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...Perhaps it was because things had been going so bad lately that he could not stand more bad news. Perhaps it was because he was assured that Dumbledore had not sent this man as a spy or a trick. Tom wasn't exactly sure why he did not just kill Wormtail, but there was no doubt that Wormtail, however useless he may have seem, would be his most loyal follower. And that, right there, was definitely useful...

CHAPTER 27: THE PROPHECY

If Tom thought that 1978 was a bad year, then 1979 was much worse. Things were happening fast now. The Death Eaters were enjoying many battles a day with various members of the Order of the Phoenix. Dumbledore was recruiting more and more people, as was Tom. The newest Death Eaters were several Hogwarts Slytherin Alumni that looked to be promising. But Tom's biggest surprise was when they arrived at Nott's mansion to receive the Dark Mark and he learned that among them was a young man called Avery.

Tom turned round to stare at his childhood friend, who, to his great surprise, did not look ashamed or embarrassed.

"Explain," said Tom simply, as he continued to hold young Avery's stretched out arm with half a Dark Mark carved into it.

"I wanted to surprise you, my lord," said the older Avery. "That's why I didn't tell you that I have a son who just graduated from Hogwarts."

"I…"

"He's been training with me and he's ready to join you now."

Tom looked from Avery to young Avery.

"I'm impressed," he finally said. "I had no idea."

"That was the intention," said Avery, who looked pleased with himself.

As soon as young Avery's arm was ready, he moved along the line and then stepped forward another young man with long black hair.

"Your name?" said Lucius, who stood on Tom's side with a clipboard and a quill.

"Don't recognize me, Lucius?" said the man.

Lucius looked up.

"Severus!" he cried, and gave him a hug.

"Gentlemen," said Tom, a little annoyed.

"My apologies, my lord," said Lucius, quickly, "But Severus here, went to Hogwarts when I was a Prefect. He's brilliant and he'll make you proud. I know it."

"Here's to hoping," said Tom.

"Severus Snape," the young man introduced himself, as Tom rolled up his sleeve and began to draw the Dark Mark.

To Tom's great surprise, the man did not even flinch as the wand carved into his arm. He simply stood there, looking Tom straight in the eye confidently.

"Move along," said Tom, once he was finished with Severus Snape.

The next man stepped forwards and Lucius took his name down as Mulciber. A little while later, Avery moved to Tom's other side and folded his arms.

"Looking good this year," he said as Mulciber moved away and a man called Crabbe stepped forwards.

"So, did you marry as well?" Tom asked Avery without looking at him.

"No," said Avery. "She died shortly after he was born. I only did it so that I could provide you with another servant who would follow in my footsteps after I'm gone."

"Well I hope that won't be anytime soon," said Tom, coolly.

Avery smiled.

Besides Rosier and Rowle, they were the only ones left from the original group of Death Eaters. They were the only ones who remembered how it all began. They were the only ones who knew Lord Voldemort's real name. And they were the only ones he trusted the most. Though, Lucius was coming very close and was already one of Tom's favourite advisors.

"Name?" he asked the next man in line, who looked as though he was possibly still at Hogwarts.

"Barty Crouch," said the boy.

"Stop," said Avery before he stepped forwards. The boy froze. "How old are you?"

"Seventeen," said the boy.

"You sure about that?" said Avery, narrowing his eyes.

"Hey, I know you!" cried Bellatrix who moved forwards to where the others stood.

Her voice was accusatory. Crouch turned to look at her.

"You're junior!" she cried. "Crouch's son!"

Crouch nodded.

"What are you talking about?" Tom asked Bellatrix.

"Barty Crouch of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement," Bellatrix clarified.

Tom acted fast. He directed his wand right at Crouch's nose and yelled "Legiliments!" He saw visions of the boy when he was younger, growing up in his Pureblood family. He saw visions of the boy crying in his mother's arms when his father missed yet another Quidditch match. He saw visions of the boy yelling that his father didn't care about him and his father yelling that the Ministry was more important than his teenage drama. He saw visions of the boy waltzing around the Slytherin common room with other prospective Death Eaters and swearing to serve Lord Voldemort for all eternity.

Tom withdrew from Crouch's mind and smiled.

"He's alright," he said and Lucius wrote his name down.

"Thank you, Bella," said Tom. She bowed low.

"Any word yet on the Potters and the Longbottoms?" Tom asked Avery as he administered the mark to an overly eager man called Igor Karkaroff.

"We've sent another message, more threatening-like this time, so they are expected to answer any day now," said Avery.

Tom nodded. He didn't really expect them to reject him again, but with Dumbledore, anything was possible. Still, they would be mighty foolish to defy him a second time. It would only make him all the more determined to slaughter them to bits and pieces.

Walden Macnair was the last to receive his Dark Mark that night, and then the Death Eaters drank to their newest members and toasted to a changed world. As the celebrations ensued, Tom sat in the corner of the room with his least favourite people, Orion and Walburga Black.

"I just couldn't help but notice that he hardly shows up at meetings anymore," Tom was saying to an anxious looking Walburga. "I am genuinely concerned for him."

The Blacks said nothing but continued to stare at Nagini who was hissing at their feet and whispering "I'm hungry" to Tom over and over again. He tried to hide his smile and look startled.

"Is he ill?" he asked the Blacks.

They shook their heads.

"Is he lost?"

They shook their heads again.

"He hasn't left us, has he?" said Tom.

Neither Orion nor Walburga moved or said a word.

"I see," said Tom. "This makes both your sons now, doesn't it?"

