Why hello everyone, maraudering marauderer here. This story was originally Harry Potter and the Ultimate Sacrafice, but the name for the seventh book surprisingly fits the story of my fanfic so I have decided to change the name to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
So for those of you that read the HP & the Ultimate Sacrafice, these 2 chapters are just posting it on the story.
So without further adieu, chapter 1 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
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CHAPTER ONE: UNHAPPY SATISFACTION
The "Riddle House" was still a very great mystery to the citizens of Little Hangleton. It seemed to give them chills because of its quite interesting history. The original family, the Riddles, had died there for no particular reason.
"They were not murdered or killed by any means," said the scientists after the biopsy. In fact, they seemed to die of natural causes, which in this situation were not natural at all.
Then, only two years before, the caretaker, Frank Bryce, who still took care of the "Riddle House" even though the Riddles died, was found dead in the house, for reasons the same as the Riddles themselves.
Now, almost everyone did not like Frank Bryce for reasons that they all thought that he murdered the Riddles. Little did they know that the real murderer of both the Riddle family and Frank was in the so called "Riddle House."
And little did they know that the murderer was in that oh-so-infamous house.
It was a dark night outside the infamous "Riddle House." A dark, shadowy figure stood, breathing in as another figure stood shakily beside him, cowardly. The first figure closed its eyes and then opened them quickly as its patience dimmed.
"Wormtail! What news of the attack on Hogwarts?" asked the first figure, evil seeping into its voice.
"Master," sniveled the man named Wormtail, "there is yet to be any news on the attack, my Lord. Perhaps in a few moments, I'll -"
"Do not waste my time with your pathetic sniveling, Wormtail," said the first figure, "Go back and check for any more news and if you come back with nothing, well…let's just say the new recruits have been…itching to try the Cruciatus curse."
"Ye-yes, my Lord. Right this instance, Master," Wormtail said, looking like he'd just rather run far, far away from his "Master."
Lord Voldemort was not happy. It was never a good thing for anyone when he was not happy. It was, perhaps, then either an unfortunate or fortunate thing that there was news.
"My Lord, Master," came in the sniveling Wormtail, "there is news from Amycus, Master. He'll be in a moment, my Lord."
Lord Voldemort's patience was wearing thin. If Amycus did not present the news that he wanted, there would be severe consequences to whomever got in his way.
Finally, Amycus came in and bowed gracefully and gave his report.
"My Lord, Dumbledore is dead."
"Ah…," sighed Lord Voldemort unnaturally and contentedly.
"However," continued Amycus, cautious of his Master's volatile mood swings, "there was a complication, my Lord."
"What was the complication, Amycus?" said Lord Voldemort, slits for eyes flashing red.
"Well, my Lord, it seems that the boy was... inadequate for the job," said Amycus, not sure of how to continue. "When the time came to complete his task, my Lord, he was…frightened and Severus had to kill Dumbledore, Master."
"I see," Lord Voldemort said contemplating.
On one hand, Dumbledore was dead and on the other, the person designated to do the task failed and his most trusted servant, Severus Snape, had to do it for him. The Dark Lord thought of what he should do next.
"Go summon Severus, the boy, and Lucius," commanded Lord Voldemort with an feral grin, "and Narcissa as well."
Amycus left to do his task, quickly as possible. The Dark Lord's temper was as infamous as he was…and volatile. The Dark Lord did not have to wait long before Severus, the boy, and his parents came.
"Master…" murmured all of them as they bowed down.
"Severus," Lord Voldemort directed his attention to his right hand man, "I have been informed of what you have done. Do you have any explanation for your actions?"
"My Lord," Snape hesitated and chose his words carefully, "I felt the need to do Draco's assigned task because it seemed that – at the time -, my Lord, that he would not follow through with his actions and I -"
"Is this true, Draco?" asked Voldemort now turning his attention to the sixteen year old boy. "Is it true that you failed to do the task that I gave you? That you had it all planned out, but when the time came, it was your cowardice? I am reviled at the thought. There is no good or evil, only power…and those to weak to seek it. Have I never told you this? Has you father never told you this?"
At this point now Voldemort turned his full fury upon Lucius Malfoy.
"Why is it, Lucius, that your son has failed to do this simple assignment that I have asked? Is it bad blood? Is it in your blood, however pure, that cowardice resides? Tell me Lucius, for if the answer were yes, it would explain many things. Oh yes, it would! I -"
"A simple assignment?" shrieked a feminine voice. "You gave me son the hardest of all tasks and he nearly made it! How could you –"
At this point, however, Lucius grabbed his hysterical wife and covered her mouth before she could say anything else.
"Please, My Lord, my wife, she isn't well! She doesn't understand what she is saying! She has not been well, Master, and wrought with worry she has been! Please do not punish her for –"
"SILENCE!" commanded Lord Voldemort in all his unnatural power. "Narcissa, Narcissa, Narcissa… what am I to do with you now? Before, all I was going to do was a simple Cruciatus curse for the whole family. But now, ah…yes. I figured out the perfect punishment!
"Draco, come over here now. Yes, Draco, to obtain yourself in my good graces and to salvage the name Malfoy, I give you one simple task; this task does not involve killing, though you may find it unpleasant.
