So, once again trying the poll thing, this time with a more accurate, and wider, array of choices. Please feel free to go vote on this one, top two stories will be the next two I work on, (Sorry to those who wanted only PotDS, but I'm incapable of thinking only about one story at a time, better to plan out a second to bounce between rather than have half a million be spawned in the midst of working on the single...)As always, R&R, and enjoy!
Chapter Forty
Threats Unveiled
As Veneficus guessed, Lord Millennial wasn't fully intending on keeping the secret about the young man they had encountered after the World Cup from him. Merely Anguis was to be kept in the dark about that information.
The young man, Barty Crouch Jr. was a servant of the false lord Voldemort, one that Millennial somehow had encountered and warped Crouch's mind further so that he would obey the Sith over even his old master. Millennial taught Veneficus the key signs that he would need to fully trigger the man's memory of encountering Millennial, and then Crouch would hopefully spill any secret he had been told up to that point. From there it was up to Veneficus on how to deal with information.
The remainder of the summer was comprised of solidifying paperwork for Anguis' transfer of guardianship and inheritances, a massive amount of training, wherein Veneficus honed his skills with combining his saber into a dual bladed staff, as well as many new dark curses from the Ork disguised as his deceased godfather.
Before Veneficus really felt that he had managed to accomplish enough, it was the end of August, and the return again to Hogwarts was deadly close. It was an interesting difference this time as the Sith Lord loaded his trunk into the train once again and settled with Anguis in a compartment. At first he had been more than eager to go and experience new adventures away from his Master. But now, now it was more of a dead weight to return once again to this place. There was little left that these wizards could teach him that he wouldn't be able to learn on his own faster and more practically.
If anything, the only reason that he had chosen to return at all was because of the visions he had been increasingly plagued with. Flashes of the halls of Hogwarts, of Dumbledore, Snape, Hermione and others would swim through his mind, always ended with the grim cemetery in Little Hangleton. Somehow, Veneficus just knew that he couldn't leave this world for good until the riddle of his visions was solved, and the likely connection to both Voldemort and Dumbledore was eliminated.
It didn't take long for the train to finally depart, and Nott, Boot, Colin and Hermione to find them. Sealing the compartment after the last student entered, the two purebloods immediately offered their condolences to Anguis for his parent's deaths. Naturally, the two muggleborns had no idea of what had happened, so the majority of the train ride was taken in filling the pair of them in to the supposed tragedy.
For his part, Anguis played the role of the struggling orphan well, and that distracted a great deal of attention from Veneficus. He was not addressed until they arrived in the Hogsmeade station, when Nott caught up to him as they approached the carriages. The weedy boy managed to control his stuttering and fear this time, "Are you aware of what is happening this year?"
Veneficus cocked an eyebrow, "What's planned?"
Before the boy could answer however, a free carriage pulled up, and they had to climb inside with Anguis and Creevey for the trip over to the castle. Nott shot several desperate looks at Veneficus, but seemed unwilling to voice his information with the others present. This was somewhat of a nuisance, but the Sith Lord had put up with worse.
Glancing at the others, Veneficus noted immediately that Colin Creevey was in a particularly dark mood. Naturally the boy must have had a rough time with his muggle father who took his talents for granted, much as the Dursleys had Veneficus'. Hanging back from the others as the carriages deposited them out front of the castle, he caught the smaller boy by the arm and sidestepped the crowding students as the flooded into the castle.
"Something on your mind Colin?" he asked, dipping into the role of the charismatic mentor perfectly.
The boy sighed, glanced back at the castle entrance, "I suppose you would have noticed," he said moodily, which caught Veneficus slightly at the bluntness of the normally falsely cheery boy. "My brother is starting Hogwarts this year…"
"Ah," Veneficus said, understanding immediately. The seeming rivalry between the Creevey brothers was quite large, with the elder Colin being pushed into the background as their father doted on the younger Dennis. It would be most interesting to see the brother interact during the year, and the impact it may have to Veneficus' plan for the boy had potential, but he would have to wait and see how it played out.
"Well, don't worry kid," the Sith replied, feigning compassion, "just worry about being your best, and leave your brother to his own devices."
"Yeah… you're right," Colin said, cheered slightly, "you always have the right thing to say Harry!"
