Thanks to Fire Fairy who pointed out spelling mistakes in chapter 20!
Starry Skies- maybe I wrote it wrong, but Myrtle doesn't dislike Harry, she has a crush on him, and wants to spend the rest of her afterlife with him.
Hermione felt extremely uncomfortable at breakfast the next morning, was it just her imagination or was some one staring at her. It wasn't Draco's stare; she knew that by instinct, it also didn't belong to Harry Ron or Ginny. But every time she looked around she couldn't see any one looking at her. Was she going insane, or was this just an effect of the love potion that Dumbledore forgot to mention or, was some one really watching her. Those eyes seemed to stay on her every where she went, except the girls bathroom. She was about to lose her sanity, when she finally made it to her dorm. She quickly gave the password and ran in. In her rush to get away from those chilling eyes she didn't see Draco standing by the door.
"Ouch, what's your rush Mione?" Draco complained jokingly while grabbing her into a large hug.
"Oh Draco, someone's been watching me all day, following me, I just couldn't wait to get away, they've been driving me to the brink of insanity."
Draco held her tight, but lines of worry began to form on his handsome features, it couldn't be his father could it. No, not even his father could possibly be stupid enough to try something right under Dumbledore's nose, could he?
"Don't worry Mione, no one will hurt you or watch you anymore, I promise." Draco's voice held confidence although his heart did not. He knew from experience Lucius would not rest if he was planning something, especial if he was under You-Know-Who's orders.
Of course, Draco couldn't be with her all of the time, he had recently gotten a detention from professor McGonagall that he was to attend that night. Since Hermione didn't want to tell Harry and Ron about the eyes (Some times they were so over protective, and with this they probably wouldn't leave her alone for a month or two, and that would include trips to the washroom.) This left Hermione to walk alone back to her room. Then again, the feeling of being watched seemed to have died down in the last couple of hours. Instead of this fact making Hermione feel better it made her feel more paranoid than ever. What was the owner of those evil eyes planning now?
"Hey Hermione," said a voice in low, soft whisper, causing Hermione to jump. As she spun around to face her follower she grabbed for her wand, ready to cast a spell.
She let out a breath of relief when she saw who it was, "My god Dean, you scared me half to death!"
"Sorry Mione," he replied in the same sort of whisper. Hermione was glad to have found a fellow Gryffindor to talk to, the eyes were no where to be felt and no one was going to attack her when she was not alone.
"So why are you down this way Dean?" Hermione asked.
"Oh just on my way to the kitchens for a snack," Dean said softly. Hermione's brain was to preoccupy with today's happenings to realize that not only were the kitchens in the opposite direction, but that Dean didn't know where the kitchens were. Herself, Ron and Harry were the only members of Gryffindor who knew where the kitchens were since Fred and George had left.
They walked along in silence for a while, Hermione was just glad for the company. She really didn't want to be alone until Draco got back from his detention, even in the safety of her own room. Why had Draco chosen to get in trouble today, Hermione wondered. Not that she wasn't a good witch, she knew almost every spell in the book, but for once in her life she honestly had no idea what to do. Although Draco would be back in around fifteen minutes, those last few moments alone could drive her completely over the edge. So she did the only thing that seemed natural.
Once they had made it to Hermione's door she turned to Dean and said, "Would you like to come in for a few minutes Dean, I could use the company until Draco comes back."
"Sure," Dean said once again in the soft tone that was highly unnatural for Dean, but once again Hermione didn't notice. She never even thought for a minute that those chilling eyes could possibly have belonged to Dean.
Once inside Hermione began to have doubts, maybe it was the way he kept looking at her, but she brushed off thinking it was just stress effecting her imagination.
Now Dean wasn't as tall or muscular as Ron or Harry, but he wasn't a wimpy boy either. He was much stronger than Hermione, bigger too.
"So Hermione," said Dean as he advanced on her, "What should we do now." He moved in for a kiss, as Hermione screamed.
