And Deliver Us To Evil

They were giggling, and it made her smile. Skipping along with their hands in hers Karma made her way through the familiar grounds of Hogwarts, Dille in her bright red boots on one side, Coll with his dark brown hair on the other.

"Army!" They sang. "We're going to the park! We're going to the park!" Singing along with them, she made her way toward the lake, though the squid was tangibly absent on the warm summer day, it didn't bother her one bit.

"The park! The park!"

"Can we go on the swings Army?" Dille asked as they continued skipping. "The see saw?"

"Slide!" Coll demanded. "I wanna go slide!"

"Of course we can." Their happiness was contagious, irresistibly so. She didn't find herself getting anxious as the scenery changed, and they continued their singing; their skipping. Her eyes took in the change in stride, the way the green summer was replaced with a gray wasteland, the way the wind picked up slightly and clouds rolled over the sun. Still, they continued their skipping, so Karma did too.

"Going to the park! The park! The park!"

Breaking away from her, the two children started to run in the direction they were headed, and Karma followed, easily staying behind them, though she could have been much faster.

"Can't catch us! Can't catch us!"

She was so focused on their little game that she missed the figure that stepped out of the shadows, his brown eyes gleaming. Both Dille and Coll ducked behind him, peeking out around his legs at her as she slowed to a stop, grinning teasingly before her eyes rose to the man.

Blinking at him, Karma tilted her head to the side the slightest bit, as if confused for the briefest moment. Taking both children's hands, the man smiled a chilling smile and nodded at her.

"Well done, child."

Beaming, Karma stayed where she was as he turned away from her, Dille and Coll waving as they began their song again, skipping as the man continued to walk.

"We're going to the park! The park! The park!"

Karma turned back the way she'd come, a bright smile coming across her face as she walked away.

Djinn was proud of her.