In times of great vexation
When one must choose between what's right and wrong
Reasons, so they say
Lean and elegant writing represented 'Severus D. Snape' on the parchment. Dark Lord collected it with a wave of his wand. Nasty petit smile was on his lips. Eloquently he raised, and went closer to Severus so their eyes were in the same level, never stopping to observe him.
-"Show me your right arm" - he spoke. Before Severus did so, he grabbed, pulling the sleeve of the black robes up.
He gripped it.
Lord Voldemort caught Severus' eyes. With invisible force he fixed them to look at his. Severus' mind slowly dazed. He was mesmerised. That warm feeling, under his elbow spread throughout his whole body. He felt wonderful, but like everything, the feeling passed. He couldn't tell how fast, it's like those one second moments that were an hour long or vice versus. His flowery eyesight turned into a thorny features of Lord Voldemort's face. His barbed teeth were bared in malevolent smile.
Pain in his right arm begun. He wanted to scream from anguish. Lord Voldemort was laughing hostile.
-"You sealed your destiny, Severus" - Voldemort's metallic voice was saying. -"When I call you, the Dark Mark, your tattoo" - Snape glanced at his arm - "hurts. Than you apparate to me. You just put your left hand on it, and let it take you. Clear?"
Snape made a small blunder. He nodded his hand.
-"Dolorincapitae" - the Dark Lord condemned. Beside the ache that was spread his nerves and pinched, a sharp pain elapsed his capita.
-"You shall never use your gestures to communicate to the Dark Lord" - he said, sadistically grinning.
-"Yes, my Lord" - Snape said deliberately.
-"That's better." - The Dark Lord glanced.
Hour by hour, day by day, year by year (four years to be exact), the Dark Lord grew more meddlesome. He was just like when he was that little teenage boy, Tom Riddle, but vile line in his character exaggerated as much as it was possible. As time fathomed all it could possible bear, people grew more timid of him. Just few years ago, if you told any wizard that so-called Lord Voldemort will range to this éclat, they would tell you that you really need to check with mental hospital why are they still keeping you outside. But Dark Marks weren't a scarcity no more.
'NEW ATTACKS OF THE YOU-KNOW-WHO
Dreadful Dark Mark showed once again over the skies of Great Britain. Seven people were killed last night, when horde of masked Death Eaters intruded. Seven innocent Muggles were neutered inside of town of Surrey. Fake evidences were set by our specialist to mislead Scotland Yard (Muggle service for order). For more informations got to page A2, by Lily Potter'
James let the Daily Prophet drops on the table. He stopped for a second and thought.
-"James, do you want omelette or sunny side?" - Lily asked carelessly, fixing breakfast. James didn't seem to register her words. He had more important things to carry about.
-"James!" - Lily exclaimed.
-"I'm sorry, I really didn't get any sleep last night. You know, insomnia. My is chronic, you know. It gets me from time to time..." - James was saying.
-"Honey, would you care to answer my question?" - Lily asked.
-"What did you ask?" - James said, getting up, and pouring himself some orange juice from the fridge (wizarding fridge, aright).
-"Do you want omelette or sunny side?" - Lily sighed, cracking eggs. Frying pan was preheating on the stove.
-"Whatever is easier for you" - James said, drinking all the juice from the glass. Lily mixed the eggs, and decided for omelettes. -"Great article, though."
-"What article? Oh, the new one about those poor Muggles dead." - She was saying as she was turning the omelette over.
Lily was currently one of the best journalists at the Daily Prophet.
-"I'm so happy for you" - James hugged her.
Weather was beyond awful. Four days straight, rain was washing Britain. It was November, ominously drying all the clouds on UK. James had to run from the portal to the inside of the Azkeban. In that little hall surprise waited him. A Dementor to make him day, watching him sinisterly under his hood. He wasn't even sure did he register anything accept happiness because he knew he had no eyes. As an Assistant of the Governor he had to attend every execution. He detested those.
As soon as he got through the Patronus shield he felt warm and cozy. He entered Ancilla's office as he always did. He didn't bother to use his own bureau at all. She was sitting at the table, drinking black coffee. Her eyes of eagle scanned James as he came in, and she bit her lip.
Her tradition was to wear black as much as possible. Her hair, which started getting some grey from all the stress she was in, was up.
-"Good morning" - he said mirthfully, sitting down opposite of her.
-"'Morning" - she replied nebulously. Her mood was still today. -"We have a meeting at ten."
-"We?"
-"I have to drag you with me. The Ministry asked for you to be present" - she was obviously in a bad mood. -"Bartemius Crouch, that prick, asked for another of those moron bashes."
-"Why are you aggravated this morning?" - he said, sweetly.
-"None of your business. You're too nosy, James Potter" - she snapped.
-"HEY, calm down" - James cried looking genuinely into her eyes.
She said nothing.
-"Now what's the problem?" - He asked going over to her, and kneeling beside her sitting.
-"Problem is you because you are so vexatious" - she shouted at him.
-"I said: calm down" - James said, patting her shoulder. -"Come here." - James stretched his arms to hug her. She tried to ignore it, but he grabbed her and hugged her. She gave no resistance.
