I spy with my little eye // (DATHAN)

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Borgin and Burkes is a little shop in Knockturn Alley. The owner, Mr. Burke, a sinister wizard, well known for his devilish deals with any brave or fool-hearty customer who dares to venture inside. Rumor has it, he is involved in other wicked activities, often discussed in secret meetings in the back of his shop.

It was recently reported for suspicious activities. Daniel was assigned to the case and headed off to investigate, planning to spy on Mr. Burke and any on-going activities within the store. He sighed, hoping to come to conclusion soon. 

He walked down Knockturn Alley, feeling uneasy, knowing the dangers that lurked beyond the darkness. He pulled his travelling cloak closer to his chest, gripping his wand tightly, which was hidden deep in his pocket. He arrived at the scene of the crime and opened the door, only to find there was no crime to be seen. He would have to search high and low to find the answer to this one.

"Hello?" He shouted, frightened. "Is anyone there?"

@dathan

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Burke had just closed the shop, and had sat down to a bowl of pea soup with his wolf Eligos dining on some beef nearby. He looked slightly annoyed when someone knocked on the door. Placing down his bowl, he slowly looked out from the back room to see who it was. Eligos was on the alert too, ever protective of his master. When, Dathan saw that it was an Auror, he turned to his wolf.

"Down, Eligos," he said. The wolf backed down, but still kept his stare toward the door. Normally, Burke would have allowed his pet to indeed be alert, but this man was from the Ministry. With all that had been going on, Burke had to be cautious when a Ministry member visited. One slip up and a great deal of planning and hard work by he and his allies would be ruined. The Ministry would be dealt with in time, but for now Burke was not at a place where he could allow the Ministry to know there was a threat out there.

Calm and cool, Burked unlocked the door and opened it. As much as he hated to smile, he greeted the man with one.

"Odd seeing an Auror in Knockturn Alley at this time of night," he said. "Nevertheless, how may I be of service to the Ministry?" He then opened the door and motioned for the man to come in. He also motioned to a chair. "May I offer you some tea? Or pea soup perhaps? I just prepared some."

DANIEL JEREMY ECKHEL

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Behind all the shelves of books and potions, Mr. Burke emerged from the dark and at his side was his wolf. Daniel would have to be cautious not to make any sudden moves, he did not wish to be eaten today. Frightened, he kept his cool and stayed calm, keeping his distance from Mr. Burke.

"No, thanks. I just had dinner," replied Daniel, holding a palm up to turn down Mr. Burke's offer, careful not to eat or drink anything from this man, for he did not know what he could be planning. He cursed under his breath, as he stepped inside the shop, unnerved that his cover might have already been blown. He wondered what gave him away. Was he that obvious, was it his outfit that gave him away? He was preoccupied by this. Waving it off, he focused on his objection again. Even if his cover was shot, he mustn't let it be the end of him. He needed, somehow, to get inside and gain Mr. Burke's trust, so he can collect the evidence he needed to arrest the man.

"Why, I wish to browse your shops for a special ingredient for my potions project tonight," He replied, quickly searching something to say. "Nailed it?" he thought, feeling incredibly nervous. "I was told, I could find it here?" he added, taking his gaze off the wolf and smiled at Mr. Burke. He didn't know what it was, normally he was a terrible liar, but he today he was strangely good. Maybe it was the adrenaline rushing through his veins.

@dathan

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Dathan noticed the look between the Auror and his wolf and smirked a bit.

"You need no fear Eligos," he said. "My wolf will only attack when I am in some sort of danger... and I highly doubt you are here to put me in any danger, Mister... forgive me, I don't know you're name."

He then listened as the man asked about browsing his job. That hardly worried Burke. For the most part, anything that Burke didn't want the wrong people to see was certainly not on display at his shop. Those objects were hidden away and only brought out for special clients.

"Well, as you could see, my store is normally closed at this hour, my good sir," he said. "However, I'm sure your time is precious, so I will be happy to assist you in any way I can." Dathan then rose and stepped over to a display. "Now bare in mind if you are looking for your standard special ingredients for potions, I would suggest you go to Diagon Alley. I only specialize in the most rare and ancient ingredients, ones not found in your common shop." He motioned to the racks with lines of ingredients, each with small signs showing their names and descriptions.

"If you don't mind me saying so," he said, his back still turned to the Auror and facing the display. "I do find it odd that you are in Knockturn this late an hour. I do hope there is no particularly foul deeds occurring in this area... well nothing outside the usual anyway."