"We don't know where he is!" Walburga blurted out. "I swear it, my lord, I swear it on my most prized Black heirlooms, I do not know where he is. He just disappeared without a word. Could have been captured or killed. We just don't know!"

"Enough," said Tom, and he rose to his feet and straightened up his cloak. "Take your family scandals elsewhere."

And, with these his last ever words to her and her husband, he walked away.

The following night, the Blacks returned to Nott's house with a message from the Order of the Phoenix. They read out the bit of parchment which warned Lord Voldemort that if he wouldn't stop his wrongdoing, he would meet his end very soon. The letter also said that, though they were truly honoured, the Potters and the Longbottoms would rather die than join his ranks. Tom was furious. The other Death Eaters tried to comfort him but he was raged. He drew out his wand and fired a string full of various jinxes at the Blacks. They fell to the floor and squirmed in pain. Finally, having already weighed out his patience, they both died.

Silence filled the room.

"S-shall I take them away, m-my lord?" said Nott Jr, nervously.

"No," said Tom. "Nagini hasn't had her dinner yet."

And so the Death Eaters stood and watched in horror as Nagini moved forwards to where Orion and Walburga Black's lifeless forms lay on the floor.

Soon, it became apparent that Regulus was dead. Only Tom however was aware of the circumstances of his death. Nagini had informed him a couple of days later that Regulus had been taken by the inferi at the cave. Tom had most certainly not expected this. Regulus had been one of his favourites and now he realised that Regulus had interrogated that no-good house elf for information on what Tom had wanted with him.

"Well, he's dead now so nothing to worry about," Tom said to Nagini as they walked along their cliff under the moonlit sky.

"He was a well-practiced Legiliments," Nagini told him. "That's probably why you didn't see this coming."

"I should dispose of the house elf immediately," said Tom.

"Good luck finding him," laughed Nagini. "It's a suicide mission!"

"Maybe," said Tom, sighing. "Do you know...I wonder how many more of my Death Eaters are practiced Legiliments?"

"Snape," said Nagini. "He was the smartest of the Slytherins."

"And you know this how?"

"I overheard that bloke Pettigrew talking about it," said Nagini. "They hated each other back at Hogwarts but now they are inseparable. Our friend Snape seems to really like the idea of Pettigrew betraying Potter and his lot."

"Mmm," said Tom, chuckling to himself. "Well we'd better go back then. Wormtail will be arriving soon and as I take it, he has information."

They apparated to Malfoy Manor, which was the newly appointed headquarters of Death Eater meetings, seeing as how Nott Jr was not nearly as good a host as his father had been. Besides, the Malfoys were some of Tom's absolute favourites at the moment. They certainly knew how to please him.

Sure enough, when Tom and Nagini arrived and made their way over to the sitting room where all the Death Eaters were gathered, they saw that Wormtail was sitting at the table, with his rolled up sleeve proudly showing his Dark Mark.

"You bring news, I trust?" said Tom, sitting at the head of the table and motioning for Avery to sit beside him.

"My lord," said Wormtail. "The Order m-m-mentioned that H-Horace Slughorn r-retired from h-his t-t-t-teaching post at H-Hogwarts and is now in h-hiding. N-no one knows w-w-where he is. N-n-not even D-Dumbledore."

Tom stared at Wormtail but did not say a word. Unsure of what else to do, Wormtail continued.

"And t-t-the Order does not y-yet know that Augustus R-R-Rookwood is working as a s-spy f-f-for us."

Tom leaned over to Avery.

"Do you remember when you used to stutter like that?"

Avery laughed out loud, as did the rest of the Death Eaters.

"Why did I ever keep you around after that?" said Tom, who also chuckled softly.

"Because I was too brilliant for you to throw away," said Avery.

The Death Eaters laughed some more and even Wormtail joined in, though Tom knew he didn't find the matter funny at all and was rather fearful for his life.

"Thank you, Wormtail," said Tom kindly after the laughter subsided. "You are a good and faithful servant and I honestly do not know what I would do without you."

This caused the Death Eaters to burst into even louder laughter than before and several of them held their stomachs so as not to collapse completely. Tom could not hide his own smile either.

ONE YEAR LATER

Tom walked along the back gardens of Malfoy Manor, followed closely by his main Death Eater group which now consisted of Avery, Snape, Crouch, Malfoy, Wormtail, Nott, Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange, Macnair, Crabbe, Goyle, Rowle, and Rosier. Though Avery, Rowle, and Rosier had been there since the very beginning, Tom's new favourites were, without a doubt, Snape, Crouch, and Malfoy.

"So they have defied me again, have they?" said Tom coolly.

"Yes, my lord," said Malfoy.

"Well," said Tom. "The Longbottoms and the Potters have been given plenty of chances. I want them dead."

"It can't be done!" cried Nott. "Dumbledore has them well protected, sir!"

Tom swore.

"My lord," Snape spoke up next. "My advice is that you focus on the McKinnons. Word has it that they have contact with some of our men and will try to personally find us."

"Hmm," said Tom.

"I know a way to find them," Snape went on. "It would be prudent to attack them and that way we'll be sending the Order a message."

"I like the way you think," said Tom, and he actually smiled at Snape who bowed his head once to him.

At only 20 years old, Snape's career as a Death Eater looked to be very promising. In fact, he reminded Tom a lot of himself when he'd been at that age.

"My lord," said Malfoy, clearing his throat. "I have some news, my lord—some news that I think you will be most pleased to hear and it gives me great honor to present them to you myself."

Tom stopped walking and turned to look at Lucius. He could use some good news.

