Prologue
London, England
31st October 1991
Hermione Granger was skimming through her colour-coded notes quickly. The words blurred in front of her eyes, and she did not absorb the meaning of it all, but she could not care less. She was wedged between her best friend, Harry Potter and her boyfriend, Ronald Weasley, who are currently having a heated argument on football. Hermione always tried to distract herself whenever this happened, as she found that discussing football, of all the things in the world, is completely a waste of time and pointless. However, as she adored the boys, she had not the heart to tell them off, as they will only laughed her and teased her about her own obsession with books.
Hermione could not help being bookish and an “insufferable know-it-all”, which was what most of her friends at Hogwarts College and Gryfindor Inn called her. From the moment she first laid her hands on a book at the age of three, she could not stop reading. She enjoyed books of every genre, be it fiction or non-fiction, and she had the uncanny ability to memorise every word she read. Her parents always called her their walking encyclopaedia, and they did not try to hide the fact that they were very proud of her. She had overdone herself academically, as she was always the top of her class, and her grades were perfect. She earned praises from all her professors, and she was the model student in college.
At the age of twenty-three, Hermione Granger already chartered her future path. She had received a full scholarship for her tertiary education. She had graduated from Hogwarts College with a Double Class I Bachelor of Laws and also a Class I degree in criminology. She had just been admitted as a Barrister-at-Law at Gryfindor Inn, one of the four Inns of Court. She was planning to practice as a criminal defence barrister.
“Hey, Mione! Watch your step!”
Ron’s sudden exclamation jolted Hermione from her thoughts. She looked up from her notes quickly, and discovered that she was about to step into a puddle of water. She quickly stepped away to avoid it, giving Ron a tiny smile.
“For Merlin’s sake, can you stop looking at your notes? You don’t need to study anymore, Mione. It’s over. All you need to do now is wait for job offers to arrive,” said Ron, linking his arms with hers.
“I know,” sighed Hermione. “I am just distracting myself. You know I hate to listen to the football arguments you two have”.
“OH, please,” Harry chided, with a teasing expression on his face. “Don’t tell me you carried one stack of notes with you every time we decided to go out together.”
Hermione just stuck out her tongue at him.
“Watch out, dear,” teased Ron. “One day, your eyes will be damaged by the amount of reading you are doing now.”
“Shut up, you idiot,” Hermione said, laughing.
They continued walking through street after street. London seemed to bustle with activity, as it was Halloween. They passed various eateries and shop with brightly lit lanterns and Halloween decorations; they jostled through the crowd of people, who seemed to be heading in all directions.
Twenty minutes later, the laughing trio turned into the street leading to Hogsmeade Square. The square was currently packed with people, most of them seemed to be heading to the same destination as the trio: The Three Broomsticks.
“Come on,” said Ron, leading the way to the entrance of the pub. “I am dying to try their new Butterbeer.”
“I think I am more interested in the Fire Whiskey,” said Harry with a laugh.
“Mind both of you doesn’t get drunk. I can’t possibly lug two muscular and heavy boys out of the pub,” Hermione said teasingly, as she stepped into the pub with the boys. She gazed adoringly at both boys. They have been the centre of her world ever since she started school. They became fast friends at the age of eleven, where they attended the same high school together, and they are inseparable, as they practically did everything together.
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Riddle Manor, Little Hangleton, England
“Your car is ready, Lord Voldemort.”
Tom Riddle looked up from the legal textbook that he was skimming, and nodded coldly at his good-for-nothing driver, Peter Petigrew. A glance from Tom was enough to leave the stupid man tremble from head to toe.
“Call Bella,” Tom said coldly. “Tell her that I wish to speak with her, alone.”
“Yes, my lord,” spluttered Petigrew, backing out of the room hastily.
“And close the door behind you, will you?” snapped Tom sharply.
Petigrew hastily doubled back and quietly closed the door.
“Useless git,” Tom muttered under his breath. He carefully marked his place in the book, and places it back on its shelf.
He started to pace restlessly. Tonight is an important night, one which will literally determine his future. He needed to succeed. Everything needs to work out, just as planned. He dare not think of the consequences if he failed tonight.
At the age of thirty-two, Tom was a well-known and prominent criminal defence barrister. Most of his clients were hard-core criminals who were filthy rich, and managed to buy their way out of anything by bribing court officials and judges. And the one thing that all of them have in common is hiring Tom Riddle as their defence counsel.
Tom had won every single case he was involved in. He would resort to ruthless means which are deemed necessary in order to win his case. Winning is everything, and in Tom Riddle’s perfect book of life, failure is unforgivable and should not be allowed to happen.
