A/N and warning: Tread cautiously. Contains prostitution and implied sex between a nineteen year old and a much older man.

She's pitiful, broken. Caractacus can see it in her eyes when she trades the priceless locket for a mere ten Galleons. The Gaunt girl is either incredibly stupid or incredibly desperate. Maybe both.

"Thank you kindly, Mr. Burke," she says in a small voice, clutching the gold like her life depends on it.

"Tell me. Is that all you have to offer, young lady?"

"I don't... I don't know what you mean."

The old man steps forward, tucking her dull hair behind her ear. She isn't pretty by any stretch of the imagination. Plain, broken, inbred. But she's young, and she's desperate. Maybe another man has already gotten to her, but Caractacus can't be too picky.

"I think, dear, I might can offer you five Galleons for something else."

OoOoO

Caractacus watches the girl climb out of his bed, her arms folding across her chest to cover her bare breasts. The gesture is amusing. It's far too late to worry about modesty.

The man leans over, reaching into a velvet pouch for five pieces of gold that he tosses onto the floor. Really, the girl hadn't been worth it. One Galleon perhaps. Five, if he'd had the pleasure of taking her virginity. Perhaps he isn't known for his generosity, but he's still a man of his word.

The girl dresses quickly and collects her pay, sallow face flushing a pale pink. "Thank you," she mumbles, her voice heavy with shame.

And then she's gone, just like all the rest.