A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviewed my first chapter. If you read it and didn't review, then I hope you enjoyed it. Well, here goes the next chapter!
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Chapter 01: Discovering the Dragons
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The Daily Prophet ran the story on the front page.
Dragons Destroy Prominent Death Eater!!!
Early yesterday morning, residents in Hogsmeade woke up to a nasty shock. Hanging by his ankles from a lamp post, wrapped in a purples shroud, and dripping blood, was the dead body of Lucius Malfoy. Lucius Malfoy, a prominent member of Wizarding society, was recently found guilty of being a Death Eater. Sentenced to a life-term in Azkaban, Malfoy was rescued from his fate by other followers of You-Know-Who 3 days ago.
A group of people calling themselves the Imperial Dragon Circle found him 2 nights ago, and apparently executed him on the spot. An examination of the body revealed five holes in his chest, each containing an oddly shaped metal object. The Ministry of Magic stated that these objects are a muggle device called a bullet. According to the Muggle Relations Office, muggles use devices called firearms to accelerate these objects to very high speeds, and aim them in a certain direction. These devices are apparently specifically designed to kill.
Are these dragons muggles? This reporter doesn't think so. A magical investigation on the body revealed no clues as to the killer's identity, which leaves us to wonder who this circle is, and what they want. The Ministry released a statement, saying "These dragons must be found. Vigilantes can not be allowed to roam free, and kill whoever they desire. We are looking into it."
Reporting for the Prophet: Jessica Thatcher.
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"Hermione, did you see the Prophet this morning?" asked Harry Potter, 16 year old wizard-in training, after scanning the paper for the fourth time.
"No, I didn't. Why do you ask?" said Hermione, Harry's best friend, and new girlfriend.
"Some group of assassins killed Malfoy senior 2 nights ago, using muggle weapons." Harry responded. "And the ministry has no idea who the killers are."
Hermione furrowed her brows in concentration. "That's interesting. Does the paper say who they work for"
"No, it doesn't, Hermione, but I think we should speak to professor Dumbledore about it. Maybe the Order knows something about them." Harry said, looking a bit sad.
"What's wrong Harry? You look sad." Stated Hermione, picking up her boyfriend's mood change right away.
"Well, I never got along with the Malfoy family, but I can't help feeling a bit sad for Draco. Losing a father can't be easy." Harry said.
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Assassins! After all the work he'd gone through to select his inner circle, assassins killed his right hand man! And the assassins were using muggle weapons, no less! Voldemort was not happy, to say the least. Voldemort had been counting on Malfoy to finance some big projects coming up. Now he would have to look for funding elsewhere. After all, I took a lot of money to be as evil as Lord Voldemort.
Blast! As if he didn't already have enough to worry about. He had enough on his plate with the Potter boy, the prophecy, the muggle-loving fool, and the Ministry. Now he had to add a group assassins, systematically tearing his ranks apart to the list. Blast!
Voldemort entered the main chamber, to address his assembled Death Eaters. He needed information on these assassins, and he needed it fast. He had a very large network of information gatherers, and he intended to use them.
"My faithful Death Eaters. I have called you here this evening to bring to your attention a very troubling problem. A group called The Imperial Dragon Circle killed Lucius 2 nights ago. The assassin that did the job was obviously very skilled. He entered the house without activating any of the security spells, entered the room Lucius was in undetected, killed him without a struggle, and burned the house to the ground, without alerting the detection spells I placed on the house. Two things are obvious. The assassin did not apparate into the house, and Lucius was killed without using magic. I placed to very specific wards on that house. I cast an anti-apparition field, and a magic nullifier ward. The first prevents apparition, as the name suggests. The second prevents anyone not keyed into the ward from using any kind of magic." Voldemort paused, and waited for his followers to digest the information.
"Master? What are we to do about this group?" Said a cold female voice. The voice belonged to Bellatrix Lestrange, the only female senior Death Eater. (A/N: Lower Death Eaters do not speak directly to Voldemort.)
"I'm glad you asked Bellatrix." Voldemort said, his eyes alight with malice. "This assassin would be a valuable asset. I want to know who he is, and what he wants. You, my faithful followers are going to find me this information, and bring this assassin to me."
"Yes, my Lord." No one in attendance dared to deny the Dark Lord. Even if the idea of confronting battle hardened, ruthless assassins made them want to pass out, to question the Dark Lord was certain death.
"Good. Go now, my Death Eaters. Bring me the assassin, in one piece. Even if he'd rather die than join me, he intrigues me. Do not, under any circumstances, kill him before I have talked to him." Voldemort finished, and watched his Death Eaters apparate out. During the meeting, Voldemort had a revealing suspicion, and retired to his library to research a possibility.
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"Albus, what am I to do? These dragons appear to be targeting Death Eaters. As a secondary circle member, I am now at a very high risk. The dragons don't know that I'm spying for the Order of the Phoenix!" Severus Snape, potions master and resident spy, was clearly agitated.
"Stay calm, Severus. The Order is looking into the Dragon Circle situation." Albus Dumbledore stated, placing a calming hand on his friend's shoulder. " We need to know what they are doing, and what their motives are. The Order is now split into teams, opposing Voldemort, or digging for information on the Imperial Dragon Circle."
"That's all well and good, Albus, but what am I to do in the interim?" Severus asked, calming down slightly.
"You are to assist the group looking for the dragons. From what you said earlier, Voldemort wants them. We'll coordinate our search with you, so you will have something to report to him." Albus said.
"Thank you, Albus." Severus said, relieved to be useful again.
"No problem, my dear boy. Now, you should rest. The students will be here tomorrow." Albus said, and sat back down at his desk. Severus walked out of the Headmaster's Office, and shut the door behind him.
Neither person noticed the cloaked figure next to the book shelves, as he melted silently into the shadows he'd been standing in.
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A/N: Well, there's chapter 1. My story is almost off the ground, the next chapter gets into the Order, The ministry, and maybe a little bit of the circle itself. Drop me a review, and tell me what you think.