In previous chapters:
Ron Weasley, now an experienced Auror, is investigating a mysterious case that has shaken the wizarding world, alongside his partner, Bruna Nichols, a young Auror-in-training and a fervent admirer of Ron. The entirety of Diagon Alley has fallen into a deep sleep, including the Minister of Magic, on the first day of her re-election campaign. At the epicenter of this strange phenomenon, Lucius Malfoy, recently released from Azkaban after serving a 10-year sentence, awoke without the need for any magical induction, while everyone around him remained asleep.
During the investigation, Ron discovered, along with the minister's committee, a briefcase containing a mysterious jewel and a map of Azkaban. The wizards from forensics could not identify details about the jewel, leading Ron to seek help from Maggie, a retired ex-Auror and living legend, who now owns a second-hand magical artifacts shop in Diagon Alley.
Maggie revealed that the jewel has aesthetic properties, capable of making people who don't use appearance spells even more beautiful, but in people who use those spells, it neutralizes both effects. Unable to discover more, Maggie provided Ron and Bruna with the contact of a friend in the magical underworld, in a place known as The Coliseum. Now, Ron and Bruna are about to infiltrate this dangerous place in search of answers that can unravel this mystery.
…
Chapter 12 - The Coliseum
At the back of an old Muggle cheese factory, in a town near London, there was a place known only to the most unscrupulous and suspicious of the wizarding world: the Coliseum. Hidden behind a foul-smelling alley, where rats scurried freely among heaps of garbage, the place was the true heart of the clandestine trade of rare magical artifacts and enchanted jewels.
Only the most fearless or desperate dared to tread that path. Ron Weasley and Bruna Nichols, properly disguised, approached the dilapidated facade of the Coliseum. Ron wore the Weasleys' Genius Goggles, which gave him a thick brown mustache and turned his hair the same color, making him almost unrecognizable.
Bruna, on the other hand, sported a high ponytail, large hoop earrings, and extravagant clothing, looking like a typical customer in search of something special, or perhaps trouble. As they reached the battered wooden door, practically collapsing, Ron knocked on the worn wood. A peephole slid open, revealing the shrewd eyes of a muscular, bald man with a thick mustache.
— There's no more cheese — the man said in a dry, impatient tone.
Weasley exchanged a confused glance with Bruna before venturing.
— I'm here to see Lena.
The eyes behind the peephole narrowed, evaluating Ron with suspicion.
— On whose behalf? — the man asked, his tone now full of distrust.
Ron took a deep breath, maintaining his composure.
— Maggie from the Stone Rabbit sent me — he replied, injecting a touch of forced confidence.
The man considered this for a moment before closing the peephole. The sound of several locks being undone echoed down the alley. When he opened the door, he held it firmly, glaring sternly at both of them.
— Leave your wands at the cloakroom — he said, pointing to a small counter beside the entrance.
— I can't be without my wand — Ron responded, trying to keep his tone firm.
The doorman let out a guttural laugh and said:
— Then you don't enter.
Ron and Bruna exchanged an apprehensive look. With no other option, they handed over their wands and proceeded into the interior of the place. Inside, the Coliseum revealed itself as a sort of tenement, with four large shops spread around the corners and several improvised stalls in the center selling simpler items, potions, and food of dubious origin.
The atmosphere was gloomy and stuffy, and the air was heavy with the odor of mold and age. Ron and Bruna looked at each other, uncertain of where to go next. As they hesitated, a Latin-looking witch, appearing around seventy years old, emerged from one of the shops. Her experienced eyes and gray hair tied in a messy bun gave her an aura of authority. She beckoned them with a gesture.
— You want to talk to me? — she asked, her voice firm and no-nonsense. — I'm Lena.
Ron and Bruna approached her, relieved to have finally found their contact.
Lena led them into her shop, a small space crammed with magical jewelry and other rare artifacts.
— What do you want? — she asked, observing them with sharp eyes, clearly assessing whether they were trustworthy.
Ron took a small box from his pocket and showed her the jewel he had brought.
— My friend Maggie from the Stone Rabbit said perhaps you could do me a favor — he said in a low tone, trying not to attract unnecessary attention.
Lena carefully took the jewel, adjusting her glasses to examine it more closely. Her eyes narrowed as she scrutinized the small diamond.
— Interesting— she murmured. — It's been a long time since I've seen one of these.
Ron, feigning discretion, leaned in and said:
— Do you know what it is?
Lena nodded, a glint of recognition in her eyes.
— I do, yes. About thirty years ago, nearly all witches used something like this, but most used cut glass. This one, however, is a real diamond, which makes it much rarer.
Before she could mention the "MF" engraving, Ron interrupted her, his voice forcing a tone of pride that couldn't completely mask his underlying hesitation.
