The Moonlight Noon Chateau

The Moonlight Noon Chateau

By Hippy Gypsy

Disclaimer: I'm back! Bwahaha! Okay. Don't look so surprised. Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling, that lucky woman her. The Moonlight Noon people belong to me… [looks at Sammy out of the corner of eye, frowns, sarcastic] Lucky me…anyways, new chapter! Enjoy!

Chapter 9: The Diamond Dogs

After that night, it became quite obvious that Severus and Carlotta were in love, so there was no use in hiding it from everyone. But by the next night, everyone had pushed it to the back of there minds. Monsieur Eldder "Voldemort" would be returning that night to the Moonlight Noon, and most likely, bringing his Death Eaters with him. Dumbledore had his whole crew gathered around the bar area. Antonio, Oliver, and Carlotta joined them.

"Do you really think it's wise enough just to show ourselves like this?" Trelawney was asking Dumbledore. "What if he sees us right off and panics? It could be total chaos in a matter of seconds!"

Dumbledore grinned. "He won't. If there's anything I know about him, it's two things. First of all, he can stay remarkably patient when something unexpected happens. And secondly, he wouldn't dare do anything to cause commotion when I'm around." He fiddled with his wand and his eyes twinkled with anticipation.

"So what's your plan for action Albus?" Antonio asked.

"Here's what I'd like to have done. Carlotta, you said the other night that you knew pretty much all of the Diamond Dogs, yes?"

Carlotta nodded. "Oui Monsieur."

"Good. I'd like you to be the waitress at his table tonight. Report back to me who's at his table. Monsieur Safrin, I'd like someone on your staff to find out who else of his crew is around. I don't want an unexpected henchman to show up."

Antonio nodded. "I'll get Sammy out to do some snooping."

"Sammy?" Snape said with an eyebrow raised.

"Do you think that's wise?" Minerva asked Antonio.

Antonio's face became serious. "Trust me. Sammy Boy can sure act immature, but he can be serious when he wants to."

Dumbledore nodded. "That'll work. No one will suspect him. Oliver, I want you behind the bar to let me know if any news comes through you."

Oliver nodded. "Ay ay captain."

"Since I want to know who we're up against before we do anything, that means Carlotta is first up tonight."

Carlotta took a deep breath for comfort and Severus held her hand. "You'll be okay. He's not going to do anything. He doesn't even know you know about him being a fraud."

"I know. I'm just not much of an actress…that's all…"

Oliver shook his head at her. "You just don't get it, do you sweet pea? You have a wonderful stage voice and your looks aren't bad either. You are such a little actress in the making…"

"Oh my heavens," Trelawney breathed. "There he is."

Everyone turned around, and there, descending the staircase, was Lord Voldemort, surrounded by his Death Eaters. He had gone through so many transformations in his life that not one of them could recognize him as Tom Riddle, the long lost head boy. His face was very pale, tight, and deep ruby red eyes gleamed from their sockets. He was dressed in deep midnight black robes and a top hat sat on his head. He took no notice of the bar area and he and the Death Eaters took a booth to the side of the stage.

Carlotta swallowed. "Well, guess that's my cue." She picked up her tray and began to head towards the table, but Snape caught her by the shoulders.

"No fear," he whispered.

"None at all," she replied and went on towards the dark Lord. She put on her best smile when they looked up when she finally broke through the heavy crowd. "Good evening Monsieur Eldder, gentlemen. Glad to see you have returned."

Voldemort looked up at her with his red eyes and smiled, if it could've been called a smile. "Good evening fair Carlotta."

"How was your trip?"

"Not too well, I'm afraid, my dear."

"Might I ask why not Monsieur?"

"It seems an old acquaintance is seeking me out, and I'm not too fond of hearing from him ever again."

Carlotta tried not to shiver. "I'm sorry to hear that. Do you know what you would like to drink this evening?"

