Harry Potter : This Progress Too Much

On his way from Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour to the Leaky Cauldron, David's eyes were drawn to an ominous signpost featuring a bloody, skeletal hand pointing toward a dark, narrow alleyway.

The sign beside it read:

Knockturn Alley.

David hesitated at the entrance for only a few seconds before stepping inside without a second thought.

Earning gold Galleons through conventional means was difficult, but unconventional methods? That was another story. Making money often involved bending, if not outright breaking, the law—after all, crime and wealth were closely intertwined.

With his unique magical ability that allowed him to use any spell flawlessly, he knew he could operate outside the rules. As long as he wasn't caught in the act, no one would be any the wiser.

Knockturn Alley was the wizarding world's black market, infamous for dealing in dark artifacts, cursed objects, and illegal potions. It was a chaotic mix of criminals, desperate individuals, and those who simply couldn't survive in mainstream wizarding society. Many of the Ministry of Magic's wanted criminals lurked in its shadows.

For an underage wizard, walking into Knockturn Alley alone was a dangerous gamble.

But David was no ordinary first-year.

With the three Unforgivable Curses mastered to perfection, he had no fear. After all, the people hiding here weren't exactly powerful—if they had real skill, they wouldn't be living in the shadows.

As he walked further in, the alleyway grew darker and colder. Unlike the bright, cheerful Diagon Alley, sunlight barely touched this place. A heavy, eerie silence filled the air, as though something unnatural hung over it.

Despite the number of wizards lurking in the shadows, Knockturn Alley felt lifeless.

David, on the other hand, was full of curiosity and excitement. He had dressed modestly to avoid attracting attention, but his eager eyes and the way he examined every stall made him stand out—he looked like one of those naive young wizards who, after hearing rumors about Knockturn Alley, had secretly ventured in against their parents' warnings.

He wandered past a variety of stalls, each more suspicious than the last.

"These are powerful magical artifacts, lad. With these, you'll be unbeatable in a duel. Interested?"

A toothless old wizard, leaning against a crumbling wall, grinned at David, revealing yellowed teeth as he gestured toward a collection of questionable items.

David glanced at the so-called powerful artifacts—human and animal skulls, strange carved beads, crude sculptures, and mysterious potion bottles without labels.

It didn't take a genius to figure out these were mostly worthless junk.

"No, thanks. Not interested."

David politely declined, backing away quickly.

The old man sneered, watching him leave. "Hah! Let's see how long you last before they get you!"

They?

David didn't stop to ask. He had a feeling he would find out soon enough.

Further ahead, a pockmarked bookseller was enthusiastically waving copies of questionable wizard novels.

"Come take a look! Latest bestsellers! 'The Witch and the Seven Fairies' and 'The Witch and the Werewolf'! You won't find these anywhere else!"

David's gaze barely skimmed the illustrated book covers, where scantily-clad witches posed dramatically.

He quickly averted his eyes and hurried past without a word.

I'm too young for this.

He continued exploring, curious but cautious. He didn't buy anything, but he observed everything, taking mental notes of Knockturn Alley's many questionable dealings.

It didn't take long before he drew unwanted attention.

A Trap is Set

"Lost, kid? Need some help getting out?"

David stopped.

Three wizards had stepped out from the shadows, blocking his path.

They wore tattered, grimy wizard robes and reeked of sweat and alcohol. Their faces were hidden beneath deep hoods, but their greedy smirks were visible.

David had sensed their watchful eyes on him ever since he entered the alley.

They weren't the only ones who had taken an interest in him, but it seemed these three had claimed him as their target, driving off other potential predators.

David calmly assessed the situation.

Human traffickers.

Kidnapping young wizards and selling them was a profitable business. Some were sold to dark wizards conducting experiments, while others were ransomed back to their families for a hefty price.

Too bad for them. They picked the wrong target.

"I appreciate the offer, but I know the way out," David said, keeping his voice steady.

He moved to step around them.

The tallest of the three clamped a firm hand on David's shoulder, leaning down to whisper, "I think you need our help. What do you think?"

Another grabbed his other shoulder, tightening his grip.

"Think carefully before you answer, boy."

David kept his head lowered, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I need your help," he said.

A smirk played on his lips—but they didn't see it.

You want to catch me? Well, I was just thinking the same thing.

The third wizard grabbed his sleeve, pulling him deeper into Knockturn Alley.

To them, the boy had surrendered.

They assumed he was a helpless Hogwarts student, maybe a second-year at most, with barely enough magical knowledge to cast a handful of spells.

A defenseless child.

How wrong they were.

Tables Turned

The surrounding wizards didn't interfere.

People vanished in Knockturn Alley all the time—the unspoken rule was to mind your own business.

The group walked about fifty meters before the kidnappers decided they were far enough from prying eyes.

David abruptly stopped.

The leader turned, frowning. "What's wrong?"

David pulled his arm free and looked up, his gaze cold. "Where are we going?"

"Our base in Knockturn Alley," the leader said, grinning.

David tilted his head. "How many of you are there?"

"Just one of our guys is there right now," another answered.

David's smirk widened. "Take me there."

For the first time since they had grabbed him, a strange unease flickered through the kidnappers' eyes.

Something about the boy's calm demeanor was unnerving.

But they had no idea that they had just stepped into their own trap.