Chapter 5
The streets of London teemed with life, but Dolores Umbridge moved through them like a shadow. She loathed everything about this bustling city, especially its tiresome Muggles. “Disgusting Muggles,” she muttered under her breath. Yet, no matter her disdain, her mission was clear: to retrieve an ordinary girl to serve as a sacrificial offering for the Lestrange clan and to report back to her superior, Minister Cornelius Fudge.
As she strode through the crowded market street, her attention was quickly drawn to a rough-looking man standing by a food stall. He wore a leather jacket, and his unkempt hair seemed out of place amidst the polished business attire of passing pedestrians. With a sneer, Dolores crossed the few steps that separated them.
“Watch where you’re going, you filthy Muggle!” she spat, her nostrils flaring as she took in his worn shoes and scuffed jeans.
Instead of bowing to her obvious superiority, the man raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “Excuse me, why don’t you watch where you’re going, you pink hippo?” His tone dripped with mockery, and Dolores’s face flushed with rage.
“How dare you! A filthy Muggle like you has no right to speak to me that way!” she seethed, her voice rising above the din of the street.
The man chuckled, revealing a set of crooked teeth that gleamed in the sunlight. “And a pompous toff in a stupid hat like you thinks she’s better than everyone else? You ought to know that we don’t use that language around here.”
Dolores ground her teeth. She was tempted to cast a quick hex, but suddenly a spark of opportunity flickered in her mind. This man, despite his lack of respect, could be useful for her scheme. Smoothing her expression into an unnatural smile, she feigned humility. “I… I apologize for my behavior,” she said, changing her tone as she studied him. “And I think you might be just the person to help me with my mission.”
His expression shifted, skepticism etched on his face. “What does someone like you want from someone like me?” he challenged, crossing his arms defiantly.
“I’m on a quest to locate an ordinary girl. She must be a woman with no one looking for her,” Dolores explained, her voice dripping with insincerity.
He narrowed his eyes, assessing her before replying. “And what’s in it for me if I help you snatch an innocent girl for your big plans?”
Dolores’s amusement bubbled to the surface as she giggled. “Name your price, Mr.?”
“Jax. But you can call me JB,” he replied, a glint of intrigue lighting his eyes.
“Very well then, Mr. JB. Lead the way,” she said, a little too eagerly.
As they walked, a tense silence settled between them, broken only by the occasional uproar of the market. Curious despite herself, Dolores attempted to engage him in conversation. “You know, I truly value loyalty. If we continue this partnership, you should know that I’m a woman of my word.”
JB shot her a sidelong glance, skepticism still evident. “You better not backstab me, pinky. If this gig goes wrong, I’ll make sure you regret it.”
Dolores chuckled softly, the sound sounding strange coming from her. “Oh, don’t worry about that. I’m quite capable of taking care of myself.” Yet her mind raced with plotting and scheming, convinced she could manipulate him to meet her twisted goals.
“I’ll believe it when I see it,” JB muttered as he led her toward a quieter part of London, away from the bustling crowds. He had his doubts, but there was something captivating about the peculiar woman who walked beside him. The pink hat, the sharp wit, the barely hidden ambition—it intrigued him more than it should have.
As they turned the corner into a narrower alley, Dolores scanned her surroundings, keeping her eyes peeled for the target she so desperately needed. Was this Muggle truly the key to her success? Or was she wandering into treacherous territory?
As they reached the diner The neon lights of the diner flickered in the dusk, casting a warm, inviting glow against the encroaching night. JB leaned against the booth, glancing through the window, watching the rain patter softly on the pavement. Dolores sat across from him, her foot tapping impatiently against the worn floorboards. She had her vibrant red hair pulled back, highlighting her sharp features and focused blue eyes.
“Pinky,” he said, shaking his head in bemusement. “Wait until the end of her shift. We don’t want to scare our prey.”
Dolores sighed, crossing her arms. “Just introduce me to her already. I don’t have all night.”
“Relax,” he replied with a smirk. “Remember, we’re here to help.”
As the minutes ticked by, they observed Petunia Evans—“Pet,” as everyone called her. She bustled behind the counter, her lanky frame dressed in the diner’s outdated uniform. A blonde ponytail swayed with each move, but it was her weary eyes that told a deeper story: one of hardship and resilience. Sipping coffee from a chipped mug during her break, she looked like she had been carrying the weight of the world on her narrow shoulders for far too long.
“What’s her story?” Dolores asked discreetly, narrowing her eyes at the waitress.
