Prologue: A New Guardian

Prologue: A New Guardian

No-one interrupts Death Eater meetings. At least, no-one who wants to live. But that is what happened. None of Voldemort’s followers had a clue what was happening, but, apparently, Voldemort did.

A man entered the circle. He was dressed completely in black and appeared in a wisp of black smoke. He bowed his head towards Voldemort politely while the circle stilled, waiting.

“Well?” the Dark Lord asked, unusually patiently. “You have a name?”

The Guardian nodded. “One Minerva McGonagall – Harry Potter’s Head of House at Hogwarts School.”

Voldemort’s red eyes went wide. “Of course,” he breathed. “So, so clever.”

“I also found out a little about her. She’s a half-blood – she was appointed the teaching position a few years before James Potter arrived at school. Her records before that time are perfect, although no-one can trace anyone who knew her before. I found several people who attended Beauxbatons at the time she claimed to, and no-one remembered her.”

“Is that the best you could find?” Voldemort demanded.

“Patience, my good sir, I am getting to the best bit … As you know, all Guardians have the power of empathy – after watching her a while I managed to figure out she has … feelings … for -”

“What do you mean, feelings? Don’t all Guardians have feelings?” Voldemort interrupted impatiently.

“Yes, of course; but it’s not just any feeling: she has fallen in love.”

“… And? …”

“It is against Council law,” the Guardian said quietly, “for Guardians to fall in love with mortals.”

“Who is the object?” Voldemort demanded.

“Albus Dumbledore.”

“Are they …”

“No, but they don’t have to be! To have a relationship with a mortal is punishable by death … but falling for one in the first place would still get her removed from her position, stripped of her magic, and abandoned in the Muggle world. Where,” the Guardian added, “she would not be able to protect him.”

“Perfect,” Voldemort breathed.

TBC …