Chapter 23
Vengeance
(Opening song#2. Like Flame by MindaRyn)
(Riddle Manor, Little Hangleton, December 31, 1995)
Little Hangleton was nestled between two steep hills, its church, and graveyard clearly visible. Across the valley on the opposite hillside, was what once looked like a handsome manor house surrounded by a wide expanse of velvety green lawn. It stood on a hill overlooking the village, some of its windows boarded, tiles missing from its roof, and ivy spreading unchecked over its face. Inside the manor Voldemort stared into the fire; a satisfied smirk graced his features. His long fingers rhythmically tapped the armrest of his armchair.
"My Lord."
Voldemort looked up from his thoughts, his smirk broadening. Bellatrix stood before him, a smirk of her own mirrored on her face.
"Ah Bellatrix," he spoke softly, "You have something to report?"
"Yes, my lord. To show my gratitude for releasing us from Azkaban I offer you a gift" she motioned for the other Death Eaters to enter. "May I present to you, Miss. Amelia Bones."
"Ah, the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement," drawled Voldemort as the other Death Eaters dragged Amelia into the room. She was gagged, her eyes filled with fear as she gazed upon the Dark Lord.
"Well done," Voldemort stood up from his armchair. He began to pace slowly around the room, pausing occasionally to run his fingers along the spines of the books that lined his bookshelf. Amelia's eyes followed his every move, her fear evident in the slight tremble of her body. She tried to speak, but her words were unintelligible due to the gag in her mouth.
Voldemort chuckled softly, enjoying the fear he had instilled in her. He continued to pace, each step measured and deliberate.
Suddenly, he stopped directly in front of Amelia, his cold, serpentine eyes locking onto her. He knelt down, bringing his face inches from hers.
"You have been causing me quite a bit of trouble, my dear," he said in a low, dangerous voice."Sending Aurors to investigate places they shouldn't, covering up the deaths of my followers, and interfering in my plans. It has become quite... inconvenient."
Amelia tried to speak again, desperation etched on her face. The words still came out as a muffled, incoherent mess. He smirked and removed the gag from her mouth. "Go on, speak your piece,"
"You won't get away with this," she said, her voice shaking with anger and terror. "The Order will find you, and they'll stop you."
"The Order? Do you really think they can stop me?" He stood up with a cold laugh, towering over her. "The Order has it's own problem dealing with Fudge and my agents discrediting Dumbledore and Potter. My agents have made sure The Minister plays to my agenda."
Amelia clenched her jaw, trying to suppress the terror that gripped her. "You may have corrupted the Ministry, but you won't win. People will see through your lies eventually."
Voldemort chuckled and slowly raised his wand to her. "Such bravery, such loyalty. It's admirable, really. But admirable or not, you are a threat to us. And threats must be dealt with."
Amelia's world exploded into agony as the Cruciatus Curse hit her. She dropped to the ground, writhing and screaming in agony, her body contorting in unimaginable pain. The other Death Eaters watched impassively, their faces devoid of emotion.
(Outside of Riddle Manor, Little Hangleton)
In the graveyard, a portal suddenly opened up by the statue of an angel, the thick fog making the tombstones and mounds seem nothing more than shadows. Faulin stepped out of the portal and looked around.
"You sure your intel is right about dis Yuno?" she asked looking back at the portal.
"Even a crazed serial killer like Tommy has his own emotional issues," Yuno said from the portal. "This is the same night that Maurope Riddle died, and she lived in this village. I guess Tommy comes here to live at Riddle Manor for a bit as a way to "mock his father" I guess"
Faulin looked back into the portal with an impressed smirk."Ah, so that's how you were able to find out where he and other Death Eaters were setting up shop for the time being"
"It was nothing really, a little bit of information gathering and a sprinkle of guesswork, and ta-da, one psychotic-bald-serial-killers hideout served on a silver platter," Yuno said with pride
Faulin snorted and rolled her eyes. "Well if there's one thing you're terrible at, it's trying to sound humble"
"Being humble is for the amateurs." he retorted back a dismissive wave
"Sure it is," she said looking towards the castle. "Now if you'll excuse me I have a score to settle."
