Harry Potter And The Caves Of The Dead
This is set during my alternative Year Seven of Harry's schooling – and is non-Deathly Hallows compliant.
Chapter One:
The Unholy Union
August 1997:
"So – it is agreed? We have an alliance, my Lord?"
Voldemort appraised Lady Vordarna, who was sat at the other side of the long mahogany table in the dining room at Malfoy Manor. The leader of the visitors spoke with a cultured, if slightly smoky, voice that bore no trace of the mid-African accent that she once possessed in her long life. Her dark skin bore a creamy hue. The slightly-curly black hair was long and fell to the centre of her back in a series of waves. She was, to judge her by appearance, aged in her early forties – but in reality, she was much older.
There were six of the visitors, sat along one side of the table to either side of the lady. The three women wore long silk dresses, whilst the trio of men in Vordarna's company wore dark jackets and matching trousers. Their crisp, white shirts, however, were without ties.
Lord Voldemort looked across to his left and right, noting the expressions of his most senior Death Eaters, lined up in their seats along the dining table in their usual dark livery. To his immediate right was the former Potions Master of Hogwarts School, Severus Snape – his eyes as black as his mop of greasy hair, his face and emotions inscrutable. Beyond him was the master of the house, Lucius Malfoy – recently sprung out of the wizard prison of Azkaban. And to Lucius's right was his wife, Narcissa, who looked equally anxious at the presence of their guests as he did.
On the two chairs to Voldemort's left was the blunt-featured, pony-tailed male Death Eater called Yaxley. The other was Voldemort's favourite lieutenant, Bellatrix Lestrange. The Goth-like, dark-haired witch glared at Lady Vordarna with poorly-disguised disgust.
With a smile of amusement on his thin lips, the Dark Lord returned his gaze to the regally-dressed black woman who had spoken.
"Yes, Lady Vordarna. We share a joint purpose. If you and your group pledge themselves to me, we will grant you the positions of power and privilege that you desire." Voldemort calmly replied in his customary thin, high voice. His left hand reached out to stroke the head of the giant snake Nagini, who had slithered up from the floor and onto her master's lap.
"We pledge ourselves, on the understanding that you and I will be equals, at the head of our joint forces." Lady Vordarna dipped her head slightly. "Together, we will overthrow the Ministry of Magic and the traitors of my esteemed kind – and rule, as we were meant to rule. Then we will feed upon the spoils of our glorious victory."
"And we must have complete trust between our groups," announced one of Vordarna's men. Krave… Yes, that was his name, Voldemort reflected. Krave looked the strongest of the three men of the Lady's party. Wiry-looking, and with a face that looked almost as if it had been chiselled from stone, underneath the dark ginger-dyed hair. "As we have asked, the Unbreakable Vow will now be made between our Lady and the Dark Lord."
"Of course," Voldemort replied softly, still smiling. "It must be made clear that no betrayal by either leader will be tolerated. I agree to make the vow. Lady Vordarna will be appointed as my Dark Lady. Our lives must be valued by each other – and by the servants of each other. If my body should die, the Lady will perish also. If my Lady dies first, my mortal life shall also cease "
Bellatrix Lestrange gasped aloud. The other Death Eaters present looked shocked.
Their leader turned his head only slightly at the sounds he was hearing. "Silence! Let us proceed with the vow. We need someone suitable to cast the bond. Perhaps your second-in-command, Doctor Darnell, my Lady? I understand that she was a witch herself, before she consented to becoming an Eternal…"
The woman sat to the right of Vordarna, whose bright, tightly-curled ginger hair cascaded over her shoulders, smiled at the facially-deformed wizard before her.
"My Lord, I am still a witch. But my magical expertise lies…"
"In advanced alchemy – matters beyond the folly of turning base metal into gold, yes. You will be most useful, Doctor. I have such plans… But that is for later. As for now…"
"Since the sum of your followers is larger, I am happy for one of your followers to perform the duty of Bonder, my Lord." Lady Vordarna turned her hands outward in a display of her consent.
Voldemort nodded, then turned and made a slight gesture with his hand. "Severus. If you please?"
