ꜱᴇʀᴘᴇɴᴛɪɴᴇ ꜱᴇʀɪᴇꜱ | ᴛᴏᴍɪᴏɴᴇ

Serpentine, ch. 14

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Harmony grinned as she changed out of her costume. It was finally over after weeks of hard work and sweat. She stuffed her costume into a bag she would be able to take home with her. She didn't think she would wear such a revealing dress ever again, but it was made of fine material and might sell for a few pounds.

Fully dressed in her black wool—her other costume—she headed out of the privacy room and toward the entrance of the dressing room. Bellatrix, also fully dressed, was leaving as well.

The witch's blue costume was draped over one arm, but that wasn't what caught Harmony's attention. It was the small vial she gripped in her hand; the liquid inside was neon pink, giving off its own glow. She was smiling down at it in wild excitement.

Right away Harmony recognized it was a love potion, and she knew exactly who it was meant for.

An unexpected rage swelled up in her as Bellatrix met her eye, shocked to find that she was no longer alone. A snide grin formed on the wicked witch's lips.

Bellatrix bolted for the exit. Harmony dropped her bag and took off after her. The woman was out of the dressing room and down the hall with unexpected speed. Harmony pumped her arms and legs and begged them to move faster. If that love potion made it to Voldemort it would be all over for him—the embarrassment would leave him in ruins.

Harmony felt a sudden and startling duty to protect her Master. The trust between them that had grown in the last few weeks meant everything at that moment. That small bond guaranteed Harmony's safety. She ignored the little voice inside her that said the reason went much deeper; it was a voice she was trying to avoid.

She slowly gained on the witch. Bellatrix was only two meters away when the woman rounded a sharp corner, and by the time Harmony reached the turn Bellatrix was gone.

Harmony was looking down a hallway with several doors on each side, and she shoved open the first one with a vengeance. It was only a dirty broom closet, so she closed it and sprinted to the next one. This door opened to a section of the auditorium near the stage, blocked by a group of dancers.

This door has to be the right one, she thought as she looked around frantically for her target. Straight ahead was the large booth where Master sat talking with his followers. Out of the corner of her eye, Harmony saw her. Bellatrix briskly walked away from the bar carrying a tray of goblets. She looked smug and determined as she approached the booth.

Harmony dove in through the crowd of dancers. Every person she bumped into slowed her down. She watched in horror as Bellatrix handed Master a silver goblet and let everyone else help themselves to the others.

Almost there, Harmony thought with wild desperation. Her black boots hit the steps that led into the booth.

The Dark Lord brought the drink to his lips, and as if in slow motion, Harmony reached out a gloved hand as far as it could stretch. With a final blow of energy, she brought her hand down and slapped the goblet out of his hand.

Harmony reveled in her victory so much she hardly noticed the gasps and outcries of shock. Bellatrix gaped at her in disbelief. Everyone else's expressions mirrored hers.

Harmony felt a hand grab a fistful of her robes and yank her down. She was met with fierce blue eyes so full of fury they could have burned her alive. She glanced down, noticing that Master's robes were soaked and some of the drink had splashed onto his face.

Voldemort said only one word, but it was enough to make her tremble: "Outside."

Harmony's voice barely came out in a whisper. "I can explain."