"Narcissa is with child," said Lucius, proudly.

The other men cheered and clapped him on the back. Tom smiled.

"Well done, Lucius!" he said, and for the first time, he hugged him. The other Death Eaters watched, amazed. Tom had never shown such affection for any of them.

"So Nott's boy will be older than him!" exclaimed Wormtail.

"Yeah, Theodora is expecting him sometime next month," said Nott, shyly.

"Lucky—my kid is not due for another four months," growled Crabbe.

Goyle scoffed.

"At least you have a name for yours," he said. "We still can't decide between Goyle Jr and Goyle Jr Jr."

"How thick are you?!" cried Rosier. "Crabbe's kid's name is Crabbe! Not that hard to come up with."

The others laughed out loud.

"I see 1980 is the year of the babies," said Tom, dully.

The laughter intensified.

"My lord," said Snape, who was always so serious and rarely ever laughed. "Might I join you in tomorrow night's rally? I really think that I am ready."

"I know you are, Severus," said Tom, as the group began to walk again. "But I do not want you to join me for the simple reason that you are too important a follower and I don't want to lose you."

"Being at your side will be the safest place for me," said Snape.

Tom thought long and hard.

"Alright," he finally said. "Wormtail stays then."

"But, m-m-master, I—"

"—should be getting back to the Order now?" said Tom. "Yes, I think that would do. Don't forget, you need to convince the McKinnons to be at tomorrow's rally."

"Y-y-es, m-my Lord Voldemort," said Wormtail, and he quickly disapparated from the garden.

"He is such a worm," said Tom, causing an uproar of laughter from his Death Eaters.

The rally at the end of the year was their best one yet. The shouts and screams were louder than ever and several of the Order members were begging for mercy. Tom had honestly expected the Longbottoms and the Potters to show up, and seeing that neither did certainly upset him. He took his anger out on a petite witch called Dorcas Meadows, who never saw the flash of red light coming and toppled right over as it hit her square in the chest. The Prewett brothers put up a good fight but Tom merely laughed in their faces as he killed them both at once. The rally however came to an abrupt end when Dumbledore arrived. As soon as he saw him, Tom disapparated and was followed closely by his Death Eaters. Rosier had managed to curse Dedalus Diggle just before he left, but the curse backfired and hit Snape as well.

Back at Malfoy Manor, Narcissa treated Snape's injured arm while Lucius held his newborn son, Draco, and enthusiastically told him details of the night's events as though it were a bedtime story. Over on the other end of the room, Nott was talking to little Theodore and explaining to him that though his mother was no longer around, she would always be with him. Crabbe and Goyle were holding their sons too. Feeling as though this was no longer a Death Eater meeting, but rather a babysitting party, Tom ordered that all children be taken away and not be present at another meeting unless it was to receive their Dark Mark. The Death Eaters were surprised but obeyed without hesitation. Soon, all was restored back to normal.

Weeks later, Tom tracked down Marlene McKinnon and tortured her for a good two hours until she pleaded and begged him to kill her. He finally obliged and then killed both her parents and all 12 of her brothers and sisters. Snape helped for the most part but it was mostly Tom's doing. He enjoyed the act of killing very much, but the only thing that was more pleasing was watching his victims screech and beg.

But Tom had learned long ago that good things were short-lived.

He had that terrible dream again and, this time, he finally recognized the tall, moustached man. He did not sleep for the next couple of nights as he thought long and hard. There was still so much to take care of, yet he felt as though there was no time for anything anymore. On one ordinary dinner party, Tom made his way over to the corner table where Snape and Crouch sat, playing cards. He joined them and watched the miniature version of the tall, moustached man dealing the cards.

"What?" said Crouch, noticing Tom's glare on him. "Is everything alright, my lord?"

"What is the deal with you and your father?" Tom asked.

Crouch's face became very serious and he looked down at his cards.

"How do you—?"

"Answer the question!" snapped Tom.

"He's a jerk," said Crouch. "Always has been."

"Do you want him out of the equation?" Tom asked.

Crouch looked up at him with sparkling eyes.

"I do, my lord, but I would rather do it myself."

"I understand completely," said Tom. "I once killed my father."

Snape leaned forward to listen.

"I was just a few years younger than both of you," said Tom. "He too, was a jerk—deserved it completely, though I would have killed him even if he was the nicest man on earth."

Snape and Crouch smiled.

"I never liked parents," said Tom, simply.

Snape nodded but said nothing.

"Come on!" said Tom suddenly, and he jumped to his feet and conjured up his travelling cloak which tied itself around him.

"Where to, sir?" said Crouch who also stood up. Snape put away the cards and joined them.

"All of you!" said Tom. "After me!"

In a matter of 5 minutes, the Death Eaters were gathered in Malfoy's lawn, all ready with their travelling cloaks. Tom held out his hand for them all to take. Together, they apparated to the heart of Diagon Alley. Once there, Bellatrix conjured up the Dark Mark and the fighting began. The hundreds of other Death Eaters were summoned to the scene at once.

They ran into every shop and street corner and fired out as many jinxes as they possibly could, hitting everything and everyone. People screamed and ran in terror. Some fought back but the others simply begged for mercy. The Death Eaters laughed in their faces and killed them all. Tom stormed up and down the various alleyways and killed every hiding stranger, disregarding their blood status. Snape and Crouch chased a terrified woman out of the Leaky Cauldron and down to Ollivander's where Tom could hear her shriek in agonizing pain. Though the Death Eaters' laughs overpowered the peoples' cries, Greyback's growling was the loudest of all. He and Nagini worked hard at digging their fangs and teeth into every bit of flesh they could find. It was a beautiful night.

