Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to JK Rowling's characters. Any characters that are not from the world of Harry Potter are of my sole creation and I own the rights to them.

Special Thanks:xxstarlightxxdreamerxx

Author's Note – A Queleshe is a traditional Albanian hat and depending on the region, the hat will be shaped differently. Since this story takes place close to Tirana, Albania, the hat will be cone-shaped.

Chapter 9

Tom ran his hands over the wooden bar table. His eyes scanned the room like a stealthy cat. Normally, he would never have dreamt of being caught dead in here. It was a common bar that smelled of cheap beer and sweat. However, he knew that a seedy bar equaled seedy people and, in the wizarding world as well as the muggle world, that never ended in anything good. He smiled to himself, for; he knew that he was in the right spot.

A man sat down next to him. His face shrouded deep within a dark hood. The dim lighting cast harsh shadows over his hands; making them look wider and more menacing than they probably were. Pipe smoke billowed from the depths of his hood; deeply scented of vanilla and tobacco. "You should go home," the man said between puffs.

The hooded man did not turn towards him, but Tom knew that he was being addressed. Tom stayed silent.

"I have seen many people like you. I have seen power hungry people that will stop at nothing until they obtain immortality; die because they do not understand their own limits. Go home before it claims your life."

"People like me?" Tom spoke up, "You presume to know what I want. What do you think I want?"

A man entered the tavern. He wore a simple white shirt and a Queleshe. He seemed to be a simple peasant but Tom could feel that there was something different about him. The peasant's overall aura seemed to give off an elated feeling as though he had come to the tavern to celebrate. It seemed as though this man had a secret and was so happy about it that he could have burst with good cheer.

Tom tried to keep the sly smile from creeping upon his lips. He could see the peasant man's thoughts. He saw the man peering into the hollow of a tree. He could feel the man's glee at the glinting object that lay within his grasp. This was what he had come here for, but he had not expected that someone else would have found it.

There was silence as more smoke wafted from beneath the man's hood. A thick, stifling cloud of smoke began to accumulate around him and the hooded man. Tom waved his hand to clear away some of the dense smoke as he tried to keep an eye on the peasant and figure out the hooded man. Tom waited for the man to speak. However, minutes passed by and nothing was said.

Tom cleared his throat, "Are you going to answer my question?"

"No."

"Why not?" Tom raised an eyebrow.

"Because you already know the answer," the hooded man stood up to leave.

Tom stood in front of the man, "You seem to know an awful lot about me and I know nothing about you." An idea struck Tom, "Where were you last night?"

The hooded man paused in step, "So many questions."

Tom smirked, "For someone that told me to go home after just meeting them for the first time, I'd say that I was entitled to questions."

"Some questions are best left unanswered." And with that, the hooded man walked past Tom and out into the night.

Tom stared after the closed tavern door. He was quite certain that this might have been the man that had peered into the hotel window. But, he didn't want to give up the chance to speak to the peasant. He was torn between following the hooded man and following his dark heart's desire.

Lara tried to read a book, but her eyes kept on diverting to the clock on the wall. The pendulum swung with each second and she found herself counting the seconds as they passed. She shook her head and thought, "Come on, Lara! This is preposterous. You could easily go home to England. What is holding you back?"

She sighed and her shoulders slumped as she set the book aside and crossed towards the window. She answered herself, "That's easy. Love."

She squinted when she saw the vague shape of a man walking towards the window. It was not Tom. Tom had a distinct, almost regal way of carrying himself when he walked. This man had a slight limp as though he had once been injured. It was too dark to tell if he was walking towards her or away from here. The seconds that passed by felt like an eternity as she stood by the window watching and when it dawned on her that he was indeed walking towards the window; she could barely move. The man was surrounded in a cloud of smoke and wore his hood so far over his face that she could not identify him.

Though Lara did not know why, she opened the window, "Hello?"

"You are not safe here." The man whispered.

Lara's eyebrows crinkled, "Who are you?"

The man took his hood down. Lara gasped, for, it was her older brother, Oberon. He was a hit wizard and took his job very seriously. So seriously, that he had a bed reserved for him at St. Mungo's along with the rest of the department.

"Oberon?" Lara's eyed widened, "Why are you here?"

"Is he here?"

"Who?"

"Don't play dumb, Lara." Her brother sent her a stern look, "You know to whom I am referring."

"Not here," Lara cleared her throat, "And since when do you smoke?"

"Don't change the subject." Her brother paused for a beat, "You need to leave now and when we get back to England, you're going to go under a Wizard Protection Program. He cannot know where you are. Do you understand?"

"Yes, but, you don't understand. I know that if I leave, he will find me. I cannot escape him and I don't think I ever can. If I leave, he will find me and my family. I am in danger that much I know. But, I put everyone in danger if I leave."

"I've already picked the perfect place for you."

"Where?"

"With Aunt Bathilda."

"What?" Lara shook her head, "No. I'm not staying with her. She's- she's odd and her house smells like butter and moth balls."

"It was either her or the Jorkins Family."

She heard the doorknob turn and gasped, but, before she could say a word, Oberon, had vanished. Secretly, she was glad to have her brother around but she did not want Tom to hurt him or vice versa. She turned around as Tom wandered into the room holding a wooden box.

He stood in front of her and narrowed his eyes. Before Lara could breathe, he was in front of her, his wand at her throat. In the dim lighting, he looked even more snake-like than ever.

"Who were you talking to?"

Lara had just about had it. She wanted to punch him until he was on the ground asking for mercy. She wanted to scream until her throat went raw. In all of this madness, Lara could feel her anger grow.

"I was reading out loud."

He stared vacantly at her. Lara looked away from his stare as he said in a silky voice, "I can read your mind. Such anger and hatred and," he paused not wanting to say the word.

She looked down, "What would you have done if I had been talking to someone?"

"Kill them."

She took in a shaky breath, "What would you do if I tried to leave?"

"You wouldn't." He did not say that like a question, but rather like an order.

"But, if I tried?"

Hearing the desperation in her voice, Tom shook his head, "You will not be able to escape this room. You will not be able to leave."

Before Lara could protest, the windows and the door became encased in brick. Lara's eyes widened and she finally understood the immensity of his power, for; he did not use his wand. "A wandless spell," Lara whispered.

He smiled sarcastically, "Find your way out now."

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