This Is the Deposit

"A Horcrux?"

Gavin repeated the word, a little surprised. Was someone handing him a pillow the moment he got sleepy?

Had his run of bad luck finally ended with a guaranteed jackpot?

Of course he had heard of Horcruxes.

He had not only heard of them, but dealt with more than one himself. He had even stolen half the relevant knowledge from one of them.

What he really needed to consider now was whether a thirteen-year-old hearing about Horcruxes for the first time should look frightened or tempted.

In the end, Gavin chose caution.

"That sounds like something to do with souls?"

Rookwood loosened his grip on the bars, and the corners of his mouth rose again.

Now that's a normal reaction.

"It's a form of Dark Magic that hides part of your soul outside your body," he said, lowering his voice. "As long as that part of your soul exists, death can't take you away completely."

"Like a ghost?" Gavin went on playing dumb.

"Ghosts are only imprints. They're dead, and they can never have bodies again." Rookwood's gaze settled on Gavin's face as he slowly added, "But the owner of a Horcrux is still alive, with a chance to start over."

Only then did Gavin give him another look.

"What's your name?"

Rookwood froze for a moment.

Then a pleasant feeling stirred in him. Had the boy finally taken notice of him?

He released the bars and slowly straightened his back. The prisoner who had been staring at the fried fish vanished, as though he had finally remembered that he had once been a man entrusted with countless secrets.

"Augustus Rookwood." He lifted his chin slightly. "Former Unspeakable at the Department of Mysteries."

Gavin nodded.

An Unspeakable. No wonder he knows about Horcruxes.

A draft passed between them