AN: All right, I will apologize for the delay. However, no one in this story wanted to work together. But after a nice brainstorming session with Lady Erised many of the plot holes have been solved. Just don't ask how long it will last. I think I know where I am going, but rules and interludes either flow easily or drip infrequently. So when the Dark Prince decides on the end, he'll let you know.
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The Rules of Deception
____________________________________________
The wait was lasting far too long. Time was not a luxury and he wanted to resolve the issues soon. He was gaining the impression that the Headmaster had no inclination to move within in his turn of the game. The time was about to come where rules needed to be bent.
Where the Headmaster would not act, he would.
As it was not his turn, his actions must not be perceived until long after their completion. After all, he could not break his own rules completely.
He needed a distraction. One not connected to him. He needed a deception.
One that would keep the Headmaster's attention long enough for him to act. Long enough for him to respond. Long enough for things to continue.
A deception that would end the stalemate.
Something that would attract the Ministry.
Something that would attract the Dark Lord.
Someone who would attract the Headmaster.
A bitterly triumphant smile ghosted across his face.
"Your Highness," a slightly nervous voice interrupted his plans. Under other circumstances he might have expressed his displeasure, but as it was he was waiting for an interruption. "The Dark Lord is requesting your presence."
It had been several days since his failure. Waiting was never good.
To his knowledge the Dark Lord had not left Malfoy's study. Nor did it appear as if his Lord had moved from the empty frame of glass. Again Lucius was already present, waiting nervously near a large double desk, appearing to have been taking a letter.
Again he went to the large, overstuffed wing-back, which was always used by the Lord when within this room. Again he knelt to the left and waited.
"That will be all, Lucius. Leave the papers and get out." Ever prompt, Lucius bowed and retreated. "I hope you have considered the consequences of your failure." The Dark Lord finally turned and walked to the desk recently vacated by Lucius. "You might be interested, my Prince, in what the Ministry has been hiding within Azkaban. It seems Lucius managed to complete that portion of your plan. Come." His Lord beckoned.
There was confusion, but he refused to show it. Instead he approached. The papers contained very interesting pieces of intelligence. Not related in the least to the prison. If nothing else he learned what was not covered in interrogation reports.
The most important informations.
"Most interesting, my Lord. Has Lucius seen this?"
"He did not search through what I considered interesting. I assume you could formulate something productive given these reports.
Productive. A question of relativity. "And what has my Lord determined as the goal?"
"The goal, my Prince, has always been the same. You unfortunately have lost sight of that while playing your games. I should not need to remind you."
"No, my Lord, you should not." He teetered on a dangerous edge when he was forced to admit ignorance.
"Perhaps I have given you far too much leeway," Lord Voldemort said as the hematite bars responded to his anger. "Perhaps I have been far too generous. Or perhaps you have taken too much liberty. You have returned essentially without reputable harm to your person or reputation. I have given you much in the way of resources for you to proceed with your own agendas in addition to my own. And now you presume to question me as to my determined goal?"
He staggered slightly as the radiated pain increased. It was not his nature to plea for forgiveness, not his Lord's to grant it whimsically. What must be suffered would be suffered.
And the Dark Lord continued, "How is it the men who should have no knowledge of my goal have a fair idea, while you, the one who should know it intuitively, must ask?"
Stiffly he bowed, having no response suitable.
"Surely my worries are unfounded. There is no possible way for you to divulged such information only to have conveniently forgotten." Lord Voldemort's rage as conducted through the bars had been steadily increasing and had now reach the level just below intolerable. His Master paused to study his Prince. What followed was a battle of wills. One he had already forfeited to his Lord upon admitting his lack of knowledge. Unless he could suddenly recall the lost piece of information, it was necessary for him to step down.
He withdrew the mask and bowed out.
"You will cease you petty games with Dumbledore, Severus," his Master continued as though nothing remarkable had occurred. "They have wasted precious time and resources."
Rule number one of deception: know the limitations, for you must have knowledge as to when and where those to be deceived were to look.
The pain of the curse had lessened slightly and was still rising.
"You should know, or at least I would hope you knew, what my objective is. It has yet to change from the time of the first terror. I have only recently included Harry Potter in my goal. I will admit that attempting to kill him off before I had accomplished my first task was hasty. However, it is more imperative to be rid of him before I am able to complete my objective. Have I made myself clear?"