The Lord of the Sith just smirked as they both rejoined the throngs pressing into the Great Hall and took their seats alongside Anguis and Nott.
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Luna gratefully helped herself to the ample amounts of pudding that the Hogwarts elves had prepared. The little creatures were always so polite to her when she stopped by to give them gifts the previous two years, which in return seemed to cause them to make the deserts all the more satisfying.
Looking around at her fellow Gryffindors, Luna spotted a somewhat familiar face down among the first years. Dennis Creevey his name was, and it was clear that the young boy was related to the darker Colin that sat near the Darkness at the Slytherin table.
Unbidden, she glanced toward the monster in question, almost unable to control her curiosity regarding his location. To her surprise, the Darkness was staring directly at her with cold dead eyes. The voice, silky smooth if not for the horrid grating evil behind it spoke in her mind, 'And just what do you think you're doing?'
Luna shuddered, unable to stop the voice from entering her mind, 'I see your mind, the vain attempts to discredit me, the future that you think you're speeding toward. It will not happen, surrender yourself to what must be. Power is waiting; will you bend your neck and embrace what there is to offer?"
The temptation was palpable, to just give in, allow the Darkness to corrupt her, and in doing so gain… what; wealth, power, some other unimaginative goal?
Steeling herself, Luna pushed out mentally, attempting to remove the vile presence from her mind, but in vain. 'So, you have chosen, then…' the voice taunted, before leaving of its own volition.
Before Luna could really wrap her mind around what just happened, Headmaster Dumbledore stood for his start of term speech, and I would have been quite rude to interrupt him even in only her mind.
"So, now that we are all fed and watered, I must once again ask for your attention while I give out a few notices."
There was the ever present demand of the caretaker, Mr. Filch, regarding forbidden items and other things that the old man was tired of having to clean up after. Following that was the also yearly reminder of the forest being out of bounds, as well as quite dangerous.
"It is also my painful duty," Dumbledore continued, "to inform you that the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not take place this year."
The outrage among the students was certainly felt, even if they had all been struck speechless at the announcement. The Headmaster quickly pressed on, "This is due to an event that will be starting in October, and continuing throughout the school year, taking up much of the teachers' time and energy, but I am sure you will all enjoy it immensely. I have the great pleasure in announcing that this year at Hogwarts…"
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Severus nearly jumped with everyone else in the hall as the great double doors banged open. For the Potions Master, there was no need for introductions as the man stomped up the aisle toward the head table, shaking the rainwater out of his long mane of hair.
Alastor Moody quickly made his way up to Dumbledore, probably to offer his reasons for being so late before taking his seat on the far side from Severus. Personally he was most grateful for that small mercy.
"May I introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Moody!" the Headmaster announced, but none of the students stirred from their seemingly mesmerized states at the dramatic entrance.
As Dumbledore continued with his announcing of the Tri-wizard Tournament, Severus watched the old grizzled Auror for a few moments. While seemingly intently focused on the sausages on his plate, the man's electric blue magical eye was spinning in all directions, watching the students and staff equally, although it seemed to favor the Slytherin table a bit more than most.
When Albus finished his speech, and dismissed the students, he immediately turned and sat next to Moody, speaking in low tones to the man. While Severus would have joined them to know what the Headmaster was planning, not only did he have Head of House duties to attend to, but Moody frankly unnerved him. The man was a paranoid wreck, jumping at shadows and seeing enemies everywhere.
Making his way swiftly to the Slytherin common room, Severus pondered the reason for the man's presence that he had guessed so long ago: Harry bloody Potter. The boy was quickly becoming something of an obsession for the Headmaster, and Severus was starting to worry about how healthy the fixation was.
Even still, there was most certainly something terribly wrong about the boy, even if neither Severus nor Albus could have uncovered. Moody's knack for discovered things that were hidden probably was their best bet for figuring out what in Merlin's name was up with the boy and his frightening guardian.
Thinking about it as he entered the common room, Severus couldn't really place who disturbed him more, Moody or Blackmoore. All the Slytherin students were already gathered on the soft armchairs and couches, waiting for the Head of House to offer a few more important notices.
