Potter swayed on the spot, a disturbed grin on his face.
Behind the boy Bellatrix and Lucius exchanged glances.
"How did I escape the room?" Potter repeated Lord Voldemort's question. "You had an enchantment on the cage to stop the dementors from claiming Potter's- my soul- I just shifted the parameters."
Potter took a step towards Nagini who reared up and hissed. This did not deter the boy who knelt down and hissed so that Voldemort could not hear. Nagini in turn quietened, her own forked tongue hissing as she curled her heavy body in on itself.
"My Lord-" Bellatrix started, but at the sharp look she received from Voldemort she bowed and fell silent. Voldemort turned his attention back to Potter who continued to entice Nagini with words of parseltongue.
His Horcrux was far more than Voldemort could have hoped for. Potter had managed to resist for so long that Voldemort had feared that their presence would never come to be.
"I dare not go past the outer limitations," his Horcrux stood suddenly, his voice hard, like how Potter usually sounded as he faced his Lord with no fear. "Potter is still so strong, why has he not broken?"
Voldemort's eyes flashed.
"You are in control, is that not enough?"
A sharp laugh escaped Potter's mouth as he fixed Lord Voldemort with a look that no one else would dare.
"You are foolish if you underestimate how strong Potter is."
Voldemort stepped closer, his fingers curling under Potter's chin to bring red eyes up to meet his own. His Horcrux remained obediently still as Voldemort inspected his soul.
"The boy is not present now?" Voldemort demanded.
"No," his Horcrux said. "Potter cannot face the world right now."
"Then what do you suggest?" Voldemort asked. Bellatrix and Lucius remained watching with rapt attention. Of course, Lord Voldemort's Death Eaters would never understand the full meaning of these event, but that didn't matter.
"I only came to be when Potter was desperate for his existence to end in both body and soul, when his mind was finally breaking apart," Potter said, "Yet I cannot sustain myself for long, if Potter decides to wake there will be little I can do to prevent it."
His Horcrux turned back to face the giant serpent.
"Give me Nagini."
Voldemort's eyes flashed at the clear command.
Potter tilted his head, but it did not deter him as a thin unnerving smile twitching on his lips.
"You know I cannot do this alone and her presence will give me the strength to fight Potter, to keep him sedate."
"Then take the locket, it will have the same effect," Voldemort hissed.
"No," his Horcrux said. "Potter will always be too strong for me, were he to regain control and escape you would lose two Horcrux's. Nagini can stop the boy if need be."
"I refuse to believe that you are that weak," Voldemort said.
"I have never had a consciousness before, never been aware before," his Horcrux started pacing, his frustration flashing across their bond as even Nagini reared up her teeth bared as she hissed. "Did you not see how much effort it took for me to just break through, what makes you think I can sustain this form?"
Potter turned and dropped down to his knees at once, his hand reaching out as he hissed in turn to Nagini. Nagini swayed, her anger waning as she coiled her huge body within itself. Satisfied, Potter stood and instead focused his demented gaze upon Bellatrix and Lucius who were stood together by the fire.
Voldemort's lipless mouth twitched as his Horcrux approached them.
"Bellatrix, Lucius, I trust I can count on your services should I require them?"
Bellatrix opened her mouth, looking set to argue, before she slammed her mouth shut and looked to her Lord for an answer.
Lucius however, jerked his head slightly, his eyes fixed upon Potter.
"Of course," Lucius said. "And how should we address you, My-?"
Potter grinned, his sunken eyes making him look demented.
"You will call me Tom."
The body was bloodied, twisted in such an unnatural position as it rested in front of the rose bushes. The Death Eater's neck was deformed, slit open and covered in patches of wet and dry blood.
Draco Malfoy's wand shook as he dug out a deep hole in the hard ground.
Absently, Draco touched his own neck, his cold fingers feeling alien to his touch. It should have been his neck that had been gouged open.
Potter had already proved he was capable of slitting someone open. Draco had the scars to prove it.
So why was Draco still alive. And why had Potter waited until the Dark Lord was in the manor before attempting to flee. It didn't make any sense.
With a single flick of Draco's wand, the body rose and fell into the deep hole, before a small pile of earth followed and deposited itself in the grave.
Draco turned, his face set with determination as he started back towards the manor entrance.
He wanted answers.
Draco entered Potter's prison with hard determination.
"Why am I not dead?" he demanded. "You had plenty of opportunities to attack me, why wait until another-"
Potter who had been poised on the side of the bed, looked up, his eyes alight with a sick amusement.
