Chapter 3: Killing two birds

Previously: Convinced that someone in his inner circle is trying to trap him, Voldemort thinks he found the solution by using Alastor Moody's foe-glass to reveal the identity of the hooded figure.

Lucius Malfoy and Serverus Snape came back late in the afternoon. Bellatrix was waiting down the stairs, looking expectantly at the entrance. When they passed the front door, she rushed across the hall, scowling:

'What took you so long? He's been waiting!' Then noticing Lucius was not alone. 'Severus, why are you back?'

'Certainly not to enjoy your warm welcome, Bellatrix.'

She eyed him suspiciously, scanning him from head to toe. 'Do you have it?'

Malfoy took out a pocket mirror and handed it to her. It looked rather rusty and was shattered in the upper left corner.

'Is that it?' she asked.

'We had to use a Shrinking Potion to take it out of the castle without raising suspicion' Malfoy explained 'which was not easy due to the protection spells Mad-Eye placed on it'.

Satisfied, Bellatrix gave him back the mirror:

'Well done Lucius'. She turned her back to them and declared: 'He is expecting you in the reception room.'

She left them in the hall, making her way to the kitchen where Narcissa was waiting for word on her husband's arrival. Lucius and Snape hurried in the opposite direction toward the reception room.

'Let me speak' Snape whispered. Malfoy did not answer but thanked him in silently. At least, Serverus would have a better chance at getting away with lateness than he was.

The room was dark and empty, except for a big snake curled on the long table in front of Voldemort. Judging from their hissing sounds, they were talking to each other.

Lucius flared up at the sight of Nagini on his polished rosewood table and swallowed noisily. When the hissing ceased, Snape made a curt bow and waited for Voldemort to invite them closer.

'My Lord' he said after reaching the table – yet keeping a reasonable distance between him and Voldemort - 'We have the mirror. I used a potion that enabled us to transport it safely. However, this mirror' he pointed at the foe-glass with his index finger 'should be handled with caution.' He turned sideways in the direction of where Malfoy was standing and added: 'You will find out that Mad-Eye's counter-jinxes do not lack creativity.'

The red eyes glowed intensely with excitement.

'Lucius, bring it to me.'

Lucius, who had been straggling behind Snape, approached the table. He held out the mirror and placed it in front of Voldemort, eyeing hesitantly at the snake.

Voldemort stood up and bent over to examine it closely.

In his time at Borgin and Burkes, he had come across numerous objects with hidden protection spells and secret powers. The magic used for this one was no different.

'This mirror traps inside those who are trying to confound it with a spell.' He picked the little mirror and turned it around his bony white fingers. 'The magic is linked to its owner… It should easily be deceived by Moody's appearance or by being in legal possession of it.'

'Hence our delay' Snape said. 'Lucius had to go to the Ministry to get an ownership contract before we could bring it to you.'

Voldemort looked at Malfoy expectantly.

'I had it registered under your name' Malfoy said after taking a rolled piece of parchment from his robe and handing it to Voldemort. 'The secretary in the Department for the Regulation and Protection of Wizarding Possessions was quite obliging. It only took a Confundus Charm to make sure she would not remember putting your name on it. It just needs your signature.'

Voldemort looked quite pleased and unrolled the parchment.

' There, there! Lucius! You see you can do well!' Voldemort said. The tip of his wand turned into a beautiful ivory quill. He signed his name at the bottom of the parchment, rolled up the contract and put it into his own robes. 'I can forgive delay when circumstances are justified.' He added with a soft yet forceful voice: 'Let's see what we can do about this foe-glass now, shall we?' He turned away from the both of them, reaching out for the mirror. 'You may leave'.

Malfoy made one step back in the direction of the exit. When he saw that Snape did not depart, he stopped midway, looking rather disconcerted.

'Master, Moody could have placed other charms on this glass' said Snape.

'As always Serverus, your caution and advice are most illuminating.' His red eyes glowed again. 'Come forth, your knowledge could be of use.' Snape relaxed his shoulders and walked straight to where the foe-glass laid. The prospect of getting trapped in the mirror or getting jinxed by Moody's charm-deflecting spells did not seem to worry him. On the contrary, he seemed quite determined to get it repaired himself.

Lucius, who was still standing a few feet from the exit door, opened his mouth to speak, then closed it. He reluctantly stayed where he was, hoping Voldemort would eventually release him. As if he heard his thoughts, the Dark Lord turned his glowing red eyes towards him and said:

'Leave us Lucius.'

