The pale robed figure stood absolutely still, with his eyes closed. No one around him dared speak above a whisper. Most chose to simply remain silent rather than risk unwanted attention.
The air was pregnant with anticipation. More than half of the field commanders had returned with reports that their targets were secure and all threats … neutralized. Of the remaining squadrons, only one was still battling to gain critical territory – the front gates of Hogwarts. Surely it was only a matter of time before they would claim victory, ending the resistance and starting a new regime where only the most deserving witches and wizards would rule.
Through it all, their Master had been the great leader he had always been, issuing orders and threats with equal force, rarely praising yet never hesitating to address his followers' insufficient efforts with his usual method of forceful discipline.
But now he stood still and silent. And as most Death Eaters had learned early on in their service to the Dark Lord, a still and silent Master was a dangerous master. Best to keep a low profile at those times, when even breathing too loudly could put one on the receiving end of a Crucio … or much worse.
Suddenly the figure huffed a breath, then another and another, until the sound turned into a chilling laugh. His eyes opened and he looked around at his loyal followers in triumph. One dropped to her knees and crawled forward, reaching out to touch his cloak as she whispered, "What is it, my Lord? Is it the boy? Send me, and I will—"
Suddenly she yelped and scrambled away, falling backward in her haste. A spot of red quickly bloomed and began dripping down the hand that had touched him, and she cradled it to her chest with a whimper.
"Bella, you forget your place," he hissed, staring down at her as though she were nothing more than a disobedient puppy. She ducked her head and looked away, not so much in fear as in deference to some kind of deity.
Looking up again, the dark wizard swiftly assessed the gathered Death Eaters. "I have just received promising news. The boy is on the grounds near where the astronomy tower fell, and he is heading this way. It is as I said it would be. Unlike you, who would act foolishly and risk everything to eliminate this cloud of … gnats … that has been circling us for years, I have been patient. Given time and the proper encouragement, Harry Potter and his useless band of sycophants had no choice but to one day bow to me and recognize my superiority.
And now, that day has come! He is coming to me, just as I knew he would. He and his blood-traitor friend are moving in this direction to meet with that filthy Mudblood girl at the half-giant's hovel, and we will be waiting for them. Like their compatriots in this ill-fated war, they will not survive until dawn."
Just then, a wispy figure of a rat terrier ran into the clearing and stopped in front of the Dark Lord. It appeared to cower for a moment before it spoke in a voice loud enough for everyone assembled to hear. "My Lord, all units report that the castle and grounds have been secured. All known leaders of the resistance have been killed or accounted for except for the boy and his two friends. We await your instructions."
With that, the terrier patronus dissipated.
A sinister laugh rang out once again, and the Death Eaters began to relax at the good news and their Master's obvious glee. Nervous laughter broke out among the group, and a few of the more daring gave shouts of victory. Near a large boulder, Bellatrix stood tall and licked the blood from her hand with a sickening, hungry smile.
"Lucius, Severus … come forward."
Immediately the two top-ranked Death Eaters stepped forward and bowed low before their Master. As usual, the man before them waited until they were nearly cramped in discomfort before giving them leave to rise. Even in this, their hour of victory, it would never do to let his followers become too comfortable in his presence. The wizards finally stood, eyes on him, and waited to be addressed.
"The time has come to welcome the boy … to his death," the Dark Lord added with a snarl. "We certainly do not want him to feel as though we are not prepared to receive him. After all, we are gracious hosts, and we are delighted that he will be joining us this night."
Soft chuckles could be heard around the clearing. Both men smirked slightly, but continued to wait for their input to be solicited.
"Lucius, I would like to hear your ideas first. How can we greet this insolent fool that we have waited so patiently to see?"
A pair of grey eyes slid sideways and met a pair of black eyes with a look of smug satisfaction. "My Lord," he began in his drawling voice, "we would be honored to follow any plan you set forth. Your battle strategies are unparalleled, and there is nothing that can withstand your might. I do not presume to have greater skill in—"
"Yes, yes, of course," the Dark Lord hissed with irritation. "Do get on with it."
"Ahem … well, yes, of course. As I was saying, I do have a few ideas that may suit your purposes rather well. I propose we lay a trail that will lead them directly to us. I should think that we have enough markers … bread crumbs, if you will … to create beacons from here to the hill above their meeting place."
"And what do you intend to use for these … crumbs, Lucius?"
"Why, the mutilated bodies of his friends and allies, my Lord. Do you not agree that they would make a nice welcoming committee?"
A low murmur of assent rose from the crowd, and once again, Lucius' eyes locked on Severus', as though challenging him to disagree. As usual, they saw no reaction from the man other than a cold stare.
The Dark Lord's red eyes glittered with interest as he evaluated this plan. The macabre always did sound more delicious than the ordinary. "What say you, Severus?"
The raven-haired man stood silently for a moment before speaking. "My Lord, Lucius is talented at such theatrics, and I have no doubt it will create a strong impression on the boy. But I respectfully disagree with my colleague's intentions. Why, one would almost think he had been sorted into Gryffindor instead of Slytherin."
Bella let out a shout of anger. "You dare to cast aspersions on the ancient and most pure House of Malfoy, you loathsome, slimy half-blood? My Lord—"
"However," Severus said, raising his voice to be heard over Bella's protests and ignoring the murderous expression on Lucius' face. A quick look of warning from the Dark Lord caused the crazed woman's mouth to snap shut.
Severus continued in a lower voice. "However, your will is my duty, as ever, my Lord. That said, I do not think such an obvious trail will be necessary. If I know the boy at all from my unfortunate years as his professor, he will be foolish enough and, he thinks, brave enough to come to you on his own. Indeed, as he already is."
The Master looked between his two trusted servants. Once again, a fleeting sense of doubt came over him. He locked eyes with each of the men in turn, searching their minds through Legilimency for deceit or ill will. He found nothing but loyalty, and perhaps a bit of not-so-friendly competition between the men to see who would win their Lord's favor. How utterly predictable.
He closed his eyes and sought out the boy through their shared mental connection. He could see that the supposed savior of the wizarding world and his ginger-haired idiot sidekick had not yet left the edge of the castle foundations. The main path toward the forest was nearly impassable due to debris from the attacks on the castle. The way forward would be slow but steady.
After another moment, he turned to address the group as a whole. "It is decided. Lucius, you may proceed, but you must act quickly to accomplish your task. Take as many of our company as you require. Severus, you will remain here. I believe you will enjoy your reunion with your former pupil."
"As you wish, My Lord," both men replied, almost in unison. A triumphant Lucius smirked at Severus before striding off to assemble his forces. Severus' eyes followed the man closely, but his face revealed nothing.
A/N: This story will unwind slowly, but I do hope it will be worth the wait. I prefer to read stories that allow for character development and background rather than those that take a "wham, bam, thank you ma'am" approach. We'll see Hermione again in a couple of chapters, I promise, and then things will get really interesting.