It was quiet, too quiet, in the dirty, looming forest where the howling wind and the full moon seemed to dance in the starry sky to an eerie tune, and the footsteps of the game almost echoed not too far in the distance.
Severus shuddered, for he felt in his bones that today's meeting will not be a simple gathering to drink wine, or talk about which whores they've fucked or kiss the helm of a homicidal maniac before being brutally tortured for failing to adhere to the perfect standard for a death eater. Whatever that might mean.
No, today even the contorted trees spelled doom, the golden leaves were infested with rust, and all the joy seemed to have seeped out of everything, since Harry Potter's disappearance. Decapitated heads of house-elves were dangling from tree branches, each face showing fear, despair, rigor mortis …except for one where he could see acceptance.
'Most likely Lucius's handy work' he thought somberly.
Then you could hear, Bella's wretched laughter, music to the ears of her husband Rodolphus, and Severus supposes, to the Dark Lord's ears also, although he should not entertain thoughts about their affair.
He squared his shoulders and shrouded himself in darkness, trying to appear as innocent as possible. Oh, the perks of being good at hide and seek! He did not want to draw attention, he did not want to interact, he wished to observe and gain information, and when those resources have exhausted themselves, and his plan was practical, well-defined, only then will he make his strike, and turn the tables in his favor.
It was through being inconspicuous that he heard Bella's urgent message to Rodolphus "He said he had good news! The dawn of a new era approaches, Rod! Maybe it's about itsy bitsy Potter, the baby has disappeared from Hogwarts three weeks ago. Narcissa's boy told me."
"Draco? Are you sure he is not telling tales?"Rodolphus asked, while raising an eyebrow.
"Hahahahaha! He wouldn't lie to his dear aunty Bellatrix. Or he'll pay!"
'Hmmm. It seems like the death eaters had been well-informed,' Severus thought, wincing about his godson spreading pertinent information around.
A sudden burn interrupted his musings. He felt like piercing his left forearm, like an army of fire ants were dancing along the skin of his flesh, biting and crawling. He was called, again, with greater intensity. He was called!
He muffled his screams, biting on his cloak to alleviate the pain, and to not be seen eavesdropping. He turned back, to the cold, stone circle where the rest of the death eaters were gathered. He nodded to Lucius, who nodded back.
There was a covered form in the middle of the circle, where the Dark Lord stood, eyes gleaming red and self-satisfied smirk on his deathly white lips.
"My friends, today we have succeeded, our dreams will come true! Magic will nurture us and smile our way. Our children could drink liquid luck from silver glasses, yet they would not get luckier than today! Hear me, my kin, today we feast for soon the festering corpses of our enemies would grace our presence. And it all lies into one secret…" Voldemort said, voice trailing off, a misty whisper in the cold night.
"What is it, My Lord?" Bella asked eagerly, worshipfully.
"You shall see, Bella. You shall see," He responds mysteriously.
The form tossed and turned, seemingly in a tormented nightmare, it screamed, verdant eyes opened. It was not an it, it was a boy! He was shivering in the cold night, dressed in a set of plaid, blue pajamas. He felt small, infinitesimally small when surrounded by his draconic enemies.
"Harry Potter," Voldemort purred.
Harry shivered at the tone that made his skin crawl.
"Poor boy, you must be scared," he said mockingly "But Harry, there is no fear in obeying your master, your superior."
"Right. So why don't you go obey Dumbledore?" Harry taunted, despite his fear. He made to stand up but was suddenly hauled off his feet, gossamer raven hair and emerald orbs shining in the moonlight. There was only defiance in them. He is freed from the grasp abruptly and lands on his bottom. There are pearls of laughter encompassing him.
"Hmmm, I know something you don't, Harry," Voldemort coos.
"Let me guess, you and the rest of your pet death eaters were trying to screw in a lightbulb, but were too confused about which direction it screws, so you had to ask for the assistance of a five-year-old." Harry taunted before being slapped, hard, busting his lip.
Ruby eyes met green. Instead of a scowl, there was amusement and a certainty over victory that could not be questioned.
"No, Harry. Although I wager you would ask for the assistance of that decrepit old fool to help you master basic spells a four-year-old would know," Voldemort told him "I want you to take a close look child, a close look at your destiny."
With that chilling statement, he took hold of Harry's left hand, pulled down the sleeves to reveal the dark mark, intense, fascinating, and horrible at the same time. The coiled snake and the skeleton, moving, moving along his arm. His pink flesh was tainted, he felt bitterness enter his mouth, bitterness, and denial.
"No! I couldn't have! I would never..:!" Harry screamed.
Voldemort lifted the boy's chin with his fingers and told him mockingly "Oh, Harry, whoever said you had a choice."