The Dark Lord's Pet Princess

43. Frank Bryce

Larissa was not all that thrilled about being back in the Riddle manor, as she had a lot of painful memories of it.
Her and Voldemort had spent a lot of intimate time there, and she was not looking forward to being reminded of those times.
But despite her hatred of the manor and her protests, her, Peter, Voldemort and Nagini arrived there late one night in August.
"Move me closer to the fire" ordered Voldemort, once he had finished drinking his potion.
Peter then dragged Voldemort's armchair closer to the fireplace.
Larissa lent against the wall, observing the room, and noting how badly the manor looked, since she had last seen it.

"Where is Nagini?" Asked Voldemort.
"I don't know" mumbled Peter.
"I think she went off to explore the house" answered Larissa.
"Let her be for now. Wormtail, you must milk her before we retire though, as I will need feeding in the night. The journey has tired me greatly" admitted Voldemort.
Larissa didn't need to be told how weak Voldemort was, as she could see how tired his grotesque body looked.
"Are we going to stay here long?" Questioned Larissa, hoping that the answer was no.
"A few weeks maybe. This place provides us with comfort and safety. Besides, the plan cannot proceed yet, as we must wait until after the Quidditch world cup" replied Voldemort.

"My lord, why must we wait until after the final?" Asked Peter.
"Because, fool, at this very moment wizards are pouring into the country from all over the world. Every meddler from the Ministry of Magic, will be on duty, keeping an eye out for anything suspicious. So, we will wait until after it is over, before acting" insisted Voldemort.
"Yes, my lord, whatever you say... Although this plan could happen without Harry Potter" Peter said quietly.
"Without Potter?"
"I do not say this out of concern for the boy. He is nothing to me. But if we were to use another witch or wizard, the thing could be done so much quicker. If you allowed me to leave for a short while, I could return with a suitable person. Laying hands on Harry Potter is so difficult afterall".

"I could use another wizard, it's true. But you seem far too eager to fetch me a substitute, so perhaps the task of nursing me has become wearisome for you Wormtail. Could this suggestion of abandoning the plan be nothing more than an attempt to desert me?" Said Voldemort.
"My lord, I have no wish to leave you-" started Peter.
"Do not lie to me. You are regretting that you ever returned to me. I revolt you. I see you flinch everytime you touch me" interrupted Voldemort.

"Leave Peter alone. You frighten him, that's all. He is as devoted to you, as I am" insisted Larissa.
"She speaks the truth" whimpered Peter.
"Very well... I have my own reasons for using Potter, and I will use no other. A few more months will make no difference to me in the long run. All that is needed from you Wormtail, is a little courage, unless you wish to face Voldemort's wrath" warned Voldemort.
"My lord, I am a faithful servant, I will do whatever you command. But I do not think that we need Barty Crouch for our plan to succeed. I can do whatever task you need" admitted Peter.
"Wormtail, I need someone with brains, somebody who's loyalty has never wavered. And you unfortunately fulfill neither requirement. I need Larissa with me at all times, so I can't send her to do my bidding either" replied Voldemort.

"I found you. And I brought Bertha Jorkins to you" reminded Peter.
"That is true. A stroke of genius that I would not have thought possible from you. However, you did not know how valuable she would be, when you brought her to me" replied Voldemort.
"I thought she might be useful-"
"Liar. However, I do not deny that you have been very useful these past few months. And soon you will have your reward. I will allow you to perform an essential task for me, that many of my followers would give their right hands to perform" interrupted Voldemort.

Larissa glared at Voldemort, because unlike Peter, she unstood what Voldemort meant.
Since she had access to Voldemort's thoughts, she knew that Peter was going to have to sacrifice a part of his own body, in order to bring Voldemort back.
Although she was not happy with this plan or keeping Peter in the dark.
However, she knew that she couldn't interfere, or it would end up being her who had to make the sacrifice.

Larissa's thoughts were interrupted by a hissing sound, and she looked to the gap in the doorway that Nagini had just slithered in through.
Voldemort began communicating with Nagini using Parseltongue, which Larissa could understand, but Peter couldn't.
"I trust the house meets your expectations" hissed Voldemort.
"Yes my lord. But there is an old Muggle standing outside the room, listening to your conversation" revealed Nagini.

Larissa pushed herself away from the wall and tightened her grip on her wand, as she looked towards the door.
"Nagini has interesting news" informed Voldemort.
"Really?" Questioned Peter.
"Yes. She says that there is a Muggle standing right outside the room, listening to every word we say" replied Voldemort.
Peter ran forward and opened the door all the way, revealing an old balding man on the other side.
"Where are our manners. Invite him in, Wormtail" encouraged Voldemort.
Peter beckoned the man into the room, and the Muggle stepped inside, looking at the back of Voldemort's armchair.

"So, Muggle, you heard everything we said?" Questioned Voldemort.
"I do not know what that word means. But I have heard enough to interest the police. You have done murder, and you are planning more. I'll have you know that my wife knows I'm here, and if I don't come back, she will phone the police" announced the Muggle.
"You have no wife, and nobody knows that you're here. You are the Muggle groundskeeper who lives on the estate and you have no family. Do not lie to Lord Voldemort, for he knows all" replied Voldemort.
"Is that so. So, you're a lord are you. Well then, my lord, turn around and face me like man".

"But I am not a man. I am much more than a man. However, I will show you my face, if you insist" smiled Voldemort.
Peter moved forward and spun Voldemort's chair around, so that he could gaze upon the Muggle.
The man dropped his walking stick and screamed as he looked at Voldemort.
The dark lord raised his wand and killed the Muggle stone dead, before he had a chance to run.