The Mysterious Warrior
Chapter 2
To say he had been utterly stunned when Potter had approached him with the diary would be putting it mildly. In his haste to deny it, he had handed it to his servant only to lose Dobby to the brat. He had been furious, after the incident he'd come aware of a letter wedged inside of the diary. He had been sorely tempted to throw it away, but he had not, the writing wasn't that of an eleven-year-old Muggle-raised boy. Upon returning to his Manor, minus his pride and a servant he had opened it only to feel dread, fear and excitement course through him. He'd had a way to ensure his Lord's return for the past ten years without realizing it. Of course, he had kept his ears and eyes open for any sign, while in the Ministry but nothing, nary a whisper of his return.
He hadn't hesitated in carrying out his Lord's orders, although how he had written the letter, why it had been given to Potter to give to him he had no idea. He wouldn't get his answers, at least not unless his Lord felt like sharing. The chance of that was a fine thing, the Dark Lord had become extremely secretive, and madness had set in, and fuelled by obsession he had become closed off. To see such a powerful, highly respected wizard turn that way had been heartbreaking to see. He still held a great deal of respect for his Lord, but fear usually overpowered that, towards the end, nothing had satisfied him, even his elite had not been spared his wrath.
It had been a very anxious year for him; he had spent a lot of time within the Ministry of magic just to be on the safe side. So, he would know in advance if the likes of Arthur Weasley decided upon raiding his home for 'dark artifacts' like he had done over a year ago, not something he could allow to happen when the Dark Lord was in the process of returning. He had been warned it was a lengthy process, which would have been fine with him if not for the constant hyper-vigilance he was experiencing. The constant urge to looking over his shoulder had been extremely distracting and annoying for the usually smug confident wizard.
And so it was, on the first of July 1994, that the Dark Lord returned to corporeal form in Malfoy Manor.
"My Lord," Lucius whispered reverently, automatically going to his knees and bowing before him. Reeling from the fact he looked only a couple of years older than his son - his thirteen years old son who was soon to return from his third year at Hogwarts -, and he was bowing before him, in his own home. Fortunately, his sense of self-preservation was at an all-time high and didn't hesitate for a second.
"Lucius," the dulcet tone making Lucius' hair prickle at the back of his neck. "You may stand," he added his tone smug and superior. The dark eyes gazed intently at the wizard now standing opposite him; he was very much Abraxas' double, down to his eyes, which were appropriately averted.
"Yes, My Lord," Lucius said demurely. The robes he had left out for the Dark Lord seem to fit him perfectly; he had made a good choice, that would only bode well for his continued health.
"Am I to assume since he is not here that Abraxas is gone?" his tone didn't change, as he continued to demand answers from the wizard and he had a lot of questions he wanted answers. Ginny Weasley had been sorely lacking in every way when it came to information. Fortunately for him, she had known at least about Lucius otherwise he would not have been able to take this measure to return.
Lucius swallowed thickly, "Yes, My Lord, over a decade ago, Dragon Pox," he explained. His mother had died when he was young, he'd only ever had his father, and had been devastated when he died, all the money in the world hadn't been enough to elongate his father's life or save him from the disease. He hadn't survived to see the birth of his grandson, but he had known Narcissa was pregnant and he had been ever so pleased. The fact the Dark Lord was asking this meant he didn't have the memories of his older self which was curious indeed, what else couldn't he remember?
"My condolences," Tom informed him, his voice didn't change in terms of coldness, but it did lose its edge a little. Abraxas had been a good man, and from what he remembered he had been extremely loyal. Was there any of his original knights left? Anyone, he could honestly say he recognized and had interacted with?
Lucius had to hold back the choke of shock that wanted to leave his throat. The Dark Lord had never expressed his condolences before, not when anyone died. His father had often commented that the Dark wizard they saw before them hadn't always been that way. That he had been charming, charismatic wanted to change things politically and only became more drastic because of Dumbledore. He had changed when he disappeared for the second time, traveling the world learning new magicks. For the first time in his life, he was actually beginning to believe his father's words. "Thank you, My Lord," he managed to utter out of sheer willpower.
"I assume since I am here, that Harry successfully managed to find you?" Tom asked imperiously.
Lucius' eyes widened a little, he was calling him Harry? "He did," some of his resentment bleeding into his voice, a big mistake as the Dark Lord pounced on it, his mind was evaded showing the memory of what had happened like a hot knife slipping through butter. He made no attempts to close his mind to the intrusion knowing it would just mean more pain in the long run.
Lucius came back to himself; out of the memory, the Dark Lord had just forced him to watch. He found himself on his knees, panting just a little, no matter how often this was done to him it still disorientated him to the point he always ended up on his knees. What he did realize was that his power was stronger than he'd ever felt it before which baffled him to the core. He was also doing it without a wand. He'd never seen the Dark Lord Use magic without his wand on his person before.
