Title: Darkness of the Soul
Author: Mike
Fandom: Harry Potter/Xena
Rating: PG-13
Feedback: Yes
Email For Feedback: MichaelTheDestroyer@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: Xena-Warrior Princess and its characters belong to
MCA/Universal, Renaissance Pictures, and Rob Tapert.
Harry Potter and its characters belong to JK Rowling
and Warner Brothers.
Warnings: Contains violence, mild language, a few shamanistic
rituals, a couple deaths.
Summary: Alti returns after allying herself with Voldemort. She
begins terrorizing teachers and students at Hogwarts,
causing trouble, and planning to obtain more power. After
several conflicts with the evil shamaness, Dumbledore and
his associates have proven ineffective in dealing with her
evil. So, in desperation, they summon a Muggle, a warrior
woman from the past..someone who had a history with Alti,
one who has the best chance of defeating her. They call
forth Xena, the Warrior Princess.
Timeline: Harry Potter--story takes place between Prisoner of
Azkaban and Goblet of Fire. Xena--takes place after
Friend in Need, Xena Scrolls, and Send in the Clones.
Author's Note : This is my first Potter (crossover) fic. Spoilers for almost all the books and most of the later episodes of Xena. There's also speculation on the rest of the book series of HP. The story takes place at the end of PoA, after Sirius wrote Harry his last letter..it's a few weeks before Hogwarts students are sent home for the summer.
***************************************************
NOTE: Story takes place at the end of 'Prisoner of Azkaban', about a few weeks before Hogwarts went home for the summer.
** equals thoughts
[] equals a flashback scene
{} equals a telepathic conversation
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Darkness of the Soul
by Mike
***********************************************************
---Los Angeles, CA---
---Jones Junk Scrap--
It was nightfall in the City of Angels. A battle had taken place
earlier, in a vacant junkyard. Alexis Los Alamos, an unscrupulous and
evil scientist, had successfully cloned two individuals (with help
from a few fans of the Xena TV show) from three millennia ago..Xena
and Gabrielle. Alexis was revealed, though a bit late, to be the
reincarnation of the evil shamaness Alti, Xena's arch-enemy. As
usual, Xena defeated Alti. Fatally. All that remained of the
shamaness was a trail of ashes in the soil. A dark vapor hovered
above the residual soot. To the human eye, one would dismiss it as
the lingering scent of ash, a faint trace of a burnt corpse. Not so.
It was Alti's spirit form, growling in silent anger. **Damn that
friend of hers, that Gabriel..curse that darshim! You will pay for
refusing my offer, Xena. You could have been great, as you were
before, in the old days. Like the Xena that *I* remembered you could
be. I swear to make you suffer! Revenge!** The vapor-form of her
spirit cascaded over the ashes, trying to soak them up. She whispered
an incantation..but it was of little effect. **Damn! I must return..I
will need help. Perhaps another dark sorcerer, one whose tastes and
interests are similar to my own." She said with a smile, "Yes, I
*must* seek a Dark One.." She quoted a spell, and a blue light went
into the ashes. **There. That should preserve it until my return.**
Then the dark spirit vanished, traveling to the Astral Plane, to a
place between reality, in a world between this world and the next.
As she left, there was another presence nearby, a ghost. A young
woman dressed in Amazon warrior garb, she was of a slender build,
somewhat attractive, with blond hair. She swore, "You won't succeed,
Alti..whatever it is you're planning. I know you don't give up
easily, not even after death. I, Queen Ephiny, swear it upon the
Amazon Nation." And with that, she vanished into thin air. She didn't
know what Alti intended to do, but it couldn't be good. She would
travel the earth, searching for clues to Alti's location..
**********************************************
---Scotland, UK---
---Hogwarts---
The sun had just set on the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and
Wizardry. Pansy Parkinson, a female student of the Slytherin house,
sat cross-legged on the cold, concrete floor in her dorm room. She
set a pillow under her for comfort. She had been still for several
minutes, as if concentrating. She appeared to be in a meditation
ritual.
Suddenly, she was interrupted, as three other Slytherins entered. A
short blond-haired kid accompanied by two older students: Draco
Malfoy and his cronies, Crabbe and Goyle.
Pansy turned to look at them. She growled, "*Dammit*..what now? I'm
busy here."
Draco snickered, "Aww..what's wrong? We catch you in the middle of
something *important*? If there is such a thing." He laughed.
