Well, here it is. the end of Veneficus' first year of Hogwarts. I will sadly be unable to post any chapter after this one until I return from my 15 month mission, but I will still be available to respond to reviews and private messages for any who wish to keep in contact. Thank you all for your comments, they were very helpful and inspiring. I mean, 6000+ people reading this story in a single month. I find that to be most impressive! please continue to review admirably so that upon my return I can continue to post excellent chapter to advance this story!

Chapter Nine

Stone of the Alchemist

Severus glanced across the vacant classroom for what felt like the twentieth time, staring at the rooms only other occupant, Harry bloody Potter. The boy was calmly dissecting frog brains, dropping the various bits into brine filled jars for storage. Most students hated these kinds of detentions, but Potter seemed completely unaffected. Severus figured it was the remnants of the boy's vile father in him, allowing him to shrug off any sort of punishment without a second thought.

Severus had to admit, however, that the boy was indeed unlike what he himself had expected. A Slytherin, first off, instead of a fool hearty Gryffindor like James, and very intelligent like his mother. Even Severus was hard pressed to find any fault in Potter's work, in class or otherwise. The rest of the teachers were thinking academic genius, and loath as he was to admit it, Severus agreed. And unlike the muggle born Granger, Potter felt no need to rub his brilliance in the face of the rest of the school.

And it wasn't even just the resemblances or lack thereof to his parents, but even things that Albus had predicted that the boy would do or be had fallen far short of the truth. Albus had sounded so sure when he said that Potter would come to school friendless and desperate for acceptance. While the former was partially true, it seemed to Severus that the boy couldn't truly care less what others thought of him, especially when he seemed to control the majority of the students around him regardless of their thoughts about him as a person.

The nagging feeling that Severus should have known something about Potter returned full force, and silently the Potions Master cursed the mysterious removal of his memories. As if able to hear his thoughts, the brat looked up with a self-righteous smirk, as if he was enjoying every minute of his detention. Severus frowned; this had not been what he had intended.

Throwing caution to the wind, Severus stood and strode over to Potter work station, examining the perfectly segmented parts of frog brain, and sending a subtle probe of legilimency, Severus decided to get some answers, "You lived with your Aunt and Uncle prior to coming to Hogwarts, is that correct Mr. Potter?"

"Yes, a long time ago," Potter responded, a bored expression crossing his face as he dropped a piece in the brine.

"How long ago?" Severus queried, still testing the mental defenses of the child. They were impressive for one so young, but Severus felt, if needed, he could breach them with a little effort.

"Seven years or so now…" Potter responded, scratching the back of his head in annoyance.

"And the reason you no longer live with them?" Severus continued, curious now. Albus had only recently discovered that the Dursleys had been dead for years, and a Muggle murder investigation had found nothing as to the cause of their deaths or the identity of the person or persons responsible.

"They got sick of me and sent me to an orphanage, because I was a wizard. Not that they ever tolerated me in the first place." Potter said, anger evident in his voice. "I was never anything more than an embarrassment and a burden on them. I was glad to leave, just as I'm glad that they're dead. They deserved it."

Severus was startled by the pure rage that was buried beneath the statement. He knew from personal experience that Petunia Dursley nee Evans was a horrid woman, married beneath herself, and spawned a despicable child, as he actually read Arabella Figg's reports that Albus only glossed over. He knew somewhat about the starvation, the beatings, and everything else.

"So, you found your current guardian in the orphanage?" if anything, Potter seemed to grow angrier rather than calm down at the thought of his current guardian, "He found me," he said simply.

Severus didn't like the cold anger that filled the room when Potter spoke those words, but could not bring himself to pursue the topic, so, letting the matter drop for the time being, Severus released the boy from his detention and returned to grading essays. Not until after the boy left, did the normal amount of heat return to the dungeon classroom, remote though it was.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Line break~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Veneficus went straight for the common room after being released by Snape, bypassing Anguis as he directed his gaze on Theodore Nott. The weedy boy blanched as the Sith Lord approached, and quickly moved to the dormitory, all but abandoning the conversation he was having with Blaise Zabini, who looked rather annoyed from Nott's sudden departure. Veneficus followed, both closing and magically locking the door behind him.

