It was drizzling outside the manor, the fog blanketing its usual grandeur. The white peacocks that decorated the plaza appeared gray rather than their usual opalescent shade and the leaves in the ornate trees sagged under the weight of the rain drops. The interior of the luxurious estate was quite as dreary. Two men cloaked in black robes whispered quietly while the third kept silent, his back to the other two as he stroked his wand pensively.
"My Lord, may I ask why you have summoned us here today?" said one of the two men, breaking the palpable tension. His yellow hair hung limp around his sallow face, his usual bravado audibly shaven.
"Quiet Lucius," hissed the other man. "I'm sure the Dark Lord has brought us here for good reason. He values his time too much to call for trivial matters." Lengthy seconds passed before the third voice spoke.
"Right you are Severus," said Lord Voldemort, speaking for the first time, his voice cold and piercing. He turned to face Malfoy and Snape. "I have brought the two of here for a matter of great importance. I believe I have found a way to kill Harry Potter."
"A way to kill Potter?" stuttered Lucius.
"Yes, my sly friend. You see, I have been doing some great thinking. A thing I would not have to had done had you managed to take the prophecy from the Ministry last month, Lucius."
"My Lord, had the Order not come-," began Lucius, panic rising up in his voice, but Voldemort silenced him with a flick of his wand.
"I would not make excuses, Lucius. It is only by my mercy that you are standing before me today. As I was saying, after much contemplation, I have come to the belief that to kill Harry Potter, my soul must be as one with his. To do this, I must learn to love. The boy has great compassion. He's proved many times he's willing to die for his friends. I must learn to do the same."
Whatever Snape and Malfoy had been expecting Voldemort to say, it was not this.
"My Lord?" questioned Snape.
Lord Voldemort reached into the folds of his black robe, pulling out a slim emerald notebook emblazened with two golden Ws.