He could hear her inhaling and exhaling the air.
-"Let me go now" - she requested. James did so, casually getting his hands of her.
James started off to his office when the door aggressively opened. Ancilla's husband marched in. He was biting his lower lip, and his ominous eyes shimmered shrewdly like in lunatic. He resembled a hungry wolf. James was ashamed to confess himself that his friend Remus looked exactly like that in the stage of transformation, when he was turning into a werewolf.
He placed his both hands on her desk, and lowered himself, closer to Ancilla. Now he was a wolf, catching his prey. James knew it was wise to get away from her office, but he cared to leave the door ajar.
-"Yes, spouse" - Ancilla said, unconditionally reserved.
-"Explain" - he snarled.
-"Explain what?" - she asked, teasingly.
-"Where were you last night?" - he was trying to keep his anger down (with a small amount of success).
-"I'm not a twelve year old girl to inform you of my whereabouts. I have my own life" - he informed him, glacially.
-"No. You are not. You are twenty-three years old bitch, that doesn't realise that there has to be someone on this world she is defensive to!" - he roared, spike of his black hair falling over his brilliantly grey eyes.
-"Darling, if you only new..." - she said cynically, getting up the chair, and walking around her desk to him.
-"I know more than enough" - he said grabbing her brittle arm.
-"No, you don't" - she said sweetly, putting her hand around his waist and drawing her body closer to his. He felt warm and cuddly so close to her. Ancilla would always swear that there is something sadist in his pure blood.
-"What is between you and Lucius Malfoy?" - he asked, humbly. He twisted her arm. It hurt.
-"Honey..." - she whined - "how many time I have to tell you that I'm not a masochist. It doesn't turn me on."
-"Answer my question." - He gritted his teeth.
-"Honestly, do you think I would ever tell if there was anything between Lucius Malfoy and moi?" - she said, looking at him.
He said nothing.
-"Now, let me mesmerise you" - she said, kissing him.
Calvin gave in. Those were the rare moments when she'd show some affection to him, even thought the affection was lucid sham.
James interrupted. Ancilla knew he did it on purpose.
-"Err boss, there is a meeting at the Ministry is fifteen minutes that would prudent of you if you attended" - he said in angelic voice with vivid eyes on them. This is the time when James resembled an adorable cupid.
Ancilla's husband send a loathsome stare at James.
-"Don't you see I'm busy" - she turned around and snapped at him.
-"Well, then I shall go, and you come when you're - er - finished" - James was about to close the door. -"And don't be late."
Ancilla arrived just before the rendezvous was about to start. She entered one of the mosques of the Ministry building where the meeting was held. Long noir table was there. A seat somewhere in the middle was not occupied. There she sat, beside James Potter.
James smiled at her, blinking his eyes. Ancilla was to say something rude to him, but the Minister of the Magic raised from his seat, and kindly asked everyone for their attention.
-"As you know, I gather you all here to discuss a very important issue" - he used his most formal phonation. -"Lord Voldemort has previous night killed seven more people. Seven inculpable Muggles are dead. Now, a thing that we need to discuss are the Death Eaters."
Grim wave passed everyone. Ancilla caught Lucius' eyes who was sitting few chair in front of her at the opposite side. Than he looked around, and few other people, the Death Eaters sent her a clear message: 'They can't possible know for any of us... ...can they?"
-"The coterie of people involved with Lord Voldemort is growing. It's hard to get into the inner circle, but I may suspect that some of inner clique people are present in this room, right now" - his voice was shrill and accented.
-"Minister, if someone was taking care of her job, they'd all be in Azkeban now" - a middle aged wizard said.
-"Don't you Bartemius Crouch tell me how to run my function. Getting them in has nothing to do with how secured the jail is" - Ancilla snapped in such a sharp voice that it was more than rational to put your fingers in your ears. Chasm between them was there from when they met.
-"Oh please, jail is so poorly led that anyone could escape" - he said, ridiculing her.
-"So that's the way you think? How about I get you in there and see if you can run away" - she said triumphantly.
-"Not all of us would agree with you, Crouch" - said scrawny wizard, sitting at the top of table.
-"Now Nott, that is really biased opinion. It's not how you define 'everyone'" - Arthur Weasley said tranquilly, from the back of the table.
-"Everyone please, we are not here to discuss how I lead Azkeban. As Minister said, we are here to debate about all terror happening in our world" - Ancilla said, getting up.
-"Deitrich, would you please sit down" - said the Minister luridly. Ancilla did so, face ghastly, shooting abhorrent stares at Crouch. Crouch was apparently happy with himself.
-"As I said" - the Minister continued - "There is more and more followers to Lord Voldemort..."
-"Objection" - self-enthusiastic young wizard of Muggle heritage said.
-"Yes" - Minister eagerly looked all the way at the of the table.
-"Why 'Lord Voldemort'?"
-"Pardon?" - The Minister questioned.
-"Isn't it safer to say You-Know-Who?" - He asked. He was a bit nervous when everyone at the table sent their eyes at him.
-"It won't kill you to say a name" - Ancilla Deitrich said scornfully. Now all the stared were at her side.
