Mosaics
Part 3
Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things
brought together. — Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890).
The leaves crunched beneath the lady's heels as they walked through the forest. She was humming 'Greensleeves' and a smile lit up her face.
"Beautiful day Lizzie, The lady said lifting her face to the sun that filtered through the trees in lazy patterns. "Are you sure we are going the right way?"
"Yes Mistress," Lizzie said tugging on the large silver hoop in her ear. As with all fey creatures she could determine the directions by the subtle signs in nature. Lizzie wished she could take Mistress back to the 'home' but that thought had quickly been squelched. The Elf had tried to make a circle, taking the lady back within the boundaries of the sanitarium she had escaped from, only to be hexed severely once the lady discovered her treachery. The lady had instructed Lizzie to punish herself if she even thought of taking Mistress back.
They had been walking in the forest for two days now. Lizzie did not exactly know where they were in regards to the Master's house, but knew that it lay northwest from the Sanitarium. Her knees shook in fear at what the Master would do to her for bringing Mistress back, but Lizzie was bound to obey Mistress.
"Look at the lovely flowers, Lizzie," Mistress was saying. "Do pick some for me." The Elf looked around, confused.
"Where Mistress?"
"There," the lady said, pointing at a clump of dead weeds. "Useless baggage."
Lizzie quickly snapped up the weeds and handed them to her. She lifted them to her nose, breathing in deeply. "Simply gorgeous," Mistress said. They walked for another hour before the woman spoke again.
"I'm tired and my feet hurt," she whined in a childish tone. "I want to ride in a attambile again. Can't we ride again?" she asked, looking hopefully at the Elf.
"There are no Muggle contraptions here," Lizzie said fearfully, expecting to be hit for saying such.
"Pity," the lady sighed. "Such a wonderful invention for a Muggle."
They had been picked up by a Muggle in an 'automobile' the second day they were traveling. Lizzie had hidden beneath Mistress' cloak, sitting on the floor of the loud, horseless carriage, fearing for their lives. The Muggle had taken them many miles and had let them out at a small village east of Nottinghamshire.
The woman rubbed her eyes, her face screwing up. "I want to go home," she sniffed, the girlish voice tight with unshed tears. "Wanna go home and play with puppy."
"We will be home shortly," Lizzie said soothingly. "Why don't we rest for a bit..."
"I don't wanna take a nap!"
Lizzie tugged hard on the earring, making her lobe hurt. "No nap, just rest. Lizzie will sing for Mistress."
The Lady sat down on the path, a smile on her face. "Oh yes, please sing Lizzie."
The Elf sat down next to the Lady and began singing Greensleeves.
"You know Harry, I think that last play outline was the best ever," Ron said, his mouth full of fried chicken. "We are going to walk away with the Quidditch Cup this year."
"Ron, do you know how disgusting that is?" Ginny said irritably, as he sprayed pieces of food across the table.
"I've no one to impress," he said, taking a drink of pumpkin juice. "Since Harry snagged Hermione."
"And when did you try to impress me before?" Hermione teased. They laughed at Ron's red face before the talk turned to Quidditch once more. Harry had been made Captain of the Gryffindor team this year and both he and Ron were determined to make it the best year the team had ever had.
Hermione grew tired of the conversation and looked around the room. Tamara waved from the Hufflepuff table at her. Glancing up at the staff table, she saw the door to side of the hall open and a familiar figure walked in with Dumbledore.
"What's Mrs. Weasley doing here?" she gasped. They all turned to stare as Mrs. Weasley sat down at the staff table.
"Do you think something has happened to someone in the family?" Ginny asked, fear in her voice.
"No," Hermione said quickly. "It looks like she is here on a visit. If it was something important Dumbledore would summon you to his office like he did when Mr. Weasley got hurt."
