The Death Eaters
"I don't think we should stop for lessons," Augusta said. "Perhaps a five minute refreshment break but I don't think I can wait much longer than that. We need to finish this book."
"How many chapters are left?" Minerva asked.
"Five," Filius replied.
"Do you think we can finish it today?"
"I think so," Filius said with a nod. "It might be wise. Then we can take a few days to catch our breath."
Minerva took a deep breath as she watched several people leave the chamber, many of them still tearful. She called a house elf and asked for lunch to be brought to the chamber in an hours time, so they wouldn't have to stop if they were in the middle of a chapter. She wanted this over and done with. She knew the remaining books would be bad. A lot had happened and she was certain even she would get a few surprises. But the sooner this book was finished, the better.
It took twenty minutes for everyone to return to their seats and Petunia was grumbling about freaks wasting her precious time. Not that anyone took much notice of what she had to say.
Meda Malfoy was looking at the woman in consideration. "Do you think she's a squib?" she asked her younger self.
"Most likely," her younger self said. "I'd love to be the one to tell her that she's a freak too."
"Perhaps we can ask the goblins for a couple of Inheritance Tests," Meda whispered. Although apparently not quietly enough because she noticed Ragnok glance her way, a toothy smirk on his face.
Filius restarted the book once everyone was back in their seats. The children who had been scattered across the floor had moved so that they could be closer to their parents.
Voldemort looked away ... more brightly through the darkness.
"That would be enough to give anyone nightmares," Dudley said thoughtfully, taking most of the chamber by surprise. It was the first time they had heard the boy speak since Mother Magic had left him and his family in the chamber.
He held up his hands ... circling Harry again, hissing.
"He promised she'd be allowed to eat me," Harry whispered hoarsely.
Voldemort slipped one ... He caressed it gently too;
Ollivander grimaced. He wished that he hadn't sold that wand.
and then he raised it, ... crumpled up and crying.
"Not very kind to your followers, were you?" Bill snorted, looking at Tom.
"I was bat shit crazy," Tom said. "I don't think kindness was in my vocabulary by that point."
Voldemort turned ... mirthless laugh.
Several people shivered.
Wormtail's robes ... you did promise..."
Peter was wide mouthed, staring at the book in fear. Was he going to die? There in that graveyard? He knew he must die eventually. His older self was missing. But was this the moment?
"Hold out your arm," ... "The other arm, Wormtail."
Sirius barked out a laugh, taking joy in Peter's suffering.
"Master, please ... Wormtail's uncontrollable weeping.
"I didn't know about the dark mark before that," Harry muttered.
"It was a very well kept secret," Rookwood said. "He probably only let you see it because he didn't plan on you living to tell anyone."
"It is back," ... now we shall know..."
"Know what?" young Neville asked.
"Who was loyal," Dolohov said.
He pressed his long white ... Wormtail let out a fresh howl;
Vernon grinned at the mere idea of Harry being in pain. No one noticed, except his own son. A son who was gradually becoming quite disillusioned.
"It's a horrible magic," Lucius said. "It draws magic from your core, forces it out through the mark to all his followers. It causes indescribable pain when he uses you to summon others. The more summoned, the more magic needed, the more it hurts."
"I am surprised you felt it in your scar though," Rookwood said. "It suggests that it also hurt the Dark Lord in some way. Perhaps, his resurrection left him unstable?"
Voldemort removed his fingers ... foolish enough to stay away?"
Lucius grimaced. He'd seriously considered it. He hadn't wanted to return to him. But his son was at Hogwarts. There wasn't enough time to fetch Draco and get his family out of the country.
He began to pace ... very like your dear mother.
"My mother was a witch," Harry said sharply. "And she wasn't a fool."
"There is no comparison between your mother and my father," Tom said. "My father... I resented him. Hated him. But truthfully, I don't think I can truly blame him for abandoning us. Not if what my uncle said was true... If she was using love potions on him."
Percy blanched at the mention of love potions.
"Your mother loved you," Tom continued. "She loved you so much, she chose death so that you might live. I can't even comprehend what it is to be loved like that."
