"Doyle," Tom stated as he entered the Headquarters of the Aurors and found said man looking at him in surprise. Martin was quick to follow the Minister into the Head Auror's temporary office and when the door closed the Dark Lord quickly told him what Miss Black had informed him of – minus the part of her family.
"You're saying that Azac is actually the Middle Ages group Caaz, who want to recruit new pureblood members and provide them with weapons while at the same time decrease the muggle, muggleborn and half-blood population?" the Auror summed and Tom realized that Doyle had organized it even better than he could have himself.
"Yes, exactly."
"Then really old pure blood must be leading the organization. Hasn't there been a membership list drawn up at some point in the past?" Martin questioned and the Minister frowned.
"The archive could hold that answer." Both their feet turned to the door at the same time and with just one last look at each other, they made their way to the archive.
-THTH-
The Keeper of the archive blinked surprised at the Minister and the substitute Head Auror as they stopped before his desk.
"What can I do for you, gentlemen?" the greying wizard asked curiously.
"We would like every piece of information the archive holds about the group Caaz," the Dark Lord answered and the man's brown eyes widened as his confusion only increased.
"All right," he rose from his seat, "please follow me." With a limp he moved to the double door beside his desk and pushed the doors open. The first thing that caught Tom's attention where the seemly endless lines of racks filled with books and scrolls. Only when the Keeper stepped forward, did he notice the stone stand in the middle of the hallway a little behind the door. Stopping in front of it, the greying old man pointed his wand at it. "Caaz," he articulated and immediately noises filled the room before books and scrolls suddenly flew towards them seemly out of nowhere. A hasty formed pile rose before them and the Keeper hid his wand again.
"That's all we have about Caaz," he said as he shuffled towards the pile and his wand appeared again. "We've got a reading table in the corner," his head nodded to the corner located a little behind them on the right side. Brown eyes glanced at the corner and caught sight of a plain looking table. "Be free to widen it as much as you need," the old man continued as his wand pointed to the pile of books and scrolls. With a quick spell he moved the pile to the table before stepping backwards again. "I'll be at my desk if you need me," he gave them a polite smile and limped back to the door, which he left open once he passed through the opening.
-THTH-
After looking through the pile of books and scrolls for about an hour, Doyle suddenly announced he found something.
"It's a little faded, but it looks like a list of names. Wait." The Auror got up and walked over to the Keeper's desk to return with a quill and ink. Laying the writing utilities down, Martin pointed his wand at the scroll before casting a quick spell. Next he dropped a bit of ink on the paper, which seemed to get absorbed by the scroll as the faded words started becoming visible again. He handed the scroll over to the Minister, who eyed the names intently.
"If we compare these to the names we got from Dern…" Tom didn't need to finish his sentence for the other to understand.
"We'll find the leader or at least members from the inner circle," Doyle nodded with a smirk.
-THTH-
"What are you doing?" Zanal asked as he entered the Head Auror's office and looked down at Doyle and Tom, who were leaning over the desk. The Minister looked up to see the presumed death Head Auror dressed like Abraxas walking towards them.
"We believe Azac is the ancient group Caaz," Tom started and saw the blond's eyebrows rise in surprise.
"Caaz? You mean that old pureblood sect?" The politician nodded.
"Yes, one of our prisoners revealed the ancient symbol."
"We're comparing an old list of Caaz members with our list of Azac," Martin added and the interest could be seen on Cornelius' face.
"Did you find anything?"
"There are more who match than who doesn't," Doyle sighed.
"But a couple of families are well represented," Tom added.
"Meaning if we compare those with the numbers of members those families have now and then, we'll know which are completely integrated into Azac since the time of Caaz," Zanal reasoned and the Dark Lord gave him an attentive look.
"And those families will be the ones with the most power in the group as seniority means a lot to purebloods," Martin voiced what the Minister was thinking.
"I'll get those records," Tom announced. "Start on the numeric list." The two others nodded and were already back to work before the Minister even stepped outside the office.
-THTH-
With Miss Grelyon's and the Keeper's help, Tom was quick to find the birth and death records. It took a little longer to be able to pinpoint the numbers of members of the pureblood families, but the old man had a couple of useful counting spells that combined, eventually gave him the numbers he was looking for.
"This is it," the Minister stated and got a big satisfied smile from the Keeper. "The Aurors need to read this immediately," he continued while getting up from his seat and Ms Grelyon waved him away.
