Trade

[Madeline Speare]

Borgin and Burkes, just thinking the name sent shivers up my spine but being inside it was much worse. I pushed open the door."Hello?" I call. No answer. I step inside and lower my hood,"Hello?" I call again looking around. Something grabs the end of my cloak and I let out a shrill scream.

[Ian Hunt]

"You Speare?" I ask gruffly, keeping hold of the back of her cloak in case she tried to run, having followed her inside to Borgin and Burkes from the end of the high street.

[Madeline Speare]

"Yeah," I say ripping my cloak away from him,"Who wants to now?" I say darkly keeping tight hold of my wand.

[Ian Hunt]

"Name's Hunt." I say curtly, one hand tightly grabbing my wand, the other now clutching my lighter in my other pocket. "I think we need to talk."

[Madeline Speare]

"About what?" I ask ice in my voice.

[Ian Hunt]

"First off, what's with the tone?" I ask coolly. "Have I offended you in some way?"

[Madeline Speare]

I cross my arms,"By scaring the living daylights out of me yes,"

[Ian Hunt]

"My sincerest apologies." I say emotionlessly. "Do you think we can be civil to each other, despite me scaring the living daylights out of you?"

[Madeline Speare]

"Very well," I sigh brushing my hair from my eyes,"If I must, so what do you want?"

[Ian Hunt]

I roll my eyes. "I want to know exactly what Nate said to you."

[Madeline Speare]

I look around for a place to sit, find none I decide to stay standing,"Why do you want to know?" I ask.

[Ian Hunt]

"Because I'm the only thing that's standing in the way of him killing Lattimer and the kid, and hurting Lupin. You're his partner but I know you're their friend. You don't want them hurt and neither do I. Why, I'm helping is none of your business so don't bother asking. But if I'm going to continue helping, I need to know what you and Nate have planned."

[Madeline Speare]

"What do you mean 'your the only thing' standing in his way?!" I say standing up straight,"Do you really think I'd let him do it?!"

[Ian Hunt]

"No, I don't. You might not intend to but anyone can be got to, Speare. Anyone."

[Madeline Speare]

"The Imperius Curse," I whisper knowing hwta he meant.

[Ian Hunt]

I look at her, then say, "So what have you got planned?"

[Madeline Speare]

"I havent got anything planned, I just have to follow through with it," I say jamming my fists into my pockets."I'm not sure what we have to do exactly, seems Nathan doesnt trust me quite yet to tell me,"

[Ian Hunt]

"Nate doesn't trust anyone. But he'll force himself to tell you eventually. And when he does, you have to tell me, okay?" I say firmly.

[Madeline Speare]

"How can I trust you?" I ask.

[Ian Hunt]

"You can't." I say honestly. "Unless you'll let me earn your trust...hang on..." I take my lighter our of my pocket, the side with the initials 'E.R' facing downwards. "This, means the world to me. You take it. Hold onto it for me. It's collateral. When you feel like you can trust me, you give it back. You can destroy it if I give you reason not to trust me. I'm not going anywhere without this, and I'm not doing anything to risk it, so you know I'm not going to flake out or fuck up on you, alright?"

[Madeline Speare]

I examine the lighter,"E.R.?" I ask but I dont further press the matter. 'What's so special about a lighter?' I ask myself but shove it into my pocket."Very well," I tell him and reach my hand around my neck,"If your going to give me something precious to prove I can trust you I might as well do the same," I unhook my necklace,"Here, this was my mothers," I say placing it in his hand,"It's all I have left of my family,if you decided you can trust me, you give it back and if not," I gulp,"Do whatever you want with it,"

[Ian Hunt]

"Fair." I say, placing it in my pocket. "We trust each other now?"

[Madeline Speare]

I start towards the counter,"As uch as two complete strangers can trust each other," I say a smile playing on my lips.

[Ian Hunt]

"As much as I trust anyone. You're privelleged." I mutter. "What are you doing in this dump anyway?"

[Madeline Speare]

"Trust me," I usually dont come to places like this," I say and turn to look at a mirrior freezing for a moment then realizing it's just my reflect. I run my hand through my hair,"i'm not use to being a brunette," I pull a wrapped package from my pocket and drop it on the table,"This," I say."Is why I'm here."

[Ian Hunt]

I look at the package. "And what's that?"

[Madeline Speare]

I shrug,"That's what I'd like to know,"

[Ian Hunt]

"Fair. Where's Borgin? Believe it or not, I wasn't stalking you, that much. I do have business to do here, just to clarify."

[Madeline Speare]

"Oh you werent?Boo hoo," I say sarcastically,"I'd wish he'd hurry up, I wanna get out of here,"

[Ian Hunt]

"I wish he'd hurry up." I mutter under my breath. I pause, then look at her as if seeing her for the first time. "You're a healer." I say suddenly. "I saw you around St Mungo's. You're a healer."