Crabbe and Goyle snickered, joining in.
Pansy said with a scowl, "LISTEN..I am *not* in the mood for mind
games right now. Maybe later..but not now. I'm a bit busy, if you
don't mind. Draco, you do NOT want to get on my bad side."
Draco laughed, "Bad side? Wow. So..you mean you have a *good* side?
Amazing..who knew." He glanced at his two cronies, which signaled
more snickering from them. "By the way. Filch is coming around the
halls soon, lights out in fifteen minutes. We wouldn't want you to be
caught doing something suspicious."
Pansy laughed, "Ha! You're one to talk."
"Oh..right. Well, I guess you learned from the best..me!" He
suddenly changed his tone, as he noticed her sitting position. "Huh?
What *are* you doing, exactly?"
She was silent for a minute, then spoke, "Not sure. just a little
idea, something I read about in one of my mom's New Age magazines.
Has something to do with meditation, trance states..you guys ever
hear of astral projection?"
Draco nodded. "Sure. I think your..your, uh..soul can leave for a
bit. You can supposedly travel to other dimensions or realms in space-
time. Why, what are you going to do?"
"I'm thinking about making a trip..somewhere. Maybe the Twilight
Realm, the Dreamscape..the plane between life and death. Why, you
might ask? I want to talk to You-Know-Who. You know..the Dark One?
The evil wizard? As in, Lord Vold-"
Draco held up his hand. "Ok, ok! Don't say his name. What makes you
think you'll find him, Pansy?"
"I don't. But you never know."
"You better know what you're getting yourself into. Also, there's
no guarantee that You-Know-Who will be in a talking mood. He might
torture you first, whether you want him to or not. It could be
dangerous..but then, we all know how you like danger."
"I'll be FINE! Why don't you guys get out?! If you stay, try to be
quiet..for once. Who knows, it might be interesting."
"Interesting..sure. But I think you'd have better luck if you asked
my father about it first. We all know you want to be a Death Eater.
You'd have to be *worthy*! Speaking of dear old Lucius, I think I
should talk to him soon. Fine..we'll be quiet. But if you come back
in a terrified, pathetic state..well, you were warned."
"Oh, gee..thanks for your *helpful* advice! Now shut up."
His face went red, shocked at her audacity. He looked at his
friends, then back at Pansy. "Alright..for now. Just be glad you're a
Slytherin, or else I'd have to..well." He let his threat hang there.
Pansy shrugged, then closed her eyes. She began to space out her
breaths, focusing on her task once more. In a few minutes, she
started to feel lighter, as if she was being lifted upward..
***********************************************
---The Land of the Dead---
Alti found herself in strange surroundings. It looked like a forest
area, very calm. Birds flying, a campfire, branches blowing in the
wind, ripples in the lake. as she looked at them, they each stopped,
as if frozen in time. She tuned herself into the vibes of the realm,
trying to sense a dark force. "Ahh." She started walking. As she
continued onward, the astral plane went through a change. It was
darker. More sinister, black and purple hues around her. She saw a
hooded figure a few feet away, dressed in a black robe.
The man slowly turned around, to face his visitor. **What's this? I
feel..a great darkness, a powerful evil that could rival my own..
hmm.." He saw a brown-haired woman dressed in black leather She had
dark makeup, and a snake symbol on the head-piece. She had animal
claws for a belt, her hair went past the shoulders. The man spoke in
a deep tone, "Who are you, woman? What is your business here?"
Alti laughed, remembering one of her past lives. The last person
who asked her that question was Aminestra, the Mother of Peace, one
of Xena's reincarnations. "My business? It's people. I wish to own
them. Body and soul."
He chuckled. "Oh, is that right? How..ambitious of you."
She nodded. "Yes. I have lived over countless generations, I've had
many names. Many lives. Tell me, dark one. Do you know of
reincarnation?"
He thought for a minute. "Yes..yes, I've heard of the concept.
People are born many times. They come back by way of a..karmic
circle..so if I believed in that, one could assume I was someone else
in a past life, in another time."
"That's right. Well..my true name is Alti."
"Never heard of you. If I did, it was a long time ago. I haven't
been in school for a while."
"Ahh.." She nodded. "A school of magic? Interesting."
The figure arched an eyebrow. "What..how..HOW do you know?!"
