Voldemort paced in the drawing room of the Malfoys' mansion, processing the news he had been given.

Bellatrix being Kissed was unfortunate but the loss was not that great. He would be able to have his revenge and make the Ministry rue the day they decided to do that to one of his favoured followers. He would ensure that no less than ten Ministry workers would lose their souls in retaliation.

It was the loss of Nagini that had him worried. It was quite clear what had happened. Snape had gone after the snake, that much was immediately obvious. Nagini would not have bitten the man so viciously if that wasn't the case. Wormtail, however … while the man was a proven coward the fact still remained that it was his hand that had crushed Nagini's skull. One look at Pettigrew's corpse showed that it was the failsafe built into the hand that had killed the man the moment he had betrayed his master.

What he did not know was the why. Why had Snape gone after Nagini?

Well, he was about to find out…

'How is he?' he said, barely suppressing the rage coursing through his veins.

'Stable, my lord.' The healer said respectfully. 'I have managed to purge his body of all the venom just in time … a second more, and it would have been too late.' He didn't find it necessary to mention that doing this in such a short time was quite a brutal method and was liable to have many long-term debilitating effects on the patient. After all, it wasn't as if Snape was going to be living much longer.

'Good,' Voldemort said smoothly. 'Bring him to me.'

The healer knew from experience not to argue or protest direct orders from his master.

Voldemort leered at the unconscious form of what he thought was his most faithful Death Eater. In his long fingered hands, he held a phial of Veritaserum brewed by the very same man. He could appreciate the irony of it being used on its creator.

'I trust he is rendered appropriately confounded?' he asked, without taking his eyes off Snape.

'As you ordered, my lord,' the healer said diffidently.

Both men knew that for Veritaserum to be truly effective, the victim mustn't see it coming, so to speak. Foreknowledge of it being administered was one of the truth potion's greatest weaknesses. It was the primary reason why it couldn't really be used to get confessions from criminals. An alert wizard could easily counteract the effects, especially when they possessed such strong will, which an Occlumens possessed in spades.

A few drops and a whispered spell later, Severus Snape was pouring out his deepest darkest secrets to the last person he wanted to be telling those secrets to who wasn't named Potter.

Voldemort steadily grew angrier and angrier as he heard the traitor's confession. It was clear that he shouldn't have trusted that greasy bastard (and his treachery really rankled). The question was what did Dumbledore have to gain from wasting such a valuable asset on Nagini. The old man did not carry out such actions on a whim. Snape certainly had no idea about the reasons for those orders. Voldemort had to give the old man some credit, unlike him, Dumbledore didn't trust this grease-ball at all. There were literally no secrets Snape had to share of Dumbledore or his dratted Order that he hadn't already shared when not under Veritaserum. The only things new were the actions this hook-nosed scum had taken behind his master's back, and his true loyalty.

Dumbledore had really played him well. It meant that all the information on the members of the Order were all false.

Speaking of which. Did Dumbledore suspect …?

He tightly suppressed the fear that coursed through his veins. There was no way he could have known. He had been sure to keep everything a secret. Even if Dumbledore suspected, he would not have accounted for the number of Horcruxes he had created. Even if, somehow, the meddlesome old man had found out, there was still the matter of the hiding places. He had been very careful of that.

Still, he had to be sure…

A light groaning caught his attention. Gleaming ruby red eyes snapped to the feebly stirring form of Severus Snape.

With a start, the man awoke. Black eyes that for so long were cold met pitiless scarlet eyes. Only this time, there was fear in Severus Snape's gaze.

'M-m my –'

'Silence, traitor!' Voldemort hissed in rage. Twitching his wand, he sent Snape sailing through the air and into the far wall where the spy landed in a heap with a groan.

'You've never felt my displeasure before, have you Severus?' Voldemort said dangerously as he approached the downed wizard. 'You are one of the very few of my Death Eaters whom I have never found cause to use the Cruciatus Curse on in the past. Not even when you came to me two years ago spinning your lies, no doubt at the behest of that old man. Well.' His eyes gleamed maliciously and his nostrils flared. 'Today is your lucky day!'

With that, he pointed his wand and hissed 'Crucio!' putting all his rage and anger into the curse. The high pitched screams of the man did little to alleviate his fury.

'I hope you liked that, Severus?' he asked silkily. 'Because you are going to be experiencing that and more tonight.' He turned to the healer. 'Take him to the dungeons, and tell Rodolphus and Rabastan that they have one night to do as they please with this man. I don't care if they whip him, burn him, disembowel him or make him eat his own genitals. He should coherent till dawn.' He turned back to Snape. 'Coherent enough to know he is being executed.'

