Part Three: A New Era.
I allowed him to stay as long as he wished, and to my surprise he never asked me to turn him. His apparent acceptance that he would never be able to prove himself worthy revealed more than he thought. I wandered the world the following two years, not wishing to be caught between Dumbledore and Voldemort if one should desire to use me against the other. I ignored Hogwarts and whatever was happening in that part of the world. When news of Dumbledore's death reached me at the end of the year, I was shocked. More so with the fact Voldemort had succeeded in one of his aims at last. Perhaps I had underestimated the man, I thought to myself as I considered what this meant. Harry stood little chance of surviving another assault from Voldemort now that Dumbledore was gone. For reasons I could not understand, I sought Harry out the day before he turned seventeen. He failed to hide his surprise and his occulmency skills were terrible.
"My dear boy, you do realize that at this rate you will not survive Voldemort." My forwardness disturbed him, and his Aunt and Uncle were none too pleased by my unannounced appearance at their house, but they were smart enough to remain silent.
"Come with me, you will be safe, I assure you. Albus would have wanted my help by now."
"You knew Dumbledore?" His eyes widened.
"Of course, now if you please, you may ask me anything once we get out of here." He vanished up the stairs while he packed his things, and I waited outside. He joined me quickly with one last glance back at his only remaining family.
"Well, goodbye.' He sighed, his eyes cast down. I grabbed his wrist and his trunk and before he could realize it, we were standing before me castle. I released him and entered while he struggled with his belongings. Leaving his trunk in the entrance hall, he quickly joined me in my usual position beside the fireplace. He sat opposite me, his eyes pinned to the flickering flames.
"I must say, I have been anxious to meet the child that has alluded Voldemort four times now. You are either very special, or very lucky." Potter still refused to look up. "I believe you are just lucky."
"So do I." He sighed. He paused, before working up he courage to continue. "Why did you bring me here?"
"You have nowhere else to go. But you have more pressing questions then that, I can tell."
"Who are you?" I couldn't help but smile at his ignorance.
"Dumbledore told you nothing of me?"
"No…"
"The man begged me so many times to join him at Hogwarts, yet his most beloved pupil knew nothing of me. How else did you suppose he discovered about the horcruxes?" Potter remained silent. "After Voldemort's oversight with you, Dumbledore came looking for me, the legendary Lysha Drevei, oldest known 'witch' as you would say, although I personally prefer sorceress."
"How is that possible?" He looked up, confused.
"I, my dear boy, am a vampire." I laughed coldly as he paled. "And am the creator of the horcruxes."
"You mean…"
"Voldemort came to me many years ago to seek such knowledge. I am, after all, his only surviving relative." Potter blanched at this. "Perhaps I should introduce myself fully; I am the Baroness Lysha Slytherin. Drevei is my maiden name." I laughed softly, drinking in his fear. "Oh do not look so worried, I have no allegiance to Voldemort, and I did not bring you here to give you over to him. Let's just say that Dumbledore's parting wish to me was to keep you safe until you could find your feet. I suggest you go back to Hogwarts for this last year, you have no chance otherwise." I stretched lazily, studying his still frozen expression. "You have a question?"
"Ah… well… do you know where Voldemort's remaining horcruxes are?" I raised an eyebrow.
"No, I do not. For the most, I do not even know what half of them are. Nor do I care. Take your trunk upstairs, the third door on your right. The doors in this castle are locked for a reason, see that they remain so else you will not leave this castle alive." I watched him slowly remove himself from the room and struggle up the stairs with the trunk. The boy was more stupid than I had realized. He should have known that if I was responsible for turning Voldemort into the wizard that he was today, I could most certainly do the same for him. The fool insulted me with his ignorance. I was relieved his school would continue soon, as I felt sure Voldemort would eventually stop by as usual. His shocking occulmency skills revealed that he and Dumbledore had managed to destroy a handful of Voldemort's horcruxes. This surprised me, as Voldemort was clearly unaware of this. But it seemed to me that, now he was alone, he would not last long. Voldemort would kill him, and for a moment, I actually pitied the ignorant fool.
Days past before he found the courage to ask my permission for him to go to Diagon ally to purchase his schoolbooks. A waved a hand in approval and watched as he hesitantly wandered out into the clearing.
"How will I return?" He asked slowly.
"Return to me, don't focus on the place you want to apparate to, focus on who you want to apparate to." He nodded slowly, clearly unnerved by the thought as he apparated. Only moments later I sensed Voldemort's approach. His timing worried me greatly. If the Potter boy planned on escaping from me, now was the perfect time to do so. I knew the boy didn't trust me, but who could blame him? I watched from the shadows of the doorway as Voldemort came into the clearing and stood before me.
