ꜱᴇʀᴘᴇɴᴛɪɴᴇ ꜱᴇʀɪᴇꜱ | ᴛᴏᴍɪᴏɴᴇ

Whispers from the Past, ch. 40

CHAPTER FORTY

The flurry of activity in and around the campsite went on throughout the day, all the way into the evening. Followers carried supplies—water, food, housewares, luggage—to every corner where it was needed. It seemed to Harmony as though everyone got along well; there were no arguments about someone getting more stuff than others, all were keen to share all that they had with their fellow Death Eaters. If someone was hungry, they could walk up to a neighboring campfire and help themselves to the food simmering by the flames. If someone needed a rest, there was always a seat or a bench or a cot available. Despite being overrun by a bunch of Death Eaters, it felt like a safe place.

And, despite being Death Eaters, they certainly knew how to have fun. Harmony was walking by one of the recreational tents when she overheard a group making plans for the evening.

"We've got five kegs of ale coming to this tent," said one of the men who carried a barrel smelling of salted meat over his shoulders. "Make sure they're not tapped until the music starts. Last night it was hardly nine when one of the young witches started belly dancing on the tables."

Music, dancing, drinking. Harmony wondered what was going on, until she remembered how Mag and Barty mentioned that followers liked to host parties at the recreational tents from time to time. It was a way of having fun and keeping up morale.

"I had nothing against the belly dancing," another man retorted, getting him a couple of chortles from the other males. One of the women quickly changed the subject.

"There are also a few crates of food on their way over," she said. "And that elderly witch on the south end has been cooking all day making every flavor of pie you can imagine."

One of the men clapped his hands together, rubbing them with enthusiasm. "Oh ho ho, I can already tell tonight's going to be thrilling."

"Just," the woman began, clapping a hand on his shoulder, "try to keep your pants on this time."

The group roared with laughter and they continued on with their work.

Harmony was already buzzing with excitement. She'd wanted to show the Death Eaters that she was a good person, what better way to do that than by spending some quality party time with them? She was yearning for a little fun and adventure. Eating, dancing, singing; it sounded like a great way to let off some of the stress that had been troubling her lately. But she wouldn't be able to go without letting Voldemort know first. She wasn't exactly sure how he would take the idea of going to the festivities, but maybe she could convince him to join her in letting loose. Heaven knew he could use a little letting loose.

The sun was setting—the party was starting in an hour—when Harmony decided to go seek out Voldemort. With direction from some of the followers, she was led back to the tent which housed all of the books and belongings that once resided within the Riddle mansion before it was burned down.

She hesitantly poked her head inside. The Dark Lord was conversing with one of his Death Eaters with their heads bowed together over a pile of open books on a table. Harmony slipped into the tent and sat in one of the green velvet covered dining chairs. Her hair was still wet from playing with Aislin in the river, and while she waited for them to finish, she used a hot-air charm to dry it. She brushed her fingers through the tresses to tame it as well as she could. All the while, she couldn't help but overhear Voldemort's conversation with his Death Eater.

"I want all of your students ready to perform this list of curses I've provided," he said, pointing a long finger down at the pile of books on the table. "Especially the Reductor curse. It is imperative they're adept before our final mission. I will look in on you and your students myself. When I deem them ready, you will begin their lessons on the Unforgivable curses."