"One of my talents. I can see glimpses of the past and future. I
also have the ability to cause pain, to make a person relive pain
from their past. Or future, whichever I prefer. I was a shamaness, an
Amazon. But they expelled me because my power was too great."
"Hmm..that *is* interesting. I also like conquest. I have magical
abilities as well. Seems we have a few things in common."
"Really."
"How did you get here..I feel as if you want something from me."
"I do. But first, tell me who you are. I did sense a great power
from you, a dark aura..if *you're* not an evil sorcerer, I don't know
what is."
"Your perception is correct, Alti. I am a VERY dark sorcerer. I
served under Grindelwald. He introduced me to true power. To the One
Great Evil, who granted us more power."
"One Great Evil? As in..Dahak?"
"Yes. We had a deal many years ago. I suppose my present condition
is also his punishment for my failure, as well as the OTHER cause.
Damn you, Potter! My true name..and should you tell anyone, I will
kill you AGAIN..is Thomas Marvelo Riddle. But I am called Lord
Voldemort to my face..and behind my back, as I prefer, You-Know-Who..
and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. I'm reputed to be a very dark wizard.
The darkest of all, in fact. I've studied at a school of sorcery
called Hogwarts, where I acquired quite a following. However, that
insolent pest Dumbledore continues to get in my way."
Alti arched an eyebrow. "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and
Wizardry?"
"Yes!" Voldemort appeared to be surprised. "Yes, how did you know?"
"I was a student there in a couple of my past lives. I even knew
Salazar Slytherin, we got along. I helped him see how Muggles are
inferior. I didn't force him, I simply..showed him how dangerous
mortals would be if their descendants were wizards, and worse, if
they were accepted into the school. I was also instrumental in the
prophecy of the Heir of Slytherin, I foretold a few things to him. He
and I were planning other things too. But that fool Godric saw
through me..Slytherin and I were forced to leave. I left him a short
time later."
"So..you DO have a history with that school. I was well-liked,
until the end. I had the same vision as Slytherin, but I took it a
step further, probably more than even he would have dared. I, with my
Council of Death Eaters.."
"Death Eaters?"
"What we are. Other dark witches and wizards in my group. We killed
many Muggles and their magical sympathizers. I ran across two rivals,
James and Lily Potter. "
"And I suppose you killed them..I certainly would have."
"I did."
"Ahh..yes, you did! And.." She saw something in her mind. "Their
son survived, he took your power from you. Protected by..*love*.
Pathetic. Love is for the weak."
"It certainly is. You're right again. Harry Potter lived, left with
only a scar on his head. To this day, he is known as The Boy Who
Lived. I was reduced to..nearly nothing. Both dead AND alive. That is
why I can come to this world and also the living realm."
"Such is the case with me, as long as my ashes, my remains, remain
intact."
"Here, I can regain my strength, or at least try to. Many of my
followers turned back to The Light, betraying me. But a few are still
loyal, awaiting my return. Twice, I tried to kill young Harry Potter
recently."
"And twice you failed?"
"Yes! Arrghh! That meddlesome fool. I plan to kill him."
"Hmm..you will not. Voldemort, he WILL kill you. Seventh year, in
fact, around the time of his graduation."
"How?!"
"He will not be alone in this. I see this. As it is now, Harry
*WILL* destroy you. Many may help him during this war, but it will be
by *his* wand that you perish."
"Are your predictions ever wrong?"
"Hardly. It's usually on the mark. And I say this, the boy Potter
will be your demise. But.."
"But *what*?"
"That fate can be changed, Dark One. Perhaps. I could help you..if
you permit, I will work for you."
"As one of my Death Eaters?"
"No. As equals."
He laughed. "Equals?! And why should I agree to this?"
"Because it's the only way. If you want to end up rotting in
Azkaban..or worse, the pits of Hell..you'll consider my offer. I can
be an advisor. I can warn you, help you..I could use my abilities to
help fulfill your purpose. *Lord* Voldemort."
"Very well."
"On one condition!"
"And what's that?"
"I want back in this world. You will need my ashes, then my form
you see here, and..a potion concocted of your darkest magics. My
ashes are in America, at a junkyard in Los Angeles. 'Jones Junk
Scrap', I believe it is called. Can you do it?"
"Perhaps. I shall speak with my servant Lucius, he will call for
someone to arrange it."
