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Weapon (Possession Chapter LIV)
Chapter III - Reflections of Dark
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Voldemort stood alone on the parapet of his stronghold. Ruby eyes gazed out at the almost black rock strew field that was on this side. It was the only open approach to his stronghold. The other sides were sheer cliff faces with hundreds of metres rock falls leading down to the icy ocean. He could distantly hear the booming of the water but it could be mistaken for the hissing of the wind easily enough.

Sword grass and clumps of the tough mondo grass grew in the field to about knee height before the constant cold wind curtailed any further growth. It waved now as it was whipped about by the wind.

His robes snapped around him, the heavy crimson fabric billowing almost ponderously but he was not cold. He was a serpent but he was not so limited that he was incapacitated by temperature.

The past few days had been a trial. The culmination of patient labour had been destroyed in a single night. It always seemed to happen that way. Perhaps he had overstepped his bounds, but he had not overstepped his ambition. The world would bow to him. It would just take a little longer to reach his goal.

For now though he was assessing the battle and regrouping. That idiot Malfoy had scattered his forces driving some of them back into their bolt holes, and causing still others to be captured. The Rebellion that the blond had lead had been damaging, he could not deny that, and if he had thought that it was going to be as wide spread he would have crushed Malfoy weeks ago, taking the risk of the conspirators choosing a new leader and biding their time.

Of his non human allies he had but a handful left. The vampires had never supported him, the giants were too splintered, trolls and ogres weren't worth bothering with and goblins... He shuddered. He'd kill the goblins himself before he bothered with them. They were only good at fighting each other. Unless he could get a major group like the werewolves on side, his non human forces would remain weak for quite some time. Lucius' forces had made a point of killing them outright.

Although... The shadows could potentially fight.

-No. Not unless our Master wills it,- the darkness whispered to him. -You will have to conquer by yourself.-

The Dark Lord nodded. He had been expecting something like this from his beloved's servants and it was probably better this way. If he began using the shadows, then Harry could not without questions being raised.

"Could I get a few limited services?"

-Yes,- the agreed quietly, sensing his need.

Voldemort nodded, before looking back to the grass.

The serpents would fight for him but their abilities in battle was limited so with his non human forces almost non existent that left his Death Eaters as the main force. This was not unusual but with their reduced numbers he would have to be careful to ensure that he was using them in the most efficient manner.

He sighed, some few of his Death Eaters were unsuited to combat but in supporting roles... Their abilities were almost legendary. He would need to start establishing bases and safe locations for his forces soon. That would also serve to establish him as a legitimate alternative and would allow further recruitment.

Losing Lucius as an individual wouldn't have been a problem, but Malfoy's Rebellion seemed to have called upon his more public followers, those the Ministry suspected. While it did mean now that his forces were truly hidden, it would severely affect his ability to recruit. Lucius had been not been public with his support but for anyone with a brain his loyalty had been obvious and he and his ilk provided many recruitment opportunities.

He would need to get some Marked students within Dumstrang, Hogwarts and Beauxbatons as soon as possible, despite the risk. There were potential followers there but they had no way of finding him. And he would need to, as he had done in the early days, put the word out with the practitioners and suppliers of the Dark Arts. He had been generous in the past, they would not deny him now.

He looked up at the sky. A few tattered clouds raced passed, briefly obscuring some stars. It was moonless here, and the dark was almost absolute. Darkness that he could hide in... no.

After the battle just past, he no longer had a choice. Years ago, during his first rise, he had used stealth, expanding his forces and influence by slowly convincing family after family, clan after clan. But that took time. And that took a Ministry that was not looking for a Dark Lord. It had only been because he had acted so fast after the defeat of Grindlewald that he had managed to remain undetected for so long, a mere terrifying rumour.

But the Ministry knew him now, and was watching. He would be able to gain some followers as he had in the past, but his major gains would have to come through open combat. They were watching for him and his forces, so he would give them something to watch.

