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Weapon (Possession Chapter LXV)
Chapter XIV - Interview with the Dark Lord
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Elliot groaned and looked around as he came to. The last thing he remembered was saying good bye to the Head Editor and skipping out the door in anticipation of a fine meal curtesy of Madam Rosetta at the Hogs Head before he went to see Dumbledore about the next phase of advertising for the Order. It had been going well. He'd managed to get a laudatory comment about the Order into just about every major article he'd written and with just a little more pushing the Ministry would have be forced by general public support to ask the Order for help.

He'd been heading towards 'The Burly Gryphon' to flu over to Hogsmead since he didn't feel like apparating but he hadn't gotten very far before something had stuck him from behind and he'd pitched forward, reaching for his wand but finding himself unable to move. Then everything had gone black until now.

Where ever he was, it was high class he decided. The walls were a rich brown, mahogany perhaps, or maybe stained turpentine and the panels were fitted together smoothly and carved with what he recognised to be expert workmanship. The chair he was sitting in, unrestrained, he realised with a small jolt of relief was soft, but still supporting and it seemed to radiate warmth. There were several shelves and they were occupied by leather bound books or by a few wizarding curios. A coat of arms, bearing the Slytherin crest was on the wall above the mantle, two well oiled and very sharp looking swords were crossed behind it. A cheery fire burnt there and a small stack of wood was beside the hearth next to the ivory handled fire set.

There was a table in the centre of the room, with a illusionary map on it. He didn't recognise the depiction but one of the buildings was burning and with a start, Elliot drew back from the tiny Deaths Head with Serpent Tongue hovering over it.

"It hasn't happened yet." A rich smooth voice came from the side.

Bryant froze. He didn't recognise the voice but he rather thought he knew who it was. With a suppressed shudder he turned slowly to look at the other being who was sitting calm and relaxed in the other chair.

"Welcome," the Dark Lord said with a ghastly smile, "to my home."

"No." The word was instinctive and he felt his bladder loosen in fear. He remained controlled though.

"Ah," Voldemort seemed to laugh. "One that does not scream but who denies," he said lightly. "I assure you Mr Bryant, this is my home, or part there of."

Elliot gulped and tried to force his pounding heart to go at a more normal rate as he tried to consider the situation logically. He'd been on his way to see Dumbledore and now he was in front of the Dark Lord, unrestrained, in what he was claiming to be his home...

Right, that was logical.

"I assure you, Mr Bryant that if I wanted you dead, you wouldn't have woken up and if I wanted you tortured, you would have awoken in more suitable surroundings. I simply wish to speak with you, Mr Bryant. Nothing more. After that, I'm afraid, I will have to knock you out again, but you will wake up this time... I think at The Leaky Cauldron."

The Dark Lord, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named just wanted to talk.

Adrenaline pounded through his system.

That was even more logical.

Not.

"Why?" His reporter instincts kicked in.

"Don't you think the wizarding world deserves to hear my side of the story?" The Dark Lord returned.

"Your side of the story? What is there to tell?" Elliot scoffed.

"A great deal more than you think. And I will tell you, unless of course you'd prefer I tell some other reporter..? Perhaps someone from The Enquirer would be better suited for this."

"No! No," Elliot gulped again, surprised at his own audacity in arguing with the Dark Lord. "I will listen," he added.

"Good, although Mr Bryant, this is a one time opportunity for you, feel free to ask questions. I do not promise to answer them all, but I do give you my word that I will not kill you for the asking. Ask anything Mr Bryant, ask even those that can't be reported but that the Order will want to know." Voldemort smiled as Elliot's eyes opened wide.

"How do you know?" He whispered.

He laughed, the sound rich and strong. "It is my job to know," he paused. "Now, do you need a recording device?" He offered.

"No," Elliot shook his head as he began patting down his pockets. His wand would be here somewhere.

"On the table to your left," the Dark Lord instructed coldly and he looked over to see the Dark Lord's wand levelled at him. "Precautions, you understand."

Elliot nodded and very slowly reached over to place one finger on his wand. He stuttered the charm a few times but eventually managed to get the word out. His wand glowed as the charm activated and he equally carefully pulled back his hand. The Dark Lord only lowered his wand once he was settled again although he could see the tip of it under white hands and couldn't hold back a shudder.

"All right," Elliot said softly, trying to get his mind into working order as he tried both to not think about the situation and to think about those questions that would reveal the most information, both for the paper and the Order because he knew he did not have unlimited time. "I'll start with the easy things," he said, falling into at least the initial routine of an interview, "just for the record and then we'll move on."