"Make sure you keep an open line in case things go south." Yuno said with a bit of caution "We lost you once Faulin, I don't want to lose you again"
"Oh trust me Yuno, I know exactly how this is gonna play out, and Tom's gonna have the worst night of his life. That I promise" Faulin said not even looking back at Yuno. "I'll contact you once I'm done with him"
Yuno nodded as his portal slowly closed. She took a deep breath, her hands clenching and unclenching, releasing her anger. walking towards the castle, and surveying her surroundings. The graveyard was eerily silent, save for the distant rustling of leaves and the occasional hoot of an owl. The moon cast long shadows across the headstones, turning what should have been a simple stroll through the cemetery into a journey through a nightmarish landscape.
"I hope you're watching Cedric, 'cause after tonight this is where you can finally rest in peace," she said to herself looking over the graveyard.
As she neared Riddle Manor, Faulin could hear a faint murmur of voices drifting through the night sky. She crouched behind a mausoleum, pressing herself flat against the cold stone as she watched the manor for any signs of movement. She peered from behind the mausoleum and heard a pair of footsteps and quickly ducked behind the stone wall again, and held her breath.
She heard a pair of voices grow louder as the Death Eaters. They continued to walk to the entrance of the house and stepped through the door, continuing their conversation inside. Finally satisfied that the coast was clear, Faulin continued her advance towards the manor, keeping low and moving silently from shadow to shadow. After a few more careful moves, she finally arrived at the side of the house without windows or doors. She sat on the grass and pulled out her PDA.
With a quick glance around to make sure no one was watching, she pressed the power button and the small device quietly hummed to life. The holographic display popped up, casting a subtle glow in the shadows around her.
Faulin pulled out the PDA's cable from her pocket, putting one of its ports into the device. "Alright, little black box. Morgie said you'd be better than mi' trusty staff. Let's see if she was right."
As she spoke, the hologram screen changed to display a series of intricate symbols and calculations. She took the other end of the cable and held it over the stone wall of Riddle Manor behind her. Then a tiny area of the wall opened up, and she plugged into the wall. The display on the PDA went wild, lines and arcane symbols dancing across the screen, as if the device was taking in all the information it needed.
Faulin's eyes widened as she realized this was working better than she had ever hoped.
"Well, looks like owe her that coffee when I get back" she muttered.
She spent a few minutes typing on the PDA keyboard like a professional piano player until a smirk appeared on her face. On the PDA, the symbols and lines began to coalesce into a 3D model of the manor. The model was complete with a detailed floor plan, highlighting each room and its contents. As Faulin touched the screen, the model rotated, revealing the exact locations of the Death Eaters within.
"Easy work, now let's see what little magic goodies Riddles got stashed away first"
As soon as she spoke, the PDA beeped once, acknowledging her command. Immediately, a list of magical artifacts appeared on the screen, each with a symbol next to it indicating its location within the manor. Faulin's eyes scanned down the list of magical items, each one more intriguing than the last. But one item in particular caught her eye.
"What do we 'ave here…" she whispered under her breath.
Faulin drew out the stylist on the PDA and tapped the item. A box came saying "Amulet of the Veiled Ones" and with a brief description: "allows command of 15 dementors within a 10-mile radius"
Her eyes light up like a Christmas tree. "Ooo, Morgie gonna like having a couple of soul leeches on her side," she said before tapping the button that spelled 'Acquire' in Celtic runes beside the description.
"Downloading 1%" the screen read.
She flicked through the other options on the PDA, searching for something else that would cause trouble. Her eyes landed on the 'Remote access' option. With a sly grin, she selected that option and began typing in a series of codes.
Faulin selected the option and began scrolling through the list of items that had remote access. Most of them were mundane objects like chandeliers and curtains, but one item caught her eye.