Snape rose to his feet. When the two leaders were standing at one end of the long table, close enough to hold their exposed right hands, the ex-Potions Master stood so that he was to one side, facing both them and the watching companies of followers. The tip of his wand was placed upon their linked hands.
"Do you, Lady Juno Vordarna, pledge yourself and your forces to the joint cause we have agreed upon?" Voldemort rasped.
"I do." The regal, black skinned woman assented.
A thin sliver of bright flame flowed from the wand. It spiralled around the hands of Voldemort and Vordarna.
"Do you, my Lord, pledge yourself and your forces to the joint cause we have agreed upon?" Vordarna asked, in turn.
"I do," the thin voice responded.
Snape's wand spat forth a second tongue of fire, which merged with the first, forming a chain.
"And, as declared, if my body should die, Lady Juno Vordarna will perish also. If her Ladyship dies first, my mortal life shall also cease. Do you agree to this life bond, my Lady?" Voldemort narrowed his gaze as he looked directly into Vordarna's black eyes.
There was a moment of silence in the room. Vordarna held her head high, and returned her partner's rigid stare. Snape took in the expressions of the two leaders, but remained silent.
"I do."
The third ribbon of flame shot from Snape's wand and entwined itself with the other two. The bond of fire glowed red, then slowly faded away. The Dark Lord and his newly-appointed Dark Lady released their grips.
"And now, we have much to share, my Lady," Voldemort announced, as he rolled the sleeve back over his right forearm. "As specified in our agreement, we must combine our pools of knowledge and magic to create the being that we will call the Juggernaut. With the joint expertise of your Doctor Darnell and our Professor Snape, this will be achieved."
"And also, as agreed, you and the Death Eaters will share what you know of the Caves of the Dead. We will seek out its location, and build upon our resources, to survive the perils that surely lie within!" Vordarna interlaced the fingers of her hands together.
"Indeed. Before our revolution can begin in earnest, the power I have learnt to be hidden there must be recovered. Power that will be equally shared between us, my Lady." Voldemort gave a slow, satisfied smile. "Now, we must celebrate our union. I have arranged for…refreshments…to be served in the cellar. You will, I think, be pleasantly surprised. Nagini – remain here. The rest of you, come this way. Lady Vordarna – you should be immediately behind me."
The Dark Lord led the intermingled throng of the Death Eaters and their richly-dressed guests, until they stopped outside the main cellar room of Malfoy Manor. Voldemort sharply rapped the knuckles of his pale hand against the door – and the bucktoothed face of Peter Pettigrew appeared at the bars, once the sliding metal panel had been moved aside. Seeing the gathered crowd, he gulped and fumbled as he opened the bolts of the cellar door.
"All…all is ready, m-my Lord," he stuttered.
"Thank you, Wormtail." Wearing his usual long cloak, Voldemort seemed to glide past Peter as he led the company into the wide chamber beyond. Alongside one wall were six horizontally-laid out racks – instruments of torture, where the captives were each bound around their wrists and ankles to a hard wooden slab by manacles.
The faces of the six prisoners were hidden underneath loose hoods. Hearing footsteps approaching, the captives shifted in agitation. All but one of them tried to speak, to yell, or to scream. But they were gagged underneath their hoods. Watching over them was the white-haired, and moustached Nott Senior, who was aiding Pettigrew in his duties.
From their size and clothing, those gathered could tell that the first five prisoners were teenagers – a South Asian couple, a male of Chinese appearance, and a pair of white girls.
"Not all from the same location, I trust – Wormtail?" Voldemort enquired, looking over his shoulder at the small man.
"N-no, Master. We knew that would raise the suspicions of the Muggle police… These specimens came in three bundles – from diff-different places."
"That is good. Lucius and Narcissa – fetch some glasses for those who prefer…wine," Voldemort's lips pulled into a sardonic smile. He turned to Lady Vordarna and her company, who were eyeing the rack-bound youngsters with interest. "Our prisoners, of course, are for your…consumption."
The regally-dressed African woman and her five companions licked their parted lips, exposing the lengthened fangs of vampires.