"I'll help you clean up." As he walked through the doorway, the Dark Lord could hear his secretary comfort the Keeper, who he just knew, was lovingly smiling at the greyish woman in gratitude. It was obvious they knew each other and Tom could only guess just how many times Ms Grelyon had come here in search for answers. His feet quickly carried him back to the temporarily office of the Head Auror and entered it after a quick nod. Zanal gave him a short look while Martin didn't even look up.
"Here are the amounts of members during the time that Caaz list was drawn up and the present amounts," the politician held up the papers he was holding before laying them down beside the list the Aurors had made. Without a word the three bowed over the lists and started linking the numbers together.
"The Bulstrodes and Gaunts are well presented," Doyle mumbled and brown eyes shot him a look.
"The Bulstrodes have a lot of halfbloods and I'm the only Gaunts descendant alive." Martin was quick to apologize in a quiet voice as Cornelius suddenly pointed to a name on the list.
"Three third of the Yaxley family is a member of Azac according to this." The younger Auror's and Minister's eyes immediately moved to the numbers.
"Their numbers lessened over the years, but more became members of Azac," Tom realized as Doyle quickly pulled the list of members of Azac from a pile beside him.
"The pater familias isn't listed," he said eventually and the Dark Lord frowned at him.
"He wouldn't if he's the leader," Zanal stated to his surprise and both looked at him to clarify. "We know how much precautions they take with the knowledge they contribute to their subordinates. It would be logic if all of the members of the inner circle have a group underneath them that only reports to them – maybe with the help of one or more middlemen – and they only report to their leader. The leader wouldn't want his name mentioned anywhere for his own safety."
"It's true that not one of our prisoners knows who they report to," Tom remembered reading in one of the reports Elladora had shown him.
"Meaning we don't have any evidence if we take him in," Martin stated the obvious and the two other men's faces turned grim.
"Let's continue comparing the lists before making claims," the Minister decided and the others quietly agreed.
-THTH-
Yawning, Harry entered the temporarily Head Auror's office and found he was the last one to arrive. His eyes immediately zoomed in on his grandfather who was studying papers on the desk while Martin was explaining their new information to them.
"You've made progress," he stated afterwards and found Tom suddenly standing beside him. The Dark Lord's hand rose and his fingers slipped between the youngster's hair locks as they carefully caressed the back of the head. For a moment the Auror just enjoyed the sensation before briskly pulling away as pain shot through his head.
"It's still tender," the Minister said in a quiet voice filled with worry and Harry realized the other had been checking his wound.
"It will be healed by tomorrow," he mumbled as his eyes looked up at the politician. The bags under the brown eyes made him realize the other hadn't slept at all.
"Yes, we've made progress," Zanal brought them back to the subject. "We've pinpointed out who we think are in the inner circle and who's possibly the leader of Azac." Green eyes widened at that and Martin was quick to fill in the gaps.
"You guys did one hell of a detective's work," the youngster said impressed and got a small smile from his team leader.
"Now we just need to divide our Aurors and our plan is set," Harold stated and the others nodded.
"What about the rings?" Harry suddenly asked.
"Miss Grelyon's following up their deliverance," Tom reassuringly answered and the youngster gave him a nod.
"Now, I suggest that we lessen our Auror's hours to make certain they are well rested for the attack," Zanal said with a look at the Minister, who nodded his approval.
"Just make certain that their diminishing numbers aren't noticeable." The Head Auror nodded.
"Don't wo-" a sudden call from the fireplace interrupted Cornelius and everyone looked at the flames in surprise. Martin was the first to react and with his wand asked for identification.
"It's Abraxas," Harry stated surprised as the blond's name sounded through the office and with a glance at the Dark Lord – who gave a nod – Doyle let Malfoy connect.
"Martin! My Lord! My dear cousin!" the blond called out as his eyes moved over the room's occupants. "Everyone is there! Good, because we've got a problem!" he turned serious and a frown settled on the youngster's face. "The Head Scientist disappeared with one of the rings," Abraxas delivered the bad news and what sounded like a growl seemed to come out of the Dark Lord's mouth.
"Did he take anything of the counter?" Harold questioned and the blond shook his head.
"No, he wasn't allowed anywhere near that lab. He took what he could, which was one of the rings."
"He must have gone to Azac," Tom stated.
"Making them useless now," Martin sighed and the Minister perked up at that.
"Maybe not, we could use them as a diversion."
"How?" Harry questioned.
"Giving them wrong information," his grandfather put forward and Zanal nodded before his eyes turned to the fireplace again.
