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Chapter Two

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Richmond Castle, in Yorkshire, is a beautiful ruin to muggle eyes. The Dark Lord fancied Yorkshire's quiet rolling hills and quaint sheep moors to be the perfect place for a Death Eater meeting. He'd stealthily taken over the castle over the past few weeks. It could remain abandoned to muggle eyes, and relatively unnoticed to the wizarding world, yet be a useful midpoint between London and Hogwarts. This would be his first meeting at this location. Though he was loathe to host meetings at the same place twice, his return to physical form seemed to demand certain creature comforts. He did not, however, wish to let it be known this was his hideout, suspecting with uncertainty there was a spy or two among his ranks. No, it was far better to keep them all guessing.

Voldemort cleared an area in what appeared to have once been the ballroom, far from his new comfortable quarters in the towers. It was dusty, but easily big enough for all his followers. Nagini slithered around the perimeter. She was restless, and the room afforded her the ability to flex and circle laps around the room.

"Yes, my pet. Make yourself comfortable," he hissed while summoning a select few of his followers. A moment later, 6 of his Death Eaters apparated by his side-The LeStranges, Snape, Malfoy and Avery.

Unknown to all but Snape, Tonks apparated to a point just outside the castle and felt the rune in her pocket vibrate. An arrow indicated a window where she could stand and listen. Creeping up to the castle, she prayed she didn't trip on anything in the grass, or worse, her own two feet. She quickly changed form to blend in better with her surroundings, as flaming pink hair was sure not to go unnoticed.

She crouched under the sill, pulled out the extendible ears and watched as they rolled up the stone wall of the castle and under a crack in the window. After a moment of concentration, her ears adjusted and she couldn't believe her ears-extendible or otherwise. The Dark Lord was...whining?

"That blasted Potter boy. I've had enough of him. I want him out of my way," he hissed, pacing back and forth while rubbing his hands together. The six Death Eaters stood around him quietly.

"My efforts continually fail to kill him. Why? What is it about this boy?" he continued, his red eyes shining in the near dark. "Dumbledore protects him, as does the ancient magic from his mudblood mother. But there's something else. I must know what it is." He clenched his fists, his knuckles cracked. In the shadows he looked like some bizarre living skeleton with glowing red eyes.

A quiet swishing sound in the background reminded the Death Eaters that Nagini was there, and she was restless. Even still, after about forty minutes of this his Death Eaters became fidgety, shifting their weight and letting their eyes glaze over as their minds tuned out. Voldemort droned on and on about Potter, with no apparent point.

"He really ought to buy better robes," Lucius thought to himself. "To be a Dark Lord and wear such shabby, tattered things..."

"When do I get to do some damage!" Bellatrix screamed inside.

"I've still got that half a sandwich in my desk at the ministry. I should eat it tonight before it goes bad," Avery considered.

"You're complaining about Potter, you coffin dodger?" Snape grumbled. "I have the unfortunate task of seeing him---every bloody day. Hmmm, I wonder how hard that rune vibrates..."

At last, Voldemort stopped yammering and stood in front of Bellatrix, lifting her chin with his long cold fingers. "You, my pet," he breathed in her face, "shall keep an eye on your dear cousin Sirius. I know he's hiding in that house. Be sure to instruct the house elf that your picture does not get thrown away."

"Yes sir!" she exclaimed enthusiastically. "Anything else, sir? And I do mean, anything at all I can do in your service?"

Voldemort's lips parted in a horrible imitation of a smile. "Be patient, my dear. Your time will come."

"Lucius," he instructed next. "Your boy, is he ready for more responsibility?"

Lucius kneeled at the Dark Lord's feet and affirmed. "Whatever is your wish, my lord, he shall do. He is eager to serve."

"Good. Simply have him keep an eye on the boy, test him for weaknesses when he can."

Lucius nodded in affirmation. Later, he would roll his eyes and think, "So, keep doing the same? Yes, brilliant plan my 'Lord'."

"And you, Severus," he turned to Snape. "Are, as always, to keep an eye on him as well. You have remained beyond suspicion inside Hogwarts thus far. I am pleased. Do not arouse the notice of that muggle-loving fool Dumbledore. Keep doing what you are doing, I will have use for you eventually."

Snape bowed in response.

Voldemort narrowed his eyes, dimly aware of the mental chatter in the room. "Look into my eyes, Severus," he commanded. "I see you are as eager as I to be rid of this meddlesome boy. Good. I feared daily contact with him would soften you."

"No, my Lord," Snape replied with conviction. "He is an arrogant, pampered, dim witted child who I suffer, in your service, to see every day."

Pleased with this response, Voldemort raised his arms and gave a high-pitched laugh. "Very well then," he concluded. "You all have your instructions. Do not inform the rest of where we met. You are dismissed."

On cue all six of them disapparated. Tonks rolled up the extendible ears and made her way to the Hogwarts Express.

***

Snape arrived first at the train, removed the wards and entered the rear car. He darkened the windows and dimly lit the car, so as not to attract notice, and cast a warming spell. About a minute later, Tonks appeared with a familiar pop and looked around.

"Bugger me!" she exclaimed.

Snape gave Tonks the once over. "I think not, "he sniffed in derision. "My time is valuable. Shall we get to work?"

"Nice one," Tonks chuckled. "No, I mean, I never knew the train was parked here. It's very cool, coming here in the middle of the night. Had I known..."

"You would not have been able to do anything about it," Snape interrupted. "There are wards protecting the train. I have simply unlocked them temporarily for our use."

"Oh," she responded in disappointment. "Still, wicked good idea to meet up here."

And on that note, he raised one eyebrow at her and in a sweeping gesture invoked the wards once more.

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