"I can soon fix that," Potter said, and with a single fluid motion was within two paces of where Draco stood.
All strength that Draco had evaporated instantly as he took a step backwards, his own wand fumbling in his hands.
But before either he or Potter could say another word they were interrupted by the most horrific sound.
Lord Voldemort's terrifying, large snake was hissing from where she had curled her head around a bedpost. In turn, Potter opened his mouth adding to the strange hissing noise that filled he room.
Potter looked truly disturbed, his eyes were dark and sunken, his skin pale and his hair as messy as it always looked.
Draco's brow furrowed as he tried to ignore his already pounding heart as he kept his voice as level as he could make it.
"You're not Potter."
A smirk flicked onto Potter's mouth. Draco instinctively drew his wand again but it might have well as been a toy.
"Then I suggest you leave now. Potter might have had reservations killing you, but I certainly don't."
Potter hissed something again to Nagini who hissed back in response, her large body curling around herself.
Draco didn't hesitate. He turned and left without a backwards glance. Whatever the hell had happened to Potter he was glad he was going back to Hogwarts in the morning.
Neville Longbottom pushed his trolley through the bustling station. Owls screeched and parents hurried their children onto the Hogwarts Express all while glancing over their shoulders.
Neville walked alone through the crowd. His grandmother had wanted to come with him but Neville hadn't planned on lingering on the platform any longer than he had to. Climbing aboard, he heaved his trunk along to an empty compartment right at the back of the carriage.
Minutes later, the door slid open and Luna Lovegood appeared, her trunk trailing along behind her. Neville scrambled up and they both hauled it up to rest in the luggage racks above their heads.
It was only once they had nothing else left to busy themselves with did they finally face each other.
"Ginny's just saying goodbye to her parents," Luna said.
"Right."
Ginny stormed into the compartment not a minute later. Her eyes were ablaze and her wand sparking black. With a single wave Neville felt the air around them pulse as a blanket fell over them, cushioning their voices to all who would listen.
"We can talk now," Ginny said.
But instead of the suddenly rush of questions, the silence descended again. Instead Neville looked at the remaining empty seats in the compartment.
"Ron and Hermione aren't coming are they?" he asked.
"No," Ginny said, her voice bitter. "The ministry think Ron's ill though, so if anyone asks just say he has spattergroit."
Neville was afraid to ask any more. The ministry hadn't gone into much detail about Harry's death, only that he had been murdered by Voldemort.
It was Luna who dared despite drawing her own arms around herself.
"What happened to Harry?"
Ginny's eyes fell, but she still proceeded with only a single shaky breath.
"The Order were moving him from his Aunt and Uncle's house. They were betrayed them. You Know Who was there waiting-"
Ginny explained the few details she knew.
Neville was astonished how well Ginny managed to keep herself together. It seemed she had moved all her grief into anger.
Even now, a flash of anger flitted across Ginny's expression.
"Snape was there."
"What?"
"Snape was right there, took George's ear off in the attack-" her voice choked. "We don't have a choice now. We fight to kill."
She looked between the two of them, daring them to disagree.
"Yes," Luna said. "I think you're right."
"Neville, are you in?"
Neville swallowed, but he nodded.
"I'm in."
Ginny had a world of ideas of how to get started on how to deal with Snape, including some nasty tips and tricks from Fred and George, along with a collection of undeveloped and rather dangerous looking Weasley's Wizard Wheezes.
It was a few hours into the train journey when the compartment door slid open, members of the DA had occasionally popped their heads in, but now Neville looked up to see Malfoy with Crabbe and Goyle at either shoulder.
"Get lost Malfoy," Ginny snapped and she drew her wand.
"I'd watch it if I were you, Weasley," Malfoy said as he tapped his head boy badge on his chest with a smirk. Behind him Crabbe and Goyle snickered. "You wouldn't want a weeks worth of detention already?"
"I don't give a crap," Ginny snarled. "Unless you want me to curse you to hell, get lost."
Malfoy crossed his arms, leaning against the carriage door.
"Don't tell me you lot are still crying over Potter?"
That did it. The silence that fell over everyone was intense. Malfoy wouldn't dare.
Luna was staring at Malfoy with so much hate. Even the Slytherin's seemed shocked at Malfoy's nerve. Goyle's mouth was agape, and Crabbe seemed mildly impressed.
Ginny was so blinded with rage, she forgot that her wand was in her hand.
"Get out."
Malfoy seemed completely non phased by the comment, his mouth twitching into a smirk.
"Now that's not very welcoming-"
Ginny finally reacted, her wand flashing in sparks of red. Malfoy dodged to the side, his own wand catching her in a full body bind. Neville rushed to her side.
