The Dark Lord's Seer

Night Out

** TW: The following chapter contains graphic descriptions of: sexual coercion; abuse. DO NOT READ if you are not prepared to encounter such content. **

Hand in hand, Rashaad and I stood together at the edge of the entryway to the hall. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched him do a quick scan of the surrounding area before he leaned over and whispered so quietly I could barely hear him, "We –" I stilled, listening attentively. "-- will find a time to talk, though I've no idea when."

I took this in, and tilted my head ever so slightly in acknowledgement. And with that, he pulled back and strode forward, tugging me along as he led us into the hall.

It was loud, and it was busy, but it wasn't hard to spot Tom. Of course not. Seated at a large table at the far end of the room, surrounded by about a dozen or so of his most trusted followers, Tom sat front and centre. As those around him talked, laughed, and drank, he sat back in his seat, looking stoic and intimidating as ever. My eyes panned around the table. Bellatrix, Rodolphus and Rabastan; Dolohov, Nott, Jugson, and Avery - to name just a few of those sat closest to him. And I had to join them? I fought back against the overwhelming wave of nausea and disgust I felt swell up within me at the mere prospect.

Tom wasn't talking to anyone, wasn't engaged with anyone, instead appeared to be deep in thought, his eyes performing a seemingly endless survey of the room. The locket he always carried with him was balanced carefully in his hand, as he fiddled with it absentmindedly. I'd be a complete liar to say he didn't look handsome. He did. Terrifyingly handsome, emphasis on the terrifying. And with each step closer to him, I could feel my dread multiply.

As we moved further into the room, I realised people were staring at us, at me. And though I'd anticipated this attention, I most certainly didn't want it. Everyone here knew who I was, and why I was there, though Tom had gone to great lengths these past several weeks to intentionally keep me out of their view. Surely they must all be wondering the same thing I was: why was I here? Why now?

Rashaad's words from when we ran into each other the other day in the hall still rang in my ears,"You're the girl." The girl. The girl who could see. The Dark Lord's Seer. And so I knew people would be using this unexpected opportunity to study me. Study me, judge me, hate me.

I'd known. But now that it was actually happening, I felt extremely self conscious and unnerved.

We were about halfway across the room when he spotted us, eyes lighting up with unmistakable interest. He watched us, or rather, he watched me, the entire rest of the way.

And when we did draw close, Rashaad led me around the table. Rising from his chair to greet us, Tom struck the dark haired man sitting next to him roughly on the back of the head. "Dolohov, move, now."

The man's eyes flashed from Tom to Rashaad and I. He shot out of his chair and bowed quickly at Tom, "My Lord."

And with that, he slipped away towards an unoccupied chair further down the table. Pocketing the locket, Tom held out his hands in a welcoming gesture to Rashaad, "Shafiq. You have my thanks. A prompt delivery."

Rashaad dropped his hand away from mine and bent at his waist in a modest bow, "Of course, my Lord."

Tom stepped towards me, pulling the chair Dolohov had left vacant out from the table. Without a word, he took my hand and guided me into the chair, pushing it back towards the table. As he did so, he spoke once more to Rashaad, "And now I'm counting on you to spend the rest of the evening doing what you do best. Exactly as we discussed."

"Yes, my Lord."

And just like that, he was gone. I watched him weave his way through the thick crowd of witches and wizards as Tom slid back into the seat beside me. "Ahem."