"Mundungus? He's still in prison," Moody said.
Harry swore under his breath.
"We need to know if he stole the locket," Harry said. "We have to talk to him."
"Impossible," Moody replied. "Even high-ranking Ministry officials can't visit prisoners outside official duties."
"Then we find who he tried to sell it to," Hermione said.
Ron frowned, thinking.
"Last year… wasn't he trying to sell stolen stuff to the barman at the Hog's Head?"
Harry's eyes lit up.
"Then we go to Hogsmeade."
He turned to Moody.
"You're coming with us, right?"
"No one is leaving this house," Moody said firmly.
"What? We need to question that barman!"
"That barman is part of the Order," Moody replied calmly. "I'll contact him. He'll come here."
Harry stared at him, stunned.
The filthy, shadowy barman… part of the Order?
That night, they were about to sit down for dinner when Moody returned.
"He'll be here around one in the morning. After closing his bar."
"You took your time," Harry said, barely hiding his impatience.
"I've never dealt with him directly," Moody said. "Only saw him once."
Harry frowned.
"I should've realized," he muttered. "Dumbledore said he had friends among the Hogsmeade bartenders."
"With that one, it makes sense," Moody said with a low chuckle.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged confused looks.
A loud knock suddenly echoed through the house.
Harry jumped up and rushed to the door.
"Morning," the man said as he stepped inside. "Moody said you wanted to talk. Make it quick. I get up early."
"We want to know what Mundungus tried to sell you," Harry said.
The man scratched his beard.
"Times are tough for Mundungus if he's trying to sell me his junk."
"And before he was arrested?" Ron pressed. "What exactly was he selling?"
"Cups. Trinkets. Silverware…"
"Any jewelry?" Hermione asked carefully.
The man shook his head.
"That's not my business. If that's what you're after, you should try Borgin and Burkes."
Harry froze.
Borgin and Burkes.
The very shop that had once handled Slytherin's locket.
The place where Tom Riddle had worked.
"Aberforth," Moody said as he entered the room. "How are you?"
"Fine," the man replied. "Though I don't think I've helped much."
"Aberforth?" Harry said slowly. "You're Dumbledore's brother?"
"Yes."
Aberforth glanced at them.
"Anything else?"
"No," Harry said, still stunned.
Aberforth Dumbledore turned and left, the door slamming behind him.
"I knew it," Harry muttered. "The first time I saw him… he looked familiar."
"This doesn't help much," Hermione said.
"Yes, it does," Harry replied immediately. "Tomorrow, we go to Knockturn Alley."
"What?" Moody asked. "Why?"
"To Borgin and Burkes," Ron answered.
"You want to ask Borgin if Mundungus sold him the locket?"
"Yes," Harry said. "But we have to be discreet."
Moody frowned.
"We'll need more protection."
"Or," Hermione added, "we could combine it with our school shopping. That gives us a perfect excuse."
Moody nodded slowly.
"That's better."
The next afternoon, Bill arrived at Grimmauld Place carrying three small bags of gold.
"Harry, yours is from your vault. Hermione, I exchanged your Muggle money. Ron, your parents sent this."
They thanked him.
Ron looked especially pleased.
Just then, the doorbell rang again. Ron and Hermione went to open it while Bill turned to Harry.
"Ginny's asking questions," Bill said with a small smile.
Harry tensed.
"Everyone knows you're planning something," Bill continued. "But Ginny is worried. Almost as much as Mum. And she's not worried about Ron."
Harry opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
"We're ready," Moody called. "Hestia's here. Tonks is on her way."
They stepped outside and Apparated to the Leaky Cauldron.
"Not today," Moody said coldly, cutting off the barman's greeting.
They moved quickly into Diagon Alley.
They rushed through their shopping, stopping briefly at Fred and George's shop before heading to Flourish and Blotts.
"It's strange," Hermione said. "Only one new spellbook this year."
"McGonagall said she might have found a new Defense teacher," Harry replied. "We'll probably get the book later."
"There'll be a new Transfiguration teacher too," Hermione added.
"Right," Ron said.
They split up.
Ron, Hermione, Tonks, and Hestia went toward Madam Malkin's and the apothecary.
Harry and Moody headed for Knockturn Alley.
Moody insisted Harry wear his Invisibility Cloak.
He only removed it once inside Borgin and Burkes.
The shop was empty.
At the sound of the bell, Borgin hurried forward, smiling… until he recognized them.
"Borgin," Moody said coldly.
"Moody," Borgin replied.
"We have a few questions," Moody continued.
"You don't work for the Ministry anymore. I don't have to answer you."
Harry stepped forward.
"We want to know what Mundungus sold you."
He added quickly,
"We might want to buy it back."
Borgin's attitude changed instantly.
"Silver cups… various objects," he said, gesturing toward the shelves.
"No jewelry?" Harry asked.
Borgin hesitated.
"Actually… yes. Rings. Necklaces."
He began showing them items.
Harry asked questions carefully, watching every reaction.
Minutes passed.
Nothing.
When they left the shop, Harry's expression was grim.
"If Mundungus stole the locket," Hermione said, "he would've sold it there."
"Yes," Harry replied.
He looked back toward the street.
"Which means… we have to search the house again."