"I need not stress any further about the Tournament, I presume," Severus started as he turned to face them while standing in front of the fireplace, "None aside from those at least the age of seventeen will be allowed, the Tournament is dangerous, even with all the safety measures that the Ministry had placed, and I will be most displeased to find if any of you attempt to go against this warning."
As he spoke, Severus' eyes instinctively found themselves drawn to Potter. The boy was almost aloof this time around, and that if anything bother Severus all the more than the eerie child's usual behavior. It seemed too out of place, and with a strange sense of foreboding Severus felt that something immensely bad was going to happen.
This irked Severus all the more. He didn't get 'bad feelings' normally, even when around the Dark Lord, and if this boy could work his way under Severus' skin so easily, then what on earth was happening to him?
Severus could not have been more grateful when he finally was in his own quarters that evening.
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Zhar was very pleased with the amount of progress that had been made on Korriban. The Academy was well on its way back to full functionality, simply awaiting bodies to fill its halls and rooms. Soon the disciples of the Dark Side would return in force, and the world would return to its former glory.
In the meanwhile, Zhar had received word from Dromund Kaas. He was being called away again, with this objective deemed a success, to be assigned a new mission. Rather than have him report in the Dark Force temple and risk coming across Septin far sooner than anyone would want him to, Dass'in transmitted his orders directly.
Now Zhar was flying through hyperspace toward his destination, the Tund System, to recruit the Force Sorcerers there into rejoining the newly fashioned Sith Empire, at any cost. The collected lore that they had kept through the ages would prove invaluable for the training of great numbers of Acolytes, furthering the goal of reestablishing the vast numbers of Force wielders that the Sith once had at their command.
There wasn't much recorded about the planet, as the Jedi had been content to keep the Galaxy ignorant of the many other Force-based orders in the Galaxy, which worked out well since the Sorcerers lacked any form of space travel.
Nevertheless, the Sith still had records of when the planet had been dominated by empires long since passed, so Zhar had a fairly good understanding of where the Sorcerers may have set up their main settlement.
The Supreme Prophet seemed confident in Zhar's abilities, yet he still warned him that the Sorcerers of Tund were extremely wary of outsiders, and valued people's blood connection to the old Sith species over even ability. Boiling it down, Zhar had his work cut out for him if he wanted to achieve this diplomatically.
It did strongly remind Zhar about the wizards from the backwater planet that Lord Millennial had holed himself up in with the man's apprentice. They seemed nearby obsessed with what they determined was 'purity of blood,' far beyond the individual's strength. It seemed a fatal philosophical flaw, and completely against the concept of the Sith. Strength and power, while strongly passed through blood, was not the end all of determining the value or potential of an individual. There were far more attributes that determined whether one was useful or not.
Regardless, it was Zhar's charge to journey to the world and convince the wayward sorcerers of their folly and offer, once more, their return to the Galaxy and the fold of the Sith.
The Force seemed to sing as Zhar exited the tunnel of Hyperspace over the surprisingly lush and green world. The Force was strong on this world, much like the others that Zhar had recently been on, with a major difference. It was by nature extremely difficult to cultivate any plant life on a world that was heavy with the Dark Side, the prime examples being Ziost and Korriban. And even then there were a great many places that had high concentrations of raw Force energy, even Dark Side energies, like Dromund Kaas, which could still support a massive amount of plant life. Zhar had a few theories regarding the confines of the energy and its limits versus planets that lived off the Dark Side.
But those thoughts were for another time, as the main difference here was that Tund was not a world full of the Dark Side. It brimmed with sickening Light sided energy. There may have been pockets of Darkness here and there, but Zhar wouldn't be able to sense it through the overpowering Light.
Zhar momentarily wondered how decedents of the Sith Species, who had long worshipped the Dark Side could have come to live on such a world, but he couldn't dwell on that mystery as yet, because first he had to actually land on the surface first, and that included skirting a Republic watch post that was set in orbit over the planet, complete with Jedi specifically trained in sensing out the Dark Side and crushing it, much like his old nemesis Ferros Oduro.
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Anguis didn't know what to make of "Mad Eye" Moody. On the first hand, the man was close to Dumbledore. The Darksider recalled vividly several monologues from his father that had included a staggering critique about the man's many quirks and paranoia.
