ꜱᴇʀᴘᴇɴᴛɪɴᴇ ꜱᴇʀɪᴇꜱ | ᴛᴏᴍɪᴏɴᴇ

Whispers from the Past, ch. 11

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The venom in Harmony's eyes tripled as she looked back at Zeth.

Bill's voice was hesitant and unsure when he said, "Sorry?"

Now Zeth's eyes left Harmony, shooting to Bill; his calm exterior was slipping away. "I know you are young, Bill, but don't be a fool. We both know you are holding a wanted criminal against the Ministry."

The group was silent, and Harmony knew the same question was going through everyone's mind at once: how did he know? Bill quickly exchanged glances with the others, but when no one else spoke up he took the responsibility on himself and said to Zeth, "We believe Dumbledore had to do with why Hermione Granger was involved with Voldemort."

"On who's word?" Zeth was quick to ask. "Hers?"

"She is trusted among us," Lupin said in defense.

"But not with the Ministry, and you being Ministry officials, aiding the enemy would only make you criminals yourselves."

"The enemy?" Bill exclaimed. "Zeth, she is just a child. Come, at least listen to her story-"

"If she needs help, then she would best get it at the Ministry."

"Help?" Moody roared. "If you turn her in to the Ministry you really think she will get a fair trial? Like Sirius Black had a fair trial?"

"Not to mention the reward," mumbled Tonks.

"A reward there may be, but my only incentive is justice."

"Bullocks," one of the younger wizards said and Zeth looked around the group angrily to spot the culprit.

Bill looked hard at Zeth and pointed a finger up at him, "No one touches the girl. You hear me, Zeth?"

Zeth's once calm exterior was gone and the rising sun now enflamed his raged face. With a hard voice he replied, "That is not up to you, neighbor." He nodded his head to Harmony, "She comes with me to the Ministry now or all of you will be hunted until she is caught."

"Justice is keeping an innocent from behind bars. When the Ministry is ready to accept that, let us know. But in the meantime," Bill said up to Zeth, "she stays away from you."

Zeth was silent at this, and Harmony could imagine the battle going on inside his head as he thought. His hand twitched for his wand, and she knew he was considering whether or not to fight his way to her. As though he knew Harmony noticed this, he bunched his hands into fists to restrain himself. When he realized fighting was not an option, he straightened his shoulders and lifted his chin to the rising sun behind them, showing reluctant defeat.

"Very well. She better be gone in ten minutes," he said icily, "because that's how long it's going to take me to contact the Ministry." With a snap he Apparated and was gone.

Mad-Eyed Moody swore under his breath as everyone exchanged frantic glances.

Molly Weasley spoke first, "Do you really think-?"

"I think he's bluffing," George said.

"We can't risk it," Bill said, settling the matter.

Harmony's heart dropped to the pit of her stomach like a boulder weighing her down with guilt. All she could think of were Snape's words. He was right, she thought. She was a liability to them. Her friends were in danger because of her. Would the Ministry punish them for helping her? She looked around in time to see Mrs. Weasley flash a glance that was everything but warm, and Harmony quickly looked away. In her mind's eye, she saw Fred's lifeless body lying against the wall during the Battle of Hogwarts. The Weasley family had already been through so much. Who was she to put them into this kind of danger?