Book 1 - James Potter and the Hall of Elders' Crossing

Prologue
Mr. Grey peeked around the corner and surveyed the corridor. It stretched off into dim
infinity, dotted with floating globes of silvery light. Mr. Grey had been told that the globes were
swampfire, encased in a timeloop charm so they were inextinguishable. He’d never even heard of
swampfire, much less a timeloop charm, but then again, Mr. Grey had never been in a place quite
like the Hall of Mysteries. He shuddered.
“I don’t see anybody,” he whispered to the two figures behind him. “No gates or locks,
neither. Do you think maybe they’re using invisible barriers or something?”
“Nar,” a gravely voice answered. “We was told exactly where the beacons were placed,
wasn’t we? This section’s clean. Sentry’s all we have to worry about. If you don’ see him, then move
in.”
Mr. Grey shuffled his feet. “I know what we was told, but it don’t feel right, Bistle. I has a
sense about these things. Me mam always said so.”
“Don’t call me Bistle, yeh sodding half-wit,” said the gravely voice, which belonged to a
particularly grizzly goblin in black shirt and trousers. “I’m Mr. Saffron when we’re on the job. And
blast yehr sixth sense. Yeh’re just a great coward whenever yeh get in an unfamiliar place. The
sooner we get on, the sooner it’ll be over and we’ll be back to the shack to celebrate.”
The third figure, a tall, old man with a pointed, white goatee, stepped past Mr. Saffron and
walked casually down the corridor, scanning the doors.