"It was you wasn't it, the eyes that have been watching me all day." She tried to push him off of her, but he was too heavy for her.
Dean seemed to change, the soft tone in his voice turned cold and cruel, his eyes got a hard and evil glint in them. "Yes, and you never even guessed it did you Hermione, the great good brilliant witch of Gryffindor couldn't even find her attacker. Now it's too late." Dean began too laugh mechanically.
"W-what are you going to do to me?" asked Hermione, she had begun to shake.
"You see, it's extremely brilliant, Draco will walk in to find us here, he'll believe what he sees is true and will leave, hurt and broken. His heart will harden at the loss of his girl, and will rejoin the dark side to try and forget his pain. You will have destroyed him in every way."
"What how can you, why are you doing this Dean? It's not like you to be so cruel."
"It's simple Hermione; you're a very attractive woman. That dress you wore last night made me understand that it's not fair Draco should get you all to himself!" Dean bent down for another kiss, this time seceding in kissing her. Hermione tried to struggle but it was in vain. Then she finally began to understand what was going on. The way Dean was acting, of course it all made since now. He was under the influence of the imperious curse. She just had to humor him until help arrived.
"Now Hermione," Dean laughed, "I know you wont cheat on Draco willingly so I'm going to help you," He then brought out his wand and got ready to cast a spell. Hermione was really wishing right now that she hadn't set her wand down on the table when she first came in.
Yet there was hope for her yet, another side effect of the potion was about to show it's self. It seemed that Draco and Hermione could some how sense when the other was in trouble. That was how Draco knew that something was wrong, he was able to end his detention early by some lucky miracle and he ran all the way back to his room at top speed never stopping once to catch his breath.
What he saw in side shocked him at first. It seemed like Hermione was cheating on him, but some nagging feeling deep in his heart told him to wait before leaving to wallow in depression. When he listened to what was being said he could hardly believe his ears. How could a student do something like this to a person as sweet as Hermione, especially a Gryffindor? A Slytherin maybe but never a Gryffindor, it was completely un- logical. Then he realized that it technically was a Slytherins doing, his father was behind it. Yes, the whole scene laid out before him reeked of Lucius's twisted brain. But how could it have happened, how could Lucius have gotten in to Hogwarts let alone cast a spell on a student with out some one knowing about it. Unless some one did know about it, some one named Pansy.
But back to the matter at hand, how could he stop Dean. Not that Draco couldn't take him in a fair fight, but the key word in that sentence was fair. Any one working for Lucius would never fight fair. Draco could fight pretty unfair too, but he hadn't in so long he was afraid he might have begun to lose his edge.
Then opportunity struck. Dean lifted his wand ready to cast a dark magic spell. Luckily Draco was faster at casting spells then Dean was.
"Expelliarmus," Draco shouted. Dean was rocketed backwards where he crashed into the wall. Draco caught his wand as it shot up in the air. Draco ran over to a now crying Hermione, and tried to comfort her.
"Oh Draco, it was awful," she sobbed. "What could have done that to him? The things he said, the plans he had. And what ever spell he was about to cast would have made you hate me and."
"Sh, it's ok now; no one is going to hurt you again. What I'd like to know is how my father managed to do this?"
"Your father?"
"Yeah, he's the only one who wants us apart badly enough to do some thing like this."
Hermione shuddered at Draco's words. If Lucius could pull off something like this right under there noses, what else was he capable of? At that moment Dean began to stand up, he looked angrier than Hermione had ever seen him.
"You'll pay for that one; now your precious little mudblood won't live to see tomorrow."
It was that moment Dumbledore, Snape and McGonagall burst through the door with their wands raised. Hermione was reminded of the police men on a tv show she once saw, and had the urge to say 'this is the police, come out with your hands up.'
Instead Dumbledore said "Hold it right there Dean, you don't want to do anything you'll regret." Dean just smirked and continued on his way to Hermione so Dumbledore took action by yelling "Stupefy."