-"Yeah especially if he's your master" - Crouch growled quietly through his teeth. Everyone heard. More than few people couldn't agree more with what Crouch just uttered.
They were all anxious to know Ancilla's reply.
-"You have no solid proof to make even a hypothesis" - everyone heard Lucius Malfoy retorting to Crouch, before Ancilla could ever open her mouth.
-"And what gives you right to take her side, Malfoy" - Arthur Weasley was unexpected to speak in such a turbulent tone with such impulsiveness.
-"Are you perhaps saying that I'm on the Dark Side?" - his voice got dangerous note and her hands took all the pressure.
-"It's just a hypothesis" - Arthur Weasley said quietly, even though no one asked him. This was regular thing in the Ministry of Magic; answering the question on which you were even asked.
-"Fine. Go than to your Muggle world and wait until Lord Voldemort slaughters you with all those Muggles. Than you can theorise. I'll be glad to look over your ideologies" - Lucius Malfoy said. People were shocked by his straightforwardness.
-"Lucius" - said the Minister, biting his lips. -"If you still have any decency left in you, which you obviously don't because you said this, you must apologise to Arthur Weasley."
Lucius waited a second, his hands sweating.
-"I am awfully sorry I said this. I certainly did not mean to; it just flew out of my mouth" - he didn't seem sorry at all. He was so monotone in his tone that it obvious that he would repeat this again and again.
Lucius glanced around the table. Ancilla send him a delighted, blissful gaze, with eyes shining impressively. He gave her a small, reserved smile. He found a similar reaction to Ancilla's from few other of his friends, including Macnair and Nott. They all quasi-openly supported what he'd just done.
-"I would really beg you all not to get off the topic with your individual quarrels" - Minister said, and this time he wasn't kidding. Then he returned to his original theme. -"There are more and more followers of Lord Voldemort. I've commissioned several more units to work on this. New Aurors will be necessary..." - the Minister stopped for a second, and looked at Crouch. -"And of course, the person that is working to stop all that heterodoxy is, of course: Bartemius Crouch."
Barty looked around, his face shining.
The meeting was obliged with few more arguing that weren't so benign.
-"I'm not going with you anywhere else" - James said in disgust as the meeting ended, everyone was leaving.
Ancilla wanted to go, but Lucius motioned her to stay. James knew he wasn't invited, but nothing malign could happen if he stayed few more seconds. He was really curious what will happen.
-"Congratulations Lucius. That was such a nice recitation against all the nonconformity in our class" - Macnair shook Lucius' hand while Arthur Weasley passed. Arthur Weasley pretended he didn't hear what Walden just said.
When everything was clear, Lucius proposed Ancilla to follow him. James was gone already.
-"Where are we going?" - she asked.
-"My office" - he said, provocatively.
They entered.
-"Your office is much larger than mine" - she said enviously as he closed the door behind her.
-"Lets not consider those matters now" - he said, hugging her around her waist, and dragging her off to his seat. She sat in his lap.
-"What matters should we get into?" - she patter his silver hair.
-"Business" - he sneered.
-"That's so boring."
-"Well, what can I do? Anyhow, you don't seem to be cherishing that Barty Crouch much, do you?" - he asked, concealedely running with his eyes all over her.
-"Where could you get such an idea? I unconditionally adore him" - she said, sarcastically.
-"Well in that circumstance vengeance is always sweet" - he pulled her to himself. She put her hand on his face, stoking his cheek.
-"What did you have on your mind?" - she smirked.
-"He seems so counter-affected by all the charms of the Dark Arts, doesn't him? How would he feel if he'd found out his little baby boy was into all of it? We shall persuade li'l Barty Crouch Jr that there's no life in anything else accept Dark Arts" - he said, spitefully.
-"Lucius, you bastard, I can't express how much I love you" - she was mesmerised by him. She loved him more than anything.
-"Mon cheré, of course you love me. I'm adorable and aimiable. Well, of course, I love you, too" - he said, kissing her libidinously.
Their plan was like this: Severus must help them. He was at Hogwarts.
In the meantime, Professor Snake died of heart-attack, leaving Severus behind. It was cause for no major changes at Hogwarts. Things ran the same way. Soon enough, Professor Larsen of Astronomy department retired. Dumbledore somehow knew it would be the most prudent to put Snape as a head of Slytherin house. He favoured the most. Slytherins also liked him.
The boy, named after his father, Barty Crouch was at Hogwarts, in the house of Revenclaw. He was sixth year. The Dark Lord would be enchanted if a son a great anti-Dark Side leader was on his side.
-"Tsk, tsk, tsk, your malfeasance is incredible" - Snape said, resting his head on his arms. He was sitting in a chair, inside his chambers at Hogwarts. Ancilla and Lucius came to visit.
-"Precious, Severus is flattering us so much" - Ancilla sneered at Lucius who sat beside her on a sate. They were holding each other's hand, and constantly shooting each other hungry looks.
-"Severus we know how brilliant we are in our conspiracies, but please" - he sneered rubbing her hand on his knee.
