PROLOGUE

His ever shifting eyes leered down at all the sheep-like people going about their pointless lives. His bloodless lips curled into a mocking smile and he laughed at a silent joke that only his own twisted mind could fathom.

"Pathetic..." he hissed from behind yellow, cracked teeth. "What pathetic creatures they all are."

A husky grunt of agreement sounded behind the old leering man, but he paid it no heed. He squinted slightly and his sharp grey eyes fell upon an old witch buying a ready made rheumatism potion. He noticed how her sagged features winced in pain every time she settled her weight upon her left leg. He noticed the little strip of parchment with a colorful childish drawing sticking out of her handbag.

"A proud grandmother, suffering from the effects of a dark curse..."

Behind her a gangly teenage boy who had just entered the shop longingly stared at a cheap love potion. The boy's button down shirt had all the buttons running through the right slots; obviously a muggle born.

"This one is suffering from a hankering," the old leering man commented. He sneered nastily as he regarded the boy's weak chin and harsh overbite. "He doesn't stand a chance."

The overweight shopkeeper was currently unaware of the old limping grandmother and the besotted youth, being otherwise engaged in chatting up a busty forty year old witch who was admiring his stock of skin shrinking potions. His round belly shook as he puffed out his caved in chest and squared his shoulders in a manly fashion, obviously intent on making a sale. Though not with potions.

The busty woman appeared not to notice any of the extra attentions as she swept long acid green nails along the glass bottles on the shelf before her, laughing faintly at all the right moments. She would probably get her skin potion for half the price.

"Pathetic..." the old man muttered and another deep grunt responded from behind him. Their lives were all so pointless. They were born for no reason, they lived their lives without meaning and they died without purpose.

That would all change today.

A bell tinkled as the door swung open and the old man saw a dark figure enter the shop. His old wrinkled face cracked into a smile, and his two rows of broken yellow teeth glinted wetly in the wand light. "That was all changing today,"

And as he looked down upon it, the little room suddenly shattered in a roar of violent blazing fury. Smoke billowed outward and shards of brick and plaster mingled with the shrieks of terror. It was done. "Today, their little lives have meaning."