Chapter Three

Voldemort felt slightly disappointed, he had expected something far more complex than the jinx's he found on the locked safe in the cellar of the old house. The door swung open with a creak. Inside there was a thick layer of dust which almost hid from sight the small package within it. Carefully, Voldemort extracted the package. Gently, with baited breath he opened it. Inside he saw himself, a slightly blurred reflection. Voldemort extracted the ancient mirror carefully. It was framed with blue marble and nestled at the top was a sapphire. Voldemort ran his hands over the object, he felt the double R under his fingers at the bottom of the frame. He let out a high, cold mirthless laugh. He slipped the mirror into his cloak pocket and swiftly made his way back up stairs.

Felicity was still unconscious, slumped in one of the chairs in the drawing room. Voldemort's smile increased as he entered the room and found the fire had been stoked. Either the house elves were not aware of any foul play, or did not care. Laughing softly Voldemort moved over to Felicity. He pointed his wand at her and muttered, "Enervate".

Instantly Felicity's eyes flew open and she sat up straight. Her hands went to her head and she began to rub it, as though it would help her remember. It seemed to take a moment for her to collect herself and register Lord Voldemort's presence.

She looked up at him with raised eyebrows. "So," she said, her voice still had not lost its silky seductiveness, "I assume you have what you came to steal."

Voldemort smiled at her and carefully laid her wand down on the table between the two chairs.

"Yes," the way he acknowledged his actions chilled Felicity slightly, "but now I have found something else of interest; namely you, and I have been wondering whether or not I should invite you to join my little…group of friends." Voldemort suppressed a laugh as Felicity eyed her wand and the door. He felt sure that if she could, she would use her wand to kill him, or at least try. It was one of the things he felt drawn to in her. One of the things he felt he needed if his plan were to succeed – a mind ready to kill for revenge. However, Voldemort also felt sure that he had interested her, and after all, power attracts power.

Felicity smiled provocatively at him. "Why?" She said simply. "What have you got planned for that trinket in your pocket? For Slytherin's trinket?"