Lord Voldemort's Assignment

Note: All table manners are sourced from my own experience (American) and the differences I've noted from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_manners. Never really understood the British method of things, since in my experience stuff slips off the fork if it's tines-down. (America, it's tines-up.)

Disclaimer: She built the world. I just play with it. I also don't own Johnny Cash's "Man in Black," no matter how appropriate it is for this story.

Chapter 15: Lord Voldemort's Assignment

Illi and I stood side by side at the elaborately carved double doors leading into the Malfoy ballroom. Lucius and Rabastan had preceded us to announce our presence. I was running through the breathing exercises the other Slytherins had taught me to alleviate anxiety. Illi's caramel skin was as pale as my own. Her hands shook with nerves. I reached out and touched her shoulder gently.

"Calm down," I whispered.

"I can't, Heck, this is insane," she murmured.

"Breathe in with me," I said firmly. I breathed in deeply, glad to see her copy the move. I held the breath deep in my diaphragm. Her slowly released breath toyed with the fringe of her straight black hair. We repeated the motions together. Her color pooled slowly back into her cheeks and the shaking stopped.

"Better?" I asked.

She only nodded. The door swung open, revealing not Lucius but Rabastan Lestrange. He was resplendent in soft gold dress robes, his dusty blond hair tied at the nape of his neck with a satin ribbon. Illi and I smiled at him. Rabastan offered his arm in a gentlemanly manner to Illi.

"Lucius is coming for you, Hecate," he said softly.

A glimpse of the room was all I got before the door shut again. No sooner had I considered peeking through the keyhole like a common eavesdropper, Lucius opened the door. I smiled on reflex, even though I'd seen him dressed up already when he'd come up to lead us to the doors. His white-blond hair was tucked back like Rabastan's in a silk, baby blue ribbon; his dress robes a pale gray. The combination set off his milky skin and pale hair, accentuating the beautiful blue streaks in his eyes.

"Ready to meet our Lord, my lady Hecate?" he asked, offering his arm.

"Yes," I said. I was exceedingly proud of myself – I wasn't shaking in fear, my heartbeat was slow and normal, and there was no sweat upon my brow or in my hands. For the entire world without, I was the epitome of Slytherin aloofness. Within was a completely different story.

But that, as they say, was of no consequence.

I was doubly proud of myself as I entered the ballroom – I didn't gasp aloud. Still, Lucius chuckled softly. "The house-elves did an excellent job this year."

That was an understatement.

First off, the room had to be the size of the Great Hall and the entrance hall at Hogwarts combined. What was with Malfoy Manor and absurdly vast rooms? One end of the room was set up for supper, with small round tables cloaked in silver tablecloths and elegant chairs. The other side held a wide dance floor. Against one corner floated several instruments, playing an enchanting melody.

At the curve of the ceiling and the walls was a single long garland that circled the whole room, candles sitting at one-foot intervals. There were at least ten Christmas trees, all decorated in unique ways. Crystal chandeliers floated over every portion of the room, decadently draped with more garland. Boughs of holly floated at intervals, interspersed with glowing silver baubles.

The tables were all filled with people. It seemed as if they were waiting only for Lucius and me, and I realized with an inward start that they were. Lucius guided me unhurriedly to the table where Illi and Rabastan were already seated, along with Sin Avery and an older gentleman I didn't recognize.

Lucius pulled the seat out for me, the sound of the dull scrape echoing in the hall in spite of the music. I took it as I had been taught. He sat down to my right. I took another deep, cleansing breath, careful to let my shoulders rise slightly.

The music slowly came to a haunting halt, the last strain of the violin seeping into the silence.

Abraxas Malfoy stood at the table to my right, the scrape of his chair loud in the perfect silence. "My dear friends, I welcome you to here on this Boxing Day to celebrate our Lord's triumphs in the past year. Welcome to the annual Malfoy ball. Let the feast begin."

There was a general murmur of assent amongst the occupants of the room. A small salad appeared on my plate in a silver bowl, baby spinach decorated with dried cranberries, sliced almonds, blue cheese, and some kind of fruity vinaigrette. I waited for Lucius to start before grabbing the fork – tines down, of course.

The house-elves were very adept at getting food on the table and empty plates off. Every person in the room was obviously well-versed in the traditional way to place a fork in the "finished" position on the plate. I guessed that the house-elves took the plates when it was done. I didn't make the faux pas to test my theory nor did I think it prudent to ask.

"So you're the Obliviated girl, then," said the stranger at our table. "I'm to understand that you're the one who took my baby girl under wing?"