"The snake?" she said tilting her head "I can control the snake? How the-" she trailed off tapping an icon that said "NAGINI" looking at its description. The PDA chirped in response, showing Faulin a brief description of the snake:
Name: Nagini
Item: Horcrux
Remote Accessibility: Level 5 security
Faulin swore under her breath. "Must be because it's a living creature. Although it might be worth it considering the snakes seems to be the only damn thing he cares about"
She took a deep breath and shook her hand mentally preparing herself.
"Alrighty, let go," she said, and then tapped on the icon that said, "by-pass"
A new window popped up, displaying a list of increasingly complex codes. Faulin took her stylus and went to work inserting various lines of code onto the keypad, her fingers flying over the screen in a flurry of taps and swipes. It felt like an eternity as she worked, the PDA beeped occasionally, giving her feedback on whether her code was working or not. She also noticed that her hand was starting to cramp. Then, after what felt like an hour of work, a notification suddenly flashed on the screen: " Access granted. Magical reboot in 5 minutes."
She flipped the PDA sideways, and the black box morphed, and suddenly looked more like a video game controller with a screen right in the middle.
"Alright… time for revenge"
(Back inside Riddle Manor)
The Death Eaters gathered around Voldemort, who was still torturing Amelia Bones in his quarters. He danced to the sounds of her screams like an orchestra number, his wand waving around as to conduct the pitches of her agony.
"This is getting tiresome," Voldemort said, as Amelia's voice gave out, and her body slumped in exhaustion. He glanced at Bellatrix, who stood nearby, a sadistic gleam in her eye.
"Yes, my Lord. Shall I dispose of her?" she asked, her hand twitching as she reached for her own wand.
"No, I have a better idea." He smirked, his eyes glinting with cruelty. "Leave her to the dementors. They deserve a meal."
Bellatrix's smirk widened as she understood his words. "Of course, my Lord, right away."
Suddenly Nagini's head twitched and perked up, awakening from her slumber near the fireplace. She raised her head looking at the surroundings and saw Bellatrix starting to drag Amelia away. When she looked over to see Voldemort, her tongue flickered in anticipation. The snake slithered towards Voldemort on the floor, her tongue flicking on the floor taking in all the scents.
Voldemort, sensing Nagini's stir, smiled coldly. "Ah, my faithful companion," he purred. "Come to me, my dear."
Nagini slithered up to Voldemort, her head raised up to meet his gaze. She wrapped her body around his legs. He reached down and stroked her scales, his long fingers tracing the markings on her skin.
"Such a loyal serpent, you are," he murmured. "But your presence is not why you're here."
Nagini tilted her head, sensing his change in tone. She coiled tighter around his legs. Then she blinked at Voldemort, her normal black eyes suddenly became rose pink.
The sudden eye change caught Voldemort off guard. He narrowed his eyes and titled his head. "What's this?" his voice betrayed a hint of curiosity. "Nagini ar-"
Nagini sprang up at Voldemort and bit down hard on his neck sending him flying backwards. Her fangs sunk deep into his throat, and her muscular body began to coil around his frail body and began to squeeze.
The other Death Eaters watched in shock as Nagini attacked their master, their expressions a mixture of surprise and terror. Bellatrix spun back around dropping Amelia, and screamed in shock at the sight of Nagini attacking Voldemort.
"What is the meaning of this?! Stop! Stop!" he choked out, his wand slipping from his fingers and clattering to the floor. He writhed in agony, the snake's coils tightening around his body.
Bellatrix stepped forward, her wand raised. "I-I'll save you, my Lord!" But before she could cast a spell, a cold laugh echoed through the room, coming from the snake.
"Quite the mess you find yourself eh Lestrange? Kill Nagini, and you destroy a horcrux" the snake said in English, her voice sounding like it was coming through a radio speaker.
