Chapter 3: Gathering Items
Still not sure where this is going, but I have a better understanding how to get there.
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It had been a few days since he had talked to Severus and Voldemort had time to think about things. He had been right to talk to the man. Severus had reported to him a few times that Harry was wary of the headmaster and his friends. Well, that is what his actions indicated. He was keeping what happened at the graveyard to himself. So far, he had only told the Bones woman, which Tom had no problem with. He knew she had nothing to go on, since he had so far kept a low profile.
Voldemort felt it was time to do something about his horcruxes, so he called Lucius to him. "I need you to bring me my diary and have your wife retrieve the cup from Bella's vault," he told the man and then almost groaned out loud at the look of fear that cross the other man's face.
"My lord," Lucius said, there was panic in his voice, and his body shook from it, "I fear that your diary was destroyed," he said, without giving away that it was his fault.
"Pray tell, how?" Voldy asked in a soft menacing tone. He looked at the man before him with such a look that made him feel like he was an ant about to be stepped on. One wrong move and he was done for.
"I… I… well, you see, my lord… I gave it to the Weasley girl to discredit her father," Malfoy said, his hands were shaking so bad that he was having a hard time hiding them in his robes. His brow was wet with sweat, it rolled down into his eyes, making him blink trying not to show just how scared he was.
"And how did this lead to it being destroyed?" the Dark Lord asked, his voice was still soft as silk. He was a hairsbreadth away from killing the man.
"I did not know what it was, and it possessed the child. She opened the Chamber of Secrets and let loose the basilisk," Lucius said softly almost a whisper, still shaking in fear. It was so overwhelming that he was standing by sheer will alone. "Harry Potter went to the Chamber and killed the basilisk and destroyed your diary," he finished, and fell to his knees, burying his face in the floor. "Please, forgive me, my lord. I knew not what I did," he begged, praying that the man spared his family from punishment.
"Lucius, you have disappointed me," Voldemort said as he stood to pace in front of his throne. He wanted to kill the man, but he still had his uses. Not many mind you, and they could be done by others, but he could be of use for one more thing. "Since you have lost me one of my treasures, you will help me retrieve another," he said, stopping his pacing.
"Yes, my lord. Thank you, my lord," Lucius said, relief evident in his tone.
"Yes, go and tell your wife to get my cup from her sister's vault. Then return here with it," Tom said, sitting down and waving the man away. He needed a patsy and Lucius would do just fine. Sure, the man had money, but he was a coward in all else and his son and wife would do in his stead.
Malfoy didn't question his reprieve, he just skedaddled out of the room and mansion as fast as he could. He went home and told his wife what was requested of her. She should have no issue getting into Bella's vault since she had the key. It was entrusted to her when Bellatrix was incarcerated by the bank as her next of kin. It would have gone to Andromeda as the eldest, but she was disinherited.
Voldemort was going to get his ring. He needn't worry about the curses or protections; he had set them after all. He made his way to the shack with ease and walked through all the protections and removed each as he went. When he got to the ring, he simply removed the curse with a counter-curse. He then put the ring on his finger and relished the feeling of having a part of his soul so nearby. He knew he was doing the right thing. It almost made him feel complete.
He returned to the mansion and called Wormtail. "Go to Hogwarts and to the Room of Requirements, there you will find a diadem. Bring that crown to me. Do you know where the Room of Requirements is?" he asked the sniveling rat-like man.
"No, my lord," Peter said, groveling on the ground like the coward he was. He was so scared of the Dark Lord it boggled the man's mind that he had the courage to bring him back from his near death.
"Go to the seventh floor. Find the tapestry of a man teaching trolls to dance. Pace three times on the wall opposite. Think of what you want. In this case the diadem. A door will appear and what you want will be behind the door. Not even you can mess it up," Voldemort said, a sneer in his tone.
"Yes, my lord," Wormtail said, shrinking down to his rat form and scurrying from the room. He was afraid the Dark Lord would curse him if he stayed in his human form.
"I should have killed that man as soon as he brought me back," Tom said to his snake. He pulled out a book on Arithmancy and started going over what he needed to reabsorb his horcruxes.
