Chapter 6: A Knock on the Door
Voldemort was laughing silently to himself, so pleased with the way things were going. The boy seemed calm enough, but really he ought to take another look inside his mind just in case. Just then, a sharp knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. Voldemort glanced sideways at Harry and silently immobilized him and made him invisible.
"I was told I would not be disturbed in these quarters," Voldemort called out to the knocker. After half a breath's pause, he added, "Enter."
Slowly, the door opened to reveal Narcissa and a couple of house elves hovering timidly behind her. "I'm so sorry my lord," she whispered. "I came as soon as I had the elves, but I should have waited. I did not think."
"No, you did not," Voldemort replied menacingly. "Crucio."
Narcissa fell to the floor screaming. The house elves froze looking terrified, now plainly visible to Lord Voldemort. Voldemort released her and Narcissa lay panting on the ground. He turned his attention to the elves.
"You will be called Slither," he nodded to the one of the left. "And you Hiss," he said to the other. "Regardless of where you were taken from, I am your new master now. I order you to follow no other wizard's command but my own, do you understand?" The elves murmured their affirmations, looking more scared and pitiful than any house elf Harry had every laid eyes on. Even among their kind, Lord Voldemort must be notorious.
"Start by going to the other rooms and making them habitable," Voldemort said in a bored voice, as though his time were being wasted. "Then go down to the kitchens and fix a meal for myself and my dear Nagini. She enjoys large rodents," he indicated to the snake on the rug. The elves nodded fervently, relieved to be leaving Lord Voldemort's presence so quickly and they disappeared with a crack.
"Bring me your husband, Narcissa," Voldemort said angrily as he turned to face the women still cowering on the ground. "You have clearly indicated that you want me to take action immediately…. without thinking things through," he hissed through closed teeth. Narcissa whimpered, but didn't rise.
"Please punish me my lord," she cried out. "Have mercy, my lord. Please do not blame Lucius for my mistake."
Voldemort felt a flicker of annoyance. This arrogant woman did not understand that he blamed Lucius for a lot more than her foolish interruptions.
"Do not make me say it again, Narcissa," Voldemort said quietly. "In fact, why doesn't the whole family join us. Call on the school and get your son back tonight. It's end of term anyway and I'd like to finally meet young Draco. Go now. Before you truly begin to regret questioning Lord Voldemort." Narcissa looked with horror upon the Dark Lord before scurrying from the room in tears.
A/N: I really enjoy following the trials and tribulations of the Malfoy family. Do you guys enjoy these chapters too, or do you feel like they take away from the main story about Harry and Voldemort?