Snape then walked forward and poured a potion into Dean's mouth. It caused him to cough, and then it seemed to pull him into a deep sleep.
"I suppose you have much to ask and talk about," commented Dumbledore. All they could do was nod. "Right then, shall we go to my office?"
Hermione knew better than to start asking questions right away, but she had so many after her experience. How could this have happened? Was Dumbledore finally beginning to slip in his old age? They walked along in silence as they traveled towards his office.
Once they were seated inside, Dumbledore began to talk.
"I know you both must have many questions, but all I ask is you hear me out and then ask any questions I may not have answered. First, I'm sure you are wondering how Lucius managed to enter the school and perform dark magic are you not."
"Yes sir," replied Draco.
"Well, I'm not entirely sure of that my self, but I believe that he found spells that have not been used in centuries to sneak past all of the magical barriers that had been put in place. Those barriers have been updated. Why he chose Dean, I should think would be your next question hum."
"Yes," replied Hermione.
"Lucius needed some one that Hermione would trust, who better than a Gryffindor. Of course he couldn't use Mr. Potter or Mr. Weasley, for Hermione knew them to well and would instantly have realized something was wrong with them, even in her distressed state." Hermione realized that was true, maybe Lucius was smarter than she had ever given him credit for.
"Now comes the hardest question to answer, why was Lucius doing this? Well you probably remember how he reacted to learning you two had certain um, feelings for each other. He refused to believe that separating you two was not possible. So he found a way that may have worked, had it not been for the timely intervention of Mr. Malfoy. He planned to create a hurt so deep and full of mistrust you would be successfully spilt apart. Keep in mind this was only his first attempt, I shudder to think of what he may do once he begins to get desperate."
Hermione didn't want to think about it either, what that insane man could do if he so chose to. But she did have one question left, well two actually but only one for Dumbledore.
"Sir, why does Lucius want Draco and me apart so badly, I know he thinks of me as only being a second class citizen but something like this is going way too far for a pathetic reason like that."
"I completely agree with you Miss Granger, but that was not his only reason. We know he is a member of the Death Eaters and would do anything to prevent Mr. Malfoy from crossing over to the other side. Up until now Mr. Malfoy had nothing on this side he felt was worth fighting for due to his childhood upbringing, I'm I correct Mr. Malfoy?" Draco just nodded. "Nothing worth fighting for that is, until he found you. I suppose this messed up some of the plans Lucius had for you. I also assume that most of your fellow Slytherins are extremely unhappy with you. They view you as a traitor and would be willing to do most anything to have you back on their side. Mr.'s Crabbe and Goyle have been wandering around as if hopelessly lost since you were affected by the loveri potion. Not that I believe they are responsible for helping Lucius into the school, no that blame falls on other members of the Slytherin house. If there are no further questions then I'll let you be on your way."
Hermione and Draco got up and walked out of the office. On the way back to their room Hermione asked her final question.
"Draco, what's going to happen to us now? I mean, once schools out we can't hide behind these walls. If Lucius can get to us here, he could do so much more once were away from Hogwarts." Tears were now streaming down Hermione's face. "I don't ever want to lose you Draco, but I'm so afraid. Why does Lucius want us apart so badly?"
"I do believe it's because he wants to run away with you and have your children." Draco joked, trying to lighten the mood, but this just made Hermione cry harder. "I was just joking Mione don't cry. Anyways, Dumbledore will find a way to protect us; he always comes through, doesn't he." This was not entirely true of course, Dumbledore had failed too protect them this time, then again he couldn't be completely blamed for that. It was extremely hard to protect against something you had no idea was coming. His words had clamed Hermione down a little but though, and that was all that really mattered to him at that moment. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close as they walked back to their room. Once inside they sat down on the couch. Or more Draco led Hermione to the couch and practically forced her to sit down. He knew she wouldn't want to fall asleep alone in her room tonight, and he didn't want to take the risk of setting off any of the alarms in the rooms by falling asleep in there with her. So they sat on the couch, and eventually Hermione who was already completely exhausted by that days events fell asleep, her head dropping on to Draco's shoulder. Draco embraced her and then, before surrendering to sleep also he muttered one phrase, "I hate you father."