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Harry was having the time of his life. He finally found a place that he could hide from everyone. So, when he wasn't in classes, he was in this wicked room with all the neat things. He was making out like a bandit. He had sorted through mounds of junk and gotten many useful things from his scrounging. His pockets were full of coin and jewels.
He had read the journal that he had used to write his thoughts in, and it was about a student from long ago. Hogwarts had been much different in that boy's time, which was around the time of the Founders. It was very interesting to read about that time period. They had many different classes than they had now. And they practiced magic differently too. They used staffs then. It was a fascinating read, even if it was hard, being it was in what amounted to a foreign language for all it was English.
The one thing he took away from the diary, was that it was before the Statute of Secrecies. They used magic outside of the wizarding world, though not blatantly. They still did and were not penalized for it. He was fascinated by the life the boy lived, being able to do magic when he wished.
He looked for more journals to see if there were spells that he could find that he could use outside of school. The one he found had a few, but they were things like mending spells, and cleaning spells. Useful, but not what he was looking for. He wanted to be able to protect himself.
He knew that Voldy was alive and might be out to get him. He was still unsure about that. However, the man's Death Eaters wanted him dead. He knew that from the graveyard. They made that loud and clear, and they were willing to question the Dark Lord to do him harm. He didn't think that old Tommy boy could protect him from them all. So, he was going to find ways to protect himself.
While he was sorting through some more stuff, he recalled his visit with his godfather the day before.
Flashback
"So, are you free now?" Harry asked as they sat near the Forbidden Forest. Sirius had come to see him in his dog form and Harry took him to a spot that no one could see them from the castle.
"Not yet, but close. My solicitor says they don't have any reason to put me to death. So, at least the Kiss on Sight order is stopped. Their case has too many holes in it. That and I was never arrested properly, and never given a trial. They were supposed to give me a trial within thirty days of my incarceration," Sirius said, grinning smugly. He was happy over the circumstances that were leading to him being free. He was upset that it had been Harry that had to put it all in motion and not one of the adults in his life.
He knew he could never have done it. They would have never listened to him, or Moony. What with him being a werewolf. However, Dumbledore, there was a man who could have gotten him a trial last year, or this year, with little to no trouble at all. He didn't know what the man's excuse was, but he wasn't buying it. Right now, Dumbles was asking to use his home to hold Order of the Phoenix meetings. He was giving him the go ahead, if only to keep a closer eye on the manipulative old man.
"Don't you want people to know you're innocent though?" Harry asked, worried that others would think his godfather got off on a technicality. He knew that a lot of people still didn't trust the likes of Malfoy Sr. because he didn't go to trial. He bought his way free, saying he was Imperius. That was the rumor, and he was worried they would say the same about Sirius.
"Of course, but if I force a trial, that will set a precedent, and that would be a bad thing for future cases," the dogman said, his voice serious for once. He put his hand on Harry shoulder to show he understood where the boy was coming from. "I know you're worried, but don't be. I'll figure out a way to prove my innocence. Even if I have to write a book."
He would do just that too. He had no issue telling the world what a corrupt government they were being ruled under. He would spill every dirty secret his family knew and sue the pants off all those that threw him in that hellhole. He was just that angry over the whole ordeal.
"I guess," Harry said, not sure what that meant, but trusting that the adults knew what they were talking about. Well, Sirius and Bones at the very least. They seemed to know what they were doing.
Harry wondered if he could just prove that Pettigrew was alive would do the trick. After all, that was the biggest crime that Sirius was being accused of. If Voldemort was being 'nice' right now, maybe he could prove it by handing over Wormtail. He could ask the man.
'I wonder if he'll take my owl,' Harry thought, shooting his godfather a look at that thought.
"So, how are things going with you?" Sirius asked, changing the topic. He was sure that he would be free soon and he could take custody of his godson. He couldn't wait to do so either. There were so many things he wanted to do to make up for the years they spent apart. They barely knew each other, and he was going to do something about that.
