O R P H I C. [Tom. R × Reader]

11. Murderous Amulet.

=🌿=

Once Tom and I had finished our drinks, he stood up, pulling me up with him. I turned to face him, he took a step back, our tied arms hanging between us. The boy simply stood staring at me before his gaze moved away, unfocused until he checked the inside of his coat.

He finally huffed, shrugging the fabric off of his shoulders. Though I don't understand why. We're tied together by the wrist. Therefore he is unable to take anything off that he'd already been wearing when the hex was cast on us.

Though the backpack had only been hanging from one of his shoulders, hence us being able to easily take it off to use it.

But I don't understand what he thinks he's doing as he slips his free arm from the sleeve of his coat. Who in their right mind would take their coat off in this weather anyway?

Though I'm surprised when he starts to turn it inside-out, sliding it now up onto my shoulders, reaching around my back to pull it fully around me.

The stitching on the inside is hardly visible, making it near impossible for anyone tell that it was not even being worn usually.

"What about you?" I pout up at him. He merely smirks.

"I predicted complaining, therefore I've decided to lend it to you for now, so I don't have to deal with your whining later" He murmured with a small smile, displaying his complacency.

"Wow. Thanks" I mumbled. Note the sarcasm.

He slung the backpack back over his shoulder and I picked up my satchel before he led me down the stairs and back into the bustling streets.

=🌿=

After a while we'd reached a part of Diagon Alley that sort of sloped down. We turned a corner and walked into a small alleyway. It was dark and damp and kept a curve to the path, before the alley opened up into a new area.

"Oh you've got to be kidding me" I mumbled.

"Stay close" Was all Tom said. I wondered why he'd even care. It's not like I was able to not stay close to him either way. I'm literally confined to him for Merlin's sake.

"You're actually a psychopath" I uttered in disbelief that–if truth be told–he really dared to venture into Knockturn Alley. Not only are the things sold here dangerous, but I reckon that the people may be even more so.

"I prefer creative" The dusky haired male remarked as he looked down at me for the nth time today, squeezing my hand when he noticed my nerves.

"Don't worry. You'll be okay as long as you're with me. Which is inevitable anyway" He smirked gesturing to our hands. I ignored his snarky comment, glancing around anxiously.

Tom merely sighed, tightening his grip on my hand and advancing into the dimmer streets.

=🌿=

We entered a shop that I'd read to be Borgin and  Burkes. Quite a sketchy place if you ask me. I glanced at a jar of eyes that followed our movements as we walked past.

Another shelf held an assortment of unpleasantly coloured candles, which Tom seemed to be engrossed with momentarily. I read one of the labels.

'Toxic Candle; Releases toxic fumes when wick is lit and burnt' I sighed, pulling Tom away from the shelf to another place.

A rather dramatic, but elegant looking necklace sat on display, I lifted my free hand to trace one of the pretty opals that had been engraved into the gold design, but before my fingers even came into contact with the jewelry, Tom harshly snatched my hand away.