Bellatrix froze, her eyes widening in disbelief. The other Death Eaters looked equally shocked, their mouths agape, even Voldemort seemed momentarily stunned by the snake's suddenly speaking in the human tongue, but he quickly regained his composure, his voice rasping as he spoke. "What... what is going on... Nagini?"
The snake's head snapped to Voldemort, mere inches from his face "Oh Nagini's not here right now. But if you like I can leave a message."
The coils tightened further, and the subtle sound of snapping were heard underneath her. Voldemort let out a strangled gasp, the pain evident on his face despite his best attempt to hide it.
"Who... who are you..?" Voldemort managed to gasp out.
The snake snorted "Someone with a grudge against you, who else."
Voldemort's eyes narrowed and he gritted his teeth. Despite his pain, a wave of anger washed over him. " You will...release me... now!" he hissed, the command in his voice faltering due to pain.
"Ha, the audacity! " the snake laughed at the demand. "You think you're in any position to make demands?"
His lips curled in a snarl, anger now completely overpowering the pain he was in "You mistake... my position... for weakness..." he growled out, each word a struggle to speak as the snake continued to constrict.
The snake looked Voldemort right in the eye. "we're just getting started, Tom" It then reared its head back and yelled out "Cruicio!"
As soon as the curse left the snake's mouth, Voldemort's body convulsed in pain while the sickening green glow of the spell danced off its scales. His already pale face contorted further, his features twisted into a grotesque mask of agony. The other Death Eaters watched in horror as their master writhed and screamed threats at the serpent.
"You...you're only delaying...the inevitable," he managed to gasp out between screams. The snake loomed over him, its eyes glowing with sadistic pleasure as it continued to torment him. The coils around him tightened even more, and the subtle cracking sounded more like snapping twigs.
It gave a low chuckle at the empty threat, "You're just chopped full of piss 'n vinger, I'll give you that much."
Bellatrix took a step forward, despite her face being as white as a sheet, she clutched her wand tightly. She aimed her wand at it, her hand shaking with rage and fear.
"Enough!" she barked. "Release the Dark Lord at once, or I will curse you into oblivion."
The snake looked over at Bellatrix. "Bringing back memories of the Longbottom's Lestrange? Hope you don't mind if I'm stealing your idea."
Bellatrix's expression hardened, her eyes narrowing with anger. "Silence, you beast!" she snapped. "I will not hesitate to hex you into submission, regardless of whether you are a Horcrux or not."
"As if I care what happens to Nagini. Whatever curse, hex, or jinx you use won't affect me one way or the other," the snake laughed again
She took another step forward, her wand now pointed directly at the snake's head. Her hand trembled slightly, but her resolve remained steadfast.
"I mean it, creature! One more word and you will feel the full force of the Cruciatus," she warned, her voice dripping with menace.
"And what do you think you'll accomplish?" it sneered. "The moment you 'harm me', you'll be killing a little bit of your master too."
Bellatrix's face twisted between anger and helplessness, her mind racing for a solution. The other Death Eaters waited with bated breath, not sure whether to intervene or risk angering the snake further.
"Damn you..." she muttered under her breath. The other Death Eaters watched the stand-off silently, their expressions ranging from shock to anger to fear. Some were shifting nervously on their feet, unsure if they should intervene.
"Bellatrix... stop this madness!" Voldemort rasped suddenly, between grunts of pain. "Kill her!"
Bellatrix's eyes flicked from the snake to Voldemort and back, indecision warring behind her eyes. Her hand trembled violently as she aimed her wand at the snake.
"But…My lord, the Hor-"
"Just do it!"
At Voldemort's command, Bellatrix's expression hardened with determination. She aimed her wand at the snake, her hand no longer shaking.
"Avada Kedava!" she shouted, a flash of green light shooting out towards the beast coiled around Voldemort.
The room was suddenly filled with a blinding flash of green light and a resounding crash, as the spell hit the snake, killing it on impact. Gasps filled the room as the Death Eaters watched in shocked silence.
