Chapter Three-

12 Grimmauld Place

Tom found himself and Mr. Burke standing outside a long stretch of houses, Mr. Burke straightened his jacket and fiddled with his cravat before turning to Tom, a strange look on his face,
"Now, do not get offended Tom, but Riddle is not a well known wizarding name, the Black's are more likely to respond better to a old name, what was your mother's maiden name?" Tom paused and licked his lips before speaking,
"Gaunt sir." Mr. Burke tried but failed to hide the surprise from his face,
"You are a Gaunt?" Tom nodded and a large grin spread across Mr. Burke's face, "perfect. Now this is the house of Pollux and Irma Black, they live here with their three children, Walburga, Cygnus and Alphard. The Black's, as you no doubt no, are one of the oldest, purest families that there are, and as a result within their chambers hold many a pretty piece that I would like, however; they are no fools, they're clever so we must try exceptionally hard to convince them to part with anything that they own. Now are you ready Tom?" Tom smiled,
"Yes sir, I believe so." Mr. Burke smiled a large grin revealing, once more, his golden teeth to the world. He then strode up to the steps and knocked on Number 12's door.

There was the sound of a small creature coming to the door and a house elf appeared on the doorstep of the open door.
"What business do the gentlemen have at the House of Black Kreacher asks?" The house-elf stated tilting his head upwards to examine the two wizards; Mr. Burke looked down at the creature without even moving his head,
"Tell you're Master that Mr Burke is here to discuss the proposition I gave him last week." Tom noted with some admiration that Mr. Burke's voice had changed to almost a drawl of arrogance and power, the house-elf lowered his gaze and nodded and turned to leave, but paused and glanced at Tom,
"And who, Kreacher asks good, pure-blood Mr. Burke, is the boy?" The house-elf squealed in pain as Mr. Burke's cane came down hard on its head,
"This is no boy. He is Mr. Gaunt." The house-elf cowered rubbing his head and nodded bowing,
"Kreacher apologises to Mister's Burke and Gaunt, how rude of Kreacher to ask that, Kreacher asks for forgiveness from the pure-blood wizards, forgiveness." Mr. Burke rolled his eyes and raised his cane once more,
"GET YOUR MASTER!" He said firmly and the elf scurried off, Mr. Burke shook his head, "I told Pollux to get an already trained house-elf but he insisted on the better price he got down at Crabbe's for a 'fresh' one that he could train himself, stupid mistake, house-elf training is long and tedious." Tom nodded with a smirk, unable to not take pleasure in the pain the 'kreacher' was feeling. The elf returned and gave what was no doubt meant to be a smile,

"Master Black welcomes Master's Burke and Gaunt to his house and apologises, apologsies for stupid stupid Kreacher's actions. Master says that Master's Burke and Gaunt should come this way, to the room to wait." The elf waited for Mr. Burke and Tom to enter before he lead them into the drawing room and took their coats and hats, but, Tom noticed with a chuckle, left Mr. Burke's cane with him.

The house-elf came scurrying back, "Would the kind, good, smart masters like a drink whilst they wait for the Master Black?" Mr. Burke nodded and waved his hand dismissingly,
"Two coffees and something to eat, sandwiches perhaps?" The house-elf bowed low and backed out of the room repeating the phrase,
"Yes Mr, Mr Burke. Master Black likes Mr Burke so Kreacher likes Mr Burke, because Master Black is wise, yes Master is wise," and other such ramblings, all the way to the kitchen.

Mr. Burke took a seat and pulled out a parchment and quill and began scribbling down some thoughts, Tom however; stood and wandered around the room running his hands over the wall in amazement. It was covered entirely with a large tree and faces were placed on each of the branches- it was the Black Family tree. It was magnificent, the amount of powerful wizards on the walls, Tom smiled, if there was ever a house to have a member who was an expert on Horcruxes, no doubt Black was the one. Tom smiled, proud as he realised that he, in his sixth year at Hogwarts had created a piece of dark magic that most accomplished adults could not even conceive to accomplish.