"Inescapably, my Lord."
His master spared him a piercing glare in order to weigh the understanding of such a statement. His Lord found what he was looking for and continued, "Then we shall discuss the use of these documents, for I doubt a method of utilization has failed to come to you, my Prince."
Favor was a fickle thing. When it showed itself in such abundance, one would be a fool to not take everything.
Rule number two of deception: seize the opportune moment without hesitation, it will never present itself twice.
"It seems interesting that the Aurors in charge of Azaban found it important enough to create transcripts of the prisoners' insane ravings. However, what concerns me is the commentary is quite in depth, but without any clear idea as to how to use the information. From Rookwood's ramblings, it is a wonder the Ministry did not take measures to silence him. I am thinking Azkaban Aurors had an objective all they're own. It is possible they were interested in upsetting the balance of the Ministry, using the former Ministry personal as leverage."
"You are forgetting the rest of the transcripts."
"I have not yet, my Lord. Most of the commentary are on those the Ministry thought trustworthy. It could be they only wished to learn what mistakes they made the first time and learn to avoid them. Or they could be looking for wizards of these traits to assist in their plots."
"I have never taken you as one to see deception in every action, my Prince. What is causing you to believe such from these?"
"These comments suggest more interest in babbling than suitable for a law abiding Auror to show."
"Blackmailing Aurors, my Prince? How interesting. Take what you need and return once you have solved your equation."
He took the stack of documents before his Lord could change his mind. It was not the Aurors' supposed conspiracy he wanted to make use of. It was the Aurors' desire and tendency to hide information that could prove vital in releasing the innocent and condemning the guilty. But of course it was in his best interests to condemn the innocent and condemn the guilty. The fewer who got in his way the easier his goals were reached.
"My Lord, by this evening I'll have a way to remove the Ministry."
"Don't involve Dumbledore." His Lord's voice was hard with command. "This is against the Ministry. No games."
He bowed. "Of course not, my Lord."
As he did not leave immediately, "What is it?"
He looked up. "If necessary, I might need to use Rookwood."
"Then do so."
"Dumbledore will also involve himself despite our intentions."
"He will no doubt attempt to interfere with the Ministry. That is to be expected. But you are not to make a game out of his involvement."
"Of course not, my Lord."
The simplicity of removing the vital information proved to be an unwelcome surprise. His Lord returned to his window overlooking a black night, leaving him to remove the documents without contest. This also meant Lucius Malfoy could decide there was something important he had not studied.
It was too easy for him to loose the edge he needed.
It would be too suspicious for him to leave the premies at the moment, but Malfoy could prove to be a dangerous loose end. And a necessary decoy.
But first too solve the problem of no games with Dumbledore. And he had a perfect target.
Rule number three of deception: the set up should always be noted while being unnoticed.
* * * * * *
"Sirius, you've got mail."
"Who's it from, Moony?" the man in question called from the kitchen of his dusty old home. But no one had used the place in at least twelve years, so it was the perfect place to hide a secret society bend on the destruction of Voldemort. "Is it from Harry?"
"No," Remus sounded uncertain. "It came on a crow. A wild one at that." His old friend entered, studying the folded parchment. "The only writing is your name, Sirius Black."
"A wild crow?" Mrs. Weasley questioned, joining them to peer at the letter. "I'd best alert Professor Dumbledore. You never know who could have sent it. Or how they knew to find you." Sirius glanced up as the motherly witch swept passed to find a certain portrait.
"Do you recognize the handwriting, Sirius?"
"No, I've never seen it." He took the heavy paper from Remus. It looked more like an envelope stuffed with papers than one letter. He moved to open it.
"Don't. Wait for Dumbledore. We don't know what could have been sent."
"Nor do we know how long Dumbledore will take to get here."
"A mysterious letter from a wild crow?" The Headmaster's calm voice drifted down towards them.
Sirius cracked a wide grin. "Obviously no time at all. Wish he would teach me that." When the professor appeared on the last step, he said, "You're just in time. I was just about to open it."
"May I see this letter, Sirius?" Dumbledore asked holding his hand ready to receive. Sirius handed it over without question. Just as the Headmaster saw the letters on the envelope, something akin to recognition and realization appeared on his face. "It should be quite safe to open. It is unlikely the sender would attempt assassination without being present."