Voldemort let out a howl of anger and pain, He writhed on the floor, the loss of the Horcrux causing him considerable pain.
As the snake's limp body fell to the ground, the other Death Eaters gasped in shock and horror. The snake lay motionless on the floor, its lifeless eyes staring at the ceiling, now back to the normal beedy black instead of the rose pink.
Bellatrix lowered her wand slowly, a mixture of shock and horror on her face. She looked from the snake's lifeless body to Voldemort, who was struggling to free himself from its coils. He pushed himself up, trying to stand, but failed to do so. He let out a yell of frustration as he looked down and saw his legs hanging lifelessly under him.
"She must have broken my spine" he mentally cursed glaring at the dead serpent beside him. He tried to stand again, but his legs still wouldn't cooperate.
"Bellatrix!" he yelled, his voice hoarse and filled with fury. "Get over here and assist me!"
Bellatrix obediently rushed to his side, her hands shaking as she tried to help him stand. But even with her help, Voldemort's legs remained paralyzed, his movements clumsy and uncoordinated. He gritted his teeth in frustration and pain.
"Get me a potion," he growled to the other Death Eaters through clenched teeth, trying to push himself up. "any healing potion."
"Oh come on now, Tommy," the same voice from the snake said, this time coming from Voldemort's armchair, which now had a radio-like speaker in the middle of the headrest. "The fun's just getting started!"
The Death Eaters all spun around at the unexpected sound, their wands raised and ready, unsure of what was happening. They saw the armchair, seemingly mocking them with its innocent appearance.
Voldemort's eyes widened in disbelief, his face a mask of anger and confusion."What is this sorcery!?" he hissed, "Show yourself!"
"I'm quite comfy where I am right now actually." the voice responded smugly.
Voldemort's face contorted with rage. He tried to lunge towards the armchair, but he stumbled, his legs still refusing to obey him. He nearly fell, but Bellatrix quickly steadied him.
"How are you doing this?" Voldemort roared, his voice filled with venom.
"What's the saying the muggles use, 'A good witch never reveals her secrets' is how it goes" the voice taunted.
The Death Eaters exchanged uneasy glances, some looking more worried than others. Voldemort let out another growl, his hands clenching into tight fists.
"You think you're clever, don't you?" he said narrowing his eyes. "I will find out who you are, and I will destroy you."
"Best of luck if that Riddle. Now then, since your most guarded Horcrux is out of the way, it's time I killed the person I'm after"
"You already tried and failed" Voldemort spat at the chair.
"Who said anything about trying to kill you" the voice answered. Suddenly, metal chains shot past Voldemort and Bellatrix, the metal links gleaming in the room's dim light. The other Death Eaters let out gasps of shock, while others drew closer, their wands raised, ready for a fight.
Voldemort turned and was greeted by the sight of the chains ensnaring Peter Pettigrew, who tried and failed to fight back against them. The chains pulled him into the seat of the chair and held him down, the metal links starting to leave bruising, as the rat-faced man continued to struggle.
"No!-" he squealed.
"Don't bother trying to get out," the voice said as if casually responding to a child. "These chains have been modified to withstand any magic you throw at them."
The chair began to shift and grow, the leather material now turning into something metallic. The armrest of the chair became large doors with the interior showing revealing an interior lined with a maze of sharp, cruelly rusty pointed iron spikes varying in length and angle. The seat disappeared and now stood in front of them was a large gothic-looking sarcophagus.
"You dare to trap one of my Death Eaters?" Voldemort bellowed, his voice carrying a threat. "Release him!"
"Oh, I don't think so. Wormtail here owes me a debt that needs to be paid." The Iron Maiden's door creaked ominously as it closed further and further, the sharp, rusty needles inching closer to Wormtail's squirming form. His screams echoed around the room, the sound of sheer terror.
"Stop this now!" Voldemort commanded again, straining to control the anger that surged through him. "You will release Wormtail immediately, or suffer the consequences!" He took a step forward but stumbled due to his paralyzed leg, his expression a mix of anger and embarrassment. Bellatrix quickly supported him, her grip firm.
