"Make sure you keep your distances, we don't want Dumbledore to find out," Voldemort said imperiously. Before bowing and returning to his seat, the man muttered a hastily mumbled 'yes my lord.'

"Dismissed, but Inner Circle members, stay", Harry had only been at Hogwarts for three days and had received three letters, but his parents had only received one or two, so he felt smug. When Lucius handed him another letter, clearly from Harry, he was even cockier.

That was four letters in total.

"Thank you, Lucius," he smirked.

The man simply appeared bewildered and helpless in this situation. He was fumbling with how to deal with his lord... who was courting his son. His younger child.

"The Department of Mysteries has been infiltrated, and our people are being promoted to positions of power; we'll soon have control of magical transportation and international communications."

"Lucius report" the announcement of infiltration elicited mumbles of excitement among the 13 who stood before him.

"The minister is as hapless as ever; in order to avoid tarnishing his reputation, he has reduced his correspondence with Dumbledore. He's a moron, but he's a politician at the core. It would have been extremely difficult to catch him if he had even an ounce of backbone."

There were a few chuckles, and Voldemort nodded, "Witty and insightful as always Lucius, Severus report."

Before clearing his throat, the swallow-faced man grimaced.

"My lord, Dumbledore appears to be senile in his old age, as he has admitted that ghastly pink-wearing woman to Hogwarts. Umbridge is the name of the lady? What kind of name is that, I believe it is someone from the ministry, perhaps it is another test for the spawn of James and Lily Potter, pompous idiots that they are they truly believe you to be defeated by a mere—" "

That's quite enough Severus, remember if they are alerted they might make things very difficult for us."

"Yes, my lord, to keep my cover as a spy is of utmost importance— I'm aware that Potter's glares during order meetings make me afraid for the safety of my eyebrows. I believe he would prefer to burn them off given the opportunity, especially with the way he looks at them and don't even getme started—"

The death eaters' giggles died down as the dark lord cleared his throat, "Black report"

"Well my lord, I have been practicing dealing—"

"Not you Bella, the other one"

"My lord, The Auror Department seems to believe the lies Dumbledore is spouting yet seeing no proof of your return they are turning skeptical and some have begun believing the ministries propaganda," Sirius Black began.

"The hit wizard team formed to protect Charles includes me, the best of them taken from duty to guard a 15-year-old who has no proof that he supposedly defeated you," he said, running his hand through his hair. "The task force, if that is what it is, consists of myself and a few other well-known order members, as well as surprisingly might I add Mad-Eye," he continued.

The Dark Lord let out a snort. He didn't want anything to do with the Potter brat yet Dumbledore seemed so sure that somehow the child was a Chosen One of some sort, and he was only interested in one grey-eyed brat-

Focus, death eater meeting first, talking to Harry later...

So, where had he been exactly?

He swallowed his saliva and cleared his throat.

"Do nothing of the brat we will ignore him, he poses no threat with only the potter lordship in hand . most lords currently see him as delirious. "

There was a gentle clearing of the throat

"Yes Rabastan"

"My lord I believe Lily Potter is cheating on her husband"

There were gasps of surprise and a muttered 'Bloody Hell' from Severus.

"This is interesting news, write a letter to Rita Skeeter and let her poison pen do the work, perhaps the Potters are not so good and light after all"

"Yes my Lord"

ooOOOOooOooOOo

"Hello har," Luna greets as she sits opposite him.

"Hello Luna, how are you this fine evening?" Harry politely asked as she sat down next to him in the alcove he was currently holed up in.

"I'm quite fine and judging from the sudden infestation of blubbing hemergers you have around your head you have finally found your match then," Luna replied.

"I'm not going to ask any more questions." , Harry responded immediately

"Yes, it would be preferable if you didn't; I'd also like to meet him this year during the Christmas break. So a visit to Malfoy Manor would be welcome."

"Luna I'm not sure that's such a great idea-"

"Harry, if you don't agree to my conditions, I'm afraid I'll have to kidnap you and hide you away so you don't see the monster your love will turn into if I don't cleanse him in time," Luna said as if she hadn't just admitted to knowing his biggest secret and then threatened him.

"What cleansing are you—-...oh my god," says Harry.

"you- you are, oh my god luna," he mumbled .

"How about we go for a walk around the lake?I think that's enough for today."

Harry gave a silent nod. Luna was a prophet, and prophets rarely, if ever, name themselves and never with such proof. Whatever Marvalo was planning, it had to be terrible for a prophet to intervene.

Prophets were thought to be myths, mages who had a deeper connection to Lady Magic than most Wix. He couldn't believe Luna had told him; if it had been him in her place, he would have guarded the information like a mad hound. He couldn't imagine how difficult it must have been for her to express her level of trust in him so openly—

"Alright Luna"

" I'm glad you came around, it would have been quite difficult otherwise—"

Harry came up behind her and gave her the first hug they'd ever shared. He savored the way her arms wrapped around him and the strange melody she was humming as he held her close to him.

"Thank you," he said quietly, "for telling me."

"Oh Harry Darling, it is not my will, but the mother's; fear not, she will not let you or your beloved suffer harm." She said as she soothed his back.

"Wh—what, but why?" he asks confused but grateful with this boon granted to him.

"Of course, you're her knights; if the wixens needed a change, she wouldn't trample her sword or her horse, would she?"

"What exactly are you talking about, Luna?"

"Oh Harry, you have no idea". Harry felt a chill run down his spine.

Across the country, Voldemort smiled and grabbed the necklace of its stand as it hummed with power.