--AN: Just thought I'd warn you, this is going to turn out slashy. Not for
another few chapters, but it'll happen(--
Blaise led Pansy to a tiny clearing. A small fire cast pale orange light on the faces of a few Death Eaters. Pansy could barely recognize Lucius Malfoy from under the black hood of his cloak. She and Blaise were the only students present. She wondered why Draco hadn't been summoned. Blaise had said everyone was waiting for her.
Pansy's thoughts were interrupted by the voice of an old man. "Welcome, my servants," he said. Death Eaters scattered to face him. She squinted in the direction of the voice. What her eyes found astounded her. The man was dressed in ragged muggle clothing, dirty and unkempt. His hair was brown and clumped together. But his face, his face was exactly that of Voldemort.
"Do not be frightened by this disgusting muggle body. I have my reasons for choosing it. A feeble, unobtrusive mind, a common appearance. Other muggles are not threatened by it. It makes my quest much easier." He strode slowly around the small circle. "Good, everyone is present. I will now tell you of my latest plan. Another advantage of using this muggle body is access to its thoughts and memories. A phrase I had not heard before was lost in the back of this muggle's mind. "If you cannot beat them, join them." Pansy glanced at Blaise, who looked slightly confused. "Of course I do not intend to make friends with Albus Dumbledore or Harry Potter. But one of you will." Pansy realized that Voldemort was looking at her and Blaise. She tried not to shiver under his gaze. "Pansy Parkinson, is it?" She nodded. "Take this, girl, and administer it to Mr. Potter while you are alone." Voldemort handed her a vial. "It is a love potion, so you must be the first person he sees after drinking it. Do not discuss this with anyone not present tonight."
Voldemort turned to another Death Eater. "Severus Snape, you will give her an opportunity to complete her task."
"Yes, my Lord."
"Very well then." The Dark Lord walked to the fireside, facing the horseshoe shape his minions had formed. The pale orange of the fire flared up and lit his face more clearly. "This meeting has come to a close. I suggest that each of you return home immediately." He turned around. " Walk this way, and you will be able to apparate." A few of the Death Eaters followed Voldemort in the direction he was walking. Pansy cast around for her parents. It seemed they were not present either. Draco was probably sleeping, and Lucius would just fill him in the next morning, by owl.
As she and Blaise walked silently back to the castle, she wondered what Voldemort had in store for her.
Blaise led Pansy to a tiny clearing. A small fire cast pale orange light on the faces of a few Death Eaters. Pansy could barely recognize Lucius Malfoy from under the black hood of his cloak. She and Blaise were the only students present. She wondered why Draco hadn't been summoned. Blaise had said everyone was waiting for her.
Pansy's thoughts were interrupted by the voice of an old man. "Welcome, my servants," he said. Death Eaters scattered to face him. She squinted in the direction of the voice. What her eyes found astounded her. The man was dressed in ragged muggle clothing, dirty and unkempt. His hair was brown and clumped together. But his face, his face was exactly that of Voldemort.
"Do not be frightened by this disgusting muggle body. I have my reasons for choosing it. A feeble, unobtrusive mind, a common appearance. Other muggles are not threatened by it. It makes my quest much easier." He strode slowly around the small circle. "Good, everyone is present. I will now tell you of my latest plan. Another advantage of using this muggle body is access to its thoughts and memories. A phrase I had not heard before was lost in the back of this muggle's mind. "If you cannot beat them, join them." Pansy glanced at Blaise, who looked slightly confused. "Of course I do not intend to make friends with Albus Dumbledore or Harry Potter. But one of you will." Pansy realized that Voldemort was looking at her and Blaise. She tried not to shiver under his gaze. "Pansy Parkinson, is it?" She nodded. "Take this, girl, and administer it to Mr. Potter while you are alone." Voldemort handed her a vial. "It is a love potion, so you must be the first person he sees after drinking it. Do not discuss this with anyone not present tonight."
Voldemort turned to another Death Eater. "Severus Snape, you will give her an opportunity to complete her task."
"Yes, my Lord."
"Very well then." The Dark Lord walked to the fireside, facing the horseshoe shape his minions had formed. The pale orange of the fire flared up and lit his face more clearly. "This meeting has come to a close. I suggest that each of you return home immediately." He turned around. " Walk this way, and you will be able to apparate." A few of the Death Eaters followed Voldemort in the direction he was walking. Pansy cast around for her parents. It seemed they were not present either. Draco was probably sleeping, and Lucius would just fill him in the next morning, by owl.
As she and Blaise walked silently back to the castle, she wondered what Voldemort had in store for her.