Chapter 4

Disclaimer: J K Rowling owns Harry Potter. I'm spending time to write this, not making money.

Thanks to LadySunflower for betaing this and to my reviewers.

Chapter 4

Albus Dumbledore swept the silver thread of memory back into his mind after reviewing it in his Pensieve. He turned to Fawkes, who blinked at him, pearly tears collecting in his eyes.

"I was too rough with her, wasn't I?" Fawkes let out a quavering note in reply as the tears spilled over, slipping down over his fiery plumage.

"I will have to make amends to Miss Granger later. My only excuse for my loss of control is the memory of the other Necromancer I have encountered." Almost unbidden, the image of a man wearing an enlarged human skull as a mask rose up in the Pensieve.

"Perhaps if I had acted quickly enough, he would have never become Grindelwald..." Albus mused, stroking his beard. He stepped close to Fawkes, who stared unblinking back at him. "Is this a second chance? My second chance to right a wrong against someone long dead?"

The phoenix let out a surprisingly raucous cry, turning his back on Albus.

"You are right. I shouldn't view Miss Granger as a means to an end." He examined a lemon drop from the bowl on his desk. "I really shouldn't eat any more of these. My mind is obviously addled enough as it is." Albus popped the sweet into his mouth regardless, noisily slurping as he begin sucking it.

A letter shot through the fireplace as the flames turned green. Fawkes caught it in his beak, dropping it in Albus's hands as he perched on his shoulder. Still slurping away, Albus broke the seal (a phoenix, signalling that this was Order business) and unrolled the thin slither of parchment.

'Summoned by D.L. Will report when I return. S.S.' Albus removed his glasses and wearily rubbed his eyes.

"I'll feed a vomit flavour Bertie Bott's Every-Flavour Bean to Augustus Pye if this summons means that Tom has already discovered what Miss Granger is." Fawkes let out the phoenix equivalent of a snigger at Albus's dark threat.

The man once known as Tom Marvolo Riddle watched as his most useful servants knelt before him, leaning towards him to kiss the edge of his silky black robes (today decorated with silver serpents).

"Masks off, my servants. We are all friends here..." Lord Voldemort spoke with a sibilant hiss that would have been impressive if he didn't sound perpetually blocked up due to the altered, flattened shape of his nose.

He stretched out his long, bony fingers and removed the silver masks from the two Death Eaters himself. They were glaring at each other, as they had never been anything more than rivals in their acquaintance. The only reason they were in the same room was that they were both loyal servants of Tom.

'I am Lord Voldemort!'

That was the reason why Voldemort found Dumbledore referring to him as Tom so vexing; that in his own mind he often did the same, no matter how many times he corrected himself.

Bellatrix Lestrange looked away first, a scowl further marring her Azkaban-ruined, beautiful features. Severus Snape sneered at her, his contempt for the unhinged woman showing clearly. At the snap of Voldemort's fingers their attention returned to him.

"Bella, you will show Severus all courtesy as your brother. Severus, you will do likewise to your sister." Both fully grown Death Eaters looked down in a show of chagrin, lips twisting with what was probably revulsion at the thought of the other as family.

"Rise. Severus, walk with me. Bella, you may follow, but be silent until I give you leave to speak." Severus stood as Bella glowered at the Potions master from under her heavy lids. Voldemort's lips thinned as he realised that it was yet again time to confiscate the Lestranges' stash of sleeping potions. Bella was addicted to the things, leaving her far from useful too much of the time.

As a sign of trust, Voldemort turned his back on Severus as he led the way back to the Riddle House from the Apparition point in the graveyard. The only sounds on the walk to the now Unplottable house were the breathing of the three walkers and their footsteps. 'No, make that Bella's and my own footsteps. Severus is moving almost silently. That must be useful for his duties both to me and the old fool.'

The unlikely party soon reached the crumbling mansion and proceeded to the Dark Lord's audience chamber, where Nagini was in the process of attempting to swallow a struggling rat. Voldemort caught sight of a suppressed grin on Severus's face and looked again at the fight for food or life on the ragged carpet. The rat had a silver forepaw.

"Nagini, what have I told you? You cannot digest silver. Let Wormtail go before you give yourself a stomach ache," Voldemort hissed to his pet. Nagini reluctantly complied. This was not the first time she'd tried to eat Wormtail in his Animagus form. The way she almost managed to glower at the squeaking rat as she twitched her tail implied that the clumsy oaf had stepped on her tail.

"Wormtail, leave us. There should be some antivenin in the cellar. If not, then you'd best beg Severus for some." The scrawny rat squealed and shot off in the direction prescribed.

Voldemort crossed to the high-backed chair before the fireplace, which he lit with a wave of his hand. Such wandless magic was simple for a wizard of his power. He motioned for Severus to sit in the chair opposite, with Bella fuming at being left standing until he beckoned her to sit before him so that he could run his skeletal fingers through her silky hair.

"The old fool has tried to foil me once more, but has failed utterly. He should know that all medical issues are recorded in the Ministry on secure files... and on a duplicate in my possession." Voldemort smiled, a sight that seemed to cause Severus some discomfort. There was a reason there were no mirrors in his domain...

