A/N. Welcome to the official sequel of Not Like This! I hadn't planned to write one originally, but plenty of the reviewers of Not Like This were asking for one, and I rather liked the idea, so here it is! If you're reading this now and haven't read Not Like This, kindly exit this fanfiction and proceed to the prequel, please and thank you!
Blanket disclaimer: I do not own anything in the Harry Potter franchise. Unfortunately.
Random plug: a fan of Not Like This created a trailer for the fanfic! If you haven't seen it, go check it out .com/watch?v=KjQ50wlsTX8. It's quite good.
Hoping to get as much love in this fic as Not Like This! And without further ado, I present the prologue (which is basically a more detailed version of the teaser I left at the very end of Not Like This). Enjoy!
xxxxx
The night was cold for September. The forest was quiet, save for the occasional hoot of an owl. A fox stole silently through the bushes, tracking a rabbit. The trail ended in a small clearing, and it stopped, sniffing the air. It started back as a loud crack echoed through the night. Two figures appeared in the clearing, panting, bathed in moonlight. One of them waved something and a fire sprang up from the ground. The other circled the clearing, muttering. The fox felt its hair stand on its end. Its skin tingled, and it whimpered and ran away.
The other figure finished circling and sat by the fire, holding its hands close to the heat. Once illuminated, the blood on one of the wrists was clear. They sat in silence, staring into the fire with deadened eyes. The figure with bloodied wrists shifted closer to the fire, which illuminated his white blonde hair and gaunt features. He was shivering. The other figure remained in shadow.
"Where are we?" The blonde one broke the silence.
"The Forest of Dean." The other voice was weary.
"A forest?"
"Yes, a forest." Unconcealed exasperation.
"Nature," the blonde sighed, revulsion in every syllable.
"They might not think to come here."
The blonde just grunted. There was more silence between them. The small fire crackled and snapped merrily, and the blonde huddled near it in obvious relief. He broke the silence again. "Is there any food?"
There was a rustling noise. A small package was tossed over to the blonde. He opened it. "What in Merlin's name is Cap'N'Crunch?" he asked in an incredulous voice.
"Muggle cereal."
"Why do you have Muggle cereal?"
The other one did not reply. The blonde reluctantly opened the packet of cereal with distaste, crunched on a few stale pieces. It was better than nothing. "Do you want cereal?" he eventually asked.
"No."
"Mm." More crunching noises. Then a pause. "Did you hear that?"
The other figure stood up from the shadows. A rustling noise was coming from a nearby clump of trees, and there was something that sounded suspiciously like whispering. The blonde stamped out the fire, kicked away the ashes and burnt grass. The other one leaned over and grabbed the blonde's arm. "Hurry."
The last of the embers died. A cloud passed over the moon; the clearing was plunged into darkness. As suddenly as they came, the two figures vanished.
