Quidditch Pitch, Hogwarts, 4/17/1993, 13:48
Harry was having a blast today. He had managed to set up the pickup game that he and Hannah had discussed earlier in the week. The game was even starting to draw in spectators when other students noticed them playing and came down to watch and cheer them on.
Harry was playing the keeper position today which wasn't all that different from seeking. If he was honest it was easier since the quaffle wasn't as difficult to see compared to a snitch and they moved much slower (depending on who was taking the shot).
Harry watched as Hannah flew towards him with the quaffle tucked under her arm, she got within twenty feet before pulling a hard left and raring her arm back and throwing the quaffle towards his left hoop.
Harry put on a burst of speed and just barely managed to smack the quaffle away from the goal much to Hannah's annoyance.
Unfortunately, he had not been able to get Hannah on his team this time around and his own chasers were not up to the same standards as the chasers on Hannah's team.
It didn't help that little Ginny Weasley was also a chaser on her team and was very good along with Fay Dunbar who was a natural flyer and was good with assists. The first year Slytherin in particular was wiping the floor with Dean, Justin, and Terry Boot who were Harry's chasers and only Harry's ability to block the hoops was keeping the opposing team from racking up a ridiculously high score.
Since there was no snitch, they were playing for a set amount of time, today it was ninety minutes. Whichever team had the highest score during that time would win. Unfortunately, his chasers had never played quidditch before and only Dean seemed to have much hand-eye coordination but he wasn't a strong flying having been raised in the muggle world, he had only started flying last year.
Harry was pulled back to the present as he saw Ginny Weasley streaking down the field on her borrowed school broom. A few seconds later he flew to block the right hoop and the quaffle soared through the centre hoop.
Harry had time to catch her shooting him a victorious smirk before he dived after the quaffle, catching it before it hit the ground. Harry rared back and hurled it toward the centre of the pitch and was relieved when Terry caught it before making a run for the goals guarded by Lisa Turpin.
Lisa was the only lucky break Harry had gotten today. She was a pretty good flyer but she didn't work well under pressure which Harry's team was benefitting from tremendously. Both teams were tied at eighty points apiece so far but that number would have been quite a bit different if it wasn't for Lisa.
Harry's beaters were also pretty good if a bit slow compared to Fred and George. Seamus could hit the bludger with tremendous force and Ernie McMillan has a knack for knocking the quaffle right out of someone's hands with a well-aimed bludger.
Hannah had Lily Moon and Daphne as her beaters who were both much better than he expected, considering their petite sizes.
Harry watched in dismay as Hannah intercepted Terry's shot, smacking the quaffle so it flew into Ginny's awaiting hands. Ginny tore down the pitch weaving between Dean and Justin with relative ease making a beeline for his centre goal.
Harry remembered the trick she had pulled earlier and stayed in his position waiting for her to take the shot. As he watched her rare back to take the shot, he couldn't help but feel grateful she wasn't on the Slytherin team this year.
An hour later the eleven second-years and the single first-year touched down on the pitch after the game had timed out. The final score was one-hundred and twenty to one hundred with Hannah's team in the lead.
"I think we may have to do this again," Hannah said cheerfully as she offered Harry her hand.
"Yeah that would be great," Harry agreed as he shook her offered hand.
"If you ever lose your spot as seeker, you may have a future as the Gryffindor keeper," Hannah quipped as some of the flyers took to the air again.
"Hey, Potter?" a voice asked to his right.
Harry turned to see a nervous-looking Ginny Weasley standing before him, her face flushing when they made eye contact.
"Yeah?" Harry asked a bit curious as to why she seemed so nervous.
"Do you mind if I try out your Nimbus?" Ginny asked hopefully.
"Yeah, if you want," Harry shrugged as he offered her the broom.
"Thank you," Ginny said as took the offered broom and gave him a grateful smile.
"You should try out next year, Flint is supposed to graduate so there should be a spot open," Harry suggested as he watched her mount the broom and prepare to kick off.
"I've thought about it," Ginny admitted before she kicked off hard and shot into the air like a missile.
"That was nice of you," Hannah said giving him an approving smile.
"Well I know that she knows how to fly so I don't think that she'll take a nosedive into the pitch," Harry shrugged.
"True," Hannah nodded as she looped her arm through his and began guiding him over to the empty stands.
