December 17th, 1995

Library, Hogwarts School

Hermione let out a small sigh, setting the enormous tome aside. Nathan was acting... weird, and now she couldn't focus on her mission. He usually wasn't quick to anger, and he rarely acted without thinking. Nor, for that matter, did he often brood. He had always, from what Harry and Daphne had told her repeatedly, been more Slytherin than Gryffindor. After Riddle announced his return, though, Nathan had changed, and not for the better. Now, he was prone to all of the bad habits of a stereotypical Gryffindor, and few of the good traits of the House.

When the group had last met, he had claimed it was the stress of everything that was going on, but Hermione wasn't so sure, and she thought Daphne shared her suspicions. They had been at the Potter twins' side from the beginning, and they knew how each acted when under stress. Nathan did not become angry and impulsive while under pressure. So why was he acting that way now?

Reluctantly, she decided to focus on her task. She would talk to Daphne later, she resolved, and share her suspicions with the Slytherin girl. She did have to complete that report...

-o-

Potter Manor

"Purge of Death Eaters in Ministry of Magic Underway!"

Lily Potter stared slack-jawed at what she saw. Less than a month after Minister Bones was sworn into office, and she was already making more progress towards stopping You-Know-Who's attacks than the Order of the Phoenix had made during its entire history. Keeping He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's tendrils out of the Ministry of Magic would be a major victory, and something Dumbledore would never allow to be attempted. Perhaps, she mused, him being removed from power wasn't all bad, if it gave the Ministry of Magic the freedom to actually act in response to the threat of You-Know-

Library, Hogwarts School

"I need to talk to you," Hermione said. "Alone. Now."

"Can it wait?" Daphne asked.

"No."

The other girl sighed, and started to put the sheets of parchment into folders. "Alright. Give me a moment."

As soon as the table was clear, Hermione said, "Walk with me."

Once they were out of earshot, Hermione began speaking. "I'm sure you've noticed that Nathan is acting weird."

"He's been under a lot of pressure lately, what with... everything that's going on," Daphne said. It didn't sound very convincing, even to her own ears.

"Nathan doesn't usually act like that when he's stressed," Hermione insisted. "He pulls away from people, yes, but he doesn't brood! And he's never gotten angry and irrational! He's getting worse every day, though!"

Daphne sighed. She had noticed Harry's brother was acting odd, but she had half hoped it was just a phase, despite evidence to the contrary.

"Alright. What do we do?"

"For now, let's try to find what might be causing his unusual behavior. It might actually be the stress that's getting to him..." Hermione looked downcast. "I doubt it will be that easy, though."

-o-

January 4th, 1996

12 Grimmauld Place, London

Nathan gaped at the pile before him. From the notes Dumbles had given him before the former Headmaster's forced exile, Voldemort had been collecting Founders' artifacts to turn into horcruxes. Now, right before his eyes, Slytherin's locket lay before him, half buried beneath the junk removed from the Black family's house-elf's den. Was fortune smiling on him at last?

A loud pop sounded from behind him as he reached to grab the locket, and a dangerous voice rasped, "Filthy half-blood will not be taking Master Regulus' locket!"

45 minutes later...

"Little Master will help Kreature fulfill Master Regulus' final order?" the Black Family house-elf asked hopefully. Nathan had been talking to the elf for hours now. After the tense first moments of their meeting, the elf had begun explaining how "Master Regulus" had given his life to make the Dark Lord mortal, but that nothing he had done could destroy it. Since then, Kreature had kept it secret and safe in his posession, waiting for an opportunity to fulfill Regulus Black's final order.

"Yes," Nathan said. "I will help you make Voldemort mortal once more. But we can't do it right now."

"Why not, filthy half-blood scum?" Kreature asked, hateful once more.

-o-

Godric's Hollow

Several people in black, hooded robes and bone-white masks appeared on the edge of the village of Godric's Hollow. Their mission was simple: eradicate the location where their master had been defeated fourteen years before.

The first curse was thrown by a rookie Death Eater on his first mission. The screams that ensued was music to the group's ears. In a matter of seconds, the rest began their assault.

A few minutes in, however, the leader noticed something - the screams... they had stopped. She looked around in confusion. In the seconds she scanned the village square, a curse took off her head.

-o-

Alastor Moody arrived at Godric's Hollow five minutes after the Aurors' office got the call. A grim smile found its way onto his face. Someone had fought back. When he had departed Grimmauld Place, he had expected to see unconscious and bound Death Eaters. Instead, the village was a blood bath. None of the attackers were left alive.

"You," he barked at a shaking survivor. "What happened here?"

"They- the -" the kid took a shaky breath. "The white mask people came and started to kill people. Then more people came and killed them. He-" the boy took another deep breath. "One of the new people said they were from Chimera. What's Chimera? Are you from there, too?"

"I've never heard of Chimera," Moody said gruffly, concerned. It sounded like there was a new player on the field. But what side were they on?

-o-

January 6th, 1996

12 Grimmauld Place, London

In the kitchen at #12 Grimmauld Place, members of the Order of the Phoenix were gathered. Not all were present, but not all had been gathered. Only those tasked with investigating the newly-emerged group, and the Order's new leader, Alastor Moody, were present.

"What have you learned about this 'Chimera?'" Alastor asked.

Kingsley Shacklebolt answered. "So far, we've uncovered evidence that they do not train any agents of their own. They work entirely through proxies and mercenaries. They pay well, too. The hired wands who took out those Death Eaters two days ago are rumored to have been paid two hundred galleons per kill."

"What about prisoners? How many galleons for them?" Moody asked. What he had seen at Godric's Hollow indicated the mercenaries, at least, chose not to take any. Why?

"My contacts say there was no bounty posted for any prisoners, only deaths," Mundungus Fletcher reported.

"At least we know how they operate now..." Moody was silent for a moment. "Keep on the lookout, but prioritize tracking known Death Eaters first. If you hear something, inform me in your next report. You are dismissed."