The afternoon sky over London was gray and heavy with rain, like a rag ready to be wrung out. Will found the weather oddly relaxing.
Gringotts.
"Mr. Behrens?" Roy stood behind him, clutching a golden key. The Lestrange family crest was engraved on its handle, glinting dully in the afternoon light. "Shall we go in?"
Will drew back his gaze and nodded.
They had just entered the hall when a familiar, gravelly voice sounded behind Will.
"Roy Lestrange."
Will and Roy turned together.
A man stood at the foot of the steps in a dark gray traveling cloak. His hair had not yet gone white, and his face had few wrinkles, but it was crisscrossed with scars. One eye was a normal dark brown; the other was a bright blue magical eye that spun wildly.
It was Moody.
"Moody." Roy waved in greeting. They knew each other well, and Roy was one of the few members of the Pure-blood families who supported Dumbledore.
Moody's magical eye swung from Roy to Will, making several rotations. "New friend? What should I call you?"
Moody was fairly vigilant at this point, though not excessively so. Roy was trustworthy, after all.
"This is Mr. Behrens," Roy said, offering no further explanation.
Moody did not press him. His magical eye spun a few more times before he nodded and walked past them. "I'm here to withdraw some money. Don't mind me."
Roy walked to a long counter and handed the key to an elderly goblin.
The goblin looked up, his yellow eyes fixed on the key for several seconds. Then he nodded, came out from behind the counter, and headed for the mine-cart entrance at the side of the hall. "Follow me."
They climbed into a cart and traveled through a narrow stone passage that