---Malfoy Manor---

Lucius and Narcissa were in the secret area in their basement. There was a pot on the floor. On each side of them, there stood a man in dark robes.

The owl Pakria flew through the open window near the ceiling, then perched on the branch.

Narcissa grabbed the vial. "Is this the ashes?"

Lucius nodded. "Yes. Bring them."

She took it over to Lucius. "Here. Shall we begin?"

Lucius took the vial and poured it into the pot, then emptied the pouch of animal hair which Draco had obtained from Hagrid.

Narcissa turned the bottle upside down..the liquid poured into the mix, creating a swirling vapor around them.

The four of them held hands now, while Lucius chanted the incantation in an ancient dialect. "Terminus reversicus. Livio el restoro. El domine perdicus elm barstakus incantium, rudimente decorum, resurrectus spiritu..Alti!" He pointed his wand at the pot.

Following his example, the rest of them did the same. They yelled three times in unison, "Restorusa Espirito, *Alti*!"

As if on cue, the spirit of the shamaness began to materialize within their circle. She started to appear transparent at first, like the specter that she was. In moments, she began to take form, her body was soon a solid mass of her past self. She looked around at everyone, until her eyes rested on Lucius. "Impressive." She touched her clothes, satisfied that she was living once more. "Yes..you are very useful. You-Know-Who spoke highly of you. I'll try to put in a good word for you."

Lucius bowed reverently. "My thanks..it was our pleasure. Perhaps now that you're back, you can uphold your end of the bargain? To bring our lord to his full strength, that we may better destroy his enemies."

"It's taken care of. *His* lord has already made preparations to arrange this. He has sent his emissary on our behalf."

Lucius asked, "And..who would he be?"

Alti replied, "*She*..is his daughter. The Daughter of Darkness. The goddess reborn."

Narcissa seemed to swoon at that, grinning wickedly. "Ahh..yes. Hope, the daughter of Dahak and that irritating Gabrielle.."

Lucius looked at her curiously. "What do you mean? You never mentioned her before."

She smiled, "Well, now. If I told you, that would ruin the surprise..wouldn't it, Luci *dear*? We were close friends once upon a time. She was so *naughty* back then, in the good old days. Back when life was so simple. I just hope she hasn't lost her touch. It's been so long! I wonder if she remembers me." She shook her head in frustration. "Uhh..right. What was I saying?"

Lucius said, "Nothing important."

Alti looked at Narcissa curiously. "Hmm..there's something about you. I sense a soul in conflict, caught between this world..and the one you knew before. Don't fight it, Narcissa. Give in to it, let it lead you through your darkness. For it is in darkness that you find your true potential."

The witch shivered, trying not to let Alti's words bring out her other self again. She felt that her control over the warrior Callisto was lessening by each passing moment. "Uh, sure. I'll consider.. this..later."

Alti glanced at the Durmstang wizards. "But enough of this. You two..I thank you for the role you played in my resurrection. But now, I fear that you have outlived your usefulness." She kicked the pot aside and grabbed each of them by the throat, holding them one foot in the air.

They gasped for air, struggling to get free, but it was all in vain. Their minds were instantly assaulted with violent images of their future.

*************************************************

[Voldemort yelled at the first mage, "You two FAILED me..you were supposed to bring Potter to me!"

The wizard protested, "No, my Lord, I-"

"Enough!" He pointed his wand at the first mage. "Engorgio! Densaugeo!"

The sorcerer's skin started to swell up, getting red, expanding, his teeth began to ache as they were unnaturally extending.]

*************************************************

It was happening to the first Durmstang wizard now, exactly as he saw in the vision. His skin stretched, then his teeth began to grow outward, like beaver's teeth, they were now extending past the chin. He opened his mouth to cry out, but no sound came..

*************************************************

[Voldemort pointed at the second failure. "Furniculus!"

He started to break out, his skin made popping noises, blistering with disease.

The Dark One pointed a second time at him. "Diffindio!"

Sections of his skin began to tear, as if being split open by invisible knives.]

*************************************************

The second wizard's pain was continuing, as cancerous boils began to appear all over his body, festering with disease..and worse, they began to burn, becoming instantly inflamed. Then his skin was being torn apart, as he felt his insides start to tear up violently. He groaned in agony as knife wounds appeared on his flesh.

*************************************************

[Voldemort waved his wand at both of them, then yelled angrily,
"Aveda Kedavra!"

A green light came from the wand, hitting both of the incompetent Death Eaters.]

*************************************************

Their bodies were surrounded in a greenish aura. They screamed in torment, their life being slowly drained out of them..

Alti tightened her grip on them.

Their eyes rolled back into their head, choking for air. Near death now, they started to writhe in anxiety, their souls in turmoil.

But the shamaness would not let them go out out so easily. In one swift motion, she jerked her fingers, squeezing their necks in a fury.

CRRAAACCKKK!!! Their necks broken, the bodies went limp.

Alti let them go, watching them fall to the cold basement floor, dead.

Lucius and Narcissa stared at Alti in shock, apparently unprepared for such savagery. They nervously started to back away from her.

Alti looked at them and smiled, breathing a sigh of pleasure.
"Ahhh. A *lifetime* of pain..in one exquisite moment."

Lucius said, "Uhh..yes, well..you seemed to enjoy it." In all his years as a Death Eater under Lord Voldemort, he had never witnessed such torture and destruction..and he thought he had known them all. Was it possible? Could this woman be *worse* than You-Know-Who?

Narcissa asked, "So, Alti. What shall we do now?"

Alti replied, "Now that I'm once again human, I can get to work on our plan. I will search the school for a body, someone decent and honorable. Strong, yet innocent. It won't be a Slytherin, I know that much." She smirked at Lucius. "No offense."

He nodded. "None taken. What will happen to this..student?"

"I will need Hope for this. She will be useful in the unholy magic needed to assist me. I will prepare a ritual for this person's sacrifice. Once I separate their soul from the body, Hope will pave the way for Voldemort to inhabit the corpse's remains. If we are successful..he will return to full strength, in a body of his own, chosen for him."

Narcissa said, "Excellent."

Alti said, "Now..I should return to Hogwarts."

Lucius handed his wand to Alti. "Use this. At the last moment, let go of it."

Alti exclaimed "Apparate!" As she began to disappear, she opened her hand.

It fell to the floor as she was magically transported to the school..