He watched dispassionately as Snape was dragged out of the room. The two Lestrange brothers will be quite pleased to take out their anger on one of the men responsible for dear Bella's capture and death.

'My lord,'

'What is it Runcorn?'

'I have managed to break her my lord.'

'And did you learn anything interesting?'

Albert Runcorn had the look of someone who had indeed found something very interesting indeed. 'I have indeed my lord.' He said in a rush. In hushed voices, he told Voldemort everything he had learnt.

Red eyes gleamed in the darkness. 'This is very interesting news, Runcorn,' Voldemort said, pleased. 'You have done well.'

'Thank you, my lord.'

A terrible smile stole across bone white features. 'Your arm, Runcorn. We have a lot of planning to do.'

Pressing his finger on the Dark Mark, Voldemort's laughter echoed in the large room. Dumbledore and his ilk won't see this coming.

Dumbledore sat across Harry in the drawing room and looked at his student gravely. 'I have sad news, Harry,' he said at length. 'Your relatives were attacked last night. I am sorry to say that none of them survived.'

Harry was silent for a very long time. 'My sources say,' Dumbledore continued. 'That Voldemort himself was behind this attack.'

Eventually, Harry shrugged. 'I know I should feel sad … perhaps a little guilty,' he began. 'But I don't.' he looked at Dumbledore. 'It wasn't as if I had good memories of them and I hold as much regard for them as they did for me, which is to say none at all.'

Dumbledore did not look happy, something that Harry noticed. 'And frankly you felt the same way, sir. After all, you only found out about their deaths after the deed was done. I think if you cared more, you would have either relocated them to ensure they weren't found or put in some form of system in place to ensure that they did not come to harm.'

'You make a compelling argument, Harry.' Dumbledore said softly.

Just then a Patronus burst into the room.

'Death Eaters are attacking Hogsmeade,' it said in Lupin's voice. 'They are out in force; we need all the help we can get.'

Dumbledore got to his feet. 'Harry, stay here.' He said urgently. Just then Moody burst into the room.

'Albus did you get the news?' the scarred man asked Dumbledore.

'I did and I will be going there presently.' Dumbledore replied. 'Meanwhile, stay here and keep guard. We can't be too careful.'

'Constant vigilance,' Moody said with a decisive nod. 'Go, give them hell.'

'I will send word.'

'Hang on,' Harry said indignantly. 'I can come too. I want to help!'

The two old men exchanged glances. 'I am afraid not, boy,' Moody growled. 'You are going to be sitting this one out.'

Harry opened his mouth to argue, but Dumbledore cut him off. 'Harry,' the headmaster said gently but firmly. 'I respect your talents and will be the first to say that you have improved in leaps and bounds. However, I must insist you stay here. No,' he raised his voice when Harry tried to argue again. 'Now is not the time. You are still untested in battle. It is one thing to be able to duel an Auror trainee in a controlled environment, it is another matter entirely to be going into a pitched battle. Besides, I am confident that the situation can be easily resolved. Also, you have other priorities now.' Bright blue eyes flicked upstairs pointedly. 'I also suspect that Voldemort might be trying to draw you out. After all, I haven't heard back from my … friend yet.'

Harry closed his mouth, considering what Dumbledore told him. If what the headmaster suspected had happened, then Voldemort either suspected or outright knew.

'Fine,' he said sullenly.

'Thank you,' Dumbledore said with a nod. With long strides, he made his way out of the drawing room and towards the front door.

'Be careful, Harry.' He said, turning around one last time. 'While I am confident in the protective enchantment, one cannot be too careful. Be ever vigilant. Wait for my signal and stay indoors.'

'Yes sir,'

'Good, oh and Harry?' Dumbledore waited till he had Harry's gaze. 'Remember, it's Albus.'

'Sure,' Harry said with a tentative smile. 'Albus,' the name sounded quite foreign in his mouth.

Harry watched from the doorway as Fawkes appeared over Dumbledore's head with a flash of fire and disappear with the headmaster.

'I'll go outside and keep an eye on the perimeter,' Moody said gruffly, taking his invisibility cloak out. 'Stay indoors with the kid.'

Nodding Harry wondered just what Voldemort was planning. This sort of tactic was not something he saw the Dark Wizard doing. He generally kept such attacks to the Muggle side.

