Bellatrix leaned across the table, hands gripping the dark cloth covering its surface. Lucius suppressed a heavy sigh; his dark-haired sister-in-law had always adored theatrics. He knew what came next, as well: she would rise slowly from her seat at the dinner table, inching her face towards whatever attentive preyâ”or, rather, terrified listenerâ”at the age of four sat trembling across from her.
âBut I did not believe my sisterâs affirmation,â Bellatrix breathed. âNo, Scorpius. I did not trust, not even in my traitorous family.â She flicked her eyes pointedly at Lucius. âThe Dark Lord did not think twice, but I⌠I knew that all could not be right. So I approached the crumpled, would-be corpseâŚâ
Scorpius recoiled visibly as his great-aunt walked her fingers slowly towards him, her eyes following intently. He did not bother to keep his tremors in check. The fear had gripped the child as Lucius had known it would. Bellatrix was all too skilled at her craft.
âThe cheering fell silent as I shoved my pathetic excuse of a sister aside and fell to my knees beside the limp form of Harry Potter,â she whispered, withdrawing her hand ever so slightly.
Scorpius ceased all movement. His eyes grew wide, and a blazing, fiery beacon seemed to ignite behind them. Like every Death Eater child, he knew the historic twist of fate that came next in the story: the tides had turned, and instead of the ultimate failure, all had fallen into place. The ensuing moments underlined every ideal that Scorpius had learned from birth, and the discovery of Harry Potterâs near escape was a monumental example for any child to remember ceaselessly âconstant vigilance.â
âI stretched out my hand and grasped his shirt,â Bellatrix continued, eyes glazed over, as if it were not all an act to relive the events of six or so years past; her hand made a fist in the air above the elaborately carved Christmas goose. The glow of the candlelight danced in her eyes. Then⌠smack! She slammed her fist on the table in front of Scorpius, who yelped in terror and delight.
âYes, my boy, I discovered his false play! I, and I alone, unveiled his attempt to pretend as my disloyal sister fell back in shock!â she said in a carrying voice. Others around the table paused in their meal to roll their eyes, cough nervously, or watch her impassioned monologue.
âIsnât that enough?â Lucius asked tiredly, unable to bear any more as Bellatrix took a deep breath to continue. âWeâve all heard it in full many times over, even young Scorpius here.â
Bellatrix appeared highly affronted at the interruption, but she relaxed back in her seat, settling her robes and tossing her hair in a nonchalant fashion. âBut of course, Lucius,â she said stiffly. âYou would object. Unlike the rest of the family, you persist in defending her. Why, anyone could have mistaken a living boy for a dead one. In fact, it is not remarkable I did not repeat her error?â
Several pairs of eyes narrowed and fixed on Lucius, who sunk slightly in his seat. Bellatrix, in the height of her dramatic mood, did not smile.
âIt was an honest mistake,â Lucius mumbled with a distinct air of having repeated himself a million times over to no avail. He glanced at his little grandson across the table, hoping to seeâ”but no, his eyes were narrowed, too, and he played with his fork stubbornly, as if embarrassed of his aging grandfather.
Losing his composure, Lucius stood rapidly. âI pray you, excuse me. I feel slightly out of sorts this evening.â A few people nodded knowingly. Lucius forced a smile and ducked his head in turn, adding, âTo the Dark Lord.â
Bellatrix smiled broadly at the standard evocation of their leaderâs name. âYes, to the Dark Lord⌠Good night, Lucius.â
Lucius did not hesitate to continue directly to the door, pausing for a fraction of a second at Bellatrixâs words. Enough was enough. He was off to retire to his room, but that evening, he would not brood or mope as he usually did. If everyone had forsaken himâ”Draco, his sisterâs family, his grandsonâ”then it was high time he joined his traitorous wife.
* * * * *
âHarry! Yer alive! Heâs alive!â
âSilencio!â Lord Voldemort shouted.