"You know what I'm here for Nott…" he said without preamble, "Did you and Boot have any success with my project."

Nott swallowed hard before nodding, bent over his trunk and removed an exact duplicate of Veneficus comlink and holoprojector, except Veneficus could feel them buzzing with magic. Taking the tools from his servant, Veneficus inspected his and Terrance Boot's work, deeming it acceptable and pocketing the devices. "You both have my thanks," he said, "Now I have one other assignment for you both, to accomplish at you leisure."

Picking up a black leather bound book, he handed the tome to Nott, "I want you and Boot to read through this volume, research the contents, and also anything you both feel would help me understand curse scars and what I can expect to experience from this," he pointed to the lightning shaped cut on his brow.

"As you command… my Lord." Nott said, bowing at the waist against his will.

"Good…" Veneficus said before turning to his trunk, muttering a password in Parseltongue, the language of serpents he discovered himself gifted with a natural affinity for years ago, and recovered Darth Zeemar's Holocron. Departing quickly, and stopping only to collect his apprentice, Veneficus followed the shortest route up to the seventh floor, by means of his ingenious map he had procured from the Weasley twins. He wondered fleetingly if they had discovered it missing yet, but dismissed the idea as beneath his care as he opened the secret room.

Lord Anguis set off to continue training with his Lightsaber, and Veneficus chose an area well secluded from the main part of the room, sat cross legged on the stone floor, and activated the ancient Sith Lord's archived knowledge. It flared to life, and the gatekeeper appeared, and after recognizing Veneficus and that they were alone, lowered the hood of his robes.

"You have returned, then…" Darth Zeemar said, face tentacles twitching as the Pureblooded Sith regarded him with blood red eyes.

"I have, My Lord." Veneficus replied, "I have come for my next lesson."

Veneficus had long since proceeded past the Holocron's mandatory history lessons, passing the tests that granted access to the deeper secrets of the Dark Side. Many secrets were still barred to him, however, so he continued to play the Gate Keepers games, for the time being, until he had all the knowledge for himself.

"The next level of teaching I have for you, young apprentice, requires for you to commit an act that will garner the attention of the Force itself, something so diabolic and truly vile that you corrupt the very Force energy around you. Do this, and you will have grown strong enough to begin learning the deep secrets of the Sorcerers of the Dark Side."

Veneficus huffed, irritated that he could not learn these new techniques immediately, but realized that his task was far easier than it would normally be, given what the Holocron demanded. He had a full forest of creatures to choose from right outside the castle, and one type in particular was considered so good and pure that to slay one was the darkest act of evil. Smirking to himself, Veneficus allowed the Holocron to deactivate, stowing the palm-sized pyramid away before departing immediately. He had a few hours left before curfew, as Snape had foolishly given him detention at midday on a weekend, allowing him time afterward to do as he wished.

He only stopped to acquire his blood father's old Invisibility cloak from his trunk before stealthily exiting the castle. Using the Force to increase his mobility and speed, Veneficus dashed across the grounds, staying out of sight of most of the towers and windows, before darting into the trees on the edge of the forbidden forest.

The forest was black and silent as Veneficus moved from tree to tree, pausing to listen and sweep the immediate area with the Force for signs of life. Utilizing a trick he observed from the Jedi he killed over the vacation and was in the process of mastering, Veneficus used the Force to shroud himself from being detected; pulling it around himself like the physical cloak that hid him from physical view.

It was slow going, delving into the depths of the Dark Forest, and was several hours before the Sith Lord had any sign of his quarry. He had already seen several centaurs, a few acromantulas, and several skeletal horses he recognized as thestrals before sighting a single unicorn.

A flash of silver glinted from the moon overhead, and Veneficus saw the creature of pure light, only moments before it started galloping away. Without a second thought, and only with the Force to hide him from the denizens of the forest, Veneficus tore after it, stowing the cloak as he ran. Fast though the creature was, Veneficus slowly was gaining ground, vaulting over low bushes and ledges, ducking and twisted low hanging branches.