"The Dark Lord is gracious. I thank you," announced Krave. At a nod from his Lady, he pulled away the hood from one of the female captives, who took in the ghoulish sight before her with shock-widened eyes. She strained frantically at her manacles – to no effect.
The company waited until the Malfoys returned with enough wine bottles from their drinks cellar. Their son, Draco, also entered the chamber – carrying a tray of wine glasses.
"Wait!" Lady Vordarna held up a hand. "Are these young ones of magical descent – or are they stupid Muggles?"
"Nott, you led the team who captured these youths. Please answer the Lady's question." Voldemort turned his head to address the Death Eater who had just accepted a filled wine glass from Draco.
Nott Senior hesitated, then spoke. "They…, they are merely Muggles, my…my Lady! We would not waste the blood of witches and wizards so freely – except in combat!"
"As I suspected…" Vordarna gave the five prisoners a look of distaste. "They will suffice as nourishment for my company – but I only drink the blood of those who possess magic in their veins! Have you no captive wizards?"
Voldemort's thin lips parted into a gloating smile. "I can offer you someone even better, my Lady." He stepped forward and pulled off the hood concealing the face of the unfortunate sixth prisoner. The white face of another vampire – this one bald-headed, with sunken eyes, stared back at them with anger. His mouth was covered with a gag that still smelt of garlic, which had weakened him.
"Wormtail – remove his gag, before it upsets our guests," Voldemort spoke quietly.
Pettigrew nervously stepped forward and did as he was asked, throwing the gag into a far corner of the chamber. The last prisoner - his face and almost-completely naked body bearing whip marks - hissed hungrily at the little Death Eater, bearing his fangs.
Everyone's attention was now on the unfolding scene. The vampires stared at the unveiled captive, in fascination.
"Your people…managed to capture Sanguini, a member of the British Vampire Council…" Vordarna spoke in an awestruck voice that was almost a whisper. She smiled and ran her fingers along the deepest of Sanguini's blood-dried wounds, making him flinch.
"I understand that your kind only feed upon each other as a show of asserting your authority, my Lady." Snape spoke up. Like the other Death Eaters, he held his wine-filled glass in one hand. None of them would dare to drink until their master had proclaimed the toast.
"That is correct, learned one," Lady Vordarna complimented Snape. She returned her attention to the undead captive.
"Lady Vordarna…" The starved Sanguini rasped through cracked lips. The shadows around his eyes seemed more pronounced than they had when he appeared at Hogwarts, during the previous December, thought Snape. "The Council have fought long and hard…for our kind to be accepted by the wizarding community! Do not undo our progress with your renegade actions…!"
"Our kind will stand as Lords and Ladies, besides the One who stands next to me! The Muggles will be our slaves and cattle – as it is meant to be!" Vordarna hissed back. "You are relieved of your status, Sanguini!"
"Bravo, my Lady…" Voldemort raised his filled glass. "May our alliance be long and deliver all our desired aims. Your good health, Lady Vordarna – the future Vampire Queen of this island."
"I wish you the same, as King, my Lord." The dark-skinned vampiress gave a hand signal to her followers, and they lowered their fangs to the exposed necks and arms of the bound Muggles. At the same time, their leader hissed and sank her bared canines into the weakened Sanguini, and proceeded to tear his throat apart with the savagery of a wild dog.
Voldemort sipped his wine and watched the killings with amusement. Bellatrix Lestrange finally raised her lips into a smile, also – delighting in the screams and sprayed blood. The other Death Eaters tried not to gag, as they turned away from the grisly sight and sounds. Nott quickly backed away from the carnage, looking uncomfortable as a splash of red narrowly missed his robes.
Severus Snape's lips curled as he too tore his eyes away from the scene. He sipped his wine slowly and carefully, as he kept his nerves about him…
*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*
December 1997
"Enter," The thin voice called out as the door was knocked.
Bellatrix Lestrange opened the door, and stepped into the study. Once she had closed the door again, she turned to the figure that was stood, staring out of the bay window. The curtains had been drawn back - displaying first one, then another firework exploding in the night sky, set off from the nearest village, some miles away from Malfoy Manor.