-"You got me into this shit, didn't you?" - he asked, dully. -"And now you want me to ruin boy's life?"
-"Honey, you're not ruining only his life. You're ruining his father's life, too" - Ancilla said, smiling broadly. Lucius mirthfully hugged her, pressing his mouth to her dark hair.
-"Also, maybe someday in the future, he would join the Dark Forces? Why to wait, when we give him this special offer with our testimonial" - Lucius said in voice of those guys on TV that advertise products.
-"Whatever" - said Severus.
Ancilla smiled maliciously. -"I told you he's the best person for this" - she told Lucius. He patted her neck, and kissed her.
Bartemius Crouch Jr was a fine young lad. He was getting good marks and his behaviour could use as example to other students (not like some of them followed it, though). Severus remembered him as a little Revenclaw boy when he was going to Hogwarts. He never knew him well, though.
-"As soon as you clear everything behind you" - Snape was saying to the students of Revenclaw, sixth year - "you're dismissed. Accept you Crouch, I want to see you after class."
-"Yes, professor" - little sand haired boy said, as he stood in front of Snape's wooden catedra. Severus Snape waited until everyone left and the door were closed to start speaking to little Crouch.
-"You seem very good at every subject, Crouch" - he said sharply. Barty wanted to say something, but Snape cut him, saying:
-"I daresay, would you ever be interested in Dark Arts?"
-"They are bad" - said he, ingenuously. Abstract vision of his father telling him about good and bad, and about his father's negligence and ignorance swapped him.
-"It all depends in what function you use them" - Snape said slowly. -"You're a admirable little schoolboy. As long as you use them properly they can only benefit you in your studies and help you understand things."
-"It won't hurt me to try" - Barty said.
-"It certainly won't. Be here tomorrow, seven sharp. You're dismissed" - Snape watched as little boy carried all of his books outside.
He was sixteen years old, nearly seventeen, but he was still so tiny and so juvenile.
-"I hear" - cold voice pierced everyone's ears - "that there is a lot of things going on at the Ministry. No one informs me, though. I would like to know why?"
Death Eaters, all of them, with no acceptation shivered. Something nasty is about to happen.
-"Nott, you, with your high position among those Ministry idiots, you must know what's happening" - Lord Voldemort said, looking at him.
A drop of sweat fall over Nott's face under the mask everyone with no acceptation were wearing.
-"My Lord, I was just about..."
-"I don't care for that" - Voldemort was ominously drawing his wand. -"Why didn't you?"
-"Because I am brainless idiot" - said Nott miserably.
-"Crucio" - Voldemort hissed. -"If you were a brainless idiot, you certainly wouldn't be here. Not that any of you are far away from that, I would daresay. Now, answer me my question."
-"Because I just didn't. I showed delinquency to you, my Lord" - Nott was saying. Other Death Eaters felt glad at the same time that Dark Lord was spilling all his anger on someone else than them, but they all knew very goo how it feels to be Nott right now.
-"Snape, you tell me, is it in every circumspect intelligent to show delinquency to your Master?" - he suddenly turned to other side.
-"No, my Master. It is far worse than offensive."
-"Than why don't you report me about you doings?" - Dark Lord approached cloaked figure that was he though was Snape.
-"I can't give you the rightful answer, my Lord. I am most miserable creature comparing to your exaltedtedness. Whatsoever, I have an important matter on my mind that I would gladly beg to discuss with you." - Snape said. It was a moment of wrath when Lord Voldemort realised he didn't approach Severus Snape, but a figure beside him.
-"And what would it be?" - he went over to real Snape.
-"There is a way to revenge one of the biggest idiots on the other side. Bartemius Crouch is real nuisance. He wouldn't unquestionably want his little son going over to our side?" - Severus was saying.
-"Who's plan is it? Yours?"
-"No, it's Lucius Malfoy's plan" - Severus said. Dark Lord turned to Lucius Malfoy. He gave a sadist face to Malfoy. The expression was so untrustworthy that at the moments the Dark Lord could turn to praise Lucius or torture him.
-"Lucius... how eccentric from you to come up with something like this? Where did you get such an idea?"
-"Literature. Turning the son against his father is something quite common." - Lucius said, oily.
-"Son overpowering his father? Such a keen plan" - the Dark Lord said. -"But that's so bizarre from you Lucius. You were always getting so well with your father. Remember when he was in my service?"
-"Before he died" - Lucius said uncomfortably.
-"Yes, exactly" - the Dark Lord said. -"This sounds as a good plan. Make sure it works out good" - Lord Voldemort said, menacingly.
-"If there is any littlest proof that you anyhow might be involved with the You-Know-Who, the Ministry has right to ask you for a trial." - James Potter read.
-"Give me that here" - Ancilla snatched the newspaper from his hands. They were working in Ancilla's, office on a typical Friday afternoon.
-"Calm down. Are you scared that they might suspect you being involved into that" - James said.
-"I'm not" - Ancilla snapped at him.
-"So why are you fussing so much?" - he asked.
-"Because Crouch hate me. He would do anything to get me accused of being Lord Voldemort's follower" - she sat on her chair, and tensely read over the article.