Tom felt a smug smirk tugging at his lips, his little Slytherin masquerading as a Gryffindor, managing to get one over Lucius Malfoy, free the House-elf and do the task he had sworn to do in one fell swoop. Yes, he was even surer now that there was more to Harry than met the eye than ever before. He looked forward to upholding the other end of the oath, but he had much to do first, not including getting every piece of information possible from Lucius. He had a feeling his little conquest was going to be extremely difficult to tame. He would definitely enjoy every moment of turning him completely.
"Lunch is available, My Lord, we can eat in the dining room or my office if you wish?" Lucius questioned, as the aroma of the food permeated the air around them. Grateful that his wife was abroad in Paris for the witches fashion week, why they called it a week when it was longer than that was beyond him. "My wife has gone to Paris for fashion week, it is just the both of us." he felt the need to explain.
"Good, we have much to discuss," Tom stated firmly, "Let us adjourn to your office," taking control as always, despite the fact it was not his home, and that technically it was rude, but these people belong to him, they had sworn their allegiance to him after all.
Lucius bowed once more, "Let me show you the way," he said demurely, taking a step so he was in line with the Dark Lord, and began to lead him towards his office, which was on the ground floor where they were so it didn't take long at all to reach the door and open it, allowing his Lord to go first.
It took them a few minutes to settle in, as Lucius called a House-elf to bring their lunch to his office, as well as one of his more expensive wines with the best crystal glasses that was saved for special occasions.
Their meal was eaten in silence, uncomfortable on Lucius' part not that it showed. He'd had his share of wining and dining the worst dregs of society, not that those people were aware of his thoughts. They were nonetheless useful and he cultivated useful relationships that would be beneficial to him.
It was half an hour later, plates cleared of their meal and dessert before Tom spoke, "Tell me what happened that Halloween night," hoping that his follower had something at least more substantial than a stupid girl that had been told the tale as a bedtime story and became infatuated with anything to do with what was his.
Lucius swirled his wine around in his glass, "Nobody truly knows what happened that night, My Lord, and it remains to this day quite the mystery. Only four people were there that night, two died and it was reported that you were defeated, that the boy lived with only a lightning bolt etched into his forehead and was quite quick daubed with the name 'The-Boy-Who-Lived'. The prevailing opinion in certain circles was that Lily Potter had done some sort of sacrificial ritual that allowed her son to survive when he shouldn't. The general public believes it to be a miracle, and like to think that Potter was the second coming of Merlin."
"And which do you believe, Lucius?" Tom's tone was cold.
"I heard that Dumbledore placed the boy with Muggle relatives," Lucius said in distaste, "That the boy was protected very heavily under blood wards, and has to return to them each summer to replenish the wards to keep the wards active. Blood wards are naturally dark, giving credence to the fact Lily Potter used some kind of sacrificial ritual." despite his disgust for her dirty blood he had to admire the length she had gone to for her son, children were extremely important in the magical world, some would say the most important thing. Any woman who would be willing to stand before the might of the Dark Lord and die in their child's stead deserved respect. He would never admit this out loud though.
Tom's lips curled in distaste, he loathed the fact that any wizard would be dumped in the Muggle world like that. It was his belief that no wizard should be, they should remain in their rightful world, and Muggles should not know about magic, it was a danger to them all. He shouldn't have grown up in a Muggle orphanage, it was something he felt strongly about and had tried so hard to change. He wasn't yet aware of why it had not succeeded; he needed the memories of the past three to four decades that he was missing. He couldn't rely on second-hand information. He would have to search out his main soul piece or find a way of getting the memories without encountering his older self. "Do you know the location of his relatives?"
"I do not, but I can get the information, he received an official warning from the Ministry of Magic for the underage usage of magic, which means there's a copy in the improper use of magic office, as well as having the accidental magic reversal squad sent out to his address, they had to inflate his uncles aunt if rumours were to be believed, which meant there will be a record there," Lucius informed the Dark Lord.
"Do so," Tom nodded in agreement and happiness that his needs were being met. "Not yet, we still have much to discuss," he added when he noticed Lucius rising from his seat to do his bidding. While he was pleased that the wizard would do what he asked so quickly, he needed information.
Lucius dipped his head in silent apology as he sat back down. Slightly surprised that he wasn't under the Cruciatus, if he had dared to do such a novice mistake before he was excused in the past he would have suffered under it unless the Dark Lord was in a good (forgiving) mood.
"Was my wand recovered?" Tom asked, and he would not be pleased if the Ministry of magic had it. He was very fond of his wand; he'd realized how much he missed it upon having Harry's wand which was very similar to his.
"No, My Lord, it was not," Lucius informed him, of that he knew for a certainty. "They couldn't find it, they tried, the belief is that someone had taken it as a memento along with many other items in Godric's Hollow before the Ministry put a stop to it, it remains persevered to this day." they had been furious at that, they'd wanted to see if he had somehow miscast the spell and created something completely different.