"Abraxas, how many of those rings do we still have?"
"About two fifth, so I guess around two hundred," the blond responded.
"Okay, then if we disclude the families on these lists." The Head Auror pointed to the two papers that held the names of Azac's members. "We should have enough rings for the others." Tom nodded while the two Potters frowned.
"What about the innocent ones in those families?"
"We can't risk it," the Dark Lord shook his head and a sigh left Harold's lips. The politician was right of course.
"The number of casualties will go up," the youngster had to voice it and the others looked down in understanding.
"We don't have another option. Time's short," Cornelius stated and Harry nodded reluctantly. He understood it, but still it didn't sit right with him.
"Let's just hope the counter works," Martin said in a quiet voice what everyone was hoping for.
"Let's divide our Aurors," Zanal ended the meeting with a look at his subordinates.
As the others left the Aurors moved around the desk and Cornelius quickly pulled out a scroll. A quill rapidly put down all the team leaders' names and they started to puzzle. It took about an hour before they were finally satisfied with the result.
-THTH-
Glancing at Zanal, who was enchanted to look like Abraxas once more, Harry moved his eyes towards Tom, who was walking beside the Head Auror a little ahead of him. Martin walked beside him with a blank expression on his face. They walked to the Minister's office in a tense silence and the Dark Lord was quick to move them inside. The youngster noted that for once Ms Grelyon wasn't present and hoped with whole his heart that the elderly woman was finally getting some much deserved rest. Inside the office, the real Abraxas was waiting on them.
"Finally," the blond muttered while he pushed his body from the wall beside the door.
"You got it?" Tom was quick to ask him and Malfoy nodded while producing a flask from his pocket.
"Here," he handed it over and the Minister accepted it. Pushing the lid of the flask, the Dark Lord sniffed it before pulling one of his hair locks out and adding it to the potion. Again the flask changed owners and now Zanal was holding it.
"Be certain to enter our home," brown eyes glanced at Harry for a moment, "before continuing towards your own." The Head Auror nodded as the blond started to disappear from his hair. One minute Cornelius stood before them again and the next Tom.
"We'll see you in the evening," Zanal said before Martin and he left the office again, with this time the Minister hiding behind the door.
"Okay, I'll be at the Headquarters of the Aurors," Abraxas was next to announce his departure and left with a nod to both men. Once alone, Tom was quick to pull the youngster into his arms and sighed relieved in the black locks.
"Come, you need to get some sleep," Harry mumbled against the other's chest and got released just enough to pull the Minister with him to behind his desk. There he transfigured the chair into a bed and pushed the Dark Lord on top of it. On impulse the Auror straddled the other's lap and was quick to lean down before pressing their lips together. Tom opened his mouth as invitation but Harry knew if he accepted he wouldn't be able to leave. Needing all his strength the youngster pulled away and found lust clouded brown eyes staring back at him.
"Sleep," Harry said just above a whisper and pressed a kiss to Tom's forehead before slowly getting off the other. Straightening the Auror pulled out his wand and started casting a couple of spells to protect the other and give him the peace and quiet he needed. With a last smile at the Minister, the youngster noted the other could barely keep his eyes opened and slowly walked out of the office. Only taking time to cast a spell to darken the room before closing the door behind him. The door got also a couple of spells draped over it – the Auror only dared to leave once he was certain nobody could enter the Minister's office without his permission. They had agreed upon Tom having to call Harry when he wanted to leave his office. It gave the youngster the idle hope of the Minister actually getting a decent amount of sleep.
-THTH-
With a tired sigh Harry dropped down in a lonely chair and Harold rolled his chair towards him. Green eyes glanced at the other Auror to narrow in suspicion.
"Why are you so happy?"
"Marian just sent me a letter," the older Potter smiled and got an odd look back.
"Didn't you just see her last night?"
"Yes, but there wasn't a lot of talking," Harold chuckled and Harry just blinked at him. He didn't know if he should feel grossed out or not. They were his grandparents!
"Oh come on, like Tom and you aren't going at it like rabbits," Harold took his blank look as a negative response and the youngster suddenly smirked.
"That's the first time I hear you refer to Tom by his name of your own free will."
"Well, it's easier," his grandfather huffed and the other's smirk changed into a soft smile.
"How the baby?"
"Great, Marian just had a check-up the day before yesterday. He or she's growing like expected."
"He," Harold gave him a look, "trust me."
