Chapter 1254

"Time-Turner?"

"Yes, Time-Turner... You know, before I was imprisoned in Azkaban, I had been doing some transactions on the black market... At that time, you didn't lose gold Galleons, didn't you? This time Voldemort After the complete failure, I gradually ran out of money, so I started to go back to my old business..."

In the McNeil family's study, Nott and Walton were talking quietly.

To be honest, Nott wasn't talking nonsense, because he was indeed a second-hand businessman who made a living by switching things.

As the life of the Knott family has become increasingly difficult in the past hundred years, in order to continue to maintain, almost every generation of their family has been selling properties outside. And this also allowed their family to accumulate many personal collectors and traders.

So starting from Nott's father, their family finally took advantage of this resource and became a black market dealer who resells various magic items, collectibles and precious materials.

Yes, in fact, he and Mundungus earn a living in much the same way.

It’s just that compared with the latter, the items he and his father handled are of relatively high value—at least the low-priced second-hand crucible that Mundungus likes most, and the father and son must look down on it.

And when it comes to the fact that Mrs. Parkinson went to him to consult the time-turner, from another perspective, isn't it similar to his "old business"?

So to be honest, Nott is really not just making up an excuse casually.

Just after Walton nodded clearly, Nott only paused for a moment, and quickly continued:

"And just last night I ran into a client who wanted to buy a time-turner... You know what? As soon as he said that, I thought of you!"

"I remember, when we were sent by Voldemort to the Department of Mysteries, you seem to have taken a time converter from the cabinet in the Hall of Time, right? Although this thing is of high value, because of its special nature, you are willing to There have always been very few people accepting... You see, this time I have the opportunity to make a move, and I will be the first to think of you, brother!"

"Oh, that sounds good, doesn't it? Well, thanks, you really are a good brother!"

Naturally, Walton didn't think too much about it, because what Nott said was indeed true—although the time converters were rare in number, they were all precious research supplies from the Ministry of Magic. Even if there were sporadic underground circulation, There are very few people who dare to buy home.

Once detected,

In a way, that's even more serious than the nature of collecting dark magic items.

"By the way," Walton thought for a while, and suddenly he was a little worried, "Who is that wizard who asked you to buy a time-turner? Could it be an Auror?"

"Come on!" Nott immediately waved his hands and said, "You also know the current situation in London—the entire Ministry of Magic is in a state of distress, right? At this time, how can they bother to play this kind of bait fishing?" trick?"

"Well, it's true," Walton couldn't help nodding, "When I slipped out yesterday, the ministry was already in chaos... Then, what price did the other party offer?"

"It's not a deal yet... After all, time converters are rare, and the probability of finding them is very high, so people have to see the goods before they are willing to negotiate the price." Nott said, "But don't you trust me? Don't worry. Come on, I'll help you negotiate a good price!"

...

More than half an hour later, Nott, who chatted with the other party for a while in the study, came out of McNeil's house. After the door closed again behind him, Nott patted his chest pocket lightly, a satisfied smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

Now that the Time-Turner is in hand, it's time to find a way to find out Mrs. Parkinson's purpose.

Obviously, this is definitely not an easy task when you have no clue at all.

While pacing and walking along the road in front of McNeill's house, Nott fell into a silent thought for a while.

"In normal times, the black market is definitely the most likely place. People who are looking for such illegal items usually seek deals there. However... As far as the situation in London these two days is concerned, wizards who dare to go to the black market Even if there was, it wouldn't be Vanessa Parkinson..."

Nott muttered to himself, pondered left and right, and nodded involuntarily.

"Yes, at this time, it is the most suitable choice to hide quietly at home. Therefore, while she is still staying at my house, it is definitely right to go to Parkinson's house first."

Just thinking about it, Nott took a deep breath, and then decisively apparated and disappeared from the spot. The next moment, he had already appeared near Parkinson's mansion.

"Tuk-tuk--"

Not long after Knott went up and knocked on the door, Sita, the house elf of the Parkinson family, opened the door for him.

"Hello, sir!" The elf bowed to Nott, and then said very politely, "Excuse me, sir, is there anything important you want to do when you visit Parkinson's house?"

"Hmm..." Nott glanced at Sita and asked knowingly, "Is Madam there?"

