Tang Ri Shan
The Locksmyth
(A Harry Potter Fanficiton)
Prologue:
The hooded man narrowed his eyes as he surveyed the simple, two-story house that stood before him. It looked…ordinary.
"You are certain that they are here, Wormtail?" The hooded man turned to address the quivering little man with grubby skin and small watery eyes next to him. "If you have dragged me all the way out here on an incorrect assumption, I assure you, it will be you who pays for the time wasted"
The little man flinched, refusing to meet his gaze, or the gaze of the two masked wizards who flanked them. He wrung his hands and spoke in a squeaky voice. "Y-yes M…my lord. My…my information is h…highly accurate. You…you're prey lies within."
"It had better, Wormtail, for your sake" The hooded man growled and strode forward, up to the gate in the low stone wall. He paused as the gate suddenly swung open of its own accord, but thought little of it and strode through, twitching a little as a chill suddenly went through him. A simple breeze, no doubt.
"Master!" The hooded man paused again as the wizards began to shout, their voices strangely muffled. He turned.
The masked wizards appeared to be standing in the gateway, but as the man watched, they shouted and seemed to pound at the air in front of them, as though they were hitting a wall.
"Clever. Very clever" The man felt a smile flit across his lips as he realized that the chill he had felt was due to walking through a magical barrier that was now keeping out his allies. "Wait here!" He ordered, and his allies fell silent. "They know we are here. This will not take long!"
With that, the man turned and swept along the path that lead up to the house. As he walked, sconces suddenly burst into flames, lighting his progress. His smile grew wider. Clearly his prey was expecting him.
As if to further confirm this, as he reached for the door, it swung open on its own accord, revealing a dark hallway beyond. The man stepped over the threshold, feeling another chill as he passed through another barrier of sorts. As soon as he was clear, the door slammed shut behind him.
"TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE!" A loud voice rang from down the hallway, causing the man to scowl. "HOW DARE YOU KEEP US WAITING!" A light flared up from a room at the end of the hall.
Tom Riddle, now known as Lord Voldemort, proceeded down the hallway towards the light, the floorboards creaking under him. There was no need to be quiet, clearly his prey had arranged for this.
Reaching the opening with the light, Voldemort stepped through the find himself in a modest sitting room, with a couch, a table, two fat armchairs, and a fire crackling merrily in the grate. The light which had drawn him here came, not from the fire, but from a wand being held by a man sitting in one of the fat armchairs. As Voldemort came in, the man rose and gazed at him.
"I have to say, Riddle. You disappoint me. I was starting to think you would never find us"
"You mock me, Cyrus Mooraloche? Even as you are about to die?" Voldemort snapped.
Cyrus Mooraloche held Voldemort's gaze without flinching. His steel-grey eyes were as cold as ice, showing no fear. His snowy-blonde hair seemed to glow in the firelight. His expression was calm, his smile almost triumphant. "Unlike you, Riddle, I do not fear death"
"Then you are a fool" Voldemort said, his own voice tight with sudden fury. He was used to wizards and witches cowering before him. To have this pure-blooded wizard stand straight and defy him like this was…strangely unnerving.
"My husband is many things, Riddle. But a fool is certainly not one of them" Voldemort turned to see a tall, attractive woman standing in the archway he had passed through.
"Natasha" Despite his anger, Voldemort felt himself smile again as he gazed at the beautiful Mrs. Mooraloche. Her hair was as dark as her husband's was light, and her honey-colored eyes met Voldemort's with the same unflinching courage.
"Tom" Mrs. Mooraloche smiled, as if she was greeting a guest for tea. "I must say, for someone who has been able to elude the entire Ministry of Magic for over twenty years, you were surprisingly easy to reel in"
"Then you did set this up" Voldemort's scarlet eyes widened as pieces suddenly fell into place. "You fed information to Wormtail in order to lure me here"
"We needed to find out who your spy was, and now we know" Natasha's eyes seemed to gleam. "James will be most disappointed when he learns of Peter's betrayal."