Stealth was well and good, but it left him open to infiltration. Open battle was different like that, infiltrators had to fight their own and would be recorded as fighting on his side, so that they could never go back.

He would have to harness his forces and resources but with the right planning open combat would be beneficial. He could stand against anyone that way, and his forces would gain strength and courage as they became used to what they could do.

Wizard fighting wizard in battle was not the same as duelling. It came down to the strongest group and the best planner and he was no mean general.

The only question remained with the Vampires.

They would never support him. After Xeoaph had so openly backed Lucius even if another elder crawled to him, he would destroy it before he would ally with them. Unless it was Xeoaph's Master.

Voldemort suppressed a smile at the childish imagining, seeing the elder vampire's horror as he ordered him and his forces to stand down, an order that was backed by Xeoaph's Vampiric Sire. As pleasing as it was, it would be impossible. Xeoaph was over two thousand years old. His sire was almost certainly dead... wasn't he?

Blood red eyes narrowed slightly as the Dark Lord realised he did not know. He shrugged finally. It did not matter. He had already obtained the elder Vampire's blood and needed nothing further from him. Xeoaph could order his children to fight for the Ministry, but that was all he could do.

-He can die.- The shadows suggested thoughtfully.

"He can, but he probably won't," Voldemort agreed easily as he turned back to the interior, running a long fingered hand through his hair. He wasn't so stupid that he did not appreciate how difficult it was to kill a vampire of that age. No... Let the Ministry attempt that, he would be content with neutralisation.

His path was clear now, and he had to be ready by the time the Ministry and Dumbledore regrouped.

Summon his forces, verify their loyalty, destroy the traitors, and then choose his first battle ground.

But for now, he had to keep the Ministry off balance. They would no doubt be seeking revenge for their almost loss and he would need to distract them...

Ah... A sinister smile crossed his features.

That insipid paper had survived his attack but there were many uses for the media. Perhaps he would give that annoying reporter the story they had been dreaming of and then see how the Ministry played to that. It would be a good way measuring them, as well as providing an opportunity for those who were as yet undecided as to where they stood to see that he was real.

Yes, he would do that tomorrow. In the mean time though, he had traitors to torture and the heads of two particular traitors to deliver to Hogwarts.

In truth, he wasn't really sure what to do with Lucius. For the moment, those who had been captured were languishing in his dungeons, the magic having been stripped from them by the shadows, and no doubt the Dementors were feasting on their memories.

They would die. He knew that. But to just kill them would not inspire fear, not would it serve his purpose although their sudden disappearance would raise questions. Perhaps it was for the best if they should just disappear, never to be heard from by either side again.

-That is too easy for Lucius.-

"So you agree for the others?"

-With the right rumours, it would certainly help. Or let them be found slowly, one at a time so that the world wonders what has happened.-

Voldemort nodded. "So what of Malfoy?"

-For now, we suggest nothing. Let him wonder, let him torture himself with the knowledge of his failure.-

"Let him live long enough to see my victory?"

-Yes.-

"You have something else in mind, don't you?" The Dark Lord accused.

-Yes,- the shadows agreed without the slightest trace of concern. -You'll work it out in time. Just leave him for the moment since our Master is not quite ready for the torture we wish him to inflict.-

"I will wait then," Voldemort agreed. "I will keep him, just as I am keeping those Muggles."

He settled himself down in his throne, looking around the room. The shadows seemed deeper than they had been several days ago. The Dark Lord allowed himself a small smile, before he focused his power slightly, bringing Zabini and Bulstrode to him.

The two black robed wizards landed on the cold stones with a slight thud before they blinked in the sudden light. They made no effort to move and the Dark Lord examined them with narrowed eyes, remembering what Harry had told him about feeding his servants.

"So this is the result," he murmured, altering his eyes to see their magic. He jerked slightly in surprise when they appeared as nothing more than dark lumps to him. He could see them, they weren't completely devoid of magic or light, but they were like a Muggle to a Wizard - lifeless, weak.

