Chapter 6: The Boy Who Lived

3 Years To Go

"I have a problem, Tiberius." said Voldemort, his large snake wrapping itself round him. He stroked it fondly as I looked up at him, Firewhiskey glass held loosely in my hand. We sat in the drawing room of the Riddle House, red flames dancing in the fireplace. Voldemort had summoned me for a private audience, much to the disgust of the other Death Eaters. Especially Bellatrix Lestrange.

"And what problem would that be?" I asked, with the slightest note of contempt in my voice.

Voldemort paused for a moment, his snake's quiet hiss being the only sound punctuating the silence.

"Harry James Potter. Lilly and James's daughter. You knew the Potters?"

"Barely." I replied, taking a sip of Firewhiskey. Lilly and James Potter had been two years below me when I had been forced to leave in fifth year due to...complications. "I hear you had trouble killing him a few years ago."

"Yes..." Voldemort muttered bitterly, probably catching on to the slight smirk on my face. "I learned of a prophecy that a child born in July would...be able to finish me off, so to speak."

"Well, we can't have that." I interrupted with blatant sarcasm, as I engaged in a staring contest with his snake. It seemed to fix me with an almost furious gaze as I insulted its master. Its eyes were almost exactly like Voldemort's. My eyes flickered back to Voldemort as he spoke again.

"Indeed, Tiberius." Voldemort's tone seemed far harsher this time. "I persuaded one Peter Pettigrew to tell me where the Potter's were. Needless to say, it wasn't hard."

"I thought Sirius Black was the Potter's secret keeper. Pettigrew confronted him and Black killed him."

Voldemort gave a small laugh and waved one hand dismissively.

"Propaganda, my dear Tiberius. Quite the opposite, in fact. Anyway, I killed James Potter and moved to Lilly. Had she moved, I would have spared her. But the foolish girl decided to effectively kill herself. I performed the killing curse on the child and was suddenly no more. It was an odd feeling, being neither here nor there. I returned, of course, but Harry Potter still remains."

"Where are you going with this, Voldemort?" I spat at him, leaning forward in my chair and taking another gulp of Firewhiskey.

Voldemort leaned forward as well, his snake turning its head to look at me.

"If you were anyone else, Tiberius, I would kill you for addressing me as anything other than, 'My Lord'." Voldemort fixed me with a glare resembling his snakes.

I leant closer and whispered to him, "Then it's a good thing I'm not anyone else, isn't it?"

For a split second, I thought Voldemort was going to snap and kill me there and then. But he just leaned back in his chair and smiled. I copied his stance but not the smile. I had never smiled properly at Voldemort and I never intended to.

"I have recently located the full prophecy. It is at the Ministry and I intend to retrieve it. Obviously if I just barged in, everybody would know I had returned and I prefer to keep a...veil over my existence, if you will. I would like you to join the Death Eaters that are to be arriving there."

I drained the last of my Firewhiskey and my brow furrowed in confusion at Voldemort.

"As I recall, you don't usually ask anyone to do anything for you. You just order them instead. Especially with our...agreement."

Voldemort leaned forward slightly again. His snake slithered off of him and across the room, curling up in a corner.

"I have a certain amount of respect for you, Tiberius. You show spirit, even after you are binded to my will. I give you my word I will not force you unless you wish to go."

Voldemort stared deep into my eyes as I considered my answer. Was this man in front of me capable of any sort of kindness?

I stood up and walked to the door. Just before opening it, I turned to Voldemort and replied, "Go on, then. Give me something to do. Mulciber! Move from the door before I open it into your face!"

Mulciber jumped to one side as I opened the door and strode down the corridor.

"I-I wasn't listening, by the way." he muttered as I walked off.

"Of course not!"