CHAPTER THREE: THE DARK LAIR

Until a few weeks ago, the abandoned, stone ranch house had loomed large from a hill across acres and acres of acrid, unusable land. It was hard to believe it had once been a thriving, prosperous and self-sustaining family treasure. The last known descendant died years ago and the homestead had fallen into near ruins and remained unwanted and unclaimed. The town council had finally seen fit to demolish the depressing eyesore. The other neighbors of the remote, but otherwise prosperous countryside village were ecstatic to see it gone. Little did they realize, the house was indeed still there and most definitely inhabited.

In actuality, hundreds of candles burned through the darkness and dampness from an antique chandelier hanging in the handsomely appointed drawing room of the home. About a dozen cloaked figures were gathered about the room during the late hours. It was a good thing the home was now Unplottable, for not even the remote location could have guaranteed the heart wrenching and ear splitting screams currently emanating from within the stone walls would have gone unnoticed if only a few Muggle-Repelling Charms were guarding its secrets.

The screaming finally stopped and a woman's muffled sobs echoed through the room from the etiolated body curled against the floor. Her matted hair hung lankly and a wide, dark gray streak ran from the widow's peak at her brow through the full-length of her once silky, pale blond hair. Her face was streaked with soot, grime and tears; and her red-rimmed eyes shone dully through lids that were puffy and tinged with purplish bruises. Narcissa Malfoy was living in hell.

"Now, Draco," crooned Voldemort in his cold and remorseless voice. "I need you to answer me truthfully and don't dare attempt Occlumency against me again. Bella may have taught you enough to deal with those idiots at Hogwarts, but no one is a better Legillimens than I. Rest assured, the consequences will be dire," he added as he lazily pointed his wand at Draco's mother.

Draco Malfoy did not think his mother could survive like this much longer. He and Snape had been summoned to this location after fleeing Hogwarts the night Dumbledore was killed. He knew he would be in trouble for failing to complete his assigned task. He didn't realize just how much trouble until he saw his mother wandless and bound. He too, was disarmed moments after entering the house. Since then, Voldemort seemed to take pleasure in torturing both of them.

"Yes, My Lord," answered Draco in a strained voice. "I am sorry; it was only a reflex reaction."

"So, you say," answered Voldemort leeringly. "Unfortunately, you have proven you are indeed your father's son. As such, I cannot be sure of your unadulterated loyalty. I only kept you both alive as a favor to Severus," he continued, glancing over his shoulder and nodding at Snape, who was standing eerily still.

"After all, he is the one who finally destroyed that foolish, Muggle loving Dumbledore. And while I don't approve of his reasons for stepping in, I can't deny the end justified the means. But understand this, Draco, I will not grant another plea to spare your lives if you disappoint me again. I think torturing your mother is enough motivation for you now, but don't think for a single second that Severus or Bella hold enough favor to save either of you a second time. Do you understand?"

Draco swallowed and looked at his now silent mother as she gingerly sat up and crawled to a corner of the room. "Yes, Master, I understand. I will not disappoint you again."

"See that you don't," said Voldemort as he stepped back and sat in the large, leather chair positioned in the very center of the room. "What have you heard? Will the school reopen?"

"I've made contact with several of my --" He was about to say friends but caught himself and said, "-- former housemates, but they haven't heard anything, yet. They've been told not to expect a final decision until later this summer," he finished truthfully.

"Severus," said Voldemort, "your thoughts, please."

Bellatrix, who had been furtively trying to catch her sister's eye, turned and gave Snape a menacing glare as he left his place against a far wall and walked nearer the center of the room.

Wormtail, who was standing on the other side of the room near the windows, was equally displeased and looked close to tears as he watched Snape.

"As you know, My Lord," began Snape, "that decision will be made by the school governors following discussions with Headmistress McGonagall and representatives from the Ministry, most likely the Minister himself. I confess I do not know enough about Scrimgeour to predict his position on the matter. I'm sure you'll agree, had Dumbledore managed to survive the attack at Hogwarts, he would have fought to convince the school governors to keep Hogwarts open. McGonagall however, is a different breed. She will have polled the teachers and will most likely argue to reopen the school in September, as I'm confident most of the staff would wish to carry out what they believe would have been Dumbledore's wishes. If however, the governors vote to close the school, McGonagall will honor their decision without further dispute."

Voldemort was listening closely to his every word.

"As our one member who once held position on the board and influence with certain Ministry officials is unavailable to us, we don't really have an inside track into the current discussions. Without Dumbledore though, the odds of the school being closed have seemingly increased. Unfortunately, I cannot predict by how much," finished Snape.

"Yes, Lucius's folly has left a trail of problems," sneered Voldemort, "and I do appreciate your assessment. It is my wish that Hogwarts not reopen. It would make things much simpler. However, we need to plan for the alternative, just in case. I'm certain the vanishing cabinet has been removed and destroyed. So tell me, do either of you believe there are other potential weak points of entry?"