And yet the man was a force to be reckoned with. Anguis had keenly noted that the man had kept the magical eye fixated on Veneficus throughout the sorting feast, which probably didn't bode well for the Sith Lord.
The schedule for the opening term of the year seemed fairly straightforward, with Charms, Care of Magical Creatures, followed by Transfiguration. A surprisingly easy morning, yet Anguis saw that no mirth displayed itself on his master's face. Veneficus had kept very much to himself since summer, not necessarily avoiding Anguis, but just lost in his own ponderings more than often than not.
Now was one of those times, as the Sith Lord idly played with a bowl of food and gazed at his own schedule with little emotion. "My Lord?" Anguish muttered, nudging the other boy's arm slightly.
The Dark Lord seemed to slowly stir from his thoughts, swiftly glancing at and then away from Anguis, waving him off with a simple "It's nothing."
"If you say so," Anguis replied, unconvinced. Secrecy was something that he had grown used to from Veneficus, and while he chose to not trust him any further than arm's reach, the Sith was now not only the only means for him to leave this world that Anguis so despised, but were also directly in charge of his life for the next several years at least.
Charms was a breeze, little more than a review of the previous year's spells, which both Force users had mastered, and performed with little effort when asked to do so. Care of Magical Creatures turned out to be far more strenuous, with the combination of horrid beasts called Blast-Ended Skrewts, something that Anguis was positive that the oaf Hagrid had created himself, as well as the mild annoyance that were the Gryffindors.
Chief of these was once again Ron Weasley. The vulgar and low class boy was back to his old stunts, trying to propose that Veneficus was evil and dark for the simple reasons of being in the House of Slytherin. It was amusing to see that the boy continued to be correct for all the wrong reasons, yet frustrating at the amounts of students that were willing to listen to his ranting.
Thankfully, the dangers of the lesson were great enough to occupy even Weasley, as they all carefully attempted to feed the monsters many different things while trying not to be attacked in return. The Skrewts' aggression would flicker at a moment's notice, and the stingers, suckers and exploding fiery ends were deterrent enough against any form of laxness while around them.
Thankfully the class was over soon. Apparently Weasley had some axe to grind because of the recent Rita Skeeter article in The Daily Prophet that had particularly blasted his parents. Normally Anguis wouldn't be prone to caring, except that the idiotic red head had decided to place all blame upon him and Veneficus, which quite made it his business. But it was neither the time nor place to make any sort of move against the boy, no matter how much Anguis would have enjoyed watching Weasley strangled in the air as the Darksider channeled his rage through him.
Instead, the pair of Force users endured the tirade of stupidity in silence, Anguis growing angrier that not even the Professors would do anything to stop it, but inwardly knowing that if he reacted in any way, McGonagall would swoop like a bird of prey in a heartbeat. As they passed by the Great Hall on their way up to experience Moody's first class, Anguis resolved that he would be placing a significant amount of time in his lightsaber technique, for his sanity and the safety of those around him at the least.
Most of the Slytherins took the opportunity to return to the dungeon common room and change from their outdoor robes and freshen up. The two Darksiders were more than able to control their body temperature, and thus had not been caked in sweat and grime.
Consequently they were therefore the first to arrive at the Defense classroom, and took seats neither too close to the front, nor too far back, far easier to blend in to the crowd that way. Apparently the rest of the Slytherins were excited for the lesson, as they arrived early as well, filling in the seats before Moody even made his appearance.
"You can put those away," the man growled as he stamped over to his desk and sat, "those books. You won't need them."
There was a general shuffle as students all around Anguis stowed away their books, returning their excited gazes to the battle hardened Auror.
For his part, Moody pulled out the roll and began calling names. The magical eye swiveled to look at each person as they answered. Anguis did notice that it lingered for a slightly longer time on Veneficus when he was called, but otherwise Moody did not react.
"Right then," he said as he set the roll list aside, "I've received a letter from Professor Lupin about your year. Seems you've all had a pretty thorough grounding set in tackling Dark creatures. Boggarts, Red Caps, hinkypunks, grindylows, Kappas and werewolves, correct?"