Bellatrix dragged the boy to his feet, her wand under his chin. She withdrew his only weapon from his robes and tossed it to the side. He did not fight but merely stood limply against her tense form, his eyes fixed solemnly on Lord Voldemort.
âIt⌠it cannot be!â Narcissa said shrilly, a keenly desperate tone in her voice. âI knew not, my Lord, I swear! Please!â
âAvada Kedavra!â Voldemort roared. Narcissaâs body fell to the earthen floor with a dull thud. Lucius yelped and rushed to her side. Bellatrix released a shrill, screeching laugh.
âHow is this possible?â Voldemort hissed, striding towards his captive. âYour motherâs protection is destroyed.â
âNot entirely,â Harry said, a simple smile reminiscent of Dumbledoreâs on his face.
Voldemort smiled cruelly. âIf twice was not enough, I suppose I can continue using the Killing Curse until the spell does the trick.â
Several Death Eaters laughed. The ring of spectators closed in. Bellatrix threw the boy to the ground at a glance from her master.
âNow, Harry, before we return to businessâ”and we shall, do not mistake me; if you are immune to Avada Kedavra, there are other, slower ways to kill youâ”you will tell me why you are not dead.â Lord Voldemort spat out the last two words, his voice dripping with venom. Bellatrix withdrew, joining the ever-tightening ring.
âTom, I could explain, but you still wouldnât understand,â Harry said calmly.
Voldemortâs snake-like visage contorted in a spasm of fury. The boy! How Voldemort loathed him, and not simply because of his repeated escapes: no, as much as everything else, the resemblance of his nature to Dumbledoreâs was almost too much to bear.
âLegilimency it is,â he said vociferously, raising the Elder Wand.
Harry eyed it without fear. His gaze, which remained fixed on the legendary wand, was contemplative more than anything else, almost quizzical. âStill not working properly, is it?â he inquired softly.
The Dark Lord took another step toward Harry, who was now at the center of a circle of stationary Death Eaters. He did not lower his wand. Bellatrix waited for him to unleash the Cruciatus on the insolent boy between them, but the spell did not come. Voldemortâs face betrayed nothing but a calculating gaze.
âNot entirely, it would seem,â Voldemort spoke unhurriedly, âbut only because you live. Tell me, what other protections have you invoked? I am anxious to lift them.â
âItâs too late for that,â Harry said. âIf the wand in your hand canât do the job, none can.â
âThis wand is unstoppable, Harry,â Voldemort corrected. Suddenly, he laughed coldly.
Several Death Eaters started. One glanced towards an adjacent clump of trees with interest and retreated into the shadowed woods.
âCome, come, Harry,â Voldemort said loudly. âYou are among friends. Please elaborate. It is folly to suggest that Iâ”a wizard who has ventured into magic so intricate and unfathomable that Dumbledore did not dare attemptâ”armed with the Elder Wandâ”which I took effortlessly from Dumbledoreâs corpseâ”should not be invincible.â
âYouâre wrong, Riddle,â Harry returned evenly. âDumbledore did dare, but he knew better.â
âDo not pretend to be wise,â Voldemort said evenly. âYou have been lucky, yes, and accidents have saved you from death many times over, but that, however, does not make you a learned man any more than it does a particularly crafty sewer rat!â
âAccidents?â Harry demanded, voice rising. âAccidents? Was it an accident that my motherâs sacrifice saved my life? And was it an accident that I dueled you in the graveyard and lived to tell the tale? Was it accidental, Riddle, that I came willingly here tonight and that you could not kill me once again? Were these accidents?â
âYES! Accidents!â Voldemort cried frenetically. A shudder ran around the ring of supporters as he whirled on his heel and began to pace around the length of the circle.
âSo go ahead, Riddle,â Harry said loudly. âKill me. Thereâs no one here to stop you. As you said, youâre among friends, if you could call your band of thugs âfriends.â Go ahead.â
âI intend to,â Voldemort cried, stopping where he stood. âI certainly intend to.â
âMy Lord!â a voice from outside the circle cried.
