Yo. I pulled my back again...because of course I did. Why should I be able to go even a single day without pain, right? Anyway, inspiration hit, so you guys get another chapter! Hurray! Thank you to all readers so far!

Voldemort did not like feeling paranoid. God damn Potter and his fucking spy. And even though there had been no signs of this...person since the initial mention of them, he couldn't help but think about it, always feeling as if he were being watched, even when he wasn't. More than once, he had to tell himself to stop being an idiot for allowing the brat to get to him, and focus on his plans.

And speaking of plans, the ones he had for Halloween were finally finished and confirmed. Now he just needed to wait for the thirty first to actually put them in action. Luckily, it was only a couple of weeks away.

But now that he wasn't insanely busy, the Dark Lord finally had the time to reply to Potter's previous letter. So, he settled down behind his desk and began to write...


The next afternoon, Harry and Hermione were in the Room of Requirement, working on Voldemort's birthday present together, having come up with an idea for the most awesomest gift in the history of the world.

Harry sighed mournfully. "I still don't see why I can't send him a virgin sacrifice. It'd be so much easier than this."

Hermione rolled her eyes, checking the handwritten instructions once again. "If you're so desperate to give him a virgin, why don't you gift him with yourself?"

Harry stared in shock. "W-what!?"

"Well, you're the one who said the sacrifice didn't have to be a girl, and you're still a virgin too," the witch pointed out, a smirk on her face. "Now, of course," she continued, the smirk growing, "would you prefer he kill you, or..." she trailed off knowingly.

"W-w-w-what!?" Emerald eyes wide and cheeks flushed, Harry just gaped. He looked very much like a fish.

Just then, the door to the room swung open, and Luna walked in, Hedwig on her shoulder...even though no one should have been able to enter. Evidently not even the Room of Requirement could stand up to Luna Lovegood's, erm, presence.

"Hello, Harry. Hello, Hermione." She approached the two, at which point the white feathered owl flew down to her master's lap, hooting affectionately at the blonde. "The Naztors told me Hedwig needed to get to you before the Headmaster got to her instead." She smiled dreamily. "Goodbye, Harry. Goodbye, Hermione. Goodbye, Hedwig." And with that, she turned and left the room, the owl hooting out a farewell as she walked off.

The two Gryffindors exchanged a look of confusion, trying to process what had just happened, neither of them sure of what to say.

"Did...she just say 'Naztors'?"

"Yes, yes she did."

"Are they supposed to be some sort of...hybrid of Nazgul and Dementors?"

"I...guess?"

"But doesn't that mean Nazgul would actually have to exist?"

"...Harry?"

"Yeah?"

"I think I'm scared."

"Me too, Hermione, me too."

"...Should we pretend we didn't hear her say that?"

"I think we should." And so, without further ado, Harry took the letter Hedwig had brought him, unfolded it, and began to read.

Potter,

My manor is impenetrable. It is impossible for you to be sending someone in here to spy on me, and I refuse to believe otherwise.

As for the photograph and information you gave me, I suppose I should...thank you. I assure you, that was more difficult to write than you might realize. I had to get myself drunk.

I still expect a gift on my birthday. However, until then, I at least have enough to begin discrediting Dumbledore.

Voldemort

Harry snickered in amusement, and then, suddenly, was struck with an idea. "Hey, Hermione? Can you read this?" He passed the parchment over.

The witch took it, her brown eyes scanning the sheet quickly. "Yes, I can read it. Why?"

Harry frowned slightly. "What does it say?"

Confused, Hermione read the letter out loud. "Harry? What is it?" she said once she'd finished.

"I thought maybe the parchment was charmed to show something different to anyone other than me reading it. I figured it'd explain why no one's mentioned what's been happening." He crossed his arms over his chest. "But you just read exactly what it says."

"Meaning it can't be charmed," Hermione finished, frowning now too.

"Yeah."

The two friends fell into silence, lost in their respective thoughts, while Hedwig too kept quiet, seemingly having caught on to the conflicted grim circumstances...

Yeah, that's it for now. I know how the next chapter's going to start and finish, so it's just the stuff in between I have to work out. Until then, looking forward to reviews! Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! Happy New Year!