Harry Potter and the Hunter
Act I
Prologue
Selenius Greengrass was not someone who would have ever knelt like a peasant to a king, especially not to just anybody. Then again, Lord Voldemort wasn't just anybody. He was the darkest and powerful magical Lord to have ever existed. One didn't manage to remain fearless in the man's – no, monster's – presence, and Selenius, for all his power and strength, his incredible knowledge in many forbidden arts, was no different. That didn't mean he wasn't reluctant and displeased in kneeling like a plebeian to the inhuman bastard.
Oh, a pureblood and Death Eater he was, but that didn't mean Selenius was loyal to the Dark Lord. No, if he was sincere, the only reason he was there, in the once beautiful and luxurious Malfoy manor – now a shadowy empty shell of its former self – prostrating diligently to the snake-faced abomination known as Voldemort, was because he feared for his life, and the future of his family. Voldemort didn't take kindly to other dark wizards who had extensive magical knowledge to be anything other than his minions, or corpses, and Voldemort was not one to discriminate between his target and his target's whole family.
"My Lord" Selenius solemnly said with his head bowed as a knight to his king. "I have prepared my dark-hands as you commanded, m'lord".
"Excellent, Selenius" Voldemort hissed from his tall throne. No one else was around the deserted chamber, except the dark Lord's giant monstrous snake: Nagini. "I have a very important task for you, one which you can't fail at…"
Selenius leaned forward, only showing more submission as a sign he understood fully. As he expected, Voldemort was pleased with the gesture, red eyes glimmering with sadistic mirth at each side of snake-like nostrils. Sharp teeth glittered in the gloomy room beneath the scarlet orbs of malice.
"Your wishes are my command" Selenius droned.
"Indeed, they are" Voldemort nodded with delight. "Of all my servants, you are the only one who has the skills for this mission. You are no fool either, are you Selenius?" The sapphire eyed man didn't dare answer, knowing full well nothing would come right in the ears of that freaking overlord. "When I was… indisposed… you were one of the few more…" Voldemort took a moment to chuckle "enlightened ones who left the country".
Selenius didn't move. He didn't breath. He didn't even bother thinking.
"CRUCIO!" Voldemort cried suddenly, a hand suddenly aiming a wand at the servant. The man fell to the floor, his face hitting the wooden planks, and writhed in immeasurable agony. It felt like a hellish eternity, which actually happened to be three seconds, before the Dark Lord stopped, pleased as Selenius endured violent spasms.
"You abandoned me and your…" Selenius didn't see it, but he shivered knowing the Dark Lord was smirking sardonically "friends. Where were you when I needed you? What did you do while I was gone?" The tone shifted back to anger. "I am so… disappointed" he spat. "How could you leave your comrades in arms to fend for themselves? My poor, poor Bellatrix, sent to Azkaban… Lucius having to beg and waste gold for petty freedom… and you were away, happy that I had been exiled…" Voldemort glared murderously at Selenius "CRUCIO!"
Three more seconds of torture. Three more damnable seconds of pain. An endless hell.
"But I am a man of second chances" Voldemort proclaimed with dangerous glee. "I want you to capture a boy and his friends, Selenius". He leaned forward "you are not to tell anyone about this, not a soul… and you are not to ask for the tiniest bit of aid". Selenius stifled a groan of pain as he struggled to compose himself back to a kneeling position. "Fail me, and I promise you that you will suffer tenfold for your betrayal. Succeed, however…" Voldemort smiled, pleased with himself as if he was offering eternal life or something similar.
"W-who is he, m-m'lord?" Selenius gasped weakly, shaking.
"Harry James Potter" Voldemort growled.
