Disclaimer: I'm not J.K. Rowling, I do not own Harry Potter, I do however own the plot to this story, and I hope you all enjoy reading it!
A/N: I debated making all of you, my wonderful readers, wait over a year for this sequel, however, since I am not J.K. Rowling, I didn't think that would go over too well. So here it is, the first chapter of my second fanfic, and the sequel to "Serpent Fang in the Lions Den."
Welcome, to "Serpent Fangs and Lion Hearts" enjoy!!
Chapter 1: St. Mungo's
He was still in the hospital room at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, he had been there for three months, barely moving from his bed, hardly eating, hardly sleeping. He was in a large private room in the long-term care ward. However, unlike most of the other long term patients, his room bore no decoration from home, nothing from his family. No cards wishing him well, no gifts from friends. No one seemed to care that he was here.
Not that he cared about the lack of kindness from his friends and family, he preferred it that way. Emotions were weak and futile, only for those who lacked power in the world. The only one he cared to hear from was the one he feared most. All day and night his mind was plagued with cold fear for what his master would do to him, for he knew his master would come for him. It was just a question of when.
It was dead of night on a warm night at the end of August when his question was finally answered. There was no moon out, and even the stars seemed to dim in fear of the evil magical being that was creeping beneath them. The wind howled through the trees, banging against the large window which covered one wall of his room. He lay sleeping restlessly on the stark white bed, just as he had lain every night since he had arrived here. He had neglected to take his dreamless sleep potion, just as always, he did not need medicine. Medicine was for the weak, and he was strong. Yet he had failed. He had failed in his mission; that was the reason he was here. He slept soundlessly with fear shrouding him like a blanket, refusing to leave him. What really happened that night months ago would not be kept a secret for long. His master would know the truth, and he would not be pleased.
He awoke suddenly breathing as if he had just run a marathon, drenched in a cold sweat. He felt a presence within his room, the very personification of fear and evil. "M. . . m . . .master?"
A high cruel voice colder than ice responded, "you have failed me."
Upon hearing a response, the man jumped off the bed, fell to his knees, and bowed to the floor. "Master, I beg your forgiveness. It was that muggle loving fool Albus Dumbledore's fault. Please allow me to prove my dedication to you my Lord. I will not fail you again!"
"I must admit, I was very disappointed, and most displeased to hear that one who claimed to be among my most faithful failed me so miserably," answered the cold voice.
"I am among your most faithful my Lord!" he pleaded desperately, still on his knees. "I never wished to disappoint my Lord. Master please allow me a second chance! I am prepared this time! I will not be caught in the same trap again! I will not fail you!"
"Lord Voldemort does not grant second chances, nor does he forget failures."
"M . .My Lord?" he stuttered.
The cold voice chuckled, "yet I do sense genuine regret in your tone for having failed me."
"More than you know my Lord! I never wished to fail you!"
"You say you are prepared, you have a plan then? A plan which will succeed, unlike your last miserable attempt?"
He stood quickly and answered with excitement in his voice, "yes my Lord, I have a plan. I will need help in order for it to succeed, but this plan cannot fail like the last one. Last time I was too lenient, I regretfully admit. I will not underestimate them this time, this time I will be in complete control of their every move."
"I must admit I have thought quite a few times of taking care of him myself, however I resisted until I heard the whole story from you. Yet you say that you will not underestimate them, I was unaware there were others involved. Now I am glad I did not act." Voldemort paused in his speech apparently thinking. "Very well, very well, I shall grant you a second chance. But know this, the moment you mess up, the second something unexpected happens, you will me most grievously punished."
"It would only be what I deserve my Lord."
There was amusement in Lord Voldemorts voice when he next spoke, "now, tell me exactly what happened to put you in here, then I am eager to hear more about this plan of yours, I am most interested in hearing the particulars, and why you feel it will work this time."
The two wizards talked quietly into the dark and silent night. By dawn, the plan was fully formed and perfected. Lord Voldemort slipped silently out of the room before the Healers began their morning rounds. The Death Eater lay in his bed, truly relaxing for the first time since he arrived. His mistake was going to be repaired, everything was back on track. He smiled slightly to himself as he closed his eyes, feigning sleep until the Healer entered to awake him for a new day.
