Bojinbok, Iodine-Coated Whip Flogging and Disinfection

Borgin and Burkes.

This is the largest shop in Knockturn Alley.

It specializes in selling items of Dark Magic, some of which are extremely dangerous. The shopkeeper, Borgin, sells some of these items while also collecting all sorts of strange and evil things.

Inside a large black cabinet in a corner.

Harry huddled inside, feeling extremely depressed because he'd had such a run of bad luck lately!

With Lucien's help, his aunt's family's attitude towards him had improved considerably.

Now give him food and drink as he pleases.

Of course, none of the three family members were very willing to talk to him.

Harry, on the contrary, thought it was great. No one would bother him, and he could read his magic books in peace and preview the assignments Lucien had given him.

This is so much better than before!

Thinking of Lucien, Harry couldn't help but think of his own family. Both Lucien and Harry had lost their parents, but Lucien had a loving aunt, which Harry envied.

Everything was proceeding smoothly until a few days ago when a House-elf claiming to Dobby suddenly appeared in the room.

Not only did they steal his letter, but they also dumped a huge plate of cake on the heads of Uncle Vernon's guests!

Their uncles were both shocked and furious, but under pressure from Lucien, they couldn't do anything to Harry.

Harry even overheard his Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia plotting to seal up his windows.

Harry looked forward to the start of school in that increasingly uncomfortable environment. Fortunately, before his uncle could make a move, Ron and the twins came to pick him up in their car.

The way his uncle's family saw him off was as if they were sending away a plague god.

But Harry didn't mind; he was happy just thinking about going to Hogwarts.

Harry had a very happy and enjoyable time at the Weasley family. The only regret was that Ron told him Lucien had just left a few days ago, so Harry didn't get to see him.

Harry was supposed to be shopping in Diagon Alley with the Weasley family, but because it was his first time using Floo Powder to teleport, Harry accidentally mispronounced the place name and ended up in this strange and creepy shop.

Good heavens, what exactly does this store sell?!

Withered human hands, bloodstained Scabbers cards, glass eyeballs...

Some of them were even displayed on mats inside a glass case!

Are they all very precious things? They're clearly terrifying!

Harry peered through the crack in the cabinet and secretly observed Malfoy and the middle-aged man who looked like Malfoy's father chatting with the shopkeeper, known as Borgin.

Finally, Borgin sent the Malfoy away.

After closing the door, Borgin began muttering to himself again:

"Tsk... less than half of what they sold..."

Harry waited a while, planning to find an opportunity to slip out.

Just as he was about to gently push open the cabinet door,

"Squeak~~"

The shop door opened again, and a voice rang out:

"Borgin, I've brought the final product. Once you've reviewed it, we can finalize the contract, right?"

Harry immediately realized the voice sounded familiar.

He saw Borgin quickly smooth his greasy hair with his hand and switch to a fawning tone:

"Mr. Grafton, meeting you is like seeing sunshine and wealth; I can already foresee a pleasant collaboration..."

As the shop door opened, Harry saw that familiar head of dark gold hair and those dark green eyes.

Lucien?

How did he get here?

It seems Borgin treats Lucien better than he treats Malfoy and the others. Why is that?

Harry was full of questions as he watched Borgin lead Lucien to a seat and serve him tea and snacks.

With a wave of his hand, Lucien displayed bracelets, necklaces, buttons, and other small items on the table.

Borgin put on a monocle covered in mechanical gears and began to examine the items one by one.

"Oh, your skills are still so exquisite, no, they're even better than last time! It's hard to believe that you possess such a level of alchemy skill at such a young age. Could it be that Hogwarts' recent Alchemy Class...?"

Tell me your thoughts.

Upon hearing Lucien's words, Borgin stopped praising him and began to share his own insights:

"These alchemical tools have fixed magical effects, the best of which is definitely the automatically triggered Protego Amulet, which greatly enhances a wizard's survivability, and its price should be correspondingly higher..."

