|
The
|
two
|
men
|
appeared
|
out
|
of
|
nowhere,
|
a
|
few
|
yards
|
apart
|
in
|
the
|
narrow,
|
moonlit
|
lane.
|
For
|
a
|
second
|
they
|
stood
|
quite
|
still,
|
wands
|
directed
|
|
|
at
|
each
|
other's
|
chests;
|
then,
|
recognizing
|
each
|
other,
|
they
|
stowed
|
their
|
wands
|
beneath
|
their
|
cloaks
|
and
|
started
|
walking
|
briskly
|
in
|
the
|
same
|
direction.
|
"News?"
|
asked
|
|
|
the
|
taller
|
of
|
the
|
two.
|
"The
|
best,"
|
replied
|
Severus
|
Snape.
|
The
|
lane
|
was
|
bordered
|
on
|
the
|
left
|
by
|
wild,
|
low-
|
growing
|
brambles,
|
on
|
the
|
right
|
|
|
by
|
a
|
high,
|
neatly
|
manicured
|
hedge.
|
The
|
men's
|
long
|
cloaks
|
flapped
|
around
|
their
|
ankles
|
as
|
they
|
marched.
|
"Thought
|
I
|
might
|
be
|
late,"
|
said
|
Yaxley,
|
his
|
|
|
blunt
|
features
|
sliding
|
in
|
and
|
out
|
of
|
sight
|
as
|
the
|
branches
|
of
|
overhanging
|
trees
|
broke
|
the
|
moonlight.
|
"It
|
was
|
a
|
little
|
trickier
|
than
|
I
|
expected.
|
|
|
But
|
I
|
hope
|
he
|
will
|
be
|
satisfied.
|
You
|
sound
|
confident
|
that
|
your
|
reception
|
will
|
be
|
good?"
|
Snape
|
nodded,
|
but
|
did
|
not
|
elaborate.
|
They
|
turned
|
right,
|
|
|
into
|
a
|
wide
|
driveway
|
that
|
led
|
off
|
the
|
lane.
|
The
|
high
|
hedge
|
curved
|
with
|
them,
|
running
|
off
|
into
|
the
|
distance
|
beyond
|
the
|
pair
|
of
|
impressive
|
|
|
wrought-
|
iron
|
gates
|
barring
|
the
|
men's
|
way.
|
Neither
|
of
|
them
|
broke
|
step:
|
In
|
silence
|
both
|
raised
|
their
|
left
|
arms
|
in
|
a
|
kind
|
of
|
salute
|
and...
|
|