Chapter 1
Harry approached the Ministry of Magic, just like any normal day. Him and Ron had just recently become Aurors, and Hermione was furiously working with those in the Magical Law Enforcement, after giving up all hope for helping launch of S.P.E.W., the Society for Protection of Elfish Welfare.
"Hullo, Anneliese," he said, waving at the new recruitment girl. She smiled, the skin around her ocean blue eyes crinkling into crow's feet. It was a not-so-well-kept secret that she had developed a crush of sorts on Harry, but that wasn't so rare after he had defeated the Dark Lord Voldemort the previous year, when he was only seventeen.
All these reflection were running through Harry Potter's mind as he slung of his gray messenger bag and hung it on the back of his office chair, and then sat down in the same chair to take care of the day's work. The black-haired man sorted through papers, occasionally pushing his round glasses further up his nose.
"Anything important?" a woman said from behind him. Harry turned around and saw Lilianna, an older woman with white hair in a tight bun. Despite her old librarian in need of a spa day look, Lilianna was very kind to everyone. Of course, they called her Lili, but the name was too painful for Harry to speak.
"Not really. There's been a weird string of connected robberies, but nothing worth Azkaban. And the guards will be switching out soon, so we'll need to send a boat to bring in new ones and take those out."
"Oh, well that's good. The Auror Department is the only place where you don't want an interesting day at work," Lilianna replied. Harry smiled politely but didn't say anything. Of course, Lilianna didn't mind and used it as an excuse to keep talking. She stepped into the three-sided room Harry worked in and sat in a wicker chair that was pushed under a card table on the wall.
"I heard that they brought in some old Death Eaters," she continued, lowering her voice dramatically. "They all pleaded un-guilty, and said they were under the Imperius curse. No one believes them, of course, but it's quite interesting to watch the trials. The Wizengamot was called in for a few, and I heard they're all getting thirty years in Azkaban! They deserve it, of course, but thirty years! I can't believe it!"
"I can," Harry said. "They're quite lucky they didn't get more. There was one Death Eater who got a whole life sentence. They're supposed to be lengthening the terms since the dementors are gone."
"Ah, yes. It's very good they did get taken out. Those things were terrible."
"Lilianna! You're need in the head's office!" a voice called from somewhere in the distance. Lilianna smacked her lips.
"Well, I better get going! See you later Harry."
"Goodbye." Lilianna left the office, and Harry folded some papers into airplanes and enchanted them, and soon seven little messages were delivered around the large, bustling office with parchment colored walls and papers stacked everywhere.
-Line Break-
"Harry Potter…the Boy Who Lived…the Boy Who Doesn't Deserve to Live…the Boy Who Murdered The Dark Lord!" a voice screamed from inside the worn down house. It sounded slightly insane, and probably wasn't a good sign.
Inside, a woman with dark, wild hair and heavy-lidded eyes stood, talking to a group of people in dark robes.
"But…Madam Lestrange…what are we to do about it?" a man asked. He sounded frightened of the woman, which was odd judging from his rough-cut features and the scars all over his arms and neck.
"We do what we planned to do! We made the horcruxes, like our master, for a reason! We will destroy this boy, somehow, though the Dark Lord failed! We will avoid his mistakes and avenge him!" she whispered harshly. The group all stared at their hands, nervous Bellatrix would hurt or kill them.
"But…please excuse me, again, Madam Lestrange, but if the Dark Lord himself failed to kill this boy, how on Earth will we?"
Bellatrix glared at him, her dark eyes as sharp as the daggers she used. She leaned over a chair at the head of table they were sitting at and placed her long fingered, long nailed hands on the rough wooden table. "We," she whispered dangerously, "will allow anyone to kill the boy. We will be ruthless. We will follow the Dark Lord's plans but make a few tweaks of our own. We will kill Harry Potter!" She was now yelling, so sure and confident of her words. A few of the followers of Voldemort flinched. It was never really a good thing when Bellatrix yelled, for anyone in general.
"Would anybody else like to challenge me and my views?" she asked, smiling evilly at the Death Eaters. They had the sense to keep their mouths shut. "Good…tomorrow, at dawn. Come back to this very house in this very place in this very country. We will continue plotting from there."
The figures left, walking into the cold night. It seemed darker, somehow, as they made their ways back home through the alleys, hoping not to be caught by any wizard, muggle, or Auror. If they were let off the hook with the law, Bellatrix would deal with them in an unlawful way.
A scream pierced the night as they all fell asleep, followed by maniacal laughter. It was grotesquely amplified. And an obvious warning to any who dared to oppose Bellatrix Lestrange.