Chapter 7

He sat regally on the throne, head high, feet flat on the floor, back leaning against the seat. He peered down upon those who had arrived at the Death Eater meeting which he called the following afternoon. He had to magically expand the room to fit over a hundred thousand, and even so there were another hundred thousand huddled outside. The Dark Lord's forces consisted of half of the world if not more.

The Potter Manor had been restored to how he saw fit. It was enormous, but at the same time was not meant to hold all the Death Eaters at once. Being so, he magic three large flat panel TV's as Mudbloods called them to hang within the room, and another outside for those who were gathered there. He also conjured cameras and satellites that were directed onto him. No, this was no ordinarily Death Eater Meeting, but this was a formal public statement from the Master, broadcasted to the entire world, Mudblood and Wizardry alike, though directed towards Albus Dumbledore.

Even the Death Eaters, aside from those who were present at the fall of the Dark Lord, had no idea who was sitting up there, though by their new mark, they could kind of guess and speculate as it wasn't that difficult to do so. Thus, the soft chatter that spread about was concerning who was sitting on the throne. He snapped his fingers and the camera's turned on. Silence instantly surfaced as attention was once again brought to him.

Ministry of Magic

"Kingsly, I'm going to take off early today. I'm exhausted."

"Certainly Minster…"

Arthur Weasley smiled at his friend. He had been promoted to being England's Mister shortly after Fudge was sacked for not being able to find either Harry or Voldemort, the two deadliest forces out there. Of course Weasley couldn't either, but he had the support of the Order as well as Dumbledore.

Arthur straightened out the mess of papers on his desk, before heading towards the door. He didn't get past the atrium when a large screen appeared on top of the fountain. The cup of coffee he had been holding crashed to the floor.

"My God…" he whispered at what he saw on the screen.

Hogwarts

"NEWTS will occur next Wednesday…" The Potion Professor drawled. "Only the selected few, I'm afraid will pass..." He looked at Ron. "For some of you had gotten in by mere chance…." Ron gulped. He had been anything but successful with Potions, making himself the Longbottom of the class, as Neville no longer took it.

Snape scanned the room with his mere slits for eyes. He was in a very bad mood but was trying to keep his composure. His left hand was burning so painfully that blood was seeping out through the bandages.

"Weasley" he snapped suddenly. "What is the potion to stop death in its tracks?" Ron looked startled. Hermione's hand had flung up from beside him. Ron took a gulp of air, also noticing that Draco had his hand up as well.

"No? You don't know?" Snape soften his voice and there was a clear smile. "Well too bad. Have one done by tomorrow, You will be testing it, so do be careful. You will find that if you end up dead, it is not my fault. I take no responsibility. Be warned…." Then turning to the class, but focused on Hermione he spoke. "Anyone who dares help him will find herself on the wrong side of me and maybe my next victim."

"But Professor…" Hermione cried out. "You haven't taught…."

"50 points from Gryffindor. After 7 god damn years you still are out of place are you not Granger." Hermione flushed red. "Yes, I have not taught it, however if you can go ahead then there is no reason your friend cannot."

The bell rang and the class quickly flushed out, but stayed behind when a soft "Homework" came out of the professor's mouth.

"Research on the Potion, make it, and have it ready by tomorrow….everyone…" Draco too looked as though he was going to protest. "You too Malfoy, I will not sympathize with anyone who fails and ends up dead…including you…"

Hermione and Ron quickly left the dungeons.

"Man, what's his problem…" Ron grumbled.

"Didn't you see his left arms' bleeding, badly too. Of course he's deadly now. He's…he's defying…defying…" she lowered her voice "Voldemort…." Ron cringed at the name.

"So he thinks that he can use us as an outlet?"

"And what if I am? There isn't anything you two can do about it." Snape's voice came from behind, making the two jump. "Watch your mouth otherwise neither of you will live another day." Snape held his arm with the other. He then stalked back to his classroom.