Dumbledore was standing now, pecking on his crystal water glass. The hall quieted down, everyone turning to look at the Headmaster. "I have a little announcement," he said. "First, I must thank Professors McGonagall, Flitwick and Snape for filling in these past two weeks in the DADA classes. It has been a tremendous help and has assured your education need not fall behind. However, starting tomorrow you will have a new DADA teacher. I am proud to present Professor Molly Weasley." "Bloody hel..." Ron began choking on his food. Harry pounded on his back. There was a smattering of polite applause in the Hall as Mrs. Weasley stood up and waved.
"Oh damn," Ginny moaned.
"Ginny, Ron," Hermione said reproachfully. "I think it's grand that your Mum is going to teach."
"Just you wait," Ginny said sagely, "until she finds out that you and Harry are seeing each other. Then tell me how grand it is. I mean, I love my mum but she will be sticking her nose into our lives, especially our social lives." Harry and Hermione looked at each other.
"Tell me I'm dreaming," Ron moaned.
After dinner, they went up to the staff table to greet Mrs. Weasley. "Surprise," Molly said, beaming from to ear to ear.
"We were very much surprised," Harry said grinning.
"Ron, you have something on your chin," she said, pulling a handkerchief from her pocket.
"Mum," Ron said aghast, stepping behind Harry.
"What's dad going to do now that you are here?" Ginny asked abruptly.
Molly gave her an odd look. "He will be fine," she said firmly. "I know it will be a change for him, but Dumbledore has given me permission to go home every other weekend." She frowned slightly at Ron and Ginny. "Look," she said her voice so low they had to lean in to hear her. "I am only here because I am working for the Order. Dumbledore told me this is where I am needed. I will try not to interfere in your lives too much." She sounded hurt.
"Mrs. Weasley, I think it's wonderful that you will be teaching here," Hermione said sincerely, glaring at the others.
"Hey Ron, is your mum a good teacher?" Seamus Finnegan asked in the Common Room later that evening.
"Yes do tell," Lavender Brown agreed. She and Seamus had become friendly at the end of the last term and were sitting together working on their Transfiguration homework.
"Guess we will find out," he muttered, slumping in his chair, wincing as Seamus and Lavender laughed.
"Hermione, would you mind checking my potions essay?" Neville asked hopefully.
"Be glad to," Hermione told him with an encouraging smile, taking the parchment.
It had shocked everyone that Neville had succeeded in earning an Outstanding in Potions on his OWLs and had enrolled in Professor Snape's NEWT level classes. "Why are you subjecting yourself to that git?" Ron asked in disbelief, after he had stated long and loud how happy he was not to have Snape any longer.
"Do you want to be an Auror like your parents were?" Ginny guessed.
Neville blushed. He had changed since last year. Though he was unsure of himself in Potions still, he had blossomed in his other classes so far, albeit the year had just started. "That's what my Gran wants, but I...I want to be a Healer," he said almost defiantly. They all agreed they thought it was a wonderful choice for a career. The trick was to get Neville through Potions for he still fell apart whenever he was around Snape.
"Good show Neville," Harry had told him sheepishly, ashamed that he was in the same class as Neville and Hermione. Professor McGonagall had kept her promise and Harry had found himself in Snape's class even though he had only achieved an Acceptable in Potions. On his class schedule he was to be tutored by the formidable Transfiguration Professor on that weeks Potions classes every Thursday evening. He felt bad because once again he had been given special treatment and had wanted to skive off the class but Hermione had put her foot down.
"You wanted to be an Auror so here is your chance. Professor McGonagall went out of her way to see that you got back into Snape's class and you're going to be grateful," she told him firmly.
"It looks fine Neville, except for this one part. The effects of adding Limpwurt tends to increase the strength not the stench," Hermione said smiling.
"Thanks Hermione," Neville said appreciatively.
"That's my big sister, the brain," Ginny teased. Ginny was sitting in Dean Thomas' lap in a chair by the fire. The couple whispered and touched whenever they thought Ron wasn't looking.