The surrounding students nodded their assent. Even in Slytherin, Professor Lupin had been general well liked and accepted, but Anguis wasn't sure how that legacy would be felt if they knew that the man was a werewolf himself. Veneficus had visited the man over the summer, down in the makeshift prison before Blackmoore Manor. Anguis had known far better than to ask for explanations as to his presence, although he had received no knowledge regarding the man.
"But you're behind, very behind, on dealing with curses," Moody continued. "So, I'm here to bring you up to scratch on what wizards can do to each other. I've got one year to teach you how to deal with Dark curses, including recognizing, and some countercurses where appropriate."
None of the Slytherins questioned why Professor Moody was so certain that he would remain only for one year. "So, straight to it then," the scarred Auror said, clapping his hands in amusement, "Curses. They come in many strengths and forms. Now, according to the Ministry I'm only approved to teach you lot countercurses and leave it at that. I'm not allowed to show you what illegal Dark curses look like until you're in sixth year at minimum, but Professor Dumbledore agrees with me that you lot can cope with it. Has a very high opinion of your nerve, Dumbledore does."
Veneficus shifted slightly at the mention of Dumbledore, and Moody continued speaking and Anguis kept focused on the Professor, "I say, the sooner you know what you're up against, the better. How are you to be expected to defend against something you've never seen before? A wizard about to use an illegal curse on you isn't about to tell you what he's about to do. You need to be prepared. CONSTANT VIGILENCE!" he suddenly roared, causing all those without Force enhanced senses to jump in their seats.
"So, to business," Moody said after the shock had worn off, "do any of you know which curses are most heavily punished by wizarding law?"
Most of the Slytherins in the room certainly did, and many raised their hands. Moody pointed at Anguis directly, and the Darksider cleared his throat of a dryness he hadn't realized was there. "The Imperius Curse," he declared coolly.
"Ah, yes," Moody said appreciatively, "You're late father would have known quite a bit about that one Mr. Malfoy; gave the Ministry a great deal of trouble at one time, the Imperius Curse."
Anguis ignored the slight against his Death Eater father. It was completely true that the man had feigned enchantment so that he could continue to operate for Voldemort after the dark lord's fall.
Moody had gotten to his feet, withdrawing a glass jar from his desk drawer. There were three large black spiders scuttling around inside. "Loads of these creeping around the castle, and they'll be perfect test subjects so that you all can see the curses in action and what to avoid." Moody explained as he reached in and pulled one out of the jar.
Holding the insect in the palm of his hand, Moody pointed his wand at it, "Imperio."
The reaction was instant. The spider leapt from Moody's hand and began doing acrobatics along a thin strand of silk like a trapeze artist. Its legs stretched out in abnormal directions, and the creature did a full back flip, snapping the thread and landing on Moody's desk, where it began to cartwheel in circles. All the students were laughing, except for Anguis and Veneficus, who realized the maddening amount of power contained in such control.
Moody wasn't laughing either, "Think it's funny do you?" he growled at the other Slytherins. "You'd like it, would you, if I did it to you?"
The children's laughter died instantly.
"Total control," Moody explained quietly as he released the spell on the spider, which immediately curled into a ball and lay there, quivering. As Moody explained the massive trouble the Ministry had with that particular curse during the last war, Anguis glanced at Veneficus.
The Sith Lord was smiling faintly, watching Moody with an intent that was more than just his typical façade. Just what was going on inside that twisted mind? Anguis was sure that he didn't want to know in the slightest. What extend would the Imperius Curse have over a Force user? That was indeed a frightening thought.
"Anyone else know one?" Moody barked, tossing the spider back in the jar with its fellows, "Another illegal curse?"
Few hands than before rose into the air, and Moody's magical eye fixated on Nott. "Yes?" he said.
"The… the Cruciatus Curse," Nott said, his eyes momentarily darting to Veneficus. Moody noticed and Anguis felt himself tense as he perceived recognition cross the man's normal eye.
"The Cruciatus Curse," Moody repeated slowly, turning back to his jar of spiders. "You'll need a bit bigger one for you to get the idea," he added as he drew one out, and cast the engorgement charm on it, causing it to swell to twice its normal size. Placing the spider on the desk, Moody pointed his wand again, "Crucio."
the spider's legs bent in on the body, and the whole melon sized thing rolled over and began twitching violently on the desk. If it had a voice, Anguis presumed that it would be screaming. Moody held the spider that way for several moments, until the room was deathly silent. When he did finally relent, shrunk and replaced the spider, one could hear the surrounding students breathing.
