Prologue
Well my dear readers and my lovely reviewers... here it is the beginning of snitch four! So exciting!
Prologue:
Harry felt mist around his feet as he went back into the world of the Snitch. He allowed it to carry him to his destination. The mist tangled around him and his vision blurred before refocusing on a mountain top. There was a group of hooded wizards huddled together. There in the centre of their circle was Lord Voldemort. Harry watched their cloaks billowed against the wind. Harry recognised one or two of the death eaters; Lucius Malfoy and his father Abraxas, Barty Crouch Junior, the Lestranges… Harry was almost nervous about getting closer but then he remembered that it was merely a memory and could not harm him. Harry couldn't help but wonder how Dumbledore had managed to get this particular memory for his snitch.
"It is almost time for us to come out into the open," Voldemort was saying in a high pitched voice. "Abraxas – have you succeeded in recruiting the giants?"
"As of yet, they have failed to be forthcoming but I do not doubt that with a little encouragement they will join us."
"Very well," Voldemort nodded, "Eric…" Voldemort turned to Lestrange Senior, "how are you and your sons fairing?"
"We are following the plan, my Lord," Eric Lestrange replied, "Join or die… some take dead… a waste of magical blood but some are eager to join especially when my son Rabastan threatens to rape their daughters…" Lestrange had a terrible look of glee in his eyes as he answered the Dark Lord.
"Very good… and you are keeping the bodies? I don't want them wasted…"
"Of course my Lord," Lestrange smiled cruelly. "The bodies wait for you at our manor." He bowed before his master.
"Very good… very good. You have done well Eric…" He turned away once more, "Bellatrix dear… have you managed to get anything out of your little house guest?"
"Not yet my Lord," Bellatrix Lestrange replied, her eyes full of bloodlust, "I will though – he has proven difficult to break but I will break him, my Lord."
"I am sure you will Bella dear," Voldemort nodded. "These silly aurors with their thick skins…"
"Tobias will break, I promise my Lord."
"I don't doubt it," Voldemort smiled an evil smile before moving on. "Crabbe… my old school friend… have you managed to infiltrate the ministry?"
"We've managed to get into some of the lower levels but we are struggling to get into the departments we are aiming for… the auror office for example and the minister's office…"
"There is still time," Voldemort nodded. "And you Goyle… have you found the rest of our old school friends? I know that if we could find them, we would unite once more."
"Yes my Lord… I have found several. They wish to meet with you," Tony Goyle replied.
"Very good," Voldemort nodded, "arrange it please. Rosier… have you approached the werewolves?"
"I have my Lord," Evan Rosier replied. "They are uncertain whether they can trust us. They want proof of our… loyalty."
"What loyalty?" Lord Voldemort laughed. "Tell them I will give them all the victims they could possibly wish for. That should keep them happy."
Rosier nodded. He had only been out of Hogwarts for two years and yet had somehow found himself a part of Voldemort's inner circle of followers. He couldn't help but allow his chest to puff out slightly in pride. His parents had been delighted by his becoming a death eater. If they had been younger they would have joined their son in his cause.
"McGlothlin – how are you finding it, filling your brother's shoes in my inner circle?"
"I like it very much my Lord," Efrain McGlothlin replied. He had only finished Hogwarts a few weeks ago. An hour or two after he got off the Hogwarts Express Voldemort himself had approached him and asked him to replace his brother in the Dark Lord's inner circle. Efrain's brother had been placed in Azkaban for torturing a muggle-born. "McGlothlin – you know what you are responsible for?"
"Yes Lord," Efrain replied.
"Keep the aurors away from my muggle prime-minister!" Voldemort said calmly, "If they break the imperius curse upon him my whole plan will fall… no… no… it will not… I would merely have to make slight adjustments… the first being the removal of your head," Voldemort threatened in a quiet voice.
Efrain McGlothlin gulped before nodding. There was no way he could speak. Fear was gripping his throat in a tight grasp.
Voldemort smiled at his followers, "The time is almost upon us when I will make my name known. Everyone within the wizarding world will know the name Lord Voldemort… and they will fear it… they will fear my name as they will fear my power… they will fear ME! There is much to be done but nothing we are not capable of. By this time next year, there will not be a witch or wizard alive in Britain who does not fear my name."
Hope you liked it... I thought it seemed silly that we haven't had any Voldy yet...
