AN/ Since everybody already knows that sh by heart, I'll skip the intro from now on. see previous chaps for disclaimer etc...

29) In Shadows Dwell


So she is the reason he doesn't see. I hate her. And I hate him even more for so ruthlessly stealing what is mine – my heart.

Nobody understands me. They could never… I'm their little sunshine.

Only one ever understood, or so I thought.

But he had to leave. I couldn't keep it. Had to throw it away. Away.

So he's gone.

And nobody will ever understand again.

No one.

I'm alone within their midst.


The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches,

Born to those who have trice defied him, born as the seventh month dies

And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have a power the Dark Lord knows not…

And neither must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other perishes,

The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…

Let it be the course of fate that all his achievements were doomed to fail because of the existence of one lousy half-blood!

The glass in the window was greenish-tinted and the light falling into the room threw bizarre patterns of light against the white painted walls of the study. Staring out onto the wide grounds he noticed the flowers in the garden starting to bloom. Stepping onto the balcony he let his gaze strive over the neatly tended gardens and many fountains. The juniors were training on a far field but their progress mattered little to him. They were just cannon fodder. His real prize had left his domain over three month ago and was safely back into the warm lap of his worst nemesis, Albus Dumbledore.

And with the control of Harry Potter, Dumbledore wielded the most powerful weapon he could possibly have against Voldemort. Not the staff, no, the boy. Praying the old fool would not learn about the content of the prophecy and sacrifice his golden boy, he looked up to the sky to see an eagle owl landing on the iron railing.

The owl held out his leg and he untied the little letter. It was from Ollivander.

"My most dreadful and vindictive lord and master," the old wizard wrote. "The reports from central London do not vary much from the previous. While the riots and protest marches have died down a bit, the government holds little authority these days. The mob blindly follows their only hope remaining; Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter.

Your lordship will excuse my bluntness, but the odds are not on our side during these colourful days. A newfound unity between the common population makes it hard for our kind to stand their ground while the masses possess little tolerance for the darker side of magic. While the hidden shops have suffered little, aurors are combing through the open streets, weeding out whatever little suspicious edifice they may find. Although they have little or no coordination in their actions yet, many see their very existence threatened and limit their supplies to the less illicit businesses of our society.

Furthermore, the coming election promise a new political course of blood-traitors and muggle-lovers. Especially the Order of the Phoenix's efforts to influence the public are very concerning indeed.

I may once again apologize for my bluntness, but the situation is very unstable. Whatever is bound to happen will not wait much longer. The air is buzzing with revolutionary thoughts…

Your most humble supporter,

Saduj Ollivander"

Gritting his teeth, he crumbled the letter to dust and swept back into the shadows of his study. Someone was going to suffer for his…

And Narcissa had just lost their precious hostage…


It was late afternoon and he had just dismissed his last class for the day when the mark suddenly flared to life. Resigned, he locked the doors to the classroom and the supply cabinets and rushed to his private chambers to change into Death Eater garb, before using a special portkey Dumbledore had made for him to get near the outer wards. Leaving the corned beef can between the roots of an old oak, he walked a few paces down the hill until he felt himself crossing the wards. Deep in the forest he touched his wand to the mark and apparated straight to the Dark Lord's side.

As expected, he found himself in the throne room at the manor. The other Death Eaters were already there. He could see Lucius standing next to his wife, who had one arm around his wrist. Searching his lover's gaze he could barely suppress a shudder.

Lucius seemed much worse than the last time he had seen him, if that was even possible.

The scariest part were his screaming eyes in that motionless face.

Adverting his gaze, Severus aimed his mind fully at the content of the meeting. Obviously the Dark Lord planned an assault on St. Mungos for the coming month. Nothing that the Ministry and the Order could not easily thwart once informed of the stratagem.

Narcissa looked even more piqued than usually. Her fixed gaze lay on the Dark Lord's face and Severus thought for one moment he saw something alike to resignation, but just then the usual frost returned to her cold blue eyes. Bellatrix appeared to be uncommonly subdued during the whole meeting and afterwards the gathering had dissolved, she waved him over to her. Walking along the gravel path toward the apparation barriers, they distanced themselves from the others and she pulled him behind some bushes.

"Listen, Sev," she said seriously. "I'm at my wit's end!"

"I don't know what you are talking about," he defended himself, growing increasingly anxious. "So what's the matter?"

"You know full well what I'm about, Snape," she spat. "I'm sick of nursing your fucking lover. The only thing holding him up is Imperius at the moment and that shit will driving him insane if he doesn't stop fighting it soon!" she urged on.

You would be the expert in that field, wouldn't you? The insult died on his lips as he reconsidered. She might after all be his only source of information on Lucius' state.

"And how could I possibly alter that condition?" He pretended coolly. "Excuse me, but I am a busy man as you undoubtedly know!" He swept past her and disapparated as soon as he could. Fear for Lucius was wrecking his mental barriers and he needed to get away before he made some fatal mistake.


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