Scott and Snape walked to the entrance of
Malfoy Manor. They approached the gate, Snape drawing his wand and waving in
toward the wall, allowing them to pass through it without opening it. After
going through the gate, Snape stowed his wand away and they continued to the
inside of the house. They went up the stairs into the dining room above. There,
a group of Witches and Wizards sat crowded around the dining room table, all facing
a man at the head of the table. Floating at the opposite end was a woman who
appeared to be unconscious. Scott and Snape glanced at the woman before
Voldemort turned around and addressed them.
"Severus...Scott. I was beginning to worry the two of you had
lost your way. Come, we have saved both of you seats," he hissed.
"Scott over there by Draco and Severus hear," he said, pointing to a
spot next to him. Scott and Snape took their seats where Voldemort had pointed.
Draco looked at Scott with a look of utter terror; Scott had been told by Snape
that the Malfoys were beginning to regret joining Voldemort and Snape had told
Scott to do everything to keep Draco comfortable during the meeting so that he
could stay safe. Scott nodded reassuringly at him, unnoticed by anyone else in
the room. Draco look slightly relieved and turned his attention to Snape.
"You bring news?" Voldemort asked.
"It will happen Saturday next at nightfall," replied
Snape.
"I have heard differently, my Lord," Yaxley interjected,
sitting directly across from Scott and Draco. "Dawlish the Auror has let
slip that the Potter boy won't be moved until the 30th, the day before he turns
seventeen."
"This is a false trail," Scott said. "The Auror
office will play no more part in the protection of Harry Potter, I have been
assured of it."
"Those closest to him believe we have infiltrated the
Ministry," Snape added.
"Well, they've got one thing right, haven't they?" said
Dolohov making some of the people in the room snicker.
"What say you, Pius?" asked Voldemort.
"One hears many things, my Lord," replied a man sitting
at the opposite end of the table. "Which among them is the truth is
unclear."
"Ha! Spoken like a true politician. You will, I think, prove
most useful, Pius. Where will he be taken? The boy?" Voldemort asked,
turning back to Snape.
"To a safe house. Most likely the home of someone in the
Order. I've been told he's been given every mannerr of protection possible.
Once there, it will be impractical to attack him," Snape replied.
Bellatrix then cleared her throat and spoke to Voldemort.
"My Lord, I'd like to volunteer myself for this task. I want
to kill the boy."
Suddenly, a scream erupted from below them.
"Wormtail! Have I not spoken to you about keeping our guest
quiet?" shouted Voldemort.
"Yes, my Lord. Right away, my Lord." Wormtail said,
hurrying away from the table and opening a door leading to the basement.
"As inspiring as I find your bloodlust, Bellatrix, I must be
the one to kill Harry Potter," Voldemort replied.
"But," Voldemort continued, standing up and pacing
around the table. "I face an unfortunate circumstance that my wand and
Potter's share the same core. They are in some ways...twins. We can harm but
not fatally injure each other. I require a wand from one of you," he said,
moving closer to Scott and Draco. "Come now, surely one of you would like
the honor? What about you, Lucius?" he said, stopping next to Draco's
father, who looked extremely uneasy.
"My Lord?" he asked.
"My Lord?" Voldemort replied mockingly. "I require
your wand," he said, extending his hand forward in order to take it.
Lucius took it out of his cane, shaking madly and handed it over to Voldemort.
Voldemort took it and examined it. "Do I detect elm?" he asked.
"Yes," replied Lucius.
Voldemort suddenly broke the snake head off the wand. "And
the core?"
"D-dragon heartstring," said Lucius.
"Dragon heartstring?" Voldemort asked in an interested
tone. Lucius nodded and Voldemort threw the snake head down in front of Lucius
before pointing the wand at the floating woman who then floated across the
table.
"To those of you who do not know: we are joined tonight by
Ms. Charity Burbage, who until recently taught at Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft
And Wizardry. Her speciality was Muggle Studies. It is Ms. Burbage's belief
that Muggles are not so different from us. She would, given her way, have us...
mate with them," Voldemort explained.
The Death Eaters grimaced and Bellatrix actually shouted
"Bleh," when Voldemort said this. Charity Burbage then stopped
floating right in front of Scott and Draco. She looked at Scott in recognition
and spoke to him.
"Scott...help me, please! You were one of my best students,
you must help me!" she pleaded. Scott, knowing that he could do nothing to
help her without blowing his cover as an undercover agent for Dumbledore, shook
his head. Charity cried out and then focused on Snape.
"S-severus! Help me! Please, we're friends!" she begged.
Snape simply looked back at her with a blank expression. Voldemort smiled and
lifted Lucius's wand and pointed it at her.
"Avada Kedavra!"
he shouted and a burst of green light shot out from the wand and hit Charity,
causing her dead body to fall to the table with a thud. Draco almost jumped up
in shock, but Scott put a hand on his knee to keep him calm.
The unmistakeable sound of a snake slithering came from the head
of the table where Voldemort was sitting. He was stroking his pet snake as it
slithered up the table.
"Nagini...dinner," he said softly. As the snake glided
down the table toward Charity's body, the Death Eaters moved their hands of the
way before the snake opened its mouth to eat. Everyone turned away to not see
it happen. Scott put his hand on Draco's arm to keep Draco calm and from moving
away since Voldemort was likely to attack him if he showed signs of weakness.
Voldemort then dismissed the meeting and the Death Eaters began to leave. As
Scott stood up to leave, Voldemort motioned for him to sit down in the spot
opposite Snape next to him. When the rest of the Death Eaters had left the
room, he spoke to the pair of them.
"You two have done well," Voldemort hissed. Scott and
Snape nodded at him. "Now, when the Ministry has fallen, I will need two
of my best lieutenants stationed at Hogwarts. I have plans for the rest of the
students, but I understand that you will be attending there still, Scott. How
would you feel serving as Head Boy?"
"I can do that, my Lord," replied Scott.
"Excellent, I will see to your appointment myself when we
have the Ministry. And Severus, as one of my most trusted advisers, I'm asking
you to take over the position of Headmaster seeing as Dumbledore can no longer
take that role," Voldemort said, laughing.
"I will do it, my Lord."
"Good, I knew that I could trust the two of you. Alecto and
Amycus will be your deputies Severus. You will take over as soon as the
Ministry has fallen. The two of you may leave."
Scott and Snape stood up and left the kitchen. They made their way
outside and strode through the gate again after Snape waved his wand at it
again. Once outside the gate, they disapparating, heading back to Hogwarts...
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