ꜱᴇʀᴘᴇɴᴛɪɴᴇ ꜱᴇʀɪᴇꜱ | ᴛᴏᴍɪᴏɴᴇ

Serpentine, ch. 36

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Their surroundings changed dramatically compared to the hectic battle. When they Apparated, they landed on unstable ground, and Harmony fell onto her back, bringing Master down with her. Sharp rocks stabbed into her tender flesh. Master's weight on top forced her harder into the ground and she winced in pain. With a groan, Master lifted himself off and helped her to her feet.

The pair looked around. They had landed on a grassy cliff only a meter from a very long drop that led to a roaring sea. They peered over the side to see white waves violently crashing against the cliff-side.

Harmony laughed sheepishly, "That was close."

Voldemort glared at her. "Too close. What a riot that would be: it wasn't the hundred Aurors that killed us, but your frightening travel skills."

"I'm still getting a handle on my Apparition," she said defensively. "Besides, it's been a while since I've been here."

"And where would 'here' be exactly?" he asked, looking around.

Harmony pointed out into the distance, "There."

He followed her finger with his eyes and saw a small building that overlooked the ocean. Its white walls were covered in different sea shells and colorful tiles, with large triangular windows.

"Shell Cottage," she said.

The pair walked over and Voldemort peered through one of its windows. "Whose house is this?"

"It belongs to a friend of a friend," Harmony simply replied. She knew Bill and Fleur would be involved with helping the Ministry fix the problem at Hogwarts. She and Master had perhaps a day to lay low before they'd need to move on.

Harmony went to the weathered door and tried the handle. "It's unlocked."

They moved out of the harsh salty breeze and into the welcoming warmth of the dry cottage. Master created a glowing orb in his hand which he held at eye level as they walked about. In the blue glow, they made out their surroundings.

They were standing in the kitchen, and Harmony saw an ancient iron stove next to a small oak table with a couple of chairs. Bordering the walls were matching wood cupboards with seashell-shaped handles. They moved through the dark into the next room where a quilted bed rested. At the foot of the bed was a hope chest.

Harmony dropped her sack and fell to her knees to rummage through the chest for candles. She set the candles around the room on the counters and the table, and then lit them with the tip of her wand. When they could see clearly through the orange glow, he put out the glowing orb with a snap.

"So," he said, peering around a wall that led to another part of the cottage, "a friend of a friend?"

"Yes," Harmony said, and then mumbled quickly, "Just a couple who work in Diagon Alley, is all. Quite charming people. Pureblood. You'd like them." She said the last bit loudly to make sure he heard.

Voldemort's brow went up as he continued to survey the room, but said nothing.

"Why?" she asked suddenly, and Voldemort turned to face her. "Why didn't you do it? Kill Harry Potter, I mean. I thought you said there was nothing else you wanted more than to have him dead."

His face grew dark, irritated to be back to this topic of conversation. "I considered what you said. I suppose you were right about one thing; there were too many Aurors around. Once I disposed of Harry, I would have been killed instantly."

Harmony resisted the urge to throw the candle she held in her hand at his head. To make sure she didn't do anything stupid, she set it down, faced him directly, and said with a great deal of conviction, "I was right about a lot of things."