Chapter 6- A Suitable Name
Hey! It has been ages…..literally. But exams, lack of holidays and a bad case of writer's block are a deadly combination. So here's a brand new chapter for you! Read and REVIEW!
The Knights of Walpurgis was a common household name amongst most pureblood families residing in London and France, most of which were purely Slytherin. Many of these families had provided generous financial aid to the organization, as a result of which it was now flourishing in the backdrop of the wizarding world. Its leader was none other than the esteemed Tom Riddle Jr, a handsome, middle aged man who exuded power and authority. He had a reputation for ruthlessly pursuing what he desired-much like his devoted followers- and was known to be an entrancing orator. He did not command just respect but thrived on seeing fear sparkle in the eyes of his followers and enemies alike. The knights worked with the agenda of purifying the wizarding world of all the dirty blooded muggleborns, who they believed weren't fit to wipe the slime of the pureblood's boots. In their books blood traitors- the pureblood wizards who sympathized with the mudbloods- were no better than the muggleborns themselves. The Knights were purists who boasted of a fine pureblood lineage and exceptional magical capabilities. They sought to eradicate every single person who threatened to destroy the sanctity of the ewizarding world.
It was amusing to know that none of the Knights knew about their master's halfblood lineage. They were blissfully unaware of Riddle's muggle father and of the childhood he spent in a muggle orphanage. What they did know was that he was the last surviving descendant of the Great Salazar Slytherin, founder of the noble house of Slytherins at Hogwarts; a fact which was highlighted by the snake Nagini that accompanied him everywhere he went like a dark shadow. Riddle spent a better part of the Knight's meeting conversing with Nagini in parseltongue. This was both unnerving and enthralling for the Knights.
On that particular Tuesday morning, the knight's had gathered in the enormous ballroom of the Lestrange Manor. Riddle and their host Rabastan Lestrange were yet to arrive. Rodolphus stood with Samuel Borgin, the owner of the shop of dark artifacts Borgin and Burke in Knockturn Alley, and Bellatrix stood conversing with her cousin Evan Rosier. The newly recruited members huddled in corner unsure of what they had to do.
A blast of icy air and strangled hissing announced the arrival of Riddle and Nagini, Rabastan at their heels. At once, the entire audience sank to their knees as Riddle swept past them into the room. They sat around a large table, Riddle at its head and Rabastan occupying the much coveted right seat. Nobody was surprised when Bellatrix sat on his left, Rodolphus beside her.
Riddle look expectantly at Rabastan who cleared his throat and began to speak.
"Evan and I talked in length to Derby Higgins about the Dark Lord's proposal while we were in France. Unfortunately for Higgins he made it painfully clear that his allegiance lied with the blood traitors."
He paused and looked at Rosier who smirked.
"His body was found by his wife in his Manor's basement. No one knew about our meeting."
The Knights smiled appreciatively while Riddle's face remained blank. He inclined his head urging Rabastan to continue
"We met Higgins' wife at his funeral and convinced her to let us take a look at Derby's collection. We found…..this."
Rabastan pulled out a case from underneath the table. He opened it to reveal a shriveled hand clenching and unclenching slowly. The Dark Lord touched the hand lightly.
"The Hand of Glory", he said. "It gives light only to the bearer. Very useful for petty thieves and criminals. It's of no use to me though."
The Knights shifted uncomfortably. Borgin however, leaned forward excitedly. "My Lord, Allow me to have a look at the hand. It could be a priceless treasure."
Riddle turned to Borgin who squirmed under his gaze. He sighed in relief when Riddle nodded his assent.
"Higgins' death was quite unfortunate", he said. "However, what displeases me most if the fact that he is not the only one who continues to oppose me. Several pureblood families like the Potters, the McKinnons, the Longbottoms and the Prewetts have been vehemently and very foolishly against me. I think it's time to make them realize that I do not like disobedience." His thin lips curled into an unpleasant smile.
"I believe it's time for the wizarding world to undergo a change for the greater good." Nagini hissed in response to his words and several people shuddered at the malice in his voice.
