Disclaimer: I own nothing, except for the plot.

Prolouge

Darkness quietly engulfed the group, as they stood in a clearing. Moonlight peacefully shone down onto the tops of the trees that stood around them, and it calmly lit the grass. But beneath the moon and standing on top of the grass, nothing could be described as quiet, peaceful, or calm.

A loud sobbing came from a man on the ground. He was kneeling on his hands and knees. The men standing around him in a circle showed no sympathy. Wearing black cloaks and menacing red masks, they towered over him.

"P-Please, Master, I-I've learned..." the man stuttered to the tallest man in the circle. His unmasked face was flat and snake-like. As he heard the man's pleas, his red, cat's eyes narrowed.

"Don't tell me that you've learned, Wormtail. If you've learned, you wouldn't have failed me again and again," he retorted in a harsh voice. As he raised his wand, he uttered, "Crucio." Wormtail screamed in anguish again for the fourth time that night. Voldemort turned his wand away and lifted the curse, leaving Wormtail twitching violently. "There's only one way to keep you, you blundering fool, from failing me again."

"My L-Lord, I w-won't fail a-again...I-I s-s-swear-"

"You've had all the chances that you are going to get, and you will not be given another," hissed Voldemort. He raised his wand and spat, "Avada Kedavra!". A blinding flash of green light erupted from the tip his wand. Seconds later, it was gone; As was Wormtail's life.

Voldemort turned to the circle in front of him. "This is what happens when you fail me," he gestured to Wormtail's body, now lying limp in the middle of the circle. "Let this be a lesson to you all..."

A ringing silence fell over the group. Minutes passed by, with all of them standing in an eery stillness. Finally, Lucius Malfoy's voice spoke from behind one of the masks. "My Lord, I may have some useful information..."

The Dark Lord turned toward him, looking at him with his piercing gaze. "...Well?"

"Well... You see... Tell him, boy," said Malfoy, nudging the slightly shorter, masked figure to his left.

"Err, I... I got my Hogwart's letter a few days ago and... I-I'm Head Boy," said the hoarse voice of Draco Malfoy. "The letter also said that Hermione Granger is Head Girl." He said this last part fairly fast. His stomach was in knots and his forehead was dripping with sweat from behind the mask. It took all of his strength not to double over and throw up.

"Interesting... Hermione Granger you say? Hmmm... She could be of great use to me. You'll have to get closer to her, my dear boy." Voldemort pondered this for a moment and then, with a sound like the crack of a whip, he was gone.
A/N: Dum Dum De Dummmmmm .... The first installment of 'Sacrifices' is up!! Most chapters are going to be a bit longer, but please, be kind enough to hit that little purple button at the bottom of the screen that says review and tell me what you think!!