"No, I don't know of any others," answered Draco honestly. "If I did, I would have tried them first because it took an awful long time to repair that second cabinet."

"I asked for answers, not excuses, Draco," snapped Voldemort.

"I don't believe there are any other entrances, either" interjected Snape smoothly. "There were several secret passages discovered by Filch over the years, but they were destroyed by natural disasters or rendered useless by the staff once they were revealed. The cabinet was simply overlooked because no one knew what it truly was. It is unlikely that any such opportunity will present itself again."

"Severus, if I didn't know better, I'd think you were trying to convince us not to go near your precious school again," said Bellatrix sinisterly from across the room.

The other Death Eaters looked anxiously from her to Snape. Bellatrix was furious that Snape now firmly held the position of Voldemort's favorite follower. Only her concern for her sister and nephew had kept her anger in check, but she couldn't pass up the chance to point out what she believed to be his obvious treachery.

"And what would you prefer he do, Bellatrix?" asked Voldemort irritably. "Perhaps he should only provide the answers he suspects I want to hear, or simply waste my time in futile exercises. Oh wait, that's what you, Lucius and the others managed to do at the Ministry, isn't it? Do not speak again unless I ask you to do so."

Bellatrix colored and lowered her eyes, but not before she caught the contemptuous look from Snape.

"My Lord," began Baldwin, one of the newest Death Eaters, "why can't we attempt to grab him now? Then it wouldn't matter whether or not the school reopens."

Voldemort rose and began pacing the room as he spoke.

"Dumbledore may be dead, but even from the grave, he continues to interfere. Potter is safe from me as long as he has houseroom with his mother's family. However, that protection will end when he comes of age at the end of July. Until then, it is too risky for any of you to try and get to him. I've no doubt the Order is watching him and the Ministry is frantically searching for us. They've searched every inch of property ever connected to any of our known members. We cannot afford to have another lot of you tossed into Azkaban or killed by Aurors, not yet anyway," he added indifferently.

"We are fortunate to have found this spot. No, we need to spend this time increasing our ranks and planning strategies. We won't get too many opportunities and I don't want any of them wasted."

Draco spoke slowly, "If the school reopens, it doesn't necessarily mean St. Potter will return. I can't imagine he doesn't know the significance of his seventeenth birthday. Maybe he'll go into hiding rather than risk the school being attacked again to get to him. He's thick enough to consider something like that noble," he finished with a slight sneer.

Voldemort stopped pacing and looked at him appraisingly.

"Draco, you should never underestimate someone simply because you do not like them. That is always a mistake. But you are right about one thing. Turning away from his friends to protect them is definitely something Potter would consider doing. It would indeed be a noble and brave gesture, but a foolish one. He may be naïve, and to quote Severus, mediocre at best, but I don't find him a fool. If Potter truly wanted to go into hiding, he would turn to the Order. No, we need to find a way of luring him out, whether it is from Hogwarts, Order headquarters, or the moon. It may likely be the only way to get near him."

Voldemort paused for several long moments and surveyed each of them with his red eyes glowing. When he spoke again, it began in a near whisper that focused everyone's attention on his every word.

"Now listen carefully, because I will be most unforgiving with anyone who defies me. The Potter boy is mine to finish. I may not have ultimately cared who got rid of that old fool, Dumbledore, but I have been denied my destiny for far too long. We will do this on my timeline and by my orders. Attempt anything else, and I will destroy you. DO NOT GET IN MY WAY!!" he bellowed so suddenly that half the assembled Death Eaters jumped.

Baldwin was apparently too new to realize how closely he stood to the flame and was the first to speak again.

"I understand, My Lord. May I inquire though, if it might be helpful if one or two of us attempted surveillance on the boy? You say he is with his mother's family. The Order wouldn't recognize a new member, like me. I would welcome the opportunity to gather any information which might prove valuable to you."

You could hear a pin drop. Every Death Eater seemed to be holding his or her breath. To their great surprise, Voldemort's thin lips parted into a sick smile.

"As you wish, Baldwin," he practically hissed. "You may go, but you must do so alone. Wormtail will give you the necessary information. I suggest you take tonight to think long and hard on whether you wish to proceed. If you are caught or if I discover you have done anything to tip off Potter or the Order, you will regret the very day you were conceived."

"I will not fail you, Master," said Baldwin. "I shall leave tomorrow," he added as he bowed and called to Wormtail. The two Death Eaters walked quickly and quietly from the room.

Snape thought Baldwin was either overly ambitious or a complete fool, but it wasn't his problem and the remaining Death Eaters seemed to be coming to the same conclusions.

Time would tell.