When one must choose between what's right and wrong
Reasons, so they say
Lean and elegant writing represented 'Severus D. Snape' on the parchment. Dark Lord collected it with a wave of his wand. Nasty petit smile was on his lips. Eloquently he raised, and went closer to Severus so their eyes were in the same level, never stopping to observe him.
-"Show me your right arm" - he spoke. Before Severus did so, he grabbed, pulling the sleeve of the black robes up.
He gripped it.
Lord Voldemort caught Severus' eyes. With invisible force he fixed them to look at his. Severus' mind slowly dazed. He was mesmerised. That warm feeling, under his elbow spread throughout his whole body. He felt wonderful, but like everything, the feeling passed. He couldn't tell how fast, it's like those one second moments that were an hour long or vice versus. His flowery eyesight turned into a thorny features of Lord Voldemort's face. His barbed teeth were bared in malevolent smile.
Pain in his right arm begun. He wanted to scream from anguish. Lord Voldemort was laughing hostile.
-"You sealed your destiny, Severus" - Voldemort's metallic voice was saying. -"When I call you, the Dark Mark, your tattoo" - Snape glanced at his arm - "hurts. Than you apparate to me. You just put your left hand on it, and let it take you. Clear?"
Snape made a small blunder. He nodded his hand.
-"Dolorincapitae" - the Dark Lord condemned. Beside the ache that was spread his nerves and pinched, a sharp pain elapsed his capita.
-"You shall never use your gestures to communicate to the Dark Lord" - he said, sadistically grinning.
-"Yes, my Lord" - Snape said deliberately.
-"That's better." - The Dark Lord glanced.
Hour by hour, day by day, year by year (four years to be exact), the Dark Lord grew more meddlesome. He was just like when he was that little teenage boy, Tom Riddle, but vile line in his character exaggerated as much as it was possible. As time fathomed all it could possible bear, people grew more timid of him. Just few years ago, if you told any wizard that so-called Lord Voldemort will range to this éclat, they would tell you that you really need to check with mental hospital why are they still keeping you outside. But Dark Marks weren't a scarcity no more.
'NEW ATTACKS OF THE YOU-KNOW-WHO
Dreadful Dark Mark showed once again over the skies of Great Britain. Seven people were killed last night, when horde of masked Death Eaters intruded. Seven innocent Muggles were neutered inside of town of Surrey. Fake evidences were set by our specialist to mislead Scotland Yard (Muggle service for order). For more informations got to page A2, by Lily Potter'
James let the Daily Prophet drops on the table. He stopped for a second and thought.
-"James, do you want omelette or sunny side?" - Lily asked carelessly, fixing breakfast. James didn't seem to register her words. He had more important things to carry about.
-"James!" - Lily exclaimed.
-"I'm sorry, I really didn't get any sleep last night. You know, insomnia. My is chronic, you know. It gets me from time to time..." - James was saying.
-"Honey, would you care to answer my question?" - Lily asked.
-"What did you ask?" - James said, getting up, and pouring himself some orange juice from the fridge (wizarding fridge, aright).
-"Do you want omelette or sunny side?" - Lily sighed, cracking eggs. Frying pan was preheating on the stove.
-"Whatever is easier for you" - James said, drinking all the juice from the glass. Lily mixed the eggs, and decided for omelettes. -"Great article, though."
-"What article? Oh, the new one about those poor Muggles dead." - She was saying as she was turning the omelette over.
Lily was currently one of the best journalists at the Daily Prophet.
-"I'm so happy for you" - James hugged her.
Weather was beyond awful. Four days straight, rain was washing Britain. It was November, ominously drying all the clouds on UK. James had to run from the portal to the inside of the Azkeban. In that little hall surprise waited him. A Dementor to make him day, watching him sinisterly under his hood. He wasn't even sure did he register anything accept happiness because he knew he had no eyes. As an Assistant of the Governor he had to attend every execution. He detested those.
As soon as he got through the Patronus shield he felt warm and cozy. He entered Ancilla's office as he always did. He didn't bother to use his own bureau at all. She was sitting at the table, drinking black coffee. Her eyes of eagle scanned James as he came in, and she bit her lip.
Her tradition was to wear black as much as possible. Her hair, which started getting some grey from all the stress she was in, was up.
-"Good morning" - he said mirthfully, sitting down opposite of her.
-"'Morning" - she replied nebulously. Her mood was still today. -"We have a meeting at ten."
-"We?"
-"I have to drag you with me. The Ministry asked for you to be present" - she was obviously in a bad mood. -"Bartemius Crouch, that prick, asked for another of those moron bashes."
-"Why are you aggravated this morning?" - he said, sweetly.
-"None of your business. You're too nosy, James Potter" - she snapped.
-"HEY, calm down" - James cried looking genuinely into her eyes.
She said nothing.
-"Now what's the problem?" - He asked going over to her, and kneeling beside her sitting.
-"Problem is you because you are so vexatious" - she shouted at him.
-"I said: calm down" - James said, patting her shoulder. -"Come here." - James stretched his arms to hug her. She tried to ignore it, but he grabbed her and hugged her. She gave no resistance.
