. He often used them to knock people out before robbing them.

As Matthew finished counting the coins, six wizards in black robes closed in, forming a half-circle around them.

They eyed the Galleons in Matthew's hand greedily, but the One-Eyed Wizard at their head pointed his wand at Mundungus Fletcher. "Mundungus! We finally caught up with you!"

Mundungus Fletcher shuddered at the sound of the voice, fear appearing on his face. He immediately turned to flee, but he and Matthew had chosen a secluded corner to avoid being seen during their deal, and now it blocked his escape.

Realizing he couldn't get away, Mundungus put on a sycophantic smile. "Reno, I don't remember offending you. We even had a drink together last time."

The One-Eyed Wizard sneered. "Don't remember? Then let me jog your memory. Crucio!"

"AAAAAH!!!" Mundungus fell to the ground, screaming in agony as if he were being carved apart by a thousand knives.

He felt as if his head were about to explode. The pain left him unable to do anything but writhe and roll on the ground.

The One-Eyed Wizard continued to taunt him. "Starting to remember? Crucio!"

A red flash struck Mundungus. The unbearable pain drove all thought from his mind, and his body convulsed on instinct.

The One-Eyed Wizard seemed to enjoy it, a cruel smile slowly spreading across his face.

"You bought Mundungus's Stunning Potions from this guy, didn't you? We all saw it just now! He stole a lot of things from me last time, so you can pay me back for it!" The One-Eyed Wizard changed tack, pointing his wand at Matthew.

Matthew's right hand twitched. The wand slid from his sleeve into his palm, and he said in a low voice, "What he did with the potions has nothing to do with me. Our deal is over!"

The One-Eyed Wizard saw the wand, but a look of disdain flashed in his eyes. He stared greedily at Matthew. "There are six of us! Hand over the Galleons if you don't want to find out what the Cruciatus Curse feels like!"

When Matthew didn't budge, the impatient One-Eyed Wizard cried, "Crucio!"

Matthew swept his wand quickly, using the Levitation Charm to yank the most conspicuous bald wizard in front of him and block the dazzling red light.

"AAAAAH!!!" Like Mundungus, the bald wizard couldn't endure the pain of the Cruciatus Curse and convulsed in midair.

Matthew thrust his wand forward, sending the bald wizard crashing into the One-Eyed Wizard and knocking him to the ground.

The One-Eyed Wizard was dazed from the impact and pinned beneath the heavy weight, unable to get up for the moment.

"Damn it!" The other four wizards drew their wands in fury and cast spells.

Several spells shot toward Matthew.

The flagstones in front of Matthew Transfigured into a massive boulder, blocking every spell. Then the boulder rose into the air and shattered into countless pieces, which hurtled toward the four wizards!

The four wizards hastily raised Iron Armor Charms.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! The stones struck the ground, kicking up clouds of dust. For a moment, the corner of Tumbledown Alley was so thick with dust that no one could be seen.

Matthew didn't stop. He swept his wand again, casting spells toward several spots from memory.

A sharp whistle cut through the air. Four Transparent Arc Wind Blades swept forward, followed by several screams.

As the dust settled, three wizards lay on the ground, groaning in pain. Besides Matthew, only one wizard was still standing.

Matthew walked toward him without expression, sending a Blue Light into one of the wizards on the ground with every step.

The standing wizard stared at Matthew in horror, his hand trembling uncontrollably around his wand.

He tried several times to raise his wand, but couldn't control his hand. All he could do was shout in a shaking voice, "Don't come any closer!!!"

A Blue Light flashed. Matthew was now the only wizard left standing in the corner of Tumbledown Alley.

"Avada Kedavra!!!"

The One-Eyed Wizard, who had been the first to fall, had regained consciousness! Half-propped on the ground, he raised his wand and cast the Killing Curse at Matthew!

But Matthew hadn't let his guard down. He threw himself to the left on instinct, and the Green Beam skimmed past his right side.

As Matthew dived, he also fired a spell back at the One-Eyed Wizard!

A Transparent Arc Wind Blade swept across the One-Eyed Wizard's neck, and he fell silent at once.

"Poor." After the fight, Matthew found only a few dozen Gold Galleons on the six wizards, but at least there were also six wands.

Matthew hadn't wanted to get involved. He wasn't close to Mundungus Fletcher. The six wizards had been blinded by greed, and he, an innocent bystander, had been dragged into it.

Mundungus was now sitting against the wall, his body still trembling. The aftereffects of enduring two Cruciatus Curses hadn't worn off.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but no words came out.

Matthew took two potions from his Undetectable Extension Charm Pocket. "A calming potion and a Soothing Potion. They should help ease the aftereffects of the Cruciatus Curse."

When Mundungus took the potions, Matthew gave him a warm smile. "That'll be a hundred Galleons. Thank you for your business."

Mundungus's face twitched, and he looked pained, but he still nodded and drank both potions.

His complexion improved after he drank them. Once he'd recovered a little, he rummaged through his pocket, but even after emptying it, he had only a little over fifty Galleons.

He took out a square wooden Music Box. "This Music Box is damaged, but it can still slightly disrupt a wizard's magic. Would you take it for fifty Galleons?"

Matthew took the Music Box and examined it closely. It was only palm-sized and finely made, with a sizable crack along one side. It was an Alchemical Product, and he could feel faint magical fluctuations inside it as he held it.

Seeing Matthew's interest, Mundungus said, "Try it. Just wind the little key on the side."

Matthew tried winding the Music Box. Its slightly raised cylinder began to turn at a steady pace. Perhaps because it was damaged, the music came out in fits and starts.

When he heard the Music Box, he felt his magic being slightly disrupted, its flow becoming sluggish. But if he focused on channeling it, he could overcome the interference.

The disruption was slight, but if it happened suddenly while casting a spell, it might have unexpected effects.

Matthew accepted the Music Box and nodded. "I'll take it for fifty Galleons."