"Looks like a good idea," Harry suggested to Hermione, nodding his head towards the couple after Neville left with his homework.
Ron rolled his eyes. "May I remind you that you are a Prefect," he said irritably to Hermione, "and should be setting a good example for the younger students. You can start by breaking that up."
"Sod off Ron," Harry teased, coaxing Hermione into his lap. "You are a Prefect too. If you want to break it up, go for it."
"Fine," Ron said getting to his feet. "Fine. I think I need to make a patrol round."
"Harry," Hermione said disapprovingly. "I think Ron is feeling a bit left out."
"Do you think I should ask him to sit in my lap next time?" he asked, his green eyes laughing at her.
She punched him on the shoulder. "You know what I mean. I was worried about this..."
"Don't be. I had a long talk with Ron about us and he said he was fine with it. We are mates, all of us. If you and he had hooked up, I would have been okay with it."
"Oh really? Then perhaps I should join him on his patrol." She started to rise. Harry pulled her back into his lap and gave her a chaste kiss.
"Enter." Severus did not look up from the paper he was going over until he finished. Glancing up he saw Kate Thompson, a seventh year Slytherin standing patiently a few feet from his desk.
"Yes? What is it?" he said tersely, unrolling the next parchment.
"The serpent strikes fiercely when trodden on," she said swiftly. Severus' slowly raised his head to stare at the girl. Many students would have stepped back from the dark look the Potions Master now had on his face, but Kate has a half grin on her face, her dark eyes flashing in defiance.
"Sit!" Severus barked as he stood, raising his wand and casting a spell at the door. The girl obeyed quickly and sat down on a straight back wooden chair. He moved around the desk and stood in front of her, crossing his arms. His eyes raked over the girl. She was comely, with her dark brown wavy hair cut short in an almost boyish style. Tall and lean, she carried herself with a hint of arrogance that Severus knew did not come from a pampered family life.
"Miss Thompson, daughter of John and Teresa Thompson of Glenshire. Your Father is a Squib, and your mother is nothing more than a drunken whoring slag," he said in a low, condescending voice. "Why have you entered so brazenly into my office and given me the phrase seeking a place among those who would spit upon your family?"
Her grin faded and her chin lifted. "I claim the right of lineage. My parent's bloodline is pure, no matter how pathetic they have become. I believe in the cause and offer my services to this Cause."
Severus' face was impassive. Inside he imagined grabbing the girl by the shoulders and shaking her until her teeth rattled, to shout at her, to tell her to get the hell out of his office. She was ready to throw her life, her youth, perhaps her innocence away on 'the Cause'. Yet all he could do was to question her sincerity. He could not turn her away without reason and like those before her he would not find enough reason.
"Do your parents know of your intent to join this fight actively?"
The half grin reappeared. "As you so eloquently stated, sir," she said, a hint of sarcasm in her voice, "my parents are oblivious to what is happening in our world."
"A no would have been quite sufficient, Miss Thompson," he said coldly.
"Yes sir."
"Are you prepared to do whatever it takes to enter into service?"
"Yes, sir."
'I truly hope not.' "Very well. You will arrange to meet me every night this week after curfew in my chambers. There you will learn what is expected of you and how to conduct yourself when you are presented to the Dark Lord."
"Thank you, sir."
"You are dismissed," he said curtly, sitting back down at the desk and returning to his grading. He did not look up until he heard the door shut. Putting the quill down, Severus put his head in his hands, his thumbs massaging his temples. 'Another lamb to the slaughter,' he thought dully, wondering how many more would seek him out this year.
Severus did not recruit the students. That was a responsibility left to the children of the Death Eaters. He knew that Malfoy and Knott were used as messengers to pass along the newest phrase. Only those who wished to approach him could use that particular phrase. It had been at their fathers' request that their sons be given that 'honor' this year. There was nothing he could do but to allow the recruits to come and hope that the preparations he put them through would dissuade them of their course, though he had little faith that it would. Sighing heavily, he picked up the quill and returned to his task.