When Diagon Alley was finally as silent as the night, Tom instructed his Death Eaters to follow him. They made their way over to that cliffside he always visited with Nagini, and he lined them up. Everyone looked pleased with their night's work, but Tom was pleased of all.

"You have done well tonight, my friends," he announced, in his cold voice. "I have never been prouder." He paused. "It is time, I think, that we improved our mode of transportation."

The Death Eaters looked round at each other but no one seemed to know what Tom was talking about. Smiling, he said, "Tonight, my friends, you will learn how to fly."

The next rally took place at the Ministry of Magic, where the Death Eaters showed off their new flying skills. The ministry workers shrieked and fought back but nothing was working out well for them. Tom waltzed around, calling "Oh Bartemius Crouch, where are you?!" as Crouch Jr. followed him closely behind. Snape was also laughing as he jinxed several different witches at once. Bellatrix laughed cruelly as she screamed "CRUCIO!" at an old wizard whose screams were drowned by the sounds Greyback was making as he feasted on several ministry workers at once. Nagini sunk her fangs into a young witch and then began working on a tall wizard who was being stubborn and tried to fight back. Tom shot "AVADA KEDAVRA" at him to make things easier for Nagini. She gave him a nasty look before turning around to enjoy her dinner. Soon, the auror office arrived and began dueling with the Death Eaters. The rally lasted for 3 whole hours, at the end of which Lucius' parents and several others were killed.

In August 1981, Tom's entire world collapsed with one conversation. It was a small gathering, just with his main Death Eater group. They discussed their plans on wiping out an entire mudblood neighbourhood and then they went to get drinks. Lucius and his wife went upstairs to check on their son and several of the others went home to check on their children as well. Crouch was off looking for his worthless father and Rosier was sleeping in an armchair in the corner. It was just Tom, Snape, and Wormtail left in the sitting room.

Tom sipped his wine and listened to Nagini as she scolded him for always trying to help her get her food. Suddenly, Snape leaned forwards and looked as serious as ever.

"What's on your mind, Severus?" said Tom, casually.

"I have news, my lord, important news," said Snape in a low voice.

Tom turned his head slowly towards him.

"What is it?" he asked.

"It happened last night, my lord," began Snape. "I was in the Hog's Head, spying on Dumbledore like you'd instructed me to. He was interviewing an old hag for a teaching post at Hogwarts. The job was Divination so he obviously thought that she had some extraordinary abilities to foresee the future. I assure you, she looked as crazy as that Hepzibah Smith who you're always telling us about."

Tom nodded slowly.

"Anyway," said Snape. "There was a moment when she made a prophecy and…my lord, it was quite alarming."

"Tell me," said Tom, who sat up suddenly, looking alert.

"The prophecy stated that a child born at the end of July, to parents who have thrice defied the Dark Lord, will rise to defeat you."

"Are you sure that's what it said?" said Tom, quickly.

"Positive," said Snape. "I swear it."

"I believe you," said Tom, putting his wineglass down on the table and crossing his hands together.

"My lord, what does this mean?" said Snape, but Tom was no longer listening.

His mind searched and searched for the meaning of this. Defeat him? Defeat him? But who would have the nerve to even try? As far as he knew, Dumbledore had never had any children. Parents who have thrice defied him…he could only think of two sets and they were—

Tom rounded on Wormtail, who was snoozing in his chair.

"Getup, you worthless prat!" he spat and Wormtail jerked awake. "The Potters and the Longbottoms…have they any children?"

"Y-yes, m-m-my lord!" squeaked Wormtail.

"AND YOU DIDN'T THINK THIS WORTH MENTIONING?!" bellowed Tom as he rose to his feet and kicked Wormtail hard.

"I'm s-s-s-s-sorry, m-my l-lord, I—"

"YOU WERE TOLD TO SPY ON THE ORDER, YOU STUPID RAT! WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING ALL THIS TIME?!"

"I s-s-swear, my lord, I was—"

"Nevermind, tell me everything about the children."

"F-F-Frank and Alice L-Longbottom have a b-boy called N-N-Neville," began Wormtail, but Tom was too angry to let him finish.

"WHEN WAS HE BORN?!" he shrieked.

"The t-t-thirtieth of J-July, m-my lord," said Wormtail, who was now weeping at Tom's feet.

"Well then, he fits the profile," Tom said to Snape, who looked somewhat relieved. "His parents have defied me three times. I'll have to find and kill him as soon as possible."

"M-m-my lord!" cried Wormtail.

"WHAT?!" Tom spat at him, kicking his face a few times.

"M-my lord!" said Wormtail, who was now covered in blood. "The P-P-Potters have a b-b-boy t-t-too. H-h-he was b-b-born j-just a d-d-ay after L-Longbottom!"

Snape made a weird noise but then coughed. Tom stared at him.

"Two boys?" he said. "Did the prophecy say anything about two boys? The Potters have also defied me three times…they also fit the criteria."

"No, my lord, it only mentioned one boy," said Snape immediately.

"Strange," said Tom, kicking Wormtail again, who squirmed. "Very strange."

"Indeed it is," breathed Snape.

Tom sat back in his chair and thought long and hard.

"I'll have to kill both families then," he said, finally.

"I don't think that's good idea, my lord," said Snape, quickly.

"Why not?" said Tom, looking at him with suspicion.

"Well, that'll just anger Dumbledore and he'll come after you!" said Snape.