"Good. Then it's agreed. Where is this Hogwarts, by the way?"
"Scotland..you'll see it."
She nodded. "I shall go there..and..and.."
"Yes?"
"Someone else..I can FEEL it!" She glanced around, when she saw a
young woman crawling sneakily from the bushes. She glared into the
girl's eyes.
Pansy Parkinson stood up, surprised. She was shocked to see the
Dark Lord talking to a strange woman, whom he called 'Alti'. She
managed to overhear bits of their conversation. She seemed to catch
the woman's attention. "Ohh!" She felt herself being pulled quickly
to her, by some invisible force. In nearly two seconds, she was
standing in front of the older woman.
Alti intercepted the girl, holding a hand to her throat. "I don't
like intruders in my camp, little girl."
"Aggkk! What are..Agh! Lord..Lord...Vo..Volde-" She gurgled,
unprepared for the attack, unable to get the words out.
The shamaness tightened her grip. She glanced at Voldemort. "A
friend of yours?"
***********************************************
---Hogwarts---
Pansy's body quivered, moaning. "Aggk! Urrghh..uhh.."
Draco stared in curiosity. "What..hey, guys?" He whispered, "Her
throat..what the Hell?"
Crabbe and Goyle noticed it too. Her neck was convulsing, as if an
unseen hand were gripping it.
*************************************************
---Land of the Dead---
Voldemort nodded. "That, Alti..is Pansy Parkinson. Lucius *did*
mention her. She goes to Hogwarts-"
Pansy nodded. "Yes, my Lord. Slytherin! I wish-"
Voldemort yelled, "Silence, wench!"
Alti smirked, "Right,..the master doesn't like to be interrupted."
She back-handed her, then kicked her in the gut. Then threw a couple
punches to the face.
************************************************
---Hogwarts---
Pansy's face turned, as a red bruise came on her cheek. She then
keeled over, holding her ribs. She was quickly knocked on her back,
her face and body moving oddly.
Draco watched, shocked. "Guys, uh..I don't know what's happening
here..or where she is..but it is not good, I can tell THAT much."
Crabbe asked, "What can we do? NOBODY beats a Slytherin!"
Draco agreed, "Hell no! Unless..it's You-Know-Who doing the
beating. If it is..she probably asked for it. But if it's worse..oh
no. If there IS a person worse than You-Know-Who..I don't want to
know about it. She better come back soon.."
************************************************
---Land of the Dead---
Alti asked Pansy, "Now..what do you want?"
The girl managed to get out, "To become! A..Death Eater."
Alti laughed, saying to Voldemort, "I bet you can't count how many
times you heard *that* line.." She turned her attention to Pansy. "We
don't like being spied on. But since you came for HIM..Voldemort,
I'll let you decide her fate."
Voldemort laughed wickedly. "Yes.."
Pansy shivered, suddenly in fear. **Oh damn..Draco was right, I
should have listened..** "P-please.."
Voldemort said fiercely, "You will only come when you are summoned.
WE will contact YOU, not the other way around. If you are worthy to
become a Death Eater, then it will be that way. Prove yourself, and
you will be one of mine..truly mine."
Alti commented to the Dark One, "She will be one of them. But it
won't be for a while. She truly has a heart of wickedness, i can feel
the potential within her. Keep it up, Pansy."
Voldemort grabbed Pansy smiling. "See? You came for nothing,
foolish girl! Go now. Return!!"
Pansy was released, she stepped back, calmer yet still in
fear. "Yes. Y-yes, my Master. Your will be done."
"Oh, and..do NOT come here again, unless you want to relive your
death over and over."
Alti smiled evilly at her. "And that can be arranged. By me."
Voldemort pointed. "Now..go!"
Pansy left in a hurry, running through the woods.
Alti laughed. "Amusing, Voldemort. Could you smell her fear? I
could. It was..exquisite! A shame she's one of yours. I can use that
fear, feed on it and take it, tap into her power and add it to my
own. Oh well, there's more where she came from."
"Indeed." He smirked at her, reminded of himself many years ago.
"I shall go now, and await your orders from Hogwarts. Summon me
when your servants get back to you with my ashes.
"Of course. I'll have one of my agents contact you." He made a
mental note to observe her more closely..she was very ambitious,
possessed great evil power, nearly more powerful than he. She could
prove to be a great threat if they were rivals. And that, of all
things, was unacceptable.