"Master, there has been no change in Rabastan." Kneeling before Voldemort, Bellatrix Lestrange raised her face and looked almost lovingly upon the inhuman one. "However my sister has informed me that Lucius has recovered and is anxious for a job."
"Patience Bella," Voldemort chuckled, beckoning the woman to rise. "Now is not the time."
"But Master, the fire is hot. Should we not strike?"
"I said no," Voldemort stated firmly. Several of the gathered Death Eaters visibly shuddered, fearing imminent chastisement.
"My return was not to have been revealed now and yet because of Harry Potter it has been plastered throughout the Wizarding World. They are scared, running into their dens like cornered rabbits, fearing my fangs."
"And we should give them more to fear," she hissed.
"Bella, Bella, so hungry for blood aren't we my pet? Let them gather their arms and ward their houses. In time they will grow careless, waiting for the attack that never came. Perhaps they will believe it is a hoax, a cruel prank invented by that insufferable Muggle Lover. Who is to say what they saw in the Ministry that night was just a carefully planned suggestion planted into their gullible minds."
"As always you are right my Lord," Bella began, "But those who follow Dumbledore will gather reinforcements if we give them time."
"As will we, as will we. Until I have all the facts, and until I know the prophecy, I plan to move subtly this time, Bella. If anyone," his red eyes flickered on the small group gathered, "feels that I am moving too slowly for them, they are of course, 'free' to leave." Everyone stood very still, knowing the penalty of desertion. "Good. Then we are in agreement. Another question Bella," he asked amused.
"The prophecy was destroyed my Lord. How; forgive my ignorance, will you learn the whole prophecy?"
"A very good question Bella. How indeed?" His lipless mouth lifted into a smile. "By removing the hidden words from the one who prophesied them of course."
Thx to Ann and Michelle for beta services.
Part 3
Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things
brought together. — Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890).
The leaves crunched beneath the lady's heels as they walked through the forest. She was humming 'Greensleeves' and a smile lit up her face.
"Beautiful day Lizzie, The lady said lifting her face to the sun that filtered through the trees in lazy patterns. "Are you sure we are going the right way?"
"Yes Mistress," Lizzie said tugging on the large silver hoop in her ear. As with all fey creatures she could determine the directions by the subtle signs in nature. Lizzie wished she could take Mistress back to the 'home' but that thought had quickly been squelched. The Elf had tried to make a circle, taking the lady back within the boundaries of the sanitarium she had escaped from, only to be hexed severely once the lady discovered her treachery. The lady had instructed Lizzie to punish herself if she even thought of taking Mistress back.
They had been walking in the forest for two days now. Lizzie did not exactly know where they were in regards to the Master's house, but knew that it lay northwest from the Sanitarium. Her knees shook in fear at what the Master would do to her for bringing Mistress back, but Lizzie was bound to obey Mistress.
"Look at the lovely flowers, Lizzie," Mistress was saying. "Do pick some for me." The Elf looked around, confused.
"Where Mistress?"
"There," the lady said, pointing at a clump of dead weeds. "Useless baggage."
Lizzie quickly snapped up the weeds and handed them to her. She lifted them to her nose, breathing in deeply. "Simply gorgeous," Mistress said. They walked for another hour before the woman spoke again.
"I'm tired and my feet hurt," she whined in a childish tone. "I want to ride in a attambile again. Can't we ride again?" she asked, looking hopefully at the Elf.
"There are no Muggle contraptions here," Lizzie said fearfully, expecting to be hit for saying such.
"Pity," the lady sighed. "Such a wonderful invention for a Muggle."
They had been picked up by a Muggle in an 'automobile' the second day they were traveling. Lizzie had hidden beneath Mistress' cloak, sitting on the floor of the loud, horseless carriage, fearing for their lives. The Muggle had taken them many miles and had let them out at a small village east of Nottinghamshire.
