Chapter 13: happy birthday?

I'm finally updating this story! Sorry for taking so long, I really wanted to continue it, but had no idea how. But luckily I do now, so here it goes!

A/N: I know I said Christmas break was over a few chapters ago, which means it should be after Christmas and New Year, but let's just, for the sake of this story, pretend Christmas break ends after Boxing Day and everyone goes back to Hogwarts after that:3!

Enjoy! x

Lord Voldemort had called together all of his faithful servant, not to go on a mission, but because of his birthday. It was the 31st of December and it was Lord Voldemort's 70th birthday (but keep that a secret, no one was to know this. To his Death Eaters, he was still 50 years old).

It had been a pleasant day, receiving loads of presents from his servants, eating cake and torturing and killing all the Muggles his servants could find. But now, at the end of this marvellous day, he was bored.

After a quick message to Dumbledore and a few crucios to Greyback and Rabastan (they were reluctant to continue), the usual group of eight Death Eaters and, unfortunately, Dumbledore met at their usual location in the Forbidden Forest.

,, Before we start, I'd like to say something,'' Dumbledore began. ,, I would like to wish you, Tom, a happy birthday and that many more will come.''

Dumbledore surely meant to be nice and friendly, but Voldemort decided to find it mocking and insulting. Thinking this way, Voldemort ignored Dumbledore's kind words and instead told Bellatrix to continue the game.

She spun the bottle once again and it landed on Draco.

,, Truth or dare?''

,, Truth.''

,, Are you avoiding me?'' Lucius quietly muttered 'who doesn't?' but luckily for his sanity, Bellatrix didn't hear. ,, I send you five owls with a date to teach you on, but I never got one back.''

Draco looked hesitant to answer this particular question; he had indeed been avoiding his aunt. His had instead been teaching himself every evening of the week through some books about dark magic he had stolen from Dumbledore's office. His magic wasn't improving much yet, but this was a much better method. He'd rather have to work on his own and slowly gain skill than quickly gain skill but have his aunt scream bloody murder at him.

,, Yes, yes I have been avoiding you.''

,, Why?''

,, Because of how you teach me! Now I know why father is so afraid of you, you're strict as hell! I wouldn't be surprised if I ever got tortured myself for not casting the Cruciatus Curse properly! It's a nightmare, honestly. Speaking of nightmares, that's what you have given me. So I decided it would be better for my sanity to teach myself.''

To Draco's surprise, along with everyone else's, Bellatrix did not look as if about to explode. Instead her face remained calm.

,, And how has that been working out for you so far?''

,, Great, I've leant loads.'' Draco lied

,, Use the Cruciatus Curse on me.''

,, Wait, what?!''

,, You heard me. If you have learnt so much, why don't you prove it? Cast it.''

Draco wanted to refuse, but knew that if he did, everyone would know he had lied and he didn't want to give his aunt the satisfaction. He stood up from his chair and concentrated hard on his anger towards his aunt. He pointed his wand at her and said the words. But, as Draco expected, nothing happened, not a single bit of magic flew out of his wand, not even a string of colour.

Now it was Bellatrix's time to stand up from her chair, dragging Voldemort with her of course. She pointed her wand at Draco and spoke the same words of the curse he had wanted to cast. But in the last second, she purposefully pointed her wand a bit more to the right and hit Wormtail. He screamed for a minute or two and Draco carefully sat back on his chair, before he gloomily said:

,, You knew I couldn't do it, didn't you?''

,, Maybe the next thing you should learn is Occlumency. And, if you care to know, the Cruciatus Cure is casted through the wanting to cause pain onto others, it doesn't matter how angry you are at me, if you are doubting on whether you want to hurt me or not, it isn't going to work.'' Bellatrix concluded and sat back on her chair.

,, Thanks for telling me normally,'' Draco said, but after seeing his aunt's eyebrows furrow, he hastily added: ,, And sorry for saying you are a nightmare and those other things. Will you teach me again?''

,, I will, and not because I expect to get tortured for not completing my dare of teaching you, because we all know now how 'good' you are at casting the curse. It is because I don't want another pathetic excuse for a Death Eater like your father or Wormtail.''

,, Why do you all have to be so mean to me?!'' Lucius exclaimed out of the blue. ,, First, I had beautiful hair cut off TWICE, then my own son states I'm a coward by telling everyone I'm afraid of my sister in law and lastly said woman insults me AGAIN.''

No one really paid attention to Lucius' exclamation, except Narcissa who comforted her husband, Draco who apologised to his father and Bellatrix who said something along the lines of 'force of habit'.

A few seconds later, Draco spun the bottle again and it landed on Dumbledore, who picked truth.

,, What food are you allergic to?''

,, Strawberries, may I ask why the sudden interest, Draco?''

,, I was just curious, that's all.'' Draco innocently said while making a mental note to anonymously send the headmaster something with strawberries in it.

Now it was Dumbledore's time to spin the bottle. It landed on Voldemort and he picked dare, he did not want Dumbledore finding out any more secrets of his.

,, I dare you to go to Hogsmeade and get everyone some cake. It is your birthday after all, it would only be natural to have a cake.''

Voldemort humpfed and stood up (followed by Bellatrix of course) and was ready to Disapparate, until Dumbledore said another thing:

,, Wait, Tom, shouldn't you spin the bottle before leaving? Otherwise we won't be able to continue.''

Voldemort sighed angrily, he hated that Dumbledore was still calling him by his filthy Muggle father's name, and spun the bottle with a flick of his wand. It landed on Snape and he picked dare as well.

,, I dare you to be in charge while I'm gone. Just make sure these idiots do not spill any of my secrets and that they do not kill each other.''

,, Yes, my Lord.''

Voldemort and Bellatrix Disapparated together and Snape spun the bottle once again. This time it landed on Lucius, who picked dare.

,, I dare you to buy me some glass phials and potions ingredients when we have another break, I'm almost out of them.''

,, Why don't you buy them yourself?''

,, We aren't all born as rich as you, Lucius, some need to work hard for their money.''

,, Hey, I have a job too you know! True, I am born rich, but I still do my daily work at the Ministry. But, okay, you will have your potions stuff.''

Snape muttered a small thanks as Lucius spun the bottle again. It stopped on Dumbledore once again.

,, Truth or dare?''

,, Dare.''

,, I dare you to give your staff a pay raise, if Snape can't even afford new potion-making stuff, his wages must be really low.''

,, Notes taken, Lucius, thank you for your kindness towards my staff.''

,, A kindness a bit too suspicious if I may say, Lucius,'' Snape said. ,, Why the sudden urge to help other people? Too scared you won't have any friends or people who like you left?''

,, Yes! And why shouldn't I be?! The only people who kind of like me here are Narcissa, Draco, Dumbledore (only because he likes everyone) and you maybe. And I'm not like Bellatrix who knows almost no one likes her but still gets stuff done for her, I need people to support me.''

,, You don't need to buy a way for me to act nice to you, Lucius. It is either not saying anything mean to you and sometimes say nothing when someone is insulting you or take part in insulting you and therefore being on Bellatrix's side. I can't bloody stand her as you might have learnt from us previously playing this game, so it comes naturally that I do nothing too insulting to you.''

,, Well, I don't like you either, so that settles it, doesn't it?'' A female voice from behind Snape could be heard; Bellatrix and Voldemort were back and Voldemort was levitating a large cake with his wand. He then conjured a table in the middle of the 'gaming area' and put the cake on top of it.

Dumbledore was quick enough to get one piece of cake for himself, but most of the others didn't have such luck. Greyback and Wormtail each grabbed the rest of the cake (Greyback's part a bit larger than Wormtail's) and quickly ate it. Wormtail's eating habbits were understandable, but Greyback's longing for sweets were entirely new. It must be a side effect from the banishment from eating any meat for a month.

When Dumbedore had finished his piece, he spun the bottle again and it landed on Draco, who picked truth.

,, Why are you so eager to learn dark magic, Draco? It has always been in your family, why now?''

Draco was doomed: if he didn't answer truthfully, Dumbledore would torture him and he would be taunted for that the rest of his life. But if he did answer truthfully, he would get tortured by the Dark Lord, which might cost him his life. Thinking he was might be able to seek shelter from Dumbledore after speaking the truth, he decided he would do exactly that.

,, The Dark Lord has given me the mission to kill you.''

The atmosphere drastically changed, even Wormtail and Greyback stopped eating cake to look at their Lord's face. It wasn't very pretty: it had never had an angrier expression than now, not even after Harry Potter escaping from his grasp numerous times. But before Voldemort could explode with anger, Dumbledore spoke again:

,, Well, that's not very nice, is it, Tom? Not after I first introduced you to this school.''

Voldemort was so angry that the only things he was able to say were:

,, Game...ends...for...now...Going...home...Draco...my...office.'' And with that he Disapparated, along with every other Death Eater except Draco.

,, Draco, if you ever feel in the need of protection, I will help.'' Dumbledore said to him honestly.

,, Thanks professor, I will. But I think there is no escaping in this one, he'll know I'm with you. And besides, I still agree with his policies, just not with his way of making the true.'' And with that, Draco Disapparated back to Malfoy Manor, going directly to his doom.

Poor Draco, what will happen to him next? Sorry not much truth or dare happened in this part, I promise it will be more next time!

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