A feral smile came on Rodolphus Lestrange's face when his mark tingled.

Dumbledore had joined the fray.

'Let's go,' he barked over his shoulder.

The eleven Death Eaters poured out of the shadows of Knockturn Alley and into Diagon Alley.

Rodolphus did not bother taking in the sights of the deserted alley. He and his men had a mission to carry out given to him specifically by their lord. Besides, now that Dumbledore had become involved, they had little time to carry out their task. He took a swig from the phial of energy potion he carried with him. Torturing and executing Snape, while fun was still rather draining. He had had very little sleep as it was. Still, he did not regret making the man scream long into the night. He and his brother had taken special care to follow all his master's directions to the letter.

Eventually, they had just left him to die in the dungeons. There really was no point in spending the energy to kill him, and they had work to do in the morning. Priorities had to be set, after all.

The Death Eaters prowled up to their destination unmolested.

Climbing up the steps, they paused when the golden doors ahead of them clanged shut.

With a gesture, four of the Death Eaters stepped forward and raised their wands, yanking the doors open forcefully with simultaneously cast summoning charms.

The silver doors inside fared no better.

'Hello, everyone,' Rodolphus said pleasantly, removing his mask. 'I would like to access my vaults, if you don't mind.'

The small assortment of witches, wizards and goblins who were in the bank recoiled as one upon seeing his face, all gasping in fear. Their terror was increased even more when the other nine Death Eaters fanned out, taking strategic positions around the bank, leaving Rodolphus and one tall thin Death Eater to stand in the centre.

'Now, now,' Rodolphus said as one of the Death Eaters subdued a security goblin who looked like he was about to try becoming a hero. 'There's no need to fuss. I just wish to access my vault, and we all shall be out of your hair. It's just business, after all…'

Slowly, one elderly goblin stepped forward. 'Mr Lestrange,' the creature said with a bow. 'Gringotts is always happy to serve its customers. Please, follow me.'

Rodolphus grinned. 'Excellent,' he addressed the crowd, 'In the meantime, my friends here will keep you company. We wouldn't want you to feel lonely, now would we? Lead the way, goblin.' Rodolphus nodded condescendingly, ignoring the resentful looks being sent his way. He knew his history. All those Goblin rebellions had rendered these bloodthirsty creatures toothless. Their goblin steel was no match for Wizard magic. Besides, their warriors had long died out, leaving only these weak things who had no recourse but to take care of wizarding gold in order to survive.

The goblin eyed Rodolphus' companion warily when they entered the tunnels leading to the vaults.

'Is there a problem?'

'Yes,' the goblin said blandly. 'I was under the impression I was taking only you, sir, to your vaults. Not any … companions of yours.' He glanced at the man next to Rodolphus as he said that.

The man in question cocked his head. Slowly, he lowered his hood and removed his mask, pinning the goblin with his red-eyed stare.

'I do believe Rodolphus has no issue with me being here,' Voldemort's high cold voice echoed in the cavern.

The goblin quailed under those pitiless eyes, but to its credit, managed to regain its composure. 'Very well,' he said at length. 'If you gentlemen would please step into the cart.'

Rodolphus privately thought that there was nothing odder than seeing the Dark Lord sitting in a Gringotts cart as they twisted and turned through the myriad corridors and tunnels to the Lestrange vault.

Voldemort sat with unnatural stillness, not so much as twitching as the cart careened its way down. Smoothly standing up, he got out of the cart, an expression of studied boredom on his face as he looked around.

Under the baleful glare of the Dark Lord, the goblin and the Death Eater hurried towards the dragon guarding the vault which the goblin swiftly tamed using the clankers he had bought with him.

Rodolphus bowed Voldemort inside the vault. The Dark Lord ignored the wealth on display, searching for one particular item.

'Where is it?' he finally hissed impatiently. 'Where is the cup that I had entrusted with you, Lestrange?'

'It should be right here, my lord,' Rodolphus said hesitatingly as he swept a mound of gold out of his way. 'I remember keeping it in this shelf right here.' He whipped around to face the goblin. 'Has anyone accessed the vaults before today?'

'I shall check, sir,' the goblin said slowly. It backed up and moved towards a telephone-like device that was recessed into the wall. Picking it up, he started speaking in rapid-fire Gobbledegook.

Putting the instrument back against its place, the goblin calmly walked towards the two wizards. 'I have spoken to the Branch Manager in charge of the vaults of ancient families, and he has confirmed that the vault has been accessed once in the recent past by a ministry official.'

