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Mould-on-the-world was a small Northern English village whom sat at the edge of what people called insanity. Remote, with its worn down brick houses built in a line, slumped, as they have stood this way for countless centuries. Around them, wilderness grew reckless and unkept, and if one had not already known, this village could have been inexistent. 

This was one of the most ancient towns of wizardry, though few muggles did live there (ruralists, they called themselves)but they were most secretive, refusing to expose their life to a bunch of odd, funny-dressed neighbours.

Rodolphus kept a steely grip on Delphi's arm as they strutted down the soil covered street- no one had bothered to furnish a proper road, as they passed the dirty houses, Delphi could have sworn she saw strange, curious faces peek from behind the shutters. There were many places where bricks crumbled, roofs half collapsed, yet engraved on the door of every house, was an elegant gold number, addressing from 1 to 100.
The muddy path trailed to the far end of the road,  up the objected by a ferny hilltop, and there could be seen no more. 

It wasn't until they reached past the last of the houses, number 100 , when Rodolphus loosened his grip. Immediately, the girl snatched her hand away, she still did not trust Rodolphus, and this rural, unfamiliar place troubled her. 
The rickety fences lining each building cut short abruntly, leaving an odd open field between the houses an the hillside, yet no grass grew from between.
Silently, the man drew from his cloak, a wand. 
Delphi flinched, but Roldolphus did not use his wand, but simply examined it with great interest, and lowered it. He turned to Delphi.
"The home and hideout of I, Rodolphus Lestrange, can be found at number 101, Mould-on-the-World, Cumbria." 

"But there isn't-" 
"Think about what I said." said Roldolphus sharply. The sun has risen now, shining on his sallow, Azkaban worn face, and on the empty space beyond number 100. 
Slowly, the shape of a red bricked house, identical to the others, seemed to rise from the ground, and upon its faded wooden door, was the silver number, 101.

With a click, the clumsy door swung open, Rodophus stowed away his wand, reaching  what resembles a miniature porch,
"After you," he smiled.

Delphi looked aghast, but slowly led herself to enter Rodolphus Lestrange's secret lair.

***

"It's not much," said Rodolphus, showing Delphi into her new room, "But it was the best I could find, it must have belonged to an old wizarding family once, because it took months to break through all the enchantments...I've added a few of my own, too."

Delphi didn't speak, though secretly delighted, her little attic at the Malfoy's manor was nothing compared to what number 101 Mould-on-the-world had to offer: The celling so high it must have been stretched by magic; an old crystal chandelier hung from it; a large, four poster bed occupying one corner; light blue curtains of a silky material draped over the panel window, overlooking the rest of the village.
Indeed, it must have once belonged to a wizarding family, for her walls were covered in what looked like old copies of The Daily Prophet, pictures of strange men and women waving and smiling at the camera; Titles like "MILLICENT BAGNOLD AS NEW MINISTER OF MAGIC" or "GRINGOTTS CURSE-BREAKERS' CONTRACT WITH EGYPT CONFIRMED" 

Intrigued, Delphi reached out to examine it, but found that they were stuck so strong on the walls it didn't move an inch. 
"Ahh, permanent sticking charm," chuckled Rodolphus, who returned to the room, "But you'll have no use of these old papers, they are from over a century ago."
"Yes," he replied at Delphi's expression, "This house was unoccupied since, what? 1889?" he read off one of the newspapers, "No house elves either, I just found a nest of doxies in a cupboard..." he trailed off, the girl was looking at him with the most curious look on her face, a hint of a familiar smile played on her lips. The unexpected tightness in his chest returned, she looked too much, too much like-

"Er- why don't you come downstairs, Delphini, you must be hungry."





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⏰ Last updated: Oct 29, 2017 ⏰

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