June's Midnight Market
Overview
Tucked away behind a false wall in a disused corridor of the school, Juniper’s Midnight Market is an illicit haven of oddities, gossip, contraband, and questionable favors. Founded and run by Juniper Selwyn, a rebellious spellcaster with a flair for illusion and a distaste for authority, the Market serves as a secret hub for students who are in the know. It is Hogwarts' worst-kept secret that still hasn’t been shut down.
Description
When the players first approach the entrance and speak the incantation "Abrius Merkatus", read the following description:
You approach a blank stretch of stone wall at the end of a forgotten corridor, the torches dim and flickering like they’re hiding something.
When you whisper the incantation “Abrius Merkatus,” the stones ripple like water, and a hidden doorway creaks open with a groan that sounds suspiciously like laughter.
Inside, the Midnight Market hums with warm candlelight and quiet chaos. Shelves sag with peculiar trinkets: cursed quills that write sarcastic commentary in your margins, potions labeled only with question marks, and enchanted mirrors that wink back at you. The scent of spiced cocoa and alchemical smoke hangs in the air.
A cracked chalkboard behind the main counter reads, “Ask for forgiveness, not permission.” Beneath it lounges Juniper Selwyn herself—feet up, wand spinning between her fingers, wearing a grin that says she knows exactly how much trouble you’re in.
On a DC 12 Insight Check:
Despite the mischief, there’s a kind of unspoken truce here. The Midnight Market is neutral ground, and everyone knows better than to break the peace—Juniper sees to that.
What the Players Can Do
- Buy/Sell/Trade: Magical odds and ends, dubious ingredients, lightly cursed gear, gossip scrolls, prank tools, and homework answers (possibly wrong, possibly hexed).
- Get Quests: June often posts scribbled "Job Notes" on the notice board—some are real, others are jokes. It's up to the players to figure out which is which.
- Eavesdrop and Gather Info: The Market is always full of whispers—some helpful, some dangerous.
- Make Trouble: This is a place for plotting, scheming, and skirting the rules. Staff may be watching, but they can’t catch everything.