When the Roses Bloom Again by TheBlack'sResurgence

Chapter 45

The Woes of Leadership

Harry's gaze followed the man he had been watching for the past several minutes, another that had not learned from the fate of many of his peers. Some may consider his blasé dismissal of the threat against him bold, but Harry would deem it to be stupidity.

Every day for weeks now there had been one that either fancied their chances or didn't believe they were at risk.

All of Grindelwald's men were at risk.

With a gentle hiss that reverberated off the walls, his target for the evening stiffened, his wand grasped in a trembling hand.

"Show yourself!" he demanded, his voice wavering, an octave or two higher than was natural.

"As you wish."

With a flick of his wand, a long, thick whip snapped from the end and wrapped itself around the man's neck, and he collapsed to his knees as he fought for breath, frantically trying to free himself.

With a tug, he was slammed to the ground, and Harry dragged the whimpering man towards him.

"I did say you wouldn't be safe," Harry reminded him. "Now, do be a loyal little follower and scream for me."

With a wave of his wand, the whip relinquished its' hold as it turned into an enormous snake.

The man obeyed Harry's command, screaming as he attempted to flee, to no avail.

His screaming was silenced by the snake that latched around his throat with its' jaws, and the man hit the ground with a dull thud, twitching for only a moment before he became lifeless, and the serpent began to feast on him.

The warehouse Harry found himself in had once been used as premises where healing potions were made in bulk.

Not any longer, however.

Since Grindelwald had taken control of Belgium, the place had been closed, like many other once-bustling business.

With a crash, one of the doors to building was kicked open, and Harry disappeared into the confines of his invisibility cloak as large group of men entered, each with their wands drawn as they looked around for him.

"Come out coward!" one roared, less confidently than he had intended.

"It's Marco," another announced as he came upon the scene of what may have been his friend being devoured by a snake.

The first growled, the rest of the group having split up in search of Harry, a mistake on their part.

"BASTARD! WHERE ARE YOU? I'LL RIP YOUR BALLS OFF AND SHOVE THEM DOWN YOUR THROAT!"

Harry snorted to himself.

In the last several weeks since he had been making nightly visits to Bruges, he'd heard all manner of threats, some more creative than others.

His favourite had been when an Italian had vowed that his wife would be wearing Harry's wedding vegetables as earrings.

Although Harry had chuckled at the image it conjured, the Italian had remained breathing for only a moment after his declaration.