Ch 12

Voldemort was furious. "Blast that Potter and the mud-blood loving fool Dumbledore." He fumed. Then thought to himself hm ."Wormtail get in here he yelled." Wormtail stumbled in as fast as he could and fell to his knees before his lord. "How may I serveere you Master." He stuttered. Voldemort looked coldly upon his servant his red eyes glowing slightly in his anger. "Hold out your arm slave. He commanded" Wormtail held out his arm to his master and Voldemort touched his wand to the dark mark to summon his servants to him. One by one, black robed figures in white face masks suddenly appeared and fell prostrate on the floor in front of their master awaiting his commands.

Welcome, my loyal Servants we have business to discuss. Voldemort then split the 500 remaining Death Eaters that had answered his summons into groups of 50 each and said tonight we will strike hard and fast all over Europe make no mistake our targets are both muggle and wizard born. Dumbledore and his puppet Potter may have cost me some servants but even they cant save everyone tonight. "Go now and strike fear into their hearts Succeed and the rewards will be great. But fail me and the punishment will be even greater said Voldemort with malice in his voice."

Voldemort bid Snape who had answered his summons to come forward. Snape immediately came forward and went down on bended knee before his master. "You my loyal servant shall return to the school and find out more about Potter and his apparently new powers. He has grown strong, too strong for one as young as he is. I need to know if it because of his heir status or something else. To you alone I charge this mission and as with the others if you succeed your rewards will be great but if you fail...." Voldemort drifted off leaving the veiled threat. Snape kept his eyes down to the ground and spoke "I live to serve Master. I shall not fail you." Voldemort merely nodded and said see that you do not. Now return before you are missed. Snape went to leave and Voldemort said "Oh Severus?" Snape turned to face his master "A taste of failure" then Voldemort aimed his wand at Snapes heart and said "Crucio" Snape fell to the floor writhing in agony for several seconds before Voldemort lifted the curse. "Now go servant," he said. Snape left as hurriedly as he could.

After everyone had departed Voldemort's chamber he gestured to the figure hiding behind his throne to come forward. The figure also dressed in black came forward and went down on his knees before his master. Voldemort looked him over a second as if deciding and spoke "Young Malfoy I have a mission for you. I am not entirely sure of our Severus Snapes loyalty. You have asked to join the inner circle of my loyal Death eaters to take your fathers place at my side. I will grant you your request IF you can prove yourself." Voldemort thought to himself silently allowing Draco Malfoy to absorb the gravity of the mission he was about to undertake. Voldemort continued "If you see any sign of disloyalty from Severus, you will kill him and report to me at once. Your additional task is to spy on Potter and the mud-blood lover Dumbledore. Bring me information I need to know the rest of the prophecy that was lost and I suspect that either Dumbledore or Potter or both know it." Voldemort paused and finished "Find me the information I seek, carry out my commands, PROVE your value to me."

Draco was cowering before his master yet he responded both clearly and strongly. "I shall not fail you master, you will have the answers that you seek." Voldemort merely nodded at the young man before him and said, " I know young one, I know. Before saying let me remind you of the price of failure "CRUCIO!" Draco writhed in agony as knives pierced his skin and spines penetrated his heart while fire raced through his blood. Voldemort then lifted the curse and simply said," have a good school year." Then he apparated away.

All over England that night Death Eaters attacked relentlessly thousands were killed both muggle and wizard. The Dark Mark hung against the backdrop of the night sky like a shining jewel in the night. Thousands of miles away Harry Potter woke up screaming.....