As she took each person's drink order, she also wrote down who the Death Eaters were seated with Voldemort.

Avery-brandy

Crabbe-brandy

Malfoy-white wine

Goyle-bourbon

She went back to the bar area and slammed the list down on the top of the counter. Her hands were shaking with fright. Severus took them into his and began to massage them. "They're there. Four of them. Avery, Crabbe, Goyle, and Malfoy," she said.

Oliver looked at the list, blinked twice, and began mixing drinks. It was at that point that Sammy showed up.

"What's up Sammy?" said Antonio. "Give me good news."

"News has been quiet Antonio. But I did find another member of Riddle's band here."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah. Drove the carriage. It's that short, bald guy…I can't think of his name at the moment."

"Peter Pettigrew?" said Carlotta.

"Yeah. That's him."

"Pettigrew?" Dumbledore said his eyes lighting up.

"That's what I said," Sammy said taking a seat. "Ya know him?"

Dumbledore turned and found his whole group smiling in a way that could only be described as evil. He looked at Minerva. "Shall we have some fun?"

"Oh, lets!"

Good ol' Wormtail was waiting outside with the carriage. He tried to imitate the horses and stomped his feet trying to keep warm in the cool night. He longed to make a break for it right then and there, but he knew if he did, somehow, somewhere, good ol' Mr. Riddle would find him. And if not him, Dumbledore would.

He paced around the carriage and turned to find a tabby cat sitting at his feet. It looked up at him with it's square shaped eyes. He glared at it, but it just plain glared back. Finally, he said to it, "What do you want?"

The cat seemed to smile and remarkably said, "The free reign of true love and a utopian society."

Wormtail jumped back and screamed. "Animagi!!" He stumbled into something big, but human. He looked up in terror to find Hagrid standing with his arms crossed and a scowl on his face. Wormtail jumped up and ran, but he was suddenly blocked by the cat (who had turned back into Minerva McGonagall) and Trelawney (who jumped out from behind the carriage). Wormtail's arms were suddenly pinned and a hand slapped across his mouth. He shivered as the venomous voice of Severus Snape whispered in his ear. "Hello Peter. Long time, no see."

Albus Dumbledore stepped out of the darkness. Peter trembled, trapped in Severus' grip. He began to think this was the beginning of the end.

Dumbledore neither scowled nor smiled. "Hello Peter."

Peter whimpered in response.

"Still following Voldemort are you?"

Peter shivered and said something, but it was muffled by Severus' hand.

"Hold him, but let him talk Severus," said Dumbledore.

Severus removed his hand and Peter said, "Do you think I want to stay with him? It's horrible!"

"So leave why don't you," said Minerva.

"Excuse me Kitty!" Peter spat at her. "But he'll kill me if he finds out! Haven't you noticed?!"

Minerva got up and swung her hand back. "What did you call me?!!"

Peter coward again. "Sorry Professor!"

"Lay off him Min," said Trelawney. "He's not worth hitting. He's too pathetic."

Dumbledore stood in front of him. "Peter, it's not too late. You can still change. It's never too late until you're dead. And as far as I can see, you're still alive."

"But that can change all too quickly," Severus sneered into his ear. Peter shivered in terror.

"I…I…I can't…"

Dumbledore sighed deeply. "In that case, pray that you've chosen the right side. Release him Severus."

Severus pushed Peter to the ground. All five of them began to gather around him. "Good luck in this game Peter. May whoever is guarding the gates of heaven have mercy on your soul."

Peter shook with fright as they just stood there glaring at him. But a moment later, Trelawney looked up. "Oh Peter, isn't that your carriage?"

Within the few moments that Peter had spent shaking in fright on the ground, Voldemort's carriage had gotten away from him. He got up and ran after it, forgetting his worst enemies were behind him. But in the next minute that he turned around, they had vanished from sight. They were nowhere to be seen at all.

