Possession
Chapter XXX - Before the Game
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Draco peered around the Slytherin Common Room. It was almost perpetually dark so he had to be extra careful that someone wasn't hiding in the shadows. Once he was convinced that he was alone he pulled out the letter he had gotten from his Father. He knew the plan was coming together. Those loyal to his Father were still working on the Dark Lord's behalf fighting the Ministry, paving the wave for Purebloods to take back the power that was rightfully theirs but at the same time, they were working to destroy the Dark Lord himself. And at the moment, that meant destroying Harry Potter.

The boy waking up hadn't been expected and the threat of further attack couldn't be expected to hold now. The boy was too well guarded for them even to attempt it. Sirius Black stalked the corridors behind his Godson, his wand half drawn and somehow he seemed to know who had attacked Harry when the rest of the school remained baffled. Every time he got close to the precious Gryffindork, the man's black eyes smouldered, daring him to even flinch out of line. Somehow the man knew even though Draco knew Potter hadn't talked. Add the constant scrutiny of the teachers and the ever-present eyes of the older Gryffindorks and Potter was untouchable.

It was so frustrating! The whole school was seething with an aura of fear, of uncertainty because the attackers hadn't been caught and they couldn't even take advantage of the situation. All he could do was sit and wait for his Father to make his move before he could openly state his allegiance. He opened the letter, looking down at the neat writing. His Mother had written the letter but no doubt his Father had dictated it.

My Dearest Son

That was definitely his mother.

It has come to our attention that Harry Potter has awakened. While your initial results were very pleasing the current situation cannot be allowed to continue. The circumstances surrounding his awakening remain unclear but it has become certain that his existence can no longer be tolerated.

As such you have permission to fulfil your greatest wish to ensure that boy can no longer interfere. I know you were careful last time, my son, but this time you must be doubly cautious as I have no wish to lose my Heir at the moment of my ascension. The Dark Lord is powerful but he is also vindictive and even as he falls he will still strike out.

You will do well my son. You are my Heir.

Lucius Malfoy.

A slow smile crept over Draco's face and his eyes narrowed. Oh... This was going to fun. And he knew just how to do it.

He'd finally beat that stupid Gryffindork at Quidditch and in the instant Potter knew who was truly the best he would die.

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Dumbledore looked over the school grounds. It was amazing but in the starlight it was as if everything was made clear. He could see the Quidditch pitch with its pennants trailing in the breeze and the dark smooth lawns that extended their way up to the castle's battlements. He could see the slowly undulating branches of the Whomping Willow and the lights of Hagrid's Hut shining before the dark smudge that was the Forbidden Forest at night. It all combined to give him a sense of peace but he knew just how fleeting it was.

Ever since Tom had killed Cornealis what had been simmering unrest was slowly escalating into full-scale war. Each day the attacks of the Death Eaters were becoming more and more brazen and each day they found further evidence of Ministry Duplicity. The Interim Minister was doing his best to hold things together but Fudge had done more damage than anyone had realised and open war would be on them soon.

It wouldn't be like fifteen years ago. Tom had tired of cloak and dagger games. This would be true war with wizards and witches lining up on both sides. There would be soldiers and planned tactical battles. The lines would be drawn clearly and the forces on both sides known unlike last time when no one was sure where their neighbours loyalty lay and the war was comprised of strikes in darkness and report after report of bodies found at dawn. Open conflict was at once better and worse than before but it would be open only if there were two sides.

With a tired shake of his head Dumbledore turned away from the school. Tom still hadn't dealt with the growing Rebellion within his ranks and that threw all their plans into chaos. Tom had to know of it. Already there were bodies appearing in the squirmishes that had no right to be there. Death Eaters were dying and no one in the Light was killing them. It was coming from within, from the schism growing within their ranks. So why wasn't their Lord acting to purify his forces? Why wasn't Tom cleansing his troops?