"Certainly."

"Who are you?"

"I am Lord Voldemort."

"What do you want?"

"I want to rule wizarding society."

"And the Muggles?"

"Wizarding society first, then we can move towards taking our rightful place as the rulers of the Muggles. Even I know that a fractured wizarding society could not dominate the Muggles."

"So what are your thoughts on the Wizarding Edicts that call for secrecy?"

"Archaic pieces of legislation that might have been necessary at the time they were made but are now enforced from habit by weak minded and pathetic individuals who fail to see the whole."

"Why do you want this?"

"Because when I was a child, I learnt the truth of the world. This is the only truth of the world and it applies to both humans and animals. Those who are strong rule. It is that simple. Those who are strong, physically, intellectually, magically, it does not matter how, dominate over those who are weak.

"Those wizards and witches among us who are strongest should rule, and in turn, they should lead our society, which is stronger into domination over the weaker Muggles. There is no need to cower in fear from those who are inferior, but that is what we are doing. And in our secrecy were are giving them power over us.

"I want us to once more take our rightful place."

"What of those you call Mudbloods?"

The Dark Lord smiled. "They are magical," he said smoothly. "They might be born of Muggles but they are magical beings and thus according to their power levels, they deserve to be trained and treated no differently from any other magical being.

"Make no mistake. It is all about strength. Old wizarding lines that lack strength should not be revered simply because they are old but should be replaced by fresh new blood that has power."

"So why didn't you join the Ministry and work for change from within?" Elliot asked.

Ruby eyes flashed. "Because I learnt in school that the current administration is not interested in justice or truth. They are interested in what they perceive to be the truth and they are locked into that view."

"You were disappointed in them?" Elliot continued carefully, testing the waters as he tried to determine what the Dark Lord meant. There was more with his previous sentence than what he said. He could feel it.

"I was betrayed," the answer came back flatly, "by one who had no right to doubt me."

"Forgive me, but most wizards would doubt your word."

The Dark Lord hissed, turning sharply towards the fire. "This was at a time when I was still a child," he said forcefully. "He had no right to doubt me, and had the responsibility to attend to my welfare."

"What happened?"

"That, I will not answer."

Elliot nodded and did not push the issue. "Who betrayed you?"

"The one you see as your saviour, Albus Dumbledore. Even when I was a child, he considered me evil. A fine consideration for one who's neglect forced me to this path."

"Albus Dumbledore? The current Headmaster of Hogwarts?"

"Yes."

"What did he do?"

"He did not believe me. At a time when I was a child, when I was weak, he did not believe me."

"So your entire battle is with Albus Dumbledore?"

"If that was the case I would have killed the old fool and be done with it. No, he is but a symptom of the system, a symptom that claimed to know better but when the time came could not see past his preconceived ideas."

"But according to your beliefs that the strong rule the weak, why should Albus Dumbledore, at a time, when you have just admitted that you were weak, listen and support your cause?" Elliot was surprised at his own question and forced himself not to tremble as he imagined the searing pain of the Cruictius curse upon him.

"A logical question," Voldemort seemed to smile, amused. "While it is true that the strong should rule, it is equally true that they have some responsibility to those beneath them. Children especially are vulnerable and that is what some strength should be spent on, protecting those who are not yet old enough to protect themselves.

"You might find it strange that I do believe that children should have a childhood. They should not be spoilt but there should be time when they are allowed to play, grow and develop as they will. Until they come of age and come into their full power, they should be awarded certain protections. They can forfeit said protection. Children are not sacrosanct but there is some small protection owed to the young even by those who are strong. This is the protection given to a child by a parent. Of course those children who are orphaned have to develop their own protections faster.

"There are some crimes even I find abhorrent and the perpetrators should be punished with all possible force. It is these crimes that all children should be protected from. All else, the strong rule the weak."

Elliot frowned but shifted his line of questioning as his reporter side told him he would get not further useful information apart from the Dark Lord's twisted logic. "When was the first time you discovered you had the gift of parcel tongue?"

The Dark Lord smiled and Elliot was horrified to note that it seemed truly happy. "When I was four, I was in the field behind the orphanage I grew up in. The grass was long, it was summer and the older children had thrown their ball out of bounds and disturbed a small grass snake. It was crawling away, muttering to itself," the Dark Lord laughed at the memory, a happy chuckle. "I thought I was hearing things, or that one of the other children was cursing, the little thing had quite a mouth, until I saw it, and then I just said hello. I was quite surprised when it spoke back!