Scuffling, followed by a volley of curses, a bang, and silence greeted Harryâs ears. Lord Voldemort turned slowly in the direction of the disturbance. âYes, Nott?â
âIâve got someone here! I think itâs a Weasleyâ”you should see the hair!â Nott called gleefully, shoving his way past his fellows to the center of the circle.
âA guest? Ah, well,â Voldemort said, resuming his satisfied tone. âEscort the prisoner to us.â
Nott bowed slightly, bobbing his head in excitement. With a wave of his wand, the floating form of Ginny Weasley, tied up with magical ropes, drifted through the gap in the circle.
Harryâs eyes widened fearfully, but he did not attempt to get to his feet; at least a dozen wands were trained on his head. Nagini hissed from her magical cage not far away, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle, who looked intensely uncomfortable with their current assignment.
Nott brought Ginny to a halt a few feet from Harry. She revolved slowly in a circle as if suspended from above. Her toes could almost brush the ground, but her body was frozen in its position: only her eyes signified life. They were fixed on Harry with a look of intensity that drove Voldemort to lower his wand and laugh.
âAll too perfect, Nott,â he cried. âI am pleased.â
âYes, Master,â Nott said, bowing once more. He strolled past Harry to take his place, grinning in satisfaction as he muttered, âPretty thing, isnât she?â
Harry looked murderous, but he only flinched slightly; several other wands were now aimed at Ginnyâs heart.
Voldemort approached the girl at a leisurely pace. Once he was close enough to touch her with his wand, he raised his arm and, murmuring several incantations under his breath, waved the Elder Wand in a sweeping, lasso pattern.
Released from her bindings, Ginny fell to the ground. Naginiâs hissing increased as the weakened girl stumbled to her feet. She started towards Harry but stopped short as if an invisible wall blocked her path.
âShe put up quite a fight,â Nott called out. Several Death Eaters jeered. âUnfortunately, I caught little Miss Weasley by surprise!â
âYes, Nott,â Voldemort said in a quelling tone.
Ginny swiveled to face the Dark Lord. She seemed to lose heart as she beheld Voldemort smiling at her maliciously.
Just as Voldemort began to raise the Elder Wand, Harry called out, âIt wonât work, Voldemort.â
Voldemort prepared to reply but changed his mind. âCrucio,â he said firmly.
Ginny fell to the ground, but she merely tensed, waiting for pain that did not come. As Voldemort twitched his wand, her body jerked from side to side, but she did not cry out.
Lord Voldemortâs frustration boiled over: he drew back his wand with an enraged roar. Nagini began spitting angrily.
âYou canât hurt them anymore, Riddle,â Harry said triumphantly. âI died to save them. I know youâre familiar with that sort of protection.â
âYou are not dead! Silence!â Voldemort yelled.
âYour wand cannot harm me, Riddle. You are not its master. Though you took it from Dumbledoreâs body, the Elder Wand chose a new master long before. Instead of killing Dumbledore yourself, you brought about his murder indirectly as all cowards doâ”â
âIt does not matter! I killed Severus Snape hours ago.â
âOnce again, you canât understand. Dumbledore died at a moment of his choosing, planned expressly between him and Snape months before! Severus Snape was never on your side. He served Dumbledore faithfully to the end.â
âWhat does it matter? He is just as dead, and I hold the Elder Wand!â
âSnape loved my mother, Lily Potter, and he was against you form the moment you threatened her! Dumbledoreâs death was not a murder, and Snape was not the master of the Elder Wand: it was Draco Malfoy.â
Voldemort did not speak for a moment. Then, jerkily, he called, âWhere is Lucius? I can easily remedy this. Your death is only delayed, Harryâ”â
But Harry shook his head and continued, âAt Malfoy Manor, I disarmed Draco and took his wand. If Iâm right, the wand in your hand knows its masterâs been defeated, so I am the master of the Elder Wand.â
Ginny seized her opportunity to speak. âHarry!â she began urgently, only to fall silent under Averyâs spell.