Bellatrix waited – but Voldemort seemed engrossed in the spectacle. Eventually, he spoke.
"Such strange habits those Muggles have. There is still an hour to go before the New Year – yet they seem content to waste their money on such pretty toys, some of which are not even fired on time. So strange and indulgent…"
"My Lord…" Bellatrix tried to control her emotions. "You – you asked to see me."
He turned to face her. "Yes, Bellatrix. Please sit." He extended an open hand to the chair placed in front of the study desk between them.
"I…, I prefer to stand," his lieutenant replied. Guardedly.
He raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Come now, Bella! I know that you are still…unhappy with me. You barely hold back your hostility to Lady Vordarna – only you would not be so foolish to say so when she and her coven are within the same building. Fortunately, they are all busy elsewhere, tonight." The bald head tilted itself towards Bellatrix. "No doubt you wish yourself to be my Dark Lady!"
"I-I… Yes! But on-only with your consent, my Lord." Bellatrix stumbled with the delivery of her words. "For-forgive me, but I do not understand why…"
"The agreement between Lady Juno Vordarna's renegade vampire coven and our league is…a marriage of convenience – of necessity – Bellatrix… Rest assured that I have made no commitment to become…physically involved…with the one who you are so jealous of!"
A look of intense relief betrayed itself on the face of the wild-haired witch. "My Lord! I am reassured to hear that – but how long…?"
"When I have acquired the prize within the Caves of the Dead – then gone onto conquering the wizarding establishments of this nation, and eliminated the Potter boy, the time will come when Lady Vordarna and her followers will no longer be required by me," Voldemort calmly declared. He slowly walked over to the fanatical, devoted witch – but stopped short before her.
"I have already trusted you with the secret of my immortality, Bellatrix. I asked you if you desired the same for yourself…"
She gasped. "Y-yes. You did, m-my Lord. And… And you know that I wish to share eternity in this world, with you!"
"Despite the price that has to be paid?" Voldemort gave Bellatrix a strange smile.
She nodded back firmly. Without hesitation.
"Very well. The time has arrived for you to be made immortal, my dear. And, on this eve of a new year, it is fitting that the first step is taken now." Voldemort reached out his hand, and slowly brushed his thin fingers across Bellatrix Lestrange's face, making her gasp with pleasure. Before she could do anything to touch or hold him, in turn, however, the Dark Lord had turned away and walked over to a wide safe set into a wall of the room, which he then unlocked. Lifting a parcel out of it, Voldemort closed the safe door shut again. With a flick of his wand, the large package rose into the air and hovered behind him. The bald-headed wizard then strolled over to the only door, which he opened. The parcel levitated close behind him. "Follow me," he instructed Bellatrix.
Minutes later, the two of them had entered one of the cells underneath the Manor, with the use of a key the Dark Lord had produced from his robes. As the gas light set close to the door was turned up, the solitary inhabitant of the dank, cool room blinked and raised his bloodshot eyes to take in his visitors.
The heavy iron door was slammed to, with a 'clang'. That was immediately followed by the 'thump' of the package gently being lowered to the floor.
"M-my Lord? B-Bel-Bella!" the prisoner croaked through parched, dry lips.
"Rodolphus." Bellatrix Lestrange coolly regarded the prisoner. His once-fine hair was now long, dirty, and unkempt – and his beard was overgrown and shabby. Although dressed, his clothes were stained– and he smelt. Also, the captive's hands were locked within a set of wooden stocks, which were fixed to the stony floor. He was stuck in a permanently crouched position.
Another problem that the husband of Bellatrix was saddled with was the grim fact that his left leg now ended in a peg-legged stump. Almost right up to his hip.
"You've come…to release me? Please! My loyalty cannot be in question – and there…, there must be must still be ways I can help aid you in this war…!"
"I do not doubt your loyalty, Rodolphus. Only your competency - and effectiveness," the Dark Lord calmly announced. "You and your brother were given a task to perform on Christmas Eve. To assassinate the Minister of Magic, by blowing up his office. You failed, Rodolphus – and Rabastan was foolish enough to be consequently captured." He paused, and then added. "Only I, your wife, and the Malfoy family know that you are in this cell. They have been sworn to secrecy. I did not want the news of your failure, and injury, to…dishearten…our other fighters."
