"Severusss, what did the old fool have to say in the order meeting?" Marvolo, known as You-Know-Who to the general populace or Voldemort to those who were brave, inquired of his spy. The accent created through the frequent use of parseltongue coming through.
He could speak purposefully without the accent, but it was more trouble in private than it was worth.
The shadow of a sneer graced Severus' lips in remembrance of the meeting from a week ago. "It was an eventful meeting my Lord. Dumbledore attempted to brush off the Potter brat being missing, as he has for months, but Black challenged him outright." His sneer took on a bewildered edge. "Thus far Black and his wolf had seemed deferential to the headmaster. Whenever he would say jump, they would ask how high. But even Black seems to have reached his limits with how Albus has handled Potter being missing."
Marvolo hummed softly in response, looking down at his desk, brows slightly furrowed. His fingers tapped on the edge of the desk. After a few beats, he looked back up at Severus. "Have you stayed to witness their interactions or have you only seen them interact in the Order meetings?" Putting his elbow on the table, head resting in his palm, he looked intently at Severus. "It would be telling if they acted the same, or differently, when no one else was there to witness it. The old coot has always been manipulative when angling how he wants people to act in public." Starting to frown by the end, he raised a brow questioningly.
"I have not attempted to stay behind my Lord. Generally the Order expects me to leave as soon as we are dismissed. I will ensure to make the proper excuses to fall behind and Disillusion myself, if it pleases you my Lord?" Receiving a nod of approval and a motion to continue, he took a breath and pondered briefly how to phrase this new development.
Bracing himself, he pressed on. Not quite looking his Lord in the eye, though not far enough off to be rude. "Due to Black's pressing, Albus also exposed some sensative information." He hesitated ever so slightly, as he knew this would likely bring him to the forefront of any plans that they would conduct. His Lord looked at him impatiently as the silence dragged on for a beat too long. "He revealed to the Order that Potter is now likely a vampire."
There was a significant quiet after that announcement.
The Dark Lord drummed his fingers as he looked down at the table, body more tense than it had been before.
"Have you heard any word, Severusss, on who might have taken credit for turning the Potter boy?" Aware that Marvolo seemed to be on the verge of casting curses, he hurriedly filled in as much as he could.
"None of the covens that I am familiar with have spoken about any new turnings the last several months, as they all have been quite settled, especially recently with your new arrangement. Even before more vampires joined your side they were already at least neutral. Someone in a coven might have thought this would please you, though then it would make more sense for them to claim the turning. Unless they did not care to take responsibility for a newly turned vampire. Which, unfortunately in some circles, is quite likely." This trend was saddening to say the least, as those who live until they are murdered are healthiest with many close bonds.
"Perhaps a coven will claim him yet. After all, what are several months to those who have seen numerous centuries pass them by." Severus barely withheld his doubtful look at his Lord's declaration. If a vampire did not claim someone they had turned, it was unlikely they would change their minds.
Though Dumbledore often spins his own narrative, if the house on Privet Drive was indeed found in the condition he described, the chances of the one who turned Potter showing himself were almost nill.
A rouge vampire is often an insane vampire; once someone reaches that point, they don't live much longer. Their minds turn feral and they ultimately consume something they shouldn't. Preferably they would be found before they get to that point, but having heard nothing of a rouge, and it having been months, there likely was nothing to find.
Telling Marvolo these details left his Lord reaching for the wine, but thankfully a Crucio was not cast for his lack of answers.
Though being deferential was still necessary out of respect, he knew it was safe to propose ideas and speak plainly now. A couple of months ago that would not have been the case in the least.
Once he received approval from his Lord to depart, he made his way back home to his potions lab. As he was not one of the staff members chosen to stay behind for the Yule break, he would enjoy every moment he had.
A few members of his inner circle had been asked to stay behind specifically several times, but they had never hinted at what had taken place during those meetings.
Several weeks after the end of the school year, on Samhain, or Halloween as the mudbloods would call it, he had seen a drastic change in his master.
No longer unhealthily pale nor possessing vaguely reptilian features, he finally looked like the Dark Lord that his followers had grown to respect years ago.
This was a Dark Lord that he would gladly follow, and one that he knew would bring proper change. Still in a bloody fashion perhaps, he wouldn't be Marvolo if the blacker side of dark magic wasn't practiced to its full potential.
Many of the Dark Lord's followers had more grey cores than dark, which would undoubtedly be a surprise to many.
However, as the state of the current social standards was, even those who were grey would not be able to fully express their capabilities.
Even a task as simple as remaining undetected could be accomplished utilizing less-than-light means. To thoroughly charm one's self to invisibility wasn't just on the visual spectrum. There were sound, smell, aspects that took more to negate.
The Disillusionment Charm was handy in a pinch as it took a minimal amount of energy, though the one casting it would get as much out of it as they put into it.
It's easy to cast, but it is also easy for someone to dispel.
