~Chapter 18~ Gifts – 31 July 1994~

~Voldemort~

He glanced towards the fallen form of Dumbledore as his followers left the room. The man was still stuck experiencing the hell that he'd put his victims through, but after the way the man had played with so many lives, he'd thought it appropriate that the man be made into a puppet himself…for a few moments at least.

The look on his followers' faces when they'd both heard and then seen the puppet had been quite funny to behold and he knew that he would be saving the memory for now. If this was how they reacted with a puppet, he wondered how they would react to muggle clowns.

He wandlessly apparated the man back to his cell, (a glass case he's fashioned himself) before walking towards his rooms, only to be waylaid by a sulking Nagini.

He gently picked her up, thanking the ritual for the strength to do so, given her considerable size and weight. ":: What'ss wrong? Did one of the bunniess make a ssuccessful escape?::"

Nagini shook her head, "::I thought I ssmelled your Ghosst in room where your minionss come and go, but I couldn't find him…::"

Nagini had barely finished speaking before Voldemort took off towards the meeting room. Surely he would've sensed him if he'd been at the meeting? He entered the room and grimaced at the other scents, but the scent of his mate was undeniably there…and it went no further.

Something wasn't adding up. His mate never left a scent on anything except the packages and items he sent, so maybe that meant that one of his followers had been in contact with him? If so, then who? He wanted to ask Nagini but he doubted that she would even remember the names of the so-called 'insects' as she referred to them...or what they'd looked like.

It did give him a lead though…his mate seemed to be close enough to keep an eye on and influence things, but that didn't stop the fact that he was getting quite frustrated with the fact that he hadn't been able to find him yet.

He turned and left the room with Nagini still in his arms. He headed towards his bedroom. Why didn't his mate want him to find him? Surely he wouldn't give him gifts if he were unhappy with him, so maybe something else was the problem?

His thoughts were interrupted as a letter dropped onto his bedside table out of nowhere. The writing was familiar and suddenly he had an idea of why his mate was able to deliver his presents without being seen. His mate seemed to have an ability close to his own…one that could send objects through space without needing him to deliver them himself.

He reached for the letter before pausing and he realized that his hands were shaking at the mere thought of having received another letter from his mate. It was both amazing and scary to realize that someone else unknowingly had so much control over him. He gripped them into fists before reaching for the letter once more.

Voldemort

I am glad to see that you have made use of the gift I have given you on your birthday, unfortunately, I did not foresee the danger it may cause for one Harry James Potter until after I sent the gift, so I have been making some preparations.

I know that you have tried to get him to your place for a while now, but I doubt that he'd go while knowing that you might never let him out again, so I have prepared another plan. I managed to convince him to be my assistant while you sort the ministry out.

Don't worry, I won't leave you to do everything alone. I will be sending my brother to aid you, he might randomly talk to himself at times, but that's merely a quirk of his that manifests while he's thinking.

Harry's friends have also been informed of his impromptu holiday so if you find anyone hinting at how you've captured him in a dungeon etc. etc. they might be a traitor…or some of your followers really need a dressing down on the fact that he is not to be harmed. I don't want you blaming me if your followers drop like flies due to stupid assumptions.

Anyway, I know I have been drawing out the day that I reveal myself, but trust me, there is a pretty good reason for that.

Enjoy demolishing the ministry though…I hear it's going to be a right mess and your favorite spell might become extremely tempting to cast (I am still wondering whether that would be the AK or the Crucio, you cast both of them quite a bit).

Keep safe,

Ghost

PS. Harry wrote a note, but his handwriting was horrible so I decided to write it here. He doesn't really say anything though, only that he doesn't want to be treated as a possession.

Voldemort felt a twinge of childish jealousy. Why could Harry Potter meet his mate and not him? Wasn't he supposed to be one of the top priorities in his mate's life? But then again, now that he thought about it, his mate seemed to be quite clueless when it came to relationships…

Though the thought made him happy, it also sent a new thread of worry through his system. What if someone took advantage of Ghost before he could fill the other man in on the fact that they were mates?

A sudden gust of cold air from behind him made him freeze before he slowly turned to find the slightly familiar form of Death standing behind him. He didn't know what the entity wanted, but he was sure that it wasn't a good sign when the entity suddenly appeared out of nowhere and he had to remind himself that he was immortal before he looked into the entity's face.

Or what should have been its face…the being was entirely draped in its cloak so he couldn't see much. The entity pointed to the letter, 'It has come to my attention that you do not have a way of responding to those letters so I will deliver one for you, just this once. I will return once you have finished it.'

With that, Death disappeared and Voldemort pressed his hand to his heart where it was beating erratically. He didn't try and kid himself that Death was doing it for him…so the only other option was that it was for his mate. What title could his mate hold…no…surely it wouldn't be so easy?

Voldemort rushed to his office and yanked a familiar book from one shelf. He knew the book by heart, but he'd never connected it with anything other than stories. He looked at the images and felt the urge to grin. If his mate was really the Master of Death, then he would never have to worry about losing him because Death would always interfere.

He carefully placed the book down before reaching for some parchment and a quill.

Dear Ghost

I was informed that this is the only time that I would have the chance to send a letter to you, so I will make the most of it.

Firstly, thank you for the presents you have given me, but I find myself at the disadvantage of not being able to send anything back to you for the years I have missed so far. To make up for that, I shall attach them to this letter.

I apologize for not knowing your likes and dislikes, as I know nothing about you other than the fact that you would do anything to right a wrong, so I will send a little bit of everything and request that you tell me a little more about yourself in your next letter.

I would also request a way for us to regularly correspond, but I do not want to push any boundaries if you aren't comfortable with the idea.

I do know one more thing about you now though, Death's appearance baffled me until I remembered the old tale of the three brothers. Some obscure texts suggest that only descendants with Peverell blood would be able to gain the title, but I promise that as much as I want to, I will not dig any further.

Nagini is quite grateful for her presents as well, though I have been struggling to keep up with the supply of golden bunnies. Where in Merlin's name do you find the variety of bunnies and should I be expecting a rainbow-colored bunny next?

Sorry, I know I am rambling quite a bit and jumping from subject to subject. I can't wait for the day we meet…

Love,

Voldemort

PS. Attached you will also find a test of a sort and a vial of my blood. I wanted to tell you something, but I doubt that you would believe me so this is the only alternative I can think of. Pour both a vial of your blood and mine into the potion before pouring it onto the test paper…only read the enclosed scroll of meanings after the mixture has formed a symbol on the parchment.

Voldemort placed the letter down to dry before rushing out of the office and into his room. An extra cupboard had been added a while ago and when he opened it, it was easy to see that it was almost bursting with carefully wrapped presents.

Voldemort paused and allowed himself a sheepish look before he began carefully removing a few. He'd started collecting gifts after realizing that Ghost was his mate, and he hadn't been able to stop himself from buying anything that he thought Ghost might like.

He also added a present for Harry with a note. It wouldn't make up for what the boy had lost, but he truly hoped that the boy would come to see that he didn't just want to protect him because he was his Horcrux. Harry had been as much a victim, in some cases more, as he was and it would be nice to be able to communicate with a kindred spirit.

He shrunk the presents down and placed them in a small gift box before walking to the office to attach them to his letter. A second later, Death appeared and took the letter before disappearing, leaving Voldemort to wonder about the reaction that his presents might receive.

A single thought ran through his mind, I hope he likes his presents, it would have been amazing to see his face when he opens them though.