- and left the compartment, smirking at the three of them as he opened the door.

"He never will change will he?" I stated. The boys shook their heads and sat silence but it wasn't long before they were engaged in a conversation about Quidditch.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Argh! We just get out and already he summons us!" Screamed Lucius, looking at his arm, which was glowing faintly in the dark night.

"Yes, it figures. I often wonder how our dark lord's mind works." Said Rudolphus Lestrange.

"Come. We must go, now." Said Lucius, as he disappeared with a loud pop.

About two seconds later, he was standing in an old graveyard by a lake. Looking around at his surroundings it was even darker than where he had come from, which truly was the darkest place you could be, and it was much colder. The lake loomed close by, the water was still, yet it looked eerily violent – like it would suck you down the second you touched the surface. The graves were all broken down, and the air was thick with fog. Lucius shivered slightly, but quickly composed himself as he walked over to the circle of Death eaters now gathering around Lord Voldemort.

He walked up in front of him, bowed and then took his place at the Dark Lord's side, never taking his eyes off of him. Bellatrix stood on the opposite side, her smirking face apparent even through the hood and mask which covered her face completely. There was silent chatting as they waited for the rest to arrive, but it stopped instantly when the Dark Lord stepped forward, turning around and eyeing each of his servants in turn. He stopped an especially long time on Lucius before stepping into the center of the circle, and beginning to speak.

"Well it is…invigorating to see you all here." He said, his voice cold, and showing no hint of emotion. "I give an especially warm welcome to all of you who have just escaped from Azkaban. Bravo." He said languidly, rolling contempt into every word. "Do you even know why you were able to escape? Of course you don't. You've been going mad and you probably have no idea whatsoever of the happenings in our wonderful world."

"It was not you or your talents that so easily escaped the Dementors. It was Bella that did it for you. We've been working for a long time on our latest plan and we have finally succeeded. The Dementors have joined our side and are now under my command, although they still currently reside at Azkaban. I have prepared this so as not to raise any suspicions with in the Ministry. The Dementors will remain at Azkaban until we call them forth." At this the Dark Lord rested his gaze on Lucius who stood tall and unflinching.

"Now, I will start with the rest of my business," a wicked smile took over the face of the Dark Lord as he stepped closer. "Lucius, please come forward." He said, digging his long, white hand into his robes and drawing out his wand. He twirled it in between his fingers as Lucius stood before him.

"I believe that you have some explaining to do." He said, his voice low and icy, his red slits of eyes boring into Lucius'.

"Yes Master." He said, bowing very low. "It begins the night at the ministry my Lord." He said, talking slowly so as not to stumble upon his words. "As you may remember, Bella followed Potter outside into the lobby. The rest of us were left in the Department of Mysteries, fighting the Order members. It was Dumbledore who captured us, and put upon us an anti-apparating spell, we were una – "

" – I do not need your whole life story!" Bellowed Voldemort, stepping forward so that he was mere feet away from Lucius. "You have caused much damage to my circle of followers. You were captured and have risked our exposure. Now the world knows that I have returned, and what's more, they know who some of my top Deatheaters are! I will not tolerate this." He said, inching forward yet again. Lucius cowered under him, one knee on the ground, his hands clasped together resting atop the other. "You will pay for your stupidity." He said in a cold ,harsh tone as he aimed his wand at Lucius.

"Crucio!" He yelled, his voice going shrill and angry. Lucius didn't flinch as the wand was pointed at him, he stayed with his head down, and his eyes focused on the ground. He fell over and curled up into a fetal position, his screams of pain breaking through the barrier of misty silence. Voldemort lifted the spell, and Lucius slowly lifted himself off the ground, still shaking.

"I am sorry My Lord. I have been an fool. I have not obeyed orders, and I have risked great exposure to the wizarding world. I deserve to be punished in whatever way you see fit." He said, kneeling before him again.

"Right you are Lucius, but haven't I already done that? Although I can't hold back on your plea for forgiveness, and request for punishment." He said, pointing his wand towards Lucius once again, yet this time at his forehead. "Crucio!" He yelled again.

Lucius fell over, holding his head and screaming into the still night. The Deatheaters in the circle looked on, not one moving, all of them barely breathing as they watched Lucius Malfoy being tortured.

"Don't keep him like that too long." Smirked Bella. "The poor baby will get hurt!" She drawled, some of the deatheaters laughed.

"Yes, I agree." He said coldly, lifting the spell. Lucius lay shaking on the ground, gasping for breath and still whimpering. He slowly got up off the ground, bowed to Voldemort, and took his place again.

"Let that be a lesson to all! I will not tolerate stupidity. I plan carefully, and I plan for a reason, and things are supposed to go as planned, there is no free will, and there is to be no failure! If you have that attitude, speak now and I shall be happy to excuse you from our little circle." Said Voldemort, smiling wickedly. No one moved forward, and after a few minutes, he spoke again.

"Good choice. Now Lucius, I believe that you have something to report to us all." He said, a sneer forming on his face. Lucius stepped into the middle of the circle and started to speak.

"Yes, you are right my Lord. I have something to report about my son. He has – he has- he has decided that he does not wish to- to – to follow the dark path, and he has refused my request that he become one among us. I – I have cast him from my home." He said, shaking slightly at what he imagined awaited him.

"Indeed, and what bad luck that is for you Mr. Malfoy. Did you not think of doing something? Perhaps offering him something? Telling him the benefits of the dark side? Putting him under the Imperious Curse? Did you think of nothing?" He asked, stepping forward again. This time he towered over Lucius, inches away from him where he sat kneeling on the ground.

"Yes my Lord. I have told him all of the benefits of our circle, I tried to persuade him, I tried everything that I could think of and he still refused no matter what I said." Lucius said, looking directly into Lord Voldemort's eyes.

"You tried everything you could think of? And yet the Imperious Curse never crossed your mind?" He drawled in his cold voice.

"Ye – Yes my Lord, I did think of that, but I thought that would be too much trouble, and take up precious time and energy. I am – " He never finished his sentence.

"How have the rest of you been doing with your…children?" He asked, looking around at his company of followers. There was a murmur around the circle and many of the Deatheaters answered by nodding their heads signaling an affirmative answer. "That's good."

"Wormtail, do you have anything to report to me about Potter?" He asked, turning around to face Wormtail, whom no one had noticed as of yet.

"Yes Master, I do. I don't know much about their current plan, but I do know that it involves the Ministry of Magic, and there are more involved this time, including one, whom was a surprise to me.

"Your son Mister Malfoy, he has joined forces with Potter and his gang, and they are currently working together on their latest project. As I have already stated, I do not know the details, but I do know it has much to do with the Ministry of Magic." Replied Wormtail.

Lucius scrunched up his face in a grimace as he thought about Draco with the Potter gang. "How dare you report this of my son!" He snarled, lunging for Wormtail. Wormtail gripped his neck with his silver hand, and squeezed tightly. Lucius started choking and gasping for breath.

"It is true, and you had better accept it, or you'll be killed yourself!" He snarled back, throwing him a few feet away and releasing his grip. Lucius stumbled, and stared at him. Wormtail smirked, and turned back to Voldemort. "That is all I have to report Master, I hope it is to your liking." He said, bowing and taking a place in the circle.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

"It is much better than I thought you were capable of." He said. "Remind me to not kill you sometime." He said. "All right, you all know what to do. Now go! Lucius, Bella, stay behind please; we need to have a little talk." He said, as the Death eaters started to apparate away....

By Flash