Hundreds of thousands of miles away from Hogwarts sat a horrible looking man on a throne like chair. The Mans face was like that of a snake, and even the worlds best plastic surgeon could have done nothing to make him seem even slightly more human, at least, not with out around ninety five million dollars worth of supplies. It seemed to be made out of a combination of bones/skulls and large thorns. And yet, he looked extremely comfortable for he was seated on large velvet, green cushion. Lying next to the man was a terrifyingly large snake. Most people would be freaking out, being that close to something like that. Freaking out or dead, but the man simply reached out and stroked it, as if he was doing nothing more than petting a small cat. The snake did nothing but flutter its eyes shut, as if completely content. And if this scene wasn't odd enough, there were two more people in the dusty old room. They were dressed in long black cloaks, much like the ugly man, but these peoples faces were hidden by masks. It was then the ugly man spoke, in a voice that was enough to make even the bravest man shiver.
"Leave us for a moment Wormtail; I must speak with Malfoy alone."
The shorter of the two people gave a little bow whispering, "Yes my Lord," before rushing out of the room. It almost seemed as if the short man didn't want to be in the room with his 'master'.
"Now Lucius, I am very disappointed in you, had you not reassured me that this plan would not fail?" Although the man spoke softly, his voice commanded fear and respect.
"Yes my Lord," said Lucius, but it's that damn potion, it has more side effects then I had realized. If it weren't for it, the plan would have been a success and my son would be joining our side at this very moment and."
"And yet he's not, I believe you've underestimated the boy, do not make that mistake again. Every time you fail, you push him further and further away from becoming one of us. Now go, and do not fail me again."
So, how is this chapter? Review. Sorry for the long wait for this chapter, I just had exams and didn't have time to write.
Starry Skies- maybe I wrote it wrong, but Myrtle doesn't dislike Harry, she has a crush on him, and wants to spend the rest of her afterlife with him.
Hermione felt extremely uncomfortable at breakfast the next morning, was it just her imagination or was some one staring at her. It wasn't Draco's stare; she knew that by instinct, it also didn't belong to Harry Ron or Ginny. But every time she looked around she couldn't see any one looking at her. Was she going insane, or was this just an effect of the love potion that Dumbledore forgot to mention or, was some one really watching her. Those eyes seemed to stay on her every where she went, except the girls bathroom. She was about to lose her sanity, when she finally made it to her dorm. She quickly gave the password and ran in. In her rush to get away from those chilling eyes she didn't see Draco standing by the door.
"Ouch, what's your rush Mione?" Draco complained jokingly while grabbing her into a large hug.
"Oh Draco, someone's been watching me all day, following me, I just couldn't wait to get away, they've been driving me to the brink of insanity."
Draco held her tight, but lines of worry began to form on his handsome features, it couldn't be his father could it. No, not even his father could possibly be stupid enough to try something right under Dumbledore's nose, could he?
"Don't worry Mione, no one will hurt you or watch you anymore, I promise." Draco's voice held confidence although his heart did not. He knew from experience Lucius would not rest if he was planning something, especial if he was under You-Know-Who's orders.
Of course, Draco couldn't be with her all of the time, he had recently gotten a detention from professor McGonagall that he was to attend that night. Since Hermione didn't want to tell Harry and Ron about the eyes (Some times they were so over protective, and with this they probably wouldn't leave her alone for a month or two, and that would include trips to the washroom.) This left Hermione to walk alone back to her room. Then again, the feeling of being watched seemed to have died down in the last couple of hours. Instead of this fact making Hermione feel better it made her feel more paranoid than ever. What was the owner of those evil eyes planning now?
