Chapter 12

Trivial Pursuits


Severus walked with long purposeful strides along the cobbled path of Nocturn Alley, his black cloak billowing out behind him. There were very few people out and those that were looked nervously behind them as they walked.

Severus rounded a corner and looked up to read the sign of the store he found himself in front of - Borgin and Burke's. He took a quick look up and down the street and stepped through the door. Inside the store Severus brushed past shelves cluttered with weapons, books and various magical objects, to reach the counter.

"I'm coming," a gruff voice called from a back room.

A door behind the counter creaked open and a tall, skinny man shuffled out.

"Whatcha want?" the man asked, sniffing as he wiped his nose on the cuff of his sleeve.

Severus stepped to the counter.

"I want to ask you about a former employee."

The old sallow man sniffed again and shook his head.

"I'm 'ere on me own," he said. "Ever since Burke carked it that is."

"I am talking about employees," Severus said. "In particular a Tom Riddle."

Borgin's eyes narrowed as he regarded Severus with suspicion.

"Who are you?"

"Tom Riddle came to work for you here after he graduated Hogwarts."

"So?"

"I am curious as to why such an intelligent student, whose talents would have been so highly sought after in a number of fields, would have ended up working in a dusty old trinket shop like this."

Borgin's eyes flashed angrily and he bit down on his lip.

"What do you want?"

"So what did such a talented boy do for you here?"

"Tom was a salesman," Borgin spat. "And if you're getting around to suggesting that I 'ad anything to do wiv what he became..."

"A murderer? Of course not Mr Borgin. What were the extent of Riddle's duties?"

Borgin narrowed his eyes.

"Who do you think you are, the Ministry? Get out of my store!"

Severus rolled up his sleeve and slammed his hand down on the counter-top. The old man in front of him flinched.

"Look at it!" Severus growled. "You should recognise the Dark Mark."

Borgin nodded his head frantically, his wide eyes fixed on the dark tattoo on Severus' forearm.

"Then I shall ask you again," Severus said. "What did Riddle do for you?"

"It's like I already said, he was a salesman."

"He sold this rubbish to your customers?"

"Well, yes. But he also acquired items for us."

"Acquired? How?"

"We would do research; try to locate more unusual items. It was Tom's job to persuade their owners to part with them."

"Would you happen to remember any of these items in particular?"

Borgin stifled a laugh and shook his head.

"I doubt the Dark Lord himself could remember such trivial things from that long ago."

Severus chewed on the inside of his mouth and looked around the dark and cluttered store in frustration.

"What about when he stopped working here? Do you know where he went next?"

"I dunno," Borgin said scratching his head. "He just left… disappeared actually."

"Disappeared?"

"Yeah, he just never showed up for work one morning."

"Did he take anything with him? Something from the store perhaps?"

Borgin shook his head.

"Steal something you mean? No, nothing was missing."

Severus studied Borgin with narrow eyes. He couldn't be sure if the old man was telling the truth or not, or even if it was even relevant. He contemplated using occlumency on him but instead placed both his hands onto the counter and leaned in close to Borgin's face.

"You were missing no inventory?"

"No… not… well…"

Severus reached out and grabbed him roughly by the collar.

"You are holding out on me Borgin."

The old man struggled free and stepped away from the counter.

"No sir, no I'm not. It-it's just that Tom had several meetings with a client, a woman that I had acquired numerous items from in the past."

"What about her?"

"Tom had been talking with her about a particular trinket I was interested in. Anyhow, after Tom went missing I went to see her myself, to continue negotiations."

"And?" Severus was growing impatient.

"She, the woman, was dead."

"Dead? Did you suspect Riddle had killed her?"

Borgin shrugged.

"Not at the time, but I was so keen on getting the item that I tried to bargain with her relatives instead."

"And?"

"And nothing. It was gone."

Severus leaned further over the counter.

"What I am about to ask you is very important," Severus said, glaring at him menacingly. "And you will answer with complete honesty, understand."

Borgin nodded, his eyes darting about nervously.

"What item did you want from this woman, the one that vanished at the same time Tom Riddle did?"

Borgin screwed up his face.

"It weren't anything special; not anything worth the boy killing for at least."

Severus pulled his wand from his pocket and touched it to Borgin's neck.

"It-it was just a cup, a porcelain cup!" Borgin stuttered. "Like I said, nothing special."

Severus jabbed his wand harder against the old man's skin.

"I shall be the judge of how special it is," he said.

