DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its characters. This is purely a work of fiction. All rights belong to JK Rowling
Prologue( Night of the Battle of the Department of Mysteries)
Malfoy Manor
Silence reigned throughout the room. The air thick with tension and fear. On bended knees with eyes cast down, the Dark Lords followers waited for the inevitable. They had failed. The Potter boy had destroyed the prophecy. Even worse they had been bested by mere children. And Lucius had been captured. Destroying any chance he had of both regaining Voldemorts favor and continuing to influence the Ministry from within. The door to the great hall swung open, all but cracking the walls with the force. The force of the Dark Lords entrance was in strange contrast with his demeanor. His reptilian features devoid of all emotion. Voldemort practically glided across the floor toward a throne like chair in the center of the room. No one spoke they barely breathed. What would he say? What would he do? The Dark Lord's temper was legendary. He wasn't above turning his wand on those who displeased him, be they friend or foe.
Voldemort sat watching them all with the cool perception of a predator. His eyes missed nothing, they all knelt before him like naughty children before their parents. What to do? he thought. On one hand he could make an example of one of them. Show them the price of failure. He scanned the group until his eye fell on a woman pale as death. Narcissa Malfoy. Her death would certainly send a message to that fool Lucius. "Nagini come" he hissed in parseltongue. The great snake slithered across the floor, gliding through the throng of people. Voldemort smirked as he saw fear contort the faces of some of his followers. He had threatened on more than one occasion to feed them to Nagini should they fail him. "Yes master" said Nagini as she settled at her Lords feet. "What do you say to a little dinner, I've a mind to let you have Narcissa, to teach Lucius a lesson. A pity her son isn't here, he would be a far better candidate. Not to mention you like the sweet flesh of the young ones" he replied. Nagini turned her head to eye the woman. She was slim but smelled succulent. Even better her blood pumped faster with fear. Nagini like her meat fresh as possible. Lately she'd had to content herself with the near rancid meat of those who had been long dead. It had been months since she'd enjoyed the decadence of a still beating heart. Flesh still warm and tender. Her mouth was salivating with want "Yes my Lord I would enjoy that very much" as she eyed her potential meal.
But on the other hand thought Voldemort. However unintentional , those imbeciles have revealed to me how to defeat the Potter boy. And indeed the rest of the Order as well. And the true marvel was that it would be far simpler than he had originally deduced. A scream tore him from his musings. Nagini unable to resist had the allure, had slithered toward Narcissa mouth agape. "Stop Nagini, I didn't give you permission. And in any event I have decided on a different approach. Control yourself he commanded. Nagini hissed with frustration. " Peace my friend, soon you will have all the fresh meat your dark heart desires" he soothed. Decision made the Dark Lord rose from his seat. " Rise my friends, be at peace". Slowly his followers rose, a strange mix of relief and apprehension filled their hearts. Was this some sort of trick? A ploy to allow them a moments peace before taking it away. But none were brave enough to dare question their Lord. " I see you all wonder why I am not more displeased. I confess it would have been to my advantage to attain the prophecy first, but its destruction is of little matter now. I suspect it would only reveal what I already suspected. That Harry Potter's fate and my own are entwined in such a way that neither of us can survive so long as the other lives. Until such a time as one of us is defeated, we will remain in eternal conflict" the Dark Lord confessed. For a moment all were silent then one woman dared comment " My Lord, why then are you so calm, should you not want the Potter boy dead now more than ever". Eyeing the woman contemptuously " Indeed Bellatrix, my motive in that regard is unchanged, only the path I will take to achieve it has altered". " The path my Lord" said Dolohov. " Yes, while your failure has certainly displeased me, it has also allowed me to see that which I have been blind to" he replied.
Bellatrix looked stunned, surely her Lord was not admitting to being wrong " That which you have been blind" she whispered. " Yes, tell me. Why is Potter so determined to destroy me? Why in fact are any of the members of the Order so determined to destroy me? Its not simply because they want me dead or even because I in someway harmed them or someone they know. After all if the Order consisted of those who I have harmed it would be far larger. No Harry Potter, his school friends and the Order all challenge me because of one thing and one thing only. Dumbledore. Some of them in fact owe Dumbledore debts that can never be repaid. Dumbledore has created a resistance, an army ,if you will, that is loyal entirely to him. And in the event of his demise, to Harry Potter. " Forgive me my Lord but how does this help us to destroy them" Dolohov. " Because now I see how deeply Harry Potters regard for Dumbledore runs. My time within his mind has revealed much to me but never more than tonight. His beliefs, code of honor his motif for opposing me all stem from Dumbledore. And not just Potter. His students idolize him. His employees and the Order all see him as an almost god like being. "Indeed the old bastard and I are far more alike than I thought. His method of control is not so different from my now that I know this, I have all I need to destroy him. A god after all is only as powerful as those that worship him" Voldemort thought. " Listen all of you, we are going to be changing tactics from now on. Dolohov, Bellatrix I want you to go to Germany, to a great fortress called Nurengard. Bring back the man imprisoned there, and be sure he arrives alive and unharmed. I will be far less forgiving than I was tonight if you should fail this mission" Voldemort commanded. " Yes my Lord" they replied. " Yaxley I want you to put your connections to use. Find out everything you can about Dumbledore that hasn't been published in a newspaper. And Narcissa come here" the Dark Lord instructed. Narcissa quickly complied. " Yes my Lord" she whispered. " Your husband has failed me yet again, but I'm giving you and your son a chance to redeem him". Hope spread across Narcissa's face. " What is it you wish us to do my Lord. Whatever it is we will accomplish it" she assured. " Excellent, next year when Draco returns to school, I want him to watch Potter very carefully. I want to know everything. Where he goes, what he does, who he speaks to. Everything. What students are loyal to him. Which ones outside of ,Slytherin house, dislike him or have reason to mistrust him. I want every little thing about Potters life dissected. And above all else, if he leaves the school I want to know about it. And when he does leave the school I want you to follow him and see where he goes. Don't confront him or reveal yourself. Watch and observe. Do this and all will be forgiven with Lucius" said Voldemort. " Yes my Lord, you have my word that we will not fail" Narcissa said most earnestly. " See that you don't " he threatened.
As for the rest of you return to our old allies. The dementors, giants, werewolves, surviving descendants of the old families. Anyone and everyone who has reason to resent Dumbledore, the Ministry, the Order of the Phoenix or all three. Build me an army unlike any that has ever been or will ever be. But do it quietly. I've revealed myself quite spectacularly but now I want the magical world tense and afraid. Waiting for my next move like a child waiting for the strap. NOW OUT ALL OF YOU. AND DO NOT FAIL ME! In an instant the room was cleared. Voldemort sat back contentedly. An eerie smile graces his face. Soon he thought Soon Dumbledore and Potter boy will be no threat to me, for now all I need do is wait.