ꜱᴇʀᴘᴇɴᴛɪɴᴇ ꜱᴇʀɪᴇꜱ | ᴛᴏᴍɪᴏɴᴇ

Whispers from the Past, ch. 36

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Voldemort was gone when she left the tent, leaving her alone with the masses who greeted her when she stepped outside. She wasn't sure whether he wanted her to follow or not. Already, people were going back to their business in camp; what else would Voldemort need her for? She recalled his foul mood in the tent, though he had seemed somewhat cheerful when she showed up that morning. For a moment she tried tuning herself in to what exactly he was feeling, but she was distracted, too many people about. Later, she would inquire him about it, but now…

Harmony turned her back on where he disappeared in the crowd and faced the immense expanse of tents and caravans. She began walking, looking around, forcing herself to connect with the people that expected so much of her. This place—the new headquarters she supposed it should be called—impressed her. There were markets, stalls of food and supplies, large tents that housed families, children running about like they were on a playground. Children. Voldemort obviously didn't recruit kids simply for manpower; he must have connected to many families and convinced them to join every member. It must be a new method of his as opposed to taking in only the strong, young, powerful witches and wizards. But she could understand his reasons to recruit families: children trained in the Darks Arts at a young age only made for more powerful witches and wizards as they grew older. It was exactly what she feared for her own child, it being raised in the shadows of criminals and Unforgivable curses. She made a mental note to mention the use of children to Voldemort later, once they were alone again.

Swept up in the current of people, she looked about her surroundings as though she were a newborn child. She eased into the crowd as though one with them, which she liked, though she did hear people whisper sharply as she approached, but that was all. People merely watched as she passed, curious at the girl that was supposed to usher in a new era for Voldemort and his followers. She knew now how Harry felt being ogled constantly, but she told herself to get used to that feeling of being watched.

Behind her, her hand maidens followed. Thinking of where in camp she would like to go first, she stopped to ask them if they knew about any tents set up to house books or the like. The eldest, whom Harmony learned was named Melantha, replied there was a tent set up for the things saved from Riddle mansion and there might be books there. Melantha, as well as the two younger girls, Kalista and Elodie, guided her to the tent where some men were stacking and unpacking boxes of random objects snatched before their former home went up in smoke. The three women were about to follow her into the tent when she turned back around to stop them and proposed they be dismissed for the rest of the day. They merely stood there confused.

"Come on," Harmony smiled, "you don't want to follow me around all day, do you?"

"On the contrary, my Lady," Melantha spoke, the one Harmony already associated to be the leader of her ladies, "you are our most important priority. The Dark Lord was very specific: we must be at your every whim."

"Well, that's a bit much, isn't it?"

As though she hadn't heard, the eldest continued, "Whatever it is you need, be it help with dressing, doing shopping, or sending messages throughout camp, we are here for you. It is our job."

Harmony bit her bottom lip in thought as she regarded the younger girls that waited expectantly for her to give commands. "Okay," she barked, "first thing's first: I am not Lord Voldemort."

Kalista and Elodie exchanged glances at Harmony's informal use of their master's name, but Melantha narrowed her eyes at Harmony. "A very…strange first request, my Lady, if you don't mind me saying."

"It's not a request. It's the truth and I want all of you to realize that. Don't treat me like you do him. There's no need for you to fear me. I want trust."