He could hear her inhaling and exhaling the air.
-"Let me go now" - she requested. James did so, casually getting his hands of her.
James started off to his office when the door aggressively opened. Ancilla's husband marched in. He was biting his lower lip, and his ominous eyes shimmered shrewdly like in lunatic. He resembled a hungry wolf. James was ashamed to confess himself that his friend Remus looked exactly like that in the stage of transformation, when he was turning into a werewolf.
He placed his both hands on her desk, and lowered himself, closer to Ancilla. Now he was a wolf, catching his prey. James knew it was wise to get away from her office, but he cared to leave the door ajar.
-"Yes, spouse" - Ancilla said, unconditionally reserved.
-"Explain" - he snarled.
-"Explain what?" - she asked, teasingly.
-"Where were you last night?" - he was trying to keep his anger down (with a small amount of success).
-"I'm not a twelve year old girl to inform you of my whereabouts. I have my own life" - he informed him, glacially.
-"No. You are not. You are twenty-three years old bitch, that doesn't realise that there has to be someone on this world she is defensive to!" - he roared, spike of his black hair falling over his brilliantly grey eyes.
-"Darling, if you only new..." - she said cynically, getting up the chair, and walking around her desk to him.
-"I know more than enough" - he said grabbing her brittle arm.
-"No, you don't" - she said sweetly, putting her hand around his waist and drawing her body closer to his. He felt warm and cuddly so close to her. Ancilla would always swear that there is something sadist in his pure blood.
-"What is between you and Lucius Malfoy?" - he asked, humbly. He twisted her arm. It hurt.
-"Honey..." - she whined - "how many time I have to tell you that I'm not a masochist. It doesn't turn me on."
-"Answer my question." - He gritted his teeth.
-"Honestly, do you think I would ever tell if there was anything between Lucius Malfoy and moi?" - she said, looking at him.
He said nothing.
-"Now, let me mesmerise you" - she said, kissing him.
Calvin gave in. Those were the rare moments when she'd show some affection to him, even thought the affection was lucid sham.
James interrupted. Ancilla knew he did it on purpose.
-"Err boss, there is a meeting at the Ministry is fifteen minutes that would prudent of you if you attended" - he said in angelic voice with vivid eyes on them. This is the time when James resembled an adorable cupid.
Ancilla's husband send a loathsome stare at James.
-"Don't you see I'm busy" - she turned around and snapped at him.
-"Well, then I shall go, and you come when you're - er - finished" - James was about to close the door. -"And don't be late."
Ancilla arrived just before the rendezvous was about to start. She entered one of the mosques of the Ministry building where the meeting was held. Long noir table was there. A seat somewhere in the middle was not occupied. There she sat, beside James Potter.
James smiled at her, blinking his eyes. Ancilla was to say something rude to him, but the Minister of the Magic raised from his seat, and kindly asked everyone for their attention.
-"As you know, I gather you all here to discuss a very important issue" - he used his most formal phonation. -"Lord Voldemort has previous night killed seven more people. Seven inculpable Muggles are dead. Now, a thing that we need to discuss are the Death Eaters."
Grim wave passed everyone. Ancilla caught Lucius' eyes who was sitting few chair in front of her at the opposite side. Than he looked around, and few other people, the Death Eaters sent her a clear message: 'They can't possible know for any of us... ...can they?"
-"The coterie of people involved with Lord Voldemort is growing. It's hard to get into the inner circle, but I may suspect that some of inner clique people are present in this room, right now" - his voice was shrill and accented.
-"Minister, if someone was taking care of her job, they'd all be in Azkeban now" - a middle aged wizard said.
-"Don't you Bartemius Crouch tell me how to run my function. Getting them in has nothing to do with how secured the jail is" - Ancilla snapped in such a sharp voice that it was more than rational to put your fingers in your ears. Chasm between them was there from when they met.
-"Oh please, jail is so poorly led that anyone could escape" - he said, ridiculing her.
-"So that's the way you think? How about I get you in there and see if you can run away" - she said triumphantly.
-"Not all of us would agree with you, Crouch" - said scrawny wizard, sitting at the top of table.
-"Now Nott, that is really biased opinion. It's not how you define 'everyone'" - Arthur Weasley said tranquilly, from the back of the table.
-"Everyone please, we are not here to discuss how I lead Azkeban. As Minister said, we are here to debate about all terror happening in our world" - Ancilla said, getting up.
-"Deitrich, would you please sit down" - said the Minister luridly. Ancilla did so, face ghastly, shooting abhorrent stares at Crouch. Crouch was apparently happy with himself.
-"As I said" - the Minister continued - "There is more and more followers to Lord Voldemort..."
-"Objection" - self-enthusiastic young wizard of Muggle heritage said.
-"Yes" - Minister eagerly looked all the way at the of the table.
-"Why 'Lord Voldemort'?"
-"Pardon?" - The Minister questioned.
-"Isn't it safer to say You-Know-Who?" - He asked. He was a bit nervous when everyone at the table sent their eyes at him.
-"It won't kill you to say a name" - Ancilla Deitrich said scornfully. Now all the stared were at her side.
