Harry and Tom briskly make their way down the streets of Diagon Alley. Harry can't help marveling slightly at how well everything has gone for today. Well, aside from the large Voldemort shaped problem, but he's trying not to think too much about that.

Harry and Tom are currently heading toward Flourish and Blotts, so Tom can collect any books he might like, while Harry finishes the rest of his shopping. Luckily, their trip to the bank was a quick one or they might have had to come back at a later day. Harry really does not like being out in the open for this long.

Finally arriving at the shop Harry ushers Tom inside. A bell rings as Harry pushes the door open, but he pays it no mind as he directs Tom deeper into the store. Harry's conflicted on what he's about to do, but he knows if he's going to get everything done that he needs to today, then he can't be hovering over Toms shoulder the whole time.

Harry carefully tugs Tom to a stop in a quiet corner of the shop and kneels down in front of him. Harry hopes the gesture doesn't come off as condescending, but he needs to make sure Tom understands the gravity of what he's about to tell him.

"So, Tom, I need to trust you with something really important." Toms attention is caught with those words, as Harry knew it would be. "We have a lot of shopping to do and it would take to long if we were to stay together the whole time, so I'm going to trust you with half while I do the other."

Harry can see Toms mounting annoyance at being talked to in such a manner and quickly finishes explaining before things go south. "I'm one-hundred percent certain you can handle that with no problem. The important part, the part I really need you to pay attention to, is about something else." Luckily for Harry, Tom was easily placated this time around.

"What is it Mr. Pev- Harry? Is it a secret?" Tom was getting impatient, waiting for Harry to get to the point.

"Yes, you could definitely call it a secret. Although, for how long it will stay that way I'm not sure." Harry shook his head and decided to finally stop talking around what needed to be said. "I need you to be very careful while I'm not with you, Tom. There is a man, a really terrible man, who would happily kill and torture me and anyone I care about. And right now," Harry looked directly in Tom's eyes as he said this, "that means you."

Tom looked taken aback, but Harry didn't give him time to ask questions before he went plowing on with his explanation. "This man might do anything to try to get to you. Either by offering you something or simply by taking you. I need you to be careful and remain aware of your surroundings. As someone I knew once told me, have constant vigilance. This man is a parselmouth, like you and me, meaning he can speak to snakes. He might use that to get you to trust him. Most likely, though, he will send his snake, Nagini, to make friends with you. I don't think he would come for you in person right now, but I can't be sure. In any case, if you see anyone with red eyes, run the opposite direction and hide. Do you understand what I'm telling you, Tom? Can I trust you to do this?"

"Of course, I can take care of myself." Tom answered with false bravado, but Harry didn't call him out on it and instead just nodded in agreement.

"Good. I'm going to leave you here while I finish shopping. You can buy whatever you want. Your trunk has already been spelled feather light, so whatever you purchase you can just put directly in your trunk. If you finish up here before I return, you can head down to Florean Fortescue's, it's an ice-cream parlour, and get something for yourself while you wait. We passed it on the way, it has all the tables and chairs outside."

After double and triple checking that Tom remembered the parlour and reassuring -himself mostly- Tom that he would be back soon, they parted ways. Nerves running high, Harry tried to look natural as he practically ran down the street, hoping to return to Tom as quickly as possible. Seeing his destination just up ahead, Harry made a beeline for it. Ducking into Knockturn Alley, Harry gave up any pretense of composure and very nearly sprinted to Borgan and Burkes. Panting for breath, Harry came skidding to a stop in front of the run down shop.

Harry pauses just long enough to straighten out his clothes and fix his skewed glasses, before confidently entering the shop. Harry knows exactly what he needs and intends to head straight for it, but he's stopped dead in his tracks when something catches his eye. Sitting innocuously on display is none other than Slytherins locket. Harry drifts towards it and knows that he can't leave this store without it.

As if summoned by Harry's thoughts, Borgan, or perhaps Burke, appears beside him just as his had was reaching toward the locket. Harry quickly snatches his hand back and mentally curses himself for being so stupid. He hasn't forgotten the last time he was stupid enough to go touching things he shouldn't while in this shop.

"I see you've got a good eye. This here is the locket of Salazar Slytherin himself. Worth a hefty price, I've got quite a few interested buyers already, but I'm always happy to hear a new offer." The man offers him an oily smile and Harry can't help the shimmer of disgust he feels at being so close to the man. Nor can he hide the indignation at his audacity after how he had so thoroughly conned Merope with a measly ten galleons.

"I'm actually hear to purchase your vanishing cabinet." Harry replies with a fake smile of his own.

The mans eyebrows shoot up at this, but he makes no comment as he turns and starts heading toward the cabinet. After the mans back is turned, Harry discreetly picks the locket up with the tip of his wand and slips it into the pocket on the back of his trousers before following after. He won't be able to walk out of the shop with it due to anti theft charms and, knowing this shop, a few nasty curses, but luckily he doesn't need to. Harry just has to wait.

"I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name." Harry politely questions as he trails behind the man.

"That's because I didn't give it." The man snorts. "Burke, at your service."

Harry doesn't pursue conversation any further as they walk the remainder of the few meters to their destination. They both come to a stop in front of the looming cabinet and Harry can't help marveling at it just a bit. He almost worried it wouldn't be here despite knowing that no one had purchased until Draco Malfoy in nineteen ninety-seven. After all, who would only want half of a set?

"The cabinet is in quite fine shape, a bit dusty, but excellent condition either way. Worth a good few galleons I'll tell you that. Not sure a boy like you could afford to make off with it." Burke give Harry a single glance over as he says this. "But I'm always more than happy to be surprised."

Harry looks the cabinet over for a few minutes as Burke impatiently waits before bluntly stating, "I'll give you two-hundred-fifty galleons for it."

Burke barks out an incredulous laugh and doesn't bother hiding the derisive smile spreading across his chapped lips. "Your gonna have to do better than that boy. This cabinets at least worth a few thousand."

Harry simply raises a brow at the condescending tone before studiously ignoring it. "It's true that the cabinet is in fine condition, but that really doesn't mean much when it's incomplete. In it's state now, it's no more than a glorified cupboard. I doubt the clientele you typically see, the very rich and the very poor, would have much interest in it. Considering one could simply buy a new, complete set, and the other couldn't even afford to look at it for too long. So, once again, I'll offer you two-hundred-fifty galleons for it. Unless you honestly think you'll be getting a better offer anytime soon."

Burkes expression steadily soured the longer Harry kept talking, but didn't seem to be able to refute anything Harry had said. Harry granted him a few moments to silently fume before gesturing for an answer.

With gritted teeth, Burke barks out, "three-hundred-fifty," without further comment.

Harry's feeling somewhat generous and decides to secede that much. Only after Burke has once again turned his back, and marched away to ring up his purchase, does Harry slip the locket out of his pocket. Once again balancing it on the tip of his wand, Harry carefully opens the cabinet and lays it gently inside before closing the door. He glances over his shoulder to check that Burke is still busy before opening the cabinet once more. Harry smiles at the emptiness he finds inside. He'll make sure to tip an extra ten galleons.

[Short chapter, sorry about that. I've actually really been in the groove of writing, so hopefully the next chapter will be up really quick. If I can actually find the time to sit down and write it without my ADD distracting me with shiny new stories to read everytime I finally get free time. That would be grand.]