mistressKC:
That depressed Harry thing is old. I would've loved to take credit for it, but...::shrugs::
Bluespark:
Well, Rose Whip, Spirit Gun, Black Dragon and Wands by Blaque Midnyte is one, as is the sequel Split Sky: Of Wand and Spirit by Blaque Midnyte. Then there's Hiei's Revenge by Rurouni Tsuki. If you don't mind slash or incest, then there's Thicker Than Water by Youko Koenma. Oh, and then there's also the revised version of Split Sky: Of Wand and Spirit called Stars of the Zodiac by Blaque Midnyte. Then there's also Fire, Flowers, and Wands. Then there's The One Possessed, which also has slash in it, though I can't remember who is with who. And then there are several others that I can't remember the names of anymore. It's been so long since I've read them...oh, and none of these have been update recently except Stars of the Zodiac. Hope you enjoy them.
genny62890:
Gee, they aren't?!I'm always afraid that the characters are OOC. As it is, Snape is just a little OOC...eh, can't win them all. Thanks. That's good to know I. Makes me less stressed. And I'm glad you enjoy it.
KaraKurama:
It'supdated!
Yavie Aelindel:
I understand the thing with the numbers. They were annoying me too when I was proofing the damn thing...whatdoyou think Ishould replace them with? Actually, what marks will actually stay in the story once it's posted?
kit-kit:
Well, the first prank won't be for at least another chapter or two...I can't waitfor iteither.
CuriousDreamWeaver:
Excellent, I was trying for a different approach to things! ::beams:: This is great!
Hope you enjoy the chapter.
Chapter Six
At 8:00 PM the next day, Snape apparated into Hiei's and Yusuke's room in the Leaky Caldron. Yusuke was sitting on his bed, reading of all things, a book. Snape stared at the book disapprovingly.
"By reading that," Snape pointing to the dark arts book, "you are not fulfilling the requirements…"
"Yeah, yeah, stuff it and go downstairs. Hiei's waiting for you there," Yusuke said offhandedly, gesturing toward the door, not looking up, and sounding for all the world like he was informing a boyfriend as to where his date was.
Snape made a mental note to rain hell down around the boy's head as he left the room.
Once downstairs, he spotted Hiei, after a bit of searching, sitting in one of the less noticeable tables off near the shadows. Snape sat down, and the two appeared to be engaged in conversation for a few hours. No one thought it odd when they port-keyed away.
……..
"The meeting starts at one in the morning, but it is customary to arrive a bit early, especially for new prospects," Snape told Hiei as they were walking up to Malfoy Manor. "This is going to be difficult for you, given your nature, but treat Voldemort with respect. The particulars of the…assignment Voldemort will be giving you will be discussed at a later point." Snape finished speaking, and focused on the door in front of him. They had reached the Manor.
……
Lucius got up from his study, and closed his book. The wards around Malfoy Manor had gone off, alerting him to the fact that someone had just arrived. Lucius' anxiety increased. A new recruit most likely. They were the ones who wished the most to please the Dark Lord. Tonight was going to be painful.
…..
Hiei looked at the man in front of him cautiously. He remembered him from the confrontation in Diagon Alley, although now he had a name to go with the face. Apparently, this was Lucius Malfoy.
….
"And, I must say, it is a pleasure to see you looking well, Severus," Lucius greeted Snape. "Our Lord will be most pleased to see a new recruit."
"He's a prospect, he's come because he is interested in joining the Death Eaters. He's told me that he doesn't wish to make a hasty decision in regard to the war," said Snape.
Lucius frowned. "Perhaps Hiei would like to speak for himself," he replied tersely. "We don't have room in our ranks for those who need to be coddled."
"I haven't even made a decision on which side I will be supporting, and you already assume that it will be Voldemort's," Hiei said, ignoring the flinches that accompanied the utterance of the Dark Lord's name. "What type of fool are you exactly?"
"And what kind of fool are you for defiling the Dark Lord's name? You are in Death Eater territory. As such, it would be wise to give our Lord the respect he deserves," Lucius warned. "As for the decision," Lucius smirked, "you wouldn't be here if you hadn't made a decision yet."
