Chapter 8 which is the last one I wrote in the summer before I started college and it took me ages. I'm going to try and continue the story because it's a shame to abandon it. Love you all for reading!

Chapter 8

After Bellatrix's proclamation, the curtain upon the stage was ripped open and a short, incredibly fat man strode into view.

"Hello there, Ladies and Gentlemen!" he boomed, shoving the house-elf roughly aside. "I am Horace Slughorn, the most famous magical barber in the country! And I demand to know who is making these slanderous accusations about my elixir!"

He glared at the uncomfortable audience.

"Me." stated Voldemort calmly and the surrounding witches and wizards seemed to shuffle away from him so that he was entirely exposed to the furious stare of Horace Slughorn.

"My name is Lord Voldemort and I have seen your so-called elixir and have come to the conclusion that it is nothing but a fraud concocted from Doxycide and Wartcap Powder!" he continued boldly.

He strode towards Slughorn, holding his wand aloft. "Do you see this wand?" he yelled, turning to face the crowd. "I bet five galleons that I can do far superior magic with this wand than you have performed in a lifetime! Which of you wizards cares for a free shave?" he called to the audience.

Horace Slughorn gave a sceptical chuckle and brandished his own wand.

"You'll regret this, m'boy!" he spat, thrusting his cloak onto a chair. "Dobby!"

The little elf came scurrying back onto the stage.

"I accept your challenge! We'll see who the real fraudster is!" he cried theatrically.

Two wizards, one of which being Arthur Weasley, clamboured onto the stage.

"Will Mr Pettigrew be the judge?" suggested Voldemort, inclining his head towards Wormtail, the grip on his wand tightening.

"Always glad to assist my fellow magical community." he drawled, grinning at the spectators. "The fastest, smoothest shave is the winner!"

Slughorn immediately began to shout out complicated incantations, brandishing equipment out of thin air with a flourish of his wand.

"Of course, I've done this a thousand times before." He assured the gaggle of spectators, craning their necks for a better view. "Could do this in my sleep!" he chortled, lathering the wizard's face with the concoction he had just brewed.

"Oh yes, I have many a famous customer!" he said slyly, puffing out his chest self-importantly and winking at the crowd. "Why, just the other day I had the honour of shaving Gilderoy Lockhart. But, of course, we've been in contact for years!" Slughorn chuckled.

He narrowed his eyes at Voldemort who was still lathering his customer's face with a look of concentration upon his gaunt features.

"You probably think I'm jesting, Lord." Slughorn sneered, the last word dripping with sarcasm, "but I have evidential proof!" He nodded smugly at the audience before shooting Dobby the house-elf a warning glare.

Dobby scuttled backstage and reappeared a second later with a photograph of Slughorn grinning excitedly at the camera with his arm around a very handsome wizard with wavy blonde hair who was also grinning toothily at the camera.

On it was written in elegant writing:

"To Horace,

Thanks for the shave!

-Gildeory"

The crowd murmured approvingly and a few witches giggled stupidly.

"This shaving malarkey isn't as easy as it may look you know!" he wagged a chubby finger. "It's a fine art! Fortunately I was born with the skills necessary to-"

"The winner is Mr Voldemort!"

Slughorn stopped mid-sentence, his mouth agape in shock, as he turned around to face Voldemort who was standing next to a fully-shaved Arthur Weasley.

"Lord…" muttered Voldemort irritably, but his words were drowned out by the cheers of the spectators.

Slughorn tried to disguise his look of fury into a smile.

"I bow down to a skill far greater than my own." he said in an undertone.

"My five galleons." hissed Voldemort, holding out his hand expectantly.

Slughorn scowled but thrust the coins into Voldemort's palm.

"Dobby!" be bellowed, and the little elf was kicked violently behind the curtain once more.

As Voldemort and Bellatrix were headed back to the pie shop, Wormtail approached.

"My Lord, I was wondering if you had your own establishment?" he enquired, stroking his own untamed stubble.

"He certainly does. Above my meat pie emporium on Knockturn Alley." Bellatrix said, proudly.

"Then, Sir, you will be sure to see me there before the end of the week." said Wormtail.

"It will be an honour." replied Voldemort, smirking slightly as he clutched his wand in anticipation.