Carefully Sirius opened the letter. When nothing happened he removed the papers from within.
~ Until the eleventh hour these will see. Until the eleventh hour men aren't free. Until the eleventh hour there are three. Until the eleventh hour we will meet.
Those who watch and those who listen remain unseen by those who live and those who scream. It was not that you were aware; it was that you were ignorant. There are those who knew and there are those who hid and there are those lied: the knowledge remains left for the taking. The knowledge remains when the truth will flee. And when the truth has fled, those who lied hide the one who knew.
It is your choice and chance to remove the blocks and remove those who knew. ~
He slammed the paper hard on the table. "That makes no sense! Until the eleventh hour? Those who did whatever he said?"
"Perhaps we will better understand what he means by looking at the accompanying papers." Dumbledore shifted through the attachments. The papers turned out to be transcripts. Of him. In Azkaban. Under Veritaserum. But he had never. He would have remembered. Right?
"This could be useful, right?" Remus asked in awe.
Sirius was still in shock. "They knew," he whispered. They knew and he had still be locked away for twelve years. "Damn it! THEY KNEW!"
"Can't we just take this to the Ministry? Have them explain it?" Remus was fishing. Even Sirius knew the Ministry would never believe that piece of paper.
"They would ask where we got it and assume it was forged. It is not the actions of the Ministry that worry me," Dumbledore confessed quietly. "It is the actions of the man who sent this. Just what is he planning?" he added more to himself.
"Just what is who planning?" Remus asked. Sirius waited for the answer. It would likely involve him.
"The Dark Prince."
"Snape!? Why would he send this to ME?"
"Severus and the Dark Prince are different, as I have learned. Inhabiting the same body, yet still different. As for this, I will admit to not knowing. It could be a warning, a threat, a taunt, or even assistance we do not know we need."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean, Remus, that the Dark Prince and Severus are still confused. I have received such letters in the past and am not entirely sure what they mean. I can only guess."
"What do you think it means, Headmaster?"
"It was written to you, Sirius, so it is your interpretation that will matter most."
Sirius sat heavily at the kitchen table. It was still Snape writing this, no matter what the Headmaster said. Therefore it was most likely a threat and a taunt than anything useful. Except there were those transcripts of him under Veritaserum. With Aurors commenting on how it was unfortunate that he was innocent and that the best thing for the community was to keep him locked away.
"He wants me to walk into a trap!"
Remus and Dumbledore did not bother to hide their surprise.
******
Rule number four of deception: get everything moving before anyone knows you have more than one angle.
The Aurors responsible for the unregulated interrogations had been notified. A pleasant job. He regulated that to Rookwood. He only needed two components to come into place. And his Lord knew of them both.
But first to set the deception for the deceived.
And that part was walking into the pre-made trap with complete predictability. So long as the others went accordingly. There would only be a short window when his actions would not be perceived. He must use what was alloted.
"Well, Snape, what is it you want?" Right on time. "Dumbledore and Remus didn't seem to think you were up to anything."
"Still not using your own brain? How charming. Though I am sure you could have convinced them sooner or later."
"You sure didn't give me much time. Eleven hours after those papers arrived, they vanished. But you planned that didn't you."
"Perhaps. There was always the chance you would decide not to listen." He had to play this carefully. Sirius thought he was speaking to Severus Snape. That was not so, but Sirius refused to accept that knowledge even while he was staring at the three hematite bars broken only by the narrow slit for the eye.
"I am prepared to do what is necessary to get the truth exposed." Just what a Gryffindor would do. Anything for the Truth. Anything for Justice. "Though I never thought you would be responsible for it, Snape. After all, you were the one so determined to have me get the Kiss." Good. Anger and bitterness. That will make it all the easier. "So why are you doing this? Why are you helping?"
"I believe the Muggles put it best. I have bigger fish to fry; you are just the bait."
"WHAT! I knew it was a trap!"
"And still you walked into it. Though I'm not in a position to gloat." Footsteps and hushed voices penetrated their little space in time. Right on time. Sirius turned, wand ready to defend. Against the wrong enemy. "Trust me, Black, you'll thank me for this later." He wished he could have savored the look of surprise and betrayal for a longer period. "Stupefy."