"I don't care," said Tom, waving his hand.

"My lord, you have achieved so much to date. I don't think it wise to risk it all now just because of some stupid prophecy."

Tom paused.

"Fine then," he finally said. "But I have to find out which boy is a danger to me, haven't I?"

"It's the Longbottom, sir, I know it is," said Snape.

"Why are you so sure?" said Tom.

"He's a pureblood!" said Snape. "It'll send a better message to the Order that you don't care if someone is a mudblood or a pureblood. If they defy you, you kill all without mercy."

"That's a good point," said Tom, thoughtfully.

"I can help you track them down without Dumbledore's interference, if you'd like," offered Snape.

"No, that won't be necessary," said Tom, "Thank you, Severus. You have been most helpful."

Snape bowed his head.

A few hours later, Tom returned to the cliff side with Nagini and took another long walk. He lay in the grass and looked up at the starless sky, with Nagini lounging beside him.

"Are you thinking what I am thinking, Nagini?" he asked the giant snake.

"Aren't I always, sire?" she answered.

Tom smiled.

He did not want to mention anything around Snape, however trustworthy he might be, because Wormtail had been there and he wasn't sure he trusted him just yet. Wormtail was fearful, not loyal. But Tom…Tom had a distinct feeling that it was his destiny to go after the Potters, not the Longbottoms. He felt that it was the right way to go.

"Maybe it's because their kid is a half blood, like you," suggested Nagini.

"That's what I think," admitted Tom. "Why else would I have this urgency to go after their child? Why not go after both?"

"Because their child is of greater danger to you," said Nagini.

"You're right," said Tom. "You're absolutely right."

"Thank you," said Nagini, proudly.

"What I am not understanding," said Tom, "Is how this child is a danger to me. I mean, it knows not of any of my Horcruxes. It is only just a baby!"

"Maybe this is a whole lot bigger than that," said Nagini.

"Maybe," said Tom, who stared up at the sky, thinking.

"I have decided to go after the Potters," Tom announced once he returned to Malfoy Manor.

Snape's colour changed.

"Why?" he asked, in a hoarse voice.

"Because their child is of more danger to me," said Tom, honestly. "Wormtail, I want you to find out where the Potters are. I will kill them immediately. All of them. I dare say, it would be a miracle if they gave up their child just like that."

"Y-y-y-yes, m-my l-lord," said Wormtail, and he was gone.

Snape stared at Tom.

"Something the matter, Severus?" said Tom, who eyed him carefully.

"Of course not, sir," said Snape quickly.

"Good," said Tom, not believing it for one second.

The next night, Wormtail returned with the news that Dumbledore had alerted both the Potters and the Longbottoms of the information that the Prophecy had provided.

"WELL, FIND OUT WHAT THEY PLAN TO DO, WORMTAIL!" spat Tom. "ISN'T THAT WHY YOU'RE A SPY?! HONESTLY, DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU HOW TO DO EVERYTHING?!"

Wormtail shook his head violently and disappeared again. Tom sighed heavily and sunk into an armchair.

"Get me a drink," he told Snape who was gone and back with a glass of wine all in less than one minute.

Tom sipped on the drink and closed his eyes. Could things possibly get any more stressful?

"My lord," said Snape.

"What?" said Tom, without opening his eyes.

"I have been appointed Potions master at Hogwarts," said Snape, quickly.

At this, Tom opened one eye and stared at him.

"You what?"

"That's right, sir," said Snape, who looked to be somewhat proud of himself. "It… it didn't take long to convince Dumbledore that I've had a change of heart. But, as you well know, I am a practiced Legiliments and so it was not difficult at all to persuade him of my change of heart."

Tom sat up and beamed at Snape.

"Severus," he said, slowly. "I never told you to do this."

"I know," said Snape. "But I also know that you could use a few spies inside the walls."

There was a moment's silence.

"You don't have to say anything," said Snape, who looked down at the ground but could not suppress his pride.

"You are my most trusted, loyal servant, Severus," said Tom.

Snape looked up at him and half-smiled.

"Sir," he said. "I have…I want to ask you something."

"Go on," said Tom, who was still marvelling at how loyal Snape had turned out to be.

"Sir," said Snape, who seemed to be choosing his words carefully. "Sir… might it…might it be possible for you to…to…"

"What is it, Severus?" said Tom, who finally realised that Severus was about to reveal to him what he had been hiding since the moment they first discussed the prophecy.

Snape sighed and closed his eyes.

"Lily Evans," he said.

"Yes," said Tom, not sure where he was getting at.

"Do not kill her, sir," said Snape. "Please, I beg you, do not kill her. Spare her life. Kill Potter and his kid but please do not kill her."

Tom was lost for words. This had to have been his greatest surprise yet, and he was really starting to hate surprises. He eyed Snape carefully, wondering how long this had been going on. Snape met his eyes and looked incredibly vulnerable.

"How long have you been in love, Severus?" Tom asked.

"The cruel wraths of love possessed me at an early age, I'm ashamed to say," said Snape. "I would appreciate it if you didn't mention it to any of the others. I… I have been a victim of love for all my life, though I never wanted to be."

"I understand," said Tom, surprising him.

"You do?" said Snape.

"Yes, many fools fall down that path," sighed Tom. "Severus, I appreciate your honesty, I do. I am a merciful lord, as you well know by now."

"Of course," said Snape.

"And," continued Tom, "I will consider sparing her life, just for you. I can promise you that much."

"Sir," said Snape, who was obviously not satisfied with this answer. "I can personally help you kill Potter and the child."