"Hey Hermione," said a voice in low, soft whisper, causing Hermione to jump. As she spun around to face her follower she grabbed for her wand, ready to cast a spell.
She let out a breath of relief when she saw who it was, "My god Dean, you scared me half to death!"
"Sorry Mione," he replied in the same sort of whisper. Hermione was glad to have found a fellow Gryffindor to talk to, the eyes were no where to be felt and no one was going to attack her when she was not alone.
"So why are you down this way Dean?" Hermione asked.
"Oh just on my way to the kitchens for a snack," Dean said softly. Hermione's brain was to preoccupy with today's happenings to realize that not only were the kitchens in the opposite direction, but that Dean didn't know where the kitchens were. Herself, Ron and Harry were the only members of Gryffindor who knew where the kitchens were since Fred and George had left.
They walked along in silence for a while, Hermione was just glad for the company. She really didn't want to be alone until Draco got back from his detention, even in the safety of her own room. Why had Draco chosen to get in trouble today, Hermione wondered. Not that she wasn't a good witch, she knew almost every spell in the book, but for once in her life she honestly had no idea what to do. Although Draco would be back in around fifteen minutes, those last few moments alone could drive her completely over the edge. So she did the only thing that seemed natural.
Once they had made it to Hermione's door she turned to Dean and said, "Would you like to come in for a few minutes Dean, I could use the company until Draco comes back."
"Sure," Dean said once again in the soft tone that was highly unnatural for Dean, but once again Hermione didn't notice. She never even thought for a minute that those chilling eyes could possibly have belonged to Dean.
Once inside Hermione began to have doubts, maybe it was the way he kept looking at her, but she brushed off thinking it was just stress effecting her imagination.
Now Dean wasn't as tall or muscular as Ron or Harry, but he wasn't a wimpy boy either. He was much stronger than Hermione, bigger too.
"So Hermione," said Dean as he advanced on her, "What should we do now." He moved in for a kiss, as Hermione screamed.
"It was you wasn't it, the eyes that have been watching me all day." She tried to push him off of her, but he was too heavy for her.
Dean seemed to change, the soft tone in his voice turned cold and cruel, his eyes got a hard and evil glint in them. "Yes, and you never even guessed it did you Hermione, the great good brilliant witch of Gryffindor couldn't even find her attacker. Now it's too late." Dean began too laugh mechanically.
"W-what are you going to do to me?" asked Hermione, she had begun to shake.
"You see, it's extremely brilliant, Draco will walk in to find us here, he'll believe what he sees is true and will leave, hurt and broken. His heart will harden at the loss of his girl, and will rejoin the dark side to try and forget his pain. You will have destroyed him in every way."
"What how can you, why are you doing this Dean? It's not like you to be so cruel."
"It's simple Hermione; you're a very attractive woman. That dress you wore last night made me understand that it's not fair Draco should get you all to himself!" Dean bent down for another kiss, this time seceding in kissing her. Hermione tried to struggle but it was in vain. Then she finally began to understand what was going on. The way Dean was acting, of course it all made since now. He was under the influence of the imperious curse. She just had to humor him until help arrived.
"Now Hermione," Dean laughed, "I know you wont cheat on Draco willingly so I'm going to help you," He then brought out his wand and got ready to cast a spell. Hermione was really wishing right now that she hadn't set her wand down on the table when she first came in.
Yet there was hope for her yet, another side effect of the potion was about to show it's self. It seemed that Draco and Hermione could some how sense when the other was in trouble. That was how Draco knew that something was wrong, he was able to end his detention early by some lucky miracle and he ran all the way back to his room at top speed never stopping once to catch his breath.
