Being a Greengrass after all should sound pretty serene.
But being a part of "the Emeralds" should not, especially when hearts become entangled with the infamous Regulus Black.
Goodness, lawfulness, or evilness. Which path will they tread in the ti...
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June 2nd, 1981
"If anything out of the ordinary happens, press the bracelet. If you saw anything weird, leave immediately. Remember, we can always come back another day again, yeah?"
Avery's gaze flicked between Regulus and Pandora for what had to be the thousandth time, her fingers worrying the edge of her sleeve as they stood in the narrow backstreet off Diagon Alley. The space was deliberately chosen for the risk of being seen all together.
"We've covered this at least five times during the last three minutes," Regulus said gently, his voice infuriatingly steady. "Darling."
That almost made it worse. Avery, caught somewhere between a frown and a worried smile, finally stepped back from the two.
Pandora tilted her head, blonde curls pinned neatly away, utterly unbothered. She looked more suited for a stroll through a greenhouse than a break-in, dressed in a flower-patterned sage cardigan and a skirt just a touch too bright for the gravity of the mission.
"We'll be fine," she said lightly.
Dorcas met her gaze, jaw tight. "Be careful."
Pandora checked her watch, the smile fading into focus. "Time," she said.
Avery and Dorcas nodded once. The former reached for Regulus's wrist, her thumb brushing over the thin bracelet hidden beneath his sleeve. For half a second, he turned his hand so their palms met before letting go.
Regulus and Pandora slipped back toward the mouth of Diagon Alley, blending seamlessly into the thinning crowd. Avery watched until they disappeared into the entrance of Gringotts entirely, her chest tight in a way she couldn't quite explain.
Dorcas emerged from where she'd been keeping watch across the street, eyebrows raised. "You done mothering them?"
Avery didn't look away from the empty alley. "No," she said. "I just... ran out of time."
Time passed. Dorcas drifted toward the apothecary two streets over, lingering just long enough to look like a bored customer. Avery took the longer route, weaving through Diagon Alley until the noise thinned and the afternoon stretched out into something lazy and harmless.
Dorcas reappeared near the rendezvous point twenty minutes later, scowling faintly. "Still nothing?"
Avery shook her head. They waited longer, and soon, another stretch of time bled by. Long enough for Avery to realize she was no longer pretending to shop.
"They should've been out by now," Dorcas said finally, too careful.
Avery didn't answer. She had started counting seconds instead. Three hundred. Three hundred and fifty. Three hundred and eighty— At three hundred and eighty-six seconds exactly, two familiar figures burst through the exit of Gringotts. Relief hit her so fast it almost hurt. They did it. Except, Avery's smile faltered.