(Sorry. Might have misread. Didn't realize you were undercover.)

DANIEL JEREMY ECKHEL

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Daniel began to choke. It would be unwise to give him his full name, especially undercover. Mr. Burke could easily use it against him. His father taught him that.

"My apologies, how rude of me," he smiled, entering the shop. Taking his time to scan the area, he hoped to find something out of the ordinary. He needed an secret identity, a new name. "My name is Grey," he told him. "Ryan Grey," his eyes fell on a grey liquid jar on the shelf, in front of him.

"No bad deeds here," He replied, keeping a straight face. "Show me your best products." He asked. "I'm sure Diagon Alley does have the finest, but I'm looking for rather a particular ingredient for my potion. I'll know it when I see it."

After saying that, Daniel realised it sounded rather suspicious and began to twiddle his thumbs. "This way?" Daniel exclaimed with a brighter face, pointing to a big black door at the back of the store. Surely this was the store room for such exclusive ingredients.

OOC:- Thats okay, hoping I'm not godmodding your character.

@dathan

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"A pleasure, Mr. Grey," said Dathan, though his voice showed no sincerity regarding any joy of meeting this man. Still, in Valentine's favor, he accepted Ryan Grey as the man's real name and did not question him otherwise. But all in all, Dathan put little stock in names anyway. Few meant anything to him, and he felt to brag about one's name was nothing nut the ramblings of a fool.

"Diagon Alley specializes in the academic well-being of children," said Dathan. "Perhaps they have a fine selection of ingredients for all the silly potions the students concoct at Hogwarts. If you want to call the ingredients for those "the finest", then so be it. I personally feel the ingredients my shop displays can potentially produce some of the most powerful potions known to wizardkind." Dathan turned and smiled at "Grey". "But that's just me I suppose." Dathan then raised a suspicious eyebrow when Grey asked about the back room.

"No, not there," he said. "Granted they are near that area, but not in the backroom itself. The backroom is for employees only... or rather Eligos and myself. Lots of fragile merchandise back there, you know? Can't risk a curious customer knocking something over. I would lose a great deal of money."

And that was one place Dathan, despite his mock friendliness to the man, would not let Grey go. The back room was where much of his questionable merchandise was hidden, and an Auror snooping around could potentially find it. For now, Burke showed Grey where the rack was, which as he said was close to the door to the back room.

(No worries)

DANIEL JEREMY ECKHEL

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"That is true, Knockturn Alley does have the most powerful and better selected ingredients, no argument there," Daniel smiled, nodding in agreement. "Or, so I've heard," he added. He admitted some of those products were tempting to buy. There were many things on display that he couldn't buy in any other shop. Nevertheless, he needed to focus on the goal at hand, discovering the suspicious meetings. He figured he may as well buy something, so he doesn't look out of the ordinary and at the same time, he would award himself as a pat on the back.

Discovering the door, he couldn't help but notice the sudden hostility. He found that was rather suspicious, this could be his massive breakthrough. If his calculations were right, surely that was the door that lead to such secretive meetings that he heard so much about. He approached the counter, scanning the ingredients displayed on the wall.

He pondered how to get behind the door without arising great suspicion. He couldn't just barge in and risk being bitten by the Eligo, the wolf. He wished his father was here to give him advice and guide him through this mission, but apparently, he thought this mission was better suited alone - his father must be losing his mind. Maybe thats what to expect of old age. Suddenly, he heard the noise of shattering glass. Although, there was no one else in the store.

"Blimey?! What was that noise?"

(Sorry i'm blank today come up with something so i can reply.)

@dathan

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"There is nothing worth finding in this damned alley in general," said Dathan. "Well given the growing amount of crimes against magic here, I guess there is for you Aurors I suppose. Though I would know nothing about that. I'm just a man trying to conduct business after all. But as I said, while you'll find little of worth in the rest of the shops here, mine is always full of surprises." He said that last part coldly, as if he wished to tempt Grey even further. He knew the man wanted to get back in the back room to snoop around, and probably knew there were consequences of doing so.

Burke had placed some ingredients out to show him when the glass broke. Burke turned irritated. There were many in Knockturn Alley who hated him and who didn't know who his connections were. If they did, they would leave him alone in a heartbeat. Though he didn't know the culprit's identity himself the one who broke the glass was a friend of the old man Burke killed a few nights before. Eligos was already at the broken window, barking and snarling.