* * * * * *
"Black is suppose to help your plan, how?" Lucius was always impatient when he did not understand.
"He is the one thing the Ministry wants in return for cooperation." He did not turn to speak to Lucius. Instead he focused on his Lord. "He is how we will break the Ministry and Dumbledore in one blow, my Lord"
He stood many feet from his Master's throne. The body of Black had been disposed of at the feet of his Lord as a gift. It was a poor substitute, and only served as a promise for a thing greater.
The whole of the Inner Circle was present. Making this an important turn of events. Things must be laid out perfectly so the fragile house of cards would not fall.
"You still persist in playing games with that old fool," the Dark Lord began dangerously. "For your sake you had better hope you do not fail." His Lord would not kill him for failure, but he had no desire to know the consequences first hand. "Very well, my Prince. What precisely do you have planned for this man? You only mentioned two of the birds we could kill with one stone."
"Forgive me, my Lord. Harry Potter would also be a viable target. Provided Dumbledore doesn't know he is aware."
Rule number five of deception: simplicity, nothing elaborate, the less that there is to go wrong, the less that will go wrong.
The Dark Lord nodded to himself. The possibilities to consider.
"Continue," Lord Voldemort waved for him to state his plan in full.
"There is a location that was agreed to be neutral for the meeting with the Aurors in question, though it is far from neutral. A source hoping to reap the rewards of capture has tipped off the Ministry as to where and when they may find Sirius Black. Dumbledore will surely hear of this through his hidden connections within the Ministry and attempt to rescue his favorite mutt. And I am certain you, my Lord, will discover a way to tempt Harry Potter to join."
"A gathering of the key figures without their support. Clever. How much of this is petty revenge, I wonder?"
He carefully concealed a a threatening smile. "Much of it, my Lord. It was far too valuable opportunity to miss. Once the targets have arrived, you may see to the players as you see fit. I hold no claim, my Lord. They are a gift for you."
Between them, Black shifted in the evil ambiance.
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AN: FYI, there will be a total of thirteen chapters in this story, seven more to go. And a lot of thanks goes to Lady Erised for listening to me ramble on about what I was going to do for the rest of the plot. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
TBC... and the fun really begins.
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The Rules of Deception
____________________________________________
The wait was lasting far too long. Time was not a luxury and he wanted to resolve the issues soon. He was gaining the impression that the Headmaster had no inclination to move within in his turn of the game. The time was about to come where rules needed to be bent.
Where the Headmaster would not act, he would.
As it was not his turn, his actions must not be perceived until long after their completion. After all, he could not break his own rules completely.
He needed a distraction. One not connected to him. He needed a deception.
One that would keep the Headmaster's attention long enough for him to act. Long enough for him to respond. Long enough for things to continue.
A deception that would end the stalemate.
Something that would attract the Ministry.
Something that would attract the Dark Lord.
Someone who would attract the Headmaster.
A bitterly triumphant smile ghosted across his face.
"Your Highness," a slightly nervous voice interrupted his plans. Under other circumstances he might have expressed his displeasure, but as it was he was waiting for an interruption. "The Dark Lord is requesting your presence."
It had been several days since his failure. Waiting was never good.
To his knowledge the Dark Lord had not left Malfoy's study. Nor did it appear as if his Lord had moved from the empty frame of glass. Again Lucius was already present, waiting nervously near a large double desk, appearing to have been taking a letter.
Again he went to the large, overstuffed wing-back, which was always used by the Lord when within this room. Again he knelt to the left and waited.
"That will be all, Lucius. Leave the papers and get out." Ever prompt, Lucius bowed and retreated. "I hope you have considered the consequences of your failure." The Dark Lord finally turned and walked to the desk recently vacated by Lucius. "You might be interested, my Prince, in what the Ministry has been hiding within Azkaban. It seems Lucius managed to complete that portion of your plan. Come." His Lord beckoned.
There was confusion, but he refused to show it. Instead he approached. The papers contained very interesting pieces of intelligence. Not related in the least to the prison. If nothing else he learned what was not covered in interrogation reports.
The most important informations.
"Most interesting, my Lord. Has Lucius seen this?"
