The instant we three entered that quaint little study we all changed.
Daphne's posture changed instantly, any smile gone, back stiff, chin raised. If it weren't for the remnants of green in her hair it would have been very intimidating, I'm sure.
Tracy was similarly inclined, though at the same time more relaxed, more confident than her friend. Though for her it was not meeting her lord, but her father who loved her.
I was a little more guarded, trying to take things a little more seriously… Honestly, but it's so hard to be Sirius when you're on Liquid Luck. I'm sure that horrified look on that house elf's face was because I was smirking as I walked in the door.
It appears I was able to calm myself a little… too well! Not that it would last long.
The room itself is rather plain. It is the man inside it that made it impressive. Voldemort was still snake like, in his own way, but other than that he looked… Human.
Red eye's, check. A dark aura, check. Pale white skin, check.
But beside that he looked like a much older version of his teenage self that I had seen come out of the diary in my second year. He was dressed like an aristocrat, all dark colors with splashes of gold and silver in just the right places. His black hair was slicked back, not a speck of grey in sight. Currently he was bent over a mahogany desk, making a few markings on some parchment.
Without a word or a look up he straightened up, gracefully showing me a hard wood table where his wand already lay, along with three chairs near a burning fire that didn't raise the heat in the room to unbearable levels like it should have.
Walking over I placed my own Holly and Phoenix feather wand next to his own Yew and Phoenix feather…
"Huh… guess yours is bigger than mine." Were the first words of our parley, making Daphne's eye's bug out and both of the Riddle's grin, his with a slight tilt of his head.
"Mr. Potter…" he began, his voice still scratchy and quiet as always, though still so commanding and calling for attention, "Though it is always appreciated for my… superiority, to be noted, I did not invite you here to see who had the bigger wand. I do believe there is the minor matter of the war at hand that we should discuss first, yes?"
Grinning I nodded my own head, walking to take a seat while the other two greeted their lord and father, respectably.
"Father, it is a pleasure as always." Tracy said gracefully, simply bowing her head.
"My daughter, please, there is no need to be so… formal." The man responded, lifting her face by the chin to look down into her eyes, caressing her face lovingly, "I dare say Mr. Potter will not stand on formalities overly much so."
I really couldn't help it, "Well, not unless we need to duel, in which case I insist we bow at the proper time and places!" I said, making the man chuckle. I guess that's what was what needed to be done to get the best possible outcome for tonight.
"Indeed." He responded, taking a few sniffs of the air, "Ah, I see, Felix Felicis. How very cunning of you Mr. Potter. It does not break the Parley in any way and in no way does it harm your chances here tonight." Turning his head he looked towards the last of the threesome to enter the room. "Miss. Greengrass, I must once again thank you for escorting my daughter this past week, and I assure you that it was as noble a task as any for a promising Death Eater's first mission. She has had nothing but good things to say about you this past year… And neither do I blame you for her indiscretion's. Those will be handled later though. For now, let us open our Parley with a show of good faith and be seated on equal terms in the here and now."
Ah, good. Not true 'gift giving' just announcing that we were looking upon each other on an even playing field. I only had one or two things I could really offer anyways, and since I wasn't convinced on this yet I didn't want to sell Snape out… quite yet.
Actually, only Tracy and him sat, Daphne stood at attention behind the two of them, her face an emotionless mask.
"So…" I started out, "A daughter?" Getting a raised eyebrow in response, "I was under the impression that you hated your father's name? Come to think of it you seemed pretty disgusted by it and the man himself last spring."
"Ah, yes, I am not the biggest fan of the man, though it was not long until I came across the man's writings and those of my… mother." The look on his face when he said the word was purely loathsome, "My muggle father was, in fact, the greater of the two, much to my shame. My mother was a witch of nearly squib like magical talent, and she took my father through the use of potions. My father, in his writings, realized that something was not right, at times he would come back to himself briefly before being dosed again and start the cycle anew. In truth it was, I admit, rather impressive." Seeing my look of disbelief the man smiled a cold, dark, and charming smile, "Though it broke his mind in the end, that a muggle could resist the effects of Amortentia, the world's strongest love potion, when muggles are not supposed to be able to fight off the effects of even the weakest mind altering spells and potions?"
"Remarkable…" I said in an awe filled voice I did not realize was my own at first, his voice had been… captivating. "You, are using voice charms!" I announced.
He smiled at that approvingly, "And you are using Felix Felicis." The aristocrat said, "and, just like the use of Liquid Luck, the use of voice charms without compulsion's is allowed in Parley."
"Touché!" I said with a grin, internally chanting to myself once more, "You are also using a glamour." I said, seeing shocked look come to Tracy's face. Apparently she didn't know.
"Touché." he said in his soft, scratchy, and amused voice, turning to his frowning his daughter, "I did not wish to frighten you with the aftereffects of my revival last year, they were… less than glamorous."
I was actually smart enough to not say anything here, though a number of things popped into my mind that I was sure he picked up on, based on the change in grip of his seat's arm.
"I… I understand father." She said in a small voice, "We will talk of that later… I do not appreciate getting lied to." Internally I was laughing at who she was saying this to.
"Indeed… Now, Mr. Potter, I think we have more important things to discuss… To be honest I was rather surprised at your calling of Parley, and not merely at the thought that you would actually know what it was. You are my enemy… I have wronged you at every turn, killed your parents, struck you with visions and pain, used you, possessed you, and attacked you with the intent to kill you… And yet…" he left it hanging there so I picked up.
"I blame her." I said simply, pointing my finger at Tracy casually, "After she was done beating me up she mentioned that you would be willing to meet with me… Told me that you were interested in me personally… among other things about my parents and our world."
His smile became, if anything more genuine. Either he was the world's best actor or he truly felt what he displayed. Probably a mix of the two, "They were great people Harry Potter."
"They fought against you tooth and nail."
"Misguided perhaps, but great none the less." He retorted.
