ꜱᴇʀᴘᴇɴᴛɪɴᴇ ꜱᴇʀɪᴇꜱ | ᴛᴏᴍɪᴏɴᴇ

Serpentine, ch. 20

CHAPTER TWENTY

Harmony awakened to Bellatrix's strident voice somewhere above her head. She was still under the effects of the Stupefy spell and couldn't even open her eyes. She was reclined on a couch. By the familiar musty old smell, she knew they were back at Riddle mansion. Unable to see who was all in the room, she listened intently.

"I still don't see why you needed to bring the girl back, my Lord," Bellatrix complained in a whiny tone. "What good is she to us if she can't even Apparate? And nearly got herself caught by the Ministry on her very first mission?"

"Are you saying I've made a wrong decision in saving her, the one endowed with the Serpentine charm," he asked hotly. By the nearness of his voice, she knew his face hovered close to her own. "Well, Lestrange? Was I wrong?"

Bellatrix gasped. "No, my dear Lord. I was only saying—"

"The next time I hear about you threatening her, it will be the last thing you do, Lestrange," he said. "Now go away while I'm still in a charitable mood."

"Yes, my Lord," she answered in a pinched voice. Harmony heard her sniffling as she hurried away.

"My Lord, the Aurors came out of nowhere," said a frantic Darius. "I swear to you they were not there when we searched."

Voldemort growled, followed by a bright light and a pathetic scream by Darius. "I don't care how the Aurors knew we would be there! I just want to know how we're going to get the cabinet back!"

"I wouldn't worry too much about the matter, my Lord," said another man. "It may be gone now, but you know we have insiders at the Ministry who can get us in."

"Not can," Voldemort hissed. "We will get in. We will get the cabinet back. I will not let the stupidity of my followers ruin my plans."

"Yes, my Lord," they all said in unison. Harmony guessed there were about five of them in the room.

"Fetch me Lucius Malfoy," he demanded. "His cooperation will be vital for us to infiltrate the Ministry."

"As you wish, my Lord," said Darius above the murmurs of the others. Harmony could hear their footsteps as everyone left.

It was so silent then that she wondered if she was all alone in the room, but then the floor creaked beside her and she knew Voldemort was still there. Despite not being able to see, she could feel his eyes on her. It was like she could physically feel the weight of his gaze looking over every inch of her body. She tried to speak, but like her eyelids, nothing worked when she willed it.

Voldemort sighed heavily, a defeated sound. She felt as he sat down on the farther end of the couch and rested against her legs.

Harmony could still feel his gaze on her, and willed her own eyes to open so she could see him, but still they wouldn't budge. She imagined him there, watching, until she could break herself free of the spell, no matter how long it took.

He leaned forward, part of his weight coming down on her side. He came so close—just enough for her to feel him exhale on her cheek and hear the whoosh of air as he breathed in again.

The tips of his fingers grazed her left cheekbone just beneath her eye—an action that surely would've made her jump if she'd been able. His fingers stroked the spot tenderly, almost curiously.

"That's new," he muttered.

He must be looking at the scar Bellatrix gave me this morning, she thought. But any other thought evaded her when he continued to rub the scar, back and forth, memorizing.