Chapter 1
In the Riddle House, far from the sleeping 'Boy Who Lived', Voldemort was inspecting his inner circle. As the last of his death eaters apparated, Voldemort surveyed them, a slightly frustrated look on his face. There were many huge gaps, the death eaters which should have been there were either in Azkaban or dead. They all peered at the man with piercing red eyes, fearing for themselves and families. The only noise that could be heard was Nagini hissing and the fire crackling.
"Firstly, let us start this evening with a few games" Voldemort said through the slit of his mouth. "Wormtail, bring them in."
Through the door came a whimpering Neville, covered in cuts and dried blood, with torn clothes covering his body. Behind him came an old, frail woman, who had suffered similar treatment, but instead of a pitiful expression, showed no sign emotion on her face. After all, these were the people who tortured her son and his wife to madness and therefore she was not going to give them any satisfaction.
"Let the games begin!" shouted Voldemort with the air of someone going to the gladiatorial games.
The death eaters formed a line and began to throw curses at them. Voldemort went to sit at his throne with Nagini at his side, watching his faithful servants doing his dirty work for him. Although there weren't many they would hopefully provide a decent show.
The first of the death eaters threw the cruciatus curse on Neville who stayed screaming on the ground for almost a minute. After lifting it off Neville could hardly move. The Death Eaters could sense that he was a door away from death so they concentrated on his grand-mother who was standing there, apparently unaffected by what they had just done.
"Stop!" Voldemort shouted.
He extended out his arm, and Wormtail obediently gave him the Veritaserum.
"I will make your death less painful if you tell me where Potter lives Longbottom." Voldemort said.
There was complete silence.
"No? You would much rather go the same way as your dear old parents. Well, I'm sorry to say that I shall get this information out of you anyway, but since you defied me, you will have to pay the consequences of your actions."
He forced a few drops of Veritaserum in Neville's mouth
"Now where does Potter live?"
Not able to resist the Veritaserum, he said, "Number 4 Privet Drive"
"You," Voldemort snapped pointing to two death eaters, "Stay outside the house and stand guard. Stun Potter if he leaves. That stupid Muggle lover fool probably put some spells on his house so don't try and get in."
With that the two death eaters bowed and disapparated.
"Now Longbottom," Voldemort continued. "Do you know about a certain prophecy concerning me a Potter?"
"No" Neville replied.
"No, well that's too bad isn't it. Crucio."
For the second time that night Neville was sent screaming onto the ground. Eventually Voldemort lifted the curse.
"Now, do you know about the prophecy?"
"Master", one of the Death Eaters said cautiously. "He is still under the influence of Veritaserum. He must be telling the truth"
Voldemort paused then continued as if nothing had been said.
"Longbottom, do you wish me to kill your grandmother?"
"No" replied Neville in that monotonous voice.
"Well then you had better find out about this prophecy or she will die."
"I will never do anything to help you Voldemort." Neville said, suddenly released from the hold of Veritaserum. "You can kill me as many times as you like but I won't help you."
"Thank you grandson," Voldemort continued turning to Neville's grandmother. "He has just signed you death warrant."
Neville's grandmother spoke for the first time. "I lost the meaning of life ever since you permanently damaged my son and his wife. Neville," she said turning to her grandson, "don't tell him anything. Remember, death is not the end."
"Avada Kadavara" Voldemort shouted and in a flash of green light Neville's grandmother fell to the ground.
A deathly silence followed then Neville fell to the ground next to his grandmother.
"Get up. There will be plenty of time for you to mourn but your time here is my time and I do not wish to waste it. During these last few minutes I have realized now why you were put on this planet. I was going to kill you but now I think I won't. You will be able to help me some more. You will be an excellent weapon at getting to Potter. No one would suspect that someone who had such loyalty to the boy would ever do something against him."
"I won't" Neville said pulling himself shakily to his feet.
"No?" laughed Voldemort. "I think you will. You may not do it willingly but you will do it."
