Harry Potter is owned by JK Rowling
Dies the Fire is owned by SM Stirling
Slytherin Rising was created by J.L. Matthews

Chapter 9: the Cannibal Army

Things had only changed slightly at the Riddle farm. The Riddles had been hippies in the 1960's. Since then, they had been organically farming and living off the grid. Although "the Change" had caused a few inconveniences, (the solar cells no longer worked) the Riddles had adapted pretty well. Few refugees had come through their fairly isolated farmstead. They were totally unprepared for what happened.

They came in the middle of the night. They kicked down all of the doors, they came through the windows, and there were hundreds of them! Daisy Riddle couldn't tell what was going on until morning when she found herself in a makeshift cage in the village square. Most of the people in the village were in the cage with her. Outside of the cage were hundreds of people of both sexes. They were all bare to the waist and their bodies were painted with human blood in intricate designs. The crowd was licking their lips and eyeing their prisoners hungrily.

"Make way for the Living Goddess!" called Dudley as he strode through the crowd. He was dressed as the others except he wore a human leather vest with jawbones attached to the shoulders. Behind him were four giants carrying a platform. Each of them wore a necklace of human skulls. On the platform was throne, on which, sat a black haired woman. She wore a black, human leather corset, reinforced with human rib bones, which were visible. A skull hung down to cover her crotch. She had thigh-high black, human leather boots and long matching gloves. She wore a cape made of black haired scalps. After the giants put down the platform, she stood up and everyone kow towed to her, bowing low until their foreheads touched the ground.

"The living goddess has decreed that three of you must die in order that we may live" began Dudley. "You will pick three of your number and kill them. Then, we will all eat them. Anyone who refuses to take part in the killing will also be killed. Anyone who refuses to eat will be killed."

The villagers didn't even need to debate it amongst them selves. One family had fewer ties than the rest. As one, the prisoners turned towards the Riddles. Larry Riddle tried to shield his wife and daughter but they were surrounded on all sides. The prisoners surged forward and attacked with their bare hands. Someone hit Daisy in the head and she staggered. Some one else hit her in the stomach and she fell down curling up into a ball. They continued to kick her long after she was dead.

After the murders, the five victims were cooked. (two people had tried to save the Riddles) Each prisoner was made to eat human flesh before they were allowed out of the cage. As each person walked out, Dudley shook their hand and said:

"Welcome to the Death Eaters"

They were directed to kow-tow to the Living Goddess who addressed them.

"Welcome to the Death Eaters! Welcome to those who survive! Welcome to those who triumph! I am Bellatrix, your Goddess. From this day forward, you will do my will in all things. My followers will never starve. Even now, we are headed to a secret enclave where there is enough to feed us all for years. On ward! To Hogwarts!"