"And if she does break it, I can talk Sirius into buying me a Firebolt," Harry smirked.
"Keep dreaming, those brooms aren't even on sale to the public yet," Hannah chuckled as the two of them sat down on the front row of what was usually the Hufflepuff stands.
"They aren't. I heard that the World Cup league teams have been buying the first production runs directly from Firebolt Brooms," Harry admitted as he watched Ginny pull out of a steep dive before shooting up to playing height once again.
"I am hoping to get a Nimbus for my birthday," Hannah said as she leaned into his side and rested her head on his shoulder so she could watch the flyers overhead.
"I hope that wasn't a hint," Harry said feeling his face heat up as her breath blow across his cheek.
"No. You don't even know when my birthday is," Hannah giggled.
"August seventh, it's eight days after mine," Harry said causing her to jerk her head to look up at him.
"How did you know that?" Hannah exclaimed, sounding genuinely surprised
"Susan used to go to your party every year," Harry shrugged.
"And you would never come with her," Hannah pointed out, giving him a knowing look.
"You two made me join your tea party the first time that I came over to your house. After that, I didn't want to go anymore," Harry defended, regretting that the excise sounded so lame.
"That was Susan's doing," Hannah sighed.
"Figures," Harry muttered as he draped his arm over her shoulder.
"Narcissa and her friends demonstrated having a tea party in one of our lessons and Susie wanted to be all grown up like them," Hannah explained, her voice soft as she watched Ginny pushing the Nimbus to its limits.
"Sounds like her," Harry chuckled trying to ignore the sweet fruity scent of her shampoo filling his nostrils.
"Can I tell you a secret?" Hannah whispered into his ear.
"Y-yeah," Harry nodded and turned to meet her gaze.
"I hated those boring tea parties too but Mum said that I had to be a polite host," Hannah said, her face colouring from how close their faces were to one another.
"Oh," Harry said dumbly feeling very aware of her soft green eyes staring into his own.
"Are you two going to kiss or what?" A familiar voice drawled making them both jump apart.
Looking up they saw Ginny Weasley hovering about ten feet above them, grinning widely at them both.
"I thought you were flying," Harry scowled.
"I just saw you two lovebirds from the air and thought I would help you out," Ginny said looking pleased with their reaction.
"Do you remember that spell Sirius used to use on you at the beach?" Hannah asked as she glared up at the redhead hovering over them.
"Sure do," Harry smirked as he drew his wand.
"What spell?" Ginny asked curiously.
"Augamenti," Harry exclaimed, shooting a jet of water that narrowly missed Ginny.
"Augamenti," Hannah called a second later.
"Watch it!" Ginny exclaimed as the jet of cold water coming out of Hannah's wand nearly hit her in the face.
Harry brought his own wand up again but Ginny had taken the hint and flew away before Harry could finish the incantation.
"You can tell she is the youngest Weasley," Hannah sighed as she glared at Ginny's form that was now flying high above the pitch.
"True, that reminded me of something Edgar would do," Harry chuckled as he slipped his wand back into his arm holster.
The two of them passed the rest of the afternoon out on the pitch either flying their brooms in a game of aerial tag or relaxing in the stands watching others fly. Harry felt a bit disappointed that Hannah kept a bit of distance from him after Ginny's earlier interruption but he pushed it from his mind and just enjoyed a rare Saturday free from the distractions of schoolwork.
Riddle Manor, Little Hangleton, 5/5/1993, 23: 26
Voldemort was sitting behind the desk in his study as he stared into the eyes of the man bowing before him.
He knew the time was drawing nearer to put his plans into motion, and if all went to plan, he would catch the ministry completely by surprise.
"John, what news do you have for me?" Voldemort asked, looking at the man who was still dressed in his red auror robes.
"The capture of Snyde earned me a commendation, my lord," Dawlish exclaimed.
"I had hoped this task would improve your standing within the ministry," Voldemort admitted.
"It has, my lord. Bones has even hinted that she may promote me to captain," Dawlish bragged, sounding very pleased with himself.
"But you have still not been given the location of the prison?" Voldemort pressed.
"No, my lord," Dawlish said sounding genuinely regretful.
"Then you are not very well trusted by Amelia Black," Voldemort mused out loud.
