A/N: Ok you guys are just...stupendous seriously! And as a reward I'll tell you all who the other prisoner is...it's Kingsley. Yup! Oh don't worry...he...yeah you guys will love his torture :3
Noooow...I'm so glad you guys love the story! This next chapter is...well...it's introducing characters that will come to mean a lot to Harry...and help him carry out his revenge even as they help him heal and love again :3
No he won't lose his insanity and suddenly become a sane monkey...I'm afraid our dear Harry is quite bonkers xD Anyways, I don't own Of Wolf and Man by Metallica nor do I own Harry Potter. Enjoy!
Chapter 10- Of Wolf and Man-
Bright is the moon high in starlight
Chill is the air as steel tonight
We shift, call of the wild
Fear in your eyes
It's better than you realized
Antonin Dolohov was a practical man. He knew his lord was brilliant and followed his rule without question. He watched and waited, noting the waning and ebbing flow of hierarchy amongst his fellow Death Eaters, knowing that one day he would be able to prove how loyal he really was to the dark.
So it was with little surprise that when his lord stepped into the room, closely followed by a lithe young man and a taller Severus Snape, he grinned with teeth all gleaming as anticipation lit in his veins.
He knew without a shadow of a doubt that things were about to change. His dark brown eyes took in everything around him, all of the other Death Eaters who had attended, and to the new generation who had been inducted two months prior. He smirked at his friend Augustus Rookwood, whose pale blue eyes peered at him with some amusement. Augustus always knew to watch Antonin during a meeting. If the older male began smiling then that meant change was about to happen.
Turning his attention back to the scene unfolding before him like some great tapestry, Antonin regarded the teen standing at his lord's side with narrowed eyes. Lithe but short muscular body. All wiry muscle with no hulking mass to make his frame seem fake. Bright green emeralds stared down at the crowd of followers with the same cool disenchantment that the Dark Lord spared them and Dolohov felt his chest clench. This child would become their new lord, he was sure of it. There! A flash of possessive red as the Dark Lord focused on the teen who turned his head to look at Tom with a single finely sculpted raven brow raised. A chair was conjured and the youngest on the dais was made to sit by the lord's throne, while Severus returned to his ranks among the Inner Circle, an impassive mask on his face.
Antonin nearly chuckled at the wide eyed look on Lucius' and Draco's faces, signifying they knew the teen with long braided black hair, who was currently picking absently at his dark green turtle neck and crossing his leather clad legs as he sat. It was a delectable sight and one that had many Death Eaters, including Antonin, shifting slightly in their seats. However his attention was snared by the Dark Lord, who stalked towards his prey with agile steps and buried his hand into raven locks. A brief look of shock passed through those emerald pools but it quickly dissipated into one of bliss when the Dark Lord began to move his fingers. Something was whispered between them before the teen nodded curtly and a malicious smirk lit his lord's face.
Antonin and Augustus shared twin smirks of anticipation, while Barty Jr, who was fidgeting in excitement beside him, leaned closer and giggled slightly.
"We're all about to have so much fun!" He whispered heatedly and winked his light brown eyes at a flustered Rookwood, who shyly looked back to the dais to avoid the stare of the resident childish pervert.
Dolohov rolled his eyes, amused at Barty's antics and nodded in agreement. Even Bellatrix was nearly bouncing in her place among the Inner Circle (which is where they all were currently in attendance) cackling every now and then in excitement. It was palpable, but every sensitive Death Eater worth their salt saw the changing tides and knew that the knew arrival would be a good thing to their cause. As one they held their breath when Lord Voldemort stood and turned his attention to his followers with a deadly focus that immediately left most shivering in fear. When their leader got that look about him, whoever was the cause of such an intense scrutiny, the subject wouldn't be alive long. Anxious to hear what Antonin had no doubt would be glorious news of some death about to commence, the Inner Circle in its entirety bounced on their feet gleefully like sugar high children. Crimson eyes swept over them all before the Dark Lord smirked while absently fingering the wand he held loosely in his hands.
"My followers. It's so delightful to see you again. I have a few matters to discuss with you all." He said it all in such a deceptively kind voice that some of the newer recruits relaxed while many of the older flinched and tried their best not to garner the attention of their lord.
