Chapter 25 ~ The Deal.

"I told you, I can't give you it yet, Theon. Dad hasn't sent me my allowance yet." Avery whispered peevishly, trying not to let anyone in the noisy shop overhear their conversation.

"Avery, you own me ten galleons!" Theon fumed. "And now, you want to put yourself in debt by another five!"

"It's so cool, though." Ava entered the conversation, picking up the expensive Magical Object off one of the shelves of Zonko's Joke Shop.

Theon turned on the other twin with more tact. "Ava, if you want to buy it, you're going to ow me even more."

She looked at him haughtily. "I'll buy whatever I want, thank you. These for a start, and this." She scooped two love potions off the shelves plus the object she and Avery had been eyeing before.

Avery laughed as he eyed the potions. "Who're they for, sis?"

She smiled seductively in reply. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

"Me, by any chance?" Was Theon's smiling question.

Ava smirked. "I already have you under my command, Theon darling. Why would I need a love potion."

Avery laughed and Theon did the same, only with a little less heart,  as Ava took her purchases in her hands and strode in the direction of the counter, turning back as she got in the Que.

"Theon - money please." She ordered, holding out her hand.

Theon looked at the outstretched palm grimly. "You'll ow me another nine galleons, Ava."

She raised her eyebrows. "So what?"

"Well, are you ever going to pay it back to me, that's what I'm asking." Theon questioned, looking up into her heartless but captivating pale brown eyes and trying to stay strong.

"And are you ever going to stop whining? Give me the money, Theon." Ava ordered angrily.

"When you can pay me back." He said firmly, causing Avery to enter the fray.

"Look here, you're my right-hand man, and you have to do as I tell you." Avery said menacingly. "Give my sister - your ex-girlfriend - the money right now, or else you'll be sorry."

Theon shook his head, slanting eyes wary but stubborn.

Avery looked at him with both amazement and threat. "Right, you asked for it-"

"I asked for money." Theon said. "I may be rich but I'm not standing for unpaid debts."

"You're mad." Said Ava savagely.

Theon looked at the girl with anger. He had just as badder temper as the Golden Twins, and though usually under their command, was obsessed with his own money.

"And you're broke." Was his icy reply.

"Go to hell." Avery pushed his friend, tugging at his sister and striding towards the exit of the shop. With venom, Ava did the same after shooting a poisonous look at Theon and dropping her would-be purchases at his feet, the violet love potions smashing s they hit the floor and soaking his shoes, calling angry shop assistants to an equally angry Theon Hallow.

***

"I just can't believe he'd do that." Said Avery, walking back up the trail to Hogwarts, a sullen Ava by his side.

"I can. You know what Theon's like with money." She said maliciously, kicking a stone in the middle of the path. "And he's gonna keep badgering us for what we ow him."

"I wish there was a way of making money." Avery said. "If only Father hadn't been stupid enough to embezzle that load of gold in Gringotts."

"It wasn't his fault." Ava said stormily. "It was those ruddy goblins, taking away his money like that."

"Filthy Animals." Avery agreed. "And, if you think about-"

The unmistakable sound of footsteps came behind them and both twins turned with sneering expressions, expecting an apologetic Theon. Instead, however they were taken aback and slightly scared by the appearance of a black-cloaked figure.

"Who-"

"I am Mr. Turner." The figure raised it's arms to pull back a hood that revealed a long, thin face with sly eyes and slight wrinkles around them.

The twins exchanged glances. "I am-" Avery began.

"I need not know who you are." He cut in in a soft, low voice. "But I need your loyalty. And hard work."

Avery stepped forward. "What?" He half-scoffed. "Get lost weirdo."

The stranger simply smiled. "How would you like to earn some gold?"

The eyes of the Golden Twins lit up with interest at this remark. They both exchanged a glance before Avery took another step forward.

"How much?" He questioned, licking his lips.

"Hmmmm, shall we say, a thousand?" Turner suggested, smiling at Avery and Ava's open mouths.

"A thosand...Galleons?" Ava asked in amazement.

"Oh yes. More, if you want." Turner assured them. "Only, you must keep your side of the bargain if you want it."

Avery was smiling now, even as he enquired uneasily. "Oh yes? And what do we have to do."

"There is a girl. Maxine Lestrange." The stranger watched as the eyes of the twins flickered with angry recognition. "I need you to make her...vulnerable."

"What?" Ava said in disbelief.

"On a certain day, at a certain time, Maxine Lestrange must be brought to a certain location that no one other than you and your twin must know about." Turner instructed, making sure the twins were listening intently. "Myself and my organisation will then take her for our own reasons, and you must not breath a word about the incident."

"But - Lestrange?" Ava spluttered. "What on earth would you want with a little runt like her?"

"I have my reasons." Turner told her, still smiling the snakelike smile. "Now, do you agree to my terms?"

Ava looked at Avery, who nodded, another smile dawning his face. "Yes. We agree."

Turner beamed. "Brilliant. Now, for dates and such of the...kidnapping, we should call it, I will contact you with an owl. When you need to answer, send your owl to this address." He produced a sheet of paper from the pocket of his robe and handed it to the two teenagers. 

Avery read the writing briefly before looking up at Turner. "How do you want us to do it?"

Turner shrugged slightly and smiled. "Any way possible. Just get Maxine Lestrange to the place of the kidnapping for our time and you will get your reward." He took Avery aback by reaching out to shake his hand, closing the deal, then stepped back as the Golden Twins watched him.

"And if you don't." He produced a silver cloak from beneath his robes, flinging it upwards with his hands. "You'll pay."

And as he flashed them a last threatening smile, Turner disappeared from view and left the Golden Twins with equally evil smiles upon their faces.