Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

(Master to Kitten, Kitten to Master)

'Thoughts'

[Kitten speech]

The Return

(With Lucius Malfoy)

Lucius was in his study. He was doing some paperwork when shooting pain went up his arm. He froze for a minute. He was very pale. The shooting pain could only mean one thing. The dark lord was back.

'I can do this.' He thought even though he wanted to throw up.

The blonde quickly changed into his death eater attire and apparated away. He was soon standing in front of the dark lord. It was his worst fear. He really hoped the man didn't learn about his betrayal. If he did then Lucius knew he was in big trouble.

"Welcome my friends." He greeted in a whisper.

"My lord." They greeted back.

"How?" Lucius asked. "I searched for many ways to bring you back but I came up empty." He lied.

"Did you?" He asked through narrow eyes.

"I did. I needed magic or blood, which I didn't have." Half that sentence was the truth.

"You have my diary." He said.

"Diary? What Diary?" He asked, acting like he had no idea what the dark lord was talking about.

"I gave it to your father for safe keeping." He said.

"I'm sorry my lord but my father never mentioned it. I can search for it if you'd like." He offered.

"Please do." He said, seeming to believe Lucius.

"I'll do it the minute I return." He bowed.

"Good. Now back to why I called for you all." He said. "As you can see I have my body back. I won't go into how but I do. I will stay hidden in the shadows. I don't want anyone to know I am back."

"Yes my lord." They all heard the order.

"Wonderful. Now does anyone know where Potter is?" He asked.

"No. I had his address when he was at the Dursleys but after he supposedly died I lost track of him." Lucius lied.

"Whoever has him has kept it quiet." Crabbe said.

"I see." He frowned. "Keep looking into it." He ordered.

"Yes my lord."

"Now I have noticed one person, besides those in Azkaban, is missing. Where is Severus Snape?" He asked.

"No one knows." Goyle said.

"No one has seen or heard from him since Dumbledore's trial." Crabbe said.

"It's true. Even I haven't been able to contact him." Lucius lied. "All owls return with the letters I have sent. None of them have been opened. Tracking spells are useless."

Voldemort frowned. "I see."

They all waited with a baited breath. So far none of them have been able to give them good news. They were waiting for their lord to get spell happy. So far he has not.

"What about Pettigrew?" He had heard about the arrest.

"He was draining the youngest male child's magic. They noticed something wrong with him and took him to a healer and that's how they learned that Pettigrew was draining his magic. The fool stayed put and that was how they were caught." Lucius informed him.

"That idiot." The snake-like man hissed.

"It gets worse." He said.

"How?"

"Dumbledore knew that Pettigrew was a spy for you long before you attacked the Potters. He knew that he was living at the Weasleys. He wanted you to get more information so that you would be more of a threat. He believed that when he defeated you he would get more fame that way. He even had a follower at the ministry that knew." He revealed.

"What?" That pissed him off.

"I heard it from the follower myself." He said.

"Damn him!" He hissed.

Each of them froze and waited to see who would be forced under the cruciatus curse. To their surprise that didn't happen. Instead he gave them an order.

"I want Harry Potter found and brought to me." He demanded.

"Yes my lord." They all quickly agreed.

"Now leave!" He ordered.

"Yes my lord." They all left after that.

Lucius went back home. He removed his garb and pretended to go back to work. He didn't want to put it past his lord to be spying on his followers. He grabbed a blank piece of paper and wrote an encrypted message down. He then put the paper in the drawer and actually continued with his work.

(Minister of Magic)

The minister was in his office when he noticed a sticky note glowing. That sticky note connected to a paper that Lucius Malfoy owned. The man had spied for him during the last war and this was how they communicated. He really hoped it wasn't what he thought it was.

He read the encrypted message and paled. The dark lord was back. He knew Lucius would never lie to him and despite no proof he believed the blonde. He erased the message and called in the head auror and the head unspeakable. It didn't take them long to arrive.

"Minister." The two greeted.

"Good evening. I just received some news from an old spy. They say that the dark lord is back and they have returned from a meeting with him." He shared. "They don't have any proof though."

"Is this spy trustworthy?" Kingsley Shacklebolt asked.

"They are. I trust them and I believe them." He answered.

"Then let's try to gather some evidence without the dark lord knowing as well as use some measures to protect the wizarding world. We can use this as a chance to prepare." He said.

"I agree." The unspeakable said. "Not to mention he won't be as powerful due to us destroying three of his horcruxes as well as the soul shard in Mr. Potter being destroyed."

"That is true. Did we ever learn how big those soul shards were?" Kingsley asked.

"Unfortunately no but four destroyed shards is still a lot." They answered.

"That is correct. I'm just hoping we managed to destroy the first one. That would be half his soul." He said.

"I do as well." They said.

"What do we do?" The minister asked.

"Our aurors need to do a lot of training. I want them to stay in peak shape." Kingsley said.

"I agree." He said.

"I will dedicate a team to creating spells to help the aurors fight death eaters and try to protect them against the unforgivables." The unspeakable said.

"Good, good." Fudge said. "What about increased auror surveillance? We can pass it off with what happened to Dumbledore as a reason."

"That's a good idea. Is Hogwarts reopening the classes Dumbledore canceled?" Kingsley asked.

"They are." He said.

"Good. They will be better prepared that way." He said.

"Anything else?" The minister asked.

"I can't think of anything." The auror said.

"Me neither." The unspeakable said.

"Then let's get together again when we have some." Fudge said.