"No," said Tom, boldly. "It must be done by me only."

"Of course, sir," said Snape, "But sir, please do not touch her. Please, I beg of you."

"Severus—"

"I'll do anything!"

"You have already done so much!" said Tom. "As I've said, I will consider sparing her life. But, as fools often do, I imagine she will not stand aside and let me kill her husband and child. If the mudblood gives me any trouble, I will have no choice but to dispose of her. You understand of course, don't you, Severus?"

"Y-yes," said Snape, but it looked to be the hardest word he ever had to utter.

"Good man," said Tom, and he patted him once on the back.

The following day, Tom learned from Wormtail that the Potters were in hiding. Obviously Dumbledore had spies or some special ways to track Tom, for now he knew which boy Tom had marked. Nevertheless, Tom did not give up on his search for the boy. He was not about to let some worthless little toddler ruin everything he had built to date, and waiting until the boy was grown would be even more dangerous as Dumbledore would surely get to him and teach him all sorts of magic tricks about love.

As October came around the corner, so did Wormtail's news that Dumbledore was in search of Lord Voldemort personally. For some odd reason, this frightened Tom a great deal. He was the most powerful wizard in the entire world, and still to this day, the old man scared the life out of him. He had no idea about any of Tom's Horcruxes and so they were surely safe. But still, Tom hated the idea of Dumbledore searching for him. Panicked, he summoned Lucius Malfoy one late night and thrust his diary Horcrux into his hands.

"Let anything happen to this and I will kill that precious wife of yours and your son, before I kill you," Tom told him.

"I swear on everything I have, it will stay safe with me," Lucius promised.

"Good," said Tom. "Do not repeat this conversation to anyone."

He spoke these words while his wand was pointed directly at Lucius' heart. This did not seem to intimidate Lucius, which was good news. Tom knew he could trust him. He knew that Lucius would not dare disobey him.

Things were starting to fall apart. As every day came and went, more and more Death Eaters were being captured by Barty Crouch of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. The aurors were working tirelessly and managed to capture many of Tom's most trusted Death Eaters, but not any of his main group just yet. This was the silver lining in the situation, at least.

On October 31st, 1981, Tom awoke early in the morning with a strange feeling in his gut. Nagini was feasting on some creature in the corner of the room. The weather outside was rather stormier than usual. Tom spent most of the day in the garden of Malfoy Manor, pacing back and forth, trying to rid himself of the terrible feeling that he had.

"It is because of all the stress you have endured thus far, my lord," said Nagini, in hopes to calm him.

"Yes," he said, not sure if he was agreeing with this at all.

Something was off. He could feel it. He was never wrong about these things. He was never wrong about anything.

"Reeeeguuuuluuuusss," Nagini sang.

"Thank you for reminding me," muttered Tom.

He suddenly stopped pacing as thunder rumbled in the distance. It was 4 o'clock in the afternoon. The Death Eaters were out doing their usual Death Eater things and would not be back until evening. Tom knelt down beside Nagini and stroked her gently.

"Nagini," he whispered, "I need you to do something for me."

"Anything, my lord," she said.

"I need you to go to Crystal Cave and stay there."

"M-my lord?"

"I will come back for you, I promise," he said.

"You want me to go?"

"I want you safe," he said, simply.

"Fine," said the snake. "But you promise to come back for me?"

"I swear it," said Tom, and he meant it.

"Alright," were Nagini's last words to him and then she disappeared.

Feeling slightly more relieved, Tom returned to the house to find Lucius and Narcissa in the sitting room with their son Draco. Narcissa instinctively stood up with the boy and meant to go upstairs but Tom stopped her.

"He can stay," he said.

He was feeling very different today . . . very tolerant of many things.

"Okay," said Narcissa awkwardly, and she sat back down with the boy in her lap.

"Any news from Wormtail, sir?" asked Lucius, throwing his long blond hair back.

"None," said Tom.

"Well, I overheard Snape saying before that Dumbledore had called a special meeting with the Order to discuss security measures around the Potters' hiding place," said Lucius. "Today's the day we'll find out more."

Tom's head was swirling with many thoughts so he contented himself with simply nodding.

They sat in silence for the next hour, as the Death Eaters slowly started to arrive. Finally, Snape and Wormtail walked through the door and Tom immediately got to his feet.

"What are you doing here, Severus?" he asked, surprised.

"I excused myself from Hogwarts for the night," said Snape, "On the grounds of an illness."

"Ah," said Tom, turning to look at Wormtail and raising an eyebrow.

"Godric's Hollow," Wormtail announced, proudly, without a single stutter.

"Godric's Hollow," Tom repeated. "Very clever, Dumbledore. Where better to hide them than the birthplace of the founder of Gryffindor? Hmm…very clever, indeed. But sadly, not clever enough."

"There's more, my lord," said Wormtail, who looked beyond excitement.

"Oh?" said Tom.

"They are protected by the Fidelius Charm," said Wormtail. "And their secret keeper is supposed to be Sirius Black but he just had a talk with me and decided to switch so that I would be their secret keeper."

"You?" laughed Lucius.

"Yes, they seem to think that choosing me would be a bluff and that you, my lord, would never guess that I was the keeper."

"They are right," said Tom, thoughtfully.

"Anyway," said Wormtail, quickly, "The charm was performed just last week, but I only found out today."

"Thank you, Wormtail," said Tom, and he stroked his cheek affectionately. "You have proven your worth to me, at last."

"Thank you, master, thank you!" exclaimed Wormtail in a sort of rat-like squeak.