"This was at a time when I was learning that I could do things the other children could not. I was using the wild magic around me and like all children that age, I needed a friend. He was very good to me."

"So what happened to him?"

The Dark Lord sighed as he looked to the roof. "I think he got eaten by a hawk," he said easily, enjoying the shocked expression on Elliot's face. "One day he was just not there, so I assume something managed to catch and eat him. I cried but that was just a practical application of what I knew. The strong survive. My little friend was not weak, but he was not the strongest, I knew that, so I was not overly upset but I did resolve to be the strongest I could be so that if ever I was to be caught and eaten, I would at least put up a fight."

"There have been some times when you have been noted to spare very young children, leaving them orphaned but alive. Is there a reason for this?"

"But I can be a fox who kills just for the pleasure. There are many more I have not spared," the Dark Lord admitted, his blood red eyes glowing. "It is simple. The young are still learning, still discovering their strengths, and they should be nurtured while they grow. They still need to accept the consequences of their actions but they should not be attacked with the full force I would direct at an adult. Humans, like basilisks, are a species that nurture their children, not even I am devoid of that urge completely."

"But you attacked Harry Potter when he was nothing more than a babe in swaddling cloths."

"I can be a fox who kills just for the pleasure," the Dark Lord repeated before he sighed. "If you were a basilisk, and knowing that the cry of a rooster can kill you, you had the opportunity to kill the chick, wouldn't you take that opportunity?

Elliot frowned. He could see the logic but didn't want to speak and motioned that the Dark Lord should continue. His point was made though.

"Make no mistake, Mr Potter has never been a child and of all wizards he is the only one with enough power to fight me. I am a basilisk at heart, and for me, he is the rooster. I simply struck before the rooster could develop his cry."

"So what of your belief awarding children some protection?"

"Young Harry has never been a child. And such protection was given to him by his parents. However, the strong still rule the weak. I am strong, and this was the course I chose. I owed Mr Potter no protection for he had not yet suffered from those crimes I believe children should be protected from. My strike was merciful and just."

"What happened fifteen years ago, then? There are a lot of rumours, and stories and of the only two people who could tell, Mr Potter is too young to truly remember, and no one's really been in a position to ask you."

Voldemort gave a rich laugh, reaching one long fingered hand to stroke his chin. "October 31st..." he murmured. "I remember it well." His eyes became shaded with thought before he continued. "As you know, I was gaining strength and followers with prodigious haste then. Had that continued, it would have been over within the year. But always there were those that opposed me. Your Order of the Phoenix was rather prominent there. The Potters, the Longbottoms, the Parvatis, Black, Lupin... the list seems endless.

"I always knew James Potter was a very dangerous wizard. Powerful, wise and ingenious with his charms. Teamed up with his wife, they took down any number of my servants, servants who should never have fallen. Then I discovered that James only wielded a part of his Gryffindor heritage and that his son would develop the full powers of Gryffindor. Coupled with my desire to destroy what had become a very annoying team of Aurors, this new information spurred me to act.

"The Fidelus Charm..." the Dark Lord mused. "I must say, that was a wonderful piece of deception, having Pettrigrew cast it. Had the rat been true, I would have believed either Black or Dumbledore to be the Secret Keeper and gone after them both. But as you now know, the rat was mine so it was a simple thing to determine their location.

"I chose a night when my powers were at their strongest. Even though it should not have been possible, somehow they sensed me coming. I do believe they would have run, and if I had moved slower, they would have gotten away. As it was, James stayed to try to buy time for Lily to get away, but that was something she was wise enough to know couldn't happen.

"He fought me. He fought me very bravely and very skilfully, and had he wielded the full power of his blood it might have come out differently. He didn't though, and while he did wound me, it was not enough. Very brave, very courageous, a true Gryffindor.

"Lily knew he was dead. I think she knew the moment his body hit the floor. She didn't cry though, or if she did I saw no tears. She waited for me, up in the nursery. She'd already placed a shield charm on Harry and was standing before it. I didn't even open the door before she started casting. Her husband might have had the raw power of Gryffindor but she had skill.

"Thinking back, the two of them stood up to me with more courage and skill that anyone, bar their son, ever had or has. I still remember both duels against them as being two of the hardest I have ever fought. In the end though, skill was not enough, and though I did not know it then, she used the last of her life force to cast another shield...

"No... it wasn't another shield. I don't think whatever Lily cast has a name because it was a purely elemental charm. Protection and love all rolled into one nameless energy.