Tom was also smart and manipulative. He made sure that he was in possession of every possible dirt on every client, which he could get his hands on. This would allow him to have a hold over them, in case some of them attempted to blab to the authorities. He played his clients like puppets, and they succumbed to his manipulation. The women were seduced and completely hopeless around him; fluttering around him and attempting to do his every bidding. Oh yes, Tom Riddle definitely enjoyed his life to the fullest!
Tom’s lips curled as he thought of the wealth he had accumulated over the years, and the various people he had used to achieve his goals. There is nothing better than his current predicament, in his opinion.
“You wish to speak to me, master?”
Tom was jolted from his musings and looked up in time to see his most accomplished pupil, Bellatrix enter the room. She closed the door quietly and turned to face him.
At twenty-eight, Bellatrix Black was a beauty: her straight, jet-black hair framed a beautiful heart-shaped face with flawless complexion. She had heavily hooded eyelids and long dark eyelashes and high cheekbones, which further added to her beauty. She possessed all the right curves in the right places, and this made her every man’s dream. Like Tom, she was an accomplished defence barrister who is quick-witted and a fast learner. Tom had managed to groom her into his other half, for their personalities are quite alike: cold, ruthless and manipulating. Bellatrix was a wild woman, who is always excited to do whatever her master asked her to do. Of all his followers, Tom found that she was the best.
“Make sure everything is ready, Bella. You know the consequences if we failed,” Tom said softly.
“Yes, master. I went over the plan with everyone. We are ready to begin when you give the green light,” said Bellatrix, leaning in to kiss Tom lightly.
He pushed her away gently before he lost control of his senses. Bellatrix always have this advantage over him, and once she managed to seduce him, he will be dead to the world.
“Ah, Bella, don’t be naughty,” said Tom. “There will be time for that later.”
Bellatrix blushed and quickly pulled away. She apparently knew when to draw the line with him, another of her many qualities which he adored.
“Let’s go then,” said tom as he turned towards the door. “Ask the others to be ready. We will be leaving in fifteen minutes.”
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Knockturn Alley, London
Two masked figures stepped out into the night from the underground passage, dragging something behind them.
Another two masked figures followed. One of them seems to be the leader, directing every move.
“Don’t drag her. Carry her, you dimwits,” she hissed. “We don’t want to leave any blood trails behind.”
Grunting, the two masked figures in front hoisted the body onto their shoulders and carried it between them.
“Fucking hell, she is heavy,” one of them panted.
“She sure is,” his companion agreed.
“Let’s get this over with,” hissed the leader.
“Don’t worry, Bella. We can handle this,” said one of the figures holding the body.
They walked hastily along the dark alley for a few minutes, until they reached a black car with tinted windows, who is parked illegally on a small curb.
“Everything is taken care of, master,” Bellatrix whispered to one of the passengers in the black car as one of the windows is lowered.
“Good,” said Tom. “Get in. We must get out of here now. The evidence has been planted. We will win tomorrow, I am sure of it.”
The two masked figures who are carrying the dead girl nudged the boot of the car open and dumped her down unceremoniously.
“You know what to do,” Tom said to Petigrew, who was the driver. “Dispose of the body and then burn the car.”
“Yes, my lord,” spluttered Petigrew.
Tom gracefully slide out of the car and stepped into the night.
“Come, Bella, we shall wait at home,” he said.
Bellatrix detached herself from the group and joined him. Together, both of them ripped off their masks, threw it into the car before Tom slammed the door. Having accomplished that, both of them walked away as though nothing had happened.
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Knockturn Alley, London
Severus Snape enters the dark telephone booth after making sure that he was not watched. He had conveniently leave the blood-soaked towel behind, as it would be an excellent cover-up. He had drugged Dolohov’s drink, making him less sharp tonight, hence forgetting the towel.
He brought up the said towel when he was sure that his master and Bellatrix were out of sight. Dolohov cursed, and the others berated him for his carelessness. After putting up a good show by convincing everyone that he would be the one to retrieve it, Severus hastily got out of the car, ran into the underground passage, retrieved the towel, and doubled back at top speed.
However, he did not return to the car. At least not yet.
There is one thing that he must do before he lost his nerve.
Hastily, before he could change his mind, he placed coins into the slot and dialled a number which he knew so well.
“Ah, Severus,” said the warm voice which he hated so much.
“It’s tonight. We are leaving now. You need to get the team ready if you want to give chase,” Severus whispered into the receiver.
“Noted. Thank you. Good night, Severus.”
There was a click, signalling that the call has been ended.
There, Severus thought. He had done it.
He stepped out of the boot, and made his way towards the black car.
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Godric’s Hollow, London
“Damn it, Petigrew! Swerve” You nearly hit a tree!” screamed Antonin Dolohov.
