Maximus knew he had to keep moving forward. After consuming the essence of the man, he pushed the lifeless body into a dark corner of the deacon's chamber. His cold hands closed the door with a faint creak. Returning to the pulpit, he looked at his companions with determination.
"Come," he ordered firmly. "We need to move."
He observed the eyes of his Inferius: there was something beyond mere obedience, a spark of devotion within them. This made him feel more confident in his control.
They waited patiently until the sun had set, and the four of them headed toward the village square. In the twilight of the night, they spotted a bus idling with the engine running and a few people already aboard. Maximus weighed his options, then drew his wand and cast a slight Confundus Charm on their cloaks, enough to make them go unnoticed.
"We'll buy the tickets," he whispered, determined not to draw attention.
He handed money to the driver, who barely reacted to the sight of the four hooded figures. They boarded the bus and headed to the back, taking their seats silently. Maximus whispered again:
"Stay still. When we get to London, we'll find a new dwelling… something more permanent, a base of operations."
During the journey, the bus made stops in a few towns. The night dragged on slowly, and Maximus used the time to plan his next moves. When they finally arrived in London, it was almost dawn. The first rays of light peeked over the horizon, bathing the city in a soft, bluish glow.
"We must move quickly," Maximus warned, aware of the dangers the sun posed for Arthur and Thomas. Although Rachel and he were more resilient, their companions could not withstand direct sunlight.
The bus stopped on the outskirts of the city, in a neighborhood of typical English row houses, with neglected front gardens and scattered shops. Maximus closed his eyes for a moment and let his instincts take over. He felt a faint pull in a specific direction, something indicating a safe place.
"This way," he said softly, and began to lead the group through the deserted streets.
They walked in silence, crossing alleys and avoiding curious glances. They passed by a small park and, in the distance, Maximus spotted a dilapidated house. The structure was in ruins and seemed abandoned for years. They cautiously approached the rusty gate, and with a whisper of "Alohomora," Maximus unlocked the padlock.
"Quick, inside," he ordered as he closed the door behind them.
The interior of the house was depressing: accumulated dust, broken furniture, and what appeared to be a bookshelf with a few tattered books. Maximus slowly climbed the creaking wooden stairs, inspecting the place. There were two rooms on the upper floor and a kitchen next to another room on the lower floor.
"Thomas, Arthur, take the room downstairs. Rachel, you'll stay with me upstairs," Maximus decided.
The refuge was temporary, a necessary stop while they found something more secure. However, before resting, Maximus addressed them all.
"Give me the books," he requested, extending his hand.
Rachel, Thomas, and Arthur handed him their books, which he had found and confiscated before leaving the church. Maximus meticulously examined their contents, seeking to better understand his companions' abilities.
Thomas and Arthur possessed basic knowledge, similar to that of a first-year at Hogwarts. Arthur had a bit more skill, with abilities equivalent to a halfway second-year student. Rachel, on the other hand, was different. Her theoretical knowledge was advanced, almost at a fifth-year level, although her practical skills in Transfiguration left much to be desired. However, in Potions, her knowledge was at a seventh-year level.
With this information, Maximus spent the night organizing his thoughts and outlining a plan. At dawn, he went to the living room and called everyone together.
"Rachel, you clearly have more knowledge. You'll be in charge of teaching the rest what you know, as best as possible. Also, I want all of you to practice wandless magic," he said, adopting an authoritative tone. "Right now, we don't have access to more wands, but I'll try to get more soon."
After the meeting, he waited for the moonlight to be at its peak. Once he ensured the streets were clear, he set out to explore, vaguely remembering that the Leaky Cauldron was located on Charing Cross Road. After consulting a map at a bus stop, he began wandering the streets until he found the place.
The pub looked as shabby as he remembered, nestled between two abandoned shops. He was about to pass it by when he saw the sign and a dim light illuminating the entrance.
"I should come back with something more to cover me."
Maximus moved away, determined to find a suitable refuge to establish their base. Not far from the pub, near a train station, he spotted an abandoned warehouse. The building was in relatively good shape despite its evident disuse.
"This will do," he thought and decided to move there the following day.
When he returned to the temporary house, he saw Rachel instructing the other two with determination.
"Tomorrow, we're moving," he announced curtly and went up to his room to meditate.
Before retiring, he left his wand downstairs so Rachel could practice her skills. He knew they would need her if they were to thrive in their next move.
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Author notes
I´ve opened a p4treo n so if you like my works you can support me there!, I have drawings, and maybe sometimes the chapter is a bit earlier also I´ve put polls there to vote for new arcs and storys anyways it´s only to support me if you like what I write, I will keep publishing here :).
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