âYou? The master of the Elder Wand?â Voldemort repeated distastefully. âWell, in that case, I shall use other methods to destroy you. Goyle, step asideâŚâ With a wave of his wand, Voldemort summoned Nagini to his side. âWe will begin by feeding the girl to Nagini, who seems to have developed an appetite since our guestâs arrival.â
âNo!â Harry yelled, distress tainting his voice at last.
âYou object?â Lord Voldemort asked lazily.
âI will do anything if you spare themâ”not just Ginny, but all of the people youâre trying to destroyâ”â
âAnything? This is a tall order, Harry, even for such open-ended compensation. The time for bargaining is past.â
Nagini hissed. Lord Voldemort prepared to unleash her.
âStop! Please! Not Ginny, please!â
âHow odd⌠I seem to recall your mother begging me using similar wordsâŚâ
âAnything. Anything, I swear itâ”â
âEven an Unbreakable Vow would not satisfy me, Harry, though I admit it would be a shame to spill pure blood, even that of a pathetic blood traitorâŚâ
Bellatrix called from her place in the circle, âMy Lord! Recall your designs for the future! For Hogwarts!â
âOh, yes, Bellatrix, I remember,â Voldemort allowed. âYour little project will not go overlooked.â
âThank you, my LordâŚâ
Voldemort waved his wand, and Harry was pulled roughly to his feet. The prisoner staggered slightly as the Dark Lord nodded to Bellatrix and said in a cold voice, âWell, Harry, I have had a change of heart. I will spare the two of you for the time being.â
Harryâs face was dumbstruck. âSpareâ”â
âYes, Potter, you unintelligent boy, both of you. As you have just said you would do anythingâ”quite touching, naturallyâ”I am willing to consider a bargain. I choose the terms. You accept, or Nagini consumes you both. In exchange, I promise never to hurt you or your precious friend,â Voldemort finished.
âThe terms?â Harry demanded instantly.
Ginny shook her head violently. Goyle sent her a menacing look.
Harry forced himself to concentrate only on the adversary contemplating him bemusedly. âThe terms?â he repeated.
Voldemort smiled. âYou would swear an Unbreakable Oath, of course⌠the terms would be thus: that you would never seek to oppose my rule again, that you would uphold my leadership through obedience, and that you would aid me in preventing others from overthrowing me.â
Ginny was crying now: unable to leave her invisible cell and unable to speak, she seemed ready to lose control of any remaining shred of composure she possessed.
âDone,â Harry said in a resounding voice.
Ginny clutched her head and wept soundlessly. Harry did his best not to look at her as a wave of excitement and shock ran around the ring of Death Eaters.
âExcellent. Bellatrix, approach,â Voldemort commanded. âYou shall perform the spell.â
Bellatrix stepped forward reverently, raising her newly obtained wand. Her sense of glory and honor seeped from her pores, disgusting Harry with its intensity as she waited for the moment to cast the incantation.
Harry and Voldemort knelt, clasping hands. The Dark Lord gripped with force, pouring all his ill will and hatred into their interlocked fingers. Harry seemed equal to the grip; in his mind, he fixed Ginny, safe and sound, in the forefront. Voldemort had promised never to harm her. This condition burned into his every thought, and as he clasped hands with his nemesis, he mustered all his mental strength and focused intently on Ginny and the Dark Lordâs promise. Voldemortâs eyes were greedy as he nodded to his most dedicated supporter, directing her to commence. Harry set his jaw determinedly as he kept his eyes glued to the connection between the hands that never should have met.
The Dunnest Smoke of Hell by Scarlet Crystal
Chapter Notes: "In war, events of importance are the result of trivial causes."
--Julius Caesar