Chapter Two
The Necklace
The bell tinkled as she stepped carefully into the store, clutching the locket around her neck as if it were a protective amulet. The man at the counter, with a smile that made her shiver, ran his eyes up the length of her, lingering on her stomach.
"Ah, Miss Gaunt! Or should I say Missus Riddle?" His grin widened as she nervously bit her lip. "May I help you?"
Merope, eyes trained on the floor ahead of her, moved towards the register, trying to control her anxiety. "Mister Burke, I have something to sell," she said, low enough to cause him to lean forward in order to hear.
"What is it this time? Another piece of junk? Just because I'm generous with you, girl—"
"No, sir." With a gulp, she unfastened the necklace and slid it across the counter. "It's this. M-my father gave it to me when I was young." He had picked it up while she was speaking, examining it with eyes sharper than dragon's teeth.
"How old did you say this was?"
"Er . . . I don't know how old it is, b-but it's been in my family for a long time now, sir." He didn't ask another question; instead, he summoned a magnifying glass and peered through it at the stone. "My father said that it was valuable, sir."
"Your father thought everything he touched was valuable," Burke muttered, but he didn't look up from the locket. Merope felt a kick from inside and winced. Her hand gently pressed on her stomach. She was in her seventh month now, and each day wore on her more. With dim eyes, she watched Burke banish the magnifying glass and weigh the locket on a set of intricate scales. "Four ounces of silver — quite a bit, indeed. And a decent emerald to go along with it. Your father was right, for once. This locket is valuable."
She leaned against the counter, feeling hope trickling into her. "How much, Mister Burke?"
"Ten galleons."
"Ten?" A grin split her face. "Oh, thank you, Mister Burke! Thank you! Yes, please take it." He bared his teeth at her once again in a smile as he arranged the locket in a display cabinet behind the counter. Then, all leisure, he counted out the ten golden coins and placed them — almost tenderly — into her outstretched hands.
"Now don't waste my money, girl," Merope heard him warn her as she scampered outside.