But they both ... proved himself, in death..."
"I never planned to kill him," Tom admitted. "I... I went there hoping to find a father. But he didn't care for me. He wanted nothing to do with me. Things were said and I... I had just caused Myrtle's death and I was... well, I was already losing myself and I lost my temper. I killed him and my grandparents and then pretended they had never existed. I thought it a fair punishment after they'd done the same to me, leaving me alone in this world as they had."
Voldemort laughed again ... fell in love with him.
"I'm not sure she loved him," Tom said. "I think she just wanted to get away from her abusive father and brother. Convinced herself, she could have a fairy tale."
But he abandoned her ... He didn't like magic, my father...
"More like he didn't like that she'd used it against him," Tom said bitterly.
"He left her ... Tom Riddle..."
"I was so disappointed," Tom said. "I had felt certain that he must be a wizard. I foolishly thought that a witch wouldn't have died the way my mother did. That she'd have saved herself, if she could."
"Magic can't fix everything," Mrs Weasley said softly. "Especially for women back then."
Augusta nodded. "They weren't even allowed to attend Hogwarts for the most part."
"WHAT?" Hermione demanded.
"They were allowed in, of course," Augusta said, "but wixen families rarely allowed their daughters to attend. Especially the noble and ancient families."
Tom nodded. "She was a Gaunt."
Augusta sighed. "And the pureblood supremacists, like the Gaunts, were the worst for it."
Still he paced ... My true family returns..."
Tom grimaced. Followers weren't family. He'd never had a true family.
The air was suddenly full ... wizards were Apparating.
Amelia leaned forward. Finally, she would know for certain who had evaded justice for the last ten years.
All of them were hooded and masked ... hardly believe their eyes.
"We couldn't," Lucius said. "Some like myself, wanted it to be a bad dream while others were delighted. Finally, they'd be able to return to their mayhem, torture and murder."
Voldemort stood in silence ... Master. . . " he murmured.
Moody growled something under his breath about weak willed sycophants.
The Death Eaters behind him ... waiting for more people.
"People were missing?" Amelia huffed. She wanted names. She needed to know who needed to have a trial under the new treaty.
Lucius nodded. "Azkaban. Among other reasons."
Voldemort, however ... the Dark Mark, then! Or are we?"
"He sounds angry," young Dean said.
"He was. Very angry," Lucius said.
He pulled back his terrible face ... guilt upon the air.
"Can he actually smell emotions?" young Ron asked, feeling panicked.
"No. I can't. He means it figuratively," Tom said softly.
A second shiver ran ... swore eternal loyalty?"
No one dared speak. They were all focused solely on the book.
No one spoke ... his bleeding arm.
"Pathetic," Sirius muttered.
"I'm surprised he didn't bleed to death," Severus said, raising one eyebrow.
"It would have served him right."
"Indeed."
"And I answer myself," ... bewitchment...
Several eyes narrowed in Lucius's direction.
"And then I ask myself, ... against mortal death?
Albus leaned forward. Although he knew what Tom had done now, he was still interested in hearing the truth from Tom himself. He'd spent a solid decade speculating.
They, who had seen proofs ... Albus Dumbledore?"
Albus sighed. Nothing riled a bunch of blood supremacists up like mentioning his name.
At the mention ... I confess myself disappointed..."
"You know," Harry said. "This is how I got away. Well, not exactly but its part of it."
"Huh?" several people asked, turning to look at the prince.
"He talks too much," Harry explained, "and he likes to make a drama of everything."
Tom almost laughed. That was true enough. He always had had a flare for the dramatics.
One of the men suddenly flung ... Forgive us all!"
Moody rolled his eyes, or at least his normal eye.
Voldemort began to laugh ... "Crucio!"
Narcissa reached for her husband, not knowing if it was him who had been cursed.
The Death Eater on the ground writhed ... anyone.... anything...
"There would have been silencing wards in place," Moody said. "There always was. Wherever they had a meeting."
Voldemort raised his wand ... "Get up, Avery," said Voldemort softly.
Amelia jotted down the name.
"Stand up ... before I forgive you.
