Hey everyone,
So originally, this was only going to be about a conversation between Pitch and Voldemort. Part of me even felt like putting in a backstory on how the two encountered each other. But that is neither Pitch's style nor Voldemort's. So I decided on a different tactic. One that is going to make a lot of changes to a lot of status quo.
Be warned,
Venquine1990
Chapter 16
Death And Fear
30th of December 1995
Unknown Location, England
Voldemort's POV
"So, you met him?" I ask the being that has allowed me to grow stronger much faster than the ritual itself would have allowed me to and whose very essence is increasing the sense of fear that everyone feels for me, which makes it easier for the weaklings – like the Minister – to believe his own fantasy over my reality.
"I did and I have to say, I did not see it coming that he had an ability that encompassed the entire environment. I definitely saw what makes you want to constantly go after him and why you want your revenge, but I did not expect that. Or the fact that he would manage to break my hold on that weakling your people call leader."
At this I roll my eyes and mutter: "Only because he makes things easier for them, I assure you." The embodiment of fear nods at this and he says: "This will definitely set our plans back a little. Yet, at the same time, it's an opportunity for us that that brat and those simple Guardians might just regret they gave to us."
At this I send him a disbelieving look and he shrugs as he says: "We're ready. We're strong. And we know all there is to know about the boy, the prophesy and the Department that holds it. The only thing currently holding us back is the fact that it is constantly guarded. They're afraid we'll steal it. But this – oh-ho-ho-ho-ho, this."
And while I am quite sure I am already onto what he has planned, do I just let the simple being indulge himself as he says: "This could give us the chance we've been waiting for. That fool has given us time, now we show him how grateful we are. Though we will probably have to move quick. With the truth out, protection detail will rise."
"What exactly do you have planned?" I ask, well aware that he is planning to cause fear away from the Department of Mysteries in order to distract those foolish Order guards away from what I need to hear, but not sure I follow him on how he wants to accomplish this. Black smirks at me and says: "It's an old saying, little one.
The natural order – is disorder. And the best way to create disorder? To create a sense of pure fear in a society so used to relying on its leaders?" The Spirit stops there, yet he needs not continue. I myself am smirking and happily, gleefully, press my finger onto the mark of Wormtail, who I thought useful to me until now.
"I know just the man for the job. The one person who – what?" I hiss, infuriated when I sense something I didn't think any of my Death Eaters would ever do. "Is something wrong?" Black asks and I snarl: "That fool! Does Lucius truly believe cutting off his hand is right? That he can defy his Lord like that? He will suffer!"
At this Pitch frowns and I turn to him as I snarl: "You can move through shadows, yes? Go to him! Find out what makes him think he can ignore my summons." Black glares at me and snaps back: "I do this only because we need to make haste. Do not think you can order me around. You have our cooperation all wrong."
And while I think: "Hah, that fool needs me and the sense of fear my very name brings to the world to keep in power. I am not the one in the wrong here." And the knowledge that I have a deity indebted to me is a wonderful one, yet it is disturbed by the being's return. "Well what do you know? I affected another with my abilities."
"What do you mean?" I snarl and the being shrugs as he says: "Fear often creates power and it seems that another has used this fact to rise to a high position in your little Ministry. She's grown addicted to it and it has made her cocky. She believed herself above the law and went above and beyond to prove this, if only to herself.
She apparently turned as nasty against her enemies – like precious Potter – as she did against her supporters. She harmed the Malfoy child and now Lucius finds the need to see his son healed more important than our goals. Such a shame." These facts infuriate me, but I focus on the most important one and growl:
"Go back. Go back and make that mistake realize what real fear feels like. Make him know that that is what he will feel – if he doesn't show up in three minutes." Yet the being crosses his arms and asks: "You do remember that I only spread fear the best when someone's asleep, right?" And his casual tone makes me want to curse him.
31st of December 1995
The Minister's Manor
Voldemort's POV
"Lucius will pay for his betrayal." I think to myself, yet I also see opportunity in this situation. After Pitch did as I told him to, making Lucius have nothing but nightmares, the blonde actually figured out what was happening – how being unknown to both Pitch and myself – and actually muttered about Fudge's manor and its location.
And while I wanted the blonde before me, preferably so I can torture him for trying to defy his master's orders, did Pitch prove to be quite the advisor. "The knowledge that Fudge was killed by someone on the inside will create fear, that is true, but not the kind of fear you yourself cause witches and wizards alike."
"Yes, the knowledge that Lord Voldemort is back will hit the papers soon enough – through the announcement of his murder on Minister Cornelius Fudge. The world will fall into fearful chaos without there being a leader to guide the sheep and I will get what I deserve. The prophesy and my rights to ruling the country."
