A/N:This is the Sequel to Lord Voldemort and the Heir of Slytherin
Many thanks to BlackRoseRaven for betaing this story.
Harry Potter and the Leader of the Half-Blood Revolution
Main characters:
The Chosen One, Harry Potter
The Revolutionary, Vladimir Svensson
The Minister for Magic, Draco Malfoy
The Student, Jade Price
The Enforcer, Ralph Parkinson
The Dark Lord, Tom Riddle
(…and a few others)
Prologue
The man stopped briefly at the entry of the Ministry of Magic, just for long enough to fold his elegant black umbrella and glance condescendingly at the golden letters above the large doors. His rapid steps echoed through the impressive marble and glass patio as he crossed it purposefully from one end to the other. He did not look either right or left, completely ignoring the curious looks and urgent whispers that his arrival elicited.
When the elevator stopped at the final floor he stepped out and walked directly into the Minister's antechamber, startling his assistant, a young woman who jumped from her seat and raised a hand to stop him from walking directly into the office she was guarding, looking as if she was ready to give her life if need be.
"Sir, you cannot go in there without an appointment. The Minister is busy…"
One cold look in her direction from the tall man dressed in a perfectly pressed charcoal suit was enough to silence her protests. She stepped back and cowered behind her desk. She could have recognized those cold blue eyes, those angular, sharp features, that intimidating demeanor anywhere.
Ralph Parkinson entered the Minister for Magic's office without knocking, and let the door close sharply behind him.
"I see your manners have not improved, Parkinson," Draco Malfoy drawled from behind his expensive mahogany desk, without looking up at the intruder. He finished reading the letter he had in front of him, then signed it without hurry, and put it aside in a neat pile to his right.
"I suppose you have found out by now," Parkinson said, leaning over the desk, looking intensely at the only rival to his power.
Malfoy finally raised his eyes to the intruder and pinned him with an icy silver stare in return.
"I have already dispatched every available Auror to find him," he said, disdainfully. "There could be still a chance that this is the act of a fanatic or a former follower…"
Parkinson snorted.
"It's already been confirmed. I've received intelligence that he's been spotted in Hogsmeade merely half an hour after the Elder wand was used for the first time. Of course my men had no idea who he really was."
"Your men were too busy pursuing Harry Potter!" Malfoy suddenly sneered, discontent clear in his voice.
"Harry Potter happens to be at the top of the list of the most dangerous fugitives. The fact that you've been protecting him…" Parkinson sneered back menacingly, "May earn you a one way ticket to Azkaban one of these days, Minister."
Malfoy suddenly stood, drawing to his full height, and narrowing his eyes at the man who ruled the wizarding world from the shadows. A few years ago, Ralph Parkinson had become the head of Liliana's secret service, an instrument of terror she used to keep her kingdom under control. While she had entrusted Draco with the ultimate political function, his power was counterbalanced by Ralph's own.
"You'd better not be threatening me, Parkinson," Draco stated coldly. "No one, do you hear me, no one except Liliana may tell me where I cross the line. And I do not see Liliana here. I only see you."
The word "you" had been uttered with such disdain that it was as if Parkinson was no more than a disgusting insect.
Ralph scowled, and crossed his arms, weighing Malfoy coldly in return.
"What matters is that Voldemort is out there at this very moment…we must contain the situation before word gets out that he's alive and his followers start regrouping. Things could quickly get out of control," he said.
Malfoy seemed to consider the situation for a couple of moments, staring down at the desk.
"Liliana must be informed immediately," he started. He noticed Ralph falter for a moment, before the other man interrupted quickly:
"Perhaps we should first be sure of what happened. Use the regular channels to let me know when the Aurors find him. I'll dispatch my men as well. He may be dangerous, but I'm sure that by working together we can contain this situation on our own. He's not the menace he used to be. His magic, no matter how strong, is outdated compared to ours."
The expression on Malfoy's face turned suspicious.
"You're hiding something from me, Parkinson," he stated, looking intensely at his rival.
His Legilimency powers hit a wall though, as Parkinson just stared back at him.
"Let me know when you have intelligence as to Voldemort's whereabouts," Ralph said simply, and, after grabbing his umbrella, he walked elegantly to the heavy doors.
"You know as well as I do, Parkinson. He has the Elder Wand. He is dangerous," Draco said quietly.
Ralph halted for a moment with his hand on the doorknob. He knew Voldemort was very dangerous. He also knew something else, something much more unsettling, that Malfoy was not aware of, and that he was never supposed to find out.
He walked out, the feel of Malfoy glaring at his back never leaving him even as he Apparated in Sweden, before the Slytherins' legendary fortress.