Hiei arched an eyebrow. "And why's that?"
"Because if you came here without the intent to join, you would be killed on the spot."
"It seems your secret is out," Snape told Hiei amusedly.
"And what exactly has you covering for his secrets?" Lucius asked Snape curiously.
"His power," was Snape's simple reply.
" 'His power'," Lucius mocked, "Are you planning on serving him as your new master? Are you planning on supporting him in his rise to power as the new Dark Lord?" he taunted.
"Why are you so interested? Are you planning on becoming his servant?"
"Why are we even having this discussion? I thought that we stated earlier that I have come to devote myself to Voldemort's service. Besides, my power isn't even close to that of Voldemort's," Hiei stated. And it was true, his power wasn't close to Voldemort's at all, it was far greater.
Lucius stared at Hiei appraisingly. He too, no doubt, realized the double entendre of that last statement. That coupled with Snape's earlier statement had to leave one wondering. Never the less, he told them to follow him, and led them toward Voldemort.
…..
Voldemort's headquarters wasn't what Hiei expected. When Lucius had led them out into a maze, he initially thought that they were heading for the forest. That is, until he saw a line of people wearing the same black robes as Lucius and Severus, and the Dark Lord sitting on a stone bench, inside a garden.
"My lord," Lucius and Snape both said after kissing the hem of Voldemort's robe. Hiei sneered inwardly. The idea of having to bow before an insane ningen was truly a discomforting thought to him.
"Ah, and who is this?" Voldemort asked the two after they had finished groveling, "A new recruit?"
"Yes, my lord," Snape said. "He approached me today when he saw me running an errand for the senile Dumbledore. He said that he had considered the two sides carefully, and had decided to join you, my lord."
"And does 'he' have a name?"
"Hiei, my lord," Hiei said, bowing to Voldemort respectfully, and, at the same time, vowing revenge on Koenma.
"Hiei, why did you decide to join my ranks instead of Dumbledore's?" Voldemort asked. The question seemed innocuous enough, but actually carried a heavier meaning; loyalty was in question. Voldemort tapped into Hiei's mind using Legilimency, only to be meet by…Voldemort jerked his link back in surprise.
"To be honest, my lord, I felt that life under those pathetic excuses for Ministry officials would be…stifling and annoying. Why should we hide from Muggles? It is they who should be hiding from us. In the Muggle society, the powerful govern over the weak through politics and money, so why should it not be the same here? Fudge is an incompetent moron," the Death Eaters and soon to be Death Eaters smirked in agreement. "The Ministry itself is filled with incompetent morons who are unfit to preside over the Wizarding world. And, since we are stronger than the Muggles, we ought to be in charge," Hiei stared Voldemort directly in the eyes. "That is one of the several reasons as to why I chose you over Dumbledore."
"Hmm," Voldemort pondered over Hiei's words. He seemed to have the same view on why the Ministry was unfit to rule as Voldemort. One reason why he should be allowed within the ranks. It was becoming annoying for Voldemort that he kept attracting, mainly, spineless, idiots like Crabbe and Goyle. Hiei also had a backbone. He hadn't groveled when he had been introduced to Voldemort, just bowed respectfully. Another point to Hiei.
As Voldemort continued to ponder, Hiei casually looked over to the soon-to-be Death Eaters. There were two rather stupid looking ones, one that looked like a carbon copy of Lucius, arrogance and all, one that looked like an average human and who's face would be entirely too easy to forget, and one that seemed to be…Hiei blinked in confusion.
…..
"Now what, Kurama, I was actually get interested in a book, for the first time in my life, and you pull me away from it to get me to watch TV. What gives?" Yusuke asked irritably. Kurama blinked, there was something off with this situation.
"Yusuke this situation is far more important than…"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever. I know that routine. You're gonna give me this speech about how I should be more responsible and all that crap. I've heard it a thousand times, so save me the death-by-boredom," Yusuke snapped, cutting off Kurama. "If it makes you happy, I won't read for the remainder of the mission."