Petunia's eyes were wide with fear. This was the freak that had killed her sister. And to think that he'd been after the freak all this time? A freak she let sleep in her house!
Wormtail here has paid ... You know that, don't you?"
"Talk about gas-lighting," Claudius muttered.
"Yes, Master," ... Wormtail's bleeding wrist.
Peter sighed in relief. Perhaps he wouldn't have to hear about his own death just yet.
Wormtail's sobbing stopped ... crushed it into powder.
Harry smirked. That hand would eventually kill him.
"My Lord," ... never, my Lord..."
Sirius glared at Peter. To think they had once been friends.
Wormtail stood up ... halting before him.
All eyes turned to Lucius. He'd already admitted to being a death eater, but it was something else to hear about it in the book like this.
"I am told that you have not ... a spot of Muggle-torture, I believe?
"Take the lead?" Moody growled.
"It wasn't my idea," Lucius said. "But I was higher ranked than most of those still free. They expected me to lead them."
"They would have turned on him," Narcissa said quietly, "if he refused."
Yet you never tried to find me, Lucius...
"I hoped he was gone," Lucius said, shivering slightly.
Your exploits at the Quidditch ... aiding your master?"
"He wasn't lying," Tonks said. "He's not very forgiving, is he?"
"I don't know," Harry said. "He let them all live. By Voldie's standards that's as forgiving as it gets."
"My Lord, I was constantly ... nothing could have prevented me -"
"You're a good liar," Moody growled. "You'd make a good spy. Shame you never considered that option."
"And yet you ran ... You are merciful, thank you..."
Lucius grimaced, remembering just how terrified he had been. How certain he had been that he wouldn't be returning home to his wife. Narcissa had been warned to wait two hours and only two hours for his return before heading to Hogwarts to collect Draco. They were then to head to America to join Meda and presume that he was dead.
Voldemort moved on ... "The Lestranges should stand here," said Voldemort quietly.
Neville shivered at that name. But he wasn't the only one. Seamus also looked slightly sick.
"But they are entombed ... honored beyond their dreams.
Augusta bit her tongue, trying to control her anger. She wanted those monsters dead.
The dementors will join us ... creatures whom all fear..."
"One of the light's biggest failings," Albus said, "has always been not caring more for our magical brethren."
Andromeda almost laughed. "You-Know-Who saw them as little more than wand fodder."
"True," Albus agreed. "But he gave them a future to fight for. He promised them everything we denied them."
No one could argue against that point.
He walked on ... spoke to them.
Amelia frowned. It didn't look like she would be getting all the names. Never mind, Tom had already promised names. It was part of the treaty arrangements.
"Macnair ... Lord Voldemort will provide..."
Several of the children whimpered and the adults looked horrified.
"Thank you, Master ... "We will, Master..."
Dudley didn't know who any of the people mentioned were but he saw the others in the chamber reacting to the names and he wondered at their significance.
"Did anyone who was pardoned actually deserve a pardon?" Tonks asked sharply.
"No," Lucius said, "probably not. Certainly, not many. We really didn't have the resources to have that many people under the imperius curse. We saved that for people in high office, for the most part."
"The same goes for you, Nott," ... I am your most faithful -"
Theo flinched at the mention of his father, his younger self shaking like a leaf beside him.
"That will do," ... three dead in my service.
"Good riddance," someone muttered, although Harry wasn't sure who. He actually suspected it might have been one of the death eaters.
One, too cowardly to return ... he will be killed, of course...
"Karkaroff and myself," Severus breathed.
and one, who remains ... young friend arrived here tonight...
"But who?" Young Ginny asked.
"Was it Snape?" young Ron demanded.
Harry rolled his eyes. Why did everyone - himself included - automatically blame Severus?
"Yes," said Voldemort, ... my guest of honor."
Sirius was breathing heavily, his eyes staring unblinkingly at the book.
There was a silence ... this miracle...
"That's one word for it," Blaise muttered.
"Not the one I'd use," Theo replied.
how you managed ... my young friend here."
"The longer he keeps talking," Sirius said, "the more time someone has to come and rescue you."