"Pardon?" I blinked politely.

"Mizar Mulciber," he said gruffly. "You are Hecate Taylor, right?"

"Oh, yes, sir," I said. "You're Alioth's father, then?"

"That's right," he grinned. "She came home, and blimey, was I impressed. Knows all sorts of things I never learned as a first-year. Says she learned it all from you."

"That is correct, Mr. Mulciber," Lucius said smoothly. "Hecate has an... unusual charm for knowledge. She has sent many of our seventh-years across the room with her hexes."

"You don't say!"

"Indeed I do, sir," Lucius said, smirking. "And our Illiad here isn't much behind her, I'd say."

"Oh, stop embarrassing us, Lucius!" Illi protested with a feminine titter.

Rabastan smiled. "I'd say you could embarrass us all with the things you two women can do. That is, after all, why you three are here."

Sin blushed at this. I realized that he, too, was here early.

"Sin's father was the very first Death Eater," Lucius said. "He's been taught things that make even my head spin."

I glanced over at the host's table, where Abraxas sat in a tight circle with three other men. One looked much like Sin – broad-shouldered with deep brown hair and a thin nose. I guessed this was probably his father. A tall, wiry man with sandy hair sat by Sin's dad. Abraxas, Sin's father, and the sandy-haired one sat reverently across from a very good-looking black-haired man.

Unlike most of the men in the room, this one had his black hair cropped short, no longer than an inch or two. His handsome features were focused on the other three, his strong chin resting nonchalantly on his hand. He ate with the same manners as everyone else, but he seemed almost above them. Everyone else in the room wore festive colors – he wore black dress robes that set off his tanned face. I was near enough to see the deep blue of his eyes.

"Who is that man sitting across from your father, Lucius?" I asked.

Lucius glanced over. "That, love, is the Dark Lord."

"Him?" I whispered, my eyes widening. My stomach coiled in on itself for an entirely different reason now. "But he's so..."

"Don't let appearances fool you, girl," Mr. Mulciber said, his tone low. "The Dark Lord is a very dangerous man."

"I can tell," I murmured, my eyes still wide and trained on him.

He was so handsome – power flowed from him unlike anything I'd ever felt before. Only one other wizard had ever seemed quite so formidable to me before. Even Dumbledore paled in comparison to this man, though. It wasn't just the power – it was his charisma. I could practically feel it digging into my skin.

Mr. Mulciber chuckled. "You're not the first lady to be so taken with him. He isn't interested in that so much, though. Sorry to dash your hopes."

"I'm not interested in him like that," I snapped. My gaze fell back on the black-haired man. "He's so powerful... it pulls at my magic."

"You can sense it?" Lucius stared at me. "I knew you were intelligent, but damn, Heck."

Suddenly, the Dark Lord's dark blue eyes rose – and met mine. He smiled at me and lifted his wine glass with an appreciative nod. Slowly, I returned the nod with one of my own. He turned back to his table and sipped the wine, all pleasant grace.

For some reason, the acknowledgement soothed what remained of my nerves.

"The others are Sinbad Avery, Senior, of course," Mr. Mulciber continued, "and Dagwood Lestrange."

"My father," Rabastan added.

The main course, a delicious chicken breast soaked for what tasted like hours in garlic and pineapples, appeared on our plates. I was suitably full by the time I finished it all. Abraxas Malfoy stood at his table and sauntered betwixt the chairs. When he came up again he was leading a beautiful elder woman the same way Lucius had always done me. The music changed into a recognizable waltz. I watched Lucius' father and the woman dance flawlessly across the ballroom floor.

Couples sprang up all across the tables. It was only then that I really noticed it. We – that is, Lucius, Sin, Rabastan, Illi, and I – were the only children here. The rest of the diners and dancers were at least twenty, if not older. Not that I had doubted Lucius' word. It just seemed extremely odd that of all the people in the room, we were the only ones underage.

My eyes returned to the table, only to find Lucius, Rabastan, and Illi gone. Sin and Mr. Mulciber were chatting about Quidditch (ugh!).

"May I have this dance, my lady Hecate?"

Well. That explained where Lucius went. I smiled, drinking in the handsome view of him politely offering his arm to me. I took it, as I'd been taught. "I would adore a dance, Lucius, except I don't know how."

"Trust me."

And because I always had, I followed him out onto the dance floor without another word. He placed my hands – my right held in his, my left on his shoulder – and stepped back. His gentle pull, his firm push, and across the floor we went in time to the slow music. I wouldn't say I was entirely graceful, but I did manage to dance.