"He did not search through what I considered interesting. I assume you could formulate something productive given these reports.
Productive. A question of relativity. "And what has my Lord determined as the goal?"
"The goal, my Prince, has always been the same. You unfortunately have lost sight of that while playing your games. I should not need to remind you."
"No, my Lord, you should not." He teetered on a dangerous edge when he was forced to admit ignorance.
"Perhaps I have given you far too much leeway," Lord Voldemort said as the hematite bars responded to his anger. "Perhaps I have been far too generous. Or perhaps you have taken too much liberty. You have returned essentially without reputable harm to your person or reputation. I have given you much in the way of resources for you to proceed with your own agendas in addition to my own. And now you presume to question me as to my determined goal?"
He staggered slightly as the radiated pain increased. It was not his nature to plea for forgiveness, not his Lord's to grant it whimsically. What must be suffered would be suffered.
And the Dark Lord continued, "How is it the men who should have no knowledge of my goal have a fair idea, while you, the one who should know it intuitively, must ask?"
Stiffly he bowed, having no response suitable.
"Surely my worries are unfounded. There is no possible way for you to divulged such information only to have conveniently forgotten." Lord Voldemort's rage as conducted through the bars had been steadily increasing and had now reach the level just below intolerable. His Master paused to study his Prince. What followed was a battle of wills. One he had already forfeited to his Lord upon admitting his lack of knowledge. Unless he could suddenly recall the lost piece of information, it was necessary for him to step down.
He withdrew the mask and bowed out.
"You will cease you petty games with Dumbledore, Severus," his Master continued as though nothing remarkable had occurred. "They have wasted precious time and resources."
Rule number one of deception: know the limitations, for you must have knowledge as to when and where those to be deceived were to look.
The pain of the curse had lessened slightly and was still rising.
"You should know, or at least I would hope you knew, what my objective is. It has yet to change from the time of the first terror. I have only recently included Harry Potter in my goal. I will admit that attempting to kill him off before I had accomplished my first task was hasty. However, it is more imperative to be rid of him before I am able to complete my objective. Have I made myself clear?"
"Inescapably, my Lord."
His master spared him a piercing glare in order to weigh the understanding of such a statement. His Lord found what he was looking for and continued, "Then we shall discuss the use of these documents, for I doubt a method of utilization has failed to come to you, my Prince."
Favor was a fickle thing. When it showed itself in such abundance, one would be a fool to not take everything.
Rule number two of deception: seize the opportune moment without hesitation, it will never present itself twice.
"It seems interesting that the Aurors in charge of Azaban found it important enough to create transcripts of the prisoners' insane ravings. However, what concerns me is the commentary is quite in depth, but without any clear idea as to how to use the information. From Rookwood's ramblings, it is a wonder the Ministry did not take measures to silence him. I am thinking Azkaban Aurors had an objective all they're own. It is possible they were interested in upsetting the balance of the Ministry, using the former Ministry personal as leverage."
"You are forgetting the rest of the transcripts."
"I have not yet, my Lord. Most of the commentary are on those the Ministry thought trustworthy. It could be they only wished to learn what mistakes they made the first time and learn to avoid them. Or they could be looking for wizards of these traits to assist in their plots."
"I have never taken you as one to see deception in every action, my Prince. What is causing you to believe such from these?"
"These comments suggest more interest in babbling than suitable for a law abiding Auror to show."
"Blackmailing Aurors, my Prince? How interesting. Take what you need and return once you have solved your equation."
He took the stack of documents before his Lord could change his mind. It was not the Aurors' supposed conspiracy he wanted to make use of. It was the Aurors' desire and tendency to hide information that could prove vital in releasing the innocent and condemning the guilty. But of course it was in his best interests to condemn the innocent and condemn the guilty. The fewer who got in his way the easier his goals were reached.
"My Lord, by this evening I'll have a way to remove the Ministry."
"Don't involve Dumbledore." His Lord's voice was hard with command. "This is against the Ministry. No games."
He bowed. "Of course not, my Lord."
As he did not leave immediately, "What is it?"
He looked up. "If necessary, I might need to use Rookwood."
"Then do so."
"Dumbledore will also involve himself despite our intentions."
"He will no doubt attempt to interfere with the Ministry. That is to be expected. But you are not to make a game out of his involvement."
