Time was drawing close, and each day the nights suddenly turned into days, not giving enough time for him to think. He needed a plan, and action needed to take course, but what to do. He was the most feared wizard in all the lands for years to come. He stood against Dumbledore, and in so doing killed him, but what was it that he could really do to show his power, his true status in this world. Voldemort was not one to spend much time on planning attacks. He for one normally came up with them at the blink of an eye, but for some odd reason he had trouble. The time was now...he thought to himself. Something needed to be acted upon soon, but what to do was his concern. It couldn't be ruined. Oh no. This was something that had to be done very keen, and smooth. With this action, he hoped it would weaken the Order, and bring them down to the level he needed to crush them... but what?
He had pondered this often as he sat in his leather chair by the warmly lit fire, and as Nagini as usual lay by his side. He lowered his slimy weathered hand, and began to stroke her soft slick scales. He now started to get the idea. "That's right Nagini," he commented, and as he thought on it more, he knew now what he wanted to do, but how to build up to it was the problem. "What I need Nagini, is something grand that will set them off guard," and as he stroked her once more his eyes lit up.
He stood up from his chair for a moment and then thought of something." Lafandian is weak... weak with the Order's influence..." he began, and with this walked around slowly, brushing back his bald scaly head. "If I attack there, they would be weakened, and less of there influence would be on the area... it would be over run..." It was brilliant. Why didn't he think on it before? Of course Lafandian was the perfect place, and what was best was the fact that it was home to the place where he could perform the curse when needed. He would over run Lafandian having it to himself, and then when all was clear, he would take Lafandian right into his grasps, and raise the army.
"It is final," he spoke and moved towards the window as he looked out with a gentle gleam," I will take Lafandian in two days; from there we will work off our other plans. Once Lafandian is gone, the Order will have only themselves and the ministry to help them, and well, Nagini you perfectly well the order of the Ministry." It was all working to plan. All he needed was this one victory, and he was sure the world would be his in two months. Hope arose now deep within him, and as he turned to grin curtly to his pet snake, his voice raised as did his arms, and yelled," PETER! SEND THEM HERE TO ME! I have business to discuss."
" Harry," a voice called from behind the door. Harry didn't move, nor did he want to. He couldn't believe what was happening, and what was worse it wasn't a dream. He tried, and tried to convince himself that this possibly could have beena simple dream, that perhaps he was sick from the rain splatting itself upon his gentle head asleep, but as the knocks continued with different voices behind the door, reality set in. How could they let him stay? How could they listen to that pathetic low life who he clearly knew was lying? It was Draco Malfoy for God sakes! A Malfoy, and what was worse he killed Dumbledore. He endangered the school, and everyone he loved. How could they let him in here? Take him under their protection?
"Harry please, let me talk to you," the voice called once more. Harry shifted slightly in his bed, but feeling finally agitated he made his was out of the bed, and through his room to where he began to open the door. Ginny stood a few feet away in her night gown looking as distressed as he, and her hair all pulled back in a bun. Harry sighed looking around her to see if anyone else was around, and then motioned his head to let her in. She gave a small smile and walked inside to find the room to be slightly flooded." Erm, Harry?" she questioned eyeing the room. "Rain got in," he calmly replied and sat on his bed, motioning her over.
Ginny walked herself through the mush, and positioned herself right next to him on the bed giving him the look of heavy concern. This was all not good, and Harry had been through way too much in his life to be going through this right now. It seemed like things had kept piling on him, and poor Ginny saw no hope of happiness in his bright greens eyes as she looked into them. "Harry, I know this is bad, but you can't just shut everyone out."
"Sometimes it's best Ginny," he replied lying back against his wet pillow," keeps my anger in you know?" Ginny just sighed," Harry, you do this all the time. Haven't you figured out that this will get worse? I can't believe this is all happening, but it is, and I need you be strong, and just talk about it or something. I'm desperate Harry." "I don't want to talk about it! I don't even want to think about it! My world is all coming down on me right now, and this is all I can take, so stop lecturing me!" he shouted, and breathing heavily he sat up to face her. Why didn't she understand? How dare she yell at him when all this was happening to him?