"And then I saw him, young Harry Potter. Those emerald eyes looked up at me and he wasn't afraid. He knew what had happened and he wasn't afraid. I think that's why I decided to cast Avada Kedrava on him. I wanted to see his fear as a charm the colour of his eyes took his life, or maybe I just wanted to finish the family off with the one curse.

"I cast the curse, and there was a tremendous flash of light as the elemental magic took effect. I'll admit, not even I'm sure what exactly happened. The only thing I really know is that it hurt, and I'm sure it didn't work quite the way Lily intended because I did not die. Or maybe it did. No one will ever know what she really intended. Possibly some of my immortality charms took effect...

"My body was destroyed and my soul was freed to roam unhindered.

"In that one moment, at that singular point in time, I find it amusing to think that a woman who was dead was the strongest witch, for with her death she surpassed us all.

"The elemental magic could only work with Harry's magic and as the energy was drained from him he began crying. The death of both parents didn't phase him, the killing curse didn't cause a whimper, only the draining of his magic made him cry. Heh... I would have struck him, even in spiritual form but then young Sirius Black arrived, followed by that half human oaf and while I was still livid with rage, I decided it best if I withdrew. Neither of them could hurt me in spirit form but Dumbledore could have." The Dark Lord grinned. "Lucky for me he didn't want to see the dead."

Elliot nodded, glancing over to his wand to make sure it was still recording. "So what happened last year? Fifteen years ago you lost your corporeal form but yet your are sitting before me. How is that possible?"

"While Lily Potter's last magic, combined with her son's energy reduced me to a mere spirit, I was still alive. I could still plan and act, very weakly with the corporeal world. It took thirteen years for me to gather enough energy to recreate a body, and even then I could not do it alone. It took the sacrifice of my loyal servant Nangini for me to accomplish it. She did not sacrifice herself, she sacrificed her children. From their flesh I could create the simulacrum of a human form but it was as small and as weak as baby.

"The rat took care of my child form while I regathered the strength to advance. That took another year both to regain the strength and to gather the ingredients required. Wormtail was never a servant who could hold his nerve. The final ingredient required was Mr Potter's blood.

"The names of the rituals I used to reconstitute my body will not mean a thing to you because most of them are not named. I created them. I had many years to learn while in spirit form, many years to think and determine the best way of doing it."

"And so close to a year after your resurrection you and your forces made a bid to take over," Elliot summarised. "You were stopped though, by Rebellion. We already know what happened then but who were the two who helped you after Lucius cast Avada Kedavra on you?"

"I would suggest you not make this information public knowledge, Mr Bryant. I will tell you for the Order. The shadows do not always obey the Dark Lord. Grindlewald knew nothing of them but they revealed themselves to me. Those two... the little one is a personal servant," the Dark Lord grinned licentiously. "The other is a more adult manifestation of their power. I believe he was a wizard at some stage but one they have now taken over so completely that he is simply an extension of them."

"They brought you back to life?"

"The shadows did, yes, but I was never truly dead. Vampire blood, from those that are old enough, is most potent. Xeoaph's presence in the battle should have made it clear which vampire I took blood from."

"Is Lucius alive?"

"For now. And for the Order, those Muggles who hurt Harry are still alive... most of them anyway."

Elliot nodded. "So what do you plan now?"

"Now?" Voldemort sighed. "Now I intend to fight. I will win it all. You can try to stop me but I you will not be able to. I will enjoy the attempt though. And then I will rule it all, with Harry as my consort."

"Dumbledore was telling the truth with that?" Elliot gulped. Some how he hadn't quite been able to truly believe that.

"He told you?" The Dark Lord's eyes glittered with mirth. "Yes, I no longer fear the rooster. He will fight me, no doubt but I will enjoy breaking him to my will."

"You're sick."

"No, I simply have the power to do what I want. I told you, there is one rule which governs this world. Those who are strong rule. It is simply an extension of that. Those who are strong may do what they please. And he pleases me." The Dark Lord waved his hand, extending his magic to cancel the recording charm as he rose. "Come. It is time for you to learn truly that I am a viable alternative to the Ministry. Then I will let you go, so that you may tell the world."

Elliot swallowed hard, his eyes wide as he looked at the serpentine man before him. Just talking he'd been charming, unthreatening but now he radiated menace, the magic gathering around him in almost tangible waves. He tried to stand but found his stomach churning and his knees felt weak. Harry had gone up against this? His parents had? It wasn't possible.

A long fingered hand reached out and hauled him up with inhuman strength. "Never forget what I am," Voldemort snarled. "Now, come, I have a Ministry building to destroy."

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