"But…, but I evaded the Aurors and guards! Despite the damage I sustained, my Lord! The timing mechanism was faulty…!"
Bellatrix stepped forward. She shot Rodolphus Lestrange a stern, cold glare.
"Silence, my husband! What our Master has concluded is that you are now incapable of further use in our army."
"Precisely, Bellatrix." Voldemort inclined his ghastly face in a nod. "Though it is true that you have one last function to perform, Rodolphus Lestrange. I, however, will not harm you."
The prisoner fell deathly silent. His widening eyes darted between his wife and his leader, and back again. He forced himself to speak again.
"Wh-what is the meaning of this? B-Bellatrix! I am your loyal and loving husband!"
"Our first loyalty has to be to the One besides me! You know that." Bellatrix raised her voice, as she held herself with due demeanour and bearing. "I am divorcing you, Rodolphus! Our Lord intends to appoint me as his Dark Lady – once we have achieved our victories. I, in turn, intend to rule beside him over this nation. For eternity!"
There was no tenderness in her expression or delivery. Only an eagerness to achieve her final, personal, goals. To become the Dark Lord's partner – and equal – in every respect. Including physical intimacy…
Bellatrix raised her wand.
"Nooo!" Rodolphus Lestrange shrieked. He desperately shook the stocks, hoping to break loose from them – to prove that he wasn't a hopeless cripple. "You must not do this…!"
"Yes, I must! Avada Kedavra!" his wife screamed.
The ominous lime-green bolt of light zapped out from the witch's wand and struck Mr Lestrange on his temple. He visibly convulsed – then his body slumped in the stocks, striking the wood with a loud 'thud'. His eyes were wide with shock. Eyes that now saw only a yawning darkness…
Bellatrix gave a sigh of satisfaction - then turned to her master. "We should provide a reason for his death, my Lord."
Voldemort smiled. "The others will be told that, upon his request, you left him with your wand during a cell visit. He killed himself - as he knew he had nothing left to give you, or to me."
His lieutenant nodded her acceptance, then straightened herself to face Voldemort eye-to-eye. "I am bound to no man but you now, my Lord," she declared, with pride.
"You have proved yourself worthy, Bella." Voldemort pulled out his wand. With a few swishes, it was used to cut open the package. "We will now create your first horcrux! After that…"
"Yes, my Lord?" she asked.
He smiled at the gleam of rapture in his servant's eyes. "I shall eliminate the Muggle prisoner in the next cell – and use the energy harnessed to produce my latest horcrux, my dear Bella…"
*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*
June 1998
I did NOT follow in my father's footsteps to perform guard duty!
Draco Malfoy fumed and kicked out at the stone wall before him, before pacing the cellar passageway. He checked his watch. Only half an hour had passed since he had been obliged to stand guard before the door that led to the cold store pantry of Malfoy Manor. Not that he was safekeeping the stock… Oh no. Some weeks before, the Dark Lord had placed a locked suitcase inside, before casting an illusion spell on it. All Draco currently knew about it, was that his family had to be careful about what food they now brought out…
Father should have protested when HE put me on this stupid watch rota! I'm the one who got the Death Eaters into Hogwarts – for glory's sake! I'm above this!
Why aren't I with HIM at the caves? Does he think I couldn't hurt those witless fools from the school – or their Muggle friends – who we captured at Easter time? The Dark Lord doesn't realise how stronger I have become in my spirit, since the night I disarmed Dumbledore… But, oh no. It's up to our family to stay behind, at our home – whilst Aunt Bella gets to see some adventure.
She seems to have got over the suicide of Uncle Rodolphus well enough – not that he had much guts for our revolution, compared to Aunt Bella…
He stopped pacing, and considered his surroundings.
And another thing… There's nowhere to sit, either!
A noise distracted Draco from his indignant fury. The magical glow lamp fixed into one wall illuminated a figure that had just slipped into the corridor. She closed the door to the cellar behind her.