"Crabbe!" he barked suddenly. Devin Crabbe jumped in fright, his fat face contorting with fear.
"We have a guest with us today. She is waiting in the basement. I would like you to escort her here."
Crabbe jumped up hastily and headed towards the basement. A chilly silence presided over the table. Riddle surveyed the Knights as he stroked Nagini's head and whispered to her in Parseltongue. A piercing scream shattered the silence and several people jumped. Bellatrix stiffened like a predator did on smelling his prey. Crabbe's heavy footfalls echoed in the empty corridor and he entered the room with the supposed guest in tow.
It was a woman- no older than forty-being levitated across the room by a sweaty faced Crabbe. Bella grinned. Meetings were always more fun when there was an interrogation.
Riddle stood up and looked up at the revolving body of the woman.
"Let me introduce you to Melanie Hopkirk, sister and colleague to Mafalda Hopkirk of the Improper Use of Magic Office at the Ministry. She has quite rightfully earned an invitation to the Manor today. Ms. Hopkirk was the one who had given several valuable inputs to the article about the Knights in the Prophet. She was quite vocal about her belief in how we are the magical counterparts of organized Muggle crime."
There were several hisses of outrage. Riddle sneered and continued.
"Ms. Hopkirk is of the opinion that I am a cowardly, power hungry wizard who has decided to destroy worldly peace." He shook his head in anger. "It is one thing to disapprove of something and quite another to defame it so with misplaced accusations. Ms. Hopkirk had been forming a committee to pass a bill to disband the Knights and she has quite vehemently refused to name the people who are siding with her. I think some persuasion is in order."
He paused and looked at the Knights, cocking an eyebrow. "Bellatrix, perhaps?" he looked at her questioningly and his lips curled in approval as she nodded.
The others backed off several paces. They knew that their Lord was angry when he chose Bella for an interrogation. She was downright brutal in her persuasion techniques. She held none of the apprehension the others held when they tortured another human being. To her it was a sport.
Bellatrix advanced on the woman, her wand held aloft. Melanie Hopkirk had regained some of the consciousness and she took in her surroundings with bewildered eyes that widened in fear when she spotted Bella.
"The names?" asked Bellatrix.
"I don't know", the woman sobbed. "I swear I don't know. The members were made to forget after the meeting. Please let me go." She dissolved in tears again.
Bella's eyes narrowed in irritation. I there was one thing she couldn't stand, it was somebody crying.
"In that case" she said and pointed her wand straight at Melanie's face. "Legilimens."
Melanie screamed in pain as Bella invaded her mind, surfing though memories to find the guarded memory. She encountered the wall and doubled the force of the spell, knocking against the enchantment, trying to find a weak kink.
Melanie thrashed in pain, eyes rolling and froth forming at her lips. After a few minutes of failed attempts to break through the barrier, Bella released the spell and yelled, "Crucio!"
The Cruciactus Curse was known to weaken the mental barriers. The other Knights watched enthralled as Bellatrix tortured the woman, face contorted with fury. Melanie Hopkirk had never known such agony. The pain overpowered her senses and paralyzed her body. The next time Bellatrix sifted through her memories there was no barrier to be broken.
She flashed a victorious smile at Riddle who nodded.
"Finish it", he commanded.
She raised her wand again, pointing it at Melanie's chest, enjoying the feeling of power and reckless abandon.
"Avada Kedavra", she whispered and in a brilliant flash of green light Melanie Hopkirk passed from woman, to silhouette to legend.
"Pity", Riddle announced to his stunned followers. "Every drop of magical blood spilled is a waste. Perhaps it's time to cleanse it of filth once and for all. It's time for the Knights to truly become the death eaters and for me abandon this muggle alias and become Lord Voldemort."
"Morsemodre", he shouted and the Knights watched with wide eyes as a greenish skull shot up from his wand and hovered above the corpse of Melanie Hopkirk, which became the first of many cadavers to be illuminated in its glow.
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