"Of course not, my Lord."
The simplicity of removing the vital information proved to be an unwelcome surprise. His Lord returned to his window overlooking a black night, leaving him to remove the documents without contest. This also meant Lucius Malfoy could decide there was something important he had not studied.
It was too easy for him to loose the edge he needed.
It would be too suspicious for him to leave the premies at the moment, but Malfoy could prove to be a dangerous loose end. And a necessary decoy.
But first too solve the problem of no games with Dumbledore. And he had a perfect target.
Rule number three of deception: the set up should always be noted while being unnoticed.
* * * * * *
"Sirius, you've got mail."
"Who's it from, Moony?" the man in question called from the kitchen of his dusty old home. But no one had used the place in at least twelve years, so it was the perfect place to hide a secret society bend on the destruction of Voldemort. "Is it from Harry?"
"No," Remus sounded uncertain. "It came on a crow. A wild one at that." His old friend entered, studying the folded parchment. "The only writing is your name, Sirius Black."
"A wild crow?" Mrs. Weasley questioned, joining them to peer at the letter. "I'd best alert Professor Dumbledore. You never know who could have sent it. Or how they knew to find you." Sirius glanced up as the motherly witch swept passed to find a certain portrait.
"Do you recognize the handwriting, Sirius?"
"No, I've never seen it." He took the heavy paper from Remus. It looked more like an envelope stuffed with papers than one letter. He moved to open it.
"Don't. Wait for Dumbledore. We don't know what could have been sent."
"Nor do we know how long Dumbledore will take to get here."
"A mysterious letter from a wild crow?" The Headmaster's calm voice drifted down towards them.
Sirius cracked a wide grin. "Obviously no time at all. Wish he would teach me that." When the professor appeared on the last step, he said, "You're just in time. I was just about to open it."
"May I see this letter, Sirius?" Dumbledore asked holding his hand ready to receive. Sirius handed it over without question. Just as the Headmaster saw the letters on the envelope, something akin to recognition and realization appeared on his face. "It should be quite safe to open. It is unlikely the sender would attempt assassination without being present."
Carefully Sirius opened the letter. When nothing happened he removed the papers from within.
~ Until the eleventh hour these will see. Until the eleventh hour men aren't free. Until the eleventh hour there are three. Until the eleventh hour we will meet.
Those who watch and those who listen remain unseen by those who live and those who scream. It was not that you were aware; it was that you were ignorant. There are those who knew and there are those who hid and there are those lied: the knowledge remains left for the taking. The knowledge remains when the truth will flee. And when the truth has fled, those who lied hide the one who knew.
It is your choice and chance to remove the blocks and remove those who knew. ~
He slammed the paper hard on the table. "That makes no sense! Until the eleventh hour? Those who did whatever he said?"
"Perhaps we will better understand what he means by looking at the accompanying papers." Dumbledore shifted through the attachments. The papers turned out to be transcripts. Of him. In Azkaban. Under Veritaserum. But he had never. He would have remembered. Right?
"This could be useful, right?" Remus asked in awe.
Sirius was still in shock. "They knew," he whispered. They knew and he had still be locked away for twelve years. "Damn it! THEY KNEW!"
"Can't we just take this to the Ministry? Have them explain it?" Remus was fishing. Even Sirius knew the Ministry would never believe that piece of paper.
"They would ask where we got it and assume it was forged. It is not the actions of the Ministry that worry me," Dumbledore confessed quietly. "It is the actions of the man who sent this. Just what is he planning?" he added more to himself.
"Just what is who planning?" Remus asked. Sirius waited for the answer. It would likely involve him.
"The Dark Prince."
"Snape!? Why would he send this to ME?"
"Severus and the Dark Prince are different, as I have learned. Inhabiting the same body, yet still different. As for this, I will admit to not knowing. It could be a warning, a threat, a taunt, or even assistance we do not know we need."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean, Remus, that the Dark Prince and Severus are still confused. I have received such letters in the past and am not entirely sure what they mean. I can only guess."
"What do you think it means, Headmaster?"
"It was written to you, Sirius, so it is your interpretation that will matter most."