He barley sat down when he stood up again. A personal screen appeared before him. He stared at it awed. Then he quickly snapped out of it and rushed out of the dungeons. He knocked over Ron, with a 'shit'. He flung his arms in defeat, and muttered, "God damn it, I give up."

Hermione helped Ron up.

"Damn him."

"Come on, let's see what's problem."

"Follow him, no way." Ron objected.

"No…" She pulled him backed into the dungeons.

"Shit…" came out of both their mouths in unison.

Dumbledore sat talking with McGonagall in the headmistress's office. He stopped his sentence in mid way.

"Severus…" he muttered, suddenly spotting the man from the window run out of Hogwarts with full speed. McGonagall looked lost, but didn't have to say anything as the answer came.

Another personalized screen appeared before the two of them. Dumbledore shook slightly, there was no twinkle in his eyes. He stared coldly at the screen, the only explanation as to why the Potion Professor left so suddenly.

Throughout Hogwarts, hundreds if not thousands of these screens appeared. Everyone froze and started unblinkingly at the screen.

Headquarters

He gently placed down the cup of water, taking his time. Some of the Order members were here, and Remus didn't like it. He had been caught being outside Sirius' room, and so was forced to have snack with them. Remus didn't answer Moody's question when a screen appeared and they too stared wide-eyed at it.

elsewhere in the world

The same happened throughout the world, Muggle and Wizardry alike. All movement stopped and their attention was brought to the screen. In the Mudblood case, they were magically attracted to it.

Hogwarts

There were numerous Death Eaters, uncountable and squeezed together. The screen flashed several different scenes and it showed the numerous amounts of people gathered, inside and out.

"So here it is. Tom's finally decided to cease the silence." Dumbledore spoke, his attention brought onto the television, staring at it keenly. He watched carefully.

There was a person sitting on the throne which he assumed was Tom. The man was clothed in black. He blended in with the shadows as well as night.

The person waived a hand and two Death Eaters approached him on fours and stayed like that, bowing with head stuck on the ground, not daring to look at him. Even Voldemort were not as brutal as this, as the Death Eaters were allowed to stand after the formal 'blessings' to their Lord. It looked as though the people were before a King.

"Bring the body." It was whispered out, but still caught on tape. The two Death Eaters did so, never turning their backs on him, as they retreated to bring the stone cold body of their ex-Lord. They offered it above their heads as though it was a sacrifice to some sort of ritual. Then with one movement they placed down the body before the man.

The cameras zoomed into the body, more precisely the face. Dumbledore gasped softly. It was Tom, or to the outside world Voldemort. Clearly life had left the body for some time.

Tom's dead at last. In that case who is the person on that throne? Who could reunite the Death Eaters, bring them together and have such authority over them? Who was it that had so much power to dare broadcast, make such a public statement.

Then it clicked, and Dumbledore understood.

Harry let the camera focus on Voldemort's dead face. He could only imagine the shock from the world, as even the Death Eaters there were stunned. He smiled at the chaos that he was sure to follow. Without the Dark Lord, it would seem as though things would fall out of hand. There weren't an 'Evil' to fight. However, he was going to change that. Harry was going to gain power after this global announcement.

"Surprised, relived, shocked or just plain stunned?" The camera's flew back to him, and zoomed in onto him, though they couldn't see his face as it was hidden in the shadows.

"Yes…that was indeed Lord Voldemort, Tom Marvolo Riddle. I assure you, he's gone for good. He's dead, the way my parents are, the way Sirius is, the way Albus Dumbledore will be by the end of the week, the way you…you or you will be by the end of the month." He pointed randomly outward. Leaning forward, he let the shallow light light up his face.

Harry James Potter, the face of a 17 year old young man flashed onto the screens across the world.

"I've completed the prophecy so does that make me a murderer? I've relived the world of a great Evil. Does that make me a hero, or does it make me a villain?" Harry took in a deep breath. "Frankly, I've had enough of 'hero', being the Boy-Who-Won't-Die. No one ever asked me if I wanted to fight against Voldemort…I just did for I was used as a toy by Dumbledore to fulfill his needs, to use me to rid of someone that he couldn't do."