Draco spun round and raised his held wand. "Who's there…?" Oh – it's you. Doctor Darnell…"
The assistant of Lady Vordarna stepped forward and smiled. In human terms, Darnell struck Draco as being in her late twenties, with strawberry-blond hair curled into ringlets that covered her shoulders. Out of Vordarna's group, she was certainly the most attractive – with her beguiling smile, bright blue eyes and rather cute-looking freckles. She also always seemed to dress well – the Doctor currently had on her usual cherry-coloured cloak over the scarlet one-piece dress that reached almost right down to her dark leather shoes.
Just staring at her again made something in Draco Malfoy stir. When he had been at Hogwarts during his fifth year, he and fellow Slytherin pupil Pansy Parkinson had started to develop their friendship – and they still kept in touch by having their parents acting as go-betweens for passing on sealed messages between them. However, just before Christmas, Draco had been disappointed to hear of Pansy's failure to gather information on the insufferable Harry Potter and his friends…
And although Draco and Pansy were still a potential item, having spent some time in secret during the Easter holiday, he did wonder if he could do better for himself. After all, Darnell was a capable witch in her own right. So what if she was a vampire – older than her appearance suggested? As long as she brushed her teeth regularly, it could work… She could teach him much, if he played it right with her. Draco had once seen her feeding, draining a young Muggle dry. She had caressed him like a lover in his last moments with her pale hands, sensuous red lips, and eager, hungry fangs…
Draco Malfoy took a moment to readjust his lower clothing, to relive the tightness underneath.
"Greetings, young Master Malfoy… How are you, this morning?" Darnell spoke in a languid voice that somehow conveyed a note of sexiness to it. With her long dress, in the dimly-lit stone corridor, she seemed to glide – rather than walk – towards the blond-haired teenage wizard.
Huh? That's the first time in eight months that she's actually asked me anything…
"Er… I… Very well, thank you, Doctor Darnell…"
"Abnoba. Call me Abnoba."
"That's your first name? It's unusual. It's…nice…" Draco tried not to sound as foolish as he was beginning to feel.
"It is the forename I adopted when I became an Eternal." Darnell grinned and draw up closer to Draco. "Abnoba is the Celtic goddess of the Hunt." She explained.
"I see… Very apt for a vampire." He smiled. "How come you're up at this time of day? You're usually at work all night, with Snape. You sleep during the day – don't you?"
"Usually, yes. But after many years of being…what I am…the sun causes only minor discomfort. I can operate during the day – like the rest of my Lady's company," Darnell responded. She frowned. "But they are not here, today. Are they?"
Draco was puzzled. "No! Your Lady and the rest of your company have travelled to the Caves of the Dead – along with the Dark Lord and several of our Death Eaters. Weren't you supposed to go with them?"
"No… Lady Vordarna wanted me to continue my duties in the chemical laboratory Professor Snape and I share." Doctor Darnell frowned again. "But I have…other duties…to perform today. Yes… More important things to see to."
The vampiress gave a languid smile, but this time Draco noticed that the expression didn't reach Darnell's eyes. In fact they seemed flat, unfocussed…
But he was soon distracted as his attractive visitor reached out her hand, to lightly brush Malfoy's wand arm. "You can lower your weapon," she muttered. "I have noticed you watching me, during the times I have accompanied my Lady in conference with your parents. You find me…intriguing. Do you not?"
"You wha…? Oh. Well. Yes."
That's no way to speak to a lady! Pull yourself together!
Feeling somewhat tongue-tied, Draco placed his wand within the inside pocket of his black suit jacket. "I was thinking… Erm – many things, to tell the truth! But… How old are you, Doc- Abnoba?"
"Oh, in human terms? About fifty-five, at the last count – old enough to be your mother!" The strawberry-blond vampiress tittered, still keeping eye-contact with the teenage Death Eater before her. "Being Eternal, as you can tell, means I will never grow old. Every day, I silently thank Lady Vordarna for bequeathing me this existence."
"For that age, you sure are beautiful," Draco muttered.
"Thank you. Aww… You are blushing! Come here." Darnell snaked out her other hand to first feel Draco's flushed face, then his smartly presented blond hair. "You seem sweet." She smiled.
