Corban Yaxley remembered clearly the day that Lucius Malfoy had shown up out of the blue. He hadn't seen or heard from Lucius for months, not since he had managed to give the Aurors the slip and fled the country. It had been a few weeks after he had put together some of the old crowd for a bit of fun at the Quidditch World Cup.

"Lucius, what are you doing here?" Yaxley asked in surprise. Even though they were fellow Death Eaters, Malfoy and himself had never been friendly. Malfoy had always thought of himself as being better than the other Death Eaters.

"I bring news from our master," Lucius said.

Yaxley stared at him. It had been 14 years since the downfall of Lord Voldemort. Surely he wasn't back, was he.

Upon being invited into Yaxley's home, Malfoy filled him in. No, Voldemort was not back yet, but plans were in motion to return him to power.

"Our master requested I seek out one who remained loyal," Malfoy said. "I trust that you remain loyal to our cause."

"Always," Yaxley said.

"The Dark Lord requested you directly," Malfoy said.

"He ... personally requested my help?" Yaxley felt proud. Being personall requested by the greatest wizard of all time was the highest of honors.

"You were never even accused of being a Death Eater, is that correct?"

Yaxley nodded. While the Ministry were rounding up Voldemort's supporters, he had remined above suspicion. He had watched as Voldemort's supporters were arrested and sent to Azkaban, or, as in Malfoy's case, claimed to have been under the imperius curse.

"And so yo unever gave evidence against him, that is why the Dark Lord is willing to give you the honor of being involved in his plan to return,"

Yaxley's heart was pounding. He had been chosen to help his master return to greatness?

"What does our master wish us to do?" he asked.

And so, for the next few months, Yaxley had done as Voldemort had ordered. He had ingrained himself deeper into the Ministry—cosying up to those with power and influence. A word in Umbridge's ear here, an invite to Thciknesse to come around for dinner there, a trip hunting nargles with Scrimgeour. Yaxley had made every effort to enter the inner circle of the Ministry.

He had seen Malfoy a few more times since then. There was a plan, it turned out, involving the Triwizard Tournament. A plan that would see Voldemort rise once more. Each time Lucius returned, he left bearing information on the Ministry to Lord Voldemort. The pressures on Fudge. Who might be the next Minister. Who was in charge of security at the Triwizard Tournament. Yaxley felt he was serving well. He hoped he would be rewarded.

Then, three nights ago, Malfoy had returned once more.

"Our master has an important job for you, Corban," said Lucius Malfoy.

Yaxley had straightened his back proudly. "I will do anything to see him among us once more."

"I'm sure you will," Malfoy said.

"Tell me, do you recall the night our master ... died?"

"I do," Yaxley said, giving a stiff mud. "That muggle lover, Dumbledore will pay."

"He will, but not by your wand," Malfoy said. "On that night, our master ...lost... a very valuable object. You are to retrieve it."

"Immediately," said Yaxley. "What is the object?"

"That is not for us to know," Malfoy said, cooly. "Our master put a charm on the object—a very powerful charm which, if anything were to happen to him, would transport the object to a place of security."

"I see," Yaxley said. "And, I am to go to retrieve it?"

"You are," said Malfoy. "It will be dangerous—the object is protected by many enchantments, and by a Runespoor."

Yaxley paled. He knew about Runespoors. They were extremely dangerous creatures.

Malfoy, noticing the look on Yaxley's face smirked. "The Dark Lord has faith in your abilities, Corban."

Yaxley gave a small nod. "What must I do ..."

And so, Yaxley now found himself outside an innocent looking doorway near York Castle. If a regular person opened the doorway, it would open merely into another room of the castle. But those who posessed the key, would be transported to one of Lord Voldemort's most secret hiding places.

Yaxley double checked that his wand was secure and pulled out a small key made out of marble. He inserted it into the lock and twisted.