— This diamond — he said, handling the jewel with almost exaggerated care — I won it from Draco Malfoy at school, in a Quidditch bet. I wanted to impress my fiancée, to give her something special for our engagement. But to be honest, I have no idea what this stone really does.
He paused, his eyes avoiding direct contact as he continued:
— Draco was so angry about losing the match that he left before he could explain the details.
Lena let out a raspy laugh, clearly amused by the tale.
— Well, that explains a lot — she said.
Realizing that Lena was buying his story, Ron pressed on.
— Maggie told me that the stone has the ability to enhance the natural beauty of the wearer, but she also mentioned that it seems to have been altered for something more... something she couldn't identify.
He paused, his eyes searching hers for understanding.
— Perhaps you can help me discover exactly what this alteration is.
Lena studied the diamond for a long moment, her sharp gaze capturing every detail. A slow, calculated smile appeared on her lips.
— Maggie, eh? — she murmured, almost to herself, before looking back up at Ron.
She turned the diamond between her fingers, examining it with a familiarity that betrayed her expertise. Then she picked up a large magical magnifying glass, which glowed softly upon contact with the precious stone.
— Alterations in jewels like this always leave marks — she continued, her tone blending respect and shrewdness. — Some are so crude, so obvious that even an amateur can spot them. But others... well, they're almost perfect. Almost.— She lifted her gaze to Ron, her expression now more serious.
— Alterations like these can only be identified by experts, someone like Maggie — She gave a slight sigh, still evaluating the jewel, before finally meeting Ron's gaze. — I can help discover what's been done, but under no circumstances mention my name or this place.
She retrieved an old book from a shelf behind the counter and placed the jewel in a small receptacle on its cover. As she opened the book, magical information began to appear on the pages.
— Ah, yes, found it — Lena said, analyzing the emerging details. — In 1940, there was a request for an alteration related to this jewel, made by Abraxas Malfoy.
She flipped through the notebook until she found the specific annotation and then continued:
— At that time, the person who was going to use the jewel applied a hair-lightening spell and discovered that when combined, both the spell and the jewel's properties canceled each other out.
Ron frowned and asked:
— So the alteration was to combine the jewel with beauty spells?
— Exactly — Lena replied.
Ron, still skeptical, added:
— But that didn't solve the problem. We've already found that the defect persists.
Without lifting her eyes from the book, Lena explained:
— Yes, no matter how much they tried, glamour spells continued to destabilize the jewel's properties. But appearance potions, on the other hand, started to work.
Ron raised an eyebrow and said:
— Beauty potions working with the jewel? That's the big alteration?
— So, it seems — Lena said with a slight nod, closing the book and handing the jewel back.
Ron nodded slowly, absorbing Lena's words.
— I think I understand, though it still sounds strange to me — He offered a more serious smile. — Either way, thank you for explaining it to us, Lena. Now I feel safer giving it to my fiancée, knowing the jewel won't explode or something.
Lena smiled at this, her eyes twinkling with a touch of humor.
— It's a beautiful jewel, no doubt — she said, turning her gaze to Bruna. — But its magical properties won't be so necessary for a young woman as naturally beautiful as your fiancée.
She gave a discreet wink to Bruna, adding a touch of levity to the conversation an continued:
— The jewel might even hold back time, but honestly, there's no need to rush to use it, is there?
…
Ron and Bruna left Lena's shop, exchanging tense yet relieved glances. The somber air of the Coliseum still clung to them, and they were eager to leave that place as quickly as possible. They walked toward the cloakroom where they'd left their wands.
Approaching the counter, they found the muscular, bald doorman waiting, a cynical smile plastered on his face, as if he knew something they didn't.
Ron stepped forward, keeping his expression neutral but firm.
— We've come to collect our wands — Ron said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
The doorman let out a short, disdainful laugh.
—Wands?— He looked at them with feigned surprise. — You didn't leave any wands.
Bruna shot a worried glance at Ron, but he remained composed.
—Yes, we did — he stated more firmly. — And we want them back. Now.
The doorman's cynical smile widened.
— Oh, really? And what if I say there's no wand here? — He leaned forward slightly, daring Ron to react.
Ron took a deep breath, feeling anger simmering within. He knew that a direct confrontation could worsen the situation, but he couldn't allow them to remain defenseless in such a place. Maintaining control, he replied:
— I'm not asking. I'm demanding.
As he spoke, he pulled his coat aside, revealing his Auror badge clipped to his belt.
The doorman laughed louder, even more disdainfully.
— That thing — he said, pointing at the badge as if it were a child's toy — Means nothing here.
Ron's frustration boiled over. In a swift movement, he kicked violently the table before him, sending it crashing into the cloakroom attendant, who was caught off guard by the impact. Immediately, Ron crouched down, quickly reaching for the spare wand hidden in his boot. Bruna, grasping his intention, followed suit without hesitation, retrieving her own spare wand with equal agility.