"We know the sex, but how can you be so certain?" his grandfather ask suspiciously.
"Call it a hunch. My guts also says Eileen will also have a boy."
"The Prince girl?" Harry nodded.
"We're becoming godfathers," he continued with a smile.
"Have you picked out the godparents already?" Harold nodded.
"Yes, and I think you can guess my pick," he teased with a smile.
"Septimus?" was the first name in the youngster's mind and his grandfather nodded.
"He's my best friend so there was no competition."
"And the godmother?"
"Marian's mother, she was dead set on it." Harry nodded in understanding.
"Auror Remus!" someone suddenly called out and Harry's body immediately straightened itself, expecting the worst. To his surprise it wasn't another Auror but one of the mailmen.
"You've got an urgent letter from the Prince family," the mailman stated as he walked towards him with a letter in his hand. Green eyes widened and he quickly accepted it.
"Why didn't you use the internal delivery system," Harold frowned as he turned his chair towards the man and Harry looked up from reading Tom's and his name.
"We've been relocating the magic from the internal to the external delivery system to get the maximum of rings out per shipping." Harold seemed satisfied with the answer before looking up at his grandson.
"Thank you," the youngster simply said to the mailman, who took off again while grabbing in his pocket for what was probably the next letter. With a heavy heart Harry opened the letter and found the words he was dreading staring back at him.
"Madam Prince has passed away," he said in a quiet voice and a hand found itself on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry." His grandfather gave him a squeeze with a sad look in his eyes.
"I was hoping she wasn't right," the youngster continued. His thoughts seemed to be running all over the place while at the same time they seemed blank. "Tom needs his sleep," he mumbled before another name popped in his head. "Alistair." His eyes suddenly focussed on his grandfather beside him. "They were also close."
"Go," Harold gave him another squeeze before pushing him towards the lift. The youngster didn't need to be told twice.
-THTH-
As the lift opened at the Department of Science, Harry's eyes widened as Alistair stood in front of him with wet eyes.
"You've heard?" The Auror simply nodded. "Let's get out of here," Stromay almost begged and knowing he probably shouldn't the other nodded again. Alistair was quick to step inside the lift and lead them outside. Just walking the streets in silence seemed enough to calm down the Scientist and eventually he sat down on a bench facing a children's playground. "I knew she didn't have long, but still it's odd she's gone," Stromay spoke for the first time they were outside.
"It always is," Harry sighed. "It's never easy. We can only keep cherishing the good times." Alistair just looked lifeless ahead of him. "The pain won't go away, but it'll become bearable," Harry was saying this just as much to himself as to the other.
"Yeah." Alistair slowly turned to look at him. "Would we be able to go to the funeral?" The Auror pulled a hesitating look.
"Probably depends on the situation at the moment of the funeral."
"I hope we can go," the Scientist mumbled.
"Me too," the youngster admitted as a sad smile appeared on his face. Suddenly the rise of the corners of his lips was impossible and the panicking expression in Stromay's eyes made him want to grab his wand, but realization hit him hard that he couldn't move. His breathing wanted to increase and he tried to oppose it by taking a deep breath, but there wasn't enough space in his ribcage. He had never felt this helpless before in his life.
"Marvolo!" Alistair suddenly kneeled down to his eyelevel and Harry couldn't help but wonder when the hell he stood up in the first place. "Help's on its way. Don't worry, I'll protect you," Stromay was being his cocky self, but the fear could be read in his eyes. "Why do I always end up in the middle of a fight with you?" he continued with a joke as his eyes scanned the area. Once Thierry and his team appeared everything seemed to happen at an accelerated pace. Thierry inspected the area with one of his team members as the third member started working on getting the youngster unfrozen.
"An ordinary Petrificus Totalus," the Auror concluded his inspection with clear relief on his face before he quickly said the counter joined with a flick of his hand. Finally Harry could take the deep breath he had been wanting to take and turned each of his limbs separately to test out his newfound freedom. Next his eyes moved to the area the two other Aurors had disappeared to, but didn't see them anywhere.
"They found a trace," the other Auror stated at his look and Stromay kneeled down before the youngster blocking his view in the process.
"Are you all right?" Alistair questioned with a worried look in his eyes.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Harry distractingly answered as he stood up to fall back down as his legs didn't seem able to hold his weight.
"Wait a couple of minutes for the effects to wear down," the other Auror said with a glance at him and the youngster grimaced. He wanted to go after his attacker so badly. It didn't take long for Thierry and his team mate to reappear with a third man their wands were aimed at.