The last gap of light disappeared, and the Iron Maiden slammed shut with a loud clang. The room was suddenly plunged into a tense silence, broken only by Wormtail's screams that turned into agonized shrieks, and the carpet below the Iron Maiden started to darken and the scent of iron filled the air.
The Death Eaters watched in a mixture of awe and disgust, their faces pale and wide-eyed.
One or two had the decency to look away. Bellatrix was the only one who didn't flinch and didn't turn away. She watched in morbid fascination, her hands still supporting Voldemort.
Voldemort himself was seething. His eyes were glued to the Iron Maiden, his jaw clenched. He seethed with anger at the sight of Wormtail meeting such a cruel fate.
You will pay for this!" he roared, his voice shaking with a mixture of anger and fury. "No one escapes unscathed when they wrong me
"Speaking of escaping I should let you know, as I just demonstrated I can also morph any object in the manor to my liking. So I decided to transform every clock in this manor into a time bomb that will go off in the next -oh let me think… six minutes or so? Didn't really check the time, unfortunately." The voice said mockingly, now coming from the speaker in the Iron Maiden's mouth. At those words, the Death Eaters start to Disapperate only to Apperate in the same spot again
"Impossible!" one of the Death Eaters cried out.
"How did they block the Apparition?" another demanded.
The room descended into a state of complete bedlam as the realization of the imminent danger hit them. Panic spread amongst the Death Eaters like wildfire. Some drew out their wands, while others looked around, their eyes wide with terror.
Voldemort, still leaning on Bellatrix, took a stumbling step forward but once again failed to support his weight and stumbled.
One of the Death Eaters immediately fled to the door. He swung the door open and stepped through only to find himself suddenly falling. A cry of surprise left his lips as he hit the floor of the manor's lobby. The Death Eaters in the room stood frozen in place, their eyes wide as saucers as they took in the unexpected sight of their comrade lying on the lobby floor. Panic was slowly being replaced by a mixture of anger and disbelief.
Voldemort's face was a mask of rage, his red eyes now burning with the fires of hell. "How-" he managed to choke out. "How is this possible?"
Several of the Death Eaters turned their heads to look at him, their faces pale. One of them even gulped and took a small step away from their dark lord.
"Oh," the voice from the speaker boomed again." I forgot to mention that I re-arranged the entire layout of the manor to be more like a maze. You might find yourself in the same room you left, find a couple of dead ends, maybe even a couple of booby-traps, possibilities are endless. Anyway best of luck to you lot." and with that, the line went dead
(Outside Riddle Manor)
Faulin laughed as she heard the terrified cries of the Death Eaters after her last warning to them. She put the headset she was wearing back in her school pouch. She flipped to the screen where checking on the amulet's progress:
98%...99%... 100% download complete
In Faulins hand, a black metallic amulet started materializing right in front of her. She grabbed it stood up, and started stalking back towards the graveyard, still wary of any guards posted outside. After a couple of minutes, she found herself back at the chapel where she appeared from. She looked over at a statue of an angel, and let out a sigh of relief.
"Alright Diggory, I hope you enjoy the fireworks. This is your send-off."
(Inside Riddle Manor)
The Death Eaters frantically searched for an escape route, but the manor remained a confusing labyrinth. Each corridor led to a dead end or a seemingly endless hall. The clocks throughout the manor began to chime, their sound echoing through the halls and rooms like a death knell. The Death Eaters started to run, their footsteps echoing in a mad dash to find a way out.
They slowly ticked by painfully slow as the group searched desperately for a way out. The clocks continued their steady countdown, each chime adding to the terror. The corridors twisted and turned, seemingly leading nowhere. Despair began to set in as hope started to dwindle.
This is madness!" one of the Death Eaters exclaimed.
"How the hell are we supposed to find our way out?!" another yelled.
