Chapter 9
A flurry of activity was taking place. Boxes were being moved. Tapestries were being shrunken. Books were being bundled. Hermione stepped gingerly into the Marauder's Den. She had joined the Death Eaters recently, on the recommendation of Arthur Weasley. Now he was showing her the Dark Lord's Manor. But it was not to remain his manor for long. He and his wife and minions were shifting to Hogwarts.
Marauder's Den would be repurposed into a Dark Trysts Headquarter, while the Chamber of Secrets would be sealed forever.
Hermione had been appointed the Witch-At-Arms at Marauder's Den. Her job would be to lead the Dark Lord's forces, and sit on his right in meetings.
"Lord Potter!" a voice called from outside. "I want my sister back!"
It was a handsome ponytailed guy, standing outside the Marauder's Den, and calling for Lord Potter.
Hermione stepped outside. "Sir, please calm down. May I know who your sister is?"
"Fariha, her name is Fariha." he said, glaring balefully. "Lord Potter kidnapped her in the middle of the night!"
Hermione gave him a soothing smile. "Don't worry, sir. I'll help you! Why don't you become my deputy Wizard-At-Arms? I'm the Witch-At-Arms here, you see."
She lowered her voice conspiratorially, "I'm also looking to oust Lord Potter. He humiliated me in front of my boss!"
The man grinned, showing his teeth. "Sure, why not! Thank you so much, sister!"
Lucius Malfoy was a slippery bastard. He had coffers overflowing with gold and the Minister's ear to boot. But now he yearned for a new master. He had heard of the rising Lord, and dismissed him at first, but as Hogwarts had been captured, he had been forced to reevaluate his ideas. He steepled his hands in front of his desk, and thought hard.
"Father, father," a voice called.
"Yes, Draco." he replied absentmindedly.
"There's someone at the gates."
"Don't let them in."
He unfolded his hands and stretched out his legs, focusing his thoughts on higher matters.
"Father, father!" his evil spawn called.
"Yes Draco!" he said.
"It's Professor Snape. He's gesturing wildly!"
He got up in a huff, wondering what his best friend had got up to. He could simply have floo'ed in from Hogwarts, but no.. Oh! Hogwarts had been captured.
He hastened his steps towards the gates. Professor Snape was half mad with rage.
"Potter's trashed my house too," he said the moment he entered the house. "I have nowhere to sleep, no money to spend, and no student to abuse! All my life's gone in tatters! That evil spawn of a.."
He never got to complete his sentence, because Lucius had thrown him out of the house.
"Sorry, old friend," the Malfoy patriarch said in a cold voice, "but I've put in my lot with Lord Potter now."