"That's our Head!" Alistair called out astonished and Harry's eyes widened.
"The Head Scientist?!" he called out and Stromay nodded without taking his eyes from his boss. As the three man reached the three at the bench, the Head glared at the youngster and his employee.
"Let's get back," Thierry said while poking their prisoner warningly with his wand before grabbing a fist full of his robe. They all quickly attached themselves to the team leader and got pulled towards the Ministry. After they arrived Thierry pushed the Head Scientist towards the door as he glanced at Harry. "We'll meet you at the infirmary." The youngster nodded while Alistair got an alarmed look.
"Just the mandatory check-up," Harry explained. "They'll be taking our statements there," he continued and Stromay seemed reassured. In silence they made their way through the corridors until Alistair broke it.
"Does the Minister know already?" Green eyes glanced at him as guilt settled in the Auror's chest.
"No, only I can reach him," the youngster mumbled and got a disbelieving look from the other.
"That's dangerous! If they had captured you, we wouldn't have been able to reach him!"
"That's why I wasn't supposed to leave the Ministry." The Scientist's expression fell.
"Sorry, I shouldn't have-"
"No," Harry shook his head, "I should have objected. Plus if I really was captured; my spells will wear off after twenty-four hours."
"Still twenty-four hours we would have been at a disadvantage."
"But it didn't happen and we've learned an important lesson for the future!" the youngster ended the subject with a clear look in his eyes that the other should drop it. Alistair gave a single nod with an unsatisfied expression on his face. Harry couldn't have been gladder that the infirmary appeared before them. "Come on,' he stated while accelerating a little. He was through the door opening before Alistair could catch up to him.
-THTH-
Tom's brown eyes shot his boy an angry glare and at the same time a disbelieving look. "You were attacked," his voice held an eerie calmed he was pretty proud off. Harry nodded. "While going out." Another nod. "When you had explicitly been told not to go outside." The nod slowed down a little.
"I'm sorry! It was stupid, I know," the youngster said honestly and a sigh fell from the Minister's lips as he leaned backwards.
"You're lucky he didn't use the weapon on you," brown eyes glared into green ones, who got cast down shame.
"I know, if it was someone else than the Head Scientist..." his boy didn't bother to finish his sentence. The implication was enough. The Dark Lord watched the other blame himself before he closed his eyes for a moment and his fear couldn't be contained any longer. He got up from his chair and strode around his desk. Green eyes just looked up as his arms surrounded the youngster and pulled him close.
"I don't even want to imagine you not being here," he mumbled into the black locks and felt hands fist the back of his robe. Silence enveloped them as they simply enjoyed the other's presence. "What were you doing outside anyway? With Alistair of all people!" Tom hated that he sounded like a jealous boyfriend. His boy looked up at him with big eyes and he was already dreading his answer.
"Madam Prince passed away," Harry said with a sad look in his eyes. For a moment the world seemed to stop for the politician and he pressed his eyes close as it started again.
"She was an amazing woman," he mumbled against the other's skin and the arms around him tried to press them even closer.
"Yeah, she was," the youngster mumbled and a quick peck to the Dark Lord's lips made Tom open his eyes again.
"What are we going to do with the funeral? There will be a lot of powerful people present." Brown eyes glanced at the lips speaking those words before capturing those green orbs again.
"Top security," he answered. "I'll contact the family."
"That's a good idea," Harry agreed as he lessened his grip a little. "I should head back." The Minister nodded in understanding before releasing the youngster. A last kiss filled with desperation was exchanged before the Auror exited the other's office. Tom watched him go with the knowledge what he had lost and what he could have lost weighting heavy on his mind.
-THTH-
With a lot of drama Abraxas informed Tom what had happened in his seven hours of sleep, which wasn't a lot. The main subjects were the rings and the captor of the Head Scientist, who wasn't in possession of the ring he stole any longer.
"Azac has it?" Malfoy nodded.
"He was more than glad to tell us that, but I'm certain that our Interrogators will be able to get more out of him." The Dark Lord nodded in thought.
"Okay, go home. Get some sleep." With a wave of his hand the Minister dismissed his right hand man. With a sigh he looked at his work laying on top of his desk and knew he wouldn't be able to keep his mind on it. Without a second thought he got up and decided to pay the Head Scientist a little visit.
-THTH-
Staring at the Scientist through a magical see-through, the Dark Lord got annoyed with the smug look the prisoner was wearing.