A sudden flash drew everyone's attention to a nearby window. Voldemort could just make out his Death Eaters, who were hurling spells at the barrier around the garden.
"Your minions are wasting their time" Natasha said, drawing Voldemort's attention back to the couple before him. "They cannot help you. That barrier around the perimeter will keep them out, just as the barrier around this house will keep you in."
"What?" Voldemort blinked.
"You have walked right into our trap, Tom" Natasha explained, and her eyes sparkled with amusement. "As long as we live, your allies will not be able to enter, and now you will not be able to leave."
"You cannot hide behind others this time, Tom." Cyrus added, and his gaze seemed to harden. "Now, you face us alone. And now it is you who are both outnumbered, and outmatched"
Voldemort snorted. "You actually think that you can kill me? You overestimate your chances"
"And you underestimate your reach, Tom" Cyrus countered, his voice calm as if he were merely discussing the weather. "Do you actually expect to succeed where so many others have failed? Raczidian failed. Gormlaith Gaunt failed. Even Grindelwald failed. What makes you think you are any different from them?"
"I will succeed!" Voldemort yelled. "I have pushed the boundaries of Magic father than they have ever pushed before!"
"So we have noticed" Natasha said, and her smile faded a little as she slowly looked Voldemort up and down. By the time her eyes met his again, they were full of pity. "Such a shame." She shook her head. "Such potential, such magnetism, all wasted When this war is over, you will be nothing, and your name will eventually be forgotten."
"When this war is over, I will be known as the Greatest Sorcerer in the world!" Voldemort shouted, but his words sounded strangely hollow and he mentally cursed himself for letting doubt into his mind. Before today, only Dumbledore had succeeded in making him doubt himself.
"You will not succeed" Cyrus said. "The more you tighten your grip on the world, the more forces will slip through your fingers, to be used against you. Apparently, even fate now conspires against you, or so we've been told"
Voldemort actually took a step back at this, and the Mooraloches's smiles grew even wider. "Oh yes, Tom. We know everything. Your downfall is destined, recorded in words for all to hear. The only question left unanswered is where, and when." Natasha's voice took on a cold tone.
"We would personally prefer that answer be here, and now" Cyrus added, his smile fading. Both Mooraloches, as one, raised their wands and pointed them at Voldemort.
Voldemort scowled as he gazed at the witch and wizard, who defiantly stared back at him. He raised is own wand. He was the most powerful wizard in existance. He could defeat these two easily, powerful though they were, yet, even now he found himself hesitating. Not just anyone could make him doubt himself, and not just anyone could now face him so fearlessly. He felt...they deserved one...last...chance.
"You know so much, than you must know of my goal, to conquer death" Voldemort hissed. "I have done so. I cannot die. I cannot be killed. You delude yourselves by thinking otherwise. But even now it is not too late. You are among the most powerful of those who have defied me. I doubt even Dumbledore himself could match you"
Voldemort saw Cyrus's lip curl and Natasha's eyes narrow. Clearly the rumors he had heard earlier were true. "Dumbledore cares nothing for you. You know this now. Join me, and you will be rewarded beyond all others. Join me, and we will rebuild this world together. The blood of legends is in your veins, both of you. Join me, and you will become legends yourselves"
"Never" The witch and wizard before him spoke in unison, their voices now emotionless and cold. Then…. they attacked.
And Cut!
Hey There! Yeah, I'm still here! Can you believe it? I apologize for not posting sooner, but between school work, job work and other 'work', I barely have time to write anymore. Plus, I have some new story ideas, including this one, and those are eating up A LOT of my free time.
Like with Hidden Helper, this Harry Potter fanfic will be based on viewer response. If you want to see more, PLEASE TELL ME! I've been working on this particular story for a while now, and I'm eager to see if you want this continued or not.
Until Next Time!