"The cup," Borgin sighed. "It belonged to Helga Hufflepuff."

"The Hogwarts co-founder?"

"Yes."

"And the woman who owned the cup?"

"Her name was Hepzibah Smith," Borgin said. "If the cup is found…"

"Give it to you? I think not."


It was early in the evening and few people were left at the Three Broomsticks. Those that were in the quaint wizard tavern sat alone and drank quietly.

"Hepzibah Smith," Severus said. "Should I know that name?"

Lily shook her head.

"I don't know who she is either."

She picked up the half bottle of elf wine on the table and refilled their goblets.

"But I can't help wondering about this cup Borgin wanted," Lily continued. "It could simply be a coincidence that the cup and Riddle both vanished around the same time. Have you considered that Borgin was lying? It's possible that he already has the cup himself or maybe there wasn't even a cup in the first place."

"Why would he tell me about a cup if it did not exist?"

"To throw you off the scent. Or…" Lily said with mock excitement. "To use you to find it for him!"

"Shall I assume you think Smith's cup is a worthwhile lead then?"

"Well," Lily grinned. "It could turn out to be nothing but it's not like we've got much else to be doing over the school break."

"If Borgin is right about the cup," Severus pondered as he took a sip of wine. "Why do you think Riddle would-"

"Think it important enough to make a you-know-what out of it? It's worth considering."

"He did say it had belonged to Helga Hufflepuff."

Lily pushed her chair back and stood up.

"Let's go!" she said.

Severus looked from Lily to his goblet and frowned.

"Where?"

"To follow this Smith lead."

"What about Dumbledore?"

"Really Severus? I think we can manage this on our own."

Severus watched Lily bouncing up and down excitedly. Even in the light of such serious subject matter, all he could think about was how attractive Lily looked, her face lit up with such youthful enthusiasm.

"Borgin says Hepzibah Smith is dead," Severus said. "So where are we supposed to start?"

"Borgin also mentioned Smith's family; if they spoke to the likes of him then they'll talk to us."

Lily turned and bounced out of the bar. Severus picked up his goblet and swallowed the contents in one mouthful.

"Give me strength," he muttered.


Several hours later a bemused Severus sat on an over-sized couch, Lily squashed in beside him. He fidgeted with his feet, trying to find a comfortable sitting position while their host was busy in the kitchen.

"What's the matter with you?" Lily asked frowning at Severus as he pulled a floral cushion out from behind his back and tossed it away.

"Old people," he grumbled under his breath. "They make me uncomfortable."

Lily looked around the small living room with a raised eyebrow; every item in the room was covered with a thin film of dust.

"Here we are," a kind voice called from the kitchen. "All ready."

An elderly woman shuffled into the room carrying a tray and set it down on a small coffee table.

"Miss Smith, please let me apologise again for coming here so late," Lily said.

"Call me Septima," the old woman said as she poured them both a cup of tea. "But I don't understand why you are here; you mentioned something about my cousin Hepzibah?"

"Yes, we're curious as to the circumstances of her death."

Septima sat back in her chair and sighed.

"The poor old thing, murdered by her own house-elf no less."

"You do not have one yourself then?" Severus asked brushing dust off his sleeve.

Lily nudged him with her elbow.

"Hep was a wonderful woman," Septima continued, oblivious to Severus' remark. "She was kind and generous, always good for a laugh. She did get a bit dotty in her old age though."

Septima stared blankly ahead as if lost in her own cloudy memories. Severus coughed to get her attention.

"You say you're with the Ministry?" the old woman asked.

"Ah, yes," Lily said. "The Department of lost… the recovery of…"

"We are here about one of your cousins lost possessions," Severus interrupted.

"You've found them?"

"We're not sure yet," Lily said. "Not without proper identification."

"You said them," Severus said. "How many of your cousin's belongings were missing?"

"As far as we could tell only the two things, but they had always been kept in Hephzibah's locked vault."

"And what were they?" Lily asked. "For… identification purposes."

"Well, one was a small gold cup. It had two handles and a picture of a badger on the front."

"A badger?"

"Oh yes!" Septima exclaimed. "The cup once belonged to Helga Hufflepuff herself! The badger was her emblem you see."

Severus and Lily exchanged knowing glances.

"Is that why you're here?" Septima continued. "If you've found the cup it belongs with my family – we are Helga Hufflepuff's rightful decedents."

Lily stood up and Severus followed.

"We will be in touch soon Septima, thank you for your time," Lily said.