“ family died recently, she has. No other relatives, no friends—just her and the debts,” JB replied, his voice low.
Dolores nodded, a mixture of sympathy and determination washing over her. “We can help.”
Just then, Petunia finished her break and wiped her hands on her apron, ready to tackle the evening rush. JB took a deep breath; it was time. They entered the diner, the bell above the door jingling.
As Petunia turned around, her expression shifted from pleasant routine to surprise. “We’re closed!” she called out, a hint of alarm creeping into her voice.
“Hey, Pet!” JB said, his tone casual. “How is life going?”
She turned at the sound of his friendly voice. “JB? What are you doing here?” Relief flickered in her eyes, yet worry still lingered—like a shadow, it didn’t quite dissipate.
JB cleared his throat. “Well, I wanted you to meet someone. This here is Pinky ” He introduced her with a teasing grin.
Petunia Evans turned to face this peculiar woman JB had introduced as "Pinky." Dolores Umbridge stood before her, small yet imposing, with a frilly pink outfit and an equally frilly hat that seemed to have a life of its own. Petunia's instincts told her that this encounter would not end well, but she was too exhausted to fight it.
"Hello, Petunia allow me to introduce myself. My name is Dolores Umbridge" Dolores said, her voice dripping with sickly sweet condescension. "I’ve heard about you and your… unfortunate circumstances. It’s truly a shame, isn’t it?"
Petunia crossed her arms defensively. "What do you want?"
Dolores smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. "I have a proposition for you. Something that could change your life dramatically."
Petunia raised an eyebrow. "I'm not interested in anything that smells like a scheme." She shifted her weight, preparing to walk away.
"Ah, but this isn’t just any ordinary scheme," Dolores continued, stepping closer. “I can offer you a chance to escape your current predicament, perhaps even a way to live comfortably again. All you have to do is… cooperate.”
JB, sensing Petunia’s hesitation, leaned in. "Listen, Pet. She means well. Everyone in this city is struggling, and maybe, just maybe, this could lead to something good for you. She’s got resources."
Dolores’s eyes gleamed; she loved it when people didn’t see her for what she truly was. "All I need is an ordinary girl like you to assist me with a little endeavor. It doesn’t have to be anything too difficult—merely being in the right place at the right time."
Petunia frowned. "I don't want to get involved in anything sinister."
"Oh, it’s not sinister at all," Dolores replied, her tone almost comforting. "Just a small favor for some influential friend of mine ." Dolores wanted to take her to Cornelius as soon as possible.
Petunia’s breath hitched. “And what’s in it for me?”
“Freedom from your poverty, dear,” Dolores promised sweetly. “You’d live like a queen, far removed from this dreary life. I assure you, you wouldn’t regret it.”
Realization hit Petunia like a brick the woman in front of her is a witch One of lily’s freak friends. Then Every fiber of her being screamed to turn and flee, but desperation clawed at her chest. How long could she pay off her parents' debts? And who would take her in if she failed?
The sudden entrance of a bruiser—one of the loan sharks she desperately wanted to avoid—complicated her already fragile situation.
Dolores noticed the tension in Petunia's posture. “You’re in debt, yes?” she gestured casually, her voice like velvet.
The loan shark loomed, scanning Petunia with a predatory look, the kind of gaze that promised trouble. JB stepped closer, positioning himself between Petunia and the looming figure.
Petunia’s nerves frayed as she looked between Dolores and the lone shark. As the pressure of her circumstances bore down on her, she finally relented. “Fine,” she said reluctantly. “I agree.”
Dolores clapped her hands in delight. “Excellent, my dear!” She turned to JB, producing a small stack of bills. “Keep her safe until I bring the rest for our friend over there,” she said, nodding toward the loan shark.
JB accepted the cash with a knowing grin. “Yes, ma’am,” he responded.
After a brief pause, Dolores got up and strolled out of the diner. A few hours later, she returned with the rest of the money, presenting it to the loan shark. “She is no longer in debt. You will leave her alone from now on,” she stated firmly.
The loan shark, clearly taken aback, nodded slowly. “A pleasure doing business with you.” He shot Petunia a wink, which only made her wanting to puke.
With that, Dolores Umbridge turned back to Petunia, a deceptively warm smile poised on her lips. “Come, dear. This new life awaits you.”
Petunia followed the strange woman into the unknown, her heart pounding in both fear and curiosity. She had no idea what lay ahead, but she would soon discover that the world of magic held far more danger than she had ever imagined, and Dolores Umbridge was only the beginning.