Possession Chapter XVIII - The Dark Lord's Gift to the Light
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The Great Hall was noisy as the student's talked while eating their evening meal. It wasn't a feast but since the Minister of Magic was visiting the school the majority of the students were there. Some still had papers laid out beside them and were trying to study amidst the noise. The teachers sat at the head table talking amongst themselves and to the Minister's People about affairs of the world but two of them, like three of the students were silent and had auras of concern around them.

Hermione, Ron and Ginny sat together at the Gryffindor table. They ate their food mechanically and didn't speak to each other or to their fellow House Members. There was nothing to say. Harry was hurt again and this time it wasn't by Voldemort. This was worse. This had been done by a fellow student and they didn't know who. Everyone had been accounted for at the time, even the people Sirius swore were there. The knowledge was driving them crazy and all three were splitting between spending every spare moment in the Library, trying to determine how they could have done it and watching their classmates for signs of guilt. Hermione and Ron were also sparing some time to comfort Ginny. Originally Dumbledore and Sirius were only going to tell them, but she had listened in because of her concern for Harry and now knew everything, in all it's detail:

Someone had raped Harry. Not even Hogwarts was safe.

Dumbledore was also quiet at the Great Table. Unlike his students he knew any number of ways of telling who had been with Harry but he needed Harry to be awake and to tell them who had attacked before those methods could be employed. He would catch the people who had hurt Harry and he would expel them. Their actions demanded nothing less but their actions reflected worryingly on the cohesiveness of Voldemort's forces. If the Dark Lord had ordered this, then had the letter been just a sham or was it some splinter group, who knew nothing of their Master's true plan, acting on their own. Or was it another faction launching the opening moves in their battle against their Master? There were too many questions that only Harry could begin to provide the answers for but one thing was for sure, he was expecting a visit from the Dark Lord soon.

Severus Snape was unusually quiet as he ate. Most people hadn't noticed because his expression was as neutral as always but the trained eye might notice the small furrow of a frown on his forehead. Things were happening, rumours were spreading and there were whispers in the air that he didn't understand. Since he had 'rescued' Harry, the Dark Lord had only called him back once or twice and always in private, claiming that he had not wanted to risk compromising his greatest spy. That was one change. Voldemort had never cared for his follower's dangers. But Severus had just returned from a larger gathering of Death Eaters and he had detected further changes and he had detected unrest. Voldemort was moulding his plans for conquest and not everyone liked the changes. The absolute fanaticism on purity of blood had softened. He wasn't advocating acceptance of Mudbloods but he was no longer condoning the killing of them outright. It had been subtle but it had been there, just as the unrest had been present. Not all his followers liked the new changes and while Severus was sure they hadn't progressed past angry muttering but he was equally sure that they would soon. And he was torn.

Dissention within the ranks of Death Eaters would make fighting the Dark Lord that much easier and if by some miracle the Dissenters managed to topple Voldemort, none of them would ever wield the same level of power he did, making their defeat that much easier. But neither side could not control dissent and it added an element of uncertainty that was not needed. With a sigh he realised what his next action would be. Dumbledore would need to be told and the next time he saw the Lord Voldemort he would mention the unrest. That in turn would assure Voldemort of his loyalty.

There was a sudden chill in the air but no one thought anything of it until silence swept over the Great Hall and all eyes fixed on the entry doors. Standing in the antechamber was a tall wizard that Snape recognised instantly - Lord Voldemort.

He was alone and his hood was drawn so that his eyes appeared to be glowing in the darkness. Ivory hands extended from his robes and everyone could see his wand. A red aura hung around him, wisps of power curling off it like a flame. With heavy steps he moved forward, into the Great Hall but didn't descend the steps. That would have brought him to below Dumbledore.

No one screamed. No one had time to scream because the Dark Lord snapped his wand up, casting a silencing charm on the students, his eyes never leaving Dumbledore but the entire Hall seemed to shiver at the power.

"You try my patience," Lord Voldemort said heavily.

Dumbledore shook his head. "I do not understand, Tom."

"You did not understand then either but perhaps because it is him you will understand." The Dark Lord raised his free hand and an image of Harry's sleeping face appeared. "I will find them," he said, even as the image faded.

"W...who..? W..w..what?" Cornelius finally managed to force the words out.

Crimson eyes flashed and Voldemort looked at him with a sinister smile. "Minister..." he hissed. With slow movements he pushed back his hood, allowing the Minister of Magic to get a good look at him.

Snape suppressed a gasp of surprise. The previously baldhead was now covered in luxurious black hair, much like the Dark Lord had possessed before his rebirth. He still looked like a snake with almost no nose and a lipless mouth but the hair did enhance his appearance, making him look almost like the few pictures there were of him at the height of his power.