"I think you've just earned your first detention, Weasley," Malfoy said. "You shouldn't let Potter get you so worked up."
And with that he turned and left, Crabbe and Goyle's laugher carrying down the train.
Neville pulled out his own wand, freeing Ginny from the curse.
She pushed Neville away scowling, trying to hide the tears that welled in her eyes.
"Don't worry, Ginny. We'll get him back," Neville said.
"I'm going to tear that ferret face apart," Ginny snapped.
Neville sat at the table in front of him laden with food, his plate empty. It was too suffocating, too many people who should have been here were missing.
Neville glanced around, sweeping his gaze over the other tables. The sorting had been so brief this year, with barely half the number of first years than normal.
It was now someone completely unwelcome who stood in Dumbledore's place. Neville scowled as Snape moved to address the school.
His fellow colleagues sat silent behind him, and Neville was pleased to see that none of them were welcoming to their new headmaster.
The prophet had done a rubbish job of trying to discredit Harry due to Dumbledore's death. Everyone knew what had really happened and they weren't going to let Snape forget it.
Snape was silent for a moment before he addressed the school.
"Hogwarts has a high reputation to uphold," Snape began, his eyes sweeping over the angry students. "And as your new headmaster, this will be the priority. Standards must be kept high, failure to do so will result in expulsion. This also includes social behaviour as well as grades."
Neville exchanged glances with Seamus at this.
"Your new Defence Against the Dark Art teacher this year is Amycus Carrow, whilst your new Muggle Studies teacher is Alecto Carrow," Snape said. "They will also be taking on the role of Deputy Headmaster."
A squat and lumpy man and a stocky looking woman stood to an absolutely silent hall.
"Death Eaters," Seamus said, he had lent across the table to whisper to Neville.
Neville nodded.
"Don't worry, we'll get them too," Ginny muttered.
"I think we need a DA meeting tonight," Neville said. "We should start getting the word out."
There were at least forty people seated around the room which had accommodated for them with forty large squashy purple bean bags. Students from Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw were all huddled around waiting for them to start. Ginny was standing by his side while Luna had seated herself on a bean bag, immersed in the Quibbler.
When it seemed Ginny wasn't going to speak, Neville cleared his throat awkwardly.
Everyone's focus shifted to him and he suddenly found it very daunting. But Harry wasn't here. Not any more.
"We all know why we're here," Neville said.
No one moved, it was if they had turned into statues. Neville cleared his throat before continuing awkwardly.
"It hurts, I know it does," Neville said quietly. "Dumbledore has gone and we've all lost friends, Hermione and Dean have had to run for their lives."
He looked around at all of them who had stilled.
"And Harry-" Neville said quietly. Harry had always been such a strong figure of hope, he had been there for all of them. Neville didn't know how to give them hope.
"This is serious. We aren't just practising any more. This is real and it is going to be dangerous." Lavender and Parvati were nodding, while others looked so determined.
"Honestly, some of us might not survive this, so if anyone wishes to back out now-" Neville stopped, half expecting a few people to get up and move. When no one did he couldn't help but smile slightly. They could do this.
"We're in this together. And Snape and the Carrow's are going to suffer."
Lord Voldemort surveyed his Horcrux. Days had passed and the result had been satisfactory.
"Potter hasn't woken?" Voldemort said.
"No and nor does he want to," Tom said with the slightest bow of his head. "Nagini's presence has helped keep him sedate."
"Good," Voldemort said. "Then I need something important collecting, something I can only trust you to complete."
Voldemort had never expected such a promising result when he had initially began breaking into Potters mind. Yet before him stood a strong Horcrux, ready to do his bidding with unwavering loyalty.
"Your orders my Lord?"
"Potters wand is superior to mine," Voldemort said. "I need a stronger wand, one that will not lose."
"You have Potters wand, why would you need a more powerful one?" Tom asked.
"Because I intend for you to be more then a puppet," Voldemort said. "And you require a wand."
Tom tilted his head as he crossed his arms.
"You intend for me to use Potters wand?"
"Ollivander has informed me of another wand, a wand so powerful it will destroy all others."
Tom formed a twisted smile upon his face.
"And you wish for me to retrieve it?"
Voldemort nodded, his red eyes locked onto Potters unyielding green.
"Gregorovitch is your lead, he was last known to have it."
Voldemort reached into his robes and held out Potter's wand.
His Horcrux took it silently, his fingers curling around it as a thin smile slipped onto his face.
"I will not fail you, My Lord."