Voldemort, A Dastardly Plan, And A Really Stupid Death Eater.
The moon shone faintly overhead, struggling with the filmy clouds scudding across the midsummer sky. A short man, his breath coming in ragged gasps, leaned weakly against the brick wall of an alley. Beside him stood a tall, commanding presence in black cloak and hood that radiated fear.
After a moment the man stood up, having caught his breath. He turned to the other beside him.
"Here we are, my Lord. What was it you wanted me to do?"
The man's face was unwrinkled and thus betrayed him; it revealed his youth, and his naïveté. He gazed trustingly and without trace of fear at his master.
"I have a plan, young Antonius," the figure said quietly, in a voice that could freeze blood. "A plan in which you figure greatly." There was something about how he said 'plan' which convinced you that it ought to be capitalized.
"But why me, master?" Antonius asked, "There are others-"
"Others that I do not value," Antonius' master interrupted, "You are different, young Antonius. You do not fear me." A pause. "But back to my plan. My spies have informed me - they shall be rewarded - that Harry Potter will be leaving Hogwarts. He will be spending the next three terms abroad; away from Dumbledore's watchful eye. That, my dear Antonius, will be our opportunity." Though Antonius could not see his master's face, he knew he was smiling. "You know what we must do."
"Send housewarming gifts?" Antonius guessed dimly. A flash of irritation from his master; and then-
"No, Antonius. I have a better idea." He smiled cruelly. "With young Mr. Potter away from that fool, we shall have free rein to lead him to his destruction. Or, to have someone else do it for us."
"I don't understand, master." Antonius said, his face contorted in concentration as he tried desperately to understand the nuances of his master's words.
"I believe Lucius can explain it for us." With a back wards glance, he waited. And he was soon rewarded.
A silvery-blond man, much older than Antonius, came rustling down the alley. He stopped, and bowed deeply.
"My Lord." He nodded.
"Lucius, tell us what plan you have come up with."
"Harry Potter blindly trusts those he calls his friends. So, if we could have one of those friends betray him to us, he would deny any evidence of their connection to the Dark Arts and to us, right up to the brink of death."
"But Harry Potter's friends are good, they're Gryffindors, master," Antonius protested, "We could never convince any of them to join our cause!"
"So," his master countered, as if expecting his student's complaint, "we give him new friends."
The moon shone faintly overhead, struggling with the filmy clouds scudding across the midsummer sky. A short man, his breath coming in ragged gasps, leaned weakly against the brick wall of an alley. Beside him stood a tall, commanding presence in black cloak and hood that radiated fear.
After a moment the man stood up, having caught his breath. He turned to the other beside him.
"Here we are, my Lord. What was it you wanted me to do?"
The man's face was unwrinkled and thus betrayed him; it revealed his youth, and his naïveté. He gazed trustingly and without trace of fear at his master.
"I have a plan, young Antonius," the figure said quietly, in a voice that could freeze blood. "A plan in which you figure greatly." There was something about how he said 'plan' which convinced you that it ought to be capitalized.
"But why me, master?" Antonius asked, "There are others-"
"Others that I do not value," Antonius' master interrupted, "You are different, young Antonius. You do not fear me." A pause. "But back to my plan. My spies have informed me - they shall be rewarded - that Harry Potter will be leaving Hogwarts. He will be spending the next three terms abroad; away from Dumbledore's watchful eye. That, my dear Antonius, will be our opportunity." Though Antonius could not see his master's face, he knew he was smiling. "You know what we must do."
"Send housewarming gifts?" Antonius guessed dimly. A flash of irritation from his master; and then-
"No, Antonius. I have a better idea." He smiled cruelly. "With young Mr. Potter away from that fool, we shall have free rein to lead him to his destruction. Or, to have someone else do it for us."
"I don't understand, master." Antonius said, his face contorted in concentration as he tried desperately to understand the nuances of his master's words.
"I believe Lucius can explain it for us." With a back wards glance, he waited. And he was soon rewarded.
A silvery-blond man, much older than Antonius, came rustling down the alley. He stopped, and bowed deeply.
"My Lord." He nodded.
"Lucius, tell us what plan you have come up with."
"Harry Potter blindly trusts those he calls his friends. So, if we could have one of those friends betray him to us, he would deny any evidence of their connection to the Dark Arts and to us, right up to the brink of death."
"But Harry Potter's friends are good, they're Gryffindors, master," Antonius protested, "We could never convince any of them to join our cause!"
"So," his master countered, as if expecting his student's complaint, "we give him new friends."