"This alerted me today as to what I have been looking for since before you were born, my friends. Finally, one has arisen. It is the only explanation. Now, it is only a matter of time before Dumbledore and his Muggle-loving friends come to a sticky end. Harry Potter will not live to come of age! A new age of glory, of purity will begin..."

Voldemort happened to meet Severus's eyes as he was ranting and saw a questioning look. If he'd interrupted verbally, Voldemort would have been forced to teach him a lesson in respect, but this was permissible. "I did not mention what it is I have been searching for, did I? Or who, more accurately. Ironically, the method of the downfall of Harry Potter will be one of his nearest and dearest. It is his just reward for making friends with a Necromancer."

Voldemort observed a little jolt running through both Severus and Bella at his last word. Yes, both feared the idea of a magician who had control over the dead. So would he, if he was still mortal.

"M-my Lord, surely a Necromancer is a danger to our side as well, I mean..." Bella said, mastering her stutter, but quivering under his hand and trailing off as she tried to get herself back under control at the warning of Voldemort's tightened grip.

Severus picked up the argument, the only betrayal of his feelings his clenched jaw. "Necromancers are almost always Muggle-born, My Lord. Why would they join us when they could destroy us?"

"That is where you come in, Severus. I require you to bring this Necromancer to our side. Need I tell you who it is?" Voldemort replied, his red eyes fixed on Severus. The other man showed no sign of weakness as he shifted in his seat, clasping his hands. This might have been to conceal shaky hands, but Severus had always seemed pretty unshakeable.

"I highly doubt that it is the youngest male Weasley. Therefore it must be Granger. If you were not in the habit of being entirely serious, I would have to think you were joking. Granger is inseparable from Potter; they are closer than siblings. How can I break through a tie that strong?" Severus was not happy with the situation. That much was obvious.

"Young Malfoy informed me that she is into older men. Seduce her to the dark side!" Voldemort frowned as it appeared that Severus was trying not to laugh. There was not anything remotely funny in what he'd said, or in the task of seducing the girl, however useful she might be.

"Forgive me, My Lord, but Draco counts older men as anything from a couple of years above him. Granger's only known paramour was Viktor Krum, three years older. Nineteen years is quite a jump from that." Severus's answer may have cleared some things up, but Voldemort still had the impression that the joke was still on him.

"My Lord! You cannot be serious! Why delay when we could have the Wizarding world at our feet within a week? Let me capture the little Mudblood and bring her before you!" Bella was hard-pressed to remain silent at the best of times. Now, he'd have to discipline her, although the stupidity of what she'd said warranted a lesson even if she'd had permission to speak.

Severus shot to his feet. Any reluctance he might have had was cast aside as he defended his mission. "Do you know nothing? A Necromancer, even a freshly awakened one like Granger, could easily kill you. Or me, if she set her mind to it! She will not willingly join us at the present time."

"A Mudblood like her kill a witch of my calibre? Impossible. Master, the brat will beg to join us after I have finished with her. Besides, she'd never be seduced by Snape. Even a hag would turn him down!" Severus moved for his wand, unwilling to let an insult like that pass.

"Crucio." Voldemort rested his chin on his hand, almost bored as he watched Bella writhe under his tender administrations. For someone who could apply the curse so well, she certainly couldn't take it. He released Bella from the Unforgivable and dragged her head up by her hair from her undignified sprawl on the hearthrug. "Now, Bella. Severus is quite right. I would hate to lose you. Know this: very few wizards or witches can kill a Necromancer. I know of only two wizards and no witches with the necessary power and that includes me."

"I will do as you command, Master, but I need to give this my undivided attention. Thanks to Bella's doubt of my loyalty, my attentions are compromised by an Unbreakable Vow." Ever the opportunist, Severus would use this situation to get out of another. Voldemort could hardly blame him.

"Very well. Bella, summon your sister. I am afraid young Malfoy will have to complete his task by himself." He gave Bella an encouraging kick and she hobbled over to the fireplace. It took her several attempts with her shaky hands to throw a pinch of Floo powder into the fire. Luckily for the sisters Black, Narcissa was prompt in coming through. It did not do to try the patience of Lord Voldemort when he was in the mood of throwing Cruciatus Curses at his most loyal servant.

For all the hype about Unbreakable Vows, it was easy enough to break them when you had all those involved present and focused on annulling the promises concerned. Severus was freed from his compulsion to assist the Malfoy heir, meaning that the brat would almost certainly perish in the attempt to kill Dumbledore. An ignoble end for such a pure line, but inbreeding had created weakness. There was something to be said for his own Muggle father after all, apart from target practice.

"There is another slight problem, Master. I am not a paedophile and the girl is not of age yet. I cannot start the seduction until..." Voldemort cut Severus off with an impatient gesture.

"Yes, yes, my slippery friend. I am quite content for you to wait until the chit's birthday in eighteen days. I would have thought the worse of you if you did not want to wait." Severus nodded, bowed and Disapparated.