Cornelius' eyes opened wide. "..y...y..you!" He gasped. "That's not possible."

"Ss..." Voldemort almost seemed to laugh. "I am immortal. I will be reborn again and again and I will rule this world until the end of time."

"No! This is a trick. Some trick of Dumbledore's," Fudge snapped, sounding like a petulant child.

Voldemort's eyes flashed dangerously but he turned his gaze back to the Headmaster. "This is the man you allow to be the Minister of Magic?"

Dumbledore shook his head. "Power cannot be used to force such things, Tom," he said quietly.

The Dark Lord stared incredulously for a moment, assessing the Headmaster before he raised his wand again. "Then I will give you a gift." He didn't even bother tracing out the pattern with his wand, he just levelled it at the Minister, saying the words with a force of will that was enough to ensure the power of the spell. "Avada Kedrava!"

The green light flew true and several students cringed back, crying out silently as the spell flashed above their heads. But this time it wasn't aimed for any of them. Instead, Cornelius was flung backwards, his dead limbs pulling Professor Vector down with him. His chair clattered to the ground and for an instant there was silence before his two guarding Aurors seemed to wake up and with frantic cries they raised their wands, "Avada Kedavra!"

The two guard Aurors shouted the curse simultaneously and the green lights that was their spells wrapped around each other as they speed towards the Dark Lord. Voldemort stood his ground, watching the spells approach and then feeling them hit without so much as flinching. The green wrapped around him and for a moment, he didn't appear to be there, instead there appeared to be a giant snake coiled where he was. There was a flare of ruby light and ribbons of it spun around the Dark Lord interacting and being consumed by the green before the light faded and everything resolved itself back into the black robed form of the Dark Lord.

"Would you like to try again?" He invited with a scornful hiss as both Auror's drew back with gasps that were more pain than surprise. Having your curse fail was not a pleasant experience. "I am immortal," Voldemort repeated.

Dumbledore narrowed his eyes focusing on a flash of emerald and ruby beneath Voldemort's robes before an almost imperceptible smile flickered across his features.

But it wasn't fast enough. The Dark Lord turned back to him. "Ss... So you see the truth? I wield the ancient power and he does not have a chance unless he too is awoken to his power. There is only one way to return his wand."

The Headmaster nodded tiredly. The Dark Lord was unfortunately right. If he could not protect Harry then he should give the boy the means to protect himself.

Voldemort returned his nod. "I will find them, something you never did for me," he said, meeting Dumbledore's blue eyes squarely before he vanished.

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Silence reigned for a moment before it seemed everyone let go of an explosive breath. Many of the students shivered, gasping and clinging to each other as the warmth was robed from them, questioning each other disbelievingly about the Dark Lord's presence. Above, the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall seethed with a storm. Thunder and lightning cracked and the dark clouds were moving so fast they resembled the boiling top of a potion rather than sky.

Ablus stood and waited for the students to notice him. "That was indeed Lord Voldemort and as many of you have worked out, he did come in response to the attack on Harry Potter. Now... Due to events, classes are cancelled for the rest of the week and could all Prefects lead their houses back to their Dormitories. Curfew is in effect tonight as of now." With that Dumbledore sat back down watching as the students rose and left the Hall.

Dissention...

Tom had dissent within the ranks of his Death Eaters and he had chosen now to focus on other things. The Headmaster could see the grim irony of the situation.

A Dark Lord had no weaknesses, save those that were inherent in embracing the dark. Their greatest weakness was an inability to see how much those of the light would sacrifice willingly for those they loved. It had brought about Tom's downfall last time. Lily, bless her, with the pure love of a mother had no thought past saving Harry, no matter the cost and she had and in saving her son had brought down the most powerful Dark Lord in centuries.

That had been Tom's weakness. He could not comprehend love.

But now... Was it love he felt for Harry, or lust, or something else entirely? The line between love and hate could be thin and before certain events Dumbledore would have been sure that Tom could have maintained his hate.

But if the Dark Lord now understood love, and knew how important it was then what weakness did he have?

Dissention within his ranks..? Dumbledore shook his head. Tom may not care about that but he had not been a Dark Lord for as long as he had without knowing how to deal with it.

Power..? No, he was one of the most powerful wizards in centuries. His raw power was in no way deficient and if he knew love, then he was even more powerful now than he had been.

Love..? The strength of the Light..? It seemed that Tom loved or lusted after Harry but was not willing to give up his position as the Dark Lord. So if Harry returned the feelings in anyway would that make them star crossed or would the boy accept the Darkness?

Harry... What magic have you wrought?

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