"Well, actually, I'm quite glad that you've finally exhibited a thirst for literature," Kurama cocked his head to the side and raised an eyebrow inquiringly. "What exactly are you reading anyway," he asked cautiously.
"Oh, you know the usual," Yusuke replied with a grin. "The different effects that the Cruciatus curse can have on the body. Arguments on why Avada Kedavra should be legalized…light fluffy stuff like that."
"Oh, how lovely. Well at least you're getting a decent start on the Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons."
"It's interesting," Yusuke replied with a shrug. Kurama sweat-dropped. Trust Yusuke to find the Dark Arts interesting.
"So, why did you pull me away from my education to watch a movie?"
"I planted some seeds in Hiei's hair earlier. They're going to be spying on the meeting right now," Kurama informed Yusuke, disregarding his statement.
"Interesting…do you have popcorn?"
"Just watch the meeting, Yusuke," Kurama said, exasperated.
"Fine, fine, be that way," Yusuke said in a false hurt tone before sitting back in a chair and watching the screen. So far, all that it showed was Hiei having a rather pointless conversation with Snape. Yusuke yawned, and looked at the screen bored. From the way the conversation was progressing, this would last for a few hours. Yusuke opened his book and continued reading about the various, not quite illegal hexes and curses.
…..
"Yusuke, look, they just port-keyed away!" Kurama told Yusuke urgently.
Yusuke looked at the screen, "'Bout time something happened."
"The meeting starts at one in the morning, but it is customary to arrive a bit early, especially for new prospects," Snape told Hiei as they were walking up to Malfoy Manor. "This is going to be difficult for you, given your nature, but treat Voldemort with respect. The particulars of the…assignment Voldemort will be giving you will be discussed at a later point." Snape finished speaking, and focused on the door in front of him. They had reached the Manor. The doors opened by themselves after the two had waited for a while.
"My god! How cheesy is that! Doors opening on their own like a lame horror movie! I thought the guy who owns this stupid mansion was supposed to be evil!" Yusuke yelled at Kurama, pointing to the screen accusingly.
"He is dark, but that doesn't mean that he has an original taste in style," Kurama told Yusuke. "Besides, I somehow doubt that Lucius ever watched a Muggle horror movie."
The two entered the manor, and were greeted by the same blond man who confronted the Golden Trio in Gringotts.
"Who's that?" Yusuke asked pointing to Lucius.
"Lucius Malfoy."
"Oh, so he's the guy who imitated those stupid horror movies."
"Yusuke, please be quiet," snapped Kurama, who was trying to listen to Malfoy, Hiei and Snape interact, decipher what they really meant, and listen to Yusuke at the same time. It wasn't working.
Hiei looked at the man in front of him cautiously.
"You're the one who was with Potter and his cronies in Gringotts, weren't you?" Lucius asked.
"Not by choice," Hiei replied.
Lucius smiled. "Lucius Malfoy."
"Hiei."
"And, I must say, it is a pleasure to see you looking well, Severus," Lucius greeted Snape. "Our Lord will be most pleased to see a new recruit."
"He's a prospect, he's come because he is interested in joining the Death Eaters. He's told me that he doesn't wish to make a hasty decision in regard to the war," said Snape.
"Aw man, Hiei must be feeling pretty pissed at being talked about as if he's not there," Yusuke cackled. "Those Death Eaters are in for a surprise!"
Lucius frowned. "Perhaps Hiei would like to speak for himself," he replied tersely. "We don't have room in our ranks for those who need to be coddled."
Yusuke winced and laughed. Lucius was going to be in pain if he kept insulting Hiei like that. Kurama threw a pillow at Yusuke, hoping it would shut him up. It didn't.
"I haven't even made a decision on which side I will be supporting, and you already assume that it will be Voldemort's," Hiei said, ignoring the flinches that accompanied the utterance of the Dark Lord's name. "What type of fool are you exactly?"
Yusuke whooped. "That's right Hiei, show that pompous bastard who's boss!"
