A black cloaked figure trod determinedly towards a large stone castle at the end of the street.
The rain continued to spatter the ground around him as lightning flashed in the sky. A long, bony white hand pushed open the wrought iron gate only to leave it open as he walked past.
As he neared the house, red serpentine eyes caught a flash of scarlet light from a second story window. He waited. the light flashed again, the outline of a female anthropomorphic canine caught in its glow. her hair seemed to raise up from her head, her mouth opened in a silent blood curdling scream.
a slow, sinister smile spread across Lord Voldemort's face, and he resumed his journey to the black marble manor.
Even as he entered the shelter of the covered porch, he did not remove his hood. A quiet beam of light flowed through the keyhole, and he entered.
As dark lord stepped within the handsome marble and oak sanctuary, he could hear the faint mumblings of a foreign language creeping along the halls. blood red eyes glanced up at the imposing chandelier above him. A small squeak brought them back down the floor. a trembling house elf stood in front of him, dressed in a filthy pillowcase. "Take me to Lord Tarkama." Voldemort hissed.
The house elf bowed, then motioned for the figure to follow him. The cloaked figure followed the trembling house elf down winding corridors. As they turned another hall, the figure stopped at a small bear girl who had run into him.
the girl looked up at the face under the figures cloak, and her happy face melted away. a young female kangaroo called to the child, then hopped over to the little girl and bent down to scoop her up.
Muttering what the figure assumed was a apology in the strange language, the Kangaroo whisked the child back down the hallway.
Voldemort fingered his wand, but resisted the temptation to strike. even though the two were only slaves, Tarkama would not be pleased to have lost two pieces of property.
"Shall we proceed sir?" The house elf asked, motioning with his hand. Voldemort did not nod, but instead resumed walking towards the house elf.
The two proceeded without any further interruption. Soon, the two came upon a room marked 'Nursery' in a golden letters on a oak plaque.
Beyond the door, a heavy 'thump' could be heard, as well as a muffled infants cry.
"Lord Tarkama, sir." said the house elf, opening the door for the figure. Nodding, the figure stepped inside as a muscular man turned to face him.
"Ah, Voldemort. Good to see you." said the man, closing the door on the house elf. "You as well, Tarkama." said Voldemort, noticing the limp body of a large female wolf.
As Voldemort scanned the body, he noticed several sharp, knife like quills protruding from her tail.
"A quesa." Mused Voldemort, quietly. "Not just any quesa, brother. My wife, Jessica." said Tarkama with no remorse.
Voldemort continued to scan the body and noticed a small crying bundle in the deceased woman's arms. "Ah." said Voldemort, flicking his wand at the bundle.
as if lifted by strings, a fuzzy crying infant floated towards the men, her cries intensifying as she floated in mid air with only a strange invisible wind supporting her.
"Shut it up, Tarkama!" Voldemort yelled over the babies intensified cries.
the latter waved what looked like a short black baton in front of the baby, and silence reclaimed the area. "Ah yes, my niece is indeed powerful." said Voldemort, his red eyes flicking over the still (at least visibly) screaming baby.
"Keep her downtrodden, Tarkama." said Voldemort, flicking his wand again so the infant floated over to the addressed man. "Otherwise, she may rise to destroy your empire." Voldemort added.
Tarkama gave a single nod, then looked down at the infant. "Da-da." The baby cooed, her tiny arms reaching towards the man who had taken her. Tarkama grimaced at the nickname, then turned and walked towards the door.
"I will do as you say, brother." said Tarkama, swatting away the baby's tiny hands. He opened the door to find the house elf which had lead Voldemort still waiting for them. "Take this cub to the Slave Induction Center. Tell them she is to be given the status of Prized Slave, and be kept under constant surveillance." The house elf bowed again, then stopped when Tarkama added. "One more thing, Grimer."
"Yes master?"
"Tell them she is to receive a neutralization collar. you may go."
The house elf bowed a final time, then disappeared with a loud 'crack'.
allowing his brother to exit the room, Tarkama closed and locked the door.
Placing the small key around his neck and tucking it down his shirt, Tarkama tapped the door once with his wand for good measure. Tarkama ignored the enraged roars and death threats coming from the portraits around them as he and Voldemort walked down the hallway.