"That's presuming they've noticed I'm gone," Harry muttered.
"Surely they'd worked it out by then?" Sirius asked, turning towards the teachers.
"No. They were too deep in the maze," Minerva said. "Moody told us they were still working their way towards the centre and we... We believed him. He could see through the hedges... We didn't think for one second that..."
He walked lazily ... The snake continued to circle.
"I really hate that snake," Harry said.
"Once you've seen it eat someone," Dolohov said, "well, let's just say I had nightmares for months afterwards."
Harry considered comparing Nagini horror stories. He wondered what the man would think about what she had done to old Bagshot.
"You know, of course ... he almost screamed in agony.
Lucius glanced towards the prince. He had been bitten by an acromantula, had his blood used in a necromantic ritual and his scar was causing him pain and yet he'd still dueled the dark lord? That wasn't just impressive, it seemed practically impossible. How had the child managed it?
"You all know that on the night ... I was foolish to overlook it...
"Very foolish," Rookwood said with a sigh.
but no matter. I can touch him now."
The children all gasped in horror.
Harry felt the cold tip ... the Death Eaters.
Sirius's grip on the two Harrys tightened. The effects of the calming draught were already wearing off and he was beginning to feel panic well up inside him once more.
"I miscalculated, my friends, ... but still, I was alive.
Tom sighed. That wasn't living. He could honestly say he regretted it now. And wasn't that a strange thing. He couldn't remember the last time he had regretted anything before coming to this realm.
What I was, even I do not know ... to conquer death.
"Utter foolishness," Tom muttered to himself. He'd met Lord Death now and he knew there was no conquering him.
And now, I was tested, ... but I waited in vain..."
The death eaters in the chamber shivered. Those that had not been present in the graveyard were waiting for Voldemort to start flinging curses.
The shiver ran once more around the circle of listening Death Eaters.
"We were waiting to be cursed," Lucius admitted.
Voldemort let the silence spiral horribly before continuing.
"And he knew it," Lucius continued.
"Only one power remained ... the means for my return seemed assured.
"The philosopher's stone?" Ginny asked.
A wizard - young, foolish ... he carried out my orders.
Harry grimaced at the reminder of Quirrell.
But my plan failed ... thwarted, once again, by Harry Potter..."
More than one of the children cheered, causing more than one of the adults to jump.
Silence once more ... Death Eaters cared what had become of me..."
Tom almost laughed. Why would they care for a master that flung cruciatus curses like candy?
One or two of the masked wizards ... a servant returned to me.
Remus turned amber eyes on Peter. Moony wanted to rip his throat out for what he would come to do to his cub.
Wormtail here, ... a dark shadow that possessed them...
Peter whimpered loudly, drawing everyone's attention.
"But his journey back to me ... a veritable mine of information.
Vernon huffed. When would this book end? He wanted to go home already.
"She told me ... I disposed of her."
Percy frowned at how easily You-Know-Who spoke of killing. He had encouraged his brother to abandon Harry after this. Thought he was mad. Deranged even.
Voldemort smiled ... strong enough to travel.
"Unicorn blood?" Seamus asked, remembering what the very first book they read said about that.
"Snake venom?" young Ron said in disgust.
"There was no hope ... Flesh given by a servant...
A shiver ran through the chamber.
"My father's bone, ... where he was buried.
"Did no one wonder why his father was buried in a muggle graveyard?" Seamus asked.
"No," Lucius said. "It's surprisingly common for wix in Britain to be buried with muggles. We aren't as separated as we might like from their world."
Petunia looked aghast. To think some of the graves in the local church might belong to freaks!
"It's different in Ireland," Seamus said. "We have our own graveyards."
"There are a couple of magical graveyards," Lucius said. "There's one in Hogsmeade, for example."
But the blood of a foe ... reside in my veins too...
Dumbledore sat forward. Would that keep Harry alive?
Rookwood seemed to be having a similar thought. "Your mother's protection in his blood..." he began. "You said you were hit with the killing curse before coming here, Prince Myrrddin?"
Petunia's eyes narrowed. Why was that freak calling the boy a prince?
"Yes," Harry said softly.