"Ollivander said something much the same about you. That you had done great things. 'Terrible but great none the less,' were his exact words I believe." And indeed the old man had said as much. "You tried to recruit them before." I said then, looking at him, "And for some reason, right before she died, you offered to spare my mother."
This was the first thing that I had said that actually surprised him, "And how would you know that, I wonder?" he said with curious eyes.
"You should feel honored, not even two and it was the most horrifying thing I ever witnessed." I answered with a bittersweet smile, "The the Dementors of Azkaban have had a most… peculiar effect on me."
"Fascinating!" he said before continuing on with the conversation at hand, "Yes, I offered to spare her. It was a request from one of my faithful. But I knew she would say no, any mother would have done the same."
"And the Longbottom's?"
"They were the doing of my misguided son and poor Bellatrix, not me. He is now gone and Bella is… barely useful as a follower."
"Son?" I asked, getting a feral look from Voldemort. Bellatrix Lestrange… Rabastan Lestrange… Rodolphus Lestrange… "Barty Crouch Jr. was your son?"
"Was." Came Tracy's voice, "Fudge made sure that he was taken out of the picture. My brother lived a wretched life in the end. Whereas the Lestrange's and other Death Eaters were tortured by Dementors he spent every waking moment fighting for control of his own mind and body against a wizard nearly three times his own age. Only to be freed and destroyed after a single year…"
The dark lord simply bowed his head, his red eyes glowing all the more fiercely. It became rather clear to me that this war of his, which had perhaps started as a revolution, had become much more personal over the years. What other friends and loved ones did this man lose that had driven him so far into the brink?
"My… My condolences." I said at last, wondering where my luck was now? "To be fair he was one of the more… competent Defense teachers I have ever had."
"He would have been…" the man answered, "I must say, he is part of the reason I am so interested in you." At my questioning look he continued, "An O+ student in his class, able to compete in the Triwizard tournament with very little help from him, save in the last task, you out flew a dragon, saved two hostages rather than one, and out dueled Viktor Krum, who is a masterful duelist himself. In addition to that were the rumors that flew around the school about you… Tell me, did you really find my Chamber of Secret's?"
Raising my eyebrow I looked at him, "Your Chamber of Secret's? Last I checked, the statue of the large monkey man in the main hall there was Salazar Slytherin, not Tom Riddle."
The Dark Lord looked un-expectantly pleased by this answer, "So you have seen it. A Parseltongue as well then?" he asked, both him and his daughter looked at me expectantly.
"Um… Yes, though I need to be looking at a snake to do it." I answered uncomfortably.
"(Nagini!)" the man hissed out, though it sounded like strangely spoken English to me.
"So you're a Parseltongue too then?" I asked Tracy as the large snake slithered up to its master.
I got a Cheshire smile from the girl, "Yes, though I had only heard rumors about your little incident at the dueling club in second year. I hadn't ever talked to a snake before fourth year ended. It was how father proved to us both that I was his child once and for all… (Nagini, Dear,)" she hissed towards the large snake that was now wrapping itself up Voldemort's chair"(we need you to ssspeak to our friend here, to sssee if he is able to underssstand your most honorable of languagessss)"
Twisting its head between the two of us the snake bowed its head before looking towards me, "(of coursssse Misssstresss. It would be an honor.)"
Looking at the large snake carefully I focused like I had back in the Chamber all those years ago, "(I am at a losss for wordsss at the moment… You are Nagini, yesssss?)"
"(Indeed hume… I am the massterssss Nagini)" it responded.
"(You are the one to attack Arthur Weasssley in the Department of Mysssssteriesss…)"
The large green snake moved forward, wrapping itself along my arms and shoulders now. It was both cool and freaky at the same time, "(Perhapesss… Where wasss thissss? I have attacked many things. What issss an Arthur Weasssley?)"
Voldemort is the one who answered, picking his snake up off of me and placing it back onto his own lap, "(now, now, Nagini. Yessss, you attacked him, and the Weasssley is a man. You may go and hunt again dearest.")
Tracy was the next to speak, normally once more, "Loves that snake more than me." She commented, "I can't believe it… The only other Parseltongue of English decent is Harry Bloody Potter."
"Indeed." Voldemort said next, "Untrained, yes, but still… it is a mystery I guess."
"Well…" I knew at least one theory on how I was a Parseltongue. Though to speak of it would be a great betrayal. So far I hadn't done or said anything that would stop me from returning to Dumbledore. But to speak of this… it would be the first brick in the wall.
Then again, Dumbledore seemed to have been building the wall up from his own side for years now.
"Dumbledore has a theory on how I am able to speak to snakes." I said at last, damn the Headmaster for all he had never told me and refused to still. I am a free man. "When you tried to kill me in eighty-one he thinks a piece of your power entered me, or more importantly my scar. That's why I can look through your eyes at times and you can send images and pain through to mine. I guess a piece of you got stuck inside me and acts as a tunnel of sorts. I was trying to learn Occlumency to block out the images you kept sending me of the hallway leading to the Hall of Prophesy's, but it did not work."
If anything the glamoured man looked more surprised than anything at this revelation. "I have only used the… tunnel… thrice since discovering it. Once to send you the image of your godfather, once to possess you, though that you fought off, and once to send you the confirmation of our meeting tonight."
"Yeah," I huffed, "Left a headache the size of Scotland you did." Making the man smile.
"That would be you learning basic Occlumency and having it defeated. In truth it was the first time I even noticed the faintest of protections around your mind… Hmm…" for a few seconds the man sat in contemplation before answering, "It could be that those glimpses of the door were from my subconscious. A dream perhaps. I did not become aware of our connection until you saved Arthur Weasley… I have a… very peculiar bond with my familiar, that allows me to see through her eyes or even speak to her if I wished it so. That anyone else could break into the bond seemed impossible, until my informant spoke to me about your dreams and why Weasley was not dead."
"That Greasy Bat!" I practically shouted, "He told Snape about those dreams?" I asked, not waiting for an answer, "What in the world was he thinking?"
