I apparated to the Little Hangleton graveyard, the dreary place was made even eerier by the light of the full moon shining down upon the graves of the dead. I breathed in the cool autumn air and let out a deep sigh. I couldn't keep my survival a complete secret; Bellatrix, Rodolphus, Rabastan and Barty Crouch Jr were to valuable to leave rotting in Azkaban or in Barty's case: under the Imperius Curse. I had to inform them; and it would be best to keep Snape onside as well.

With another sigh I reached into my pocket and pulled out a small, intricate amulet. The design was identical to the Dark Mark. Hermione Granger didn't know how close she was when she cited the Dark Mark for her inspiration for the Dumbledore Army's galleons. This silver piece of jewellery was the 'master' Dark Mark; linked to each Mark in each marked follower, through this each follower was linked to me; allowing me to call them and for them to call me if required. It was a rather complex system as while linking the marks to the amulet was rather simple, linking the amulet itself to me -effectively my mind- involved a rather fiddly charm. Flitwick would have been so proud. Of course it would have been so much easier to just have a 'master mark' on my wrist but that would have made Voldemort an equal to his followers and that just wouldn't do.

I grasped the silver skull and serpent and pushed my intention into it: calling the Lestranges and Crouch Jr. A few moments later, almost at the same time as each other they apparated in front of me, instantly going down to one knee.

"My Lord!" Bellatrix exclaimed, "we thought you were dead!"

I smiled; "obviously this is not the case, however I want my survival to remain between us for the moment. The Malfoys already know of my survival as I have given them an important task." You could see Bella frown. "However I have an even more important task for you three." She brightened up again, always so eager to please me and one up her brother-in-law. "I anticipate that due to my supposed defeat the Ministry will be more brave and start raiding the houses of suspected Death Eaters, I want you to secure a safe location Lestrange Manor would be a good idea, the Ministry has no jurisdiction in France, and send all marked Death Eaters (who aren't rich or powerful enough to look after themselves) there. Barty, I know you despise him, but see if you can get your father to obtain the necessary information."

"Of course, my Lord." Barty said. The Lestranges nodded.

"Good, now go." I said, dismissing them.

After they left I applied a glamour upon myself leaving me with dirty blonde hair, a long nose and a rather square head, my skin was now much darker. I apparated to Diagon Alley and entered the Leaky Cauldron. To say it was rammed would be an understatement; the place was full to the brim. I pushed my way through the wizards commemorating my alleged demise. I sneered at their celebration, they were seemingly ignorant to the fact that an entire family died taking me down.

After I finally got to the bar I asked Tom for a room and made my way up. I decided to leave the Malfoys to rest and didn't want any other followers to know of my surviving. Now, it was time to sleep; today's excursions had been tiring to say the least.

I awoke in the morning and dressed before heading out into the Alley, stepping over the alcohol intoxicated wizards and witches who had fallen asleep in the bar below. I walked into the huge, white Gringotts building and joined the shortest queue. As I approached the goblin clerk he enquired, "may I ask why you are under a glamour?" Thankfully he said this quietly enough that the witch at the next teller didn't hear what was said.

"I am here to see the the Head Goblin, please." I spoke, equally as quiet.

"And what makes you think you are worthy enough to see him?" He sneered.

"If we can go to a private area, I will show you why. I promise you, it will be worth your time." I murmured.

He looked intrigued, and also excited at the insinuation and motioned for me to follow him. He led me through a door at the side of the counters and into an antechamber we walked a bit further and we arrived in an office. He sat down at what I assumed was his desk and I sat at a chair opposite. He looked at me expectantly and I complied, removing my glamour with a wave of a hand, which wasn't strictly necessary but I'm a man of style.

His eyes widened ever so slightly before he frowned and reached into his desk and pulled out a piece of parchment and a blade. "Slice across your palm and let seven drops of blood hit the parchment." He commanded.

"And what exactly would it do?" I asked. While I had a vague idea, it's always smart to make sure, blood is a powerful thing after all...

He chuckled. "It will simply confirm your identity, and the vaults you are entitled to." Satisfied, I reached over and grabbed the blade, parchment and the metal tray it was sitting on. I sliced my hand, suppressing the wince and grunt that would usually accompany the pain. And watched fascinated as the blood started forming letters.

Tom Marvolo Riddle

Born: 31 December, 1926

Lord of the Ancient House of Gaunt

Heir of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Slytherin

Vaults:

Slytherin (Vault 29) 52 Galleons 8 Sickles 20 Knuts

Gaunt (Vault 103) 5 Galleons 1 Sickle 24 Knuts

Vault 110 (Unnamed) 1,075,922 Galleons 2 Sickles 1 Knut

Fucking Gaunts, I thought. Bleeding the Slytherin vaults dry. Though I certainly wasn't poor, the funding from the Death Eaters assured that. It was a shame though, to see a once prestigious house fall into such disrepair.

I brought myself out of my musings and looked up towards the still unnamed goblin, sliding across a few stacks of coins amounting to 30 galleons. "Is this enough to warrant a meeting with the Head Goblin?"

"Certainly, Heir Slytherin," he replied. "Right this way."

We walked through an endless maze of plain white corridors, he was surely leading me on a more complicated route than necessary, before we arrived at a set of large double doors. "Wait here." He said shortly. A few moments later he returned and led me into a large room, sitting behind a large desk was a goblin dressed in heavy, ruby encrusted armour, trimmed with gold. It was as imperial as a goblin could look. He stood up "Heir Slytherin, a pleasure to meet you," he said, though his tone and the baring of his sharp teeth made it apparent he felt otherwise.

"Your Highness," I acknowledged with a short bow, he looked surprised he got that much. "The same to you as well."

He sat down without inviting me to do so, though there was a simple, uncomfortable looking seat opposite his desk.

"Now, why did you ask to see me?" He enquired, a snarl accompanying his question.

"I come with a proposition." I started. He waved his hand, inviting me to continue.

"As I'm sure you know, I have been waging war against the current establishment in the Wizarding World-" Here he interrupted.

"You are mistaken, the Goblin Nation does not care for current wizarding affairs."

I ground my teeth, does he really need to be cagey?

"Well, now you know, anyway, I would ask you to join this war on my side, I promise you that when we win, the Goblins will once again be equal to the wizards, as will all other magical creatures and members of the magical community, the fact that you have been oppressed for so long is sickening. I ask you to fight with me, and you will be free again!" I orated enthusiastically.

He grinned. "Thanks for seeing me Heir Slytherin, I shall speak to you soon. Please see him out Lurgit."

As I was led out of the bank, my glamour reapplied, I was flabbergasted. He just got rid of me, as if I were nothing. Unbelievable!

I sighed before apparating, next stop Spinner's end.