And while I had thought that Wormtail had lost all use and that I was to do with him what precious Junior – Azkaban luckily enough never did anything to taint his gorgeous body – had done to his father, does he prove that he still has his uses, for now. The rat scurries over and transforms before me, crying in clear pain.
This amuses and yet also intrigues me and he whimpers: "The ward stones are as you wanted them, master. They are malfunctioning and will no longer alert Fudge if something goes wrong or causes something out of the ordinary." And thanks to how he has trouble saying all this, do I realize why the little man's in pain.
"Well done, Wormtail. Your dedication to our cause suits you well." I tell him, not willing to give much praise to such a cowering waste of space and wizarding blood, but knowing I need to say some things nice to keep him from doing to me what he did to his friends. I then move onto the manor and pass its wards without a hitch.
Pitch appears beside me, slinking out of the shadows and looking like water that actually flows upwards and into the shape of a human before his skin and the color of his cloths take form. "You could have used that to help me." I mutter, but the being says: "You're too excited for this, it would have disrupted the journey."
At this I shrug as there is nothing wrong with feeling excited over murdering someone as useful as Fudge and the two of us pass the lavish, over the top garden and into the living room, Pitch taking the lead here to scare the House Elves into opening the door for us. And luckily enough I still remember other reports from the betraying snake.
"This way." I tell Pitch, leading him through the most exuberant and melodramatic house I have ever seen, everything so full of prized possessions and valuable artefacts, you would sooner call this place a museum instead of anyone's house or home. We reach the Master Bedroom and along the way scare several portraits.
And while I have been trying to keep a low profile for the last six months, do I now revel in the fact that soon everyone in the Ministry will know that I am walking these halls. "And not just walking them." I think to myself as we reach the Master bedroom and Pitch does here what he did at the front door as well.
Yet because I haven't been able to do this in so long, do I grab my wand the minute he walks ahead of me and when I spot the huge king-sized bed with large canopy, do I aim for the gap in the curtains and snarl: "AVADA KEDAVRA!" Those two words feeling like chocolate slipping over my tongue after not casting them for half a year.
The spell hits, the blanket and comforter move as a body falls to the side and I smirk as I say: "Sleep well, Minister." And in thought I add to that: "For soon, your world will live in the nightmare that is my rulership." And I leave the manor, not even caring for how Pitch stays behind and dully mutters: "That was anti-climactic."
At the same time
At the Potters
We are all very tense. The Order is on edge and every member is present. They are all surrounding four people, one of who is actually missing an arm and has gained Alastor Moody's respect. "You're sure of this, Lucius. You – you really – you really think –?" Another of the four asks, obviously too afraid to voice his full question.
"Your fear has been useful to him so far, Cornelius. Now that he can no longer rely on this, he will strike at you. I have no doubt –." And the one-armed man falls silent as a small, dwarf like being made purely of gold sand and with hair that curls up on both sides of his face appears, nodding at the group with a sense of accomplishment.
"He fell for it." The new Lord of the House mutters in relief before turning to the scared man and mutters: "I never wanted this kind of life on anyone, Fudge. Don't think for a second that I do." The scared man, named Cornelius Fudge and who is supposed to be lying dead in the Minister's Master bedroom, nods.
The Lord then turns to two others and a tanned man says: "Amelia has been informed. She'll probably hear about that monster roaming the manor as we speak. She knows that's her cue, so she's probably making the announcement and will hold the elections in an hour or so." At this the Lord nods and Fudge grimaces as he says:
"I never thought I'd lose my office like this." To which a young woman sitting next to the tanned man says: "It was this or lose your life, Minister. We explained that to you four times already." Making the man cringe and an ancient man sitting at the head of the table sighs as he says: "We accomplished our goal. Let's head to bed.
And while I would have preferred it to be under better circumstances; happy new year." And everyone, both the large Order group in the Formal Dining room and the kids that are all together in the informal dining room and are under guard of the Guardians, repeat after the man, raising their glasses of wine and butterbeer respectively.
Happy 1996, Y'all,
DANG! An attack on Fudge. That is going to bring it home that Harry and Dumbledore were telling the truth all along. And for those wondering, the Marauders are really finding partners in crime with the Guardians, who understand the purpose behind the Order of the Phoenix, thus the sneaky shadows and stealth stuff.
That and I felt like using the whole "The Order can watch Harry without revealing themselves at all" for a better purpose. If they can do that, they can make the biggest, darkest wizard of the 20th century believe he killed the Minister – with some help from the right people of course. Anyway, this was a bit dark, but I had fun.
Did you?
Venquine1990
PS. Yes, that mention of Junior was meant as inuendo (shudders heavily). Where does my mind go sometimes?