Author: Mike
Fandom: Harry Potter/Xena
Rating: PG-13
Feedback: Yes
Email For Feedback: MichaelTheDestroyer@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: Xena-Warrior Princess and its characters belong to
MCA/Universal, Renaissance Pictures, and Rob Tapert.
Harry Potter and its characters belong to JK Rowling
and Warner Brothers.
Warnings: Contains violence, mild language, a few shamanistic
rituals, a couple deaths.
Summary: Alti returns after allying herself with Voldemort. She
begins terrorizing teachers and students at Hogwarts,
causing trouble, and planning to obtain more power. After
several conflicts with the evil shamaness, Dumbledore and
his associates have proven ineffective in dealing with her
evil. So, in desperation, they summon a Muggle, a warrior
woman from the past..someone who had a history with Alti,
one who has the best chance of defeating her. They call
forth Xena, the Warrior Princess.
Timeline: Harry Potter--story takes place between Prisoner of
Azkaban and Goblet of Fire. Xena--takes place after
Friend in Need, Xena Scrolls, and Send in the Clones.
Author's Note : This is my first Potter (crossover) fic. Spoilers for almost all the books and most of the later episodes of Xena. There's also speculation on the rest of the book series of HP. The story takes place at the end of PoA, after Sirius wrote Harry his last letter..it's a few weeks before Hogwarts students are sent home for the summer.
***************************************************
NOTE: Story takes place at the end of 'Prisoner of Azkaban', about a few weeks before Hogwarts went home for the summer.
** equals thoughts
[] equals a flashback scene
{} equals a telepathic conversation
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Darkness of the Soul
by Mike
***********************************************************
---Los Angeles, CA---
---Jones Junk Scrap--
It was nightfall in the City of Angels. A battle had taken place
earlier, in a vacant junkyard. Alexis Los Alamos, an unscrupulous and
evil scientist, had successfully cloned two individuals (with help
from a few fans of the Xena TV show) from three millennia ago..Xena
and Gabrielle. Alexis was revealed, though a bit late, to be the
reincarnation of the evil shamaness Alti, Xena's arch-enemy. As
usual, Xena defeated Alti. Fatally. All that remained of the
shamaness was a trail of ashes in the soil. A dark vapor hovered
above the residual soot. To the human eye, one would dismiss it as
the lingering scent of ash, a faint trace of a burnt corpse. Not so.
It was Alti's spirit form, growling in silent anger. **Damn that
friend of hers, that Gabriel..curse that darshim! You will pay for
refusing my offer, Xena. You could have been great, as you were
before, in the old days. Like the Xena that *I* remembered you could
be. I swear to make you suffer! Revenge!** The vapor-form of her
spirit cascaded over the ashes, trying to soak them up. She whispered
an incantation..but it was of little effect. **Damn! I must return..I
will need help. Perhaps another dark sorcerer, one whose tastes and
interests are similar to my own." She said with a smile, "Yes, I
*must* seek a Dark One.." She quoted a spell, and a blue light went
into the ashes. **There. That should preserve it until my return.**
Then the dark spirit vanished, traveling to the Astral Plane, to a
place between reality, in a world between this world and the next.
As she left, there was another presence nearby, a ghost. A young
woman dressed in Amazon warrior garb, she was of a slender build,
somewhat attractive, with blond hair. She swore, "You won't succeed,
Alti..whatever it is you're planning. I know you don't give up
easily, not even after death. I, Queen Ephiny, swear it upon the
Amazon Nation." And with that, she vanished into thin air. She didn't
know what Alti intended to do, but it couldn't be good. She would
travel the earth, searching for clues to Alti's location..
**********************************************
---Scotland, UK---
---Hogwarts---
The sun had just set on the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and
Wizardry. Pansy Parkinson, a female student of the Slytherin house,
sat cross-legged on the cold, concrete floor in her dorm room. She
set a pillow under her for comfort. She had been still for several
minutes, as if concentrating. She appeared to be in a meditation
ritual.
Suddenly, she was interrupted, as three other Slytherins entered. A
short blond-haired kid accompanied by two older students: Draco
Malfoy and his cronies, Crabbe and Goyle.
Pansy turned to look at them. She growled, "*Dammit*..what now? I'm
busy here."
Draco snickered, "Aww..what's wrong? We catch you in the middle of
something *important*? If there is such a thing." He laughed.
Crabbe and Goyle snickered, joining in.
Pansy said with a scowl, "LISTEN..I am *not* in the mood for mind
games right now. Maybe later..but not now. I'm a bit busy, if you
don't mind. Draco, you do NOT want to get on my bad side."
Draco laughed, "Bad side? Wow. So..you mean you have a *good* side?
Amazing..who knew." He glanced at his two cronies, which signaled
more snickering from them. "By the way. Filch is coming around the
halls soon, lights out in fifteen minutes. We wouldn't want you to be
caught doing something suspicious."
Pansy laughed, "Ha! You're one to talk."
"Oh..right. Well, I guess you learned from the best..me!" He
suddenly changed his tone, as he noticed her sitting position. "Huh?
What *are* you doing, exactly?"
She was silent for a minute, then spoke, "Not sure. just a little
idea, something I read about in one of my mom's New Age magazines.
Has something to do with meditation, trance states..you guys ever
hear of astral projection?"
Draco nodded. "Sure. I think your..your, uh..soul can leave for a
bit. You can supposedly travel to other dimensions or realms in space-
time. Why, what are you going to do?"
"I'm thinking about making a trip..somewhere. Maybe the Twilight
Realm, the Dreamscape..the plane between life and death. Why, you
might ask? I want to talk to You-Know-Who. You know..the Dark One?
The evil wizard? As in, Lord Vold-"
Draco held up his hand. "Ok, ok! Don't say his name. What makes you
think you'll find him, Pansy?"
"I don't. But you never know."
"You better know what you're getting yourself into. Also, there's
no guarantee that You-Know-Who will be in a talking mood. He might
torture you first, whether you want him to or not. It could be
dangerous..but then, we all know how you like danger."
"I'll be FINE! Why don't you guys get out?! If you stay, try to be
quiet..for once. Who knows, it might be interesting."
"Interesting..sure. But I think you'd have better luck if you asked
my father about it first. We all know you want to be a Death Eater.
You'd have to be *worthy*! Speaking of dear old Lucius, I think I
should talk to him soon. Fine..we'll be quiet. But if you come back
in a terrified, pathetic state..well, you were warned."
"Oh, gee..thanks for your *helpful* advice! Now shut up."
His face went red, shocked at her audacity. He looked at his
friends, then back at Pansy. "Alright..for now. Just be glad you're a
Slytherin, or else I'd have to..well." He let his threat hang there.
Pansy shrugged, then closed her eyes. She began to space out her
breaths, focusing on her task once more. In a few minutes, she
started to feel lighter, as if she was being lifted upward..
***********************************************
---The Land of the Dead---
Alti found herself in strange surroundings. It looked like a forest
area, very calm. Birds flying, a campfire, branches blowing in the
wind, ripples in the lake. as she looked at them, they each stopped,
as if frozen in time. She tuned herself into the vibes of the realm,
trying to sense a dark force. "Ahh." She started walking. As she
continued onward, the astral plane went through a change. It was
darker. More sinister, black and purple hues around her. She saw a
hooded figure a few feet away, dressed in a black robe.
The man slowly turned around, to face his visitor. **What's this? I
feel..a great darkness, a powerful evil that could rival my own..
hmm.." He saw a brown-haired woman dressed in black leather She had
dark makeup, and a snake symbol on the head-piece. She had animal
claws for a belt, her hair went past the shoulders. The man spoke in
a deep tone, "Who are you, woman? What is your business here?"
Alti laughed, remembering one of her past lives. The last person
who asked her that question was Aminestra, the Mother of Peace, one
of Xena's reincarnations. "My business? It's people. I wish to own
them. Body and soul."
He chuckled. "Oh, is that right? How..ambitious of you."
She nodded. "Yes. I have lived over countless generations, I've had
many names. Many lives. Tell me, dark one. Do you know of
reincarnation?"
He thought for a minute. "Yes..yes, I've heard of the concept.
People are born many times. They come back by way of a..karmic
circle..so if I believed in that, one could assume I was someone else
in a past life, in another time."
"That's right. Well..my true name is Alti."
"Never heard of you. If I did, it was a long time ago. I haven't
been in school for a while."
"Ahh.." She nodded. "A school of magic? Interesting."
The figure arched an eyebrow. "What..how..HOW do you know?!"
