WhenNight Falls

by

Darkhaven

Chapter One

The Return



Lord Voldemort was sitting in a chair in the study of the Riddle house.

"Wormtail, give me your arm. It is time for my followers to let the world now that I have returned, and that my second reign has begun." With that, he touched the Dark Mark on Pettigrew's arm, muttering "Mordessignus"

In Malfoy Manor, Lucius Malfoy, who had been giving orders to Crabbe and Goyle, stood up from the chair in his study and apparated, followed by the others.

McNair was in the midst of a conversation with a fellow employee of the Ministry of Magic, when he felt the signal. Muttering something to the effect that he was late for an appointment, he quickly left the building, apparating as soon as he had passed the defensive wards which surrounded the Ministry.

Snape, wandering the halls of Hogwarts following his meeting with Dumbledore, went pale as his arm started to burn. He quickly ran to his chambers, and after quickly scribbling a note to the Headmaster, he threw Floo Powder into his fire.

Avery was sleeping when the call came. He leapt out of his bed, and, after hurriedly throwing on some clothing, apparated to the Riddle house.

Far away, in the forests of Siberia, Karkaroff shivered, feeling the Dark Mark begin to burn. 'I am a dead man if he finds me,' he thought. With that, he shouldered his pack and went deeper into the wilderness, hoping to find someplace remote enough that Voldemort could never find him.

Lord Voldemort sat back in his chair, waiting for his followers to appear. Avery was the first, followed by Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, and McNair. A few minutes later, Snape finally entered the room.

"I have called you here because it is time for the wizarding world to know that I have returned from my long exile. We will start anew where it previously was thought to end, in Godric's Hollow." With these words, his red eyes flashed. "Avery, Crabbe, Goyle, McNair; I have summoned you because you are the closest to our target. Inform my followers in the area to meet at midnight tomorrow night, when we will strike. Now, all of you may leave except for Snape and Malfoy." After their departure, Voldemort turns to Snape.

"Severus, I am... displeased... at your tardiness."

"But my lord, I was --"

"Crucio." Snape began to scream. After a what seemed like an eternity, Lord Voldemort lifted the curse. "Why did you not join me on the night of my return to the living, Severus? Karkaroff betrayed me, by naming my supporters to the Ministry. For that, he will die. Do you wish to suffer the same fate?

"No, my lord. Please forgive me. Dumbledore was watching. If I had tried to leave, he would have suspected --"

"Crucio" This time, the curse was not lifted until Snape's voice had gone hoarse. "Now, leave, and do not make the same error twice."

"Yes, my lord." After his departure, Voldemort turned towards Malfoy.

"I have a special task for you. After the attack tomorrow, I want you to hunt Karkaroff down and bring him to me. He must pay the price for betrayal." As he said this, his eyes were flashing once again.

"Y...Yes, my lord." With this, Voldemort turned his back on Malfoy. Five minutes later, he looked at him and saw that he still had not moved.

"You have become wiser in the thirteen years since I last saw you. Good. Perhaps there is some hope for you yet. Now, you may leave."

"Yes, my lord." After he apparated, Wormtail emerged from the shadows.

"My lord, --"

"You do not trust Severus, I know, even after all these years."

"No, my lord."

"That is good, as I have a job for you. You will observe every move that he makes. If he makes a single mistake... Avada Kedavra." The green light flashed across the chamber, striking a single rat that was scurrying across the floor. Voldemort walked over and picked it up.

"This will be him."


The next night, Voldemort, accompanied by Wormtail, appeared in front of the twenty Death Eaters that had been summoned to this rendezvous.

"I have returned, and it is time to make our presence felt once more. Tonight, we will attack Godric's Hollow, the place where they thought they had destroyed our cause. Tonight, we will show them that they failed, that we once more stalk the night. Tonight, we show the that my reign will not be denied. Tonight... we go!" With that, the Death Eaters apparated to Godric's Hollow, surrounding the house there.

"Expelliarmus!" The door of the house was blown backwards, and Lord Voldemort entered the building, surrounded by his followers. Inside, a young couple stood against the back wall, the woman holding a baby in her arms while her husband stood in front of her, seeking to protect them. Voldemort laughed.

"Crucio."