I feel I should point out that half way through writing this chapter 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' was released and I read it. This is a RE-post for anyone confused by this. What that means for the fic is that I lingered on St Mungo's and I knew a bit more about the way the Ministry 'buildings' were structured. Thus please forgive me if things seem a little strange.

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Possession
Chapter XXXV – It Begins
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Voldemort smiled as he felt the apparation of the Auror's. His forces had taken out the Muggle buildings easily before the Ministry was even aware of them and then they had continued on to the Muggle entry of Diagon alley. The Ministry had to respond then but by the time they had, his Death Eaters had already entered Alley. The Aurors were coming in exactly where he had anticipated them and his forces that were lying in wait would have no trouble disposing of them once he gave the signal.

At the moment he was standing in the middle of the Alley. He'd been here before. He'd just never been here with armed forces behind him. It hadn't changed too much. Some of the store displays were different but those stores essential to wizarding life were the same as he remembered from the first time he had come here. The owls were different, some of the potion ingredients had been moved but the stores hadn't changed. Even Ollivander's dusty windows were the same.

"Mr Riddle."

The Dark Lord turned slowly at the voice and found himself looking into silver eyes.

"Mr Ollivander," he greeted the wizard.

The aged wizard didn't even blink as he looked up and down the length of the Alley and Voldemort knew those silver eyes were seeing everything, even those Death Eaters who were still in hiding. "I see you've been busy," he commented before looking back to Voldemort with calculating eyes. "And you have given up your wand," he added.

"For the greater gain."

Ollivander smiled and nodded. "I no longer have the other wand," he said.

"Mr Potter's," Voldemort nodded. "I know."

"Dumbledore brought it to me to repair."

"Were you successful?"

"Partially although probably not in the way he wishes."

Voldemort felt something strange at that. It wasn't elation and it wasn't depression but something like the two of them together. "Things never happen the way he wishes," the Dark Lord said coldly but his venom was not directed at Ollivander.

"Sometimes people wish to be blind."

"He was in a position where he could not afford to be blind. Was my pain somehow less because of who I am?"

Ollivander looked on, his eyes showing nothing. "No," the wizard answered truthfully. "Dumbledore still does not know why."

"Then I will tell him at the moment of death. Even he should then see the irony of truth."

"Yes, I believe he will. I understand now," Ollivander nodded as he turned back towards his store.

"Understand?" Voldemort's red eyes glowed dangerously.

"Take care of him although I believe he will take care of you even if you have not yet chosen to reveal everything."

"In time he will know."

"Yes, he will eventually know that your understanding could only come through experience. Come again, Mr Riddle, come again." With that Ollivander closed the door to his store, disappearing into the gloom inside.

Voldemort inclined his head a fraction towards the man - Ollivander was not a wizard you crossed, no matter how powerful you were - before he turned his attention back to his campaign, his mind somehow clearer for the encounter.

The Aurors thought they had him surrounded. They thought he was just another Death Eater. He could smell the fear on the young one's but he could also sense their assurance. After all, he was but one Death Eater surrounded.

"Show your hands!" The lead Auror ordered.

Voldemort complied, holding his hands out, raising them slowly to the hood of his robe. He pushed it back and was rewarded as recognition flooded into the eyes of the Auror. A small chill smile settled on his features as he allowed the magic to spark between his fingers before he cast it out, catching the Auror squarely. The man fell but by the time his body hit the ground the Dark Lord was already moving. It was time to show these insipid fools exactly what was true power.

With the lightning reflexes of a cobra he lunged left, not even pausing as he landed precise blows on the woman. Her wand clattered uselessly to the ground as she clutched her throat, desperately trying to draw breath. A punch landed directly between the eyes of another Auror and they fell before two others managed to line their wands up on him. He flicked his hand out, catching the spells and with a peculiar twist of his wrist he sent them back, amplified before he ducked and swept the legs out from under three others who had decided to try a more physical attack.

As he fought the Dark Lord frowned. He could integrate physical and magical fighting seamlessly but he had never liked the image of himself doing it. This was one thing a traditional classical education would have helped with, and the one thing he was jealous, even after all this time, towards those purebloods who had such an education. Malfoy... Snape... Pucey... Zabini... They were all old wizarding names and they all learnt sword play. Lucius was especially graceful, if pushed adequately but only Severus could really do that and he hadn't allowed his servants to fight that way for years. He could easily hold his own against them, and defeating them required just a little more power but their styles were graceful. He always felt that his was clumsy, effective but clumsy. Growing up in the orphanage had taught him the common way to fight. It was rough, it was low and it was tense. He could never seem to relax enough to make his movements flow.

Bemused by his thoughts, Voldemort paused, pushing back the remaining Aurors by sheer force of will. He snapped his fingers, hauling the Aurors into the air and ripping their wands from them. He twisted his wrist, holding his palm up as he locked the Aurors into position. They hung in the air like slabs of meat. Their robes swept against the ground. As two red robed Elites stepped into a guarding position, Voldemort apparated away.