"Draco, to prove yourself you must Cruciatus your mother."
At this Draco visibly paled – not to say that he was not already pale to begin with.
"B-b-but, s-s-sir," stuttered Draco fear evident in his voice and his face.
"But nothing Draco," said his father with worry etched in his face as well, "the Dark Lord has given you a task and he has allowed for you to stay alive and in his good graces."
Draco looked from his master, to his father, and then to his poor mother. The decision that he had to make was one that would define his life for years to come. He only hoped that he decided to make the correct one.
With that thought, he raised his wand at his mother.
A flash of light could be seen outside the window of the infamous Riddle house, but none of the citizens of Little Hangleton seemed to notice.
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Harry Potter was currently in his room at number 4 Privet Drive reading and researching. Worry was etched into his face as if carved by stone.
Though he was absorbing all the information that he was reading his main focus of attention was between two thoughts.
The first thought was "Voldemort, the locket, the cup, the snake, something of Gryffindor's or Ravenclaw's" and the second thought was simply "Ginny Weasley."
He had obtained the skill to absorb information whilst thinking of these two particular thoughts the past week at Privet Drive, otherwise nothing would ever get done.
The first of his thoughts obtained to the threat that is known as Lord Voldemort and the few remaining parts of his soul. The horcruxes could be hidden anywhere in the world and Harry barely knew where to start.
Now that Harry thought about it, the more it made sense. How else could someone use something as simple as a diary to possess an eleven-year-old girl?
It also explained why Lord Voldemort looked so utterly…inhuman and unnatural.
The second thought, however, had nothing to do with the ever-looming threat of death that hung over Harry. Ginny Weasley had been a silver lining in Harry's darkened life. With the threat of Voldemort, however, he realized that, no matter how much his life was amazing with her, he could never bear to have anything happen to her.
"One near-death experience was enough per person," Harry thought sardonically.
There were only three exceptions to that rule; himself and his two closest friends, Ron and Hermione.
If Harry was not so completely wrapped in his own musings and studies, he would have smiled at remembering how the Dursley's first reacted to not only taking in their nephew once again but also taking in two other freaks.
But, then again, if he hadn't been so completely busy, he also might have noticed a faint pop right in back of him.
The figure slowly crept upon Harry looking at Harry as if it had been waiting for this moment for awhile now.
"BOOO!" yelled the figure, scaring the poor savior of the wizarding (and muggle) world.
"MERLIN'S BEARD!" yelled Harry.
Harry took a second to recollect himself as he began to yell out,
"RON! What the hell were you thinking! What is you freaking problem?"
At this Ron Weasley could not resist laughing his head off.
"Sorry, Mate," Ron managed in between laughs, "I just couldn't resist with 'Mione not being here and all."
Harry, seeing his chance for revenge, started to say,
"Oh! So is her name 'Mione now? I didn't know she had it changed! Or is it just something between you and her? Does she call you her Ickle Ronneikins? Or can I have a nickname as well? I rather like –"
But whatever nickname Harry rather liked became unknown as a pillow came full force at his head.
A pillow fight ensued between Ron and Harry. Either Ron forgot he could use magic now or he chose not to use magic, but he didn't and Harry found himself at an advantage.
The pillow fight was still going when a certain bushy-haired girl apparated right in the middle of oncoming pillows.
The result of it was not pleasant for Ron and Harry (AN: RUN, HARRY, RUN!) as they found themselves being whacked over the head by pillows, magically and repeatedly, while Hermione was ranting and lecturing them.
When all the "excitement" died down, they all sat down and began to discuss what they were going to do.
"Well," started off Ron, "We are going to go to Bill and Fleur's wedding, right?"
"Yah," replied Harry, "We could go to there next week and see the wedding, then I was thinking of going to Godric's Hollow afterwards."
"Are you sure you really want to go there?" asked Hermione, "I mean, how would do you think you would take it?"
"I'm not sure," started Harry, "all I do know is that I want to see where this all began, well, for me anyways and seeing my parents' graves is something that I've always wanted to do. It just seems like if I don't do it now, I might never do it at all."
"Harry!" exclaimed Hermione, "What are you saying? Of course you will defeat Voldemort! You're the only one who can! How can you say such an awful thing like -"
"Calm down, Hermione," interrupted Harry soothingly, "I know that I am going to defeat Voldemort, even if I have trouble believing it. It's just that I have the feeling that something bad is going to happen, something really bad."
"Well, for my mum's sake I hope it doesn't happen during or before the wedding." said Ron, trying to make the conversation light, "She'd have a heart attack, you have no idea how much effort she's been putting into this thing. Man, I sure hope she doesn't get like that when I get married."
"Hmm…" pondered Harry aloud looking pointedly from Ron to Hermione, "I wonder with whom would you get married to?"
Crimson rose form the cheeks of Harry's best friends (AN: and yes, I mean their face) as Harry found himself defenseless against the tirade of pillows from both of his friends until Uncle Vernon finally got enough courage to open the door and to tell them politely to "Shut Up."
As Harry fell asleep, he thought about how he hoped the Golden Trio's friendship would never change.
THE END OF CHAPTER ONE!
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I hoped you all liked the story very, very much and remember to review! If it sucked horribly, please review; I could always use some constructive criticism!