Relieved, he bowed down and left the room. Voldemort sat back on his chair and turned to Snape:

'Begin'

Snape took out a little green flask and poured its content on the foe-glass which returned to its original size. He waited with his wand ready as if expecting it to attack back. However, nothing happened. He continued carefully:

'Reparo'

The spell did not have any effect; the foe-glass was still shattered.

'REPARO' he tried again.

Still nothing.

Voldemort's nostrils widened. Snape could not tell if it were out of anger or excitement. He lowered his wand and took out another small flask filled with a golden liquid.

'Moody spell-deflecting charms prevent us from using any spell on this mirror. Even after his death', Snape said calmly. 'However, the Shrinking potion worked, so another one' he poured the golden liquid onto the shattered pieces of the foe-glass 'might work too.'

He quickly reached for his wand, ready to counter any jinx activated by the liquid.The broken pieces of the glass mended themselves immediately.

After a pause, Voldemort stood up and walked closer to the mirror with interest.

'So you will show me the face of my approaching enemies.' He hissed at the foe-glass. He caressed the frame with the tip of his fingers. Rusty dust escaped from the frame, falling down on the table. Snape noticed that the frame, which was before of a chipped gold, had turned into a metallic black. 'And now, you will also show me the identity of the one who seeks to find me.'

Snape, who had remained impeccably nonplussed since his arrival, looked surprised for the first time.

'You are clever, Serverus.' Voldemort continued without noticing the surprise on his face, 'This mirror deflects wand magic but not other forms of magic. A major flaw I should correct once it does what I ask it to.' He put his wand back into his robes and held the mirror with bare hands. The room was completely silent for a moment, yet Snape could have sworn noises were coming from the foe-glass. It sounded as if all the shattered pieces were now trapped inside and were clattering to form a distant orchestral music.

'Show me' Voldemort finally said. Snape was still standing next to him, carefully placing himself for what would come next. To both his horror and relief, he saw his own reflection in the foe-glass. However, the vision could easily be mistaken for his actual reflection. Voldemort himself seemed to not have noticed and turned his attention to another shape behind them. Snape leaned in slightly. He could now see it too; a dark bird coming in the distance. It was a sort of eagle, with a crooked beak, large wings and a long feathery tail. From afar, the creature looked like –

'A phoenix' Voldemort whispered. Snape's face was shut, his surprise had disappeared. 'The Order of the Phoenix?' the Dark Lord asked aloud. 'What can I fear from a small underground organisation without a leader? That can't be… Unless… it has found a new leader. Perhaps Potter.'

'The boy's ability to understand anything beyond his own little person is quite limited. Let alone his insolent lack of self-control. I highly doubt he would be able to lead a rebellion.' Snape reassured him.

Voldemort looked pensively into the mirror, following closely the flying bird which inexplicably remained in the distance.

'Serverus, you would have first-hand information if the Order of the Phoenix came up with new plans?'

'I believe I do. Their bond is not as strong since – he wanted to say Dumbledore but chose otherwise – their leader died. Most of them don't believe in its success anymore. A few joined in for protection, but we both know that protection is not allegiance.'

'Yet Potter inspires hope.' Voldemort replied. 'I hear his name whispered.'

'Hope for a world where wizards live in hiding and Muggles can call them monsters.' Snape answered bitterly.

The Dark Lord detached his eyes from the foe-glass, now looking at the potion master with a devilish expression.

'It's time we put an end to this 'Order of the Phoenix'. As insignificant as they are, we must eradicate trouble-makers before others follow their lead.'

Snape stood still, careful not to deviate too much from the posture of his double in the foe-glass.

'The Order is already finished. Their only purpose in the past years has been to protect Potter. Now they don't even know where he is. Perhaps, for the time being, it is best to keep a close watch and wait for him to contact them. They are more useful alive than dead.'

There was a silent consent followed by a pause. Voldemort turned around; his mind was racing in search of an answer:

'A phoenix seeks me… The last born will await.' he recited in Parseltongue. The message had been about heritage, about his ancestry. Now the foe-glass was showing him a phoenix?

'It's green' Snape said after a while.

He was standing very close to the foe-glass now, but stepped aside to show his master; his double eclipsed from the foe-glass as well.

'The bird has green and silver feathers.' He resumed 'This is not a phoenix. This is an Augurey'.