What he saw in side shocked him at first. It seemed like Hermione was cheating on him, but some nagging feeling deep in his heart told him to wait before leaving to wallow in depression. When he listened to what was being said he could hardly believe his ears. How could a student do something like this to a person as sweet as Hermione, especially a Gryffindor? A Slytherin maybe but never a Gryffindor, it was completely un- logical. Then he realized that it technically was a Slytherins doing, his father was behind it. Yes, the whole scene laid out before him reeked of Lucius's twisted brain. But how could it have happened, how could Lucius have gotten in to Hogwarts let alone cast a spell on a student with out some one knowing about it. Unless some one did know about it, some one named Pansy.
But back to the matter at hand, how could he stop Dean. Not that Draco couldn't take him in a fair fight, but the key word in that sentence was fair. Any one working for Lucius would never fight fair. Draco could fight pretty unfair too, but he hadn't in so long he was afraid he might have begun to lose his edge.
Then opportunity struck. Dean lifted his wand ready to cast a dark magic spell. Luckily Draco was faster at casting spells then Dean was.
"Expelliarmus," Draco shouted. Dean was rocketed backwards where he crashed into the wall. Draco caught his wand as it shot up in the air. Draco ran over to a now crying Hermione, and tried to comfort her.
"Oh Draco, it was awful," she sobbed. "What could have done that to him? The things he said, the plans he had. And what ever spell he was about to cast would have made you hate me and."
"Sh, it's ok now; no one is going to hurt you again. What I'd like to know is how my father managed to do this?"
"Your father?"
"Yeah, he's the only one who wants us apart badly enough to do some thing like this."
Hermione shuddered at Draco's words. If Lucius could pull off something like this right under there noses, what else was he capable of? At that moment Dean began to stand up, he looked angrier than Hermione had ever seen him.
"You'll pay for that one; now your precious little mudblood won't live to see tomorrow."
It was that moment Dumbledore, Snape and McGonagall burst through the door with their wands raised. Hermione was reminded of the police men on a tv show she once saw, and had the urge to say 'this is the police, come out with your hands up.'
Instead Dumbledore said "Hold it right there Dean, you don't want to do anything you'll regret." Dean just smirked and continued on his way to Hermione so Dumbledore took action by yelling "Stupefy."
Snape then walked forward and poured a potion into Dean's mouth. It caused him to cough, and then it seemed to pull him into a deep sleep.
"I suppose you have much to ask and talk about," commented Dumbledore. All they could do was nod. "Right then, shall we go to my office?"
Hermione knew better than to start asking questions right away, but she had so many after her experience. How could this have happened? Was Dumbledore finally beginning to slip in his old age? They walked along in silence as they traveled towards his office.
Once they were seated inside, Dumbledore began to talk.
"I know you both must have many questions, but all I ask is you hear me out and then ask any questions I may not have answered. First, I'm sure you are wondering how Lucius managed to enter the school and perform dark magic are you not."
"Yes sir," replied Draco.
"Well, I'm not entirely sure of that my self, but I believe that he found spells that have not been used in centuries to sneak past all of the magical barriers that had been put in place. Those barriers have been updated. Why he chose Dean, I should think would be your next question hum."
"Yes," replied Hermione.
"Lucius needed some one that Hermione would trust, who better than a Gryffindor. Of course he couldn't use Mr. Potter or Mr. Weasley, for Hermione knew them to well and would instantly have realized something was wrong with them, even in her distressed state." Hermione realized that was true, maybe Lucius was smarter than she had ever given him credit for.
"Now comes the hardest question to answer, why was Lucius doing this? Well you probably remember how he reacted to learning you two had certain um, feelings for each other. He refused to believe that separating you two was not possible. So he found a way that may have worked, had it not been for the timely intervention of Mr. Malfoy. He planned to create a hurt so deep and full of mistrust you would be successfully spilt apart. Keep in mind this was only his first attempt, I shudder to think of what he may do once he begins to get desperate."
Hermione didn't want to think about it either, what that insane man could do if he so chose to. But she did have one question left, well two actually but only one for Dumbledore.
"Sir, why does Lucius want Draco and me apart so badly, I know he thinks of me as only being a second class citizen but something like this is going way too far for a pathetic reason like that."