"Oh, I'm sorry sir, the mistress just has something to go out now." The elf Sita said respectfully, "However, the master is at home...Of course, if it is necessary to find the mistress, Sita can tell it on her behalf."

"Mr. Parkinson is at home?"

This was something Nott hadn't thought of, because in his opinion, Vanessa's husband should still be in the Ministry of Magic. He was very familiar with that rigid nerd. When he was in Hogwarts, Parkinson, who was in the same class as him, basically spent all day in the library.

"Then... are there any guests here at this moment?"

Needless to say, this was Nott's biggest concern right now. If there's a guest, it's likely to be the one who actually wants the Time-Turner! If you can directly sell the time-turner to the other party, you will definitely earn more money than selling it to Vanessa.

However, the elf Sita shook her head after hearing his question.

"A distinguished guest did come here just now, but he just left more than ten minutes ago..."

A step late?

If you miss it like this, the possibility of finding the other party will obviously be much lower - Nott can't help being a little annoyed, if he knew it, he would have stopped chatting at McNeil's house.

Immediately, Nott frowned slightly and asked:

"Do you know who that guest is?"

"Oh, yes..." Sita nodded suddenly, "It's Mr. Maca McClain."

"Mike—"

This name made Nott almost exclaim subconsciously. But fortunately, he reacted in time, and quickly stopped his involuntarily raised voice.

"Cough," he coughed lightly, and then asked again, "Then do you know where he went?"

"I'm sorry, sir, but I don't know about Sita."

...

That's right, as Nott just learned at this moment, Maca has left Parkinson's house.

Because after returning there, he immediately learned the news of Vanessa's going out from Pan Xi. Although he also allowed himself to wait patiently in the main hall for a while, he finally decided not to waste time like that, and decided to go out to find the other party.

This is not London, and there is no gray fog that can affect the perception of magic power. After analyzing the residual magic power fluctuations left by Vanessa's apparition near the door, he familiarized herself with the general location of the other party's appearance.

Therefore, ten minutes ago, when Nott was still chatting with Walton in the study of McNeil's house, Maca had already arrived at the door of his house.

"Bang bang."

Obviously without much effort, Maca knocked on the slightly inferior wooden door like a broken drum, making him frown slightly.

However, the people inside didn't make him wait too long. After a while, he saw the door in front of him slightly open, revealing a small face.

"Excuse me... sir is also here to find the Patriarch? He is not at home now."

It was still Nott's daughter Joey who opened the door, and it may be worth mentioning that Joy's name for her father seemed a little strange.

The previous Vanessa probably didn't notice this at all because she didn't care about these little things.

"Patriarch?"

When Maca heard this title, he couldn't help but secretly curious.

Naturally, he still doesn't know that Joey is Nott's daughter, no, he doesn't even know that this is the home of the former Death Eater Auston Nott. And the reason why he was curious was because this title was not common in ordinary wizarding families.

So he immediately realized that the people living here were probably descendants of a down and out family.

Putting these speculations aside for now, Maca said to the little girl behind the door:

"No, I'm not here to find your Patriarch...Well, I think a lady should have come here just now, right? The person I'm looking for is her."

"what!"

When Joey heard it, he pursed his lips and said:

"Yes, if Mr. Parkinson is looking for Mrs. Parkinson, she is indeed resting in the living room."

"Well, very good," Maka smiled at the timid little girl, "I have something to see her, please take me there!"

"this--"

Joey shook his head hesitantly and said:

"I have to ask my wife first... Sir, please wait a moment."

Before the words were finished, Maca saw her retract her head suddenly, and then closed the door again with a "bang".

After being stunned for a moment, Maca couldn't help shaking her head slightly.

"Crack."

Accompanied by a light click of the lock spring, the door opened automatically, and then Maca walked straight in - although it is not good to break into someone's house without permission, but he really doesn't want to spend any more time .

"... Mrs. Parkinson, outside... there is a young gentleman looking for you..."

Hearing the intermittent voice of the little girl in the living room, Maca shrugged, and immediately walked in through the door.

"Ma'am, you don't have to guess who it is," he calmly said in the direction of Vanessa and Joey, "It's me, McClain."