"You know of Severus' position?" he asked me in a deadly quiet voice, the other two Slytherin's looking quite upset by the news as well…
"Yes…" I announced, not caring if I damned the man at all… not realizing what it would mean for me, "He is a member of the Order of the Phoenix, he plays games with everyone, right up there with Dumbledore. Only giving enough information to be useful and apparently only giving enough to you to do the same."
"Indeed… I will have to think on this some more. And I guess thanks are due." He said, an oily smile on his face.
It made me pause as what I had done dawned on me: I had just ousted the Order's single greatest informant on Death Eater activity. I was no better than Pettigrew… A traitor.
The man didn't even need to read my mind to know what I was thinking, "You are not a traitor, Harry." He said, catching my eyes, "Imagine, if you would, a man. He has been raised his entire life, to believe that something is true. Day in, day out, it is re-enforced, this belief. And then one day… he learns it is a lie. That is you Harry. You have gone your entire life in the wizarding world believing that Dumbledore is right about everything, that the side of the war you have been fighting for is infallible in its reason to fight. But it isn't. Dumbledore is a spider, spinning his webs to ensnare us all in… and you have broken free only so recently that you do not know what is right. You are reticent in what you wish to give away one second and willing to give away other things the next. You do not have the full picture yet to know where you wish to land."
"Tell me then!" I answered so quickly that I didn't even know what I had said before it came from my mouth. "Fill in the blank spots, that's why we're here, isn't it?"I asked, calmer but just as determined. THIS was why I was here, this is what I needed to know.
"As you wish." He said simply, standing, pacing before the fire. For a second it reminded me a bit of the old stories of Sherlock Holmes, all that was missing was Watson and a violin.
"For me, this war began as a way to change what was wrong in the world." He started, "I will not deny that my actions were not so altruistic in the beginning when I began gathering friends and followers. Back then I wished for power and immortality before all other things. Natural talents was already mine and power came easy enough, immortality was achieved, in a limited form by my sixth year, with the creation of a powerful object that I placed a piece of myself within."
The diary, I realized, was what he referred too. Internally I also realized that it couldn't have been the only such creation, as he was still here and living, when he hadn't been resurrected for two years after its destruction.
"After my school days I had two goals remaining. First to gather the artifacts of the Founders, believing they would grant me immense power. Second was still immortality, as I believed the single object I had made was not enough. I created more of these powerful containers for myself, one after another, as I realized that the artifacts of the Founders had, over the years, lost their magic. Slytherin's mighty Locket, once allowing Slytherin to command dragon's, did nothing. Hufflepuff's cup that was said to heal any ailment save old age itself did nothing but cast away weariness. By the time I found the Diadem of Rowena Ravenclaw I had given up hope on that front, as the Diadem, once said to have granted Ravenclaw her amazing wisdom did nothing but give me a headache. So instead I turned my pursuits back to my own people."
"I found a society already bursting at the seams. In my time in Hogwarts I had learned that Purebloods hated the Muggle-Born and Half-Bloods and Muggles, of course. But I never really learned why until I looked into the reason further, after my failed search for power. In truth the Purebloods didn't know why they hated these people so much, I had to tell them why. It was because what Muggle's stood for: the Death of Magic. The Witch Hunts of old still haunted us, and the hatred that the Muggle's were able to inflict on their own was staggering. We had just witnessed it first hand, you understand, with the Holocaust. Gellert Grindlewald had been behind the rise of Hitler and the start of the World War… But it had been Hitler and Hitler alone that had taken his hatred to the point of ordering the deaths of all the Jewish people. In the end, shortly before Dumbledore had dueled the Dark Lord, Grindlewald took his revenge on the Nazi party leader, driving his madness to the point where the man, weeks later, took his own life.
"Now, I saw Muggle-born children coming into our world in greater and greater numbers each year. They were just as magically powerful as us, that was not the problem, but they did not understand our culture and in many cases tried to change it to adapt more to that of the Muggle world which they were so used too. The Muggle world that had so recently killed millions of its own for nothing. Add to that that each child that came to us from the Muggles brought with them two Muggles, at the very least, who would now know of our world. Then there were the Half-Bloods, A witch or wizard bearing a child to a Muggle-born or Muggle. The mere union of these two was not a problem, but when a Magical being weds a nonmagical one more people are let in on the secret, perhaps more than just the one they wed as well, the extended family. Not to mention that a wizard in the Muggle world stands out like a sore thumb, just as a muggle in the Wizarding world would."
"Each and every Muggle that knows of the Magical world could potentially be the one that breaks the barriers between our two worlds. What then? Organized religion is still a huge force in their world, so there would be billions who would wish us dead right off the back. The governments and armies would see us as either a threat to their power or something they could use. Slavery, torture, being treated like cattle… That's what we would be. Not to mention that we could not beat them back. Our magic pales in comparison to the might of the atomic bomb. Our numbers are insignificant next to that of Muggles. And each decade they advance farther and farther."
"Now that we knew what was the problem, we looked to change it through the law… But the law was corrupt. The Half-Blood known as Albus Dumbledore refused to hear anything negative against his mother's people and my friends that were in the positions of power at the time were cast down as leapers for speaking against the 'poor Muggles' who had suffered so in the recent war. Looking back we realized how our government had been corrupted years before, as early as Grogan, who split our world into Beings and Creatures. Any who were creatures being given less rights, and more responsibilities. Werewolves, Vampires, Merefolk, Giants, Trolls, and Centaurs are all magical Creatures that meet the requirements for being listed as Magical Beings, but were classified otherwise."
I interrupted here, needing a clarification, "But Centaurs and Meremaids chose not to be Beings." I pointed out.
"No." he responded, continuing with his lecture, "Centaurs chose, Merefolk were given no such choice. The Conclave that had been created met in a forest, not far from a large Muggle city and at least a mile away from a sufficient water source for the Merefolk to get to. This was done because many did not wish to have to deal with the Mere. Similarly Giants and trolls could not attend as they would be noticed by the Muggles, Vampires because of the time of day, and Werewolves because they were only 'werewolves' on the full moon were noted as being absent and got classified as beast's, despite the infected folk who were indeed there."