Finally, as he got in range, Veneficus leap the last yards, dropping his illusion in the Force and reaching out at the pure white horse. A terrified whinny was all that escaped the unicorn before the full power of the Dark Side took it, knocking it from its hooves and pinning it in place. Veneficus landed, robes billowing in the generated puff of air as he hit the ground, and strode over to the fallen unicorn.

The creature was frantic, struggling with its might to free itself from the unseen powers that held it. Veneficus stared at the bluish eyes of the unicorn, observed the sentience of the creature, and the purity there. It sickened him. Both hands flew outward, pelting the white coat with blue lightning, throwing cruel shadows on the surrounding trees. A strangle whinny of terror and pain filled the night air, but Veneficus allowed his prey its final screams, letting the power of his hatred, hatred for his first family, hatred for his Masters, hatred for his lot in life, flow through him into the pitiful creature, letting his pain become its pain.

Relenting for a moment, Veneficus spoke to the doomed unicorn, "If you and your kind are so powerful, why do you squander such power in the service of beings lesser than you?"

Receiving no answer, Veneficus frowned, before resuming the slow, agonizing death of the once proud unicorn. Finally, as the dying creature convulsed on the ground, Veneficus reached out, guided purely by the Dark Side, seized the energy left within the unicorn with the Force, and ripped it from the creature's body, long tendrils of life, magical, and residual Force energy leaping from the soon to be corpse and back into Veneficus, rejuvenating and strengthening him. As the last breath of the unicorn left the world, Veneficus felt the dynamic shift in the surrounding area. The air seemed to still, and the Sith Lord saw the very ground immediately surrounding the unicorn's body start to die, as if all life was slowly being snuffed out of the clearing.

He had done it. He, Darth Veneficus, had slain a creature of the most purest light, and in doing so, created a nexus of total darkness; a place where the Dark Side would be forever strong. Kneeling in the clearing, Veneficus opened himself to the Force fully, allowing its power to wash over and through him. He felt it, the power he had created, distinct and separate from his own, and he consumed it. Reaching out with his newfound abilities, he wrenched the darkness from the clearing, pouring it into himself, filling a vat within himself that had no bottom.

In that moment, Darth Veneficus felt completely one with the Dark Side of the Force, able to see beyond seeing. He could sense the many eyes on him, centaurs from the many clans drawn to the death of a unicorn, and another being, familiar and yet not so, a dark being, who drifted away as soon as he realized he was no longer hidden. But none of these made the Dark Lord of the Sith worry for his own safety, for he was currently beyond their power, enveloped in the very essence of the land around him, siphoning off the darkness and growing beyond himself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Line break~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Zhar awoke with a throbbing headache, in a torch lit room he did not recognize. Staggering to his feet, Zhar attempted to find an exit, only to be stopped by a ray shield surrounding his makeshift cell. So, with nothing better to do, Zhar waited, sitting on the ground and struggling to meditate until his captor arrived.

The high cackle announced the Togruta's arrival, "Is the itty bitty Jedi warm and comfy in the room I provided for him," she giggled.

'Great,' Zhar thought, 'a Sith and insane, just perfect.'

Spying his lightsaber on the Togruta's belt, and the panel that he assumed would release him from his prison; Zhar chose to pretend to ignore the ranting female, stretching out with the Force.

"Oh, is the wittal Jedi thinking of escaping from Lady Nuhok, I think not!" the Sith Lady laughed, before activating the torture settings of the cell. Zhar trembled from the volts of electricity as they shot through him, but did not cry out, which seemed to annoy Nuhok. "Aw, the Jedi doesn't want to scream. Well, that's alright, we have all the time in the world until Lord Kaan contacts the academy again, after defeating the rest of your Army of Light ha ha!"