"Yes sir." The two said.

"What about Potter?" Kingsley asked.

"We do need to inform him." Fudge agreed. "Only problem is that I don't know where he is."

"You don't?" That surprised the auror.

"No. I wanted to respect his guardian's need to keep him hidden." He said.

"True." They all understood that.

"What about his godfather?" The unspeakable asked.

"I do believe that would work." Fudge said.

"Shall I get him?" Kingsley asked.

"Yes, yes. Hurry." He said.

"Yes sir." He left.

"That poor child." The unspeakable shook his head.

"I agree."

"Hopefully he will be safe." They said.

"I dearly hope so. I had hoped this day would never come." He sighed.

"Almost all of us did."

The rest of the time was silent until Kingsley returned with Sirius. The man looked very confused and concerned. He sat down and waited to hear what they wanted to say to him. He could only hope it wasn't too bad.

"I'm afraid I don't have any good news." Fudge said.

"What is it?" He asked.

"A spy reported that the dark lord is back and we need to tell Mr. Potter." He answered.

"What?" Sirius went pale.

"The dark lord is back. The spy has no proof since they were too afraid they would be caught but I believe them. As to not alert the man that we know we are keeping it quiet as we plan how to stop him." He repeated.

"We want to warn Mr. Potter's guardian and Mr. Potter himself." Kingsley said.

"I see. I will contact them and let you know. Thank you." He said.

"You're welcome." Fudge said.

Sirius stood up and left. Fudge sent the others two away. He just hoped that he was doing the right thing.

(Davet Manor)

Fay was writing her report. She had just finished a small tomb in Australia and decided to write her report at her own home. The people that she worked with were quite rude and she didn't want to continue to be around them for any longer than necessary.

"Mistress?" A house elf got her attention.

"Yes?"

"Sirius is here and he says he needs to speak with you immediately. It sounds pretty urgent, ma'am."

"I see. Send him in." She said.

"Yes ma'am." She popped out.

'I hope it's nothing bad.' Fay thought.

A few minutes later Sirius entered the study. Fay could see he was pale and close to shaking. He sat down in the chair in front of her desk. She was very concerned and wondered what was going on. Before she could ask Sirius blurted it out.

"The dark lord is back."

"What?" She too went pale.

"I know. The minister just told me. Apparently he has a spy that he trusts that saw him and informed him. He wants to keep it quiet so that they can not only gain an upper hand but also so that the dark lord doesn't know that they know and do his raids again." He said.

"Oh my." She slumped in her chair.

"He wants to tell you and Harry." He said.

"Good." She said.

"Will you meet with him?" He asked.

"Yes. Harry will not though."

"Good." He sighed in relief.

"Let's go." She said.

"Should we tell the others?" He asked.

"You're right. I'll go to the minister and you tell the others." She said.

"Alright. Please be careful." He said.

"I will." She promised.

She quickly acquired a port-key to Britain and used it. Once there she made her way to the minister's office. Only one stopped her and that was Dolores Umbridge. She wanted to know what a French witch was doing there and why she wanted to see the minister.

"You must tell me why you are here!" She demanded.

"Excuse me?" Fay was shocked.

"You don't have an appointment. Why are you here?" She asked.

"Who are you?" She asked.

"Dolores Umbridge, Undersecretary to the Minister of magic." She proudly said.

"The minister knows why I am here and is expecting me in his office." Fay told her.

"You must tell me before I let you in." She sneered.

"Why?" She asked through a raised eyebrow.

"Why won't you tell me?" She answered with a question.

"What is going on out here?" The minister asked.

"She refuses to tell me why she is here." Umbridge whined.

"I was trying to see you sir. I was told you were expecting me. I am Lady Fay Davet." She said.

"Ah Lady Davet, I was expecting you. Come in, come in." He said. "I will talk to you later." He warned Umbridge.

"Yes sir." She pouted, upset that the minister seemed to be mad at her and now the French witch.

Once inside his office he quickly put up a privacy ward and locked the door. He then sat down and looked at Lady Davet.

"Your letter said you were Mr. Potter's guardian?" He asked.

"I am." She said.

"Can I ask how he is doing?"

"He is doing very well. Healthy and happy." She answered.

"Good, good." That was a relief.

"Yes it is. Sirius said you wanted to tell me something." She looked at him.

"Yes. I have a spy that I trust very much. He sent me a message. He saw the dark lord." He said.

"What?"

"The dark lord is back. They didn't get proof but like I said I believe them." He said. "I want to keep it quiet so as to avoid panic and keep the dark lord from knowing and starting up his raids. This gives us time to prepare and protect my people. I wanted to warn you."

"Thank you. I will be informing my minister." She warned.

"I had a feeling when I realized you were French. I also assume you will tell whatever school he is in." He said.

"I will be."

"I understand. Just please express the need for silence." He begged.

"I will."

"Good. We of course offer our assistance in keeping you and Mr Potter safe." He said.

"Thank you. We can talk more about it at my house." She said.

"Of course." He understood her need for privacy. 'Probably won't be the main house she uses.'

"I must leave now." She said.

"Of course. Thank you for coming in and don't worry. Umbridge will be punished.

"I hope so. Goodbye minister."

"Goodbye Lady Davet." She left after that.

After she left the minister talked to Umbridge. He informed her of her actual duties before giving her a job he knew she would hate. He left, hoping she learned her lesson. Then again anyone would if they were forced to go around and manually write out co-workers' workplace complaints.