Bellatrix gripped Voldemort's arm even tighter as if ensuring her Lord was still there.
"This can't be real," a Death Eater muttered to himself. "This can't be happening..."
The panicking Death Eaters stumbled around, their feet moving on instinct, trying to find a way out of the maze-like corridors they found themselves in.
"Damn it all to hell," one of them cursed.
"We're stuck here!" another screeched.
They turned corners, expecting to find a familiar hall or the entrance, only to be met with dead-ends, the same room they started from, or suspicious-looking objects that had the potential to be booby traps.
Every time they ran into one of these, some of them screamed in frustration while others started banging on walls, others tried to blast the path open to no avail.
"We're going in circles!"
"This is a nightmare!"
The air was filled with their panicked voices, the scent of fear and sweat.
"Time is running out!" exclaimed Bellatrix. "We must find a way out!"
"Obviously," snarled Voldemort, his voice a low dangerous hiss. He staggered to his feet once more, his body quivering with the effort to stay upright. "This is humiliating! We are not to be played with like some toys!"
The group stumbled forward, their desperation and frustration mounting with each passing second. The clocks in the manor continued to chime relentlessly, the sound echoing through the halls like a grim drumbeat, the seconds ticking away toward their inevitable destruction.
"Sixty seconds left!" someone screamed, their voice full of panic.
Bellatrix stopped in her tracks, her senses immediately going on high alert. She turned her head, trying to identify where the breeze was coming from. "Wait..do you feel that?"
"Yes, I feel it too," growled Voldemort, his eyes narrowing. "But from where?"
The other Death Eaters, their nerves on edge, immediately picked up on the words. They froze, their eyes wide and alert, trying to feel the same thing. Sure enough, a gentle breeze whispered through the corridors.
"That way!" Bellatrix yelled as she started moving as fast as she could all while trying to support Voldemort.
The group followed her lead, their steps hesitant. As they continued through the labyrinthine corridors, the breeze grew stronger, the air fresher. Then, the group rounded the corner, only to freeze at the sight of the front door. It was right there, not even ten feet away. The breeze was coming through the slightly ajar door, rustling the curtains.
"There! The door!" someone yelled, and the group broke out into a sprint.
Just then the vases on the tables that lined the hallways began to morph and became long sleek machine guns. The group ducked and screamed as the guns started firing, the sound of the bullets ricocheting off the walls joining the cacophony of sound. Bellatrix took the lead, directing the others to cover behind anything they could find, dodging the onslaught of bullets.
"Protego!" she yelled, her wand held high, creating a protective shield to ward off the gunfire.
The other Death Eaters followed suit, their wands raised, casting shields when they could, dodging when they couldn't. Voldemort himself, despite his physical state, managed to cast a shield charm as well, his eyes fixed on the door.
"Cover our six" Bellatrix barked at a Death Eater
The Death Eater behind them quickly spun around, their wand raised, ready to defend the rear. The rest of the group kept moving forward, inch by inch, shields raised. Every step felt like a monumental effort, the onslaught of gunfire and the looming ticking of the clocks hanging over their heads.
The grandfather clock began to ding, signaling that the bombs were about to go off.
"Hurry!" someone screamed, their voice almost a shriek. The group increased their pace, pushing themselves to the limit. The barrage of bullets continued, keeping them at bay.
Voldemort knew that they weren't going to make it in time. He turned and pointed his wand at the floor in the middle of the group.
"Confringo"
A red light escaped from the tip of his wand and the floor under the group exploded, the shockwave propelling him, Bellatrix, and the ones in the front part of the group out of the manor and into the cold night air. They stumbled, fell, and rolled away from the burning entryway. Some hit stone walls that lined the manor, while others hit the grass lawns. Voldemort himself rolled on the lawn and a few feet away, was Bellatrix, who was just getting to her feet.
The Death Eaters behind them were not as lucky. Some had been thrown against the walls, others were lying on the floor, stunned and dazed from the explosion.