The song ended on a long viola note. I only noticed because we were quite near the instruments. Before Lucius could offer to return me to the table, or dance again, Rabastan was at his side. I smiled at the quiet boy as he stepped into Lucius' place as easily as one used to dancing. The song began, and I danced.

I got better and better with every dance. Sin, Rabastan, Lucius, and one odd dance with Mr. Mulciber. After that one I begged to sit down again. The shoes I wore were not sensible attire to dance in. I was tempted to Transfigure them but couldn't without invoking the wrath of the Ministry.

I was having so much fun I almost forgot the reason I was here. The reason we all were here. Illi had no such difficulties, though she had only just broken away from Mr. Avery's dance to join me again at our table.

"Ladies," said a smooth, high tenor drawl. I glanced up, my eyes widening only so slightly at the sight of the Dark Lord himself seating himself across from us.

Illi froze, apparently too terrified to speak. I cleared my throat gently. "My Lord."

"Ah, so young Mr. Malfoy has told you of me after all," said Lord Voldemort lightly. His lips twitched in amusement. "How much has he told you?"

"Not much, my Lord," I admitted, casting a glance at Illi. She was the color of ash. Subtly, I rubbed my toes on her calf. "He said that you wanted to see us because we were doing well."

Lord Voldemort smiled. "Yes, I have heard of your accomplishments." His dark blue eyes narrowed on Illi. He sat back nonchalantly. "Why are you afraid?"

She stuttered. Never since I'd known Illiad Parkinson had I ever heard her tremble so with fear. "I-I n-not-"

"Do not lie to Lord Voldemort." This said with such tender fierceness that I felt a flash of pity for my dearest friend. He was quiet, but in that quiet was something approaching menace.

Illi glanced at me. "T-The things we've heard... I-I wonder if they're t-true."

"That depends on what you have heard and from whom," Lord Voldemort said, returning to that easy tone. "I am gracious with my followers and... quite malicious toward those I despise."

The warning was there – any Slytherin worth their snake-crest would have heard it. Nothing stopped me from blurting out my undying question. "Why did you kill Healer Pomfrey?"

I regretted it instantly, but Lord Voldemort was nothing if not kind. He answered me honestly. It was in that, and that alone I sometimes think, that he drew me in. Though I did not take the Dark Mark that night, I forever became one of his Death Eaters. My mind told me, as my body relaxed in the seat: this man was not my enemy.

"Gideon Pomfrey was not on the list for death that night," Lord Voldemort said calmly. "He tried assisting the two we were there for into the Floo. His death was most unfortunate, in particular with his assistance in bringing yourself to full health, Miss Taylor."

I relaxed in my seat, satisfied with his response. "Please do call me Hecate, my Lord. I find that name distasteful."

Lord Voldemort's eyebrows rose, but he did not comment on the request. "I have heard that you have made progress where others have not regarding Severus Snape."

I blinked. "You mean that he helped me, my Lord?"

"Young Malfoy has been attempting to bring him to these little 'get-togethers' for two years now," Lord Voldemort said. "He has not received anything in return for his attempts at friendship, save the occasional assistance in Potions. Snape brewed you a self-created, effective potion within twelve hours."

I nodded. "Yes, for my chills. My Lord?"

"I want you to cultivate a friendship with him," Lord Voldemort said, his voice a caress. "Separate him and the Mudblood. When the time comes for Parkinson, Avery, and yourself to be Marked, I want him here with you. Is that understood, Hecate?"

"Yes, my Lord," I said.

"Do not fear Lord Voldemort," he said softly, placing his hands on both our heads gently. "I am a kind master. Do me proud, ladies."

And he was gone again.

Illi let loose a breath of air, wilting in the seat. "Oh, gods. You're going to get yourself killed, keep talkin' like that to the Dark Lord!"

"And you need to start standing up for what you believe in," I said, scowling at her.

She smiled. "Yeah... I should, shouldn't I?"

Before I could answer, Sin asked her to dance again. I watched them careen across the ballroom and out of sight.

"Your friend is rather trying." I blinked and glanced up over my shoulder. Lord Voldemort had returned.

I smiled lightly. "Yes, my Lord. She can be."

Lord Voldemort did not meet my gaze, instead choosing to watch his followers dance. I took his unstated advice and watched them, too. "I am curious about your condition."

I kept my gaze trained on the crowd. Most of the dancers, if they did notice us, were keeping their faces on their partners. "I have made a few discoveries in light of my 'condition', if my Lord is willing."