Tom pursed his lips in displeasure; he needed to know what had happened to it. Still, no matter, Borgin and Burkes had boxes of wands in the shop; one should do him well enough until he was reunited with his familiar wand. At least they did while he had investigated the shops while looking for books to keep his mind occupied with the tedious boredom of being taught magic he was already well versed in. "Do you know why I went after the Potters that night?" he had no doubt he would give Lucius an important place at his side, mostly for his political clout that he got with being a Malfoy, and no doubt due to his father.
Lucius paused, it may have only been momentarily but it was caught by Tom who was observing Lucius coolly. Truthfully Lucius wanted to avoid the madness and obsession that would probably come with the revelation. Unfortunately, he couldn't lie, for when he found out it would be his life that was forfeited. That is if he was lucky and the Dark Lord didn't decide to punish his wife and son instead. "It started off in the winter, the year was 1980, Severus Snape, your willing servant, at least he was. He observed Sybil Trelawney, a descendant of the great seer Cassandra Trelawney enter Hogshead pub, she was quite…loud about the fact she was coming here for a meeting with one Albus Dumbledore. Knowing it could be something of an interest to you, Severus began to listen in on what we realized was an interview for the Divination Position at Hogwarts, strangely enough after trying for so many years to get Divination removed from the curriculum at the school. Halfway through the interview Trelawney became strange."
Snape, he had heard of that name, Ginny Weasley had often commented on his distaste for all things Harry and Gryffindor. How he was always 'nasty' to her just because she was poor and a Weasley, whining about how horrid he was to 'her' Harry. It had amused him to no end, that didn't stop the irritation from having to play nice. He'd gotten what he wanted in the end so he honestly couldn't care. Giving Lucius a gesture to continue, suspicion churning in his gut, why would Dumbledore hold an interview in a dirty disgusting pub rather than at Hogwarts? Especially during winter weather in Scotland?
"Severus immediately went to you with what he heard, Regretfully Severus was caught before he heard the whole thing by Dumbledore's brother, and he was forcefully evicted from the premises, three lines of a prophecy that spoke of you and your demise," Lucius explained in his usual dramatic way.
Tom narrowed his eyes, that had to be far too convenient for his tastes, Dumbledore just so happens to have an interview in a pub, that he presumably still had its troubled reputation. Proceeded to have the meeting without a single silencing charm and his servant just happened to overhear a prophecy related to his downfall? Surely he must have investigated it, made sure of its authenticity; he wouldn't have been so blatantly manipulated by Dumbledore.
"Your Elite was there when Severus revealed those three lines of the prophecy, you quickly dismissed us after you heard, and we were forbidden from discussing it further," Lucius explained, those three lines had been seared into his mind. "The prophecy started as the following, The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies,"
Tom mulled over the words, perhaps it was a true prophecy, either that or Dumbledore had gotten extraordinary lucky. If it were a true prophecy then there would be a record of it, true prophecies were recorded automatically within the Department of Mysteries, he had taken Divination after all, and had thoroughly researched the subject with endless passion, much like he did with all other subjects he took. He had been curious as to how they were recorded since it said that the confessor of said prophecy didn't get to remember his or her words. He was appropriately skeptical about all of it and would remain so.
"Does the Ministry believe that I am truly gone?" Tom asked, his tone suddenly becoming angry, he had taken measures to ensure his immortality, and he would not be defeated so easily.
"No, there were searches done for you, quietly might I add, but nothing came of them, then the new Minister put a stop to it, insisting that you were gone and that it was a waste of money and resources that were better spent elsewhere." Lucius said derisively, "Cornelius Fudge is as closed minded and a weak fool as they come, not all the bribes in the world would have had him reconsider." the only upside was that he was easily manipulated and molded in other areas that benefited him. It was why he had not taken any measures to see him dead, he saw it as his duty just like his father before him.
"I want more information, Lucius," Tom stated sitting up straighter, giving Lucius a short warning already sliding easily past his mental defenses.
"Wait, My Lord, I have a better idea," Lucius quickly urged, sighing in mental relief as the presence faded from his mind before it could seek out a single memory. "I have a pensive, you will be able to view the memories in much greater detail than searching my mind will provide." it was true, the pensive would show the memories in their entirety, not just clips. It was for that reason he knew that the Dark Lord would agree.
"Very well," Tom agreed, waving to Lucius in a permissive manner. There was so much to do that he scarcely knew where to begin, thankfully he was quite determined, which helped center him. Memories first, so he could get a sense of himself, a new wand, then he would track his other self down, which shouldn't be too difficult with their connection. Return to Malfoy Manor and learn where Harry lived and reclaim what was his.
Miles away in Scotland, Harry Potter was despondently making sure he had everything in his trunk, the things he wanted stashing in his room was piled at the top for swift grabbing later once the train pulled in at Kings Cross. He hated returning to the Dursley's, he hated it more knowing he had a godfather out there who couldn't claim him because he was a wanted man. Hatred pinged at him, Dumbledore could have very easily put a stop to it all, could have gone to the Ministry and helped, instead he hadn't.
I do hope that this chapter had helped clear things up, its the summer AFTER his third year he will be FOURTEEN in a month's time :) R&R please