Peter decided he was safer chasing the horses and ran after them. "Stupid horses! Wait for me!"

Antonio looked up from his conversation with Oliver as Dumbledore and his crew returned to the bar. "How'd it go?" he asked.

Dumbledore smiled. "You should reward Sammy when he returns. He seems to be a natural in stealing carriages when the driver isn't looking."

Everyone sniggered to the floor.

"I knew that boy would one day come in handy," said Antonio in an off-handed way. "So Dumbledore, what happens now?"

Dumbledore glanced across the dance floor to see Carlotta further serving Voldemort's table. "I think it's time you went and met up with your partner, don't you?"

Voldemort had just taken another sip of wine when he noticed Antonio coming his way. He stood up and greeted him as if he were an old friend. "Care to sit with us Antonio? Wonderful turn out tonight," he said smoothly.

Antonio sat, but replied, "Can't stay long Thomas. I've business elsewhere tonight." He turned to Carlotta. "I'll have what he's having." Carlotta hurried off in a bit of a rush.

Voldemort lifted a very pale eyebrow. "She seems a bit distracted tonight."

"She's always distracted about something," Malfoy said into his drink. "She's different from the rest of them."

Antonio nodded. "A family secret she's never revealed to anyone I'm afraid. She's rather quiet sometimes."

"But that doesn't explain why tonight would be any different," responded Voldemort.

"Well like I said, maybe it's her secret." Antonio gained a crooked smile. "We all have our secrets…don't we…Thomas 'Voldemort' Riddle?"

Voldemort and all of his Death Eaters jumped up at once. Not fast enough to attract attention, but enough to show they were alarmed. Voldemort's eyes burned fire and he whispered, "How do you know me?"

Antonio smiled. "Got a bit of a secret myself." He pointed across to the bar area.

Malfoy sneered. "Shit."

Dumbledore and his whole crew sat on the bar top, smiled, and waved merrily to Voldemort across the dance floor. Voldemort went a bit paler than he was before (if it was possible). "Come on. We'll see to this," he whispered. He left Antonio where he was and swept past Carlotta as he and his Death Eaters made their way to the bar.

Dumbledore rose from the bar top and stood high on two feet. When Voldemort reached them, each one of each group stood in front of each other, nearly nose to nose. Malfoy stood in front of Snape. "How goes it Severus?" he sneered, smiling.

"Screw you," Severus replied in an evil whisper.

"What do you want old man?" Voldemort asked rather commonly.

"You gone, but I somehow don't see that happening anytime soon I'm afraid. Now what I want to know is what you are doing here?"

Voldemort stepped back and spread his arms wide. He chuckled deeply. "Can't a man come out for a night and have a drink with his friends in peace?"

"You call yourself a man?" Minerva said.

Crabbe shoved her into the bar top, but Oliver came up from behind the counter and pointed the tip of his wand at Crabbe's throat. "Watch it how you treat ladies around here. You'll regret it if you don't."

Dumbledore turned back to Voldemort. "I don't know what you're trying to pull off Thomas Riddle, but I'm telling you right now you're not going to get away with it. I'm watching you and so is the rest of the Moonlight Noon Chateau."

Voldemort stepped back and motioned for his Death Eaters to follow him. "Very well gramps!" he said walking backwards. "But I still own one half of the Moonlight Noon, and tomorrow, it shall be business as usual! You can't catch me for anything, if I've done nothing wrong! And the next time we meet like this, it may be our last!" He smiled and turned for the stairs. With the Diamond Dogs/Death Eaters in tow, Voldemort walked out the doors of the Moonlight Noon Chateau.

Everyone straightened and Minerva groaned in pain. "That bastard. He bruised my shoulder I think."

Snape glanced at Dumbledore. "It's never over, is it?"

"Never in our lifetime at least."

Note from the Hippy Gypsy: Dun dun dun!!! Voldemort's here now everything is gonna pick up! Weeeee! More to come soon! J