"Pain," Moody said flatly, "You don't need tools or weapons to torture someone if you know the Cruciatus Curse… that one was very popular once too."
There were a few more moments of paramount silence. Changing another glance at Veneficus, Anguis could see the appreciation for the display behind the ice cold expression that the Sith was so fond of using.
"Right…" Moody said, breaking the silence, "anyone know any others?"
Veneficus was the only one to raise his hand. The others looked at him with a small amount of fear, but Anguis knew that it was more due to what they had just seen rather than any fear of the Dark Lord of the Sith hidden in plain sight. Moody walked right up to Veneficus' desk, and looked down at him, "Yes?" he asked slowly.
"Avada Kedavera…" Veneficus stated, causing many of the surrounding children to wince and glance around uneasily, as though evil creatures would be summoned by merely mentioning the curse.
"Ah," Moody said, a slight smile crossing his lopsided lips. "Yes, the last and worst… Avada Kedavera… the Killing Curse."
He turned and placed his hand inside the jar once more. As though sensing its fate, the third spider scuttled frantically around the bottom of the jar as it tried to escape. Moody trapped it quickly, and placed the spider on the desk, where it started scuttling across the wooden surface as fast as it could.
Moody raised his wand, and Anguis felt a chill slide down his spine. "Avada Kedavera," Moody declared. There was a flash of blinding green light and a rushing sound, as though something vast and invisible was soaring through the air. The spider rolled over as the light connected, completely unmarked, but unmistakably dead. Several of the children stifled cries of fright.
Veneficus' eyes seemed to gleam as the curse had flashed by, and Anguis could see for an instant the lust to learn this curse in them.
Moody swept the spider off the desk and onto the floor.
"Not nice," he said calmly, "Not pleasant, and there no countercurse, nor blocking it. Only one person has ever survived it, and he's sitting in this room."
Many of the students turned to stare at Veneficus, but the Sith Lord remained cool and collected as he watched Moody's every move. Anguis could only guess what devious thoughts were rampaging through the Sith's mind at this point. If anyone could make excellent use of those three curses, it would be Lord Veneficus. And yet, even Anguis didn't want to be around when that level of power was unleashed on the Galaxy.
The rest of the lesson was a terrible blur, in which Anguis knew he took notes about all three curses, the means of avoiding them, and their future lesson where they would be tested on how well they could fight the Imperius Curse.
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Veneficus was hard pressed to keep a wild grin from spreading across his face. The curses they had just been shown were brilliant, and once he learned to use them would become powerful additions to his arsenal, but that was not all. Moody himself was strongly familiar in the Force to Veneficus. Anguis had not noticed, because he hadn't been told to be on the alert for the presence Millennial had showed them in the forest outside the World Cup stadium.
Barty Crouch Jr. was disguised as Alastor Moody.
As the class filed out to attend lunch, Veneficus lingered. Waving Anguis away as the boy looked concernedly back at him, the Sith Lord shut the door. Once finally alone with the Defense Professor, who was acting as though he wasn't fully aware that one of his students was still present, Veneficus approached.
"Didn't take you long," Crouch growled in Moody's voice.
"I've always been rather quick on the uptake," Veneficus replied silkily. "Have anything to report?"
"Yes in fact," Moody said, real eye looking at Veneficus while the magical one spun in all directions, checking for eavesdroppers. "Dumbledore was easily fooled by my portrayal of his old friend, and had let me on his true reasons for bringing Moody to the school."
"Me, of course," Veneficus replied.
"Correct, but even more specific than that," Crouch said, struggling to hide his amusement. "He wants to expose you and your master for what, he believes, you both are. Nothing close to the truth mind, but he is well aware of the darkness in your hearts, and hopes to use the tournament to reveal that darkness to the wizarding world, and redeem you while ending your master."
Veneficus laughed, "It would be not our end but his if we were unveiled. This world would burn under the might we could bring upon it."