"No, my lord. There was an... Incident involving myself and a Daily Prophet reporter that just about cost me my job a few years back," Dawlish explained sounding embarrassed.
"It is of no consequence. When we take the ministry, I will personally appoint you as the head of the DMLE, Auror Dawlish," Voldemort promised, feeling pleased when Dawlish's eyes lit up at the prospect of having such power.
"Stay loyal to me and your ambitions will be achieved, John," Voldemort assured him.
"Yes my lord," Dawlish answered sounding very eager.
"Now onto other matters. Have you discovered anything about Harry Peverell?" Voldemort questioned.
"I have, my lord. Rumour around the auror department is that he is throwing his children a birthday party at the Montrose Magpies stadium on the ninth of May," Dawlish answered.
"That could work in our favour though it is a pity that the game won't be played at night," Voldemort mused.
"Black was also bragging that he had reserved one of the luxury boxes for the party," Dawlish added.
"Find out which box," Voldemort ordered.
"It will be done," Dawlish promised
"Excellent, I do believe that some of my faithful should go see a quidditch match," Voldemort said, a familiar grin twisting his thin lips.
"The Arrows are on fire this year, my lord," Dawlish said looking even more pleased with himself than before.
"They will be if I have anything to say about it," Voldemort said, his smile getting even wider and much more sinister.
"I would like to see that match," Dawlish muttered wistfully.
"I am sure you would. Now, I must ask you to leave, John. I have other matters to attend to this evening and you have some information to acquire for me," Voldemort said as he gestured towards the door.
"Of course, my lord," Dawlish agreed at once before turning on his heel and sweeping from the room.
The timing was a bit premature but if everything went to plan, he could kill two birds with one stone in this attack. Harry Peverell had been a pebble in his shoe for years, if he could send a team to take out the Peverells, it would make for a wonderful distraction for the team that would be rescuing his followers.
Now he just had to find a way to appease Bethany and her vampires as he had promised them a part in freeing his servants but vampires were not very effective during the daylight hours. This meant that he couldn't utilize them in either attack.
Perhaps an offering was required and he had one in mind that may ease any ill will felt by Bethany for not involving her vampires in the attack.
Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, London, 5/12/1993, 17:23
Sirius took his usual place at the table noting that Moody was absent as were Frank and the two auror cadets. Though the last two didn't surprise him very much, the academy was notorious for confining first and second-year cadets to the camp.
Sirius took a seat across from Alice, catching the woman's attention as she heard his chair sliding across the floor.
"Where is Frank?" Sirius asked by way of greeting.
"The second years are doing their qualifiers before they sit their exams. Frank is running the qualifiers with them," Alice explained.
"It'll be nice when the academy lets out," Sirius mused, thinking that it would be nice to see Tonks again.
"Tell me about it, I haven't seen Frank since Christmas," Alice sighed.
Sirius knew from experience that the qualifiers and final exams would finish out the cadets' time at the academy. Once they finished their examinations, they were free to return home until September.
"My cousin will be entering her third-year next fall," Sirius beamed.
"The third year was my favourite during my academy days," Alice admitted.
"Anything beats the first year," Sirius snorted.
"So, how is Amy? Alice asked.
"She's doing good. Things are finally starting to calm down after that fiasco at Gringotts," Sirius chuckled.
"Good, though I do wish she would slow down a bit," Alice sighed.
"Tell me about it, the woman is a workaholic," Sirius muttered as he watched Minerva enter the kitchen.
"I think she wants the top spot," Alice said.
"I do too," Sirius agreed not sounding thrilled at the prospect of his wife becoming minister.
"You couldn't pay me enough to take that job, it drove Gus mad," Alice said as she glanced over at the door.
"How is Harry getting on in your lessons?" Sirius asked in a not-so-subtle attempt to change the subject.
"He's doing very well, he has a knack for the subject. I've noticed that he has been spending a lot of time with the Abbott," Alice said giving him a knowing look grin.
"I thought something would happen between those two after the way they were acting last Summer," Sirius said a fond smile playing on his lips.
"Little Susie has gotten herself a boyfriend as well," Alice added.
"That'll be Edward's problem, not mine," Sirius beamed as Albus and Snape entered the room.
Alice didn't reply as the room fell silent, all eyes watching the new arrivals as they took their seats.
