Great.

Great things have happened. Things I have caused to occur.

The Ministry, at first, denies my existence, and I move behind the shadows to prepare the wrath of destruction I will release later on. Under the radar, I also commit all my resources to finding the Prophecy that intertwines mine and dear Harry's fate, which includes orchestrating a break-out of Azkaban for my Death Eaters. Perhaps Severus did not hear the entire thing, or misheard something. The sooner I am rid of Potter, the better, and maybe the Prophecy holds the key. Harry Potter must be taken care of first so that he may no longer interfere with my plans. Once he is gone, then I may move on to other things.

Unfortunately, events do not happen this way. I find myself feeling more and more rage with every passing encounter and battle. Lucius and the band I sent to apprehend Potter and his friends were captured. The Ministry finally publicly recognizes that I have returned, but by this point in time it is too late.

My climb to power may have been slow, but no one can deny its effectiveness. It did not happen overnight. No longer do I feel the need to demonstrate my power at every opportunity. I am confident in my own abilities. It is now so easy to convince many that I am something other than what they know to be true, and in the confusion and lies I kill many who are unworthy of magic, as well as those who work for the Light.

To punish the Malfoys, I set to the younger a daunting task – killing Albus Dumbledore. I know without a doubt that he will fail, and Severus will prove once and for all that he is my loyal follower when he steps in. The death of Dumbledore happens exactly like I expect it to, and very soon after that I am in full control of the Ministry as well as Hogwarts.

Now, I follow the most promising track for immortality yet – the Deathly Hallows.

The Horcruxes guarantee my longevity, but the Hallows make one the Master of Death. Right at this moment, I am drawn to one in particular – the Elder Wand, most powerful of all wands, and the most invincible. I kidnap and torture and kill for information and locations. If I can get this all-powerful wand, I will be able to defeat Harry Potter once and for all.

The fact that many do not even believe in the existence of such a wand makes the trail to it a rather foggy one. Legend and truth confuse themselves and mix together, but I finally come upon it in Dumbledore's grave. And I take it. Even the only wizard everyone claims I feared could not avoid death.

Casting with this wand, however, is nothing special. Anything extraordinary that comes out of it is a result of my powers, not the wand's. It occurs to me that I am not the master of the wand – the last master was Dumbledore, and the one to kill Dumbledore was Severus.

Severus is the true master of the Elder Wand.

I twirl the Deathstick in my fingers slowly, pondering this. In order for myself to become the master of the wand, I must kill Severus. I feel nothing at the thought. However, he is extremely useful. Should I wait? I am almost complete victor, perhaps I won't need him anymore.

I arrive at Malfoy Manor, where they are holding Potter. However, when I arrive, he is not there. Pettigrew is dead, and the rest of the prisoners are gone as well. My fury runs white hot as I destroy and torture all those there, all those responsible for this complete lack of competency. These wizards and witches are of the purest line, the most powerful talent, and they were not living up to it.

After driving two of them to broken madness, I believe I have made the point that this will not be tolerated.

I am interrupted with news – another of my Horcruxes has been found and taken by Potter, in addition to the one he disposed of his second year, which is yet another reason I am not particularly happy with Lucius Malfoy. Still, the news is not good. I promptly Crucio the messenger and Apparate to each of the hiding places I had chosen to put the pieces of my soul.

The locket in the cave has disappeared. Disturbed, I continue on.

The ring is also gone.

My anger returning full force, I then Apparate to Gringotts, where the most recently stolen Horcrux had been stored.

Only to find that the one held there has also been stolen.

Everyone dies. Everyone. Goblin. Witch. Wizard. Pure-blood, Mudblood, the life of everyone in Gringotts is mine for the taking and I take it without hesitation. Green flashes of light. Torture. Pain. Screams and wails and groans of pain, and the floor is flooded with the red of blood.

Nagini approaches me, speaking sibilantly and with a tone of vindictive, simple pleasure. My response to her is quiet, calm. She must stay near me. She is one of the only ones left. The only other one is at Hogwarts, and now that I know what Potter is up to, I can find him. I Apparate the two of us to just outside the Hogwarts grounds.

I see the defenses going up, and I know Potter his here.

I cast a silent Sonorus on myself before speaking, relishing in the sibilant, frightening echo my voice creates.

"I know that you are preparing to fight. Your efforts are futile. You cannot fight me. I do not want to kill you. I have great respect for the teachers of Hogwarts. I do not want to spill magical blood. Give me Harry Potter, and none shall be harmed. Give me Harry Potter and I shall leave the school untouched. Give me Harry Potter and you will be rewarded. You have until midnight." After casting a silent Quietus to negate the spell on my voice, we wait.

Potter fails to appear and I tell my Death Eaters to attack.

Severus comes out to meet me, and we go to the Shrieking Shack. It all ends tonight, I know this now. I will kill Harry Potter and then the entire world will be mine for the taking. I do not need Severus any longer.

I express my gratitude and intent bluntly. He tries to slither his way out of it, and I give a cold smile. I did not expect any less from him. There is no other way, unfortunately. Master the wand, master Potter, and finally master death.

I cue Nagini and she attacks the Headmaster, blood splattering against the wall behind him and onto us. I would normally let her feed, but there is not enough time, and there will be plenty for her to gorge on by the end of the night. I Apparate Nagini and I back to where I Summoned the Death Eaters.

My robes are soaked in blood from my earlier activities. My followers begin to realize this and I can feel the disgust mingled with incredible fear in the air. I let it hang for a few moments before cleaning myself, and I sneer towards the castle.

I have done many things in my life, and it all comes to this, the final battle. Most would define my acts as terrible, evil, but I know the truth. I have the power, I have the control. I have done more for witches and wizards than any other one being has done. I take action. And because of this, I have done great things.

Terrible, yes.

But great.