If one wasn't afraid to press the boundaries, and knew how to hide illegalities adequately, runes were a field of magic that many turned to.
Runes on their own were not illegal, after all they are taught in Hogwarts.
However, those who go after their mastery outside of the United Kingdom know that true runic mastery includes the application of blood.
He had delved into this branch of magic when he was almost too young to grasp its complexity, but he took to it like a fish in water.
Unfortunately, Lily had not understand its potential. He had hinted at that branch of magic, but she was disgusted by it, the narrative surrounding blood magic settling in quickly.
When Severus would stay behind in the Order headquarters after the upcoming meeting, a leather cuff that he had created would be worn on his wrist once he was out of sight.
As the bind runes were saturated with blood, they were substantially more potent than any Disillusionment Charm by itself would be. The energy potential in blood was astronomically high.
The possibilities were neigh endless, but Dumbledore had crippled an entire nation with their thanks by purging everything he considered less than Light.
Their society was so entrenched by his influence that he had almost become a pillar in their minds, holding society upright.
If that pillar was threatened at the wrong moment, the society that he has built would revolt, and change would be rejected, a similar pillar pulled into place, and the force behind the previous attempt at upending Dumbledore's laws would be hunted.
As Severus entered his lab, he couldn't help but ruminate how that was the majority of the problem the last time Voldemort attempted to take destiny into his own hands.
The timing was not right, and he paid the price.
Not that he would say that out loud on threat of death. As it would then lead to his death anyway. Likely painfully.
- S.O.A.R. -
Marvolo sighed softly as he watched Severus stride out of the office. He knew his followers were still wary of his state of mind, understandably.
Those who had not been part of his resurrection did not know the true extent of how committed he was to his new methods.
Asking Lucius and Bellatrix to bring him the Horcruxes that he had left with them had brought mixed results.
As he had not yet regained his sanity, Lucius barely left with his life. Granted even with his sanity the outcome would have been questionable.
Discovering that the locket had been replaced with a fake was also a day when his followers' devotion was tested.
In his increased paranoia, he had not been certain who he could trust after belatedly learning of that betrayal. Legilimency had been utilized liberally that day.
Thankfully he was able to have Draco retrieve his diadem shortly after the Hogwarts began, passing it off to his father on a Hogsmeade weekend. The poor boy had been terrified of failure after hearing his father tortured in their own home.
In his right mind he would not have given that task to a boy who had just started his fifth year. It was sheer fortune that the Horcrux was retrieved successfully, purportedly without Dumbledore being the wiser.
Trusting Severus with that task could either have been significantly easier, or the biggest mistake he could have made. At the moment he had Severus tasked at Hogwarts with reporting any plans that Dumbledore shared with his spy. Severus appeared to be completely loyal, though a spy inherently was harder to trust.
Hearing of the Harry Potter's condition, he may find himself with one less spy and one full-time potions master.
Losing his insight into Hogwarts would be a significant loss, but many of his followers had connections that could be exploited. Dumbledore's power would only extend so far.
Though underestimating the old coot would never end well.
He had done that once, gotten overconfident in his own strength and influence, and had almost lost everything.
He had split his soul far too many times. It was not just slivered each time, it was halved. Once they had completed the ritual that allowed him to assimilate the Horcruxes that they gathered, he was able to look at the situation with a great deal more clarity.
There was so much on the line. Entire bloodlines were at risk if someone got the idea that they were 'too dark.'
Libraries of books would be burned if someone sees a passage that they feel is too dangerous. Though if people were given the means to learn, it would not be dangerous at all. Disregard for the sanctity of all branches of magic was a precarious side to play.
As Yule was quickly approaching, it also was a key opportunity to subtly introduce those who were ignorant of the solstices and equinoxes to the power that they hold.
The Slytherins had been tasked with inviting those who held sincere interest to the manor for the celebration of Yule, and though it would not be as thorough an event as Marvolo would like, as most traditions were outlawed, it would hopefully open the eyes of those attending. It would let them witness just a glimpse of what they have been missing.
Traditions had been lost these last several decades, but damn if he wasn't going to do his best to help renew as much magic as he was able.
Soon he would find if the Light had truly lost their savior. The next time the Order met, Severus would find out what Remus and Black were like outside of the Order meetings, and with any luck they might be converted.
He had to be patient, he could not lose this new chance he had been gifted by Magic.
Not me wishing I had Harry turned after fifth year instead so he would be of age faster xD It will still be spicy, but they won't get together together until Harry is a bit older. Cause, y'know, Harry is young and repressing the true extent of his trauma right now (: There also is the opportunity to show other couples together! *cough Sirius/Remus cough*
I also almost wrote "Marvolo seemed to be fingering his wand" instead of "seemed to be on the verge of casting curses" and was so close to keeping it, but the editor in me revolted xD
Now FFN is caught up with what I had posted on AO3! I hope you enjoyed the chapters :)