"Maddening," Harry said, gloomily. "Well, it's been better now that I've found a place to hide. But the fact that I need a place to hide is ridiculous," he added, picking at the grass, and throwing it in front of him in frustration.
"Why do you feel the need to hide?" Sirius asked, concerned over that. He thought he was getting along better with his friends since the first task. That Ron kid had been a prat until then. But he had apologized, right?
"Everyone won't stop asking me what happened at the last task. They keep harping on me, even after I tell them I can't tell them. I mean, what can I do? I say I can't say, and they continue asking me," Harry huffed, still throwing grass around in irritation.
"Who is doing the asking?" his godfather wanted to know. If it was just a bunch of strangers, then he could understand why the kid was upset. He hated it went people thought it was their business to get in his.
"Dumbledore and my friends, mostly," was the reply. There was a groaning tone in that voice.
"Why aren't you telling them?" a confused man asked. He thought that Harry told them everything. He remembered that he didn't have any secrets from his friends. Though he could understand why he wasn't telling Dumbledore. He wasn't on good terms with the old man either.
"Madam Bones asked me not to," Harry said, suddenly wary. Was Sirius going to make him tell his friends? Was he going to have him break his word? Not that he would, but he hoped that Sirius wasn't going to get serious on him. No pun intended.
"Well, that's different then," Sirius said, giving the cautious boy a smile. "One must listen to powerful witches. Especially ones with badges," he added, giving the boy a wink.
Harry sighed in relief. His godfather wasn't going to make him do anything. Maybe he'd be one more adult he could trust.
End flashback.
It had been a good talk and Harry had learned a bit about his godfather in the time they spent together. When Sirius had left, Hermione had found him and apologized. She said she had no idea why she acted the way she had the last few days. He had accepted her apology and studied with her, but he didn't tell her about this room. At least not yet.
He found a few more journals but they were mostly witches diaries, and were full of romance, which is not what he wanted to read. He put them back and looked around some more. He didn't find what he was looking for, but he found some more money and jewels.
He was leaving the room when he spotted a fancy crown. He wondered whose it was and was about to take it when it disappeared. He wondered what happened when he noticed that his door was gone too. He ran to where it was supposed to be and banged on the wall. After a minute it opened again. He wrenched it open and saw Peter Pettigrew running down the hall.
"Wormtail!" he hollered as he gave chase. He drew his wand and started firing off spells, one after the other.
The other man was too wily though and turned into a rat. Harry didn't let that stop him from chasing him though. He quickly took out his map and continued down the hall following the dot. He shoved people out of the way and went into the secret passages. Until he ran into Snape right outside the castle.
"Professor, it's Wormtail," he said, then remembered the man had no idea who that was. "Pettigrew," he said, pointing to the dot. "I need to catch him," he added, desperation laced his tone.
Snape took up the map and saw who the boy was pointing at and where it was. "He's gone," the dour man said, seeing the rat was by the Whomping Willow. "You will never get there in time," he added, giving him the map back. "Put that away before I confiscate it," he ordered, more than willing to let the child keep something that would see him safe.
"Blast and damnation," Harry said, tucking the map away. He nodded his thanks to the potions master and slumped his shoulders and walked away. He had been so close.
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Snape was on the cusp of making a discovery. A mental one. He had been observing those around him with new eyes, and he didn't like what he saw. More he didn't like what he saw about himself. He had fallen into a state of compliance. Everything he had done these last fourteen or so years had been menial. They meant nothing in the great scope of things. Who cares who won the House Cup or Quidditch. They were not important.
He should have been working on what to do if the Dark Lord returned and keeping Harry Potter safe. Yet he relied on the word of the headmaster and fell into a slump.
After Lily died, he let others lead him around in a state of funk, and he had never fully recovered from that. He let himself be blinded by hate against everything he perceived that caused her death. Himself, Harry Potter, James Potter, Voldemort, and Peter Pettigrew. He forgotten that Albus had promised to protect her. It was why he had given the vow to protect Harry in the first place.
Now, he remembered; Albus failed. Spectacularly.