"One of my talents. I can see glimpses of the past and future. I
also have the ability to cause pain, to make a person relive pain
from their past. Or future, whichever I prefer. I was a shamaness, an
Amazon. But they expelled me because my power was too great."
"Hmm..that *is* interesting. I also like conquest. I have magical
abilities as well. Seems we have a few things in common."
"Really."
"How did you get here..I feel as if you want something from me."
"I do. But first, tell me who you are. I did sense a great power
from you, a dark aura..if *you're* not an evil sorcerer, I don't know
what is."
"Your perception is correct, Alti. I am a VERY dark sorcerer. I
served under Grindelwald. He introduced me to true power. To the One
Great Evil, who granted us more power."
"One Great Evil? As in..Dahak?"
"Yes. We had a deal many years ago. I suppose my present condition
is also his punishment for my failure, as well as the OTHER cause.
Damn you, Potter! My true name..and should you tell anyone, I will
kill you AGAIN..is Thomas Marvelo Riddle. But I am called Lord
Voldemort to my face..and behind my back, as I prefer, You-Know-Who..
and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. I'm reputed to be a very dark wizard.
The darkest of all, in fact. I've studied at a school of sorcery
called Hogwarts, where I acquired quite a following. However, that
insolent pest Dumbledore continues to get in my way."
Alti arched an eyebrow. "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and
Wizardry?"
"Yes!" Voldemort appeared to be surprised. "Yes, how did you know?"
"I was a student there in a couple of my past lives. I even knew
Salazar Slytherin, we got along. I helped him see how Muggles are
inferior. I didn't force him, I simply..showed him how dangerous
mortals would be if their descendants were wizards, and worse, if
they were accepted into the school. I was also instrumental in the
prophecy of the Heir of Slytherin, I foretold a few things to him. He
and I were planning other things too. But that fool Godric saw
through me..Slytherin and I were forced to leave. I left him a short
time later."
"So..you DO have a history with that school. I was well-liked,
until the end. I had the same vision as Slytherin, but I took it a
step further, probably more than even he would have dared. I, with my
Council of Death Eaters.."
"Death Eaters?"
"What we are. Other dark witches and wizards in my group. We killed
many Muggles and their magical sympathizers. I ran across two rivals,
James and Lily Potter. "
"And I suppose you killed them..I certainly would have."
"I did."
"Ahh..yes, you did! And.." She saw something in her mind. "Their
son survived, he took your power from you. Protected by..*love*.
Pathetic. Love is for the weak."
"It certainly is. You're right again. Harry Potter lived, left with
only a scar on his head. To this day, he is known as The Boy Who
Lived. I was reduced to..nearly nothing. Both dead AND alive. That is
why I can come to this world and also the living realm."
"Such is the case with me, as long as my ashes, my remains, remain
intact."
"Here, I can regain my strength, or at least try to. Many of my
followers turned back to The Light, betraying me. But a few are still
loyal, awaiting my return. Twice, I tried to kill young Harry Potter
recently."
"And twice you failed?"
"Yes! Arrghh! That meddlesome fool. I plan to kill him."
"Hmm..you will not. Voldemort, he WILL kill you. Seventh year, in
fact, around the time of his graduation."
"How?!"
"He will not be alone in this. I see this. As it is now, Harry
*WILL* destroy you. Many may help him during this war, but it will be
by *his* wand that you perish."
"Are your predictions ever wrong?"
"Hardly. It's usually on the mark. And I say this, the boy Potter
will be your demise. But.."
"But *what*?"
"That fate can be changed, Dark One. Perhaps. I could help you..if
you permit, I will work for you."
"As one of my Death Eaters?"
"No. As equals."
He laughed. "Equals?! And why should I agree to this?"
"Because it's the only way. If you want to end up rotting in
Azkaban..or worse, the pits of Hell..you'll consider my offer. I can
be an advisor. I can warn you, help you..I could use my abilities to
help fulfill your purpose. *Lord* Voldemort."
"Very well."
"On one condition!"
"And what's that?"
"I want back in this world. You will need my ashes, then my form
you see here, and..a potion concocted of your darkest magics. My
ashes are in America, at a junkyard in Los Angeles. 'Jones Junk
Scrap', I believe it is called. Can you do it?"
"Perhaps. I shall speak with my servant Lucius, he will call for
someone to arrange it."
"Good. Then it's agreed. Where is this Hogwarts, by the way?"