The ols woman stood up.

"What about the locket then?" she asked.

"Locket?" Severus said stopping at the door. "Hepzibah had a locket?"

"Well yes, it was the other thing stolen from her vault."

"Can you describe it?"

"It was gold with a pendant that had an S engraved on it."

Lily grabbed Severus' arm.

"The horcrux!" she whispered. "If Voldemort used the locket he could have used the cup!"

She let go of Severus and stepped back to Septima. She took the old woman's hands in her own.

"Good news Septima, we did find your cousin's locket."

"Oh, bless you, Merlin bless you!"

The old woman pulled Lily to her in a tight hug.

"We'll see that it gets back to you." Lily caught Severus' frown before adding, "But I warn you that it may have been a little damaged."

Septima flashed a yellow-toothed smile.

"It's only the sentimental value that matters."

Septima thanked them both and saw Severus and Lily out. They began walking down the garden path.

"I do not understand why you told her you would give her the locket," Severus complained.

"And why not? Albus destroyed it as a horcrux, now it's just a harmless broken pendant. Besides, didn't you see how happy it made her?"

Severus gave her a reluctant half smile.

"You are still the same do-gooding starry-eyed girl I knew."

Lily put her hands on her hips, looking affronted.

"I'm not sure if I should take offence. What's wrong with doing good?"

Severus stopped walking and turned to her.

"Nothing at all. It just so happens to be one of the reasons why I… I…"

"Make such a good friend?"

"Yes," Severus agreed.

"Well then, thanks."

Lily gave him a quick pat on the arm and continued down the path.


"With what you have told me about this cup, I am beginning to put two and two together," Dumbledore said shaking his head.

He sat on the lounge beside Lily while Severus stood staring into the empty fireplace.

"This is indeed an intriguing scenario; good work both of you."

"It was Lily who found Septima Smith," Severus said.

"Are you kidding?" Lily frowned. "If you hadn't done so well at Borgin and Burke's we'd have nothing right now."

Dumbledore looked from Severus to Lily with raised eyebrows.

"Well," he said. "Now that it seems the two of you are getting along, we may be more productive yet."

"I was thinking," Severus said. "If the ring horcrux belonged to the heir of Slytherin and the cup –"

"Was the heir of Hufflepuff's," Lily cut in. "Do you think Voldemort could have been collecting items specifically from Hogwarts founders to turn into horcruxes?"

"It is highly probable," Dumbledore offered.

"I am not so sure," Severus added. "Unless of course the diary had previously belonged to Godric Gryffindor."

"That reminds me," Dumbledore said frowning. "Do you remember when we talked about Riddle previously and Severus brought up the possibility of Hogwarts being Riddle's one true home?"

"Right," Lily agreed. "That might explain why the belongings of the Hogwarts founders would be so important."

"If this cup is a horcrux then the Dark Lord could have hidden it anywhere," Severus said finding a seat. "Where would we even start?"

"So far we have found all the horcruxes in meaningful places," Dumbledore reminded them. "The Gaunt house…"

"And the cave," Lily added.

"But the diary was at Malfoy Manor," Severus said. "That is hardly a place of any significance to the Dark Lord."

Lily's eyes widened.

"It wasn't the place," she exclaimed. "It was the-"

"Person!" Dumbledore concluded. "Of course."

Severus shook his head.

"Lucius Malfoy is hardly a person of significance in the life of the Dark Lord. He was not even around when Riddle made the book into a horcrux."

"But Malfoy was a person that Voldemort trusted," Dumbledore argued.

"Who else would he have trusted Severus?"

He looked at Lily and thought.

"It could only have been Death Eaters in his closest circle. Avery or Dolohov, the Lestranges maybe."

"It is risky," Dumbledore said. "If we go after the wrong one we risk Voldemort discovering we're after his horcruxes."

"So what then?" Lily asked. "We just take the best guess and hope we're right?"

"What do you think Severus?"

Severus frowned.

"It is only a theory anyway that one of them might have the cup," he said. "So your guess is as good as mine."

"No Severus," Dumbledore growled. "You know these people better than us; you've worked alongside them, know how they operate. You know what Voldemort thinks of them, how he treats them."

Severus caught Lily's eyes; she looked hopeful. He swallowed.

"Rodolphus Lestrange and his wife Bellatrix."

"Are you sure?" Dumbledore asked.

Severus nodded.

"Well then, I guess we need to pay them a visit."