The Malfoy Mansion was filled with various rooms, just for social occasions. The drawing and dining rooms ranged in size from personal, family to ministry sized events. The ballroom was currently undecorated with only one chair on a dais. The raised space was big enough for the chosen inner circle, which now comprised those that had suffered in Azkaban. Harry had recommended that each seek a mind healer. Even if they had been cured of the physical and psychological affects, the dementor exposure would still leave scars that needed to be dealt with. With everyone busy with preparations and discussions, there were three figures in the family library on the second floor in the East Wing.
Bellatrix knew she had changed, she used to hate waiting for anything. Now she sat and watched the Dark Lord's young charge as he read and stroked the large snake curled up with him on the small recliner. She had taken a liking to the boy, her cousin's godson and her first cousin. Harry in turn trusted her with his private papers and had shown her his mother's journals. The Evan's girl had been a genius it seemed. Her ideas were like breaths of fresh air. Work on charms and spell craftimg, experiments with potions, essays on politics and the divisions between the magical and non-magical worlds. Lily Evans had even stated in her diary in some ways being obliviated would have been kinder than having to suffer the years of torment and bullying from her sister and her boyfriend and future husband. Harry had then stated in a small voice "She would never have sent me to live with them. Dumbledore betrayed my mother. I cannot forgive him for my suffering." Bella decided if she had met Lily Evans today, she would have persuaded her to join the cause, not just cursed her for the accident of her birth. The fool Potter had married a girl to made up for all his inadequacies, a perfect match. A fool with a strong future matriarch and grandame Bella was of a mind to take up matchmaking. She would leave politics to her husband. She had already decided to retire to produce an heir or maybe even two for the Lestrange family. First Sirius and Rastaban needed wives and she would cast a wide net for magically compatible girls, not just those with the right politics or blood lines.
...
Lucius knelt and offered the Dark Lord his left forearm. The man pressed a long thin finger against the skull and snake emblem and magic coursed through Lucius' body. It had been many years but the strength, power and sheer force of this wandless magic made him light headed. He gasped as the signal was sent through him and then he felt the returning call from each of the chosen. It was a rush of belonging, a brief touch of a former army. How many would come?
Tom watched the hall fill. Of the seven hundred marked in 1981, a tenth of that number showed themselves. He was about to speak when he saw an impossibility enter the hall.
All eyes were fixed on the thin, ravaged face of Barty Crouch Junior, who collapsed at the sight of his beloved master.
The Dark Lord barked, "Bella! Rastaban! Take Barty to our resident Master Healer."
The meeting started and most were shocked at the appearance of the Dark Lord. Gone was the snake like visage, now stood a tall, dark haired and handsome young man. The only familiar point was the gleeming red eyes. After Barty Crouch had been stretched out,Walden McNair threw himself at the floor, he wept and wailed for believing the lies that had convinced the wizarding world of the Dark Lord's death. The Dark Lord had thrown his head back and laughed at this statement. "My loyal and not so loyal follower's, how many of you toasted the demise of the Boy who lived. My nemesis is no more, for Harry Potter is a loyal wizard, he has not left my side since his magic gave me life once more. He is mine and mine alone. He has proved his worth. It was he who healed my inner circle, those who have suffered twelve years in Azkaban. Now I charge each of you to bring those who have nor come here tonight to account. I will move against the Ministry and a new Golden Age of Strength and Prosperity will begin. No longer shall any wizard live in fear or be abused or neglected. Magic must be protected and nurtured. Our history and traditions must be kept and understood. Our magical allies must be protected and strengthened. We can stand alone and profit rather than integrate with muggles and stagnate."
The chosen spread amongst the throng and evaluating all. Punishments were left to the Dark Lord's lieutenants. Those with families were given a dressing down. The young and single in 1981 were punished with a vide variety of curses. Tom watched from the dias, Severus Snape by his side.
"Do you wish me to assist your Master Healer, my Lord." the Hogwarts Professor suggested.
"A very generous offer, Potion Master Snape, but I fear my Master Healer has no reason to trust you. I ordered you to spy on Dumbledore and that is to remain your primary goal. My dearest Harry studied under Madam Lucretia Kahn, his potions surpass mine in quality and you failed his efforts for two years at Hogwarts. Young Master Potter is a mage. He is stubborn, driven and very, very smart. So like his mother and grandmother. You who only saw his father in him." Tom left it at that. He knew that Harry had a hardness in him, once scorned he would never forgive or forget. Tom knew they were both so alike. The boy, so lonely and derided at school had left at the first chance of family and escape from the abuse he'd grown up with. With nurture, support and guidance the boy had shown his true colours and left his damaged, guarded and underplayed masks behind.
Snape had felt like a seventeen year old again at his first meeting, being wooed to the cause. To a dark lord who had vision and drive to change society. The man who he had taken as his master, leader, lord, one who he had sworn fealty and full loyalty to. This was not the same vengeful, mercurial psychopath. Today he had seen that brilliance again.
Here the faithful would guide, drive and blackmail the marked to be loyal.
"So Master Snape, tell me about Dumbledore. How has he faired since his pawn left?"
...
Harry was staring into a fire in his room, when Bella knocked at the door. The young mage then smiled as he had known who was at the door before the witch in questioned had knocked.
He opened and asked "What can I do for you Madame Lestrange?"
Bella took in the sight of the teenager in loose silk pajamas. "Your skills are needed Master Healer."
Barty woke to feeling better than he had in years. His head was clear, he felt hungry, warm and rested. He actually felt, no longer in the fog of pain, always at his father's command. His father would never curse anyone again. The elder Crouch had lost his position at the ministry after Sirius Black had been found innocent, but that meant the man had been home seven days a week, all day to torment his failure of a son. Barty shuddered at the assault of memories only to be broken from his train of thought by a young man who stood by his bedside. A man, no still a boy, in Master Healer's robes, who held his hand over Barty. No wand in sight.
A goblet of water was conjured with ease and Barty sipped the cool liquid not taking his eyes off this stranger. "Do you know occulmency, Mr. Crouch?"
Barty nodded, not daring to speak after years spent in silence.
"Go to your safe place. Emerse yourself in your mindscape. You must organise you thoughts. Your hurts must be locked until you are stronger. You need complete bed rest."
A harsh rasp croaked "I must serve my Lord. I need to tell him I never lost faith."
"Shhhh, Our Lord already knows of your complete devotion. He wishes for you to be strong and well. To be a guiding light to the all in Britain and future generations. Your imprisonment and torture are over. Rest, pure heart, Rest."
Barty drifted into darkness and dreamt of happier times, of his mother smiling at him and stroking his hair.