The pain was excruciating, and grew worse every time Zhar tried to concentrate. Sinking within himself, Zhar tapped into the Dark Side, thinking the words of the Sith Code that he had read so long ago in the tombs of Korriban. Peace is a lie, there is only Passion. Through Passion I gain Strength, Through Strength I gain Power, through Power I gain Victory… the pain started to dull as his mind grew clear, and he reached, crushing the controls to the cell and ripping his saber from the woman's belt. Rising to his full height as the field lowered, he activated his blade and charged the infuriating Togruta. Orange met red as their deadly dance began.

Lady Nuhok screamed, launching into a complex series of spins, kicks and vicious swipes. Zhar was hard put to keep ahead of her weapon, swatting and stabbing at her and her blade to gain every inch of ground toward the exit of the room. Their blades caught, and suddenly it changed to a battle of strength, a contest that Zhar knew he held the advantage, the demanding physique that the Djem-So form required ensured it.

Planting his footing, Zhar heaved with all his might, forcing the Togruta's blade back towards her, reaming as unmovable and steadfast as stone. Nuhok was forced to retreat, breaking the lock and rolling, returning to her feet just inside the doorway.

"You should have known better," Zhar taunted, "than to allow me out, Togruta, and now my Sith Masters will be pleased when I defeat you."

Lady Nuhok widened her eyes in shock, and that was exactly the moment that Zhar struck, landing several large arching blows meant to cleave through defenses and flesh. But the infuriating Sith shifted to the defense, parrying and dodging every attack as she switched to the flowing barrier of Soresu. Zhar hated fighting the pure defensive form. Having no obvious choice in the matter, he pressed the attack, feinting and stabbing, slashing and kicking, driving the Togruta before him, but not one attack made contact with her skin.

She was losing what remained of her mind, muttering and growling to herself. Zhar was surprised to see that his one comment had shaken her far more than he had intended. "No… this cannot be, Kaan wouldn't try to kill me, he cares, he respected me… that's why I was given this academy, I was trusted! But if then, why not, the old fool would want my power… he won't have it I tell you! I'll kill you, take your ship and hunt Kaan down myself! Then I will run the Brotherhood of Darkness, the Jedi be damned!"

"You're mad woman!" Zhar yelled at over, side stepping a counter attack that would have cut him cleanly in two, "Kaan and his brotherhood have been dead for nearly a century. Your masters are no more, and the Sith have move on."

She froze, seemingly unable to compute the information. "No…" she said softly, "That cannot be, you're lying to me. You are Jedi, you can't be telling me the truth. Yet, no new students for so long… No word… No anything… and you… you're no Jedi… you are Sith…"

Zhar knew she was defeated the minute she recognized him as an ally. Deactivating his weapon, he stored it away and waited. The madwoman was still piecing the puzzle together, looking at Zhar with a mixture of confusion and admiration.

"If what you say is true, human, then why haven't the Sith come sooner?" she asked at last.

"That," Zhar replied, now breathing heavily from their duel, "Is a very long story…"

"Well I, Dark Lady Ocraadi Nuhok of the Dathomir Academy, have all the time in the Galaxy to hear it young Sith…" she said, an eerie smile on her face.

Zhar felt it might have been better to simply kill her as he began to retell the current events of the Galaxy…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Line break~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Padawan Septin watched as Master Ta-Ras-Min steered their Skyspirit Courier ship away from the planet Zygerria. Personally, Septin couldn't have been gladder to leave the slaver world, after the ordeal that he and his master had had to get the information they had come for and leave safely.

The first part of their mission had been simple, just asking around at different spaceports and cantinas until one barman had mentioned someone fitting Quelmok's description leaving his cantina with a female Twi'lek several weeks ago. Unfortunately, in their following of the trail the two had taken, Septin had run afoul of a pair of Zygerrian Slavers, who felt that a Jedi Slave would be the perfect gift for a local noble.

They had taken Septin, drugging him with a toxic dart, and Master Ta-Ras-Min had had to scour the planet for him, finally ending in a violent confrontation with the noble and his bodyguards; now they had finally escaped, and Septin never wished to set foot on Zygerria as long as he lived.