"Scotland..you'll see it."
She nodded. "I shall go there..and..and.."
"Yes?"
"Someone else..I can FEEL it!" She glanced around, when she saw a
young woman crawling sneakily from the bushes. She glared into the
girl's eyes.
Pansy Parkinson stood up, surprised. She was shocked to see the
Dark Lord talking to a strange woman, whom he called 'Alti'. She
managed to overhear bits of their conversation. She seemed to catch
the woman's attention. "Ohh!" She felt herself being pulled quickly
to her, by some invisible force. In nearly two seconds, she was
standing in front of the older woman.
Alti intercepted the girl, holding a hand to her throat. "I don't
like intruders in my camp, little girl."
"Aggkk! What are..Agh! Lord..Lord...Vo..Volde-" She gurgled,
unprepared for the attack, unable to get the words out.
The shamaness tightened her grip. She glanced at Voldemort. "A
friend of yours?"
***********************************************
---Hogwarts---
Pansy's body quivered, moaning. "Aggk! Urrghh..uhh.."
Draco stared in curiosity. "What..hey, guys?" He whispered, "Her
throat..what the Hell?"
Crabbe and Goyle noticed it too. Her neck was convulsing, as if an
unseen hand were gripping it.
*************************************************
---Land of the Dead---
Voldemort nodded. "That, Alti..is Pansy Parkinson. Lucius *did*
mention her. She goes to Hogwarts-"
Pansy nodded. "Yes, my Lord. Slytherin! I wish-"
Voldemort yelled, "Silence, wench!"
Alti smirked, "Right,..the master doesn't like to be interrupted."
She back-handed her, then kicked her in the gut. Then threw a couple
punches to the face.
************************************************
---Hogwarts---
Pansy's face turned, as a red bruise came on her cheek. She then
keeled over, holding her ribs. She was quickly knocked on her back,
her face and body moving oddly.
Draco watched, shocked. "Guys, uh..I don't know what's happening
here..or where she is..but it is not good, I can tell THAT much."
Crabbe asked, "What can we do? NOBODY beats a Slytherin!"
Draco agreed, "Hell no! Unless..it's You-Know-Who doing the
beating. If it is..she probably asked for it. But if it's worse..oh
no. If there IS a person worse than You-Know-Who..I don't want to
know about it. She better come back soon.."
************************************************
---Land of the Dead---
Alti asked Pansy, "Now..what do you want?"
The girl managed to get out, "To become! A..Death Eater."
Alti laughed, saying to Voldemort, "I bet you can't count how many
times you heard *that* line.." She turned her attention to Pansy. "We
don't like being spied on. But since you came for HIM..Voldemort,
I'll let you decide her fate."
Voldemort laughed wickedly. "Yes.."
Pansy shivered, suddenly in fear. **Oh damn..Draco was right, I
should have listened..** "P-please.."
Voldemort said fiercely, "You will only come when you are summoned.
WE will contact YOU, not the other way around. If you are worthy to
become a Death Eater, then it will be that way. Prove yourself, and
you will be one of mine..truly mine."
Alti commented to the Dark One, "She will be one of them. But it
won't be for a while. She truly has a heart of wickedness, i can feel
the potential within her. Keep it up, Pansy."
Voldemort grabbed Pansy smiling. "See? You came for nothing,
foolish girl! Go now. Return!!"
Pansy was released, she stepped back, calmer yet still in
fear. "Yes. Y-yes, my Master. Your will be done."
"Oh, and..do NOT come here again, unless you want to relive your
death over and over."
Alti smiled evilly at her. "And that can be arranged. By me."
Voldemort pointed. "Now..go!"
Pansy left in a hurry, running through the woods.
Alti laughed. "Amusing, Voldemort. Could you smell her fear? I
could. It was..exquisite! A shame she's one of yours. I can use that
fear, feed on it and take it, tap into her power and add it to my
own. Oh well, there's more where she came from."
"Indeed." He smirked at her, reminded of himself many years ago.
"I shall go now, and await your orders from Hogwarts. Summon me
when your servants get back to you with my ashes.
"Of course. I'll have one of my agents contact you." He made a
mental note to observe her more closely..she was very ambitious,
possessed great evil power, nearly more powerful than he. She could
prove to be a great threat if they were rivals. And that, of all
things, was unacceptable.
