When the two reappeared, they were standing in a dim alley.
The alley was narrow, with towering brick walls on either side covered in Muggle graffiti. At the far end stood a black iron gate bearing an emblem Will did not recognize.
Lucius released his arm, took a bundle from his cloak, and handed it to him.
"Please put this on."
Will opened the bundle. Inside was a black hooded robe, its fabric thick and possessed of an indescribable texture, as though it could block something out. He asked no questions, simply slipping it over his clothes and pulling up the hood.
Lucius looked him over and nodded. "Follow me."
They passed through the iron gate and entered an abandoned building.
The interior was far larger than it appeared from outside. Peeling paint and cracks covered the walls, and broken glass and scraps of paper littered the floor. Several people in identical black robes stood in the middle of the room. At the sound of footsteps, they all turned.
Corban Yaxley stood at the front. His face looked particularly gaunt in the dim light, his eyes like two black holes, betraying no emotion.
"Mr. Behrens," he said, his voice as rough as scraping sandpaper. "You're just in time. I'm about to go over the plan. Oh, and you'll be with Crouch—Barty Crouch Jr. You two will handle the Time-Turner."
Will said nothing. He merely nodded slightly and glanced at Barty Crouch Jr.
Yaxley spread the parchment across the table and pointed his wand at the finely drawn map on it.
"The Department of Mysteries is on Level Nine underground," he said, tracing a dotted line on the map with his finger. "There should be only six Aurors guarding the main entrance and two at the side entrance. Our inside contact