The Nightmare Man

Chapter Fifteen

Voldemort felt the same fear now, the one he had felt when Harrison walked behind him that day in the throne room. He shouldn't be afraid of the Nightmare Lord. The anger wasn't directed at him but judging by the looks on Lucius' and Rabastan's faces, they weren't any calmer than him.

Harrison was pacing, magic sparking between his fingers. The long hair swayed with his steps, the robes moved gently along the floor. His naked feet made no sounds. Every now and then the lights flickered, disturbed by Harrison's magic.

"Master, could you perhaps... stop interfering with the magic?" Severus was hesitant, slowly moving closer.

"Why?" Harrison asked.

"You're interrupting the process with the twins."

"What twins?" Voldemort asked.

"Oh, those redhead twins?" Harrison said. "Weasleys?"

"Yes, them," Severus said. "Their bodies and souls are only reconnected halfway. If you want them back in their bodies by tomorrow, you need to stop interfering with the magic in the dungeons."

Harrison stared at him. The magic that had filling the room, radiating out from the Nightmare Lord, vanished like it was nothing and they all breathed out.

"Thank you," Severus said.

"You like those twins, don't you?"

"You like them too, master. Otherwise you wouldn't have made two of your Dementors vomit up their souls."

"I like twins," Harrison said. "And something tells me they'll be funny to have around."

Elise came through the front doors and straightened her back when she saw Harrison.

"Postcard village, four hundred people," she said. "Few movements this close to the holiday, but I put them all to sleep for the moment and warded the whole place. No Muggles or wizards other than us will feel the need to go there today."

"Good," Harrison said.

"Exactly what are you going to do?" Voldemort asked.

"I'm going to kill them," Harrison replied. "It's been a very long time since I last destroyed a whole village. I usually let one person survive to tell the tale. I wonder who I'll pick today..."

The fear came back. A chill ran down Voldemort's spine and he felt like a frightened child again, which he never enjoyed doing.

"Call for the Inferi," Harrison continued. "The Light won't be met by a pretty sight once I'm done with that place."

-o-

Postcard village was the right word. Voldemort watched the snow-covered houses, the lights, the Christmas trees outside in the snow, those reflected in windows. It was disgustingly cheery, and he wasn't sure what Harrison would do to it.

Elise and Lucian were with the Nightmare Lord. The others had been instructed to stay behind by him and Voldemort had seen a glimpse of what Harrison might have been like back in the old days. Cold, unfeeling. Frightening even to the people loyal to him. No wonder he said most people in his time simply feared him. The charm and charisma he had shown so far was for now gone, or at the very least hidden deep inside. There was nothing gentle or charming about him now.

He was simply standing there, arms crossed and a black cloak slung over his shoulders. He hadn't even bothered to wear any shoes. Now he tilted his head as he watched the houses.

"Master?" Lucian finally said.

"There will be noises, Elise. Will anyone hear that?"

"No," she told him. "The village is completely cut off."