The woman rubbed her eyes, her face screwing up. "I want to go home," she sniffed, the girlish voice tight with unshed tears. "Wanna go home and play with puppy."
"We will be home shortly," Lizzie said soothingly. "Why don't we rest for a bit..."
"I don't wanna take a nap!"
Lizzie tugged hard on the earring, making her lobe hurt. "No nap, just rest. Lizzie will sing for Mistress."
The Lady sat down on the path, a smile on her face. "Oh yes, please sing Lizzie."
The Elf sat down next to the Lady and began singing Greensleeves.
"You know Harry, I think that last play outline was the best ever," Ron said, his mouth full of fried chicken. "We are going to walk away with the Quidditch Cup this year."
"Ron, do you know how disgusting that is?" Ginny said irritably, as he sprayed pieces of food across the table.
"I've no one to impress," he said, taking a drink of pumpkin juice. "Since Harry snagged Hermione."
"And when did you try to impress me before?" Hermione teased. They laughed at Ron's red face before the talk turned to Quidditch once more. Harry had been made Captain of the Gryffindor team this year and both he and Ron were determined to make it the best year the team had ever had.
Hermione grew tired of the conversation and looked around the room. Tamara waved from the Hufflepuff table at her. Glancing up at the staff table, she saw the door to side of the hall open and a familiar figure walked in with Dumbledore.
"What's Mrs. Weasley doing here?" she gasped. They all turned to stare as Mrs. Weasley sat down at the staff table.
"Do you think something has happened to someone in the family?" Ginny asked, fear in her voice.
"No," Hermione said quickly. "It looks like she is here on a visit. If it was something important Dumbledore would summon you to his office like he did when Mr. Weasley got hurt."
Dumbledore was standing now, pecking on his crystal water glass. The hall quieted down, everyone turning to look at the Headmaster. "I have a little announcement," he said. "First, I must thank Professors McGonagall, Flitwick and Snape for filling in these past two weeks in the DADA classes. It has been a tremendous help and has assured your education need not fall behind. However, starting tomorrow you will have a new DADA teacher. I am proud to present Professor Molly Weasley." "Bloody hel..." Ron began choking on his food. Harry pounded on his back. There was a smattering of polite applause in the Hall as Mrs. Weasley stood up and waved.
"Oh damn," Ginny moaned.
"Ginny, Ron," Hermione said reproachfully. "I think it's grand that your Mum is going to teach."
"Just you wait," Ginny said sagely, "until she finds out that you and Harry are seeing each other. Then tell me how grand it is. I mean, I love my mum but she will be sticking her nose into our lives, especially our social lives." Harry and Hermione looked at each other.
"Tell me I'm dreaming," Ron moaned.
After dinner, they went up to the staff table to greet Mrs. Weasley. "Surprise," Molly said, beaming from to ear to ear.
"We were very much surprised," Harry said grinning.
"Ron, you have something on your chin," she said, pulling a handkerchief from her pocket.
"Mum," Ron said aghast, stepping behind Harry.
"What's dad going to do now that you are here?" Ginny asked abruptly.
Molly gave her an odd look. "He will be fine," she said firmly. "I know it will be a change for him, but Dumbledore has given me permission to go home every other weekend." She frowned slightly at Ron and Ginny. "Look," she said her voice so low they had to lean in to hear her. "I am only here because I am working for the Order. Dumbledore told me this is where I am needed. I will try not to interfere in your lives too much." She sounded hurt.
"Mrs. Weasley, I think it's wonderful that you will be teaching here," Hermione said sincerely, glaring at the others.
"Hey Ron, is your mum a good teacher?" Seamus Finnegan asked in the Common Room later that evening.
"Yes do tell," Lavender Brown agreed. She and Seamus had become friendly at the end of the last term and were sitting together working on their Transfiguration homework.