Harry only understood that Lucien was discussing a collaboration with Borgin, where Borgin would sell those alchemical tools, which were said to have amazing effects. However, Harry was completely confused by the subsequent details and the haggling over the price.

Just as Harry began to feel numbness in his legs, Lucien and Borgin finally ended their conversation.

Harry was about to bend down and massage his legs when he noticed Lucien suddenly looking at him.

Harry's heart skipped a beat.

But then Lucien raised his hand and beckoned to him.

Harry thought for a moment, wondering why he should be nervous, and then pushed open the cabinet door and went out.

"Who are you?"

Upon seeing someone suddenly emerge from the display case in his shop, Borgin instinctively became alert, and his gaze toward Harry turned noticeably hostile.

"He's my friend. We were playing hide-and-seek, and somehow he ended up hiding here. Is it okay?"

Upon hearing Lucien's words, Borgin, whose face had been gloomy, immediately smiled and said to Harry:

"It's alright, it's alright, little one. But don't hide here next time. The things here are for adults. It's dangerous for children to touch them. For example, that Opal Necklace next to you has already taken the lives of nineteen Muggle."

Harry, looking disgusted, took a few steps to the side and walked behind Lucien.

The reason for Borgin's obvious change in attitude is simple: Lucien is a big client, and the alchemical tools he provides are of extremely high quality.

Moreover, they are all newly built. As long as Lucien can be kept at bay, Borgin will have an additional source of income.

Why didn't Borgin try to seize the child, who was so young and carrying such a precious child, through underhanded means...?

Borgin's body trembled slightly as he recalled the incessant screams from a few days ago.

So he ignored the kid who suddenly appeared, covered in coal dust and with a dirty face.

Harry made a mistake when he crossed the fireplace in Floo Network, getting covered in dust, which didn't fit the image of the legendary the Chosen One at all.

After being politely seen out by Borgin, Harry followed Lucien and discovered that outside was a dirty alleyway, with shops that seemed to sell Dark Magic on both sides.

Several ragged wizards saw them, immediately shrank back, and turned to leave.

An old witch, who had her back to them, turned around after hearing the noise, but the next second, a dish that looked exactly like a dead man's fingernails fell to the ground.

Without even bothering to pick it up, the old witch took off running, her agility completely contrary to her age.

Harry understood perfectly well that those people weren't probably afraid of him; if they were, they were afraid...

He turned to look at Lucien beside him.

Please, please () here.

"This is Knockturn Alley, where some Dark Magic items are sold. It's best not to come here alone without an adult wizard accompanying you."

Lucien casually explained to Harry.

Upon hearing this, Harry nodded hurriedly, feeling intimidated by the environment and atmosphere.

Harry was also curious: why did those people run away as soon as they saw Lucien?

Seeing that Harry was still covered in soot, Lucien pulled out his wand and tapped it on him.

"Cleansing and refreshing"

"Reparo"

Harry instantly transformed from a dark, coal-like figure back into a clean-cut the Chosen One, his broken glasses once again repaired.

After the soot was removed, Lucien noticed that Harry's complexion was much rosier and he was no longer as thin and pale as he had been the previous year.

Well, the Dursley Family didn't dare skimp on Harry's food anymore.

The two had only taken a few steps when Harry heard some slapping sounds. He glanced back at Borgin and Burkes but didn't see anything unusual.

Unable to suppress his curiosity, Harry still asked:

"Lucien, why did those people run away as soon as they saw us come out?"

What impressed him most was the old witch. She looked to be in her seventies or eighties, but she ran with surprising agility, as if she were facing a great terror.

Lucien carefully put away his wand, speaking calmly and deliberately:

"Oh, when I was here before, I encountered thieves, robbers, swindlers... and someone even tried to curse me with Dark Magic."

Hearing Lucien say that, Harry tensed up immediately, as if he were the one facing those villains.

Seeing Lucien's calm expression, Harry figured the ordeal had been a close call, and relaxed, but still asked with concern:

"Lucien, were you hurt? Did you remember what those thugs looked like? Should we call the police, or rather, report them to the Ministry of Magic?"