At least they had found the tracking number of the ship that Quelmok had left the planet on, and were, with the help of the scattered Republic security fleets, able to scour numerous parts of the Galaxy for the ship at once.

Currently, they were making their way toward the Telos system, in preparation to take the Hydian Way hyperspace route back to the core worlds. Septin was currently practicing with a pair of remotes, defecting blaster bolts around the room with his green lightsaber. Across the empty passenger area, Master Ta-Ras-Min was meditating, floating almost two feet from the deck.

Taking a moment to watch his Master, Septin frowned slightly at the aloofness he felt from her towards him, as if the Cerean didn't want to risk the emotional attachment of actually training her Padawan, should she lose him as she lost Zhar Quelmok. Septin was rewarded for his momentary lapse in concentration with a stun bolt in the leg, shocking him badly and numbing his entire limb so that he fell to the deck.

"You lack focus, Padawan," Ta-Ras-Min said calmly, not even breaking from her meditation.

Septin didn't respond from the rebuke, slightly annoyed that his Master could be so apathetic regarding him. 'Maybe that's why Quelmok left in the first place…' he thought bitterly.

"Your thoughts betray you," Master Min continued, "Quelmok left the order not because of anything but his own greed and lust for secrets better left alone. Remember the Jedi Code my Padawan, There is no Emotion…"

"There is Peace," Septin finished, signing inwardly and rising back to his feet. His leg ached slightly, and he pulled the remote to him to shut it off. Just then, the communications console chimed, and a Republic Naval officer appeared. Master Min ceased her meditations and went to the holoprojector. "Master Jedi," the officer said, "our outer rim patrol fleets have reported the discovery of the ship with the same registration code that you posted us to watch for."

"Good work lieutenant," Master Min responded, "What system was the ship found in?"

"The Dathomir System, Master Jedi." The officer responded, and Master Min nodded sadly.

"I see, thank you for all your work for the Galaxy, Master Ta-Ras-Min out." And with that the Cerean shut off the comm. unit.

"Master?" Septin asked, worried slightly. He did not like the look on his Master's face.

"We are going to Dathomir." She replied, "A world heavy in the Dark Side. I feared that Zhar would take this path. If we continue on our current course, we will pass right by the system, and it would be a short detour before returning to the Temple to inform the council in person of our mission's success…"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Line break~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lord Voldemort could sense the nearness of the Sorcerer's Stone. He and Quirrell had waiting until the near end of the school year to attempt to remove it, especially with that Beast of Rubeus' guarding the first room. Once they discovered the means of passing it, Voldemort was angry with not only Quirrell, but also himself for not recognizing the simplicity of the challenge.

After the Cerberus, bypassing the remainder of the guardians was child's play. Now, the only thing standing in his way to immortality and the return of his body was a tall mirror, gilded in gold. Foolish Quirrell had no idea how the mirror worked, and Voldemort wouldn't admit that Dumbledore had him stumped for the moment, but it would not matter. The old fool was on his way to London, under a false message from the Ministry, and wouldn't be back for hours. He had all the time in the world to figure out this final test and claim his prize.

He was pulled from his thoughts, however, but a cold voice coming from the only entrance to this chamber. "Well, I was wondering if we would encounter each other before I claimed the stone for myself.

Quirrell whirled around, and Voldemort watched from the reflecting in the mirror, as Harry Potter, the foolish 'savior' of the wizarding world, entered the torchlight. "As did I, Mr. Potter, I knew you would be a troublesome thorn in my side in the end, despite my attempts to dispose of you."

"The Troll, and the Bludger, as well as stalking around in the forest…" Potter said dryly, examining his hand as he spoke, as if Quirrell was beneath him.

"Very good Potter, yes, but those attempts were unsuccessful, but no matter, no matter. I will deal with you after I've had a chance to examine this interesting mirror." Voldemort felt the world move again as Quirrell turned his back on the boy. "You Fool!" Voldemort warned, but too late.

