ꜱᴇʀᴘᴇɴᴛɪɴᴇ ꜱᴇʀɪᴇꜱ | ᴛᴏᴍɪᴏɴᴇ

Serpentine, ch. 5

Part Two:

Labyrinth

CHAPTER FIVE

Harmony woke with a splitting headache. She had slept on her right leg and when she tried to stand, it gave out beneath her and she collapsed to the ground.

"Damn!" she hissed as she massaged feeling back into the appendage.

How long was I out, she wondered as she looked around at the massive bookshelves that surrounded her. She gave it no thought when she tore off the face scarf so she could breathe easier. Grasping a shelf for support, Harmony was able to get to her feet. She didn't want to remain in there alone for long in case the Dark Lord returned. She picked up the books that had scattered on the cold floor and began to head for the double doors at the front of the massive room. But as she passed the shelves, her eyes strayed to one book, and then another, and finally to one she could not resist.

She exclaimed with excitement as yet another book caught her eye. She looked around and realized there must have been every book ever written for the Wizarding World contained within this room, from The Animagus to How to Tame a Werewolf and so many more that she couldn't begin to make a list of them all.

She pulled book after book into the growing pile in her arms, but her hand froze as she was about to pull down another. Her Master's words rang through her head: "Yes, I was told you were a bookworm."

Harmony pursed her lips, irritated by the memory, and put back the last book she had taken. She tied her scarf firmly in place, then took her heavy pile of books and headed out the door. She had never expected to feel eagerness well up inside her in a place like this, but now she found herself feeling anxious to return to her chamber so she could start reading.

After what seemed like hours of walking, a wearied Harmony flopped down on the dusty bed in her dusty chamber. She had been lost several times along the way back and the books had grown more and more heavy in her arms.

This place is like one big labyrinth, she thought as she watched the dust plumes settle back onto the velvet coverlet hidden underneath. Even if she wanted to escape, she would never be able to find her way out—she would be more likely to die of hunger or thirst first.

Harmony pulled herself up into a fetal position and wondered if she would ever be able to leave this place now that she was here. Rolling over with a sigh, she closed her eyes and drifted off with memories of meeting the Dark Lord fresh in her mind.

She was in a desolate Hogsmeade again, except this time when she came upon the couple she knew were her parents, they ignored her completely. A heavy hand on her shoulder did not make her turn around to look. She just continued to stare at the dirty ground with tears glistening in her eyes—real tears this time. Hopelessness surged within her, and she shut her eyes tight against it and hung her head, wishing it would all just go away.

An arm encircled her and pressed her against the man standing behind. She felt as though a snake had just taken her as its prey. He leaned in with his face against her ear and began to whisper. She couldn't hear all that he said, except one thing clearly: "I was told you were a bookworm."

Harmony bolted up in bed and jumped to her feet. She couldn't shake the sensation that Master still held her against him, and she felt queasy as she paced around and waited for the remnants of the dream to subside.

She sighed and wiped away the sweat on her forehead with her scarf. Her eyes fell on the large pile of books she had tossed down in the middle of the bed earlier, and a slow smile spread over her face.

She sat on the edge of the bed and opened the first book that came into her hands—one that the Dark Lord had selected. She groaned when she saw the title: "The Dark Arts and You, by Imelda Whishtaw." A green dragon wove in and out through the large golden letters on the cover.