ꜱᴇʀᴘᴇɴᴛɪɴᴇ ꜱᴇʀɪᴇꜱ | ᴛᴏᴍɪᴏɴᴇ

Whispers from the Past, ch. 46

It was already dusk when the hordes of Death Eaters arrived in London. The setting sun was hidden behind dreary gray clouds that threatened to unleash a downpour. As if on cue, Harmony felt a raindrop on her forehead and so she quickly hid her hair under a black scarf. Although there were many of them, they kept to the shadows and alleys. It was funny, Harmony thought, how under the shroud of darkness London gave off a feeling similar to Knockturn Alley. It could have been due to the shady miscreants they passed or the rubbish littering their path. Depending on where you were, London was a completely different place at night.

As a single formidable group, they headed for one of the Ministry's secret entrances. There were bound to be Aurors about, keeping a lookout, so everyone stayed on their guard. Harmony's people kept close to her on all sides with Lyra in the lead; it seemed the young woman fancied herself as some kind of commander of Harmony's loyalists. Lyra barked orders at the others, calling everyone by name. Harmony was impressed. She herself recognized many of her people from around camp but their names left her. What delighted her was seeing the students from her lessons protecting her from behind. So Barty didn't entirely ruin her first impression with them; that was good. She wondered where Barty was now. She had lost track of him after he had made the Unbreakable Vow. She amused herself with the idea that he had gone mad being unable to touch a woman ever again and had decided to break the vow, bringing his miserable life to an end. An image of him lying dead back at camp was in her mind when she spotted the very man walking slightly behind her off to the left.

"Barty!" Harmony called out in surprise. "What are you doing here with my guard?"

Every inch of him was covered in black save for his face and mangy hair. He gave her a quick sideward glance before looking ahead again, like the very sight of her could break the vow and make him drop dead.

"Where else would I be? With the Dark Lord? Where he can get the chance to strangle me again in vengeance? Not bloody likely."

"This group is here to protect me," Harmony told him in a harsh tone. "If you don't plan on doing the same then I suggest you set out toward the Ministry on your own."

Barty was quiet a long time before saying, "You have spared my life more than once before. If I am to find mercy anywhere it will be at your side... My Lady."

Harmony was taken aback by such kind words coming from Barty and it made her angry. She didn't like feeling empathetic toward this cruel, pathetic man.

"Fine," she said with growl. "You can stay with my group."

"Much appreciated."

"But you better behave or you'll make me regret showing you any mercy."

"There's no need for threats. You've already proven to me that you're no longer that child from years ago. You've shown your thorns and I got pricked. I'll behave."

"Good man," Harmony said and picked up the pace.

When they reached the mouth of an alley, Lyra held up her hand and the group came a silent stop behind her and Harmony.

"What is it?" Harmony asked, her eyes frantically scanning the street. It was empty save a homeless men and a group of friends walking out of a pub.

Lyra made a sharp whistle and a tall, skinny man appeared from the shadows on their right.

"This is our insider," Lyra explained to Harmony while the man nodded to her. She turned to the man. "How're things here?"

"A group of about thirty to forty Ministry workers were seen leaving this entrance ten minutes ago. They weren't all Aurors but they all seemed to be heading in the same direction together."