Chapter Eight – Building Bridges

The next Monday came quickly for Matthew. He had sent a letter to his father, detailing his plan for the "study sessions", using them as an opportunity to scout out potential people to turn to his father's cause, while at the same time ingratiating himself not only amongst the students, but among the staff as well.

After dinner, Matthew exited the Great Hall, to be met by a plethora of students from their year. He schooled his face into one of almost indifference, though he was thrilled with the amount of students Susan had found. There had to be at least a few wit the potential to join his father.

"All these people wanted to come?" Matthew asked Susan, who was standing slightly ahead of the group. She nodded.

"Pretty much."

Matthew scanned the faces before him. The majority were from Hufflepuff, though there were a few Ravenclaws present, including Hermione, and one lone Gryffindor. Neville Longbottom was stood near the back of the group, looking slightly apprehensive about being there.

"Are you all here for the study group?" Matthew asked. There were various murmurs of assent. "Great. Let's go." As he turned, he saw Draco coming out of the Great Hall. "Draco! Are you coming?"

Draco cast a long look over the assorted students, the beginnings of a sneer on his face. A look from Matthew, however, soon removed it.

"Sure. Why not?"

He fell into step next to Matthew as the group ascended the marble staircase.

"So, where are we going?"

"My father told me about an enchanted room that turns into whatever you need it to be. We're going there."

Draco nodded, but didn't pass comment.

"I need you to play nice, Draco. I don't like many of these people any more than you do, but it's a necessary evil. It'll all be worth it in the end."

"Yeah, I know the drill."

The rest of the trip passed in silence, save for the various muttered conversations behind them. Finally, Matthew drew to a halt in front of a stretch of wall.

"Give me a moment."

Remembering his father's instructions, he began to pace back and forth, eyes closed, concentrating on what he needed.

Several rather audible gasps from behind him told him the door had materialised. Opening his eyes, he turned to the wall. Sure enough, a small wooden door had appeared. Reaching out, he grasped the handle, twisting it and pushing the door open.

The room lit itself as they filed in, forming a crowd in the centre of the room. Closing the door, Matthew made his way round to the front of the group, looking around.

The room was exactly as he had hoped. Bookshelves lined the far wall, filled to the brim with books on every subject imaginable. In front of them was a large, clear space, easily large enough to duel in. Several comfy-looking chairs were scattered around the room, and various sized tables and desks were over by the shelves.

Turning back round to face the group, he stifled a laugh at the looks of wonder on their faces.

"Well, welcome. You are all here because you want help with your work, or just want somewhere to knuckle down and get some work done away from your common room or the library."

"And what makes you qualified to help us?" came a voice. Matthew looked over at the source. The person who had spoken seemed to be a Hufflepuff, judging by the reactions of the people around him.

"You're Zacharias Smith, right?" The boy nodded. "Well, Smith, I was given a great deal of magical education before coming to Hogwarts. Rather than letting you struggle, I have instead decided to give up my own time to help others who didn't have the luxury of such education before coming here."

Zacharias didn't respond. Matthew's eyes bored into him for a moment before speaking to the group at large again.

"Anyway, as you can see, there is quite a selection of books available. Feel free to browse through them. Due to the magic of the room, however, you won't be able to take them out of this room. If you want to get on with homework, use the tables. If you want help with or want to practise your wandwork, this space here should suffice. I'll wander around, if you want my help, just give me a shout.

"Any questions?" Silence. "Excellent! Off you go, then."

He waited for the group to disperse slightly before making his way over to Hermione.

"I must admit, I wasn't expecting to see you here."

Hermione shrugged.

"It's more so I can get my homework done in relative privacy."

Matthew nodded in understanding.

"How are people treating you? Any change?"

"Not really."

"Do you want me to have words with some people?"

"What makes you think they'll listen to you?"

Matthew allowed a small smile to grace his features.

"I have a way with words."

Hermione frowned slightly.

"No, it's okay. It's not malicious, so it doesn't bother me too much."

"Well, if you're sure. Do you need help with anything?"

"No, thank you. I'll just get on with my Charms work."

Matthew nodded, watching her retreating back. Draco sidled up to him.

"You got a fair few people here."

Matthew nodded in agreement.

"Suits me. The more, the merrier."

His gaze fell on Neville, who was looking around, seemingly lost.

"Excuse me."

Draco nodded and moved away to a table, dropping his bag and pulling out parchment. Matthew made his way over to Neville, tapping him lightly on the shoulder.

"You look lost."

Neville's eyes widened in fear as his eyes landed on Matthew.

"Oh, no, I - "

"Relax, Neville." Matthew said, gripping his shoulder gently. "I'm not going to hex you or anything like that." Neville didn't look convinced. "Anything you need help with?"

"Well," Neville said slowly, trying desperately not to meet Matthew's eyes. "could you help me with Professor Snape's essay?"

"Absolutely." Matthew said, guiding Neville over to an empty seat, pulling another toward the table and settling himself into it. He waited patiently as Neville pulled his parchment and quill out of his bag, laying them on the table in front of him.

"Just out of curiosity, Neville, how did you hear about this little group?"

"I heard about it from Susan and Hannah." Neville replied, his eyes going slightly pink. Matthew nodded.

"I must say, I'm impressed you decided to come, Neville. Most people in Gryffindor hate all Slytherins on principle."

"I was a little nervous about coming," Neville admitted, now pulling a book out of his bag. "but Susan said you were nice, not like other Slytherins." His gaze flicked over to Draco at these words. Matthew smiled slightly.

"I don't see the world as most Slytherins do. It's who you are, not what House you're in, that I'm interested in."

Neville nodded in understanding.

"So," Matthew said, shifting in his seat and pulling Neville's book toward him. "what are you stuck on?"

oOoOo

Dumbledore closed the door to the staff room behind him with a soft click, looking around at the assembled teachers as he did so. A cursory glance told him that all the teachers were already there. Quickly, he crossed the room and settled himself into his seat. The various conversations taking place petered out almost immediately.

"Well, thank you all for coming." Dumbledore started, looking around at the various members of staff. "I'd like to start tonight's meeting, if there are no objections, with the subject of the first years. Coming to Hogwarts is a very different experience to anything they are likely to have done before, so I ask the Heads of Houses, how are your first years settling in?"

"My Gryffindors seem to be settling in very well." Professor McGonagall said. "So far, I haven't had any come to me with any problems."

"The same is true of my students." Professor Sprout agreed, nodding to McGonagall.

"As it is of the Ravenclaw first years." said Flitwick, his head bobbing up and down. "I have noticed that the Muggle-born students seem to have a harder job adapting to life at Hogwarts, as they do every year, but this year they seem to be settling in much better than in past years. I noticed that Miss Granger has been spending time with Mr Riddle in Slytherin, and she seems a lot more assured of herself." At this, he nodded to Severus, whose face remained impassive.

"I noticed that with some of my Hufflepuff students as well." Sprout chimed in. "When I asked about it, I was told that Mr Riddle has been helping other students, both with adapting to the magical world as well as with their school work. You should be proud to have him in your House, Severus."

Dumbledore scratched at his chin. He had assumed that the son of Lord Voldemort would not associate himself with the students of other Houses, let alone willingly offer his help to them. He had spent the last three days debating with himself as to whether he should reveal Matthew's parentage to the rest of the staff. In the end, though, he had decided against it. Lord Voldemort was cunning and clever, and Dumbledore was sure that he had placed some kind of safeguard in place to prevent anyone from revealing that fact. But from what he had heard about the young boy so far, it seemed that those fears were unfounded.

"What of your first years, Severus?"

Snape was silent for a moment.

"The vast majority of them are from pure-blood or half-blood families. They have been aware of the magical world for a long time, so they don't seem to have had any problems getting used to life here at Hogwarts."

Dumbledore sighed lightly.

"Unless anyone else has anything to add about the first years, should we discuss the OWL and NEWT students?"

oOoOo

Bellatrix moved swiftly across the atrium of the Ministry of Magic, Glamour Charms in place, moving toward the lifts on the far side. Despite the fact that there were relatively few people still at the Ministry this late at night, she had opted for Glamour Charms just in case she was found. It wouldn't do for her to be arrested, not now.

Stepping into a lift, the golden grate slid shut and the lift began it's ascent through the Ministry, finally stopping at the topmost level.

Quietly, she slipped out of the lift, drawing her wand. Being careful not to make any noise, she crept silently along the corridor, glancing at the names on the doors, finally stopping outside one near the end of the corridor.

ANDREW PRIESTLEY

SENIOR UNDERSECRETARY TO THE MINISTER

Smiling slightly, Bellatrix glanced at the floor by the door. A thin shaft of light was coming under the door from the office.

He's still here, excellent.

Reaching out, she gripped the door handle and pushed the door open.

Andrew Priestley was sitting behind his desk, hunched over a large stack of parchment. He was a middle-aged man, his dark hair flecked with streaks of grey, his eyes tired and dark. At the sound of the door opening, he looked up.

"Yes? May I help you?"

Bellatrix smiled.

"Certainly." She raised her wand, pointing it at Priestley. "Avada Kedavra!"

Priestley was knocked backwards off his chair, his head slamming against the wall as he fell. Waving her wand, Bellatrix restored the parchment to it's original place on the desk before rounding it and directing it at Priestley. Another muttered spell, and the man was floating limply in font of her. Backing out of the office, with the body of the Senior Undersecretary floating behind her, Bellatrix returned to the lift, taking it down to the atrium.

Once back in the atrium, Bellatrix directed the body toward the fountain. Releasing the spell, she allowed the body to fall into a heap on the cold marble as she conjured a long knife. Bending down, she began cutting the clothing off the man.

When the last piece of clothing was removed, Bellatrix brought the point to the man's chest, and began to carve words into his flesh.

oOoOo

The next morning, the buzz of sound in the atrium was pierced by a shrill scream. Kingsley Shacklebolt whipped his head round to the source of the noise, and saw a woman, one hand covering her mouth, the other pointing at the fountain. He could make out something on the back of the centaur. Something that looked suspiciously like...

He began pushing roughly through the crowd, trying to get closer to the fountain. Over the crowd, he could see Alastor Moody stumping closer to the fountain, evidently thinking the same thing as Kingsley.

As he reached the fountain, he could see clearly what was on the centaur's back. As an Auror, he had seen many terrible sights during his career. But this...

It was Andrew Priestley, the Senior Undersecretary to Cornelius Fudge, completely naked, slumped against the upper back of the centaur. Blood was dripping down his front from several cuts on his chest.

"All right, everyone get back!" Moody barked at the rapidly increasing crowd. "Auror business, off you go!"

Slowly, the crowd began to disperse. Drawing his wand, Kingsley levitated the body off the fountain, settling it on the ground. He could hear Moody stumping over to him as he knelt down to examine the cuts.

"How did this happen?" Moody growled, his magical eye roving over the body.

I don't know." Kingsley said, as he began siphoning off the dried blood from Priestley's chest. He gasped as what he had originally thought were cuts were revealed to be words.

no one is safe

we are everywhere

"Cause of death?" Moody asked, grunting slightly as he knelt down to get a closer look.

"At a guess, I'd say Killing Curse." Kingsley responded, stowing his wand away. "The lettering is too neat. Whoever did this took their time about it, and they wouldn't have been able to do that if he was still alive when they wrote this."

"No one is safe. We are everywhere." Moody muttered.

"I would suggest a full investigation of every department." Kingsley said. "The message suggests this was an inside job."

"I agree, though I don't think we should rule out the possibility of this being the work of an intruder."

"What are you thinking?"

"Death Eaters."

"Are you sure? Death Eater attacks have subsided over the past ten years, why would they suddenly come out of the woodwork now?"

"Just because the attacks have stopped doesn't mean the war is over." Moody replied. "Voldemort is still out there somewhere, and it's our job to ensure that this kind of thing doesn't happen."

"All right. So, what do you suggest?"

"Get the body to the Auror Office and run the usual tests. We need a small team, the fewer people involved in this, the better. Get them to follow up every lead. We need to nip this in the bud before it gets out of control."