"But this was beside the point. We looked back and saw corruption in the past and in the future too. We realized that if our world was going to change that we needed not to change the law… But to change those who made the law. We needed a revolution. So in the sixties we gathered numbers, starting quietly and peacefully, spreading the word through the twist and turns of Knockturn Alley and the back streets of Diagon. I was placed at the head, surprisingly, as being the last of Slytherin's heirs, the one who had seen what my ancestor had seen and the strongest among us all. I took up the name I had created in my fifth year, an anagram of my full name-"
"I Am Lord Voldemort." I answered for him, already knowing it.
"Correct, Voldemort, a combination of the French words Vol, de, and mort, a literal translation of Flight From Death, the perfect name to lead a revolution out to prevent what we saw as the Death of Magic. Likewise my followers became the warriors who would fight at the forefront of our war against Death."
"Death Eaters." Supplied Tracy, having heard this before.
"Correct again. It did not take long for the revolution to take off, with the war truly starting in sixty-nine. I was branded a Dark Lord by the Wizengamot and the ICW thanks to Dumbledore, though it was more than earned at that point. I had steeped myself in the dark arts quite thoroughly, leading to my state of semi immortality. The war turned ugly though. Both sides recruited and used the Unforgivables with nary a thought. Barty Crouch was actually the one that pushed through that piece of legislation, one of the few old Purebloods that had resisted the call of the revolution. In truth I believe his willingness to use those curses was in part due to the fact that he loved the son his wife had borne and wished to remove the one who had conceived him, so that Barty Crouch Jr. would always be his son."
"Eventually things began to stagnate. Our side thought that we were losing; their side thought they were losing. I was still personally recruiting back then and did have to make some hard choices. With the war coming to a standstill I began to target certain individuals for recruitment and or death. The Longbottom's, two of the finest Aurors ever, the Bones', the Prewett brothers, McKinnons… a fine family that I regret having to fight against, but they had all taken Muggles as husbands and wives and became a rather large threat to our way… And the Potters. Your parents in particular, along with the Longbottoms, were the two families that could have turned the war in our favor. Your father was a prodigy in Transfiguration, even becoming an Animagus before sixteen, an amazing feat. Your mother though… A Charms Mistress at twenty, an honorary Potion's Mastery before she even left Hogwarts, and an avid student of Runes and Arithmancy all through and after her Hogwarts career and ready to lay the foundations of the next generation by the time she was twenty one. By then she had also worked for the Department of Mysteries as well as a volunteer with the Auror's."
"And then came the Prophecy."
"'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…' that is all I know of what she had said. I… was never a student of Divination, and what little faith I held in the more mythical arts disappeared with my failed pursuit of the Founders legacies. But he… Severus had made the announcement of the prophecy before many of my closes followers. I could not ignore it then, or else I would be seen as weak. My lead had been started based on the fact that I was the best duelist and strategist, it was held during the start of the war because I proved I was a strong and able leader, and towards the end, when things got rough I kept it still because I was feared, no one dared challenge the man who had been in the forefront of the fighting since the start, was known to be a master of the Dark Arts, and self proclaimed himself to be immortal. But the thought that I would simply disregard something that sounded so dire and they all held much faith in? It would have been a sin."
"So I called those around me and swore them to secrecy, never to utter a word of what they heard to anyone, an Unbreakable Vow, and searched for you." I received a morbid grin here, "Needless to say, half a prophecy is not the best thing to guide one's self with. I believe you are much more familiar with what happened next?"
"You were stuck without a body," I answered, "only a soul, until you found Professor Quirrell in Albania. You possessed him and soon learned of that the Philosophers Stone would be in Hogwarts. Eager for a body and true immortality you went, offering us," I said, indicating us three students, "one of the worst years of Defense Against the Dark Arts ever!"
Voldemort's red eyes narrowed at this point, "It was not me teaching the class. My presence in his mind caused complications and I was not even awake most times, just often enough to give orders and ideas."
"And to feed off of the Unicorns." I shot back, "That's probably why your resurrection didn't restore your body the correct way, your consumption of Unicorn Blood. Any who kill such a pure being is doomed to a cursed existence." Surprisingly he nodded his head in agreement.
"Most likely." He supplied, "Though to be fair, I would not be here if I did not. I could feel the connection to my soul quickly loosening and I strengthened it."
"Right… But you failed to get the Stone. So you returned to Albania somehow."
"I was banished back. Hogwarts herself banished me back to the place my spirit had last rested. And since I had joined bodies with Quirinus in Albania, and he was no longer in existence, I was sent there."
Interesting… I didn't know Hogwarts could do something like that. "Eventually though you found Peter Pettigrew and Nagini, and soon after that learned of the Triwizard Tournament and Barty Crouch, and planned for my kidnapping and your resurrection." Seeing his nod to the affirmative I finished, "Things went mostly to plan, and you got to get the war started back up… From there I think it's pretty standard."
"Yes… It was the last major task within my mind, this revolution, so it stuck with me through my banishment. In particular though, I wished to know what had gone wrong. So I sought out the prophecy, to no avail…. And now… but two and a half weeks later, here you are, sitting before me with both sides of the war laid out before you… Please, think about this all very carefully Mr. Potter. I only ever make three offers to those who would become my followers. The first time I offer something in return, such as when I offered you your parents, the second time I offer without saying a thing, seeing if they would join simply for the sake of joining… The last time I preferred to do like we are now, sitting down and talking to them, telling them our story from the start, relating to them if I can. For they are the ones I truly respect. The ones who wait and listen and learn what our cause really is. Your own parents listened and found me and mine wanting. I can respect them for that, just as I can respect you for this. Either way you chose, this is Parley, you may leave at of your own free will without fear for your life… Please think about this."
Well shit… when you put it like that!