After killing his muggle father and grand-father Tom had framed his Uncle Morfin, and returned to school as though nothing had ever happened. Only deep inside him he was eager, ready to try the spell that he had read about early in the year, the spell that had caused old Slughorn to almost defecate with fear at its mention, the Horcrux. It had taken months upon months of searching in the restricted section in the middle of the night for Tom to finally find the spell to complete the Horcrux. He had the object that he desired, a diary containing everything he knew about the Chamber of Secrets, he was still bitter about the defeat he had suffered there, that stupid girl Myrtle had died, which had been a rush, but then, it had gotten too risky, and Tom had been forced to frame that oaf half-wit half giant boy of the killings to save his own neck, and receive a nice, Service to the School award in the process.....

But he would complete what he wanted one day, through his diary which he would somehow get back into the school. He would get someone else to complete his work- ridding the school of mud-bloods and blood-traitors. The diary with a portion of his sixteen year old self contained in the pages; would ensure that no matter what happened to him, so long as the book remained in one piece, he would not die. A thrill raced through him as he refrained himself from an evil chuckle as he thought about how amazing such a feat was, it had been over a year since he had made his first horcrux, and he had to admit, it was addictive, already he was craving the power and rush he gained with making it and wanted desperately to make another one. He had a few deaths up his sleeve of course, Myrtle and his grandfather, so should he find a suitable object he would easily be able to make another one. As Tom thought on this he fiddled with his family ring, a gold ring with a black stone that had on it the Perevell coat of arms, the Gaunt's were related not only to Salazar Slytherin himself but to the Perevell's, considered royals amongst pure-bloods, the ring was a powerful reminder of Tom's heritage... Tom stopped in shock as he realised that the ring was the perfect item for his next horcrux, he was forced to shove his hand deep into his pocket at this thought to save himself from running from the room to do the spell then and there, he turned around and saw that Mr Burke was watching him closely,

"Alright there Tom?" He asked cautiously,
"Yes, it's just that looking at this family tree makes me so proud of the pure-blood that runs in my veins, and I feel so privileged to be amongst not one but two such families, the Burke's and Black's." Mr Burke nodded, and although he forced a smile Tom knew that his lie had not taken completely, Mr. Burke, however; asked no other question to Tom's great relief.

Several moments later a tall, broad man with a thick set brow entered the room. He wore an expensive silk vest over a white silk shirt and tailored pants and in his hand he held a cigar. Mr. Burke stood with a grin and shook the man's hand heartily,
"Pollux! It is good to see you again." The man nodded and shook Mr. Burke's hand firmly,
"Caractacus, a pleasure to have you in my house." Pollux Black appeared to be around fifty, his black hair was starting to grey and his deep set black eyes were beady and watery with ill-health, and they stared at Tom waiting for an introduction,
"This is Tom Gaunt; he is taking over my running job at the store. Tom, this is Mr Black." Tom smiled and nodded his head as he held out his hand, Pollux clasped it firmly,
"Please, call me Pollux. Now, what are you trying to take from me now Burke?" His voice was light and gruff as he sat and gestured that his guests should do the same, but somehow Tom felt that there was a warning of malice behind the seemingly friendly banter.

Burke smiled before speaking,
"I remember, back when you and I were back at school, you speaking about an object that your great aunt had left you, a necklace, rough and obviously hand made in gold, two serpents and their mouths form the clasp? If I remember correctly, it was what you called 'cheap, ugly and distasteful' do you still have the object in your possession?" Pollux nodded,
"I do, it's an ugly thing that no one would purchase and I did not want to just throw it away. What is it?" Caractacus smiled,
"It's nothing, I've looked everywhere and there is no account of such a necklace, however; I was approached by the Malfoy's the other day, and they were requesting a snake necklace. I thought of yours, it may not be magical or anything of the sought, but it is a snake necklace of gold." Black nodded and picked up his wand,
"Accio snake necklace." He said with a flick and the object zipped through the air into his lap. It was roughly made, and the gold did not shine beautifully, rather it seemed dull and lifeless, there were four hollow spots where previously gems had been set into the eyes, and as Tom looked at the necklace, he had no clue as to why Mr Burke wanted such an object.
"Two galleons should cover the gold that it is made of, do you not agree Pollux?" Caractacus stated pulling out two galleons and rubbing one of them before placing them on the table where they shone brilliantly in comparison to the necklace, which Tom was now beginning to believe, was actually made of bronze. Obviously, Pollux agreed because he put the two galleons in his inside pocket and handed the necklace over to Burke with a sniff,
"There you are have the damned thing, now I have business to attend to, I do apologise for cutting this short. When Maria and the kids come back from Hogwarts for Christmas you and Elizabeth must come round for dinner, I believe that Irma is throwing a Christmas party actually." Pollux had stood by this stage and Kreacher had reappeared, "You may come too Tom dear boy, now Kreacher will show you out."