Sirius sat heavily at the kitchen table. It was still Snape writing this, no matter what the Headmaster said. Therefore it was most likely a threat and a taunt than anything useful. Except there were those transcripts of him under Veritaserum. With Aurors commenting on how it was unfortunate that he was innocent and that the best thing for the community was to keep him locked away.
"He wants me to walk into a trap!"
Remus and Dumbledore did not bother to hide their surprise.
******
Rule number four of deception: get everything moving before anyone knows you have more than one angle.
The Aurors responsible for the unregulated interrogations had been notified. A pleasant job. He regulated that to Rookwood. He only needed two components to come into place. And his Lord knew of them both.
But first to set the deception for the deceived.
And that part was walking into the pre-made trap with complete predictability. So long as the others went accordingly. There would only be a short window when his actions would not be perceived. He must use what was alloted.
"Well, Snape, what is it you want?" Right on time. "Dumbledore and Remus didn't seem to think you were up to anything."
"Still not using your own brain? How charming. Though I am sure you could have convinced them sooner or later."
"You sure didn't give me much time. Eleven hours after those papers arrived, they vanished. But you planned that didn't you."
"Perhaps. There was always the chance you would decide not to listen." He had to play this carefully. Sirius thought he was speaking to Severus Snape. That was not so, but Sirius refused to accept that knowledge even while he was staring at the three hematite bars broken only by the narrow slit for the eye.
"I am prepared to do what is necessary to get the truth exposed." Just what a Gryffindor would do. Anything for the Truth. Anything for Justice. "Though I never thought you would be responsible for it, Snape. After all, you were the one so determined to have me get the Kiss." Good. Anger and bitterness. That will make it all the easier. "So why are you doing this? Why are you helping?"
"I believe the Muggles put it best. I have bigger fish to fry; you are just the bait."
"WHAT! I knew it was a trap!"
"And still you walked into it. Though I'm not in a position to gloat." Footsteps and hushed voices penetrated their little space in time. Right on time. Sirius turned, wand ready to defend. Against the wrong enemy. "Trust me, Black, you'll thank me for this later." He wished he could have savored the look of surprise and betrayal for a longer period. "Stupefy."
* * * * * *
"Black is suppose to help your plan, how?" Lucius was always impatient when he did not understand.
"He is the one thing the Ministry wants in return for cooperation." He did not turn to speak to Lucius. Instead he focused on his Lord. "He is how we will break the Ministry and Dumbledore in one blow, my Lord"
He stood many feet from his Master's throne. The body of Black had been disposed of at the feet of his Lord as a gift. It was a poor substitute, and only served as a promise for a thing greater.
The whole of the Inner Circle was present. Making this an important turn of events. Things must be laid out perfectly so the fragile house of cards would not fall.
"You still persist in playing games with that old fool," the Dark Lord began dangerously. "For your sake you had better hope you do not fail." His Lord would not kill him for failure, but he had no desire to know the consequences first hand. "Very well, my Prince. What precisely do you have planned for this man? You only mentioned two of the birds we could kill with one stone."
"Forgive me, my Lord. Harry Potter would also be a viable target. Provided Dumbledore doesn't know he is aware."
Rule number five of deception: simplicity, nothing elaborate, the less that there is to go wrong, the less that will go wrong.
The Dark Lord nodded to himself. The possibilities to consider.
"Continue," Lord Voldemort waved for him to state his plan in full.
"There is a location that was agreed to be neutral for the meeting with the Aurors in question, though it is far from neutral. A source hoping to reap the rewards of capture has tipped off the Ministry as to where and when they may find Sirius Black. Dumbledore will surely hear of this through his hidden connections within the Ministry and attempt to rescue his favorite mutt. And I am certain you, my Lord, will discover a way to tempt Harry Potter to join."
"A gathering of the key figures without their support. Clever. How much of this is petty revenge, I wonder?"
He carefully concealed a a threatening smile. "Much of it, my Lord. It was far too valuable opportunity to miss. Once the targets have arrived, you may see to the players as you see fit. I hold no claim, my Lord. They are a gift for you."
Between them, Black shifted in the evil ambiance.
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AN: FYI, there will be a total of thirteen chapters in this story, seven more to go. And a lot of thanks goes to Lady Erised for listening to me ramble on about what I was going to do for the rest of the plot. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
TBC... and the fun really begins.