They were travelling at break neck speed for the past fifteen minutes. Behind them, they could hear the sirens of the police cruiser as it came nearer and nearer.
“Stop trembling, you fool!” roared Severus, giving Petigrew a hard slap. “Just drive on. Ignore the goddamn police cruiser!”
“But…but…” stammered Petigrew.
As Petigrew tried in vain to shake off the police, Rudolphus Lestrange pressed a button on his mobile, and placed it on speaker mode.
“Yes?” came his master’s crisp reply from the other end. From the sound of his voice, which was slightly out of breath, Rudolphus knew that his master was currently in bed with Bellatrix.
“They knew, my lord. They knew! What shall we do, master?” shouted Rudolphus. Just then, Petigrew almost missed a sharp turn, and the car careened uncontrollably, swerving dangerously. It was about to turn over in a deep ditch.
Snarling, Snape pushed Petigrew back and grabbed the steering wheel,, and with a great effort, he managed to pull the brakes and turned the car into another direction, narrowly missing the deep ditch which by an inch.
“How?” Tom snarled angrily.
“No idea, master,” said Dolohov, panicking. His master was angry, and he knew that punishment awaited all of them. “It was all going smoothly at first. Someone must have slipped up somewhere.”
“I should have known. This proved my suspicions right.” Said Tom. “Turn off the speaker, Rudolphus, and listen carefully.”
Rudolphus turned off the speaker and pressed the slim mobile to his ear.
“I think Petigrew has blabbed,” said Tom. “That is the only logical explanation. Get rid of him. Listen. Ask Severus to drive. Before getting away, ask Severus to crash the police cruiser, he will know what I am talking about. Offer Petigrew a drink, laced it with sleeping pills. When he settled down, dump the car in the location we discussed and burned it, with Petigrew and the dead girl’s body inside it. Do you understand? I will give you further instructions after that.”
“Yes, master,” said Rudolphus, ending the call with a grim expression on his face.
Fifteen minutes later, after Severus had deliberately reversed the car at full speed and crashed into the police cruiser, Petigrew was settling down after his second drink, and Severus was driving slowly through dark and winding alleyways. They passed several abandoned warehouses along the way, with tall hedges occasionally obstructing the view.
Only the bumper of the car was broken by the impact of the collision. The car was still in good condition.
Half an hour later, the car turned into Hogsmeade Square. As Severus turned into the dirt lane leading to Hogsmeade Hill, another car followed. At first, all of them panicked that they were being followed, but after glancing at the car, they calmed down.
“Just act normal,” said Severus. “It’s only a silly red Firebolt.”
Severus continued to drive calmly, but Dolohov was panicking. He hastily called his master. He figured that if he was the one who took the precautions, although not much, his punishment would be less severe compared to the others.
“There is no need, you fool!” Severus pressed down on the accelerator as he guided the car towards the steep assent of Hogsmeade Hill. The Red Firebolt seems to be gaining speed, and had managed to overtake their car.
“See, you idiot! There is no need to worry,” said Rudolphus to Dolohov.
Dolohov was not listening. His master had answered on the third ring, and he was having a whispered conversation with him. Quick words were exchanged before Dolohov ended the call with a smug look on his face.
“He’s not taking any chances,” said Dolohov. “We must get rid of that car. There may be plain-clothes policemen in there.”
“What?” snapped Snape.
Dolohov quickly related their master’s instructions. After pondering it for a few minutes, the others agreed. They knew that they did not have a choice. They could not afford to take any chances.
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Hogsmead Hill, London
A few minutes later, there was a loud bang as the black car rammed into the Firebolt at full force, sending splinters of glass flying everywhere. The Firebolt swerved dangerously before its driver lost control of the car. It rolled down the steep hill at a dangerous speed, and disappeared from sight. They heard a deafening explosion far below them a few minutes later.
Meanwhile Severus guided the black car, who was now badly damaged from the second collision, but nevertheless still functionable onto a rocky ledge. He positioned the car carefully so that it will fall squarely into the deep ravine.
“On the count of three,” said Severus, as he pressed down on the accelerator.
“One…two….three!”
Severus lifted his foot, grabbed the door, and leap out of the car. Dolohov and Rudolphus followed. The car rolled off the rocky ledge and plunged into the ravine. They heard a loud thud as the car hit the bottom of the ravine.
Rudolphus pulled a flaming torch from his pocket, lit it, and flung it over the rocky ledge. Several minutes passed before they heard a great explosion deep down in the ravine.
“We’ve done our part,” Dolohov sighed. “Now, let’s get out of here.”
Turning away, the three figures walked off into the night.
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