Disclaimer in Part 1.
Well, this chapter didn't want to written, but damnit! I stuck with it and this is what came out. Enjoy!
The circle of dark-robed figures had once again formed, but now they stood on one of the bleak, windswept plateaus that dotted the mountainous countryside around Drachkan, faintly illuminated in the piercing light of the stars. There was no moon. It was a sinister picture, the kind in which one would expect to find demonic rituals and the workings of black magic said to have died out centuries ago; the very air around them seemed to be charged with some dark power. Draco threw back his hair head as if drinking in the essence of the night, the pale light gilding him with a sort of otherworldly aura before stepping into the middle of the ring, his followers bowing as he stepped before them.
Harry stayed a step behind him, wishing that he could stand at his side but knowing perfectly well that Draco would be angry with him if he did. Even if Draco trusted in Harry beyond any other, confided in him without any lingering doubts of betrayal, entrusted him with the most difficult and dangerous missions, appearances had to be kept up. Apparently it just wouldn't do for Harry not to appear properly subservient to the Dark Lord, which he grudgingly admitted did have some sense. Draco was skilled in dealing with darkness while Harry was still, for all practical purposes, a raw beginner. Draco was the mastermind behind all their work, Harry simply followed his designs. But still...he was important. He was Draco's sword arm.
Well, at least he wasn't groveling in the circle with the rest.
Draco walked among them with the ease and grace of a mountain lion stalking it's prey, savoring the aura of fear that rose up as he approached them. They were so easy to control, to manipulate...except for Harry. He allowed a ghost of a smile to trail across his features; gaining Harry as his ally had been a brilliant stroke of luck. Harry was worthy of him in a way that no other could be.
He returned to the center, looking out at his followers with Harry like a shadow behind him, his face like a mask once more.
We have the Arnelin. Everything is now in place.
He reached into his robe and raised the silver orb, in plain view for all to see. It gave off a soft white glow that seemed to ripple across the ground like an almost palpable substance that would have felt like silk to the touch. There was a low muttering among dark presence, a subtle shifting of movement. This was important.
Draco clutched his fingers around it in an abrupt gesture, obscuring it's glow. it is Time.
The murmuring grew louder. Just behind him, Harry drew a sharp breath into his chest.
Time. Time to begin the war at last. Time to finish what had been started so long ago, when Salazar Slytherin had turned his back on the other founders and organized the powers of darkness for battle for the first time. And now that they had the power to distort other's people's perceptions, control their thoughts...what could stop them? It was indeed Time, Time for them to come into their own.
Draco was speaking again. We need to spread the corruption from the inside, strike at the heart. At the Ministry of Magic. If we seize control there we can easily control things everywhere...once we're in power we'll be able to - rearrange things as we see fit. He gave a chilling smile. But we go slowly at first. Build up our power until it's unshakable, then we can start the real work. He looked out at them from his silver eyes, cold and terrible.
We have been working for this for longer than you can possibly imagine; every Dark Lord has held and cherished this goal. Do not fail me now.
He gave yet another chilling smile. Or I will deal with you accordingly.
The meeting was over.
* * *
Harry pillowed his head on his arms, looking across the gleaming ebony table surface into Draco's eyes, on a level with his own. So we start by taking over the Ministry...with the Arnelin, I'm guessing.
Draco smiled. Naturally. We use it to manipulate the intents of all the members so that they serve us - without even knowing it. They'll be doing our will, while thinking it's their own...the rest of the wizarding world will be thrown into chaos, weak and vulnerable, unable to defend itself...then we can strike. Then we can take what's ours...
Harry couldn't suppress a smile of triumph at Draco's words. Take what was theirs, indeed...theirs. His and Draco's. Whenever Draco used the words we or ours or us Harry always got the sense that they didn't include his circle of blind, groveling slaves, only the two of them, as if no one else existed. And for all Harry was concerned no one else did...all he needed was his dragon.
A thought struck him, interrupting his reverie, and his brow furrowed. Won't someone be able to realize what we're doing, detect the magic -
Draco smiled again. No. That's another thing that makes the Arnelin so valuable. It's impossible to detect it's influence; if someone tried to they would find no traces of interference, no traces of magic - nothing. And don't worry, we'll be subtle. By the time anyone catches on it'll be far too late. He looked at Harry for a moment, some emotion swimming through his eyes that Harry had never seen there before, when he suddenly extended a hand to him across the black, mirror-like surface of the table. I trust in you to help me to do whatever needs to be done.
Harry chose to ignore the hand and instead leaned across the table and pressed his lips to Draco's, kissing him deeply.
They stayed like that for a minute before Draco gently pulled away and stood up, falling back into his remote demeanor.
We'll have to alert the armies - all the creatures we've called together for this purpose. Let them know it's coming, that soon they'll be able to feast on our fallen enemies. He glanced at Harry, those silver eyes aloof once more. Can you go to them for me?
Harry nodded and slipped out, smiling an unseen smile at the feel of Draco's gaze on his back, following him out.
* * *
Dementors, giants, vampires, werewolves, banshees...all sorts of dark creatures had been gathered en masse in the deep valley, their eerie shapes and faces illuminated by the dying starlight and the faint, flickering light of torches. Harry watched them for a moment, their movements like those of some massive colony of ants, before raising his arms. Within the space of a heartbeat a deathly silence had fallen over the seething mass of bodies as they strained to hear his words.
Creatures of the Dark Lord, hear me! The Time is now coming upon us, the Time when we will rise and let our strength be known. When you will be released to slake your thirst on the blood of those who would defy us, who would seek to tear us down. When you will be able to stalk freely among your prey, rather than creep about in the night. Creatures of darkness -, he drew a deep breath, - make yourselves ready!
There was a muted roar from the hordes below him and Harry threw back his head and laughed in pure elation, feeling, even though he was still in Drachkan, Draco standing alongside him, his laughter joined with Harry's.
Chapter 8 will be up ASAP, and don't forget to REVIEW!!!!! PLEASE!!!!!!!