"Harry, you haven't even talked to me since Albus funeral. After we broke up it's been about you wanting to protect all of us, and you and the horcruxes, and you need a break, you need to talk to someone. You know, get things in order because it's getting bad Harry, and we need you, I need you." Tears suddenly started to stream from her eyes, and as she wiped them Harry moved her hand over, and placed his on her face to brush them away. She looked up into his soft green eyes and just caressed her face In his hand," Ginny, I know I'm a wreck, believe me," he calmly spoke," you don't have to tell me, but I'm doing this all for a reason, I'm trying to keep you safe. To keep everyone safe." A sniff came from her nose, and she nodded. Harry removed his hand seeing the mood was beginning to turn into something he didn't want and just looked to the floor.
Ginny frowned slightly and raised his head by her hand," Why can't we just be together? It's killing me you know… I can't get over you, and I know you're not over me. Why can't I come with you?" Harry jerked himself away, and turned his back," Ginny, I just can't I … I can't risk it." Ginny's eyes filled with tears once more, and turned her head. So this was really it. He just wouldn't give in, and now she knew it was her turn. "Well Harry," she spat, and stood from the bed with tears in her eyes," Then it's finally over… I can't… I can't do this anymore... I have to go," and with this she opened his door and slammed it. She whelped as her body suffocated itself from the heaving tears flowing through her eyes, and the sorrow that filled the very pit of her stomach. Hermione ran as she left her room hearing a slam and knelt down to Ginny's level, trying to hold her up from the fallen position upon the floor.
"Ginny, calm down, please," she then began to stroke her red hair," please tell me what's wrong." Ginny sobbed as she raised her head to Hermione's level, and spoke, "We, we just will never be, and it's killing me Hermione, it really is. He's so thick headed; I wish he would just let us in." Hermione held her close as she sobbed some more, and just nodded," I know Gin, I know," and as she tried to raise Ginny up, Ron came through the hallway wide eyed at his sister on the floor," WHAT THE HELL?" he yelled, and ran to help her up along with Hermione," What happened?" Hermione just shot a glare, and as the stood Ginny on her feet, she began to walk her to their room, and spoke," She's just upset about Harry Ron; I think everyone is just upset about tonight. Go to bed, I'll deal with her." "GO TO BED? HERMIONE, THAT'S MY SISTER!"
"RON!" she yelled back this time fuming with frustration, and of course the loss of sleep, "PLEASE GO AWAY! I'LL DEAL WITH IT!" Ron froze for a moment, but seeing that Hermione was clearly not at her best talk at the moment, he just nodded and let her go. He watched for a moment as both girls disappeared behind the door, and now feeling enraged he stormed into his room to find Harry looking out the window once more. "What did you do now?" he spat. Harry simply turned his head giving a glare, and then eyed back out the window," None of your business Ron, we just talked, she got upset, end of discussion." "THAT'S NOT THE END OF THE DISSCUSSION HARRY! MY SISTER IS BALLING HER EYES OUT BECAUSE OF YOU, NOW WHAT DID YOU SAY?" Harry turned himself completely around and stood only an inch away from Ron's nose. The moment felt tense, but Harry didn't care at this point. He wanted to make his point, and by golly he was. "Ron, stay out of this. It's not your damn business what goes on between me and Ginny. She got mad because I don't want to date her, and so now I'm going to bed to get little sleep before I have to kill a boy with white hair downstairs. So move," and with a shove out of the way towards Ron he climbed himself in bed throwing the blanket over himself.
Ron just stood bemused by what just happened, and frowned in disgust, "What happened to you Harry?" Quietly he turned, and did the same as he climbed into bed. Tonight was surly a rough night, so sleep would either ease the situation, or worsen it. Either way, the tension grew.
The Death Eaters had been sent for. There was always an important update or set of plans awaiting them when they were called to the Dark Lord's side. Being summoned was almost thrilling for those who remained loyal him. For those who were traitors, it posed as a death threat.
A hooded figure made its way into Little Hangleton, making its way to the old Riddle Manor. Under the hood, a pale, sunken face could barely be seen. Long black hair billow from under the hood. The bottom of the cloak swished in the winds. As the figure reached Riddle Manor, two small hands with long fingers pulled at the hood, moving it away from the figure's head.