"This isn't a movie Yusuke!"
"Sorry," Yusuke said, not sounding sorry at all. Kurama sighed.
"And what kind of fool are you for defiling the Dark Lord's name? You are in Death Eater territory. As such, it would be wise to give our Lord the respect he deserves," Lucius warned. "As for the decision," Lucius smirked, "you wouldn't be here if you hadn't made a decision yet."
Hiei arched an eyebrow. "And why's that?"
"Because if you came here without the intent to join, you would be killed on the spot."
"How kind of them." Kurama threw Yusuke a dirty look.
"It seems your secret is out," Snape told Hiei amusedly.
"And what exactly has you covering for his secrets?" Lucius asked Snape curiously.
"His power," was Snape's simple reply.
" 'His power'," Lucius mocked, "Are you planning on serving him as your new master? Are you planning on supporting him in his rise to power as the new Dark Lord?" he taunted.
"Why are you so interested? Are you planning on becoming his servant?"
"Why are we even having this discussion? I thought that we outlined earlier that I have come to devote myself to Voldemort's service. Besides, my power isn't even close to that of Voldemort's," Hiei stated.
"Yeah, it's higher than Voldemort's," Yusuke sounded smug.
"Why do you keep insulting Lucius?"
"Because he reminds me of some people I had to go to school with…not like I usually went to school…"
Lucius stared at Hiei with a calculating expression on his face. After a few moments of awkward silence, Lucius proceeded to bring Hiei and Snape to Voldemort.
….
"Who knew that Voldemort's headquarters would be in the garden?" Kurama asked.
"Shh! I'm trying to do something here!" Yusuke snapped, glaring at Kurama, and gesturing towards the screen.
There was a line of people dressed in black Death Eater robes, and then the Dark Lord sitting on an ornately carved stone bench.
"My lord," Lucius and Snape both said after kissing the hem of Voldemort's robe.
"Ah, and who is this?" Voldemort asked the two after they had finished groveling, "A new recruit?"
"Yes, my lord," Snape said. "He approached me today when he saw me running an errand for the senile Dumbledore. He said that he had considered the two sides carefully, and had decided to join you, my lord."
"And does 'he' have a name?"
"Oh no, he doesn't have a name. Whenever Snape wanted his attention, all he did was say, 'Hey, you!'" Kurama sighed, and rubbed his temples. He wished wizards were allowed to use underage magic.
"Hiei, my lord," Hiei said, bowing to Voldemort respectfully.
"I never thought I'd see the day when Hiei was being respectful toward a human," Yusuke said, amused.
"That's it!" Kurama yelled, and used his Rose Whip to gag Yusuke.
"Hiei, why did you decide to join my ranks instead of Dumbledore's?" Voldemort asked.
"To be honest, my lord, I felt that life under those pathetic excuses for Ministry officials would be…stifling and annoying. Why should we hide from Muggles? It is they who should be hiding from us. In the Muggle society, the powerful govern over the weak through politics and money, so why should it not be the same here? Fudge is an incompetent moron," the Death Eaters and soon to be Death Eaters smirked in agreement. "The Ministry itself is filled with incompetent morons who are unfit to preside over the Wizarding world. And, since we are stronger than the Muggles, we ought to be in charge," Hiei stared Voldemort directly in the eyes. "That is one of the several reasons as to why I chose you over Dumbledore."
"Hmm," Voldemort pondered over Hiei's words.
As Voldemort continued to ponder, Hiei casually looked over to the soon-to-be Death Eaters. There were two rather stupid looking ones, one that looked like a carbon copy of Lucius, arrogance and all, one that looked like an average human and who's face would be entirely too easy to forget, and one that seemed to be…Hiei blinked, and confusion seemed to manifest a bit on his face.
"What?!" Kurama exclaimed. Yusuke made a weird strangled noise of surprise.
The three Spirit Detectives wondered what Sea Man was doing at a Death Eater meeting.
A/N: Merry Christmas people! Hope you liked this chapter as much as the last one!