"N-" one of the Death Eaters left behind tried to yell only to be cut off as the night sky was suddenly lit up by a blinding flash, followed by a series of loud explosions. The force of the explosion shook the ground, and a wave of heat washed over the group, stinging their skin.
The flames devoured the manor, its ancient walls crumbling, the windows shattered, and the roof caved in. The once-standing monument to power and cruelty was now a blazing ruin.
"How many?" Voldemort asked with a cold and dark tone.
Bellatrix, her face smudged with dirt and soot, took a moment to count. "Five of them did not make it out. Six in total counting Wormtail," she said, her voice flat.
Voldemort's eyes narrowed, his face contorted with rage. "Which ones?" he hissed.
Bellatrix rattled off a list of five names, the sound of the fire crackling against the backdrop of her voice. He listened in complete silence, his eyes never leaving her face. The fire seemed to dance in his dark eyes, mirroring his growing anger. Once she had finished, he didn't say a word. His gaze drifted back towards the burning manor.
"We have lost six members….Six! We have been made fools of in our own home!"
The Death Eaters instinctively stepped back, fear evident in their eyes. They knew what was coming.
"This...is...unacceptable!" Voldemort continued, his voice growing louder with each word. "To be bested in our own sanctuary...is a humiliation I will not tolerate!"
The silence hung heavily in the air, the only sound being the crackling of the fire. The other Death Eaters were observing Voldemort and Bellatrix, their eyes wary and filled with anticipation. They all knew the wrath of their Dark Lord well, and this silence was more ominous than his anger.
"There will be consequences" he continued, his eyes scanning the faces of his now slightly trembling followers. "We leave for Malfoy Manor this instant. Gather the remaining Death Eaters on assignment and rendezvous there."
As the Death Eaters scurried off, Voldemort turned to look at the burning manor once more, his eyes filled with a mixture of anger and regret. Bellatrix stood silently by his side, waiting for his next command.
"I require medical attention this instant" he rasped. "Take me to The Serpent's den in Knockturn and summon Snape. Once I am healed, Malfoy Manor serve as our new stronghold "
Bellatrix nodded, her eyes flickering with concern. "Of course, my Lord," she answered. "But your condition...it is so-"
"My condition, Bellatrix, is of no concern to you," he snapped. "Just do as I say. The Serpent's Den, now."
She simply nodded again, her expression turning stony. "As you wish, my Lord," she said quietly, her voice betraying no emotion.
She offered her arm to him, her body a sturdy foundation. With a grim expression, Voldemort accepted her offer, the firelight casting a ghostly glow over him as he wrapped his thin, skeletal arm around hers, and the pair Dissappereated.
(Meanwhile, several meters away)
A blinding flash suddenly lit up the night sky, followed by a series of loud explosions. Faulin could feel the warmth of the fire from her spot, several meters away from the now-ruined manor. She let out a deep breath as if a large weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
"Finally, this…this is closure,"
Faulin took a moment to look at the ruin that was once the grand manor. The flames were now burning freely, consuming every brick and timber of the once-impressive structure. The air was thick with smoke and the smell of burning timber. She glanced over, and her eyes widened as she saw Cedric standing by her, looking at the flames with a smile on his face.
"Cedric..." she gasped, her voice barely above a whisper. She quickly glanced at the burning manor and then back only to find that he had disappeared.
Faulin stood there for a moment, feeling a bit uneasy then gave a small smile at the spot where she had seen him. She pulled out a bottle out of her school pouch and poured the liquid on the ground. As the liquid pooled at the spot she had seen him, Faulin spoke quietly to the empty space.
"See ya around, Diggory" her smile mixed with a pang of sadness. The air around her seemed to grow colder, and a gentle breeze blew past her. It almost felt like a response, a soft caress from the departed, acknowledging her farewell.
After a moment, Faulin turned away and pulled out her PDA.
"Im done here Yuno," she said through the speaker.
A portal opened up in front of her, and she stepped through disappearing through the inky void.