"How are you, my dearest teacher of old?" He smiled oddly. I remained silent, raising an eyebrow, before turning and making my way up the stairs. He walked slightly behind me as I entered my chamber and went to the window.
"To what do I owe the pleasure?" I asked dryly.
"I came to seek your help. Help in ridding me of Harry Potter." He spat the name. I knew his charade would quickly fade if he knew I had Potter staying with me.
"You know I do not take sides. Your battles are your own." I frowned, turning to him. "Still, it worries me that such a powerful wizard such as yourself is incapable of killing one small, weak child."
"But I can't find him!" He suddenly screamed. I raised an eyebrow, surprised at his outburst. "With all your power, surely you could find him?" He hissed at me. A cold smirk played in the corners of my lips before I could help myself.
"If I taught you nothing else, I hope I taught you manners." I grabbed his throat and slammed him with surprising force against the stone wall, knocking the wind out of him. He gasped and I felt him attempt to push me back with his magic, I laughed coldly, "You can't beat me, Voldemort, I am more powerful than even you realize." His eyes widened slightly. "And this is the reason I would never share such power with you. You are reckless! Arrogant!" I snarled and threw him to the floor. He rose with eyes closed and calmed himself.
"Forgive me, I forget myself at times. Being around such power, such strength as yours has… intoxicating affects on me." He opened his eyes to study my reaction.
"You are only lusting after my power."
"That is not true."
"Oh?"
"I lust after you as a lover, a companion to share my days with you as ruler of this world and the weaklings in it. I could never love one who is beneath me." He whispered huskily. I scoffed at his confession.
"You do not even know what love is. Lust is all you know, it is the curse people like you and I must carry. To lust after power, not after companionship."
"We need each other."
"We do not need each other, I have done very well on my own so far."
"But even you once sought a lover to share your power." I hesitated as my eyes narrowed, unsure of how he had discovered one of the flaws of my past.
I left the room and strode down the stairs with Voldemort close behind me. I had once sought love and companionship from someone very similar to Voldemort. It was never to be, and I had known it from the beginning, but that did not stop my craving of his company. I studied the smirk on Voldemort's lips.
"I found your diary." He smiled. So I had feared, he had the book I had written my desires and accomplishments in when I was mortal, as well as immortal. "I believe it is also one of your horcruxes." He paused, studying me. "I also never realised you could make a horcrux out of a living person." My eyes narrowed dangerously,
"It was never a wise idea, all people die eventually." I snarled through gritted teeth.
"Not all people." He smiled sadistically as I finally realised the true reason for his visit. "I hope you don't mind, but I asked a few people to accompany me here." I sensed a small group of people approaching my castle, my home that had been a secret for hundreds of years. I watched as two people entered.
"My dearest, may I introduce Rodolphus and Bellatrix Lestrange." They bowed before me, clearly in awe of the great power they sensed around me.
"You read my secrets, you know my life and I can guess why you are here."
"To make you mine for all eternity." He sneered as he approached me.
"I will never belong to you." I snarled, annoyed at his sudden boost of confidence. "And nor will my power." His eyes narrowed dangerously.
"I may not be able to have your power, but I will make you mine regardless. In due time you will change your mind." He smiled coldly. I swallowed hard, trying to hide the fear that was creeping into my heart. If he were to make me his final horcrux he would undoubtedly live forever, just like myself. Even if I wanted to, I could not kill myself. The sun no longer affected me; I could not be burned, cut, or injured in any way. I was invincible and he knew it.
A sudden crack shattered the silence as all eyes fell on the figure in the middle of the room. Potter had chosen the worst possible moment to return. His eyes alighted on the Death Eaters surrounding him and Voldemort who was standing before me. All was quiet for a moment before the shock finally wore off. Voldemort turned back to me, venom in his gaze.
"You are an unpredictable one." He sneered, "Did you plan on informing me of the boy's whereabouts?" I remained silent as the death eaters surrounded Potter, who had pulled out his wand and was turning circles, unsure of what to do. "I didn't think so." He sighed as he turned his attention back to Potter. Without hesitation, ropes sprung from his fingertips and tied the boy. Unable to balance since his legs were tied tightly, he fell backwards. Voldemort clicked his fingers and Potter watched with frightened eyes as the Lestrange's dragged two more children into the room, malice lighting their eyes. Potter's eyes widened at the sight of his friends apparently lifeless bodies.