'And he took…?!' Voldemort said, feeling a mixture of fear and anger that he did not show openly.

'Well, one item was taken,' the goblin said in apologetic tones. 'While Gringotts does its best to ensure client privacy, we are still bound by Ministry Law. The chalice that was taken was allegedly a contested item. You shall be glad to know, Mr Lestrange, that we ensured nothing else was taken.'

The goblin's professional tone and stoic façade would have been enough for a normal wizard, even one such as Rodolphus (who hadn't flown into rage yet). However, Voldemort was a different animal altogether.

With a cry of rage, the Dark Lord blasted the goblin with green light so violently that the creature's body violently exploded, dousing a shocked Rodolphus with goblin guts.

Just then, the dragon poked its head around the corner and roared.

That was all it got to do, for its life ended courtesy of a thin delicate looking black jet of light sent its way by Voldemort that pierced its skull through its mouth.

'Get back to the bank,' Voldemort snarled at Rodolphus, sounding a lot calmer now that he had vented some of his frustration on the dragon and the goblin. 'Round up the others, get everyone else and go to Hogsmeade. Lay waste to everything! I will join you shortly.'

'But m-my l-lord,' Rodolphus stuttered when Voldemort turned his back and strode away from the tracks. 'How will we get to the surface? Wouldn't we need the goblin to –'

With another cry of rage, Voldemort whipped out his wand and sent Rodolphus flying arse over teakettle into the empty cart they had arrived in. Another spell sent the cart careening back the way it came at double the speed.

'Imbecile.' Voldemort murmured under his breath as the last of Lestrange's screams faded away. It was a pity he couldn't kill the idiot yet.

Rising to the air, he flew up at top speed. Blasting a hole into the ceiling, he emerged into the building, scattering both bystander and Death Eater alike. Not paying them any mind, he blew through the doors and took to the skies.

He was angry when he reached the Gaunt Shack. He was furious when he left it. The ring, with its cracked stone seemed to mock him along with the golden box that was carelessly lying near the erstwhile Horcrux.

Blowing through the roof, a furious Voldemort wended towards the cave, fear and anger both driving him to speeds unheard of.

Seeing the fake locket with the note written and signed by a person who could only be Regulus Arcturus Black, Voldemort was no longer furious.

He was now apoplectic with rage.

He blew a massive hole into the side of the cavern, letting all the contents sluice off into the sea.

Taking to the air again, he considered his options.

He could join his Death Eaters and the allies they had gathered and finish Dumbledore off.

Or…

There was no way the old fool had found the Horcrux he had hidden in Hogwarts. He was sure of that fact.

So he could take care of one little matter before joining his forces.

Smiling maliciously, Voldemort adjusted his course.

Landing a short while later, he fished through his robes, thinking of what Runcorn had told him.

The Death Eater had kidnapped a witch the Aurors were trailing. What had aroused Runcorn's curiosity about this witch was that she once worked for the Department of Mysteries. His curiosity was further spiked when he found out that the Department of Mysteries was very anxious to get her, and yet, very tight-lipped about why they wanted her.

And so, Runcorn had stunned his partner and faked the woman's death.

Voldemort had not given much thought to his Death Eater's captive. After all, he had no interest in every single Muggle, wizard, witch, being or creature his followers decided to bring in from the road.

That all changed the last night.

A cruel smile came on his face when he found the metal rod that had been stashed away by Runcorn's captive somewhere in Roswell.

So the Ministry had created another version of the boy as an insurance against him, eh? And they were inept enough to lose it to Dumbledore who in turn was senile enough to allow the boy to play house with it! It explained how the brat had survived the second Killing Curse. Once he had those two dead, he will parade their naked mutilated bodies in Hogsmeade for everyone to see! Because there was no way he was going to be killing them using the Killing Curse. Oh no, he was going to be very thorough when killing Harry Potter now.

Bringing his wand tip to the metal rod, he started chanting. The rod explained why the Ministry wanted the woman back. It held the means to tracking their project down, no matter what protective charms were placed around that thing (and he refused to acknowledge that creature as another human being). It could also activate a little charmed piece embedded into the thing's forehead that would kill all protective enchantments around it.

The rod started vibrating, causing a thrill of excitement to flow through Voldemort. He took to the air, letting the device guide him.

Death was coming for Harry Potter. And this time he was going to ensure that both versions were going to meet their demise.

And now we approach the end, people. A nice little cliffhanger to tide you over till next week!

Till then!