Ron pointed his spare wand toward the cloakroom and channeled all his burning anger into the cupboard door where he'd seen the man stash their wands. With a quick, decisive motion, Ron silently invoked the Accio spell. The magic surged with overwhelming force, responding to his determination.
A deafening boom reverberated through the space, echoing off the stone walls of the old hall. The cupboard, where the wands had been carefully hidden, exploded in a shower of splintered wood and metal. The spell's force was so immense that fragments of the destroyed cupboard flew in all directions, clattering against the walls and scattering debris across the floor. The doorman turned abruptly, exclaiming in surprise and outrage:
— What the hell?!
He hadn't noticed Ron conjure a nonverbal spell with his spare wand and now watched in horror as the wands were torn from their hiding place. They sliced through the air with almost surgical precision, flying straight into Ron's hands as if drawn by an invisible magnet.
Mid-flight, Ron made a subtle gesture, directing Bruna's wand toward her. She caught it, her eyes filled with apprehension over what she knew was about to unfold.
Recovering from his initial shock, the doorman swiftly drew his own wand, a move immediately mirrored by five other adversaries who approached in a threatening semicircle.
In mere seconds, the Coliseum's courtyard transformed into a battleground thick with palpable tension. Wands were raised, each pointed at an opponent. Ron and Bruna, wielding two wands each, one in each hand, held a tactical advantage, but the sheer number of adversaries placed everyone in a deadly stalemate. Every movement was calculated; every glance carried a promise of power and imminent danger. The next second could determine the outcome of this critical confrontation.
The air was charged with tension, each wizard studying the others with steely gazes, the intensity of an impending duel hanging heavily. No one dared to blink; no one dared to make the first move, knowing that once the initial spell was cast, there would be no turning back.
But before the perilous duel could ignite, Lena's firm, authoritative voice cut through the air.
— Enough!
She appeared in the courtyard, her presence commanding immediate respect.
— Stop this now! — She shot a stern look at Ron and Bruna, a mix of irritation and respect in her eyes. — And you, Maggie's friends, leave and never return here.
The men hesitated, their wands still poised, but Lena's authority was undeniable. Reluctantly, they lowered their wands, though their gazes remained hostile and suspicious.
Ron stepped back, never taking his eyes off their opponents. Bruna mirrored his movements. With their wands still at the ready, they retreated toward the exit, careful not to turn their backs.
As they finally reached the doorway, the doorman glared after them, his expression murderous, still seething from the humiliation. Ron cast one last glance at the Coliseum, acutely aware that this was a place he would never revisit.
As they distanced themselves from the cheese factory, Bruna began to shake uncontrollably, her steps faltering as fear and adrenaline slowly ebbed away. Ron, still vigilant, glanced over his shoulder to ensure they weren't being followed, but his attention soon shifted to Bruna, noticing she was on the verge of tears.
In a soft yet firm voice, he asked:
— What does the hair-lightening spell do?
Bruna, as if emerging from a trance, blinked several times, trying to process the question.
— What did you say, Ron? — she asked, confusion evident in her voice, reflecting her shaken state of mind.
He smiled, attempting to ease the tension, and repeated:
— What does the hair-lightening spell do?
Bruna, still puzzled, began to focus on the question, feeling Ron's words anchor her back to reality. Gradually, she stopped trembling and replied, her voice still slightly unsteady.
— It makes the hair lighter, sir.
Ron chuckled, a light sound that brought a hint of normalcy to the moment.
— Ah, so it seems we've discovered the secret behind the Malfoy family's veela-white hair.
Bruna halted for a moment, looking at Ron with eyes that still shimmered, but now in a different way.
— It's like I'm seeing Moody now — she said, genuinely impressed, referring to Ron's ability to remain calm and even crack a poor joke in a tense situation.
Ron smiled, appreciating the compliment.
— Thank you, Bruna. Sometimes a bad joke is the best spell to break the tension — he replied with a touch of humor. — And you handled yourself very well in the Coliseum. Not everyone can keep their composure like you did in there.
As their footsteps echoed through the deserted streets, the night's shadows closed in around them, mirroring the turmoil in their minds. Each thought was a desperate attempt to unravel the connections between events, but the answers remained elusive, as if destiny itself were toying with their expectations.
Bruna glanced at Ron, whose brows were knitted in intense concentration. She knew he was contemplating the same things she was. The enigma that only seemed to grow, rather than unfold into something comprehensible. They were becoming increasingly ensnared in a plot that grew more mysterious and confusing with each new discovery.
Lucius Malfoy, the beauty jewel, the sleep spell, the map of Azkaban. All seemed connected by an invisible thread they couldn't yet see but whose weight they felt with every step. And with each new revelation, more questions arose, pushing them deeper into a mystery that showed no signs of resolving anytime soon. Amid the oppressive silence of the night, destiny seemed merely to await their next move.