"Pardon me," said Burke to Grey. He then walked toward the window and out of the sight of the door to the back room. He did not tell Eligos to cease his viciousness, for he knew the use of an attack dog was perfectly legal in the case of someone vandalizing his shop. Burke opened the door and the wolf gave chase with Dathan following, temporarily forgetting that the Auror was in his shop unattended.

DANIEL JEREMY ECKHEL

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Daniel could tell that Dathan was doing, he was trying to get him to expose himself. He couldn't allow himself to be expose, it would blow the whole mission over. Then he wouldn't be able to get into the room at all, this would mean. Mission failed, he decided to play along and ignore what Mr. Burke was trying to achieve. "Yes, there is a high amount of crime in the area. Sometime there is too many for the ministry to catch up with," he admitted, honestly. "There are many cunning and ruthless criminal here, they would do anything to resist arrest," he continued, trying his hardest not to say too much. He needed to get in the back room, he could tell that Dathan was doing everything he could to avoid Daniel reaching through the door. "It must be good for business?" Daniel turning the table onto Dathan, hoping he'll come to a conclusion.

Mr. Bourke laid out some ingredient in front of him, in hope to distract him from the noise coming from behind the door. He had no idea of what was happening in the back room, bit itinstantly caught Mr. Bourkes and Eligo attentions. All he knew was that it wasn't him that caused it and whoever did had just created a window of an opportunity.

"No worries, I will be here," He examined the ingredient laid on the table, there was one with an eye in it, another with troll whiskers and another which seem to be some kind of talon from a bird. After a while, he looked up from the ingredient and slowly approached the door, his wand hosteled in his hand. He pushed the door opened to the scene of the crime and took a look around. Hoping, something would catch his attentions, but unfortunately everything seem normal here "Of course, I have to look for it. I always do," he grumbled to himself and investigating the area.

@dathan

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Outside the shop, Dathan confronted the man who broke his window. The man could not stand as Eligos's paws and wolf's strength kept him down. The victim reached for his wand which rolled away, but Burke kicked it away further.

"You are here to avenge the old man?" asked Dathan, aiming his wand at the man.

"He was my brother, you devil," scowled the fellow.

"How noble," said Burke. "And how fortunate you are that I have the company of the Ministry tonight. Still... I can't have you remain a nuisance, can I?" Burke then smirked at he aimed the wand for the man's head. "You can't avenge your brother if you don't remember him, can you?"

"No..." said the man wide-eyed.

"Obliviate!" chanted Burke, erasing the man's entire memory. He then turned to his wolf. "Off of him, Eligos." The wolf stepped away and the man rose, looking around confused, then looking at Burke.

"Where the bloody hell am I?" he asked. "Who am I?"

"I haven't a clue, sir," said Burke. "Good night." Burke then turned and walked back into his shop. He of course was unaware that Daniel was snooping around... or had been snooping around anyway. Whether or not he was now of course depended on how well he used the time that it took Eligos to chase the old man's brother down, for Dathan to perform the memory charm, and for the man and his wolf to walk back. It was certainly a good few moments to take advantage of.

(Feel free to speak of what Daniel might have found while Burke was gone.)

DANIEL JEREMY ECKHEL

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Daniel searched the perimeter, mulling through shelves and checking behind furnitures. The room was empty, almost innocent, there was no crime to be seen. Of course, Dathan was much to smart to leave something out in the open like that. He wasn't stupid, he would do anything he could to stop him. It would be easy for him just to kill him, somehow he knew he was an auror. Which would make it harder for him because, if he murdered him. The whole Ministry would hunt him down. He wouldn't risk exploiting his secret meeting. Whatever happens in this very room, it must've been very important. That it made Dathan go through a great deal to cover this place up. Daniel knew he had to be quick, this was his only opportunity to get in, get what he wanted and get out. When would he get access to this room again if he was to fail his investigation. He swore he heard Dathan, chanting the memory charm in the alley way. He must hurry up, he didn't want to lose his memories. It would be a horrible thing to have to go through.


OOC: Thinking he finds a letter for the next meeting, what you think? Sorry the post suck, needed to post something out

@dathan

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(Okay, going to make this post short then with something he can find and what it says.)

