A Stones Throw Away

[Elijah-Thomas Burke]

Late Evening ( near dark )

He was supposed to be meeting someone a few hours later. However he was smart enough to know it was better to watch the customer approach and to always have the upper hand. The product being sold was actually legal today even if it was rare and slightly questionable. A simple book on different sleep potions that he only could assume since it wasn't bought thru a more direct channel was being purchased for something nefarious.

Thankfully he had little conscience about what the products he helped sell would be used for. He only cared about the adventure of finding and selling them.

Unfortunately this transaction for all the measures he took not to be caught doing it was going to be boring. As simple transaction of the type that simply made him meaningless pocket change. He had more than enough pocket change so he hoped the customer would at least be interesting. Of course considering the product he expected a scared customer that was jittery based on the shaky hand the reply to his directions was written in.

Letters he had burned but he bet himself a drink himself the individual would be clutching during the meeting.

He moved to climb into one of the trees to await someone approach the location of the meeting. A location that was near an older tomb that was cracked and had three black stones on top of it. Quickly he started to make himself up to the first branch as he heard someone. Then he quickly tried to make his way up higher.

  

[Alexander Grayson]

Now normally, Alexander would be seeing things on the other, other side of these type of transactions. He had seen many of these and used them, and his eyewitness accounts of them, as evidence against people like Elijah-Thomas. While Elijah had yet to be found with anything to Dark, it was clear which path the boy was starting to follow down. So, here the Auror was, hoping that starting a business relationship with the boy would give him the chance to guide him down a more legitimate path.

So, he had contacted him through a small series of letters, asking for a potion book. It was a legal item, and one that should have been rather easy for a young man like Elijah to get a hold of. With a pick up point decided on, a cracked tombstones with three stones on the top of it. Looking around the cemetery, he lent against it, and pulled out a week old edition of the Daily Prophet, the signal that they had agreed to in there exchanges. Even though he was an hour or so early, at least he would have time to finish the article of the World Cup. It was a shame there weren't any English teams this year.

  

[Elijah-Thomas Burke]

Seriously?

He looked down from his position in the tree with a look of shock on his face and had to blink a couple of times. He was rather sure that man was an Auror. He expected more sophistication, and potentially having such ammo against an Auror could finally get one in his corner. Though he thought of the risk of the affiliation.

Looking down at the book he opened it and started flipping thru the pages. Perhaps there was something off about this book he was delivering. Then he pointed his wand at it and tried a few common reveling spells and nothing.

He wished he could ask his uncle how this customer came about. He'd certainly mention it later, and never use this meeting spot again. Though he jumped from the tree deciding to go for it. The book seemed normal and was certainly legal. Then he walked over to the man and said " Curious selection. Do you have the agreed upon galleons? "

It was business, and more exciting than he liked.

  

[Alexander Grayson]

With a sigh, he started to fold the Prophet and slid it back into his coat pocket. It seems he still would not finish this article yet. The young lad had come down from a near by tree, and strolled over to Alexander. He hasn't changed his appearance. Looking the lad up and down, this was the description he was able to get from the others in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Alex had set this up to hopefully turn him away from they contacts his uncle was giving him.

But for now, all that could be done was show him another way for him to live. "Ah yes. I had trouble finding any information about that book. I'm so glad that you where able to while i failed." He reached into his pant pocket, where next to his wand was the small bag of the gold coins that was the payment for the book. They traded the items, and with a smile, he tapped the tip of his wand on it and sent it too a waiting spot at his desk at home.

Now would be the pivotal point in this conversation. If he could convince the young Burke to continue working with him It was always useful to have people that knew the other side and could provide valuable information to the Ministry. "So....I often find myself hard pressed and needing pieces of knowledge or an item quickly. Considering how well you did this, would you like to work with me more often." Alex reached into his pocket and drew a few more coins. "There would be considerable payment to be have as well."

  

[Elijah-Thomas Burke]

They traded the items rather simply and a brief look at the money he guessed it was about right. Naturally he didn't care as long as his uncle got his part as he was doing this mostly out of boredom. That and the hope for adventure which this deal certainly was not.

He had been considering writing this man off. The wiser move certainly as he was an Auror and he was flouncing about doing things that were less than legal for most of this job. However he did like finding things and a bit of legitimacy to the business could be useful. For him. He suspected it would harm his uncle's reputation.

He smirked and said " I only acquire goods of the legal sort now. " Especially for a customer who could be setting him up. Goods he'd be double checking didn't have anything extra to them as the last thing he needed was to hand an Auror a hand of glory. Though naturally if he found one of them the transaction would have a hiccup and he planned to keep it.

Then he added " What sort of items and knowledge would you be interested in? " Deciding that perhaps something entertaining could come of this, and he always needed a bit more adventure in his life.

  

[Alexander Grayson]

The Auror gave a genuine smile. He was a smart kid, and no doubt about it, especially if he had the skills that the Department thought that he did. Now Alexander's question was how to turn it to something a bit more constructive then back alley trades. It was time to make the next play in the plan then.

Pulling out a bronze disk, he held it out to Elijah. "This is a method of contact. Tap your wand on it, and say a time and place. It will show up on one of my own" Pulling on a small leather string under his shirt, Alexander showed his own disc. "Two way communication." Reaching into his coat again, he handed a sack much larger then the payment for the book. "This is a retainer. Most of the time it will be items like this book. Some times its quicker to cut out a middle man when I need a specific resource." Grinning, he left it on top of the tombstone, the coins clanking loudly against the hard rock.

Before the lad could take it though, Alexander shot his hand back over on top of it, "But, if you hear or see any one of particular interest coming into the shop, your uncle's shop," He looked deadpan into the boys eyes, his voice dropping barely above a whisper "I would love to hear about it." Lifting his hand off the prize, he smiled and said much more cheerfully, "And if there happens to be a particularly nasty item coming through, that would be even better."

  

[Elijah-Thomas Burke]

He had to admit the man had a sense of organization. His method was far more discrete than the method of using plain owls that could be intercepted. Of course that was why he wrote little of use in his owls and occasionally sent odd ones to random associates to keep people off his trail. Though at the same time it was highly recordable requiring even more care in his words.

However this business relationship would always be tempered words and cautious plans.

Of course the part about his uncle was troubling, and he faked a chuckle. Though it could be useful as well as there were always customers he'd rather not deal with. His uncle saw differently but certain deals always turned out to be more trouble than they were worth. Or at least were worth to him.

Plus sometimes he wanted hiccups to happen and this was as good as any way to cause them. Might even work out to his advantage.

Putting the second sack in his jacket pocket he looked at the disc and said " I don't guarantee I'll always show up if you do the reverse. " After all, he had school coming up in a couple of months and knew if he went missing from his dorm at the wrong moment it could sully his reputation. One he was trying to improve to catch one of the few remaining women who were eligible. Then he flipped over the disc in his hand and said " This could work out well. "

The End