The Dark Lord's Pet Princess

53. Wrong Information

Larissa wasn't too happy about having 10 more death eaters share the place she lived. And to her disappointed, Bellatrix didn't leave with her husband, when Voldemort found the escapees a new home, instead she decided to stay at Malfoy manor with her sister.
This meant that Larissa had to put up with Bellatrix every single day.
Her first impressions of her cousin had been correct, as Bellatrix had clearly become quite deranged, thanks to her time in Azkaban.
To avoid Bellatrix, Larissa tried to spend as much time out of the manor as possible.
Voldemort noticed Larissa's attempts to distance herself from Bellatrix, so he started bringing her around with him.
Although Larissa was happy to be away from Bellatrix, she didn't enjoy spending all of her time with Voldemort.

The dark lord had become obsessed with getting his hands on the prophecy about him and Harry.
When Rookwood heard about this, he visited Voldemort and explained why all of his past attempts to get the prophecy had failed.
Voldemort stood behind his normal armchair, gripping it tightly as he took in the new information, while Larissa sat in her own throne like chair across the room.

"I have been badly advised it seems" said Voldemort as he tried to hold back his anger.
Augustus Rookwood knelt on the floor in front of Voldemort, with his back to Larissa.
"Master, I crave your pardon" trembled Rookwood.
"I do not blame you Rookwood" replied Voldemort.
He stepped around his chair and stared down at the man who was on his knees.
"You are sure of your facts, Rookwood?" continued Voldemort.

"Yes, my lord. I used to work in the department after all" reminded Rookwood.
"Avery told me that Bode would be able to remove it for me" admitted Voldemort.
"Bode could never have taken it, master. Bode would have known that he could not, which is undoubtedly why he fought so hard against Malfoy's Imperius Curse" replied Rookwood.
"I believe that you are right".
"It's a good thing we disposed of Bode then" admitted Larissa.
"Yes... Stand up Rookwood" ordered Voldemort.

Rookwood jumped to his feet, but kept his head bowed.
"You have done well to tell me this. It seems that I have wasted months on fruitless schemes, but no matter, we begin again. You have Lord Voldemort's gratitude,  Rookwood" informed Voldemort.
"You are most welcome, my lord" said Rookwood, who was unable to hide the relief in his voice.
"I shall need your help, moving forward. I shall need all the information you can give me" replied Voldemort.
"Of course, my lord, I will give you anything you want"
"Good, you may go now. Send Avery to me".
Rookwood bowed deeply before quickly fleeing from the room.

Voldemort headed to the cracked mirror in the room, and sighed as he stared at his reflection.
"It would seem that getting my hands on the prophecy is going to be a lot harder than I first thought" admitted Voldemort.
Larissa rose out of her chair and headed over to him.
"The only way you'll be able to get it, is if you take over the Ministry. And we are not ready to do that yet" reminded Larissa.
"I am not the only one who can remove the prophecy. Potter can as well" replied Voldemort.
"Yes, but Potter stands even less chance at getting the prophecy than you. He's only a boy".

"He may be just a boy, but Potter can enter the Ministry, and I can't" grumbled Voldemort as he turned around to face Larissa.
"I know. But Potter isn't likely to go there of his own accord. And you can't get to him, while he's at Hogwarts, and force him to get the prophecy for you" replied Larissa.
Voldemort smiled, "I think I know of a way to make him go there on my behalf. Our minds are connected afterall, so if I show him something that will make him want to go there, then I can have my death eaters ambush him once he has the prophecy".
"What would make him want to go there?"
"I'm sure if I showed someone he loved in danger, the noble Gryffindor would come running to their aid".

"Everyone Potter loves is dead" admitted Larissa.
"Not everyone. You're forgetting how much the boy cares about your brother" replied Voldemort.
"You want to kidnap Sirius?" Frowned Larissa, as she felt her heartbeat quicken, concerned for Sirius's safety.
"I don't need to actually harm your brother. I just need Potter to think that I will kill his godfather. I should easily be able to plant a false image in his head. I could practice on your first, before I try and do it on Potter" informed Voldemort.
"Lucky me".

Avery arrived a few minutes later, looking absolutely terrified, and Larissa didn't blame him.
Voldemort didn't like to be given false information, so Avery was in big trouble.
"It appears that you have failed me Avery, and given me incorrect information" said Voldemort.
Avery dropped to his knees, "Please forgive me, my lord".
"I did not summon you here, to hear your apologies" snapped Voldemort.

The dark lord removed his wand from his robes and pointed it at Avery.
"My lord, please, have mercy" pleaded Avery.
"Enough! You are lucky that I need you alive Avery. But your failure must be punished. Crucio!" Shouted Voldemort.
Larissa did not turn her head as Avery was tortured and began to writhe around on the floor.
She knew that Voldemort was watching her every move, in the corner of his eye, and she did not want him to think that she was weak.
So she continued to watch the scene, even though it disturbed it greatly.