Blue-white lightning launched into Quirrell's back, crackling and sparking in the dimly lit room. "Oh, I'm sorry," Potter said snidely, even as more electricity poured from his extended fingertips, "but am I breaking your concentration?!"

Voldemort was stunned, and even as he felt pain from his host, the very sight before him dulled him to it. Able to see perfectly through the inside of the turban that the foolish Quirrell insisted on wearing, the Dark Lord had a perfect view of the boy's face, filled with hatred and his eyes glowing a vibrant gold-orange.

Quirrell fell to his knees, and only then did Potter end the spell he was casting, "A little rest? Perhaps for you Quirrell, but the rest I shall grant you shall be permanent…"

"M-Master…" Quirrell moaned, "Help me!"

Voldemort chose this moment to finally announce himself. "Let me speak to him…"

Quirrell didn't hesitate, unwrapping the purple cloth from around his head until Voldemort was revealed fully to the misguided Potter.

"Harry Potter…" he said, "We meet again…"

"My, my, if it isn't the great 'Lord' Voldemort, back from the dead." The insolent boy taunted.

"Don't be a fool, boy," Voldemort chided, "You have talent, and great power. Join me, and we will do extraordinary things… but first you will help me get the Stone…"

Potter approached, seeming to be weighing his options, until he was next to Quirrell, looking at the mirror. A smile broke the boy's face, and then he laughed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Line break~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Veneficus laughed, his high voice ringing around the room. His reflection in the enchanted mirror smirked back, pulling a blood red stone from his pocket to reflect the torchlight, and finally replacing it. Veneficus felt the weight pass from the mirror to his own real pocket. He hadn't even really wanted to use the Stone yet, just acquire it to prevent Voldemort and prepare his future.

"What is it, what do you see?" Quirrell said hurriedly, thinking that Veneficus was even considering an alliance with him or his decrepit master. In one quick movement, Veneficus twisted, the blue blade of his Lightsaber activating as he spun, impaling the foolish Defense Professor in the chest. With a gasp, Quirrell died, surprise and pain etched on his face as he fell, stone dead.

"I ally with no one. The Dark Side is my only Master, fool." Veneficus said to the corpse, before turning back to the mirror. Now that he had the stone, the mirror was tantalizing him with visions of the glory of his own Sith Empire, reborn from the ashes of the Republic. Rolling his eyes at the illusion, Veneficus took from an inside pocket the fake stone he had created from a piece of parchment, throwing it down hard onto the stone floor. The crystallized stone shattered into thousands of pieces, spreading over the floor and around Quirrell's fallen body.

"Nooooooooooooo!" an unearthly shriek filled the room, and Veneficus spun just in time to see a ghostly face slam right through his body, leeching energy from him and causing an unexpected blackness to surround him. The Sith's last thought is how disappointed his Master would be if he knew how badly Veneficus had allowed his triumph to blind him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~line break~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Albus smiled down at young Harry Potter as the boy stirred from sleep. The boy had been unconscious in the Hospital Wing for nearly three days, no doubt drained from his fight with Quirrell over the Stone. Albus smiled as he thought of the scene he had encountered as he arrived in the room that had housed the Mirror of Erised; Quirrell dead and reduced to ashes from the removal of Voldemort's spirit from him, and Harry, unconscious but clinging to life, amid the shattered remains of the Stone. The loss of Nicholas and his wife was sad, yes, but necessary to prevent Voldemort from an easy and quick return to the physical world. 'All for the greater good, as Gellert would have said,' Albus thought, just as Harry's eyes finally opened.

"Good afternoon, Harry," Albus said as the boy stared at him.

"How long have I been here," he asked immediately, looking around the Infirmary. Albus frowned at the abruptness, and rather rude method that the boy was communicating with him, but decided to ignore it for now. "Nearly three days. Mr. Malfoy and several of your other classmates have been around to check on you rather often. They have been extremely worried."

Harry huffed in mild annoyance, causing Albus to furrow his brow in worry. It as if… No it couldn't be, but it seemed that Harry didn't even care about his own friends. Albus blinked, ridding himself of the undesirable thought. Slytherin thought Harry may be, he must have at least had loyalty to friends.

