Chapter Seven – A Lustful Strategy

Tom Marvolo Riddle, Lord Voldemort, He Who Must Not Be Named. He went by many names, most of which the wizarding world feared to speak, and those that they did glorified and fed that fear so that the very mention of him was enough to strike terror in the hearts of those who opposed him. stood upon the grounds of his former place of education. Hogwarts castle was still as majestic, as awe inspiring, as grand in this visit as it was when the Dark Lord had first crossed the black lake towards this place of elite magical learning.

Tom could almost feel the air around him shift, felt the hellish trees of the Dark Forest almost uplift their roots from the sickening darkness that corrupted his aura. Even the castle itself seemed to offer its own ambiance of rejection, in response to the evils and atrocities that had been committed by once the schools most promising student.

A rustle of leaves resounded from the woods behind him, felt the power of his enemy, his partner as he strolled forth onto the grounds, robes of magenta sweeping the earth, his wizen face both twisted in corruption and bearing its familiar expression of wisdom and strength. His beard was still braided, still tucked into his belt, his air of power still exceeding that of the Dark Lord. Oh, how Tom Riddle hated this man.

"Is it done?" Voldemort asked, never taking his eyes away from the castle. Albus Dumbledore came to stand next to his partner and stooge, the shade of evening concealing their liaison as the old man smiled and stroked his beard.

"Yes… the Sands of Deceit were powerful enough to plant the falsities you suggested. For once, Tom, one of your plans actually seem to have worked."

Dumbledore words resounded with mockery, a tone the Dark Lord was not accustom to hearing. But he knew better than to speak against his superior, even in matters of personal pride.

"Bellatrix is going to lead a number of my followers to assault Miss Lovegood and her family. What do you want to happen to the girl?"

Dumbledore scoffed.

"Make sure she is harmed enough to draw out the power of Cethlenn, do what you must, we must know if she is the consort. Though after seeing the Demon Kings affections for Miss Granger this evening, I grow all the more troubled. She is quite clearly the most power of the three, while The Demon King remains unleashed. She is the one that took the most convincing from the Sands of Deceit, the most effort. I will personally see to the task of separating her from Harry's right hand."

"How will you do this?" Voldemort asked, he himself informed by his spies at Hogwarts of how deeply Miss Grangers friendship ran for the Demon King. It would take an exceptionally powerful situation to see her removed from Harry's side. However, Dumbledore offered his deformed subordinate a sinister chuckle.

"Though the Demon King is loyal, Harry Potter is still a man. A man with a man's wants, a man's needs. I know Miss Granger well enough to know she will not be so… susceptible to the Demon King's desires. However, I know of a certain woman who we could use to break this bond of loyalty between them."

"But… I thought you said Miss Weasley was-"

"Tom, you are such a fool. Has Miss Black been unable to bestow in you some sense of lust? After all that is all she is to you, is it not?"

"Bellatrix may be my bed mate, but you are not speaking about me. From what Lucius has told me, Harry Potter bears his mother's nobility. Do you really believe this harlot you speak of can break his affection for Miss Granger?"

Dumbledore chuckled darkly at Tom Riddles foolish question.

"Ohh… she won't break his affection for her, more she will break the heart of Miss Granger. As I said before, if you break the consort you break the Demon King. I will make sure Hermione Granger's love for Harry Potter is shattered. Then we will work on controlling The Demon King himself."

"This must be an exceptional woman if you feel she can do that," Tom Riddle said in a sense of intrigue he could not suppress. "Who is she?"

Dumbledore actually smiled in response to his partner's curiosity.

"Ohh… she will make her presence know, very… very soon. I also have a certain Ace up my sleeve. The Demon King could be a valuable assist in our desire for conquest. For now, see to it that Miss Lovegood is tested. I still have my misgivings about Miss Granger, but these are more personal than founded by any true reasoning. Miss Granger is the consort, I just need my qualms to be appeased. Until next time, Tom."

Dumbledore offered Voldemort a mocking smile, before he began to walk towards the castle in a slow, easy step.

Voldemort glowered after his former professor, and turned back towards the forest.