"Of that I have no doubt, my Lord," Crouch responded. "There is more, as not only does Dumbledore want you in the tournament, but the Dark Lord wants this as well."
"What, that old rotten fool thinks he can entrap me as well through this pathetic trial?" Veneficus questioned sarcastically.
"The Dark Lord," Barty Jr. replied, "wants you to win the tournament, and in the process be transported to a place of his choosing, where he can enact a ritual to restore himself to a physical form."
"And he wants you to make certain that I win," Veneficus pointed out, "while Dumbledore just wants to make sure that I'm in it, and get 'exposed'. Apparently the tasks are going to be tailored in some way to be actually dangerous enough to threaten me using the Force..."
Veneficus thought for a short time, pondering what counter move he would make. He could countermand both Voldemort and Dumbledore by preventing himself from being entered, but that would cause them to be suspicious of their mutual tool. He could enter and purposely not win, keeping himself contained from revealing his power, but that went against his natural drive to be proven the best at everything, and he wouldn't allow such a puzzle to defeat him.
And then there was the third option… "Continue with both of their schemes, make certain that I win. I will deal with both Dumbledore and Voldemort when the time comes." Veneficus commanded, "Do whatever they command you to do, short of outright opposing myself or Lord Millennial, and keep me informed of everything you learn. And be discreet."
"Naturally, my Lord," Crouch said with a nod. "I am to slip your name into the goblet of fire, which is the impartial judge to select champions. Dumbledore is more than confident that you will be chosen over any student in the castle, regardless of year or age."
"The old fool has to be right sometimes…" Veneficus commented.
"I will keep my ear to the ground, and pass on any information I find as it unfolds." Crouch said, checking a timepiece on his desk. "Better get going before your missed, Lunch is almost over."
"No worries of that," Veneficus said as he withdrew the time turner from his robes. "I expect to hear from you soon Crouch." He said to the unsurprised Crouch. The man must have seen his future self toward the end of class. Departing to the adjacent store room, Veneficus turned the dial back once and slipped into time backwards an hour. The sounds of the Slytherin students in the false Moody's classroom could be heard, and Veneficus could only guess what the man was thinking, now able to see two different incarnations of the same student so close together.
He passed the time by pondering how to proceed through this Tournament that he was about to be forcefully entered into. many of his dark spells and Force abilities would be more than frowned upon in such a public setting, which left him with limited options.
Thankfully there was studying he could do, rounding out his knowledge with some of the more 'light' oriented spells that he had originally passed up in favor of those with more power. It would prove an interesting challenge, posing as one closer to the light than he was, while still leaving a trail of breadcrumbs for the Headmaster to foolishly follow to his death.
Once the students started pouring out of the classroom, Veneficus stood by the door, watching them pass through a tiny crack. Anguis appeared, walking past with a small frown on his face. Waiting a few seconds, Veneficus slipped out and quickly rejoined his Acolyte. Obvious questions were shown in the boy's face, but it was none of his concern, therefore Veneficus refused to acknowledge the boy's unspoken queries.
Had Anguis been a true Sith apprentice, Veneficus would have shared the information, as it threatened, however remotely, the stability of the Order. However, the boy was not suited to the life of a Sith, too submissive, too unable to let go of his past, and too easily distracted by meaningless things. Not that the boy lacked usefulness, which was why he yet lived. Unlike the Lovegood child, who quailed at the promise of power from the Dark Side, Anguis had taken to the darker nature like a fish to water, even if his potential was horribly limited.
Lovegood on the other hand, was a possible threat. The girl was legitimately gifted with the Force, even if still unaware of its full potential. A true pity was her choice to resist, which made her by far the most dangerous student in the school to Veneficus. Not that it was likely for the Jedi to get a hold of her on this backwater planet, but such things seemed to just happen if left unchecked.
With her last refusal to join him, Luna Lovegood had sealed her fate. A small tracking module on her clothing would allow the Sith to find her wherever she went, and Veneficus knew that Millennial would agree instantly that she needed to die. No other Force users of consequence could be permitted to side against them on this world.
Veneficus smiled as he sat at the Slytherin table for the afternoon meal. So many things starting all at once at the beginning of this year, just the right amount of intrigue for Veneficus to end his attendance of Hogwarts with.