"Thank you for meeting with me today. Severus has informed me that Lord Voldemort is planning something big in the next weeks and I thought it imperative that you were all made aware of this," Dumbledore began.
"How big?" Kingsley asked, sounding resigned.
"He has ordered Dolihov to run select teams through training drills every weekend for the past month," Snape answered.
"That is troubling," Elphias mused.
"I believe he is planning on attacking a key target, perhaps even the ministry itself," Dumbledore admitted.
"That would be paramount to suicide. After the attack last fall, the security has been strengthened tremendously," Arthur pointed out.
"Perhaps but the ministry is not the only target of value to Lord Voldemort," Dumbledore said.
"He could be planning to attack the school," Sirius suggested.
"I have considered that. Though the school has never been more secure. All of the secret tunnels have been sealed up and I engage the siege wards every evening at sundown. It would take a substantial attack to enter the castle and then the attackers would have to contend with myself and my staff and I assure you, the professors of Hogwarts are quite formidable in their own right," Dumbledore said, giving Sirius a reassuring smile.
His words seemed to ease some of the fears of order members who had children attending Hogwarts. Sirius was not ruling out the possibility of Voldemort attacking the school. The best surprise attacks were carried out on targets thought to be invulnerable.
"So the ministry is the most likely target," Kingsley put forth.
"Not necessarily, any place with a large gathering of witches and wizards would make a tempting target for Lord Voldemort, he is at his heart, an opportunist," Dumbledore corrected.
"Lovely, this is starting to feel more and more like last time," Sirius sighed.
"Unfortunately Tom has reverted to his old methods. They have been quite successful in the past," Dumbledore sighed.
"His newer methods weren't very effective," Bill reasoned.
"It didn't help that the Reaper has been attacking his forces for years," Sirius beamed.
"Indeed," Dumbledore nodded.
"So we should all practice constant vigilance?" Alice questioned.
"That about sums it up, you should all be aware of your surroundings in public places," Dumbledore agreed.
"Lovely, I reckon I'll stay home," Podmore muttered.
"I do have some good news to share with you all. Miss Merula Snyde was recently apprehended in Knockturn Alley," Dumbledore proclaimed, getting pleased looks from many at the table.
"From what I've learned, Dawlish picked her up at a seedy bar," Kingsley snorted.
"I hope he didn't wine and dine her like he did that Skeeter bint," Podmore muttered causing Sirius to snigger.
"Dawlish and his partner caught her as she was leaving the bar reeking of fire whiskey," Kingsley chuckled.
"What have you learned during her interrogations?" Dumbledore asked, looking down the table at the senior auror.
"Very little. She has either been obliviated or a block has been placed on her mind. Even under the effects of veritaserum, she hasn't given us any useful information," Kingsley admitted, frustration evident in his tone.
"Well we have her now and she was Voldemort's liaison with the vampires," Dumbledore said sounding a bit too cheerful.
"How are our own meetings going with the vampires?" Bill asked looking genuinely curious.
"Quite well, Miss Tonks seems to have developed a rapport with the leader of the coven. I met with her myself very recently and I feel that we are close to coming to an agreement," Dumbledore proclaimed.
"You know that vampires are notorious for breaking agreements with wizards when it suits them," Alice pointed out.
"I am well aware," Dumbledore nodded.
"So it would be wise to have contingencies in place to deal with them in the event that they double-cross us," Alice continued.
"I do believe what I offered them is something they can get from nowhere else... Or rather, they can not acquire it in the quantities as I am offering," Dumbledore amended when he caught Snape's quirked eyebrow.
"What exactly are you offering them, Albus?" Minerva questioned.
"Fresh magical blood," Dumbledore beamed.
"What poor sod are you bleeding out?" Sirius exclaimed.
"I am donating the blood. Severus has developed a potion that will make a small quantity of blood into a very large quantity in the span of about six hours," Dumbledore explained.
"That potion could have a lot of medical applications!" Dedalus Diggle exclaimed.
"I have already applied for a patent and presented the recipe to the Potions Association board to begin initial testing," Severus admitted.
"I am still not convinced working with vampires is a good idea," Sirius said and got many nods of agreement from others at the table.
"I am trying to keep them out of the fighting. The last thing we need is another side to this war," Dumbledore explained.
"I agree but it might be better to just eliminate them entirely," Sirius argued.