"Filthy beasts. I'm glad to be shut of them." Tarkama muttered. "I'm certainly glad you have ceased that disgusting façade with Jessica." said Voldemort, allowing a small smile.
It faded as the two passed a intricate stone archway which contained several glowing bricks. As they passed, a veil seemed to sweep over the two before solidifying as they exited.
Tarkama muttered a swear as Voldemort curiously looked back.
"What has happened?"
"Before her death, Jessica enchanted that archway with her power. Its just sealed itself, so no one may enter. Not even me."
"can it be opened again?" asked Voldemort.
"Perhaps, but I don't care. I have no plans to go back to that lie." said Tarkama, waving his hand dismissively.
Voldemort gave a single nod, and allowed his brother to escort him to the entrance hall. "Where may I contact you if I need you, brother?"
"Your owl will find me, Tarkama."
Tarkama gave a final bow to Voldemort as the latter disappeared into the night, then straightened as the air settled down once again.
As he closed the door, Tarkama sighed 'pompous leech' and prepared to expand his empire.
Meanwhile, over four thousand miles away, a elderly man in eccentric royal blue robes casually strolled out of the thicket.
He smiled at striped feline sitting beside a sign that read 'Privet Drive'. With a nod to the feline, the old man pulled out what looked like a intricate cigarette lighter.
After a few clicks, the old man flicked the device towards the farthest street lamp. the light leapt as if beckoned to the lighter, then squeezed itself into the lighter.
The man repeated the action for the remaining street lights, until the final light disappeared into the deluminator.
"I expected to find you here," said the man to the feline, smiling knowingly as he added "Professor McGonagall."
with a crack and flash of light, the cat disappeared and it was soon replaced by a elderly woman in a emerald green robe and hat.
"Good evening professor Dumbledore." she said curtly, walking briskly to catch up with Dumbledore.
"Are the rumors true, Albus?" Professor McGonagall asked as they walked. "I'm afraid so...for both parties."
"No!" whispered Mcgonagall, her hands flying to her mouth in shock. "Loosing the Potters is devastating enough...but to lose Jessica Veganstroth as well! Albus, that's...that's..."
McGonagall took out a handkerchief and, with a trembling hand, began to wipe at her eyes.
"I know." said Dumbledore, nodding sadly. The following silence was punctuated by quiet sobs from McGonagall. Finally, her tear stained face rose from her equally stained handkerchief
"What of the Potters son? Harry?" McGonagall asked, once she had collected herself.
"Hagrid is bringing him"
"and Jessica's daughter?"
"I myself went to retrieve Tristina from Veganstroth manor." Dumbledore then bowed his head
"I was too late. My spys later informed me that she has been inducted into Tarkama's Slave camp."
"NO!" McGonagall gasped, clutching Dumbledores arm.
"Albus, we cant lose her to Tarkama! He will kill her!"
"Not according to my spy. Voldemort has ordered Tarkama to spare the girl, to harvest her power later. Do not worry, Minerva." said Dumbledore with a small smile.
"I plan to honor Jessica's final vow to Tarkama."
Professor McGonagall arched one of her eyebrows at the wizened wizard. "Her final vow? what as it?"
"'You will never have Tristina.'"
Dumbledore and McGonagall looked up as low rumble, similar to lighting, filled the air. A large man astride a equally large motorcycle slowly swooped down to the street as if it was a runway.
With a slight bump, the motorcycle slowed and finally screeched to a stop.
"No troubles I trust, Hagrid?" asked Dumbledore, eyeing the motorcycle with an amused smile.
"No sir." said Hagrid, straitening up. "Little tyke fell asleep just as we were flying over Bristol. Try not to wake him." said Hagrid, handing him to Dumbledore.
as Professor Dumbledore cradled the 1 year old in his arms, he briskly walked towards number 4 privet drives doorstep.
"Albus, I've watched these people all day. their the worst muggles imaginable, they really are..." "The only family he has." said Dumbledore, gently laying the bundle down on the doorstep.
"Tristina will have a similar life. If Tarkama even allows her to exist, I dont know." said Dumbledore, shaking his head.
"You said You-Know-Who..."
"Ordered Tarkama to spare her. Tarkama is not foolish enough to disobey his brother, Minerva. but there is a stark contrast between living and simply existing."
Dumbledore then looked at the sleeping boy on the doorstep. "Harry will be free. I hope, someday, Tristina is as well."