The only thing that one would be able to find was not something belonging to Dathan Burke himself, but rather something someone in the last meeting accidentally dropped. Said person would certainly be in for it had that person known it was left behind. Such mistakes were costly, and the first to pay for them were the ones who made them. The "something" was a note with a list of things of items. The suspicious thing about the list was that they were either not items one needed every day, or there were items that were asked for in an odd quantity. Two of the items with odd quantities were exploding potions and polyjuice potions. Whether the list was meant for Burke to see or not was not something easily confirmed. However, they were items one like Burke could get a hold of.

Burke himself drew closer and closer to his shop. Within a moment, he would be close enough to see that not only was Grey not where he was standing originally and looking at the potions, but snooping around in the forbidden back room. And if Dathan saw that the auror had found anything, even in his position with the Ministry, the fellow could find himself in a great deal of trouble.

DANIEL JEREMY ECKHEL

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Daniel searched one more time before admitting defeat, he turned around towards the door and began to take his leave. When, suddenly something caught the corner of his eyes. Perhap, Dathan wasn't so smart after all, as he found a piece of paper, carelessly laying around on the floor. He picked up, brushing dirt off the paper and began to read it; Only to find a list of unusual ingredient. He found the evidence quite suspicious, not only it was usual and in an odd quantity. There was an unrecognisable symbol sitting on the top of the paper. That was weird, because he could recognise almost every symbol. He was sure that it wasn't the dark mark. The dark mark was recognise almost everywhere, the symbol gave the ministry a hard time back in the days. Ever since you-know-who was killed by the famous Harry Potter, very little activity was involved with the dark mark. This wasn't any ordinary symbol, he couldn't recognise it. He would have to take it to the ministry to have it analysed. he didn't like the look of the ingredient, they looked dangerous.

He had a feeling that they were up to something, but he didn't know what. He pocketed the paper in his pocket, casting a spell on it to turn it invisible and started to walk out the door. He knew he had to be quick, any minute now Dathan would return and it wouldn't look good if he wasn't seen by the counter. He noticed Dathan peering into the shop. "Blimey!" thought Daniel, quickly closing the door behind him and began to examine other parts of the shops. Whistling, hoping that Dathan didn't see him go in.

@dathan

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Dathan thought he heard a door shut as he walked in. Eligos knew he did and gave a hostile bark. Dathan then heard whistling and stepped in to see Grey looking about. Dathan smirked at him. True he couldn't prove that the man was snooping about. Everything looked as it did when Burke left. But even if the man was, he would probably feel stupid when he found nothing in the back room. Burke of course didn't know about the paper now in Grey's possession. Otherwise, Grey could have found himself in trouble, again regardless of who he was.

Eligos was growling quietly at Grey, but Dathan calmed his wolf and had him go back to his place behind the counter. Dathan then approached Grey.

"I see you have found other items in my shop to be of interest," he said coldly. But then he innocently motioned to the items Grey was looking at. "Very rare artifacts and antiquities, you know? Some you won't find anywhere in the world. Something to add to the decor of your office, perhaps?" Burke then stepped over to the counter. "If not, we'll finish the business regarding your potions and I'll see you to the door."

And he truly wanted to. Dathan wanted to be rid of this man once and for all. If the fool had found nothing, then he would not be back. He would not ramble on to others in the Ministry and have them snooping about. Dathan could imagine that Malfoy would love to have the store shut down given his history with it.

DANIEL JEREMY ECKHEL

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Daniel was pleased to have found adequate evidence to return to the Ministry. Eligo, the wolf, barked and growled at him, as if he knew he was snooping around. He took no notice of him. There was no way Dathan could prove he had been in there. He had left everything as it was, leaving no trace behind him. However, he didn't leave the room empty-handed. Which gave him great relief that he didn't go in vain.

"You've got quite a shop, Mr Burke," He said, turning around to face Dathan, to greet him with a smile. "I trust that you have dealt with your business out there?" asked Daniel, approaching the counter to finish his 'potion' project (that he had mentioned earlier) as a distraction. "Ah, yes, my potion ingredient. Best I buy some now. Surely you have other stuff to do than to pamper somebody like myself," he said.

He wanted to get out of there as fast as he could. He needed get out now he has found his clues. He could tell that Dathan was eager to see him out too. "Thank you, for your time. Mr. Burke," He said, picking something random off the list before paying for it and hurrying out of the shop. The ministry would be pleased with his evidence. The symbol still occupied his mind. He didn't recognise it. He had a feeling it had something to do with a group of sorts.

@dathan