Tom turned to look at the room of Death Eaters.

"When I return tonight with the boy," he announced, "We will have a celebration. Then, we will bring the boy to the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix, which Wormtail will help us to enter, and we will show them that we have won. Tonight, we will defeat the Order at last. But tomorrow, we will defeat the world forever!"

The Death Eaters roared with cheers and yelled in victory.

They spent the rest of the evening discussing what they would do once they conquered the entire Wizarding World and the Ministry of Magic itself. Finally, at 11 o'clock, Tom rose to his feet. He had instructed his Death Eaters to distract various Order members and so each Death Eater knew exactly where he/she was to go and what they were to do. They started filing out the door while Tom put on his black travelling cloak.

"My lord," said Snape, who stood right behind him. "You do remember what we discussed two months ago?"

"I do," said Tom. "And you remember my promise?"

"I do," said Snape. "So you will go through with it then?"

Tom turned to look at him and sighed.

"I will try to persuade her to step aside, Severus, I will," he said, and he put a comforting hand on Snape's shoulder. Snape nodded. Tom really did mean it. He didn't want to punish his most loyal, most trusted servant for something that was obviously not his fault. If anything, Snape's love for Evans only made Tom want to punish Dumbledore even more…Dumbledore and his so-called ethical teachings on the power of love. Love conquers all. Love is the most powerful kind of magic. Love, love, love.

Tom looked around at his main group of Death Eaters. Avery, Rosier, Rowle, Crouch, Snape, Malfoy, the Lestranges, Nott, Crabbe, Goyle and Macnair. They were all smiling at him and looking at him as though he were a deity. He felt like a deity, standing before them.

"I have to go now," he said.

As he walked forward, they parted to allow him to pass. He tapped each one on the back as he passed. This was his shining moment . . . the moment he would finally achieve everything he had been working towards since he found out he was a wizard, all those years ago. Ironically, it had been Dumbledore who had informed him of this. When Tom got to Lucius, he whispered in his ear, "Remember what I told you about the journal."

Lucius nodded in understanding.

"Good luck, my lord," said Macnair when he passed him.

"Luck is for the weak," Tom said to him.

"We shall have a glorious celebration when you return!" Nott exclaimed.

Tom reached the door and then turned round to look at them again.

"You have been my most favourite servants, all of you," he said, proudly, "And when I return later tonight and we take over the world tomorrow, I will reward each and every one of you. I promise this."

They bowed low to him. Pleased, he turned around and walked out of the mansion. He walked a few feet away from the house, then stopped, turned around again, and disapparated.

Godric's Hollow. A silent village. No one in sight at this time of night. Tom strode slowly along the nearby cemetery and looked up at each house he passed. He kept the hood of his cloak over his head and his hand in his pocket, clenching his wand. He finally found the right house. He knew it was this one because he could see, even from where he was standing, red hair through one of the windows. The woman was holding a baby in her arms…a baby who was crying.

Thunder was rumbling somewhere in the distance and lightning shone every couple of minutes. But no rain. Not a drop. The night was clear, as was the path that Tom had set for himself. He let himself in through the gates and slowly marched up to the front steps of the house. He could hear running from inside. They must have sensed his presence. Why, everyone always sensed his presence, wherever he went. Good, he thought. He pulled out his wand and muttered a spell. The door was blasted aside, along with several bricks from the walls. His spell had been so powerful that it knocked out the energy from the lamps and other household appliances, bringing about a certain darkness in the house. Just before everything went pitch black, Tom sighted a man running up the stairs in terror.

"Lily, take Harry and go!" he yelled at the top of his lungs. "It's him! Go! Run! I'll hold him off—"

Like hell you will, thought Tom. He walked up the stairs, casually. He finally reached the top landing, where there lay a broken lamp that was still lit, and, before him, stood a man with round glasses and messy hair. He was standing up straight, proud, and confident, and was guarding the doors.

"What are you so proud about?" said Tom, sneering, and with a wave of his wand, he shot a jet of light at the man, hitting him square in the chest.

The man yelled but his yell was drowned by the sound of loud thunder rumbling just above the house.

A moment later, he toppled to the ground and a woman shrieked from within one of the rooms.

"Oops," said Tom, laughing out loud. He stepped over the man and let himself into one of the rooms. There was no one there.

"Hide and seek, eh?" said Tom, in a singsong voice. "My favourite game."

He checked every room until he finally found the right one. He could hear adorable baby cooing from inside. He blasted open the door. Again, the surroundings shattered or smashed against the walls. His spells were more powerful than even he himself had anticipated.

He let himself into the room. The red-haired woman was standing there, shielding what looked like a child's crib.

"Stand aside," Tom ordered, remembering his promise to Snape.

"Not Harry, not Harry, please, not Harry!" she cried.

"Stand aside, you silly girl…stand aside now," said Tom, who was growing impatient.

This was just what he had predicted would happen. He was always right about these things.

"Not Harry, please! No, take me! Kill me instead—"

"Move!" cried Tom, pointing his wand at the woman.

"PLEASE, HAVE MERCY! PLEASE, I BEG YOU! PLEASE! PLE—"

His spell hit her as perfectly as it had hit her husband. The mudblood shrieked in terror and then fell to her death instantly, revealing a little version of her husband sitting in the crib. The boy was teary eyed and watched as Tom approached him. So he had killed Lily Evans. Snape would get over it eventually. Right now, there were more important things on his mind. There it was. The child. The child about whom the prophecy had been made. Tom's so-called greatest danger. Tom smiled. This was no match for the Great Lord Voldemort, Heir of Salazar Slytherin, and most powerful sorcerer in the world.