Antonin snorted, gaining a flat look of intrigue from the teen seated beside their lord's throne. The former Slytherin merely grinned unrepentantly as Rookwood groaned exasperatedly and Barty Jr snickered. If this teen couldn't accept that the Inner Circle had some leniencies that others in the ranks didn't, then they were likely to butt heads. He was interested when the boy with cold emerald eyes simply huffed before crossing his arms over his chest. More than one Inner Circle member was floored when their Dark Master relaxed at the teen's reaction to the more emotionally outspoken amongst his followers. Said man cleared his throat before continueing with a rather manic grin on his countenance.
"As many of you are aware, the Light have lost their revered weapon. What you do not know is that both he and I have come to a truce of sorts and therefore the child is off limits to you all. He is to be protected and his father, Severus Snape," said man scowled as everyone stared at him," is not to be harmed."
There were slow nods, many showing their astonishment and wishing for once that they'd been forced to wear their masks and so many had to quickly flounder for their vaunted self control. Antonin, similarly, was having difficulty matching up this gorgeous teen with the scrawny lad he'd seen in the papers several years ago. Noting the remarkably strong dark aura radiating off of the young Snape, Antonin 's shock dropped and instead he shot the teen a feral smirk. With that much Dark Affinity, the boy had to have been touched by Magic herself. Like the Dark Lord had been. Like he wished he was. Sadly, he had only been gifted with Aura Sight, and while useful in helping his lord see who was truly faithful to their cause and who wasn't, it was still nothing compared to the strength these two extraordinary wizards possessed.
Eventually, everyone settled down, eyes focused on the teen that once was the boy-who-lived. Some had predatory glints in their eyes, admiring the delectable flesh that lay beneath those form fitting clothes and odd little black leather gloves. Others gazed at the child in hope, knowing faithfully that their lord would triumph easier with the powerful ex-light wizard at the inside.
Antonin and his fellow Inner Circle members were amongst the latter (though he could swear that Barty was dashing a bit of the former in with the way his tongue darted out to the corner of his mouth more than usual) and their lord peered at them through crimson slits.
"Now I have a special treat for some of you. You are going to be directly responsible for the downfall of the Order. I have tasks for each of you as I spilt you off into more efficient groups." Lord Voldemort paused before turning once more to the younger Snape,"I have a lot of people you are to either kill or bring back here for torture. Fenrir. You and your kin get Remus Lupin. He is your sole target seeing as he is the pup who disgraced you by leaving the pack." At Fenrir's howl of excitement, Tom continued, " As for Nymphadora Tonks, Bella dear, I figured you, your sister and Lucius would enjoy that bit of torture."Bellatrix clapped her hands enthusiastically and linked arms with her brother-in-law, who scowled at her,"And once you are done with her I want you to capture Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and the others of their spawn and bring them to the dungeons."
Antonin snorted, happy to be rid of those insufferable blood traitors. Really they were such a stain on the good name of Pureblood. He focused his eyes on Harry when the child hissed something at the Dark Lord causing said older wizard to shiver but pause. They had a brief conversation; the teen finally rolling his eyes heavenward and standing. He strode forward, pointed to Antonin, Barty, and Augustus in tandem, and then he crooked his finger. Only when they all stepped forward did he turn back to the taller wizard beside him.
"These three?"
The dry look never left the shorter male's face as he raised a sardonic brow towards the Darkest wizard of their generation. Said man grinned wickedly and leaned closer to the boy, hissing to him as he pressed his yew wand against Harry's throat. Harry's answering smirk caused many to shiver in fear. This child was insane to not fear the Dark Lord. There was a gleam in the teen's eyes that closely matched Voldemort's and Antonin grinned. Oh this was rich. Were they really flirting? It was so amazing to see his lord so at ease with someone. An equal no less. The Slytherin Heir hissed something to Harry that had the younger male barking out a surprised laugh before his wand was out and being pressed into the Dark Lord's side.
"Please try, Tom." Was said in English and the whole room held their breath.
No one used the Dark Lord's name so cavalierly. All that happened, however, and to the further shock of many, was a maniacal bout of laughter bubbling up from the Dark Master's throat and spilling into the entirety of the room.
"Very well," began The Lord of Dark Magic as he finally controlled his hilarity and turned to Antonin, Barty, and Augustus."My little snake had suggested a special task for you three. You will be privy to killing four people. The muggles that Harry was forced to live with for years and Alastor Moody." Anticipatory leers passed over each chosen Death Eater's face. However, Voldemort wasn't finished it seemed as he pinned them with an enigmatic dark look before continuing," Make them suffer and you will be rewarded by both Harry and myself."