"Is there a reason your actually here Headmaster?" Harry asked suddenly, catching Albus off guard.

"Well, I was just concerned about your welfare, Harry," Albus backtracking, "And, given what you must have gone through, to answer any questions you might have…"

"In that case," Harry said, and Albus could sense the repressed irritation, "I really don't have any questions, or any wish to discuss what happened down the third floor. I'd really rather put it behind me, don't you agree Headmaster?"

"Well, Harry…" Albus said, disappointed at the lack of respect the boy gave to him, "I will bid you a good day then, and hope that I see you at the feast tomorrow."

"We'll see…" Harry said as Albus crossed the Infirmary and exited with a quick look back, Albus nearly faltered. Harry was glaring, and the vibrant green had left his eyes, transformed into the bright orange of someone infested with dark magic.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Line break~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Veneficus was ready to leave Hogwarts by the time the farewell feast had begun, and suffered through Dumbledore's final speech before digging into the grand amount of food that was prepared by the Hogwarts elves. He had returned just before the feast, and was looking as pleased as ever, though he did not share with his apprentice why he was in the third floor corridor in the first place, let alone what made him so pleased about it.

Slytherin won the house cup, continuing their long chain of victories. But Veneficus' mind was elsewhere. He was avidly awaiting the return to Blackmoore Manor, constructing the Lightsaber he had finally decided upon, and getting back into full swing of his training for the day he would take upon himself the mantle of Sith Master. Hopefully Darth Millennial would take him out into the wider Galaxy again; he had always enjoyed getting away from his sorely underdeveloped home world.

As Dumbledore sat, Veneficus caught the old man gazing at him over his goblet, and the blue eyes sparkled. Suddenly, without any hint of warning, Veneficus felt a foreign presence trying to pry into his mind. His rudimentary skills in the wizard art of Occlumency were no match for Dumbledore's attack, so Veneficus was left with no choice but to retaliate with the Force. Reaching out swiftly, he clenched his hand under the table. Up at the Staff table, the great Albus Dumbledore began to choke. Gasping madly, the old man broke off his metal invasion and grasped at his throat. On either side, teachers were getting up hurrying to help the aged fool. Snape pointed his wand, obviously thinking that the Headmaster was suffering under natural causes, and Veneficus released the blasted wizard, not wanting to cause a panic by strangling the man to death in front of so many witnesses.

Unfortunately, with his airway clear, the old man was looking unusually pale and stern for the situation, and Veneficus feared the worst. The old man was on to him as of this moment. Looking away, Veneficus went back to his meal, and after the feast was almost the first of the Slytherins back to the common room.

No one came that evening to stop him from leaving, so Veneficus was able to depart on the train with all the other students, sitting quietly as the rest of the first year Slytherins around him chatted, and Anguis looked at him with a more puzzled glance now and then. Veneficus was pleased with the boy's progress over the year. Draco Malfoy, now Lord Anguis had changed from a witless child, unaware of the greater world around him, into a fledgling Sith, his mind and body being toned and warped by both the Dark Side and Veneficus' influence.

Where once the boy may have grown to be a spoiled uncaring brat, he was now cold, ruthless, and willing to do whatever was needed for what he wanted. Of course, he had not had the training that Veneficus himself had had, but given the circumstance, Veneficus was sure he would do nearly anything for his master at this point, aside from the fact that to disobey would kill him.

They arrived in London with little incident. Ever the fool, Ronald Weasley had chosen to slam into Veneficus on the way off the train, and the Sith Lord had taken the opportunity to trip the red headed child, sending him face first onto the hard stone of the platform. Laughing with the crowd of Slytherins, Veneficus took his leave, nodding to Lucius Malfoy as his apprentice left his side, and joined with Neophyte Kelrek outside in the muggle side of the station.

Apparently the Neophytes had been busy in their Master's service, as Kelrek pulled the keys to a muggle automobile out of his pocket as they departed, pulling the transport out and driving back to the manor with the greatest ease.