Truthfully I was still a little confused about it all… But the world seemed so much clearer now. The Purebloods fought for something they truly believed in. Some didn't really think things through as clearly as Riddle did, but others I'm sure had. The Half-Bloods and Muggle-Born's, though, either didn't want to listen or refused to give up on their ancestry. Heck, by this generation many probably didn't know why the war had started off in the first place. Truthfully there had been more selfish reasons for people to try and overthrow the government.
And then there was Dumbledore.
My breast still burned with anger whenever I thought of him. He had done so much against me and so little for me. He pushed me and prodded me. I had no doubt that he thought of me as some sort of insect in his webs to further his own ends… And who knew how much longer he would hold his positions? What was the name of the one examiner for the ICW? Marchbanks? She had said she was the one who had given Dumbledore his NEWT's in the 1899! She was at least twenty years old then, probably much older, and yet she is still working today. A man with as much power as he has, going for another fifty years? A hundred year rule?
Tracy was right, he is a tyrant.
Not to mention I have seen what Muggles are like. Hateful, pride filled, lazy, and dangerous to their own kind. Truth be told, if wizards acted like Muggles there would be a whole lot less of us. Not every Muggle carries around a knife or a gun. Every wizard has a wand though… Every child over the age of eleven even…
Voldemort went after a child on the basis of a prophecy he didn't know the full contents of… Just like in Greek Myths. Your son will kill you and marry your wife, so you throw him into the sea, causing the prophesy to become self fulfilling. If he hadn't come after me he wouldn't have been banished, I wouldn't have been marked, and either me or Neville could still potentially fill the role of the One…
…Voldemort… Tracy… Daphne… Malfoy… Lestrange… Snape…
… Vernon… Petunia… Dudley… Dumbledore… Snape…
…Good… Evil… all the shades of grey
… Muggles… Wizards…
Hermione…. Ron… Ginny… Luna… Arthur, Fred, George, Dean, Susan, Seamus, Padma, Lavender…
I want to protect them. But from who? The Muggles? The Death Eaters? Remus himself said that deaths of those in the Order rose towards the end… when Voldemort decided to begin taking the field against select people. Deaths happened, but in general they didn't kill the wizards on purpose… they killed the Muggles who knew of the Magical World and the enemy soldiers, those who got in the way were taken out too.
Then what about incidents like the bridge being destroyed? A distraction maybe…? Then again such things were common in wars, distractions and innocent casualties…
'the Death Eaters are not allowed to loot and pillage and rape as they please….'
'more than a few Aurors and ministry cleanup workers are responsible…'
'Father abhors rape in any form…'
'never just taken for personal gain…'
'you, no matter who wins this war, are the future of our people…'
'Freedom!'
"Who planned the destruction of the Millennium Bridge? Who destroyed it?" I asked.
"Dead men." Was his reply, "Something like that is much too public, too well seen by the Muggles for us to risk targeting. It upsets our goals and declares us much too openly."
"And a neon sign made of mist is much better, I'm sure." I retorted, thinking once more.
"Idiot." Tracy announced, "The Dark Mark is a special spell, it can only be seen by magical beings."
Oh, I get it, "Like the Dementors, a Muggle or Squib could not see them but still feel them and be effected by them."
"Exactly." Voldemort said with a smile, "It is much too magical for them to see, like the Dementor or other magical creatures, like Phoenix's or House Elves."
Well, that's a rather amusing thought, Draco Malfoy is less magical than a House Elf.
"Dead men, huh...?" I asked once more…
…
…...
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"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…and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not.…and either must die at the hand of the other for neither shall live while the other survives.…the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies…"
There was utter silence then as the last word slid off my tongue, the crackling of the fire the only thing I could hear. I didn't dare look at them, I looked into the orange and yellow flames instead.
I had made my choice. Perhaps it will be the right one… Maybe it will be the wrong one…
Idly I try to imagine myself in a white Death Eater mask… wait, I'm me and my body is full of Liquid Luck, of course I can make that look good. I can make a paper bag look good… No, Tracy can make a paper bag look good. She wouldn't even need to be wearing it… actually I think I might like it if she wasn't wearing it… or anything else.
I knew I was just coping with thoughts like that, maybe the Felix Felicis knew I needed to be distracted in order to survive this… My conscience might have made me do something stupid before it had a chance to get used to the idea that I was changing sides in this war… then again maybe I won't need that long to get used to it? I hope so.
For nearly five minutes we all sat there, each of us doing different things. Voldemort was thinking over each and every word, I'm sure. Tracy was probably doing the same thing as Daphne, gawking at this internally… Or externally I guess, based on the wide eyed stare the black haired Slytherin was giving me from behind her blond friend. I was still idly picturing Tracy and now Daphne in various states off dress and undress… What about Hannah Abbot? A nice red head like her or Susan Bones is always good… or Ginny… Luna? Now that would be…
"Wow…" Tracy was the first to speak, shaking us all out our thoughts, making us all stare at the girl who was suddenly looking very self aware and small, "Um… That's… big… I guess then that father marked you with the scar then? And made you his equal."
This amused me, "A fifteen year old boy the equal to a Dark Lord who has five decades of experience on me, not to mention how much more power, an army of followers who will die for him if necessary, and some form of immortality…? I didn't know you had that much faith in me Trace!"
The girl blushed in anger, making me smirk at her, "Well when you put it like that…" she said with a glare, only to be waved down by her father.
"No, Mr. Potter… My daughter is correct. While I may have more skill than you, power can be a relative term. For instance, I have the very rare power to see wards, where as you do not, I am sure. Another fact is that I can put much power into my spells, but I cannot compete with the feat that Peter Pettigrew claims he witnessed: You driving off a hundred Dementors with just one Patronus. The power that that would require is beyond comprehension. Follower's? I have heard that you started a group in defiance of the Ministry, much as I did after I had graduated. They all answered to you… You have the beginnings of a following as I have now. And as I said before… I am not truly immortal. My soul will one day weaken and the bonds that hold it to this body shall fail me, less I take other precautions. It is why I chose to have children, to carry on my legacy for generations to come."
"Furthermore, Mr. Potter, you would seem to have some sort of power I do not even know of and most likely never will. I do wonder what if could be?"