In the Riddle House, far from the sleeping 'Boy Who Lived', Voldemort was inspecting his inner circle. As the last of his death eaters apparated, Voldemort surveyed them, a slightly frustrated look on his face. There were many huge gaps, the death eaters which should have been there were either in Azkaban or dead. They all peered at the man with piercing red eyes, fearing for themselves and families. The only noise that could be heard was Nagini hissing and the fire crackling.
"Firstly, let us start this evening with a few games" Voldemort said through the slit of his mouth. "Wormtail, bring them in."
Through the door came a whimpering Neville, covered in cuts and dried blood, with torn clothes covering his body. Behind him came an old, frail woman, who had suffered similar treatment, but instead of a pitiful expression, showed no sign emotion on her face. After all, these were the people who tortured her son and his wife to madness and therefore she was not going to give them any satisfaction.
"Let the games begin!" shouted Voldemort with the air of someone going to the gladiatorial games.
The death eaters formed a line and began to throw curses at them. Voldemort went to sit at his throne with Nagini at his side, watching his faithful servants doing his dirty work for him. Although there weren't many they would hopefully provide a decent show.
The first of the death eaters threw the cruciatus curse on Neville who stayed screaming on the ground for almost a minute. After lifting it off Neville could hardly move. The Death Eaters could sense that he was a door away from death so they concentrated on his grand-mother who was standing there, apparently unaffected by what they had just done.
"Stop!" Voldemort shouted.
He extended out his arm, and Wormtail obediently gave him the Veritaserum.
"I will make your death less painful if you tell me where Potter lives Longbottom." Voldemort said.
There was complete silence.
"No? You would much rather go the same way as your dear old parents. Well, I'm sorry to say that I shall get this information out of you anyway, but since you defied me, you will have to pay the consequences of your actions."
He forced a few drops of Veritaserum in Neville's mouth
"Now where does Potter live?"
Not able to resist the Veritaserum, he said, "Number 4 Privet Drive"
"You," Voldemort snapped pointing to two death eaters, "Stay outside the house and stand guard. Stun Potter if he leaves. That stupid Muggle lover fool probably put some spells on his house so don't try and get in."
With that the two death eaters bowed and disapparated.
"Now Longbottom," Voldemort continued. "Do you know about a certain prophecy concerning me a Potter?"
"No" Neville replied.
"No, well that's too bad isn't it. Crucio."
For the second time that night Neville was sent screaming onto the ground. Eventually Voldemort lifted the curse.
"Now, do you know about the prophecy?"
"Master", one of the Death Eaters said cautiously. "He is still under the influence of Veritaserum. He must be telling the truth"
Voldemort paused then continued as if nothing had been said.
"Longbottom, do you wish me to kill your grandmother?"
"No" replied Neville in that monotonous voice.
"Well then you had better find out about this prophecy or she will die."
"I will never do anything to help you Voldemort." Neville said, suddenly released from the hold of Veritaserum. "You can kill me as many times as you like but I won't help you."
"Thank you grandson," Voldemort continued turning to Neville's grandmother. "He has just signed you death warrant."
Neville's grandmother spoke for the first time. "I lost the meaning of life ever since you permanently damaged my son and his wife. Neville," she said turning to her grandson, "don't tell him anything. Remember, death is not the end."
"Avada Kadavara" Voldemort shouted and in a flash of green light Neville's grandmother fell to the ground.
A deathly silence followed then Neville fell to the ground next to his grandmother.
"Get up. There will be plenty of time for you to mourn but your time here is my time and I do not wish to waste it. During these last few minutes I have realized now why you were put on this planet. I was going to kill you but now I think I won't. You will be able to help me some more. You will be an excellent weapon at getting to Potter. No one would suspect that someone who had such loyalty to the boy would ever do something against him."
"I won't" Neville said pulling himself shakily to his feet.
"No?" laughed Voldemort. "I think you will. You may not do it willingly but you will do it."