"Guess we will find out," he muttered, slumping in his chair, wincing as Seamus and Lavender laughed.
"Hermione, would you mind checking my potions essay?" Neville asked hopefully.
"Be glad to," Hermione told him with an encouraging smile, taking the parchment.
It had shocked everyone that Neville had succeeded in earning an Outstanding in Potions on his OWLs and had enrolled in Professor Snape's NEWT level classes. "Why are you subjecting yourself to that git?" Ron asked in disbelief, after he had stated long and loud how happy he was not to have Snape any longer.
"Do you want to be an Auror like your parents were?" Ginny guessed.
Neville blushed. He had changed since last year. Though he was unsure of himself in Potions still, he had blossomed in his other classes so far, albeit the year had just started. "That's what my Gran wants, but I...I want to be a Healer," he said almost defiantly. They all agreed they thought it was a wonderful choice for a career. The trick was to get Neville through Potions for he still fell apart whenever he was around Snape.
"Good show Neville," Harry had told him sheepishly, ashamed that he was in the same class as Neville and Hermione. Professor McGonagall had kept her promise and Harry had found himself in Snape's class even though he had only achieved an Acceptable in Potions. On his class schedule he was to be tutored by the formidable Transfiguration Professor on that weeks Potions classes every Thursday evening. He felt bad because once again he had been given special treatment and had wanted to skive off the class but Hermione had put her foot down.
"You wanted to be an Auror so here is your chance. Professor McGonagall went out of her way to see that you got back into Snape's class and you're going to be grateful," she told him firmly.
"It looks fine Neville, except for this one part. The effects of adding Limpwurt tends to increase the strength not the stench," Hermione said smiling.
"Thanks Hermione," Neville said appreciatively.
"That's my big sister, the brain," Ginny teased. Ginny was sitting in Dean Thomas' lap in a chair by the fire. The couple whispered and touched whenever they thought Ron wasn't looking.
"Looks like a good idea," Harry suggested to Hermione, nodding his head towards the couple after Neville left with his homework.
Ron rolled his eyes. "May I remind you that you are a Prefect," he said irritably to Hermione, "and should be setting a good example for the younger students. You can start by breaking that up."
"Sod off Ron," Harry teased, coaxing Hermione into his lap. "You are a Prefect too. If you want to break it up, go for it."
"Fine," Ron said getting to his feet. "Fine. I think I need to make a patrol round."
"Harry," Hermione said disapprovingly. "I think Ron is feeling a bit left out."
"Do you think I should ask him to sit in my lap next time?" he asked, his green eyes laughing at her.
She punched him on the shoulder. "You know what I mean. I was worried about this..."
"Don't be. I had a long talk with Ron about us and he said he was fine with it. We are mates, all of us. If you and he had hooked up, I would have been okay with it."
"Oh really? Then perhaps I should join him on his patrol." She started to rise. Harry pulled her back into his lap and gave her a chaste kiss.
"Enter." Severus did not look up from the paper he was going over until he finished. Glancing up he saw Kate Thompson, a seventh year Slytherin standing patiently a few feet from his desk.
"Yes? What is it?" he said tersely, unrolling the next parchment.
"The serpent strikes fiercely when trodden on," she said swiftly. Severus' slowly raised his head to stare at the girl. Many students would have stepped back from the dark look the Potions Master now had on his face, but Kate has a half grin on her face, her dark eyes flashing in defiance.
"Sit!" Severus barked as he stood, raising his wand and casting a spell at the door. The girl obeyed quickly and sat down on a straight back wooden chair. He moved around the desk and stood in front of her, crossing his arms. His eyes raked over the girl. She was comely, with her dark brown wavy hair cut short in an almost boyish style. Tall and lean, she carried herself with a hint of arrogance that Severus knew did not come from a pampered family life.