"Do not look so concerned, boy, they are not dead…yet." Voldemort laughed coldly as he turned his attention to the children. With a flick of his fingers, the two bodies sprung to life and the screams echoed through the castle walls. Potter was forced to watch his friends suffer, and unwillingly he forced his gaze to me. I was backed into the wall, watching emotionless as the scene unfolded before me.
"How could you?" Harry cried to me. I turned to him and pity flashed behind my eyes. The boy had no idea what was about to happen, that Voldemort was about to win and there was nothing he could do this time. With glee, Voldemort turned his attention to Potter,
"You, boy, are about to witness my victory over you and over the rest of the world. Very soon I shall be immortal." His eyes sparkled maliciously.
"Someone will stop you, they'll find your horcruxes and you'll be defeated." Voldemort's laugh brought goose bumps to my skin. With a sudden flash of green light, his friends' bodies fell lifelessly to the floor. Potter's scream of anguish vibrated through my mind long after it had ceased.
"Now, my dearest, you have always meant a great deal to me, but after this, we will be connected forever." My knees felt weak as he approached, but nothing could have prepared me for what was to come. The experience was terrible; the pain of Voldemort's soul being forced into my body was indescribable.
I slowly opened my eyes and lifted myself from the ground. I could feel every muscle in my body shaking and opposite me; Voldemort was also struggling to his feet. Potter watched wide eyes as I turned my gaze to him. I could sense Voldemort was a part of me; I could feel his desires rushing through my veins. All eyes were on me, but I felt empty, and strangely distant from everyone in the room, everyone except Voldemort. I studied him once more and felt an attraction for him, the way he must have felt for me. I was correct in my previous assumption; he wanted nothing of me, just my power. And like him, I wanted nothing from him but the possibility of ruling the world once again. The thought brought a cruel smile to my lips. I mentally slapped myself; Voldemort's soul was influencing my thoughts, controlling a part of my own soul. In a sense, he had merged with me. This had never been done in all of history. What he read in my diary was my discussion on whether it could be done, and I had concluded that it was possible, but I had never done it, I had never considered the consequences.
I heard Voldemort's drained voice order Potter released. I forced my gaze to focus on him as he jumped from the chair and sprinted to his friends' bodies. He turned angrily to Voldemort and myself, rage clouding his vision. He strode forward, ripping one of the swords from my coat of arms on the wall and pointing it towards Voldemort.
"You will pay!" He snarled as he charged. Voldemort only laughed and easily dodged his attack.
"You cannot kill me Potter, fate has intervened in our little game! And now my soul has been merged with the most powerful sorceress in the world, and to kill me you must kill her." He laughed viciously as he watched Potter turn to me. In my weakened state I could do little but watch as Harry charged me and drove the sword deep into my chest. His actions only infuriated me,
"You ignorant little fool! I am a vampire, I am immortal! Nothing can ever kill me!" I snarled as his eyes widened with the realisation. He had been beaten, Voldemort could never be killed. I noticed Voldemort clutch a hand to his chest, the exact spot where the sword was lodged in my chest. His pain amused me.
"So, Voldemort, seems you are not immune to pain, as I am." I laughed mockingly. "I feel nothing, yet you feel everything." I sneered as he gasped with surprise and pain as I stepped forward, pushing the blade deeper into my chest. "This serves you right for making me one of your horcruxes! And may it always be a constant reminder to you of the pain you are to me!" I laughed viciously before turning my attention back to Potter, whose eyes were wide in shock. He backed away from me, releasing the sword and I easily pulled it from my chest. I heard Voldemort's sigh of relief as his pain subsided, but ignored him as I glared at Potter. I stepped forward and with a graceful ease, twirled the sword above my head before plunging it through the boy's chest. The Lestranges' gasped as the sword point broke through Potter's back. The boy stared dumbly at the sword before falling to his knees. Voldemort's triumphant laugh broke the silence as Potter collapsed. I stepped back, and turned to Voldemort.
"What next?" I asked curiously.
"We can never fail!" He cried, "You and I shall rule the world together! All shall fear us as they once did you." I smirked at the memory and allowed Voldemort to take my arm and lead me outside, the Death Eaters close behind us, magically transporting the bodies of the children.
"Where are we going?" I asked, but not really caring for the answer. All I could visualise was the sight of thousands trembling in fear at the mere mention of my name.
"To the Ministry of Magic, it is time those miserable wizards learnt who their real masters are."
This is the end, my friends. I do trust that you enjoyed my story. Perhaps my dear friend Death Eater Bella may be able to con me into completing a sequel - but we shall see. Thank you all for reading.