"I completely agree with you Miss Granger, but that was not his only reason. We know he is a member of the Death Eaters and would do anything to prevent Mr. Malfoy from crossing over to the other side. Up until now Mr. Malfoy had nothing on this side he felt was worth fighting for due to his childhood upbringing, I'm I correct Mr. Malfoy?" Draco just nodded. "Nothing worth fighting for that is, until he found you. I suppose this messed up some of the plans Lucius had for you. I also assume that most of your fellow Slytherins are extremely unhappy with you. They view you as a traitor and would be willing to do most anything to have you back on their side. Mr.'s Crabbe and Goyle have been wandering around as if hopelessly lost since you were affected by the loveri potion. Not that I believe they are responsible for helping Lucius into the school, no that blame falls on other members of the Slytherin house. If there are no further questions then I'll let you be on your way."
Hermione and Draco got up and walked out of the office. On the way back to their room Hermione asked her final question.
"Draco, what's going to happen to us now? I mean, once schools out we can't hide behind these walls. If Lucius can get to us here, he could do so much more once were away from Hogwarts." Tears were now streaming down Hermione's face. "I don't ever want to lose you Draco, but I'm so afraid. Why does Lucius want us apart so badly?"
"I do believe it's because he wants to run away with you and have your children." Draco joked, trying to lighten the mood, but this just made Hermione cry harder. "I was just joking Mione don't cry. Anyways, Dumbledore will find a way to protect us; he always comes through, doesn't he." This was not entirely true of course, Dumbledore had failed too protect them this time, then again he couldn't be completely blamed for that. It was extremely hard to protect against something you had no idea was coming. His words had clamed Hermione down a little but though, and that was all that really mattered to him at that moment. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close as they walked back to their room. Once inside they sat down on the couch. Or more Draco led Hermione to the couch and practically forced her to sit down. He knew she wouldn't want to fall asleep alone in her room tonight, and he didn't want to take the risk of setting off any of the alarms in the rooms by falling asleep in there with her. So they sat on the couch, and eventually Hermione who was already completely exhausted by that days events fell asleep, her head dropping on to Draco's shoulder. Draco embraced her and then, before surrendering to sleep also he muttered one phrase, "I hate you father."
Hundreds of thousands of miles away from Hogwarts sat a horrible looking man on a throne like chair. The Mans face was like that of a snake, and even the worlds best plastic surgeon could have done nothing to make him seem even slightly more human, at least, not with out around ninety five million dollars worth of supplies. It seemed to be made out of a combination of bones/skulls and large thorns. And yet, he looked extremely comfortable for he was seated on large velvet, green cushion. Lying next to the man was a terrifyingly large snake. Most people would be freaking out, being that close to something like that. Freaking out or dead, but the man simply reached out and stroked it, as if he was doing nothing more than petting a small cat. The snake did nothing but flutter its eyes shut, as if completely content. And if this scene wasn't odd enough, there were two more people in the dusty old room. They were dressed in long black cloaks, much like the ugly man, but these peoples faces were hidden by masks. It was then the ugly man spoke, in a voice that was enough to make even the bravest man shiver.
"Leave us for a moment Wormtail; I must speak with Malfoy alone."
The shorter of the two people gave a little bow whispering, "Yes my Lord," before rushing out of the room. It almost seemed as if the short man didn't want to be in the room with his 'master'.
"Now Lucius, I am very disappointed in you, had you not reassured me that this plan would not fail?" Although the man spoke softly, his voice commanded fear and respect.
"Yes my Lord," said Lucius, but it's that damn potion, it has more side effects then I had realized. If it weren't for it, the plan would have been a success and my son would be joining our side at this very moment and."
"And yet he's not, I believe you've underestimated the boy, do not make that mistake again. Every time you fail, you push him further and further away from becoming one of us. Now go, and do not fail me again."
So, how is this chapter? Review. Sorry for the long wait for this chapter, I just had exams and didn't have time to write.