Lucien shook his head.

"I'm fine. As for their appearance..."

"Yes, that's what it looks like."

Lucien pointed to the sky, and Harry looked up in response.

Seven or eight ragged people were hanging upside down in the air, as if bound by invisible chains, forming an inverted cross shape.

The men's eyes were closed, and their necks and bodies were covered in congealed blood. Their tattered robes revealed gaping wounds.

However, their faces are so clean and smooth that passersby can clearly see their features, as if bloodstains on their faces are automatically cleaned up.

Harry also figured out what the "slap slap" sound he had just heard was.

Several whips hovered around the people hanging upside down, whistling as they struck them, making cracking sounds.

Harry stared in astonishment, noticing a transparent barrier beneath them, seemingly to prevent blood from dripping onto passersby.

Strangely, Harry felt a strange sense of unease about this scene – a feeling of "thoughtfulness"?

Based on the conversation just now, and the way others treated Lucien when he left...

Harry finally understood: those who tried to cheat, rob, or even curse Lucien were now being whipped and left hanging here!

These guys all received their due punishment and paid the price for their ulterior motives.

The others in the Knockturn Alley watched helplessly as these men were whipped, and they were well aware of Lucien's methods and the consequences of provoking him.

So when they came out, the group of people saw Lucien and ran away as if they'd seen a ghost, or rather, like criminals seeing the police.

"Knockturn Alley is so dangerous, and the people here all have ill intentions..."

Lucien chuckled softly at Harry's mutterings.

"Some of them were driven by their own greed and attacked me on their own initiative, while others..."

Lucien tilted his head and pointed to the Borgin and Burkes behind him.

"Some of them were secretly instigated by that person just now."

Having understood that Lucien was referring to Borgin in the shop, Harry frowned and asked, puzzled:

"Then why were you talking to him just now?"

Lucien spoke calmly:

"Give people a stick, then give them a carrot; people will be more loyal and more efficient."

"That person has connections in this alley; he's quite useful."

Harry looked up at the people in mid-air again and couldn't help but ask:

"So you hung these people very close to Borgin and Burkes?"

Lucien nodded.

"Yes, I'm afraid he can't hear me clearly, so I'm moving closer, closer is better."

Harry looked at the people hanging upside down; even as the whips lashed out, they didn't scream. Suddenly, something occurred to him.

"Um, Lucien, they... they seem to have stopped making a move?"

Harry actually wanted to remind Lucien that some of those people seemed to be dead.

Lucien didn't look up at the people, but confidently comforted Harry:

"Don't worry, the whip contains healing potion that will seep out periodically, preventing them from truly dying."

"The treatment potion has been improved and is quite effective. Should we learn how to use it after school starts?"

Harry nodded instinctively, indicating his desire to learn about new potions.

But Harry was speechless for a moment at the idea of applying healing potion to a whip, healing someone while whipping them—a design that was neither ingenious nor devilish.

"What, you feel sorry for those people?"

However, when faced with Lucien's question, Harry shook his head, his voice soft yet firm:

"No, if you couldn't Lucien them back then, they wouldn't have been lenient either. Magical knowledge and strength are both very important."

After a year of living and learning together, Harry witnessed Lucien using magic to defeat Quirrell and Voldemort, and also saw Lucien use his wealth and power to subdue his uncle's family.

All of this made Harry realize that, whether in the Wizarding World or Muggle society, having enough "power" is essential to protecting himself, preventing him from bullying others, but also preventing him from being bullied.

Seeing Harry's reaction, Lucien thought it was good. A child who had experienced the harsh realities of life from a young age was unlikely to become an indecisive "saint."

Dumbledore planned to cultivate Harry's courage and boldness, but he never demanded that he be innocent.

The Chosen One can fight against or even defeat Voldemort can be kind and gentle, but cannot be weak, and certainly cannot only pity those who do not deserve sympathy.