Sensing the seriousness of the command, the three friends nodded and shared looks with each other before they were dismissed back to their ranks among the Inner Circle. When they were settled the lesser Death Eaters shifted, waiting for their instructions. Blood thirsty crimson eyes pressed them all with a maliciousness that only Voldemort had ever obtained.
"The rest of you will hunt and destroy the remaining Order Members and any Light wizard or witch that steps into your path. The ones I have listed off are for those people selected only. You are dismissed. Inner Circle, my faithful, please remain."
Hushed whispers echoed through the room in the following moments as the minions gathered, slowly made their exit. Most were ecstatic that their lord had given them much to do while others were intensely curious about this new alliance with the former Harry Potter. When the last the followers, save the Inner Circle, had trickled out of the meeting, Voldemort's eyes blazed with power and his most cherished followers waited patiently for further instruction.
"Antonin. You have a cousin in Russia," at Dolohov's nod the dark wizard continued,"I have need of their Ministry. You see, I intend to destroy the British Light wizards little by little until everyone is scrabbling to pledge their loyalty to our cause."
Antonin felt a brief flutter of honor in his chest at the thought of his Lord calling on his family for such a profound task. Especially after being given one of such importance already. He subsequently knelt at the man's feet to show his gratitude.
Harry scoffed at the subservience but unlike the others, who gasped as if the action had some how slighted them, Antonin just let it roll off of his shoulders. He knew the child meant no disrespect. Harry Snape seemed like the kind of person who had had enough of bowing down, so took no offense. Voldemort, for his part, watched the proceeding interactions with a bored air of indifference
"What would you have me tell my cousin, my lord?" Antonin continued, his eyes trained back on his Master's shoeless feet.
It always intrigued him how the most feared man in all of Britain preferred to go shoeless. He was brought out of his thoughts when a green envelope, thick with paper, was pushed under his nose.
"If you decide to read these contents you are to tell no one else of what you find. Only your cousin may disclose anything within the envelope, am I understood?"
Antonin gathered the package to him with a curt nod. He was glad that his lord had remembered his unquenchable thirst for knowledge and had acted accordingly.
"You will give these to your cousin as soon as this meeting has finished. He can begin to leak out the information whenever possible. I'm sure your cousin can direct his media even better than our Minister, " the term was used snidely," ever could with our own."
Understanding dawned in everyone's eyes and a few shared sly grins. Lucius, however, frowned in thought.
"My lord? Why not use our own media and Ministry to share this information?" He inquired politely, disgruntled when Harry sneered disdainfully.
"Because they would never allow the knowledge to be leaked." Was the teen's bluntly snapped reply, his composure slipping in the face of his perturbed demeanor.
Voldemort lay a subtle hand on the younger wizard's shoulder before casting cold eyes to the blond; Draco, who had stayed behind with his father, flinched at the sudden attention granted them.
"Which brings me to your second task, Lucius." The man twitched but was otherwise listening," I want you to work your Malfoy charm to dismantle and discredit the Light oriented Ministry from the inside."
The Inner Circle gasped, save Severus who remained an emotionless husk, and smiled with vicious intent. Their lord was so brilliant! Lucius mimicked Antonin's posture in his reverence to their master, oblivious to his son's uncomfortable shuffling. The boy had been inducted a few weeks prior, one of the first of the current Hogwarts children in fact, and yet had, until now, never seen his father bowing to another. He would need to talk to his boy at a later date. It wouldn't do to have the Malfoy Heir and first of his year as a Death Eater, to be seen as a guppy.
"It's an honor, my lord. What you ask will be done."
Voldemort gave Lucius a pat on the head, like he was rewarding his pet dog, causing Harry to snigger in surprised amusement.
"I know, Lucius, I know." He turned his attention to his other followers who were trying vainly to contain their own bouts of humor," I want the rest of you to take care that your tasks are done properly. If you fail, I'll make good use of your body as fodder for Nagini."
As one they shuddered, each fearing the great snake for different reasons. Still all of them nodded and they were dismissed. Barty and Augustus sidled up next to him as they exited the room and headed towards the floo. Barty's grin split his face into distorted manic features while Augustus appeared thoughtful about everything that took place.
"That was an enlightening conversation." The Unspeakable finally commented.
Barty cackled in response whilst Antonin gave his own thoughtful hum. He was inordinately pleased with the whole affair really. But he was unsure if his fellow Death Eaters had seen what he had.
"Indeed."