The camera's turned to the numerous Death Eaters, filming them.

"Well now its different. I'm not that weak, nor am I someone to be taken lightly. I defeated Voldemort. Now, what use to belong to him, belongs to me. In simpler words, the entire globe and everything on it is at my disposal. Now, I have the power to rule and to reign and to seek the revenge towards all those who have tormented me, squashed me down, used me for 17 damn years. I was vulnerable back then, defenseless and unprotected. Now its different, now you will all pay for the pain and suffering that I had to endure, the humiliation that I had to surpass. Oh Revenge is so sweet…."

The camera went back to Harry, as the new master began to speak again.

"A new era has approached. Darkness and Evil has once again rise to new heights. Under my leadership, a new reign of unimaginable terror, surpassing that of Voldemort's will surface. I swear it. No one can stop me. This time, there is no 'hero', there is no 'savior', there is no The-Boy-Who-Lived to fight for you. The Great Albus Dumbledore is dead, or will be." Harry let that line linger.

"Can you withstand the wrath of the Master? The wrath of the Half Blood Prince? The wrath of Satan himself?" Harry stopped at that letting the question linger.

With his wand, he conjured his name, letting it flash its message. Beside it, he conjured the Mark of the Master. He had changed the Mark earlier slightly, as it was still missing something. Now, it was complete. The words still flashed a deadly green. The snake as alive as ever slithering restlessly. What was added was a single black rose that was in the center, stuck there, as if it was a compass, the symbol of death.

Satisfied, he used both hands as swished it in the air. The cameras disappeared, and he stopped the live broadcasting. Harry then turned his attention back to the present Death Eaters.

"I expect you all to follow me faithfully."

There was a murmur of 'yes'.

"If I find out that you aren't then not only you will die, but anything, anyone that is aquatinted with you will die as well. This includes family, friends and pets. The price of betrayal is high." He spoke coldly.

Another mutter of 'yes' in unison.

"Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes Master….."

Harry smiled.

"Very good. You may all leave now. However, in the next months, before my 18th birthday you will all report to me in person and then formally swear your loyalty. I will decide then whether I should keep you, or should dispose of you…." There was unease, but Harry ignored it. "You may leave…."

The Death Eaters left quickly, the way they had come, not wanting to stay any longer then they were suppose to.

Nicely held indeed…. Master….. Harry turned around to where the hissing had come about, one that had disrupted the silence.

Where are you? Harry hissed back.

Down here, by your feet.

He looked down to find a small-medium sized snake. It had red eyes, black overcoat and yellow bellow. It looked identical to the one that he used on his Mark. The man picked it up, and the snake coiled itself on the man's arm.

Thank you Master

Hmm…Master…but I'm not your Master am I little one? he asked curiously. Surprisingly, he was more caring and soft towards the snake then he was towards people.

Yes, you are….let me explain. I was born from the ashes of a phoenix. The same one that resides in the core of your wand.

Fawkes?

Yes…the one and the only. The bird will not return, cannot return as long as Darkness reigns. Being so, I was born in its place. Fawkes was meant to have served you, when the time was needed, however, because of your changes, I will take that place.

I see, I see

So how did you come about? I mean get here? Dumbledore would have killed you if he saw you.

He didn't. I'm a snake, I too have survival instincts. I stayed out of sight. When the time came, I launched myself to one of the Professors…He brought me here without knowing it.

Who?

Snape, or that's what he was called. Greasy black hair guy

Oh yeah, that's him….

Harry rubbed his chin. So Snape had come, been one of those present at the actual meeting. He wondered if he was ordered, or if he came willingly. No matter, he would be seeing the Potion Master soon enough.

So, what is your name little one? How should I address you?

Karo

Karo?

Yessssss You can call me Karo

Karo…. Harry repeated feeling out the name of his new pet.