Smiling, he pointed his wand at the boy and pictured Dumbledore's face when he'd show the boy's body to him. This was the moment he'd been working toward his whole life. This was the climax—the high point of his career. This was it at last.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

It happened very quickly. The flash of green light erupted from his wand like an exploding canon, and just as quickly, drew back. His wand began to vibrate and shake in his hand. Furniture everywhere was flying and thunder rumbled in the distance, accompanied by occasional flashes of lightning.

Pain. Such pain that he had never experienced before. Great, unbearable, agonizing pain filled Tom's entire body. He felt himself shrink. He felt a part of him stretch out and touch the boy. That part was stretching and ripping so fast and so hard Tom did not know what to do so he stopped holding on to it. He felt a numbness in his fingers which then reached his long arms and legs, then his chest, and then his head. His vision was blurred, his hearing blocked, and his sense of touch and smell stopped. He had succumbed to nothingness. And yet, he was still alive. He was still there.

But what had happened? Had it worked? No…

Wait… what had worked? What was supposed to happen? Who was he? Was he a person? Was he a living thing? Where was he?

Distant baby screaming filled his ears, though it was very faint and distant, as though miles and miles away. But he knew he was still in the room with the child. The child. There was a child and there was a room. Thunder. There it was. The familiar thunder rumbling. Now he remembered. He was Lord Voldemort, most powerful wizard in the world, and he had come to Godric's Hollow to murder a child who'd been prophesized to defeat him. He had killed the child's father and then the child's mother. Someone was not going to be too pleased about that…but for some reason, he could not put his finger on the name just yet. He felt like there were large holes or gaps in his memory. Oh, and the child. There had been a child he was supposed to kill. But the child was screaming. The child was crying. It was alive. But how? He had performed the spell numerous times before, if he remembered correctly.

Why hadn't it worked this time?

Thunder rumbled again, scaring him so much that he felt himself disappear. Cold air overtook him, whatever he was. He could not feel or see or touch or smell anymore. He could only hear and think. He seemed to be moving but he did not know how. He would have to find a way to figure out what had happened. He moved along, feeling some of his senses returning. Smell. The smell of damp grass. Was it already raining? He could not tell. Ah. At last. He could smell its whiskers from a distance away. He approached the little beast and lunged himself inside it. The beast squirmed and screeched and meowed and then, it became silent. Tom opened his eyes.

By the looks of it, he was outside. The house, wrecked in rubble, was just in front of him. So, that meant he had not moved far from the scene. But it was best to do that now. He felt the cat's thoughts of confusion and pushed them away. The rain came down hard now. The cat ran down the street. Tom tried to make it apparate but it seemed that his powers had been stripped from him. He could not do anything anymore. What sort of magic was this? What had the mudblood done to him?

No, she had been dead when he approached the boy. He remembered that distinctly. Though, his vision was so blurred now, he wasn't sure what was real and what was not. The only solution he could think of now was to find a Death Eater—any Death Eater—who would restore him back to his body. That is, if he still had a body.

A week had passed. Tom was still not able to get back to Malfoy Manor. He was not able to contact any of his hundreds and hundreds of Death Eaters. He managed to get back to London but it had been a long trip and the cat stopped to rest a lot. Tom was tired too. He wanted nothing more than to sleep for days and days and days. But you must stay strong, he told himself over and over again. You must find out what has happened to the others.

Screams. He could hear screams. He followed the sounds and ended up in a clearing somewhere he did not recognize. The cat moved forwards and lunged itself under a nearby bench. The rain was dropping down hard now, but not hard enough to drown out the screams. Tom looked around, viciously, his animal instincts more visible now.

The shrieking was louder than ever. Feet belonging to unknown characters were being dragged across the floor. Cackles of laughter and shrieks of loyalty filled the air. Unidentified men shouting that they got a couple of more. Mothers wailing at the deaths of their babies. And blood . . . everywhere.

He looked around helplessly from under the bench. He was so petite, fragile, weak, and helpless. And watching as his loyal Death Eaters were rounded up by aurors was hard enough without having to do it from the body of a cat—and a skeletal cat, at that. Though, the cat was small enough to remain concealed under the bench and so Tom kept its big yellow eyes firmly on Rodolphus and Bellatrix and Rabastan who were wailing on the bundles of ropes that were sinking into their very skins.

"TAKE THEM AWAY!" shouted Barty Crouch.

The Lestranges were picked up and dragged away from the riotous scene. All three of them were now laughing that they would be back one day. Tom tried to look for his wand but it was nowhere to be found. He did not understand what was happening. Where had everything he had worked towards gone to? Where were Avery and Rowle and Rosier when he needed them? And why on earth was he now struggling to survive as a barely…human…thing?

Author's note: Is it weird that I cried like a baby when I finished writing this chapter?

It's one thing to know about the events at Godric's Hollow that Halloween night. It's one thing to glimpse them a bit from Harry's mind when the Dementors get near. It's one thing to hear Voldemort talk about them. But to write them from his perspective...there are no words.

Also, I listened to the Nicholas Hooper and Alexandre Desplat soundtrack of "The Prince's Tale" on repeat, while writing the Godric's Hollow part of this chapter.

So much feels. hope you enjoyed it. I'm going to go cry some more and then once I recover, I'll set to work on Chapter 28, which will be titled "Albania." We are officially done with the First Wizarding War. I'm feeling kind of sad about that, I really liked writing it.

PLEASE REVIEW, I'D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS!