Year 7
"Ah, Severus… Yaxley…You are very nearly late," said the high pitched voice that belonged to Lord Voldemort.
The two strolled into the room where a long, wooden table greeted them. Every seat was filled with Death Eaters. They were clearly the last to arrive.
"Yaxley, down by Dolohov. Severus, next to me…"
They took their designated seats obediently.
"You have news, I trust?" Voldemort hissed eagerly as he turned to Snape.
"My lord. They will move him Saturday next at nightfall." Snape replied, and then Yaxley cut in.
"I've heard differently my lord. Dawlish has told me that Potter will be moved the Saturday at the end of the month. The day before he turns seventeen."
"This is a false trail." Snape said loudly. The whole table went quiet. Voldemort turned back to him. "The Auror office no longer plays a role in the protection to Harry Potter. Those closest to him believe that we have infiltrated the ministry, and the Order will have nothing to do them."
"Well they weren't far from the truth now were they?" said another death eater at the end of the table. It was followed by a series of laughter, but Voldemort made no sign that this amused him. His hand caressed the diamond shaped head of Nagini, resting on his lap.
"Any progress on that Yaxley?" He said softly. Yaxley stood, looking proud.
"My lord, I have managed, with great difficulty, to place the imperius curse on Pius Thickeness."
There was an impressed murmur of consent from the table. Voldemort twirled his wand in his long fingers.
"It's a start. But I will not attack Scrimigour until he is surrounded by my men. One wrong move and we could end up back where we began." He announced. "Now, where will the boy be taken?"
"Most likely a safe house from someone in the order." Snape continued. "Once there, it would be impractical to attack."
"Have the flu networks been cut off at the ministry?" Voldemort asked Yaxely.
"Yes, and the apparition systems have been monitored." Yaxely said hastily. "They will be trapped in the boy's home unless they move out in the open."
"Good. They will be more visible that way. Now, what of the girl Severus?"
The temperature in the room turned cold. Many death eaters looked down at the table. Bellatrix lestrange turned a deep shade of magenta. Someone coughed awkwardly.
"She will be moving the boy with the rest of the Order." Snape said obviously. He alone seemed unaffected by the mention of Emily.
"What? No protection for her?" Voldemort said, smirking.
"They felt she was very capable in protecting herself, my lord." Snape replied. Voldemort smiled evilly.
"Yes… That will make things much easier for us."
"My lord." Bellatrix croaked excitedly. Voldemort's scarlet eyes snapped to meet her brown ones. "I would like to volunteer myself for the task of killing the girl."
There was a hum of mutual agreement, but at these words, Voldemort's smile vanished. Death eaters suddenly had to look away from his gaze. It became too intense for most of them to endure.
"The girl will not be killed… yet." He said with a bone-chilling tone.
"M-my lord?" Bellatrix stammered.
"I want the girl brought to me alive. I do not care about the circumstances of how you do this, but she must be living."
Voldemort stood, wearing a scowl on his face. Nagini slithered out of his lap. "But even this has proved a challenge for most of you."
More feet shuffling and eye avoidance. Voldemort swept his gaze across the table.
"M-my lord… please. I can do it. I can bring her to you. It will not happen again." Bellatrix began to plead desperately.
"Lies Bella. If you hadn't been so foolish to disobey my orders, it would not have happened at all!"
Bellatrix shriveled back, seemingly disgusted with herself.
"All of you have disappointed me. Countless errors where the girl is concerned. I ask myself: Why? Why have my Death Eaters failed so miserably, when I gave them all such perfectly detailed, though out plans to follow?"
Everyone seemed fearful to breath.
"It is because you are underestimating her." Voldemort hissed bitterly. "You think simply because she looks like a child, that she has the magical skill of one? Ms. Angeline is no child. Now that Dumbledore is dead, she will be taking his place as one of the most powerful witches in the world! And my skilled followers are letting her beat them up, because they think too highly of themselves! They think they can manage her! "
Voldemort's rage was clear in his tone now. Everyone seemed fearful for their life, as if it would be their fault specifically that the girl still roamed free.
"I would not send some of my best after a child. Ms. Angeline is clearly more magically skilled and intelligent, than all of you put together! Now. This time, I expect results. Hold nothing back. Bring her to me at all costs."
"Yes my lord." They all murmured together. Bellatrix said it the loudest.
"I should hope you do well this time, or you will all be severely punished." Voldemort said coldly. He was determined this time. He didn't think he had ever wanted anything more than he had wanted the girl.
Except maybe, perhaps, the death of Harry Potter.