Once back at Borgin and Burke's, Caractacus raised into his office pulling Tom along, he placed the necklace on his desk and raised his wand and waved it, suddenly the dust rose from the necklace and it gleamed so bright that Tom realised that it was rough because it was nearly pure gold and was almost pliable by hand, four diamonds now shone out of the snake's eyes, but still it proved to be nothing more than a necklace.
"What is it?" Tom asked, Caractacus grinned and pointed to a large scroll written in Greek, with a translation next to it, which Tom read eagerly after noticing a diagram of the necklace on the bottom of the parchment.


The Necklace of Harmonia

A cursed necklace fashioned by the god Hephaestus and given to Harmonia, the daughter of his wife Aphrodite and her lover Ares, as a way to get even at Aphrodite by cursing all her children. Although the necklace seems to prolong age it causes extreme bad luck.

Harmonia and her husband Cadmus both wore the necklace and were turned into serpents.
Harmonia's daughter Semele wore it and the same day as she got it was destroyed when she forced Zeus to prove his identity by appearing to her.
Queen Jocasta wore it several generations later. It prolonged her age and beauty and she married the man who killed her husband, only to discover that this man was Oedipus, her son. She committed suicide and Oedipus tore out his eyes.
The necklace was stolen by Phallyus and given to his favourite mistress. The son of this mistress was then overtaken by madness and burnt down the house, killing Phallyus, himself and his mother.
Several other deaths are owed to this necklace, and entire families have been cursed by it, and thus removed from the bloodlines.

The necklace is made of almost pure gold, in the shape of two snakes whose open mouths form the clasp. Their eyes are made up of four bright diamonds. Anyone who wears the necklace bears its curse.


There beneath the writing was a diagram exactly the same as the necklace that Mr. Burke was presenting on a bust and writing up a display card for, Tom stared in amazement,
"How much is it actually worth?" He asked, Mr Burke smiled broadly,
"It hasn't worked in over 100 years, but whether that is because the magic of the old gods has faded or because it has not been worn is a mystery.
Not that the potential buyers need to know that of course, but you asked me what it is worth, and because of that fact I believe it's value to be placed at around 10 000 Galleons, because a simple spell will reveal it is cursed and the old gods cursed oh so many things.
The price that I shall put on it and the price that I have no doubt it will sell easily at, is 20 000 Galleons, and I promise you Tom, that it will be sold with-in six months." Mr. Burke finished the card and smiled and picked up the objects.

"So Tom, are you up to the job? Hours are 8-5 week days, and if you must go on a weekend then you must go. Travel expenses are covered by me; research materials are all available here. Ten Galleons a day is the pay."Tom smiled broadly,
"I'd love the job sir." Mr. Burke grinned and patted Tom on the back,
"That's great news Tom! I have a good feeling about you! I believe that we can all expect great things from you." He smiled and went to leave but Tom stopped him,
"One thing Mr. Burke, I've nowhere to live, can you possibly advance my pay check so I may organise something?" Mr Burke shook his head with a smile,
"Upstairs, there is a room, bathroom and kitchen. It's yours. No one uses it, most of the rooms up there are storage but there is a free room up there with a bed, cupboard and desk in it, feel free to move in tonight. You start tomorrow don't forget, I'll make you're pay 9 galleon's a day, taking 1 galleon for rent. Now, off with you go fetch your stuff!" Tom smiled and nodded before turning and leaving, amazed at how fast everything was travelling.