-They weren't even that tasty,- the shadows observed, earning a small smile.

"Oh, so what is tasty?"

-Heh...When you and our Master lay together, that was a feast such that we will do everything in our power to see repeated.-

The Dark Lord blinked. Blood red eyes showed nothing before he laughed in absolute delight, surprise turning into expectation. "See that you do," he hissed before looking back at his captives. From the way that what was left of their magic was distributed he could see that it had been striped thoroughly. There was a small flicker remaining there though, around their solar plexus. That was keeping their bodies alive. It was all that was necessary although it was interesting to note, that now they were weaker than most Muggles.

"Why did you not consume all their light?"

The shadows hesitated and the Dark Lord waited. They did not have to answer him, he knew, only Harry had that power but they had been forthcoming so far. -Our Master does not know yet and we do not usually do that. If we consume every last bit of light within someone they can no longer serve our purpose as they are no longer separate. They become one of us but they are not one of us. It is like those who are born vampire and those who are turned. Those who are born vampire are powerful, from birth, those who are turned take centuries, eons to reach the same level of power. We have no wish to dilute ourselves and so do not re-create that way, except for a few, gifted individuals who match our power when turned.-

Voldemort nodded. He understood. He didn't understand everything though. There were things there that they were not telling but he understood their reasoning. He was still curious though. "Would you consume Harry?"

Once again they paused. -We already consume his radiant power.-

"But you do not consume the whole."

They seemed to sigh and the Dark Lord got the distinct impression that they were arguing amongst themselves. -We would consume Harry,- his answer came after a moment.

One black eye brow arched at their choice of words. They never called his beloved anything but Master.

-We would consume Harry,- they repeated, -But such Light would likely kill us.-

"I did not think your kind could die."

-We do not die,- they clarified. -Not of old age, not of anything. But we can be destroyed and his power is that which can do that. It is poison to us, and once infected it would spread throughout the whole and we would all die.- They sensed the further question. -We serve, Dark Lord, because we are the Dark and some poisons are empowering when given in small doses.-

"But you are an ultimate power already," Voldemort objected, wondering why they would submit. "You do not need the extra power."

-We are addicted, we are dark but like you we know that there must be light.-

The Dark Lord nodded, his prisoners forgotten by his thirst for knowledge about his new allies. They were intriguing and the complexity of their relationship to the light was breathtaking. There was so much more he knew they were not saying, so much more he knew there were just no words for and he knew he would only ever begin to grasp the edges of understanding. "Does Harry know?"

-Yes. He understands instinctually what lies between us. He understands everything, even if he does not yet know it all.-

"Ah," that was all he could bring himself to say.

-You are concerned Dark Lord, there is no need. We will not betray and we will always answer his call. Between our master and us, there is more than a contract, there is more than instinct and power. There is need and there is requirement. What binds him to us, and us to him cannot be broken, and cannot be ignored by either of us. Throughout time it has always been that way and should our master become immortal, it will remain that way.-

Voldemort nodded again, suppressing a slight shiver at the power they were radiating. It was the extremes of everything all at once - love, heat, rage, black, loyalty, whole, alone, unknown, light, dark, known, accompanied, broken, deceit, white, calm, cold, hate - unique and powerful and the sense was gone in an instant as the shadows withdrew.

Zabini and Bulstrode shivered as well, their eyes wild as they sensed their tormentors but that terror was quickly forgotten as a more immediate threat materialised. They might have been sapped of all magic, completely without light and without hope, but they were still alive and on some level all living beings crave life, even when sacrificing itself for the greater good, there is always a part that still wishes to live. With all other parts traumatised or destroyed, that part was now in control.

Voldemort smiled. It was not the gentle smile he gave his beloved but one of pure anticipation. Beings who were clinging to life were the most fun to break. They could be humiliated, driven, controlled. Every scream was just the indication of their delusion and his control. Harry would learn the pleasure of control in time and it would be a joy teaching it to him, but for now, he had his own entertainment to attend to.

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