-"Yeah especially if he's your master" - Crouch growled quietly through his teeth. Everyone heard. More than few people couldn't agree more with what Crouch just uttered.
They were all anxious to know Ancilla's reply.
-"You have no solid proof to make even a hypothesis" - everyone heard Lucius Malfoy retorting to Crouch, before Ancilla could ever open her mouth.
-"And what gives you right to take her side, Malfoy" - Arthur Weasley was unexpected to speak in such a turbulent tone with such impulsiveness.
-"Are you perhaps saying that I'm on the Dark Side?" - his voice got dangerous note and her hands took all the pressure.
-"It's just a hypothesis" - Arthur Weasley said quietly, even though no one asked him. This was regular thing in the Ministry of Magic; answering the question on which you were even asked.
-"Fine. Go than to your Muggle world and wait until Lord Voldemort slaughters you with all those Muggles. Than you can theorise. I'll be glad to look over your ideologies" - Lucius Malfoy said. People were shocked by his straightforwardness.
-"Lucius" - said the Minister, biting his lips. -"If you still have any decency left in you, which you obviously don't because you said this, you must apologise to Arthur Weasley."
Lucius waited a second, his hands sweating.
-"I am awfully sorry I said this. I certainly did not mean to; it just flew out of my mouth" - he didn't seem sorry at all. He was so monotone in his tone that it obvious that he would repeat this again and again.
Lucius glanced around the table. Ancilla send him a delighted, blissful gaze, with eyes shining impressively. He gave her a small, reserved smile. He found a similar reaction to Ancilla's from few other of his friends, including Macnair and Nott. They all quasi-openly supported what he'd just done.
-"I would really beg you all not to get off the topic with your individual quarrels" - Minister said, and this time he wasn't kidding. Then he returned to his original theme. -"There are more and more followers of Lord Voldemort. I've commissioned several more units to work on this. New Aurors will be necessary..." - the Minister stopped for a second, and looked at Crouch. -"And of course, the person that is working to stop all that heterodoxy is, of course: Bartemius Crouch."
Barty looked around, his face shining.
The meeting was obliged with few more arguing that weren't so benign.
-"I'm not going with you anywhere else" - James said in disgust as the meeting ended, everyone was leaving.
Ancilla wanted to go, but Lucius motioned her to stay. James knew he wasn't invited, but nothing malign could happen if he stayed few more seconds. He was really curious what will happen.
-"Congratulations Lucius. That was such a nice recitation against all the nonconformity in our class" - Macnair shook Lucius' hand while Arthur Weasley passed. Arthur Weasley pretended he didn't hear what Walden just said.
When everything was clear, Lucius proposed Ancilla to follow him. James was gone already.
-"Where are we going?" - she asked.
-"My office" - he said, provocatively.
They entered.
-"Your office is much larger than mine" - she said enviously as he closed the door behind her.
-"Lets not consider those matters now" - he said, hugging her around her waist, and dragging her off to his seat. She sat in his lap.
-"What matters should we get into?" - she patter his silver hair.
-"Business" - he sneered.
-"That's so boring."
-"Well, what can I do? Anyhow, you don't seem to be cherishing that Barty Crouch much, do you?" - he asked, concealedely running with his eyes all over her.
-"Where could you get such an idea? I unconditionally adore him" - she said, sarcastically.
-"Well in that circumstance vengeance is always sweet" - he pulled her to himself. She put her hand on his face, stoking his cheek.
-"What did you have on your mind?" - she smirked.
-"He seems so counter-affected by all the charms of the Dark Arts, doesn't him? How would he feel if he'd found out his little baby boy was into all of it? We shall persuade li'l Barty Crouch Jr that there's no life in anything else accept Dark Arts" - he said, spitefully.
-"Lucius, you bastard, I can't express how much I love you" - she was mesmerised by him. She loved him more than anything.
-"Mon cheré, of course you love me. I'm adorable and aimiable. Well, of course, I love you, too" - he said, kissing her libidinously.
Their plan was like this: Severus must help them. He was at Hogwarts.
In the meantime, Professor Snake died of heart-attack, leaving Severus behind. It was cause for no major changes at Hogwarts. Things ran the same way. Soon enough, Professor Larsen of Astronomy department retired. Dumbledore somehow knew it would be the most prudent to put Snape as a head of Slytherin house. He favoured the most. Slytherins also liked him.
The boy, named after his father, Barty Crouch was at Hogwarts, in the house of Revenclaw. He was sixth year. The Dark Lord would be enchanted if a son a great anti-Dark Side leader was on his side.
-"Tsk, tsk, tsk, your malfeasance is incredible" - Snape said, resting his head on his arms. He was sitting in a chair, inside his chambers at Hogwarts. Ancilla and Lucius came to visit.
-"Precious, Severus is flattering us so much" - Ancilla sneered at Lucius who sat beside her on a sate. They were holding each other's hand, and constantly shooting each other hungry looks.
-"Severus we know how brilliant we are in our conspiracies, but please" - he sneered rubbing her hand on his knee.
