Lord Voldemort sat in his thrown looking down at the papers laid out before him. This was getting tiresome, his death eaters continued to fail him and even with Dumbledore gone the Wizarding world was still putting up a fight, all because of their high hopes for the Boy-Who-Lived. Dumbledore's lap dog had foiled his plans again and again. The boy was no doubt powerful but Voldemort could see the teen had no idea what he had or how to use it.
His head rested elegantly against his hand. His face had changed Into his old self, looking more like the handsome Tom Riddle grown up. The spell from the graveyard had taken time to develop human features however the blood red eyes remained reminding us that darkness still lurked in the depths of the handsome man. The young blood of Harry had allowed Voldemort to look like a 25 year old rather then an old man at seventy.
Just as he was about to return to his plans a boom disrupted him. Another crash followed by shouting was heard down the corridor. Death eaters rushed past him to find the cause of the disturbance. The doors to the hall trembled as another explosion was sounded. An unknown death eater fell to his feet before The Dark Lord to explain the situation.
"The manor is under attack my lord. Although the attackers are unknown we believe it to be the order. They have already made it to the second corridor." The Unknown man gave a nervous glance to see the reaction of his master. Voldemort sneered down at the grovelling man, thinking about what ways he can make his death eaters pay best for the pathetic defences.
Seeing the frightful red eyes of his master the death eater hastily sunk lower to the floor and added:
"But do not worry my lord we will kill them all before they take another step."
The large doors to the hall were blasted off, making the death eater yelp and scurry out the way. Dust and bits of wood filled the hall. Sparks could be seen as curses were thrown across the room. A mass of black robes moved in, pointing the wands to whatever was hidden by dust in the centre. Voldemort raised his wand and settled the dust filling the hall. Speaking an incantation he froze everyone in the hall. Only those who were strong remained moving.
His death eaters had their wands pointed at a single figure in the middle of the hall. Lucius Malfoy, the Lestranges and a few other death eaters of the inner circle moved in towards the figure. There was no one else in the hall apart from death eaters, frozen or not. The lone figure turned to face the Dark Lord. No words were said as Voldemort sized up the person who dared attack his home.
Voldemort was unable to see the face of his opponent or the body as all were concealed in a large grey cloak with the hood up. All he could see was that the person was small, struggling to reach 5 feet. He could also see a masculine shaped jaw poking out from under the hood along with their mouth. Small rosy lips gave a triumphant smirk up at the dark lord. Voldemort rose from his seat and stepped down from his platform. The figure continued to stare at him, tilting his chin up in defiance to the dark lord.
Voldemort only glared at the intruder wondering what kind of idiot would dare disturb him. He turned to his followers. "Where are the rest of our attackers?"
Malfoy stepped forward. "There were no others my lord."
Voldemort withheld any signs of surprise on his face. He couldn't get over the fact that the runt standing before him had managed to enter his home, defeat his death eaters and make it into the main hall unscathed. Not only that but the attacker must be more delirious then Bellatrix attempt to kill him single handily. That or overly confidant.
With this thought in mind Voldemort looked again at the intruder who had not moved.
"You have lost in your attempt to kill me. You are clearly surrounded and any slight move will have you killed. You will release your wand, then you will be taken down to the dungeons where you shall know the meaning of pain. But before that I will ask you questions where you will have the option of answering freely. Now, release your wand."
The figure immediately threw his wand to the side with a clank. Voldemort unfroze the rest of his followers. "Now, my followers, you will see what kind of foolish man has managed to get through your pathetic defences and dares to attempt to kill the dark lord."
"What makes you think I am here to kill you?" A small, quiet voice escaped the hood and questioned the dark lord. Bellatrix snorted but was silenced by a glare from her husband.
"What other possible reason do you have for breaking and entering my home, do not tell me you caused all this commotion for some petty theft and did not realise it was a the dark lords house. And I will be the one asking question: Are you with the Order of the Phoenix?"
"Well, the reason I am here is not because of them, if that's what you mean. However I am in fact within their most trusted circle or believed to be."
The small man, who judging by the lack of stubble and light voice, must still be very young, had managed to single handily invade Riddle Manor and come face to face with the dark lord. He seemed to be a member of the Order of the Phoenix but was questionable and had no intention of killing Voldemort. Who the hell was this guy?!
"Remove your hood and explain your actions."
The man tilted his head and proceeded. "I'm afraid I will not remove my hood just yet, however I will tell you that I wish to join your cause for that is why I am here."
For the second time that day Voldemort was shocked. No one had ever disobeyed him like that. This was no way to start getting into the inner circle.
"And pray tell, why I should recruit you? You have already destroyed my home, disobeyed me and hold nothing of any value or interest to me. You shall have to work harder if you wish to join my forces. I suggest you do so quickly before I kill you for your impudence."
"I have already proved I am powerful. The mere fact I made it to your home is proof of that. I also hold a lot of information from being so close the Order. And I must warn you that it would only cause you greater damage to you then me if you were to kill me."
This was getting Voldemort no where. Every answer he got only brought up more questions. It was at this point that Nagini slithered up to her master.
"What have we here. A most unexpected guest." She hissed.
"I am not sure yet" replied Voldemort "But I must admit I am intrigued by the brat. He is here to be recruited"
Nagini scrutinized the figure and turned back to her master with a gleeful look on her face "He has already caught your attention. I think he will make an excellent follower. Especially given who he his."
"You know who he is?"
"Oh yes. I most certainly recognize that delectable scent. And as he said, it would be most unwise to kill him."
"Well, who is he?"
Nagini hissed out a giggle. "Oh no, I think I will wait to see the surprise on your face.
Voldemort returned to the figure. The smirk had disappeared and was now pursed into a thin line as if the man was holding his breath. The visible skin of the figure was deathly pale.
"Very well. I shall allow you the honour of the mark once you have removed your hood and proved yourself to me." Whispers broke out in the hall and death eaters scrutinized the new follower.
The man stood without removing his and hesitantly said "I did not say I will take the mark, I will simply join you."
Shouts broke out. Rabastan Lestrange screamed "It is an honour for you to be in this hall, how dare you defy the dark mark."
Bellatrix was hissing and others were throwing insults.
"Silence!" Voldemort shouted. "You will remove your hood and then we shall judge you."
An eerie quiet was drawn over the room. Slowly the figure pulled up one hand to his hood, the other hung limply at his side. The man revealed his face and all anyone could do was gape.
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