Was his vow even valid anymore? Did he want to test it? No. He would see Potter safe if it killed him. And it probably would. How was he to do this though? The boy would be returning to his home in a few short days. Where he was sure the boy was abused or neglected at the very least.
He would be behind the wards that would keep him and the Dark Lord out. Or would they? He only had Dumbledore's word on that, and right now, he did not trust that man.
He had been going over all his interactions with the old man these last few years and he too had been led around like a sheep. Albus had been feeding him just what he wanted to hear. If he asked about the welfare of Potter, so he was fulfilling his vow, he was told the boy was being spoiled rotten and in good health. That satisfied the vow, and Snape's thoughts that the boy was just like his father.
That was just what Dumbledore wanted him to think. He knew that now. As long as Snape thought that, he would treat the boy poorly. Why though? That was something that Severus didn't understand. What was the point of making them enemies? Was it so the boy would do badly in his subject? Or was there something else?
Either way, Snape was done playing the old man's game. He was going to treat everyone the same. Even the children in his House. Those spoiled brats would be getting the same demotions and praises as anyone else. The days they were going to walk over Severus Snape were at an end.
He knew from his earlier interaction with Potter, a way that the Dark Lord could get in the boy's good graces. He would relay the event to the man, and they could turn the rat in to the authorities. That would help free Black, though he was loath to do that, and put them in a better light in the boy's eyes.
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Voldemort was waiting for Malfoy to return. He had his ring and his snake. Wormtail was off getting the diadem, and the diary was dead. Hopefully, Malfoy would be bringing the cup with him.
"I am here, my lord," Malfoy said as he hurried into the room. He carried the cup with him, and he knelt down holding it out to the other man.
"Ah, thank you, Lucius," Voldemort said, floating the cup to him with some wandless magic. He placed it at his side with Nagini. "Come, we have somewhere to be," he said, standing and holding his arm out for the other man to take for a side-along apparation.
Malfoy got up quickly and grabbed the robe on the arm. He knew he was in enough trouble for destroying the diary. He didn't dare make Voldemort wait a second too long.
Tom disapparated as soon as he felt Lucius's touch. They appeared at a cliff's face. Voldemort cut his hand and smeared his blood on the rock face. An opening appeared. They went into the dark cave. Both lit their wands and faced a black lake that held a single boat.
"Come," was all Voldemort said as he stepped into the boat.
Malfoy followed silently. He looked at the dark and dank cavern and wondered if it would be his grave. A shiver went up his spine and he was nervous to enter what he was sure to be the last place he would ever see.
They rowed across the lake in silence. The only sound was the oars as they slid into the water. And they were soon at the other end.
Voldemort waved his hand and there was light on the wall. There on a ledge of rock was a chalice surrounded by lit candles and filled with a red liquid.
"Drink," Tom ordered his minion. He knew it would kill him in the end, but he didn't care. Lucius's usefulness had come to an end.
"My lord?" Lucius questioned, fearing that he was about to die. He hoped his wife would avenge him, though he knew she would fail if she tried. His son would fare no better.
"Drink or I will force you to," was the command.
"Yes, my lord," Malfoy said, taking up the cup with shaky hands. He drank until he couldn't anymore. He was about to put the chalice down, only for it to be forced to his lips. He drank more. His head was fuzzy, he couldn't think clearly, and he was so thirsty. This that he was drinking was not quenching his need for water.
"Enough," the Dark Lord said, grabbing the chalice and letting the man drop to the ground and crawl to the lake's edge.
The Inferi were there immediately, they reached out and grabbed the man and dragged him under. Lucius screamed and floundered as he was dragged under. He tried to struggle to get to dry land, but the Inferi were stronger than him and he was soon underwater and not making any noise. His last thoughts were of his family and how he should have never taken the Dark Mark.
Voldemort paid them no attention. He took out the necklace and was angry right away. This was not his horcrux. He could feel that. He opened the locket and read the note. He didn't know whether to be amused or upset that Regulus had gotten the better of him or not.
At least he knew where the necklace probably was. How he was going to get there was a different story.