"Miss Thompson, daughter of John and Teresa Thompson of Glenshire. Your Father is a Squib, and your mother is nothing more than a drunken whoring slag," he said in a low, condescending voice. "Why have you entered so brazenly into my office and given me the phrase seeking a place among those who would spit upon your family?"
Her grin faded and her chin lifted. "I claim the right of lineage. My parent's bloodline is pure, no matter how pathetic they have become. I believe in the cause and offer my services to this Cause."
Severus' face was impassive. Inside he imagined grabbing the girl by the shoulders and shaking her until her teeth rattled, to shout at her, to tell her to get the hell out of his office. She was ready to throw her life, her youth, perhaps her innocence away on 'the Cause'. Yet all he could do was to question her sincerity. He could not turn her away without reason and like those before her he would not find enough reason.
"Do your parents know of your intent to join this fight actively?"
The half grin reappeared. "As you so eloquently stated, sir," she said, a hint of sarcasm in her voice, "my parents are oblivious to what is happening in our world."
"A no would have been quite sufficient, Miss Thompson," he said coldly.
"Yes sir."
"Are you prepared to do whatever it takes to enter into service?"
"Yes, sir."
'I truly hope not.' "Very well. You will arrange to meet me every night this week after curfew in my chambers. There you will learn what is expected of you and how to conduct yourself when you are presented to the Dark Lord."
"Thank you, sir."
"You are dismissed," he said curtly, sitting back down at the desk and returning to his grading. He did not look up until he heard the door shut. Putting the quill down, Severus put his head in his hands, his thumbs massaging his temples. 'Another lamb to the slaughter,' he thought dully, wondering how many more would seek him out this year.
Severus did not recruit the students. That was a responsibility left to the children of the Death Eaters. He knew that Malfoy and Knott were used as messengers to pass along the newest phrase. Only those who wished to approach him could use that particular phrase. It had been at their fathers' request that their sons be given that 'honor' this year. There was nothing he could do but to allow the recruits to come and hope that the preparations he put them through would dissuade them of their course, though he had little faith that it would. Sighing heavily, he picked up the quill and returned to his task.
"Master, there has been no change in Rabastan." Kneeling before Voldemort, Bellatrix Lestrange raised her face and looked almost lovingly upon the inhuman one. "However my sister has informed me that Lucius has recovered and is anxious for a job."
"Patience Bella," Voldemort chuckled, beckoning the woman to rise. "Now is not the time."
"But Master, the fire is hot. Should we not strike?"
"I said no," Voldemort stated firmly. Several of the gathered Death Eaters visibly shuddered, fearing imminent chastisement.
"My return was not to have been revealed now and yet because of Harry Potter it has been plastered throughout the Wizarding World. They are scared, running into their dens like cornered rabbits, fearing my fangs."
"And we should give them more to fear," she hissed.
"Bella, Bella, so hungry for blood aren't we my pet? Let them gather their arms and ward their houses. In time they will grow careless, waiting for the attack that never came. Perhaps they will believe it is a hoax, a cruel prank invented by that insufferable Muggle Lover. Who is to say what they saw in the Ministry that night was just a carefully planned suggestion planted into their gullible minds."
"As always you are right my Lord," Bella began, "But those who follow Dumbledore will gather reinforcements if we give them time."
"As will we, as will we. Until I have all the facts, and until I know the prophecy, I plan to move subtly this time, Bella. If anyone," his red eyes flickered on the small group gathered, "feels that I am moving too slowly for them, they are of course, 'free' to leave." Everyone stood very still, knowing the penalty of desertion. "Good. Then we are in agreement. Another question Bella," he asked amused.
"The prophecy was destroyed my Lord. How; forgive my ignorance, will you learn the whole prophecy?"
"A very good question Bella. How indeed?" His lipless mouth lifted into a smile. "By removing the hidden words from the one who prophesied them of course."
Thx to Ann and Michelle for beta services.