INTERLUDE IV

Trying to lead the Twelve Acolytes without revealing his true identity was like trying to take a pack of wild dogs out for a scenic walk; a challenging task, but not an impossible one. Still, moments like these were enough to test even his great skill in governance.

"I have this matter well in hand!" Vanessa Acosta snapped across the table. A muffled snort erupted a few chairs down from her. Vincent Lancer looked entertained at the chaos he had sewn between his colleagues.

"As you should," Elissa Corner replied coldly. "You had us all believing it was a kind of threat we had never encountered before, but it turned out to be your run-of-the-mill Vampire." Her nephew and apprentice, Robert Hillard, stood at her side like a bodyguard with one hand ready on his wand holster. While his mercury mask hid his features, it was clear by his shaking shoulders that he too was laughing at Vanessa's expense.

"I had forgotten," Vanessa sneered. "You don't like it when others play with your toys. You only care about this now because your son is involved."

Elissa didn't deny it. "What's mine is mine alone," she said coldly. "Pettigrew forgot that. I recommend you don't do the same." Tom would have thought it was a sweet sentiment if he didn't know what twisted form her love took on.

Vanessa looked enraged at the threat. Pettigrew's torture had been heard for days throughout the fortress. However, she redirected it when Vincent proved unable to stifle his laughter. "You're the cause of all of this!" She accused. "If you hadn't proven vulnerable to the Vampire's wiles-"

"I was merely intrigued by her." Vincent had immediately sobered at the word "vulnerable". Even one as cavalier as he remained wary of the hostile and competitive environment Voldemort had instilled among his Acolytes.

"Intrigued?" Elissa chimed in. "Was it that long in Azkaban for you, Vincent? A pretty face comes along and you become as harmless as a Crup puppy?"

All traces of humour vanished from his face and was replaced by simmering anger. "I took my cue from you, Elissa. I found a half-breed of my own to teach my techniques to."

Robert's shoulders tensed as though preparing to attack, but Elissa twitched her fingers and he settled down. "Choose your words more carefully in the future, Vincent." She warned. "My apprentice is of my blood. I will warn you only once."

"Whatever you say, darling." Vincent leaned back in his chair, but Tom had seen the way his eyes flashed at Elissa's defensiveness. For someone as skilled as the Dark Lord's Chief Torturer, she might as well have put up a giant warning sign: VULNERABILITY FOUND HERE!

Exasperated by all of this, Vanessa turned her attention away from her fellow Acolytes and towards Tom. "Does the Dark Lord still trust me to oversee His network?"

Tom- who still possessed Renata Cushing's body- had been watching all of this with his delicate chin perched on steepled fingers. Now that he was being addressed, he sat up straighter and nodded slowly. "Yes. However," he added before Vanessa could gloat, "he would also like to have General Corner and her apprentice assist you with security until further notice." Vanessa looked as though she were about to argue, but he didn't have the patience for it. "Security," he stressed, "not business."

Vanessa looked as equally displeased by this amendment as Elissa looked satisfied. It was easy for him to tell exactly what had pleased her, which was why he asked her to remain behind when Vanessa stormed out of the room.

"Whatever it is that you are planning for your son is your business," Tom said. He didn't care one iota about what happened to the Corner boy. "I only ask that it not interfere with the Dark Lord's plan." Elissa appeared confused as to how the two were related, so he clarified. "Your boy is in the same Cadet Squad as Harry Potter. We cannot risk him being injured and being pulled out of the Tournament. The Dark Lord wants Potter to remain alive until the proper moment."

Elissa nodded. "I will act only when Potter is away. You have my word, Cushing."

Vincent sat up at the mention of Potter. "Renata," he smiled warmly at her. If he were vulnerable to such things, Tom would have been flustered at his sudden attention. Lancer's attractiveness was part of what made him such an excellent predator. "Would this be the same Cadet Squad as one Mr Anthony Goldstein?"

It took much of his incredible will to stop his annoyance from appearing on his features. Ever since the Horcrux-possessed Terry Boot had brought Anthony Goldstein to his attention, Vincent had been like a dog with a bone as he was rarely denied a victim. "You can aid Elissa in security if that's what you wish," Tom ignored Elissa's protest. "But you will have to follow her orders to the letter. This is Vanessa's network and her mission. Elissa will be in charge of security, and you will only be there to provide aid. Agreed?"

Tom had only made the offer as he expected a denial. He wasn't the only one surprised by Vincent's nod. "Agreed." Tom's eyes lingered on him. It was rare for him to underestimate the desires of his subordinates. "As long as I get another chance at the Goldstein whelp, I will gladly suffer the indignity of obeying my inferiors."

So much for being surprised, Tom thought as that set off another argument.