"By all means."

"We were able to convince the mediwitch at Hogwarts to give us the contents of my blood shortly after term began," I said. "We have been able to determine that it was a potion, not an Obliviate, that took my memories. It is time-specific, if Severus Snape's analysis can be trusted. We think I may have come from the future, though for what purpose we have yet to discover."

I did not tell him about Molly's influence. I wasn't quite sure whether I should believe everything from the evidence I had thus far. I had been so angry to discover her bit of treachery that I hadn't yet been able to discern why. Until then, I did not want the Dark Lord privy to that portion of my life.

"You have been a busy little devil, then," said Lord Voldemort, a soft, mirthless chuckle erupting from his full lips. "Have you discovered just how far from the future?"

"I believe 1993 or 1994, my Lord. I found a photograph of myself as a first-year in 1991... amongst what remained of my belongings."

He turned to regard me and I double-checked my Occlumency boundaries just before he met my gaze. Harmless, non-incriminating images flashed in my mind. The moment was gentle and almost unnoticeable. Had Lucius not trained me, I would never have noticed at all.

"Interesting," he murmured. "If you find out more, send word with Lucius' owl addressed to his father. Understood?"

"Yes, my Lord."

He graced me with a slight bow of his head and left again before I could even move to return the favor. I did not want Lucius or Illi to find out about this particular portion of my dealings with Voldemort – so I placed that memory carefully in the pages of Moste Potente Potions within my mental library.

Lucius walked up moments later. I danced the rest of the night away in his arms. I was quite good at it by the end of the night, if I do say so myself.

_-~*~-_

Molly was waiting up for me when I finally Flooed home around eleven o'clock. She had obviously sat there for quite a while. Her feet were propped up on the coffee table, a book open between her thumb and two forefingers. The silence was punctuated only by Scorpius' snores.

"I had expected you home a little sooner, Hecate," Molly said quietly. She marked her place in her book with a bit of twine in measured, careful movements. "I didn't ask you to, but I had hoped you would tell me if you were going to be home quite this late."

"I'll keep that in mind for next time," I said, giving her an apologetic smile. "Did Score enjoy having the Marauders over?"

"They spent the entire evening watching football," Molly said, chuckling softly to herself. "Didn't think I'd ever say that."

"Why did you get the television?" I asked, sliding out of my cloak. "We're not Muggles."

"No," Molly agreed. "But we live in a Muggle community, and it looks more appropriate should Muggles come over. I have to change the wall color back to white, of course, but that's simple enough. I like the dress robes."

I lifted my arms up for her to have a better look, smiling. "He took me to a French place, I have no idea where. The fireplace was crystal. It was called En Beauté."

Molly nodded, smiling. "It sounds lovely. Lucius has excellent taste in robes." She sighed and pulled me into a gentle hug. "Go get some sleep, love. Remus is coming over in the morning, so just the three of you can be together."

I went to sleep not quite knowing whether I had done the right thing – or not.

A fifteen-year-old boy sat across from me in a very familiar kitchen. Though why a Remus look-alike would be seated in the basement kitchen of Grimmauld Place was beyond me. He watched me curiously. After a handful of heartbeats, a younger red-haired girl and a brown-haired boy sat down on either side of me. Both were staring at me as though they didn't quite know what to say.

"No." I stepped to the door, glaring at the blue-eyed, red-haired man who claimed he had loved me in a future that would not be. "I am the devil."

The dream vanished. I woke feeling as though I should remember something; that pins and needles feeling that left me uneasy. Though I had only had six hours of sleep, I rose and showered. The water running down my back, pounding lightly at my scalp, soothed away the uneasy tension in my shoulders and neck. I had completely forgotten it by the time I was dressed in a Muggle t-shirt and bell-bottoms.

Scorpius was still asleep in spite of the hour.

Molly was already gone.

Elated, I smirked to myself. Using the same techniques to leave behind none of my presence in Molly's room, I slipped in. The journal was in precisely the same place as before. I opened it to read, to find out more of my past...

Only to find it completely blank.

"I thought so."

I whirled around, book still opened in my hand, to find Molly standing in the bathroom door. Stupid, Hecate. Not even checking to be certain that she wasn't home. Molly waved her wand at the door. It flew shut with a soft click.

"I apologize for having to do this to you, Hecate, but you leave me no choice," Molly said softly. "You weren't to find out your origins until 1981. It will stop the true time from progressing forward."

I opened my mouth to argue, but Molly's wand had already moved. "Obliviate."