It wasn't weakness. He had more than enough power to be able to do it both in terms of personal ability and in manpower. And it couldn't be ignorance. While Tom may not know who all the Leaders were, he would know enough to find out and if he was truly that worried he could just eliminate everyone as he had in the past.

It had to be arrogance. Tom was so sure of his victory that he could afford to wait for the traitors to strike. He could take them out then while still dealing with the forces of Light.

Dumbledore suppressed a shiver. If he was that strong... If he was truly that strong... No... No Dark Lord was that strong and only Tom was that arrogant.

But if he fell in the midst of battle then they would lose their chance to eliminate the Darkness. The factions that comprised his forces would go into hiding and most would never be found. The Dark couldn't be eliminated entirely. Light would have no meaning then but it could be suppressed, driven back to wait for generations again before it rose as it should have with the defeat of Grindlewald. But with Grindlewald's defeat there was Tom Riddle waiting for his opportunity.

With Voldemort's defeat there was no one. There were those who would like to claim the mantle of a Dark Lord but there was no one with the sheer raw power necessary to unify the Dark. Once Riddle was gone the Light would rule unhindered if they could destroy his forces completely.

"Tom... Why haven't you acted? Is it because of Harry?" Dumbledore spoke the question aloud.

Tom had figured out his defences and had awoken Harry but he had done something more. Harry hadn't said anything was different and it was possible that he didn't know himself but to Dumbledore's well-trained eyes something within the boy had changed. The Sword of Gryffindor had helped to sustain Harry but it wasn't enough to heal him completely but when he had awoken he was complete. The broken thing inside him was healed but that shouldn't have been possible until Harry had bonded with a new wand. And Harry was only suited to one wand apart from his own.

No... That wasn't possible. Tom would never... He could never...

"What have you done?"

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DAILY PROPHET
Special War Correspondents Report

Sirius Black - New Hope or the Dark Lord's Plot?

From Elliot Bryant

We all know the story. The Potter's knowing they were on He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named Hit List cast the Fidelus Charm and went into hiding in Godric's Hollow and then they were betrayed. But on that tragic night You-Know-Who was defeated and the Wizarding World knew peace. You-Know-Who was gone, his Death Eaters scattered and his right hand man, Sirius Black was imprisoned.

That is until two years ago when our peace was shattered by the news that a prisoner had done the impossible - Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban. To make matters worse he seemed to be after our saviour the Boy-Who-Lived, Harry Potter. But everything settled down until last year when at the Tri-Wizard Tournament another tragedy struck. Cedric Diggory was killed during the Dark Lord's revival that had presumably been arranged by his most trusted and dangerous servant.

But all conventional belief's have been changed. Peter Petrigrew, thought to be deceased appeared at Hogwarts very much alive and bearing the Dark Mark burned into his arm. He has of course been stripped of the Order of Merlin but his appearance raises more questions than it answers.

Sirius Black has had all charges against him revoked leaving him free to pursue what future he would. At the moment his is spending time getting to know his Godson but is this part of a larger plot of the Dark Lord? You-Know-Who is both cunning and powerful and has shown the he fears nothing, killing the Minister of Magic quite openly at Hogwarts.

So is Sirius Black's recent reappearance and interest in his Godson nothing more than the actions of a newly freed man or are they the actions of one of the Dark Lord's most devoted servants, laying a trap to stop the one person who has proven his ability to stop the Dark Lord? Unfortunately while Peter Petrigrew has been captured and placed in custody he is not in any position to speak since the Dark Lord has left several Dark Art's charms on his body, reducing him to a state similar to one who has be subjected to the Dementor's Kiss.

Leaving the only word on what happened in Sirius Black's hands. If this is the Dark Lord's plot then it is a brazen and direct attack on everything that has given us hope. Of course there is always the possibility that Sirius Black has been telling the truth the whole time and is as innocent has he appears to be. If this is the case then the Light has gained a powerful defender.

But should we really take that risk? Does the Boy-Who-Lived deserve to be subjected to such risk when he is the only one who can stand against You-Know-Who?

Plot or Hope?

You decide.

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