Malfoy's mind seemed to go numb. He could only think that the object of his fancy was showing an interest in him. He couldn't believe his luck…
"Let's see how sweet you are!" Darnell's grip on Draco's head and arm suddenly tightened, holding him in a vice-like grip. As he gave a strangled cry, the vampiress opened her mouth wide, hissed, and then pierced his neck with her drooling fangs…
*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*
"You witless…fool!"
Lord Voldemort closed the gap between himself and Draco Malfoy with frightening speed. With a violent slap, he sent his young subject sprawling upon the grey-coloured, rock-littered floor of the cavern they were in. The teenager gasped and felt his stinging face. His heart racing, he allowed his swimming vision to settle as he looked up and found himself staring up at the jagged entrance shaft, which had been recently blasted apart by the expedition team of the Death Eaters and Lady Vordarna's vampire coven.
Then, still lying on his back, Draco tried to crawl away from the bald-headed, cloaked figure of fury before him. The debris of small stones cut into his hands as he shifted carelessly across the uneven ground.
"I…I'm sorry, my Lord!" he yelled in his panic. "I had no…, no reason to…to expect her to attack me!"
Voldemort bared his teeth. His slit-like nostrils flared as he whipped out his wand from underneath the black cloak…
Narcissa Malfoy screamed, and ran over to throw her arms around Draco. She looked up to face their master. "No! Please… I beg of you! Not my son!"
Voldemort hesitated – remembering that night, when he had ignored that advice from another woman. He had killed her – then cast the Killing Curse again upon her infant boy. Only for his spell to rebound on him, instead. And the pain… It had been years ago – but he had never forgotten that agony…
"Narcissa!" Lucius Malfoy, startled by his wife's boldness to shield Draco, managed to rouse himself from his stupor. He bent down to try to pull her away from their only child.
"No, Narcissa! We must not defy our Lord! Even for Draco…"
"Our son has already suffered for his lack of vigilance, my Lord! He-he was bitten, and knocked unconscious. But he raised the alarm to us and Snape…, as soon as he recovered…"
The former Potions Master of Hogwarts School himself then boldly stepped forward in-between Voldemort's raised wand and the terrified Malfoys. Snape's expression was fearful, and he briefly twitched. Nevertheless, he seemed in control of himself.
"Severus… Get out of my way!" Voldemort rasped. "The boy needs to learn…"
"With respect, my Lord. We have a more pressing concern," the deep, measured, nasal tones of Snape appealed to his superior. "Whilst Lucas and Narcissa were tending to Draco, I examined the cellar store. Your, ah…suitcase…is missing."
"Missing…! How…?"
"I have searched the cellar. Despite the precaution you took in disguising it with an illusion, it has gone, my Lord!"
Voldemort gave a roar of fury. He fought to hold back the urge to lash out, to kill. Right now, he needed answers. Yes – answers…
He spun round to face Lady Vordarna, who had been up to now silently watching the unfolding drama with growing anxiety and concern. Her fear sharpened as the Dark Lord swiftly grabbed her by the neck and pointed his wand at her face. A part of him silently yelled inside his head that he could not kill the Lady. Not without sacrificing a part of himself…
His anger lessened slightly. He needed Juno Vordarna alive.
"Lady Vordarna – your second in command has stolen…property…of mine! WHY? What have you ordered her to do?"
"My Lord! I…I have played no part in this! I do not…understand…why Darnell has stolen from you… Wh…what has she taken?"
Voldemort carefully read the expression, the eyes, and the thoughts of the vampire coven leader. His ability as a Legilimens confirmed the bewilderment that was displayed before him…
He released the Lady. Stifling a hiss of anger, she adjusted the crumpled collar of her dress.
"You speak the truth, my Lady… I apologise for my anger." Voldemort gave her a short bow. "However…, the situation is serious. The doctor must be tracked down – immediately!"
"I will conduct the search…," offered Lady Vordarna.
"We will lead the search," the Dark Lord retorted. "Cowden! Rowle!"
A lean Death Eater with curly-brown hair, and the tall, blond-haired Thorfinn Rowle, both straightened to attention.