"I believe even attempting that would be a disaster for our cause," Dumbledore said, giving Sirius a disapproving look.
"If they double-cross us it could be just as disastrous," Sirius rebutted.
"I am well aware of the risks, Sirius," Dumbledore said with just a hint of impatience in his voice.
"I hope so because it's my cousin you're putting at risk," Sirius shot back.
The rest of the meeting passed with talks of strategy in the event of an attack and Dumbledore asked for volunteers to keep watch over Hogsmeade of the evenings. Sirius was almost certain that wherever the attack would be, a single order member wouldn't make much difference.
Soon the meeting broke up and Sirius was one of the first out of the door, feeling as he just as frustrated as he usually did after these meetings.
As he stepped into the floo to go pick up Edgar from his uncle's house, Sirius wondered where this attack Snape had mentioned would take place and if the order would make any difference in the outcome or if they would be too late to do anything, as was usually the case.
Montrose Stadium, 5/9/1993, 14:39
Harry was sitting in the private box that Sirius had rented for the twins' birthday. The game was just starting to really get going and both sides were putting on a terrific show as the Montrose casers effortlessly weaved their way through the opposition as they raced towards the Arrows goals.
The box was packed with almost a dozen children from Carina and Ignotus' classes with Narcissa. Astoria, Edgar, and Devon Brown were the most prominent and the only ones he could name but there were a few other children Harry vaguely remembered from his own time at Hogwarts.
The kids were crowded around the railing looking over the pitch as they cheered on the Magpies. Sirius was right in between the twins cheering just as loudly as they were with Edgar on his shoulders.
The Greengrass parents, Lord and Lady Brown, and Narcissa were enjoying the match as much as the children were though they were seated with Harry watching the game over the children's heads.
Unfortunately, Bellatrix had decided not to attend and Andromeda had opted to stay at Peverell Manor with her. Bella had admitted that she was too far along in her pregnancy to be climbing twenty flights of stairs to the top box but assured him she would watch the game in her pensieve later that evening.
The family had already held a private get-together the previous Friday for the twins' actual birthday so Bella could watch them open their presents but the children had a second party today before the game started.
The table on the back wall of the box was still laden with food from the party and the ceiling of the box was decorated with streamers and banners that read 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY IGNOTUS AND CARINA!'
Harry hoped the twins didn't expect to be thrown two parties every year but this year it was necessary due to Bella's pregnancy.
"Black, sit down, you're right in the way!" Jonathan exclaimed pulling Harry from his musings.
Harry watched Sirius lower Edgar from his shoulders before the Black lord joined the rest of the adults in the seating area.
"Oh lighten up, Greengrass," Sirius chuckled as he plopped down in a chair to Harry's left.
"This is the first match I've been able to watch in a year and the last thing I want is for some berk blocking the wife's view for most of the game," Jonathan said never looking away from the players overhead.
"Such chivalry," Roxanne muttered while rolling her eyes at her husband, not that he seemed to notice.
"You're just lucky my wife isn't here or she would curse you out of the way," Harry smirked as the Arrows keeper blocked a shot from the Magpies' centre chaser.
"I am not opposed to filling in for my sister, if Sirius keeps misbehaving," Narcissa offered, causing Sirius to jerk his head and glance over at the Malfoy Matriarch in alarm.
"I thought I had gotten a break from my cousins today," Sirius muttered as he looked away from his smirking cousin.
"She's not going to curse you... here," Harry said smacking Sirius on the back.
"Why do you say that?" Jonathan asked sounding almost... disappointed.
"Too many witnesses," Michael Brown cut in, looking highly amused at their conversation.
"Drat, I suppose that I will just have to resort to other methods to punish my cousin," Narcissa said with a put-upon sigh.
"Are they always like this?" Harry heard Missus Brown whisper to Roxanne.
"Oh quite, Lord Black is always egging Cissa and her sisters on until one of them ends up cursing him," Roxanne whispered back causing her husband to snort in amusement.
"Oi, Jonathan control your wife's cheek," Sirius exclaimed dramatically as the Arrows scored a goal causing the other side of the stadium to roar its approval.
"I've been trying to do that for twenty years, mate," Jonathan shrugged.
"And it hasn't worked yet," Roxanne smirked.
"Too true," Jonathan agreed as the Magpies' keeper hurled the quaffle across the pitch to one of his team's chasers.