"Has he said why he attacked Marvolo?" the Minister asked the woman standing beside him.
"He wanted to get back at you for draining his magic," Elladora answered as her eyes studied every move the Head Scientist made. "But he's not capable of killing someone with his own hands."
"Explains why he didn't use the weapon."
"He wouldn't have gotten his hands on one anyway." Miss Black glanced at the politician, who gave her a look that told her to explain. "They don't trust him. He shows up with an enchanted ring as gift to show his goodwill while the former one blew up the Headquarters of the Aurors." Tom smirked at her reasoning. She was right.
'They aren't just going to let anyone enter.' "They think he's a spy," he mumbled and the Interrogator nodded.
"Yes, so there's a chance they will do the opposite of what the ring says," Elladora continued.
"Did he reveal the name of his contact?" the Minister continued.
"Not yet, but his mind is starting to cave in," the woman's green eyes got a teasing glint in them.
"May I be the one to give him the last push?" the Dark Lord smirked at her.
"I thought you'd never ask," she smiled before nodding her head for him to follow her. As they entered the interrogation room, the Head Scientist looked up from where he was sitting and smiled brightly while leaning on his elbows on the table before him.
"I must be really important for you to show up!" Tom gave the man a smirk of his own.
"Some people do have that honour." His wand rose and the chair the Scientist was sitting on threw him off before flying backwards. Intimidating the Dark Lord leaned over the table and with a penetrating look stared the prisoner in the eyes. "Especially if they touch something that's mine," he evilly smiled and the man visually shivered. Slowly the Minister straightened himself and pointed his wand at the Head. "Petrificus Totalus," he said with clear articulation and the man's eyes widened as that was the only thing he could do before the spell hit him. "Your favourite spell," Tom smiled evilly. Next his wand levitated the man on top of the table and made his body stretch out.
"Now how should we start?" he questioned with a playful glance at Miss Black, who smiled back delicately.
"Have you heard of the plague?" he suddenly asked as an intriguing idea popped in his head. "Of course you have, the Black Death. You know the first symptom you got was the swelling of the lymph nodes?" Fear was clear to see in the Head Scientist's eyes. "First in the groin area and armpits; as a scientist you must be curious about the development of the disease," the Dark Lord speculated. "And you know the best way to learn something is to experience it yourself." A smile pulled at the Minister's lips as he raised his wand. He needed a short moment to decide which spells to use and that the delay happened to increase the scientist's discomfort was an added bonus. A spell that attracts liquids was enchanted on the prisoner's lymph nodes with a semi-penetrable barrier put around them to keep the liquids inside.
"I do have to admit I'm very interested to see this first hand," Tom admitted as the nodes enlarged before his eyes. "It looks uncomfortable," he decided as the bulges had gotten to the size of tennis balls. "At this point the disease is actually still curable." It was a nice fact, not important in this situation, but still nice. Miss Black gave him a small amused smile as he glanced at her. "Next, of course, the black spots." Brown eyes moved to watch the Head Scientist again. "Logical wise it's the dying off of tissues." Stopping the blood supply to the chosen parts and dehydrating them while simulating the cells to do mitosis, was enough to start the quick decline.
'He truly looks like a plague victim,' the Dark Lord thought proud of himself. "Naturally, you can live without a couple of limbs, but the next stage is the deadly part. The acute fever and vomiting of blood." His smile already grew at the thought of the show he was going to get. His wand waved through the air and the prisoner's body temperature started increasing at a rapid rage. The Minister made certain he kept it under the forty degrees. He wasn't going to let the man die, just let him experience the agony that leads to death. Finally it was time for the part he was waiting for. Cutting someone from the inside was something he hadn't done before.
He liked seeing his work, but this approach asked for a more subtle way. The curse easily slipped from his mouth and taking his time he made a dozen internal cuts. With a smile a watched the man before him struggle without actually moving. A knock sounded behind him, but he ignored it as he knew Miss Black would deal with whoever it was. 'Well, I can't let him die...' A little disappointed the Dark Lord released the Head Scientist of his petrification and the prisoner immediately rolled to the side of the table to vomit out blood.
"You can just-!" Elladora raised her voice behind him, but whatever the other said next made her open the door none-the-less. A little annoyed to be bothered during his playtime, Tom turned sideways to find out who was the culprit.
"Auror Remus!" Elladora loudly announced in a futile attempt of warning. Tom's grip on his wand tightened but the moment he met those green eyes, he knew he was caught.
R&R