Character:Mr. Borgin
From UnknowableWiki
Mr. Borgin is the smooth-talking owner of Borgin and Burkes in Knockturn Alley, a shop known to deal with valuable artefacts and Dark objects. He is a stooping man with greasy hair (CS4).
Lucius' list
Lucius Malfoy visited Borgin and Burkes in the summer of 1992, and Mr. Borgin seemed pleased to see him; Lucius was apparently a regular customer. Borgin offered to sell something he had recently acquired, but Malfoy only wished to sell some items, including select poisons, due to possibly upcoming Ministry raids into Malfoy Manor. Borgin was less pleased to hear the real reason for Lucius' visit. He wore a pair of pince-nez to examine the list Malfoy had brought.
Meanwhile, Draco, who had accompanied his father, spotted the Hand of Glory in the shop and asked Lucius for it. Borgin described the object's properties, and Lucius coolly retorted that his son was not meant to grow to become a common thief. The shopowner apologised profusely (CS4). Despite this, Draco eventually acquired the Hand of Glory (HBP7, HBP29).
When Draco complained of Hermione Granger's school achievements, Borgin commented that wizard blood seemed to matter less to everyone those days—but not, of course, to him.
Borgin and Lucius focused once more in Malfoy's list of dark items, and began to haggle. After they had finished negotiations, Lucius arranged that the shopowner would pass by the Manor the following day to pick up the items.
After Lucius left, Mr. Borgin ceased acting subservient, and muttered, "Good day yourself, Mister Malfoy, and if the stories are true, you haven't sold me half of what's hidden in your manor..." He disappeared into the back of the shop; Harry Potter, who had witnessed this entire exchange, left Borgin and Burkes (CS4).
Vanishing Cabinets
Four years later, Harry (along with Ron and Hermione) followed Draco to yet another visit to Borgin and Burkes. They saw Mr. Borgin looking frightened and resentful as Draco asked him how to fix a Vanishing Cabinet. Borgin suggested that he should bring the object to the shop, but Draco refused to do so. Borgin was uneasy and did not wish to commit himself; he said that fixing the Cabinet without seeing it was nearly impossible. As a means of intimidation, Draco showed him something—probably the Dark Mark on his forearm—and ordered him not to tell anyone about it.
Borgin was terrified. Before leaving, Draco mentioned that Fenrir Greyback would visit the shop from time to time to ensure that Borgin was giving the matter the attention it deserved. He also reminded Borgin to keep the Cabinet that remained in the shop safe, for Draco would need it in the future. He did not wish to take it with him at that moment, but the shopowner was not to sell it. Borgin bowed to Draco, and vowed not to speak of anything the two had discussed to anyone, including Narcissa Malfoy.
After Draco left, Borgin once more dropped his submissive act, and looked worried. The Trio, who had witnessed the entire scene with the help of Extendable Ears, was intrigued and did not understand what had just transpired. Hermione decided to enter the shop to look for clues. Borgin treated her coldly. He informed her that the cursed necklace on display cost 1500 Galleons; a skull near that cost sixteen Galleons. Hermione tentatively asked if these items were not being kept for anyone, and Borgin seemed to guess what she intended. Her lame cover story of wanting to get Draco a birthday present did not convince the shopowner, who threw her out of Borgin and Burkes (HBP6).
At some point that year, Draco bought the cursed necklace from Mr. Borgin; he used it in a sloppy attempt to hurt Dumbledore, and ended up injuring Katie Bell instead (HBP12, HBP27).
According to Draco, Mr. Borgin did not know of the connection between the two Cabinets (HBP27). Malfoy managed to fix the Hogwarts Cabinet in June 1996 (HBP25), and allowed several Death Eaters to enter the castle later that night. This resulted in the Battle of the Astronomy Tower, and in Albus Dumbledore's death (HBP27).