The Alley was his. It was time for the Ministry to fall.

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"That's the signal! Let's move."

"Wait," Draco's voice was soft but it was heard. He held up a small ball like device that was flashing. "It is the signal... But we should wait until the battle is fully underway. Once the idiot teachers are distracted, or better yet, once they've rushed off we can strike."

"How long?" Crabbe was impatient.

"About an hour or so... We should have news by then."

In the corner Blaise smiled as did a few of the older Slytherins who were going to help. The group nodded. "We wait."

"We wait," Draco repeated, stroking his wand. "Tonight though, it ends." A new Dark Lord will arise and that pesky Potter dies.

---

Lucius looked down at the pulsing device in his hand. Around him the assembled Death Eaters cheered at their Lord's call to arms. The Dark Lord had left him charge of this battle group and was expecting his forces to attack St Mungo's, joining several others who would make the assault from opposing directions. No one was to escape and only those who offered lethal resistance were to be killed. The Dark Lord wanted as many 'followers' to survive as possible.

The elder Malfoy had feigned honour when given the task although inwardly he seethed. He was a senior Death Eater, he deserved more than to be attacking the weak. But at least the Dark Lord had recognised that he should lead. Lucius smiled. He would lead. Before the night was over he would lead the Dark. In the midst of the battle his forces would strike and he would face off against the Dark Lord and everyone, from the most loyal Death Eaters, to the still surviving Ministry Aurors would see his triumph but for now he still had to make the call to arms.

He held up the glass, its pulsing light warm through his glove. "By this sign our Lord calls us to resume the battle that was paused with his downfall. By this sign we shall retake the rightful place of purebloods as the rulers of the Wizarding World and then we shall crush the Muggles. Rise up now and strike at those who would oppress you. Rise up and fight!"

Around the darkened room there were cheers at his speech before the assembled Death Eaters began apparating. Several stayed behind a few moments more, meeting Lucius' eyes. They were his chosen leaders. He nodded at them before apparating himself. The time to fight was now.

It was relatively quiet at St Mungo's although Lucius could see that security wards keeping Muggles out had been broken but temporary illusions had been placed and two lesser Death Eaters were flanking the brief. Lucius strode past them, his wand at the ready but as he continued further in all he saw were stunned patients and Healers lying in pools of lime green. Every now and then he would pass a Death Eater who had been stationed to guard but so far the Dark Lords plan was proceeding smoothly.

Lucius hid a smile. The Dark Lords plan..? He wondered which Dark Lord historians would attribute the plan to but then decided he didn't care. Plans didn't matter, only the battles outcome mattered. He reached into his robes and pulled forth a small mirror, taping it with his wand to activate it.

Voices issued from it and he listened with a critical ear as the other attack squads reported in.

"...West wings fallen..."

"There's still resistance in the east ward, fourth floor. We're over coming it but some Auror's have barricaded themselves into a ward..."

"Send extra troops to the East Ward," Lucius ordered and was pleased to see two younger Death Eaters salute him before they trooped out. He tapped the device again, widening its area of communication so that he could report in. "My Lord," he began respectfully when the small glass ball flashed once to indicate that he had the Dark Lords attention. "St Mungo's is almost yours. There is some minor resistance from the East Ward but it is being put down even as I speak."

"Very good Lucius," Voldemort's tone seemed happy and Lucius was hard put to refrain from curling his lip in disgust. He wasn't a dog but the Dark Lord was treating him as such. "Fortify your own position. Ministry forces are responding."

"Yes, My Lord," Malfoy responded, inwardly growling. He could see those Death Eaters loyal to him moving into position but right at the moment those loyal to Voldemort were surrounding him. He looked around. "Fortify our positions and drag the Head Healer here. If the Ministry want a fight, then they'd better be ready to lose their Healers."

There were dark smiles around him and he was pleased to see several lime robed forms being levitated into a central position. Lucius raised the communication sphere again, listening as reports continued to flow towards the Dark Lord. Over all the attacks were proceeding well and he couldn't help a small surge of satisfaction. The more conquered now, the less he would have to revisit.

"...we're being pushed back from the Halls of Records..."

"...they've barricaded the Ministers Office..."

"...Muggle Relations wings have been captured..."

"Auror's have sealed the Department of Mysteries..."

Lucius smiled. Things were progressing well, despite the seeming resistance he knew that trapped Aurors were dead Aurors. With an odd wave of his wand he let the communicator globe drop. It shattered on the polished floor causing several Death Eaters to turn and look at him. But by then it was too late. Around him had gathered his loyal Death Eaters and in a blaze of stunning spells and Avada Kedrava's those loyal to the Dark Lord fell. He reached into his robes and brought forth a second communicator sphere. He didn't even bother to tap it with his wand to activate it but instead stretched forth a small about of borrowed power. It flashed red but then settled on a steady glow.

"Attack," he murmured the word, knowing the order was what Xeoaph's forces were waiting for.

Throughout Britain, the darkness rose.

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