PROLOGUE

There is a difference between shadows and darkness. That is not the statement most people want to hear. Because to them, there is no difference. But alas, those who have experienced shadows say there's nothing out there that's worse. Those who have experienced darkness say that it's the worse place you could ever be. Those who have experienced both, well they vary well aren't around any longer now are they?

This story that you are about to read is a story about two vary different worlds coming together in order to fight a great evil. Both having experienced shadows and darkness, also having a little of their own. The world itself is fool of darkness waiting to devourer it's next victim and have them commit unimaginable evils. The world is filled with shadows just waiting to be unlocked, just waiting to tap into human rage and hate.

But in the wake of all that darkness there is light. Light that fills the human heart with hope and cheer. And as we start our tail, we'll learn that there's more to darkness, shadows and light than meets the eye.

SHADOWS, LIGHT AND DARKNESS

CHAPTER ONE

The New Plan Begins

The night was still, cloudless and eerily quite. The street along Copper's Grove was scarce. Nothing made a sound, nothing could be heard. Except for the swishing of a long black cloak worn by a man with greasy black hair and a crocked nose. He came upon a handsome manor house black as the night sky, so much so that passersby would have to squint their eyes in order to see it. In front of the manor was a handsome wrought iron gate. The gate, when reached is where the man heard a loud crack and so hastily pulled out his wand at the direction of the sound. The two men stared at each other before reorganization dawn on them both and they stored their wands away each now walking toward the manor at a brisk pace. The second man was a foot shorter than the first with a stout beard and mustache. This man's name was Yaxley." so. You have news then?" Yaxley addressed his companion as they neared the gate.

" The best." replied Severus Snape. Yaxley nodded. "thought I might be late." Yaxley continued. " it took longer than I expected considering what happened last time. But I hope he will be satisfied. Your confident that your reception will be good?" Snape nodded but did not elaborate. As they reached the big black gate not breaking their pace, both men held up their right arm in a kind of salute and passed right through the gate as if it were nothing but smoke.

A long wide gravel drive was before the two men, surrounded by shrubs and trees and what could only be heard was the singing of a soft fountain playing in the distance as Yaxley and Snape kept their pace. Soon they reached the tall long stone black door of the house and as they drew level with the door it swung open allowing both Yaxley and Snape to enter it's walls, though nobody had visibly opened it. They walked along a long dark red corridor that was dimly lit with torches and pictures of dead relatives and the like , their eyes following them as they walked. They turned a corner and came upon a hard wooded door. And hesitating for the space of a heartbeat, Snape opened the door.

The two men stood by the open door for a moment, their eyes adjusting to the dimly light room. The furniture that was once in the room had been pushed carelessly along the opposite wall and was replaced by a long dark brown table which is where several people now sat, all of them wearing long cloaks just as black as the manor itself. The strangest sight of all though was a slightly floating human figure which was hanging upside down as though suspended by an invisible rope.

" Snape, Yaxley. You are vary nearly late." said men turned their attention to the person who had spoken. This man was vary pale, bald and had slits for nostrils and who's pupils were vertical with burning red eyes. His face and skin were so pale that though he sat near the handsome marble fireplace he seemed to emit a pearly glow. Voldemort spoke again. " Snape here." he said pointing to a seat on his immediate right. " Yaxley, beside Dolahov." Snape and Yaxley took their places most eyes following Snape and it was to him Voldemort spoke first. " so?" asked Voldemort's cold hissing voice that seemed devoid of any emotion. "my lord, the order of the phoenix intends on moving Harry Potter from his current place of safety on Saturday next at nightfall."

The interest around the table intensified somewhat. Voldemort looked at Snape right in the eyes so fiercely that those sitting nearby turned away as though they feared of being scorched by the ferocity of the gaze. But Snape looked calmly back at the dark lord and Voldemort's lipless mouth curved into something like a smile. " Saturday, at nightfall. And this information comes..?" " from the source we discussed." said Snape.

" My lord. I have heard differently." everyone turned to look at Yaxley for it was he who had spoken. Voldemort made no move to change his posture so Yaxley continued. " Dawlish, the Auror, let slip that Potter wouldn't be moved until the thirtieth the night before the boy turns seventeen." the other Death Eaters looked around the table at Snape and Voldemort for reactions. Snape was smiling. " my source told me there were plans to lay a false trail, this must be it. No doubt a Confundus Charm has been placed on Dawlish, and it wouldn't be the first time, he is known to be susceptible. " I assure you my lord Dawlish seemed quit certain." Snape frowned slightly. " naturally if he has been Confunded then he is certain. The Auror Office will take no further part in the protection of Harry Potter."

" Where do they plan on hiding the boy next?" asked Voldemort ignoring Yaxley who had been about to speak again. " at the home of one of the order." Snape replied. " the place in question is being giving the most protection the Ministry and the Order can provide. I doubt there will be much chance taking the boy once he's there my lord. Unless the Ministry has fallen by next Saturday, we may be able to negate most of enchantments surrounding the place."

" So Yaxley, will the Ministry have fallen by next Saturday?" " my lord, I have good news on that score." said Yaxley who seemed desperate to have some portion of approval. " I have with up most difficulty, succeeded in putting an Imperious Curse on Pinus Thickness." most of the table looked impressed. Dolahov, who sat next to Yaxley clapped him on the back. " Thickness is only one man, and it is unlikely that the Ministry will be mine by next Saturday. If I cannot touch the boy at his destination, it must be done while he travels." "we have an advantage there. If Potter Apperates or uses the Floo Network we shall know immediately."

" He will do nether." said Snape. " They are not using any use of transportation in control or regulated by the Ministry, they mistrust everything to do with the place." " all the better." said Voldemort. He looked up at the revolving figure above the table, seeming to be lost in thought. " there have been too many mistakes where Harry Potter is concerned. His continued existence is do more to my errors than to his triumphs."

Everyone sat quietly, looking quite fearfully at Voldemort as though one of them might be blamed for Harry Potter being alive. But when Voldemort spoke again there was no change in his quite thoughtful tone. "but I know better now. I understand the things I did not before. I must be the one to kill Harry Potter, and I shall be." he looked around at his followers and then back at the figure suspended in mid air. " do you recognize our guest Severous?" Snape looked up as the woman came to life before them. " Severous, p-please help me." she cried. " ah yes." said Snape. " for those of you who don't know this is Galida Hillpeck. She taught Muggle studies at Hogwarts school." no one spoke, there was no mistaking the anger in Voldemort's voice. " Galida taught young witches and wizards that muggles and mud bloods alike have the right to live in the world as the so called 'pureblood families' which are now non existent."

The cold voice seemed to continued to hiss even after it closed. Something large and heavy could be heard sliding across the floor. Some around the table shivered slightly as a long black snake the thickness of a man's thigh slid up alongside Voldemort's chair and came to rest on his shoulders. " this blood traitor wrote a article in the Daily Prophet about how witches and wizards shouldn't discriminate the muggles and mud bloods. She would have us mate with muggles or worse, werewolves."

Galida spun around one last time to face Snape, her face flecked with tears. Voldemort raised his wand. " Avada Kedavra." there was a bright flash of green light and Galida fell to the table with a thump. " dinner, Nagini." the snake slide to the table and began to have it's meal. Voldemort once again looked around at his followers. "the new plan has begun."