-"You got me into this shit, didn't you?" - he asked, dully. -"And now you want me to ruin boy's life?"
-"Honey, you're not ruining only his life. You're ruining his father's life, too" - Ancilla said, smiling broadly. Lucius mirthfully hugged her, pressing his mouth to her dark hair.
-"Also, maybe someday in the future, he would join the Dark Forces? Why to wait, when we give him this special offer with our testimonial" - Lucius said in voice of those guys on TV that advertise products.
-"Whatever" - said Severus.
Ancilla smiled maliciously. -"I told you he's the best person for this" - she told Lucius. He patted her neck, and kissed her.
Bartemius Crouch Jr was a fine young lad. He was getting good marks and his behaviour could use as example to other students (not like some of them followed it, though). Severus remembered him as a little Revenclaw boy when he was going to Hogwarts. He never knew him well, though.
-"As soon as you clear everything behind you" - Snape was saying to the students of Revenclaw, sixth year - "you're dismissed. Accept you Crouch, I want to see you after class."
-"Yes, professor" - little sand haired boy said, as he stood in front of Snape's wooden catedra. Severus Snape waited until everyone left and the door were closed to start speaking to little Crouch.
-"You seem very good at every subject, Crouch" - he said sharply. Barty wanted to say something, but Snape cut him, saying:
-"I daresay, would you ever be interested in Dark Arts?"
-"They are bad" - said he, ingenuously. Abstract vision of his father telling him about good and bad, and about his father's negligence and ignorance swapped him.
-"It all depends in what function you use them" - Snape said slowly. -"You're a admirable little schoolboy. As long as you use them properly they can only benefit you in your studies and help you understand things."
-"It won't hurt me to try" - Barty said.
-"It certainly won't. Be here tomorrow, seven sharp. You're dismissed" - Snape watched as little boy carried all of his books outside.
He was sixteen years old, nearly seventeen, but he was still so tiny and so juvenile.
-"I hear" - cold voice pierced everyone's ears - "that there is a lot of things going on at the Ministry. No one informs me, though. I would like to know why?"
Death Eaters, all of them, with no acceptation shivered. Something nasty is about to happen.
-"Nott, you, with your high position among those Ministry idiots, you must know what's happening" - Lord Voldemort said, looking at him.
A drop of sweat fall over Nott's face under the mask everyone with no acceptation were wearing.
-"My Lord, I was just about..."
-"I don't care for that" - Voldemort was ominously drawing his wand. -"Why didn't you?"
-"Because I am brainless idiot" - said Nott miserably.
-"Crucio" - Voldemort hissed. -"If you were a brainless idiot, you certainly wouldn't be here. Not that any of you are far away from that, I would daresay. Now, answer me my question."
-"Because I just didn't. I showed delinquency to you, my Lord" - Nott was saying. Other Death Eaters felt glad at the same time that Dark Lord was spilling all his anger on someone else than them, but they all knew very goo how it feels to be Nott right now.
-"Snape, you tell me, is it in every circumspect intelligent to show delinquency to your Master?" - he suddenly turned to other side.
-"No, my Master. It is far worse than offensive."
-"Than why don't you report me about you doings?" - Dark Lord approached cloaked figure that was he though was Snape.
-"I can't give you the rightful answer, my Lord. I am most miserable creature comparing to your exaltedtedness. Whatsoever, I have an important matter on my mind that I would gladly beg to discuss with you." - Snape said. It was a moment of wrath when Lord Voldemort realised he didn't approach Severus Snape, but a figure beside him.
-"And what would it be?" - he went over to real Snape.
-"There is a way to revenge one of the biggest idiots on the other side. Bartemius Crouch is real nuisance. He wouldn't unquestionably want his little son going over to our side?" - Severus was saying.
-"Who's plan is it? Yours?"
-"No, it's Lucius Malfoy's plan" - Severus said. Dark Lord turned to Lucius Malfoy. He gave a sadist face to Malfoy. The expression was so untrustworthy that at the moments the Dark Lord could turn to praise Lucius or torture him.
-"Lucius... how eccentric from you to come up with something like this? Where did you get such an idea?"
-"Literature. Turning the son against his father is something quite common." - Lucius said, oily.
-"Son overpowering his father? Such a keen plan" - the Dark Lord said. -"But that's so bizarre from you Lucius. You were always getting so well with your father. Remember when he was in my service?"
-"Before he died" - Lucius said uncomfortably.
-"Yes, exactly" - the Dark Lord said. -"This sounds as a good plan. Make sure it works out good" - Lord Voldemort said, menacingly.
-"If there is any littlest proof that you anyhow might be involved with the You-Know-Who, the Ministry has right to ask you for a trial." - James Potter read.
-"Give me that here" - Ancilla snatched the newspaper from his hands. They were working in Ancilla's, office on a typical Friday afternoon.
-"Calm down. Are you scared that they might suspect you being involved into that" - James said.
-"I'm not" - Ancilla snapped at him.
-"So why are you fussing so much?" - he asked.
-"Because Crouch hate me. He would do anything to get me accused of being Lord Voldemort's follower" - she sat on her chair, and tensely read over the article.
