Chapter Text
Dusted rotted the city.
Long from the smooth grey polished stone that once filled Diagon Alley. That click under the rumble of canes and pattering feet. Once used to the traffic that filled the shops and the alleys throughout the day.
The war had destroyed the structural integrity of the rows of shops. Nearly every window was splinted littering the grounds and empty stores with shards of glass. The stores nothing more than empty rooms haunting the dark mouths that breathed silence..
The lights flickered on and off and all that was left was acheing silence.
Her boots muffled quietly against the bitter grorund the brown dust coating the worn black leather. Eyes scanning the empty rows waiting for the silence to break. The feeling that settled in her stomache was sharp. Her instincts sceraming in her ear to look behind her.
The feeling that something was watching her. Crawling up her spin as she quickly worked her way down.
Flourish and Bolts.
It wasn’t often she found herself back here. She was being pulled away from this more and more but called to it far often. She had to change the locations. It was the only sure way she wouldn’t be caught.
It was dangerous enough, perhaps stupid enough. Desperation taunting her as she concealed her plan.
Everything was precise. From the location to the sachel she placed the pills into. She was faceless her mask covering her eyes and her mouth. Her hair tried up under her cloak. The amount of charms was sick, layered and caked on her suffocating her breathe.
She settled against what was left of the building, tucked into the corner. Her eyes scanned the dark for moving shadows. Her wand clutched in her hand.
The wind rustled against her ear and she turned hearing the smallest tap against stone. Her eyes caught a figure moving closer and closer. Flourish and Bolts she had written on the small peice of paper.
Desperation was a two way street in war.
Ashe.
Thats all she needed to hear.
The cloaked figure dressed not far from her, long boots and a long hooded cloak. She wondered who was under it? Who was it this time.
It seemed like another tact on her back. Another one to add to the list. Death plagued them bitting at them with no stop, no remorse. She hardly could think that You-Kn- that he felt remorse. That in his sick and twisted mind and body he felt vindicated.
Rage settled into you like sleep. Crawling up in the moment of rest and silence.
Whoever it was wasn’t much taller than her. Perhaps two inches taller than her.
Her wand was ready the magic thrumming against her palm. Her magic at the tips of her finger. She had her wand still. Many wern’t that lucky.
She began closing the distance watching as a pair of eyes shone back at her. Brown and soft she searched for familiarity in those eyes. Finding nothing.
She waited-
Five seconds Hermione, give them five seconds.
“ Ashe” it came out clipped and soft.
A woman.
“ You know the price” she responded trying not to lower it despite the glamour.
Scrambing hand in pocket and shoved out to her palm up. The woman reeked of fear—her body tremblibg just standing.
“ Yes-Yes 4 galleons per pill” she whispered.
She counted the coins almost as fast as she grabbed them. Like a once greedy child. Silently she placed them into her pocket and pulled hers out.
Hermione repeated the words like always, like a actor off a script.
“ 5 pills”. Theres no going back.
Handing the five pills placed into the small red satchet.
“ It touches your tongue you’re dead. No reversal. No saving. Phoenix tears won’t work. You take it you’re dead.”
Her words were blunt and cut.
“ Okay” The woman turned and disapered.
That was the cost of war Hermione thought.
She just sold a woman death.