Voldemort's True Fears

The lady's face was impassive. She was regal looking in her black robes, with her piercing red eyes. She was one of the most powerful witches to ever exist, as well one of the oldest. She was well into her four hundreds when she met Albus Dumbledore. She had felt a strange kinship with the Wizard and had decided to take him under her wing. It was one of her great many secrets. Though they were few and far between, every once and a while the witch would feel a certain affinity for a certain witch or wizard with great potential, and she would teach them. Later on in life, they would become famous and well- known.

When Tom Riddle entered Hogwarts and gazed at her, she sensed his potential, yet she did not feel that ever familiar draw to him. It piqued her interest. It was even rarer that she come across a witch or wizard with great potential to become something more without feeling that affinity for. Such as Viktor Krum, a great wizard that had much potential but she had no interest in.

When he had arrived, Tom Riddle that was, she drew him aside and informed him of her...previous experiences. She felt that despite she felt no affinity for him, she still should take him under her wing...for a cost. Tom Riddle had hesitated, he got a strange vibe off the woman. It made him want to trust her, but his instincts warned him that she was dangerous. He asked her, her cost, and she replied, his body for every ten lessons. He nearly froze upon hearing those words leave the woman's lips. Sure, she looked fine, but he wasn't going to sell his body to learn her magics. She had merely shrugged and left him to his own devices.

Immediately Tom Riddle began his own research on dark magic, and he grew stronger. The woman watched, not regretfully, not one bit. She couldn't help but think that he was growing into a strong, and respectable wizard, and she could see why he had refused her offer. He was bright enough without her help. As years went on, Tom almost forgot about her.

That was until the day he managed to get Harry Potter alone. He was surrounded by his death eaters, and had seemingly nothing to fear. Until Harry Potter screamed, "MISTRESS!" And the woman appeared. She didn't look surprised at Voldemort's appearance, but he was surprised at hers. She looked exactly the same. Then he remembered the real reason he had stayed away from Hogwarts. Her. He knew she was unchanging and incredibly powerful. She merely gazed upon him with a soft laugh upon her ruby red lips,

"Tom Marvelo Riddle. I never expected you to come back here." Her hair was midnight black, contrasting her moon pale skin, slender limbs, and piercing, sharp red eyes that he remembered. She swept her arm out towards the Forbidden Forest and Hogwarts, "I suppose you had to overcome your fear one day, did you not?" Voldemort started to stutter, wanting so badly to kneel to this powerful lady who had not changed a bit, since the last two hundred years. He fell to his knees.

"My...my lady. You have not changed." His voice changed desperately, "Take the boy! Spare my life." Harry Potter froze, seeing his arch enemy, though much older than him, kneel before the woman. He was confused. She had told him, in his fifth year, to merely call out 'Mistress' and she would come. Harry was confused but then his friends came to the clearing, also staring at the scene. Harry almost wished that Dumbledore was still alive, so he could see this as well. The witch merely shrugged,

"I do not care what you do...Son. You may not be mine biologically, but now I can see why I felt no affinity for you. You, my boy, were powerful enough on your own to overcome your challenges. You did not need me. Not like Dumbledore, who needed someone to lean on and guide him to the right path. Not like the many others I have encountered." She cocked her head, "Leave in peace, boy and I will spare you. I have no qualms, no true qualms with what you do. For evil must be balanced with the good. That is why prophecies are made. To ensure the balance. Your prophecy with the Potter boy is not true, nor a concern to me. Normally I would ascertain that the prophecy is fulfilled, but I think it will be fine that this one is forever unfinished. Would you like to join me?" Voldemort shook his head quickly. It was obvious he feared this woman. Finally Hermione asked the question they all had been thinking,

"Not to be rude, but who are you?" The lady shrugged,

"I have many names young one, and not one has stuck. Potter calls me, Mistress, for I told him to call that out if he was in trouble. Dumbledore knew me as Elinores. Tom, here knew me as Lady of the Dark. I am nothing but an old and powerful witch that has survived the centuries, guiding witches and wizards alike to their destinies. Only a select few have made it to my attention though." Her eyes narrowed, "Curious. Hermione Granger, born of muggle parents but the brightest witch of her age." Her head cocked, "Perhaps you would like to join me? I can teach you what no one else knows...and much, much more." Hermione looked very tempted but replied,

"Not right now but thank you for your offer." The lady shrugged,

"Very well then. If you should change your mind, tell Fawx that you would like to continue your tutelage under me." Hermione looked confused,

"Under who? Whose name should I tell him?" The lady shrugged again,

"You need merely say, 'Fawx. I would much like to continue my tutelage under her.' He will surely understand." She glanced at the moon and stars, "I'm afraid I must be off. I can't stay much longer." Then she vanished. She did not apparate, there was no smoke, she just disappeared.

And that is where Harry Potter, Ron Weasely, Professor Mcgonagall, Hermione Granger, Hagrid, and the rest of the Death Eaters, learnt of Voldemort's true fear of returning to Hogwarts. The powerful woman none of them had ever met, but made them feel small and as if they should bow down to her and tend to her every whim. It was a disorienting feeling, to those who had always felt so self-righteous and prideful. That day, they learnt what being in the presence of true power felt like.