"The arrows are doing quite well today," Narcissa mused as one of the Applebee beaters sent a well-aimed bludger that knocked the quaffle out of a magpies chaser's hands.
"In all fairness, the Magpies aren't as strong this year," Lord Brown pointed out.
"Applebee is certainly on top form," Harry grinned as their left chaser scored yet another goal causing the people in the stands around them to groan in disappointment.
"Well they had better shape up, I have twenty galleons riding on this game," Jonathan muttered.
"Surely you're not gambling, dear?" Roxanne asked, giving her husband a disapproving look.
"Just a friendly wager with Sirius," Jonathan assured her ignoring the smirk Sirius shot his way.
"Did you see that shot, Dad?" Iggy called back looking nothing short of ecstatic.
"I sure did, Son," Harry chuckled as the Magpies chasers take another run at the Arrows goals.
Harry had to admit this was shaping up to be a wonderful birthday party. The children were having a wonderful time and the adults seemed to be enjoying themselves if the smile on Narcissa's usually emotionless face was anything to go by.
Harry was pulled from his thoughts as a fiery explosion rocked the fields from the stands directly across from them. Harry watched in horror as people were thrown out of the stands to the pitch below as thick black smoke filled the air.
Screams echoed over the stands as people on the Arrows side of the stadium pushed and shoved their way to the exits to escape the flames that were starting to consume the wooden stands around them.
"We have to get out of here!" Missus Brown gasped as she looked over at her husband in alarm.
"We do but we have to stay together," Harry muttered as the children gathered around Narcissa, terror evident on their faces.
Harry's eyes narrowed as a familiar glowing mark appeared in the sky over high the stadium causing new screams of terror from the crowd.
"Guess we know who started the fire," Jonathan muttered darkly.
Ministry Holding Facility, Location Classified, 5/9/1993, 15:01
Merula felt her mark burn painfully pulling her from her boredom-induced stupor. It took her a few seconds to realize what this meant but she quickly slid off of her cot and knelt on the stone floor of her cell.
Taking the index finger of her right hand, she pressed it to her mark and channelled her magic into it like she normally would to send a distress signal.
Unimaginable pain shot through her body starting at the mark and travelling all the way to the tips of her fingers and toes. Her very skin felt like it was on fire, like she was wrapped in white hot flames as foreign magic travelled through her body, channelled through her mark. Her cell was lit up with a blinding green iridescent light as the runes on her body lit up pulsing in tune with her rapidly beating heart.
The burning pain intensified as the runes got brighter and brighter. Her fingers and toes were now emitting beams of brilliant green light that were so bright it burned into her retinas even with her eyes tightly shut.
An anguished scream tore from her throat as the magical energy flowing through her body increased and she felt a tearing pain in her chest. The pain was so deep in her chest and made it so she could not draw breath, silencing her screams.
Suddenly the very floor she was standing on began to shake violently as an alarm that sounded similar to a caterwauling charm sounded over the entire complex.
Seconds later the pain in her chest flared and and almighty 'CRASH' sounded over her head as a powerful wave of magic radiated with Merula as its centre.
Immediately the pressure in her chest eased up and Merula drew in deep lungfuls of air, feeling relieved that she had survived the ordeal. Merula tried to rise to her feet but her legs wouldn't support her and she landed painfully on her knees with her head spinning dizzyingly.
Idly, Merula noticed her fingers no longer had nails, the runes burnt into them now just plain white scars as they were no longer charged with magic. Merula felt herself losing consciousness but was jerked back into wakefulness as a massive explosion tore through the building raining dust on her from the ceiling above.
'BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!'
Merula looked down at her dark mark expecting it to be burning jet black letting her know that her master was so close by. She was shocked to see that her mark was a pale grey colour and appeared to be fading before her very eyes.
Merula didn't have time to ponder this as her cell door was blasted inward a second before a tall figure clad in black robes and a skull mask entered her cell.
Merula waa roughly hoisted to her feet before she felt sonething shoved into her hand.
"Trojan horse," the dearh eater grunted.
Instantly, Merula felt a pull behind her navel as the thimble portkey was activated taking her away from the dreary cell that she had occupied for the past few weeks.
As she was sucked into the blue vortex she associated with portkeys, Merula couldn't help but feel anxious about what task the dark lord would set her next.