"Your mother's blood protection would have saved you from it," Rookwood said. "I think."
"How?" Harry asked.
"Because the protection was in the Dark Lord's veins," Rookwood said thoughtfully. "Neither can live while the other survives... Equally, I don't think either of you could die."
"I don't understand," Hermione said.
"I do. For Voldemort to die, I had to die," Harry began, "to destroy the horcrux."
"Yes," Rookwood agreed.
"But for me to actually die..."
"The dark lord had to die," Rookwood agreed. "I mean, you could have died a thousand other ways, but if you were to die by his hand, he had to die first."
"Meaning what?" Hermione said.
"Meaning that I was always going to win," Harry said huffily.
"And more importantly live," Albus said gently.
"Did you... did your older self know?" Harry asked.
"I can't say," Albus sighed. "I imagine that if he knew about what happened in the graveyard, he would have surmised as much, yes."
"But he never said," Harry said, glaring at the elderly man.
"No. I don't imagine he did. I don't know that I would either."
Harry looked ready to scream at him.
"I would want to protect you from the knowledge of what I believed to be true, for as long as I possibly could," Albus said, looking deeply ashamed. "I made many mistakes, Harry. Like not trusting the goblins to help. But protecting you, was always something I wanted to do. Even if I couldn't take what I believed to be your fate from you."
"But how to get at Harry Potter? ... as long as he is in his relations' care.
"Blood wards," Rookwood said.
The Dursleys glared at the book for mentioning them.
"Those wards protected you too, you know," Rookwood told them.
Not even I can touch him there ... a horde of Ministry wizards.
"It probably would have been easier," Kingsley said, remembering how severely under-protected the prince had been.
And then, the boy ... won the tournament -
Sirius growled under his breath. They had suspected as much but it was something else to hear it confirmed.
that he touched ... you all believed had been my downfall..."
Lucius grimaced. He knew what was coming.
Voldemort moved ... He raised his wand.
Arcturus was on his feet, struggling to remain calm. Harry was unarmed. He had no means of defending himself. This situation could not be worse. He moved away from his armchair to settle on the arm of the sofa that his grandson and great grandsons were sitting on. He would never normally do such a thing. Never dare to sit on the arm of a sofa, but the situation demanded that he join his family. He took young Harry's hand in his own and began whispering reassuring words.
"Crucio!"
"NO!" young Mrs Weasley screamed.
"He doesn't even have a wand!" Seamus said loudly.
"He's a child!" Narcissa cried out.
The entire chamber had erupted into chaos. To think that a fourteen year old boy had been put under an unforgivable like that. It was untenable. Severus was holding Sirius back as he tried to lunge for Tom. All thoughts of the no violence rule long gone.
It was pain beyond anything ... he wanted it to end...
Harry felt tears fall down his cheek. He didn't want to remember this. Young Dudley looked ready to hurl. And his older self wasn't fairing any better. Petunia didn't look like she knew what to think. But the two Vernons looked practically gleeful.
to black out... to die...
That caught Sirius's attention and his eyes returned to his son. "Don't you dare give up."
"I didn't," Harry said quietly.
"Brave boy," Sirius said, pulling him into his arms. "Brave, brave boy."
And then it was gone ... Death Eaters' laughter.
Everyone glared at Lucius.
"Laughing at a child being tortured?" Mrs Weasley demanded.
"I didn't laugh," Lucius said.
Molly said that she didn't believe him as Arthur countered, "But you did nothing to save him."
"No. Because I was picturing my own son in his place," Lucius said. "Shameful as it is to admit, I chose to protect my own."
"You see, I think, ... been stronger than me," said Voldemort.
Moody laughed. "He's comparing himself to a teenager. A teenager without a wand that is tied up. Ridiculous."
"But I want there ... which of us is the stronger.
Moody laughed bitterly again. A duel between a fourteen year old boy an a sixty something year old man is not a fair fight."
Just a little longer, Nagini," ... give him back his wand."
They all blinked in shock at the end of the chapter. At some point, the elves had brought food to the chamber, though none of them had noticed. Harry wondered how much more of this he could take.