12 Honeydukes

Seamus reached Croydon by midday. Semilune Hill was the only magical place he knew of there and was undoubtedly owned by Blaise's affluent mother. He spotted Zabini, Crabbe and Goyle before he crested the hill. They were sitting unobserved by Muggles in a closed up bistro. Blaise was flipping the wand off his fingertips, looking bored.

Dashing into a burger place, Seamus ordered something to take away and watched the three. Seamus grabbed his food and set off back down the hill.

Foregoing any pretense of nonchalance Seamus played at being a sidetracked tourist. He looked for escape routes, places to hide and possible locations for an ambush of sorts, walking slowly along taking in everything. Past shops and offices to a tiny park, Seamus sat on a bench. Opposite him was a large boy with a small lunch. An untidy young woman had brought it to him, then smiled apologetically and stepped away. The meal lasted for minute or two, its empty package joined several others. Seamus could almost feel the boy's stare settle on his bag of burgers and chips.

Seamus sat next to the beefy boy and pushed his burgers towards him.

They disappeared as quickly as the first meal.

From his backpack Seamus produced a chocolate frog. He held the frog up and canted his head, like a mime or perhaps a magician.

Taking a small bite, he chewed it slowly, savoring the rich taste. He set out a bag of assorted sweets.

The big boy looked at the sack of candy with his mean little eyes. His parents had cut off his pocket money weeks ago in an effort to limit his sweets.

Seamus bit off another morsel of chocolate frog. The boy looked at him and then the sack again. Seamus knew the look. He glanced back at the huge boy.

"Sure, you can just take it from me pal," Seamus said casually with a nasal twang, tossing him a fresh chocolate frog. "But you'll get a lot more than this if you're up to some bullying."

"How much more? And how much bullying?" The beefy boy's eyes narrowed.

"Another full sack and all the burgers you can eat, my friend. There's two guys that have taken something from me. You can distract them while I get it back. Don't worry; they're soft, not made of iron like you. One look from you and they'll fold."

"Soft you say? Iron you say?" The boy puffed up a little.

"I could see the measure of you all the way from the street. I wouldn't ask a stranger but I'm afraid they'll be gone soon."

"What's so valuable that you want it back right away?"

"Just a parcel of coins and stamps, nothing really costly but it belongs to my mom. They know that, they're just tryin' to shake a little money from me."

"So why don't you just pay them off?"

"I gotta walk down that street again sometime."

"They won't be happy if you--"

"Then I may need your services again."

Seamus grinned and slid another chocolate frog across the bench.

The boy snatched it up and gobbled it down. Seamus didn't have to wait long. Greed, flattery and a long deprived dose of sugar did their job. The boy got up and tugged at his leather jacket.

"Where are they?" he demanded.