The figure was indeed a woman with her heavily-lidded, chocolate brown eyes, staring unblinkingly at the door to the mansion, an expression of determination. The woman's face had been much more lively before her sentence into Azkaban. Now it looked almost wrinkled from day after day of living within the grip of dementors.
Bellatrix Black-Lestrange stood outside the front door of the large building, debating whether or not to knock or to apparate inside. Finally, Bellatrix disappeared with a POP! and reappeared in the sitting room of the mansion, standing just behind the chair in which her Master presumably sat. "I have arrived, my Lord," she said clearly in a slight monotone, bowing deeply although she was sure that he could not see her. The dark Lord then motioned his eyes towards his servant in front of him, and grinned slightly as Bella stood only a couple feet away from him. His most loyal servant. He knelt his head down as she bowed towards him, and motioned her over to the seat next to him, " Thank you my dear Bellatrix, we shall be awaiting the others." His eyes then shot a glare to Peter who positioned himself near the corner, and widened his eyes as one by one they appeared before him. Snape arrived shortly after everyone , and sat himself right in front of the dark Lord, and then Hadrian O' Malley found himself next to Snape. Finally, with Macnair, and Roldolphus joined with the others, he could move on with his discussion.
" Finally," the Dark Lord called as he stood from his chair, " we are all here now. I must tell you all, I give you great pleasure in knowing that we are very close to victory." He then began to walk about his chair, and around the room, " They are weak, and slowly falling apart just as I suspected with Dumbledore's death. Now, it is up to us to crush them at their weakest, and merrily, yet slowly take what's ours." Snape shifted in his chair slightly, and with a small look to see if it was clear he raised a hand to grab attention, " Pardon me My Lord, " he called as his jet black hair slid down the side of his face, " what is it that you had in mind?"
The Dark Lord turned, and smiled curtly as his fellow death eater asked the question he had been dying to answer, " Very good you asked Severus. You see my friends, it is time we take action now, and when I mean now, I mean in two days." "Two days?" Bella asked abruptly, but with a small glare from the Dark Lord she hushed her voice, and nodded. " Yes, two days Bella. The army in the east has sent word to us that they are making way here. I would say in a couple months they will be here, and we can finish this war. Icarus, their leader is getting very tired of the same war that they are going through in the east, so we are both working together to end this. Now as for a couple days ahead," and with this he sat in his arm chair leaning his back up against the board, " Lafandian is a place that stands between us and the Order. Once Lafandian is taken we will have access to Godric tomb, and the whole eastern part of England. Once we have all this we can begin to celebrate. Now Bella, please come forward."
Bella froze for a moment, unsure as to what was going on, but once she saw that her Lord wished it, she stood quietly and knelt down before him with her head down," What is it that you ask of me my lord?" Voldemort smiled and continued," I want you to lead Fenir, and the pack of wolves to Lafandian cemetery before mid day. There you will await my signal, and when it is given you will attack the town. Do not let anyone survive. We can't afford it. Will you accept this task?"
Bella felt quite honored, and as she rose herself from the ground, she nodded, and followed her way to the door," I will get right on it my Lord." The door was then opened, and she exited out to prepare for the days ahead. Voldemort grinned as his plan was beginning to unfold, and once he spotted Lucius his grinned disappeared, and all that was shown was the face of an agitated man. " Lucius Malfoy, step forward." Lucius sighed nervously as he stood before Voldemort , and knelt his head. " You failed me again Lucius, now why is that?"
Lucius looked around to the others, but seeing as know one was going to help defend his position he took a big gulp , and continued," Forgive me my Lord, but Draco heard word of our arrival, and left before we could get to him. The Order somehow knew as well, but we did get Narcissa, and she is in our care." " I DON'T WANT NARCISSA! I WANT THAT BOY DEAD LUCIUS!" Voldemort's voice bellowed, and everyone looked in fear. Lucius nodded slightly," Yes my Lord, I will make sure I do all that I can to make sure that is done."
Voldemort nodded, and motioned a hand away to let him depart. Once he was gone out of his sight he smiled deeply eyeing all his servants, and with a snap of his finger, cups formed filled with champagne into each of their hands, and with a raise of his glas spoke, " Here is to our victory in two days. May we finally have what is ours… a pureblooded nation filled in our rule."