"Well if you ask Dumbledore I'm supposed to give you a damn hug and hope you burst into flames." Seeing the looks on their faces almost made me laugh, though instead I settled on a small smile, in no mood for laughter, even despite the potion I had taken. "He seems to think that the power you know not… Is love."
"OH!" Tracy practically yelled, realization dawning on her face, "That's why you got so angry this morning, I told you how my father looked at me with love." Turning to her father she explained, "After we had… begun to talk, I mentioned meeting your for the first time… and the look you had given me. He slammed his fist into the wall and broke it."
"Left a nice bruise, would have match the shiner you almost gave me wonderfully!" I said in a chipper voice, then much more subdued, "But yes, that is why I got so angry… My own family is… less than perfect. And the fact that I was told this not an hour after Sirius' death… It was unbearable."
Turning my attention away from the girl I looked the Dark Lord in his crimson red eyes, "How does this work?" I asked, "I told Tracy before; I will not compromise my morals. I will fight, as I already have been doing so, but I will not betray those I care for most… I'm not Wormtail. I don't even know how I can do this, I'm certain Dumbledore will find me before long and then I won't be able to escape him. Once in school…"
The man smiled at me again, "You, Harry Potter, are a brave man to say such things to me. Many would not dare, believing I would curse anyone within an inch of their lives for such an offense. In truth I only did that once, to a man who had betrayed our location to the enemy. I read it in his mind and delivered punishment swiftly. He did not outlive the night I fear, which is good, as we were able to take none of our prisoners with us. It is… refreshing to hear, particularly since my return. My friends and compatriots have become distant and more servitor like, having forgotten who I am and what I stood for… You will not be marked. And you will not bare the traditional white and silver mask of the Death Eater's."
Blinking I looked at him in confusion, making him chuckle… not a pleasant sound, "Perhaps your Luck has changed how this night would have ended. If this night had turned out in my favor I originally was going to give you a mask and have you join the others in Hogwarts, unmarked, but I believe that I may have something better. You are to be my equal, yes? Then you will not be any Death Eater… You will be a Dark Lord, the one to carry the war on their shoulders when I pass or should I fall."
Standing the man walked to one of the two doors in the room. One I had come in through so this one lead to who knows where.
"Come with me children, let us look into the relics of the past." He said beckoning Tracy, Daphne, and I to him. For a second I was stuck in place before joining them, one thought reaching the surface… How had I gone from Death Eater to Dark Lord so quickly?
I had seen museums before… they were nothing next to this. Four stories tall the room went, walls covered in thousands of books, the floor had various artifacts of ages gone set upon pedestals and stands. Swords and Knives and amulets and armors. Rings and coins and Grimoires and capes, cloaks, and robes of all kind. Some pristine, others covered in dried blood and dirt. One knife was make of obsidian, another metal, and another yet still of ice, believe it or not.
Beneath each object there were names and descriptions of all kinds. Madea's Bodkin, a red sword of a Japanese invader, the coins laid to rest on Hector's eyes when he died… so many things.
"Throughout the years I have been alive," the older man explained, walking us up to the fourth floor of the library/museum, "I have collected many artifacts, eagerly looking for those that had belonged to the founders, in vain as I mentioned. But some of the more intriguing ones I have found belonged to former Dark Lords. Though I do not have any of Grindlewalds effects, I have, as you see, many others. Most are not truly dark or evil in nature, though there are a few that are, and most are not even magical anymore, like those artifacts of the Founders."
"Truly, this puzzled me. Why would something that was only a hundred years old not work still, while something three thousand years old did? It took a while before I came to the conclusion that the Founders artifacts had been lost, as did many of these, but others had been kept by Ministry's and individuals, tested and used and maintained. Then it hit me, they had had magic used in and around them, helping them. I'm sure that if any of the Founders objects been kept in the school, like the Sorting Hat, then they would still have been as powerful today as they day they were Crafted."
By this time we had reached the top floor, "One such discovery, by a member of the American Ministry of Magic that was sympathetic to our cause, originally caught my eye as it was a full set, still completely functional. I had the man gain the objects for me, paying a hefty fee for them, and then entrusted them to the care of one of my most loyal friends: The Davis family. I did not, at this time, have any estate fixed up into a suitable location for my various wares, the timing last time was always terrible, though with the year I had to plan things this time around… No matter. I originally only had them because they were a full set that was fully working. That though, changed."
Looking at me he smiled before pointing to one of the displays, a long glass topped case that was up against another display, a set of chest armor made of black and bronzed leather. In the case itself sat three more objects: a long knife, nearly a foot long, a tarnished back and gold mask, oddly similar to a Death Eaters mask, yet completely different, and a small figurine of three skulls sitting upon one another, each looking in a different direction, set with small rubies that seemed to catch the light and keep it, rather than reflect it.
But it was the name that really caught my interest.
Why wouldn't it?
I mean, the effects of a Dark Lord…
A Dark Lord by the name of Archibald Potter.
"Well fuck!" I practically yelled, getting a strange look from the older man, I'm sure.
"Well?" asked Daphne impatiently, her and Tracy having been held back by the man, "What is it?"
Voldemort answered instead, sounding entirely too smug, "They are known as The Arsenal of the Dark Lord Archibald Black Crafter… Better known in his own time as Archibald William Frederick Potter, a powerful politician and an even more talented inventor."
"The Black Crafter was a Potter?" Tracy asked, looking over at me in shock. I guess my ancestor was well known then, even if his last name was not.
"I take it Archibald Potter was well known?" I asked, getting a nod of the head from Tracy, who looked to Daphne to explain.
"Archibald Black Crafter was world renown as the Dark Lord during the Colonies Revolt against British rule. Generally speaking he isn't well known for being a Dark Lord in England because, while he was labeled so by the British, he was the first 'American' Dark Lord. Lost the war of course, was trying to keep the Colonies under the Empire. But one thing did live on, his works as an enchanter."
"That's why he was called the Black Crafter? Because he could enchant objects?"
