10th September 17:10
The office of the Minister for Magic changed often between terms, suiting the personal tastes of the Minister with the title. However this time, it had been decorated for the person who didn't officially hold the position. It suited the puppet-masket who dangled the strings in the shadows.
The dark green rug that covered the dark wood floor was of fine make, silver thread woven into a motif of serpents. The desk that dominated the room was a magnificent custom piece, the legs of which detailed snakes that curled around the mahogany legs. Standing at the desk, hands flat on the leather writing surface, stood a man in dark robes, blonde hair a little dishevelled.
"I hope you've prepared a good explanation for me, Yaxley."
At the cold voice, Yaxley started in shock, but he didn't turn, not immediately. He stiffened, as if composing himself, then turned.
He sunk to his knees, prostrating himself.
"My Lord."
"Up. I have no time for simpering." Yaxley hesitated, then rose to his feet. He paused as he saw the giant serpent encircling his master.
"As you have no doubt heard, my Lord, Harry Potter is securely locked in our highest security cell in the building."
"I heard, but not from you. You were, were you not, the one that took Potter into Ministry custody?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Do you not recall me telling all my Death Eaters that if they secure the boy, they are to inform me, at once?"
"I…"
"They were very clear instructions, I thought. You were supposed to take his wand, secure him, then bring it to my attention."
"He attacked the Ministry - publicly."
"Yet no one knew it was him until you marched him through the Ministry like a trophy caught on a hunt." Voldemort paused, stooping down to lightly caress the large snake on the head. "Like a prize catch."
Yaxley saw the danger the moment Voldemort touched his snake. He quickly turned to his desk, taking a wand that he had left there and knelt down before Voldemort, presenting it.
"I… I beg your forgiveness. I misunderstood your orders and believed that Potter's capture, then detention in the most secure place within the Ministry, was the best place to keep him for your… pleasure."
"Hmm… "
"In one of the same cells that were once used by aurors to hold our enlightened brethren before their trials. I believe Bellatrix was contained in the one we've used for Potter."
"I'm sure that will entertain her."
"I… I beg, please spare my life and take… take this. It is Potter's wand."
Voldemort crossed the threshold, Nagini slithering after him. Yaxley quickly bowed his head at the master's proximity. The spindly long fingers took the wand from his hands.
Nagini hissed.
"The wand…" she said.
"Yes, Nagini… strange. I can feel the connection, but none of that power it had displayed when I tried to kill the boy last month."
"It is just a wand."
"Now it is mine."
Voldemort caressed the wand in his hands, thinking to himself as he noted the smudges on the wood. He gripped it in his right hand for a moment, feeling the power within it, but it was just a wand's power, nothing special.
He flashed his red-eyed gaze to Yaxley, pointing the wand at him.
"Crucio."
The man buckled and rolled on his back, yelling as he was tormented, limbs locked in an unending spasm.
Voldemort lifted the curse and admired the wand. It responded to him as well as his own brother wand.
Yaxley crawled onto his knees, breathing heavily.
"You may keep your life, Yaxley."
The man gasped with relief. "Than-thank you, my lord."
"As much as you've made things more… complicated with your handling the boy, I do appreciate that you've succeeded where I, and others, have failed."
Voldemort paced around the prostrate man, robes flicking around him, silk snapping.
"Tell me, did you learn why the boy was at the Ministry in the first place?"
"We… are yet to determine the purpose of their presence," Yaxley said haltingly, wincing as he admitted to a degree of incompetence.
"Potter has never shown unnecessary recklessness before." Voldemort stopped his pacing, looking down at the wand now in his hands. "To dare risk himself so openly… I admit myself curious."
"Of course, I will deal with him myself in the end, but… perhaps it is best to learn of his motivations first." He looked back up at Yaxley, who quickly lowered his head in deference. "I will give you the chance to make up for your mishandling of the boy, Yaxley. Perhaps by the time you are done, I will be convinced that this was the better course of action."
"Use all measures at your disposal, but be very careful with how you handle him. Alone he poses little threat, but, as you saw today, he has an effect on people. Keep him contained. Control those that have access to him."
"My lord… am I to understand that you are giving me permission to… interrogate the boy?"
Voldemort caressed the boy's wand in his hands. "Yes, but take care to not get… carried away. I wish there to be something left of the boy by the time you're done."
"Yes, my lord."
"Then it is settled. I will come for the boy in a few days' time," he stooped down so his bright red eyes were level with Yaxley, "and if I find that you have learned nothing in that time, I will be dissatisfied."
"I understand, my lord."
"Be sure that you do."