A/N: Someone pointed out to me that Voldy has been missing completely in the story. Oops, I totally forgot about him. So this chapter brings us up to date on his plans. Also, congrats to YaoiSlash for the 900th review! Thank you so much for reading this tale of mine!
EDIT: I had it pointed out to me that Bellatrix had been kissed, so a little bit of change was necessary.
Chapter 30- The Wicked Side of Things
A small, black-hooded figure appeared on a windy hillside, making sure their pristine silver mask was firmly in place before striding down the hill to a fairly large manor home. The slim figure could have been either male or female if not for the broadening shoulders. He was young, still Hogwarts age, yet his pace revealed neither fear nor uncertainty. A ring on the second finger of his left hand was the only clue to his identity. It was heavy silver with a large opal, a delicate 'L' scripted in elegant calligraphy on its surface.
It was the lordship ring for the Lestrange family, the young Death Eater wearing it was none other than Torian Lestrange. He rubbed the stone lightly with his right hand, opal stood for hope and he counted on that hope to bring him through the war. This was the first time he'd been Called since the marking ceremony and he had to hand it to Severus Snape, the man was able to mask completely the excruciating pain that seared through the Mark.
As he approached the manor it suddenly revealed a blood-red ward. Torian lifted his left forearm, tilting the inner side and the Mark toward the ward. When he stepped through there was an extremely unpleasant tingle and for a long second the ward clung to him like a cloying mist. It finally let go when he was five paces past. Torian shuddered in remembered horror of the fate of a muggleborn witch when the Dark Lord had tested his newly erected ward. Her bloody and broken body had haunted his dreams for days afterward.
When he reached the meeting room he immediately found an open place in the large circle and dropped to one knee, face down, one hand on the floor to support the awkward position. He remained silent, staring at the white marble floor. He wondered if the bloodstains had been removed from the 'spot of torture' the Dark Lord had enjoyed at his initiation. Torian could hear something heavy moving along the floor, rasping slightly as it changed direction. He resisted jumping when it turned out to be Nagini, who slid around his bare hand.
She moved on and seconds later a figure took the place on his right. The quickest glance sideways easily revealed the identity and Torian couldn't resist letting his upper lip curl behind the mask in a snarl of rage. It was his father, Rodolphus Lestrange. The effort it took to stay where he was and not attack the man who had committed patricide in the death of Torian's grandfather left him quivering in suppressed fury.
Torian didn't think he could get any angrier, he was proven wrong when the place to his left was taken by none other than Fenrir Greyback. He was fairly quivering, but Torian could easily tell it was from excitement and eagerness. He swallowed back the bile in his throat, staring fixedly at the floor and ignoring the parents to either side of him. Unfortunately, Rodolphus didn't intend on doing the same.
"Look at you," he sneered, just the faintest of pride in his voice, "precious Torian where you belong, serving the Dark Lord and his desires along with your father."
Torian couldn't resist. "I am kneeling between followers, nothing else. My father was murdered at your hands. Tell me Rodolphus, do you still blame your father for Rabastan's death or do you realise it was his own bloody fault for taking on a superior wizard?"
Rodolphus tensed and snarled, "You are my son. He met his end as we always knew he would, a coward with no loyalty to family. You were no son of his."
"Oh? How is it he skipped both you and your lovely wife and gave me the honour of Lord of the Lestrange family then? Or did you think he would still give it to you after you disgraced your family name by blindly following the Dark Lord and spending 13 years in Azkaban for an attack on a fellow pureblood family?"
Rodolphus opened his mouth to cut a retort and was cut off, like any other speaker, when the Dark Lord made his entrance from one of the side doors. Eying the man, Torian was amused when he compared the Dark Lord to Severus and Voldemort came up wanting. Severus' walk is more intimidating. It's that bloody cloak of his. I wonder if anyone's told the Dark Lord that?
The Dark Lord sat imperiously on his fake 'throne' and hissed at Nagini. His scarlet eyes traveled around the circle of followers and narrowed as they reached the end. After a long moment he hissed, "Ssso both Ssseverus and Luciuss have desserted uss? They will pay for their treachery along with the ressst of the pathetic Light. Fenrir, how goesss our recruitment?"
Fenrir tilted his head, exposing golden eyes that were more than slightly insane in appearance and spoke in a triumphant tone, "My Lord, we have 10 new recruits for our next ceremony. We have also gained the giants and the Dementors as you had predicted. We are waiting on the vampires' reply to our invitation."
"Good. Torian, how goess your attempt to join the Order of the Phoenix?"
Torian tightened his shields and lifted his head. Refusing to flinch as he met crimson eyes he said, "Dumbledore is cautious at the moment, My Lord, but I am making progress. Apparently he is frustrated with the lack of information. It appears Severus Snape was working on his orders the entire time. At the moment he is trying to bring back Severus along with the Lord Black and his heir. I have returned to Hogwarts as ordered and so far there has been no sign of the Malfoy, Parkinson, Zabini and Black heirs. They appear to have deserted the school for a private education."
The Dark Lord was staring at him intensely and after a long moment he hissed, "The Black heir iss half-ssibling to the Potter heir, issn't he?"
"No longer, my Lord. He underwent a Blood Recognition Ceremony with his father last term and had the Mudblood Lady Evans-Potter removed as his mother."
"Pity. It would have been useful to have a bargaining chip with the Potter heir," Voldemort mused aloud.
"My Lord, if I may be so bold, it wouldn't have worked in any case. The Potter and Black heirs loathe each other. The Potter heir would rather let the other rot than lift a finger to help him."
"Crucio," the Dark Lord hissed. Torian refused to scream as the curse set his nerves on fire. When the Dark Lord finally released him he lay panting on the floor. Shakily he drew himself back to his former position.
"I did not ask for your opinion, young Lord Lestrange. I suggest you remember to hold your tongue in the future."
The Dark Lord turned away from him toward one of the others and said, "Selwyn how goes our progress in infiltrating the Ministry?"
"Scrimgeour is a very cautious individual my Lord. He was formerly head of the Auror Department. However, we have placed an Imperious on several lower-level individuals in the Auror Department."
"Do not ever bring word of lack of progresss, Selwyn. The Ministry is our boldest venture so far, yet it is very important in the future of thingsss. Place your next Imperious on someone in the Educational Department; it would be beneficial if we had control of Hogwartss soon after or before the Ministry."
Voldemort continued on with other smaller projects and Torian simply stared at the floor. He had the most important information already. When they were dismissed he stood and departed, making sure he was out of the Manor and past the wards before his father OR the feral werewolf could catch up with him. Once through he Apparated to the barrier of Hogwarts. Withdrawing a piece of parchment he wrote a quick message for his friends in Italy and whistled.
His eagle owl flew down from the trees and landed on his forearm. Torian stroked the bird's crest and attached the note. After the bird had taken off again he strode through the school wards and headed straight for the Headmaster's office. His body was beginning to tremble from the Cruciatus and he hoped the meeting wouldn't take that long. Reaching past his Occlumency shields he pulled forward the contents of the meeting and a few random thoughts and emotions. It wouldn't do for Albus Dumbledore to realise he was hiding other, vital information. Such as Sirius Black and the other defector's current address.
He gave himself another long moment to berate his attitude toward his father. Rodolphus had a long memory and he would most likely pay dearly for his cheek before then next meeting. He shrugged slightly and made his way toward the Headmaster's office. The damage had already been done, he would simply have to deal with the consequences and remember in the future that he was a Slytherin and beyond such petty arguments.