Daphne shook her head, "Nope, he was called that because of how he revolutionized enchanting objects. He took the Dark Arts and used them to create incredibly powerful magical item, things that were of a level not previously seen in hundreds of years. His creations, Black Craft's, were so perfectly made, so incredibly unique and powerful, that many of the Pureblood families keep them as prized possessions. The Black's, in particular, had a rather large horde of the objects. Making objects in the same manner today is simply call Dark Crafting. Much easier and more powerful than regular enchantments, but nowhere near the legendary levels of the Black Crafters works."
A light clapping shook the girl out of her lecture, making her go wide eyed in rather amusing way, if I do say so myself, "Very good my Death Eater, very good. I am glad to hear that Binn's has not destroyed magical history at Hogwarts completely."
"Thank you my lord." She said in a meek voice, painfully aware of the Dark Lord in the room.
Tracy though wasn't too satisfied, "She is too modest father," the blond girl announced, pushing Daphne before the elder Riddle, "Binn's doesn't teach wizarding history outside of a few witch burnings in third year. Daphne did all of her research outside of class."
"A True Historian then." The man announced, making the girl flush with embarrassment, "My daughter, let her be. As it is, my presence is the only one restraining her from hitting you."
He was probably right… so I took advantage of this fact and poked her, making her squeak and go wide eyed. "Hmm… I have never seen that particular shade of red before… Well except this once in potions." Daphne glared, Tracy laughed, and I felt a little better… I really hope it was the potion making me do this at this point. "Now, why have you shown me this then? Because my ancestor was Dark Lord?"
"Partially." The man granted with a tilt of his head, "Though mostly because this shall be your uniform, these shall be your weapons. Through you I shall bring the Black Crafter back from the dead, in a manner of speaking." I looked at him as if he was crazy. I must have, because the glare he gave me was strong, "You are to be my equal? Then you cannot be a normal Death Eater. What better way than to, like myself, take up the mantle of your forefather?"
My Luck, I tried to reason, wanted this to happen. But something didn't feel right about it. "What's the catch?" I asked, not in a bullshitting mood, "What aren't you telling me? Will I not be able to remove the mask? Or will the knife kill me if I use it to kill an innocent? What?"
"Very astute of you." The man said approvingly, "These are magical objects made by enchanting them with spells of the Dark Arts. Normally enchanting only uses regular spells, not the Dark Arts. Archibald Potter theorized that he could make an object that created the effects of a Dark spell without causing the normally adverse effect's of the Dark Art's on the wielder of the object. And he was correct. Using an object did not give the negative reactions one gets from casting a Dark spell. However, the object in question released an aura of dark magic, one that would corrupt anyone nearby as if they had been using the Dark Arts themselves, minus the effects that certain spells would cause."
"And what 'effects' are those?" I asked, genuinely not knowing, "I don't practice the Dark Arts and either Quirrell, Umbridge, or Lockhart was supposed to teach us to recognize Dark Magic I guess."
The man seemed a little surprised at my lack of knowledge, but other than that did explain for me, to my relief, "Generally speaking, it is mental in nature. Mood swings, insomnia sometimes times, nightmares other times, forgetfulness is common, though there are potions and even rituals to prevent of counteract this, dementia, depression, fits of vertigo or feelings of invincibility. Those can all happen, though the stronger the mind the less likely and less powerful these are. The longer one is around or using Dark magic the easier it becomes to forge on through… usually. In some cases the more they're used the worse the effects become. Take my darling Bellatrix for example: She has a strong mind but used the Dark Arts enough that rather than being tempered, her mind broke. Though in her case she grew up surrounded by Black Crafts in the Black Family home."
"That explains so much." I said, looking at the objects curiously, wondering how they would affect me. It didn't sound too bad, especially since the longer I was around them the better I was likely to be around them… hopefully "Sirius was far from sane, Bellatrix was off the wagon, and Tonks, Sirius' cousin was a little loonier than was normal for a witch or wizard. I guess she inherited it from her mother." Off to the side I saw Tracy's posture change at my comment, making look over at her… then to Voldemort who was looking down his fake nose at me.
"Tonks isn't your daughter too, is she?" I asked, really hoping not.
"No," the man answered, giving me a sigh of relief, "Though I do have a child with Bellatrix as well, from before her mind broke." Oh, that's just as bad.
"Um… Sorry?" I asked more than said this, though the man just waved it off.
"You were not aware, though I would watch my tongue if I were you." He said before walking forwards and opening the display case. Behind his back I stuck out my tongue and tried to look at it, earning me a kick to the shins by Tracy and Daphne.
"Did you know that this was the original mold for the mask's my Death Eater's wear?" he asked, pulling free the Black and Gold piece of art, "We wear ours with Silver and metallic white and the design along the brow is different from person to person. But this was the first… In a way, for the eldest members of our order, it will be a symbol of your station." With that he handed it to me, closing the case, "We do not have much time tonight to have you fully equipped, but I wish for you to try it on, let me see you bear my Mask Harry Potter."
And so, removing my glasses, I did. Luckily for me I didn't need the glasses when I wore the mask, it aided me automatically. It felt like a second skin, barely noticeable , save for when I tried to smile and my dimples couldn't move much.
"How does it look?" I asked, getting a shocked look from the two women, an amused one from the Dark Lord, something I will never be used to, "Yes?"
"Your voice," Tracy managed, before stopping.
"It's… much older sounding, more sophisticated almost." She said, staring at me in awe, standing up straighter when I looked to her.
Questioningly I looked towards the Dark Lord before I realized he could not see my raised brow. "Well… My… Lord…?" I asked confused as to how I should address him.
"You may address me as sir when we are in the presence of others, though in this setting… either Voldemort or Sir. You and I are not close enough for you to call me by my given name. And what they hear is a mild voice changing charm layered with a very powerful Voice Charm like I was using before, making everything you say seem so much… more. I wouldn't be able to tell who you are through the mask and the basic charm, and only a master Occlumens like Severus would be able to totally fight off the Voice Charm."