Blackness engulfed my vision yet again.

_-~*~-_

The doleful sounds of Johnny Cash's "Man in Black" played from Rabastan's wireless into the dull compartment. Illi, Ali, Regulus, and Lucius were quiet. The music and the steady clickety-clack of the rails beneath us were the only sounds. Illi sat back with a sigh against her seat.

"Well, I know one thing for certain," she murmured. "The Dark Lord won't be happy with this."

"No, I doubt he will," I agreed. "I can borrow your owl, right, Lucius?"

"Of course," he said softly. "Heck... I don't think we can trust Molly."

"I've known that since I found the journal." I snorted. "But that is neither here nor there. Without the journal, my past and by default, my future, are unknown. Only the portions that I told you, and the short summary I told the Dark Lord, are known. What if I'd kept portions from you guys? What if I'd found out something?"

Illi and Lucius exchanged the look usually reserved for Illi and myself. "Heck, love... I think you told all." Lucius smiled softly at me, an expression he reserved only for when we were in trusted company. "We trust you to have done so."

That, by itself, was all that let me know that he and Illi did indeed know all the contents of the journal that I had read. I only wished I had known more before Molly's betrayal.

Rabastan chuckled softly, his gravely voice quiet in spite of the silencing charm on the door. "Most teenagers believe that their parents are evil at some point in their lives... to think that you are one of those few who actually have one."

"Molly is not my parent," I snarled. "She shoved a potion down my throat and dragged me to a time not my own. She might have killed two people just to make our story stick. She did things to my body to make the Healers suspect the Dark Lord, of all people. She cast at least one Cruciatus Curse on me; hurt my eyes – same thing to Scorpius. She stole my name, my identity, and forced her own on me before I even knew what was going on. And now I can't change it until I marry someone – and my poor brother can't ever change it!"

I fumed in the stunned silence that followed my tirade. Only Johnny sang on, unperturbed. Even Lucius didn't dare meet my eyes. I took a deep breath, allowing the air to reach into me and pull the stress from my body – at least temporarily.

Why does my appearance

For the things that I have on.

"It is of no consequence. Discussing it won't change it," I said calmly. "But the task our Lord has set for Illi and me demands our attention."

"Severus is going to be difficult," Lucius warned. "He has resisted every other Slytherin's extended hand in friendship save mine, and he barely tolerates me. And the odd exchange between him and Hecate, of course."

"How have others attempted to confront him?" I asked, allowing what I did know of Severus Snape to roll in my mind like tasting fine wine.

"Directly, indirectly, through Potions, through books, the boy's interests are fully there on display," Lucius said.

"His reaction to me that night," I mused aloud. "I think I know how we can crack Slytherin's lone wolf."

"How?" Illi asked.

"Through his Mudblood girlfriend," I said, smirking.

Johnny filled the silence again.

For the reckless ones

And I wear it for the thousands who've died.

"And how, exactly, are we going to go through Evans?" Lucius asked.

"We'll have to move slow," I said. "Very slow. We can't all just suddenly change our attitudes, especially you guys who've been here longer. Ali, Regulus, and I have an excuse to move a touch faster. And since you guys are our friends, you'll follow – reluctantly at first."

"Slow doing what, Heck?" Illi asked.

"We are going to befriend Lily Evans."

There was a choked silence in which Rabastan shut off the wireless. "Did I hear you right, Hecate?" He asked.

"Yes," I said calmly. "If you heard me say that we are going to befriend Severus' Mudblood girl."

"But once we've... befriended her." Lucius swallowed. "What do we do when we want to bring Severus to the Dark Lord?"

"Why, we prove just how spiteful and hateful the Mudblood really is," I said brightly, as though I were discussing a brand new spell. "All Severus has to do is get dumped on his arse."

"And how do we do that?" Illi asked.

"Simple. We watch. We wait. We act. The best way that Slytherins know how."

Lucius grinned. "Because Slytherins protect their own."

The compartment dissolved into laughter.

_-~*~-_

Sinbad Avery, Dagwood Lestrange, and Mizar Mulciber are my names, as J.K. was lovely enough not to give us canon names for these three "original" Death Eaters.

Dagwood is not the comic character. He's actually one of the boys in Ann M. Martin's book Ten Kids, No Pets, one of my favorite children's books. Dagwood is the fourth child in the book and is nicknamed Woody for Woody Allen. He attempts to be witty. You won't see much of Dag here, but I think the Dark Lord would find Rodolphus and Rabastan's father amusing – for a time.