"Good morning," smiled the Healer happily as she entered the room, "how are you feeling today?"
"Perfect," he answered simply.
"Excellent!" cheered the Healer, she had never seen him so at ease before, and it made her happy to see that her patient finally seemed to be recovering after three long months of little progress. "Well, let me give you an overall checkup, and then we'll see about some breakfast."
He nodded curtly and allowed the healer to go about her business.
"Well," she sighed with satisfaction, "you do seem to be doing much better today. Keep making improvements like this, and you'll be back home in no time!"
"Is that so?" he asked with sudden interest, "in that case, I better keep improving hadn't I?"
"Indeed" she answered sweetly, happy to finally see her patient in a good mood, he had seemed angry since the day he was admitted. Not that that was unusual, after all very few people are in a good mood after they've been admitted to St. Mungo's for spell damage. His injury had not been particularly traumatic; however, before today he didn't seem to have the drive to recover. The healer vaguely wondered what happened to spark the drive, but she didn't question him about it. In her mind, whatever encouraged her patients to recover was a good thing. She smiled as she left him with his breakfast tray, bidding him good morning as she closed the door behind her.
- - - - - - - - - -
That night, the Earth was unusually still. The wind did not howl, and an unnatural peace hung over everyone. At precisely midnight, a bright yellow light threw the window to his room open, the window, which until that moment, was not permanently sealed shut.
The cold voice spoke, "come my servant, it is time we leave and put the plan into action."
The man bowed towards the open window, "yes my Lord, thank you my Lord." He stepped to the edge of the windowsill, and with complete confidence stepped off the edge. He was caught by an invisible force, which transported him to a room. The room was dirty and rather barren. It was furnished with a fireplace, which was crackling with a dancing orange flame, and an armchair, which was facing the fire.
"Master!" the man bowed to the figure sitting in the chair.
"My servant," greeted Lord Voldemort with his cold sinister voice, "join me," he motioned to his side, where a second armchair appeared.
The Death Eater obediently approached his master and sat in the chair. Once he was seated, he and his master stared into the fire, each laughing a cold maniacal laugh, which seemed to cut straight through the stillness of the night, destroying all peace it touched.
Hundreds of miles away, a young man named Draco Malfoy jerked awake in a cold sweat. He sat up in his oversized four poster bed, breathing heavily. He looked around his dark room, which was lit only a bit from the light of the moon creeping in through the glass paneled doors which opened to his small balcony. He ran his hand though his hair, which was damp with sweat. Why had he woken up? He could not remember having a nightmare, nor did he hear anything that would have woken him. In fact the Earth seemed very calm and peaceful. Yet, as he walked out on the balcony outside of his room and felt the warm breeze against his skin, he could not shake the feeling of dread that had crept in on him in his sleep. This was not the first time he had felt as if something bad was going on, but this was the first time he had woken up in the dead of night with the feeling, and her rarely felt it this strong.
All the other times he knew that the feeling was just his nerves, left over from everything that had happened last year. He could not shake the feeling that something was wrong, but this time the feeling was different. It was more urgent, as if something had happened that was incredibly important to his wellbeing, but what it could be he had no idea.
After a long time standing on the balcony, looking out at the grounds of the manor, he decided to attempt to go back to sleep. He needed a goodnights rest; he needed to clear his mind. As he lay down he filled his mind of the upcoming year. Of returning to the safe-harbor of Hogwarts, of being head boy, but what finally lulled him back to sleep, were his thoughts about Hermione.
I hope everyone liked the first chapter!
To anyone who may be reading this fic, but did not read the first story (Serpent Fang in the Lions Den) don't worry, the next chapter has a brief explanation of what happened last year so you will understand a bit of what went on. (Of course if you read the original fic, you would know exactly what happened last year wink J).
And to all my loyal readers from the first story, I cannot thank you enough for all the support and encouragement you gave me on my first fic, so I hope this chapter lives up to your expectations (and in case you're wondering, we see Hermione and the gang in the next chapter J).
Whether you read the first fic or not, please submit a review to let me know how you liked this chapter! It will be greatly appreciated!!