"Y-yes, my Lord?"
"Rowle - fetch Greyback! I need that werewolf's tracking skills. He is to report here!"
Vordarna nodded at the male vampire standing close to her. "Go with Rowle. Inform our people – discretely – of the situation! Then stay with the party here."
Both men bowed to their superiors – then ran out of the wide cavern via a tunnel. Both the cave and the rocky passageways were lit in places by white quartz-like crystals that were scattered around the cave network, embedded deep into the walls themselves.
Voldemort swiftly turned back to face the Malfoy family. Lucius and Narcissa had pulled Draco up from the cavern floor. His mother was dusting down his jacket. Meanwhile, Snape was examining the cotton pad that had been bound over the vampire's bite.
"Severus… Is the boy…infected?" Voldemort asked – regaining his composure. For now.
"Draco's neck wound has stopped bleeding, my Lord. Apparently, Dr Darnell did not bite deep," Snape declared, off-handedly to his master. "Evidently she was more concerned about making sure he was not a threat, rather than wanting him dead. So, I would say not. He is under no risk of becoming a vampire."
"The bitc…" Draco stopped – then changed his choice of words. "…fiend…punched me. Sent me flying into the wall… I blacked out." He spat, feeling the bruise of his temple.
"Silence!" Voldemort roared. "Snape – you know some of the secrets of The Nameless Ones. The magicians who erected the traps in these caves. Your research is why we are here, after all."
"That is so, my Lord." Snape looked impassively straight into the snakelike face of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. "And I have already shared…"
"You will now lead the party in the quest to find that which I seek in these caves! In the absence of myself and Bellatrix, you are in charge!"
Lucius Malfoy gave a nervous cough. "And wh-what of myself, m-my Lord?"
"You will return to your home, with your family, Lucius! I will re-consider your son's conduct, later. Go now!"
"Ah… Of course." Lucius's lips quivered. Stepping back, he and his wife moved to the side of the cave, next to the entrance shaft. There, they apparated – taking Draco with them.
"And the work I was carrying out – preparing the ingredients for the second Juggernaut?" Snape put to Voldemort.
"My missing property comes first, Severus! Your priority is now tracking down the Master Wand. Remember, only I - and Lady Vordarna – are permitted to use it! The Muggle prisoners are most expendable, naturally. Try to safeguard the others – let them believe they might survive if they obey our commands."
"Very well." Snape gave a bow.
At that stage, the tall, rangy-looking man that was Fenrir Greyback loped into the cavern – followed by Rowle.
"Master… You wanted my services?" Fenrir asked in his rough, raspy voice.
"You have a vampire to track down, Fenrir!" Voldemort hissed. "Now – you, Rowle, Cowden, Lady Vordarna… Come with me to Malfoy Manor. Our werewolf friend can pick up the scent there!"
With a series of dark, blurring 'whooshes' of displaced air, Voldemort, Lady Vordarna, Rowle, and Cowden (the later taking Greyback for side-along apparation) all vanished from the first cavern of the cave system. Severus Snape was left alone.
He took a moment to compose himself. Then, wrapping his dark cloak around him, he turned and walked over the only tunnel leading further into the maze of caves. Strolling past a Death Eater sentry who remained at his post, Snape was met in the next tunnel by Nott – who, with his white-hair and lined face, was one of the oldest of their company.
"Snape…" The older man inclined his head. "I came to see what was happening. Something bad, I gather…"
"You heard the conversation, then, Nott?" Snape narrowed his black eyes at him.
"Some of it, yes."
"Then you will know that our master is indisposed! In the meantime, our mission with our…guests…is to proceed! I am in charge." Snape walked on, his black cloak billowing behind him.
Nott Senior looked startled for a moment as his eyes bored into Snape's back. "I see…" he muttered lowly. Then he followed his colleague, in order to join the other Death Eaters and the remaining vampires – along with their young captives…
Author's note:
"I understand that your kind only feed upon each other as a show of asserting your authority, my Lady." Snape spoke up.
This bit was inspired by an scene in Freda Warrrington's book 'A Taste Of Blood Wine'