"We can't see your eyes either." Daphne announced, making me look towards her again, causing her to shutter.
"Why do they keep doing that sir?" I asked, looking at Tracy now, who was still staring at me a little awed.
"Hmm… Most likely there is a compulsion on the mask, for those who look upon it while it is being worn. Give me a second to lower my Occlumency, I am not used to willingly taking in a compulsion or threat to the mind." Closing his eyes the man visibly tensed, straining to keep his mind open and defenseless. "Fear." He announced. "Fear and Respect actually. A duel compulsion, truly remarkable. I'm sure if you spoke to them, rather than just stared they would respond, due to the Voice Charm… hmm, a deadly combination for an amateur Occlumens, Voice Charms and Compulsion's… How does it feel? Normal, any restraints?"
"Only when moving my face, but other than that nothing. I can see great, better than normal even, though that's because I have an outdated subscription for my glasses. I hear fine, see fine, smell fine, and it doesn't feel like its weighing down my face at all."
"Remarkable…" the man said once more, "Now kneel, Harry Potter, and hear your mission."
Well, here was the moment of truth. Would I be right in my decision or would I be wrong and be forced to commit the unthinkable.
"Your mission is many in one, if truth is told. My resources in Hogwarts are many, but difficult to control. I can no longer trust Severus to do my bidding properly there, so you shall take over in that facility." Did he just say what I think he said, "You shall lead my Death Eaters within the school, ensuring that they are ready, able, and willing to come forth and fight for our cause when they leave for good. No other in that school, save the teachers themselves, have as much experience as your do in true combat, so you will train them. Furthermore, as a confidant to Dumbledore and many other's of the opposition you will pass any information you come across to my child, she will have the means to relay it to me. Furthermore I expect you to do everything in your power to keep her save… Between you and Miss. Greengrass there are only two of you that know her true station in life and it will stay that way, do I make myself clear?"
"Yes sir." I responded without a hint of hesitancy. Truth be told I was a little more than scared at the look he gave me and the menacing tone of voice… huh.
"Now there is one other matter in which I believe you may be useful… In the previous year you started training a group known as… Dumbledore's Army…" It really was a bad name for the group, especially now, "I wish you to continue this group" oh, that's not what I was expecting, "Use it to learn more about our enemies, and gather information on potential recruits. Treat them as you always have, but keep them even closer."
"Go now." He commanded, "The night has been long and even I need sleep. My daughter has ways of getting your effects into the school undetected, so you need not worry over that, and you shall need to gather as much information on the Order of the Phoenix to pass on when Hogwarts starts back up." Turning he beckoned for his daughter, who took his arm, "Miss. Greengrass shall see you out and portkeyed back to London. Until next time, my servant.
And with that, and the swish of his robes the Dark Lord Voldemort… My Master… was gone.
"Well… that could have gone worse!" I announced, feeling Voldemort's presence slowly disappear. It was like his very being counteracted the powers of the Felix Felicis and now that he was gone it all rushed back to me.
"You…" Daphne started, staring at my back, muttering angrily. Apparently something I had said or done to her master had angered her, "You… You…" At this point I turned around and stared at the girl once more, still wearing the mask. Instantly she cowered back, intimidated.
"Is there something you would like to say Daphne?" I asked, tilting my head curiously, stepping closer to her.
"No, I…" though that was all that she managed to get out.
Sighing I took the mask off. Truthfully it would be very useful once I… Took. Control. Of the Death Eaters of Hogwarts. What a minute.
"Daphne?" I said, looking at her once more. She still looked hesitant, mostly at the object in my hands, "How many Death Eaters are there in Hogwarts?"
"Many." She answered, putting her hand out to take the mask away from me. "All of the Slytherin seventh and sixth year students, all save two girls in the fifth year, and three of the Fourth year Slytherin's have already taken vows to become Death Eaters as soon as possible… They will need to be brought into the fold sometime in the year."
"And outside Slytherin?" I asked, knowing that not all Death Eaters could be Slytherin.
She shrugged her shoulder's at that, "I only know of three myself, two Ravenclaw's, Carmichael and Edgecombe, and a Gryffindor, Cormac McLaggen. Haven't even heard of a Hufflepuff one… save for Barty Crouch Jr.
"Right." I said, following her down and out of the library/ museum. "So when do you guys meet in the school and where?"
"Don't worry about it; you're the one that will decide. I'm actually a little surprised by that actually… Oh, how sweet it will be to see Malfoy at that first meeting." She said, smiling gently, "You have to embarrass him somehow," grabbing on to my arm she looked up at me, fluttering her eyelashes, "just for me?"
Snorting I pushed her off gently.
"What was it like?" I asked her finally, as we reached the study, finding it empty.
"I'm gunna need a little more information than that to give you an answer." She responded.
"The Dark Mark, what was it like having it put on you?" I asked again, generously curious, knowing that once I was away from Hogwarts I would be branded myself most likely.
For a second she was quiet, thinking back to it, clutching her arm… "You really don't want to know Potter… Just consider yourself lucky. Your never the same after you get it…"
"Why does he use it then?" I asked, "If it's so terrible then-"
"It is a necessary evil." She interrupted, "They tried it with external trackers and means of communication but they all failed spectacularly." And with that walked out of the room.
"I'm sorry." I said as I rushed to keep up with her long strides. "Whatever it was that I said, I'm sorry." She just kept quiet, walking even faster, making me jog in order to keep pace, "Is it because I mentioned the Dark Mark? Or something else?"
Reaching the foyer where we had entered originally she pulled a small object from her pocket and pushed it at me, "No." she said, followed by "Oblivion!"
And like that the mansion in Little Hangleton disappeared into a blur of lights and magic.
Thank you to all of those who reviewed and might I remind you that just because I got this chapter out so fast does not mean I will get all of them out this fast. Second I would like to comment that the Death Eaters Masks are from the book, not the movies. But in general they are white and silver. The one that Harry will be using is set as my avatar right now, if you would like to see what it looks like. Lastly if anyone has a reasonable question the feel free to ask