Percy Jackson X Harry Potter

THIRTY: Two! Four! Six! Eight! Who Do We Assassinate?

Harry's POV

VOLDEMORT'S GNARLED FINGERS GLIDED across Nagini, his snake. She hissed and slithered further down the table; skimming the hand of Bellatrix Lestrange, who huffed and flicked her away, and past Severus Snape who stared coldly into her beady eyes. Her forked tongue flicked rapidly out of her mouth, tasting the air. 

For a moment, it seemed as though Nagini locked eyes with Harry, who was crouched in the corner and observing the scene through his dreams. Luckily the Death Eaters' attention was wholly directed toward the Dark Lord, who hadn't yet noticed his presence.

'I assume that all of you are aware of why we have gathered here.' Voldemort droned, watching fondly as Nagini's tail slipped out of his grimy hand. 'My recent resurrection has presented us with a most exciting opportunity to breach Hogwarts' defences.'

Mutters arose from the crowd sitting at the table. 

'Er, about that,' a death eater sitting third to the bottom of the table spoke into the silence. He meekly raised his hand like a school student. 

'Well, Mr...' Voldemort waited for his reply.

He blinked. 'Dave, sir.'

Voldemort rolled his eyes. 'Speak, then. Mr... Mr Dave.'

'How d'ja even get 'ere, anyway? From what I know, resurrectin' from the dead is bloody 'ard, and near impossible, and-'

'Are you complaining?' Voldemort's silvery gaze met the man's, who flushed red and stuttered. 

'Well, no, I wasn't complainin', but-'

Voldemort slammed his fist on the table. 'I have heard enough from you.'

'But-' The man started, but Voldemort moved faster. He grabbed his bone-crafted wand from a hidden pocket in his robes, and wordlessly flicked it at the man. A jagged bolt of wispy green light erupted from the wand, tearing through the air and striking the man in the heart.

He slumped forward.

Harry didn't need to look to know that the man was dead.

Voldemort addressed the room, impatience clear in his voice. 'How I managed to resurrect from the dead is to none of your concern. What matters to you, now, is how we can storm Hogwarts and kill the Potter boy.'

Harry sucked in a silent breath. He made an effort not to be heard, even though he was invisible. Now that Voldemort was alive, could he still see him?

'As it happens, the boy seems to know how to navigate the real world through his dreams. While I was getting back to the land of the living, he spoke with me. I-'

'Did you kill him?' Another Death Eater's voice rang out, but Harry couldn't pinpoint the source of the noise.

'Brian, we were literally plotting how to get into Hogwarts and finish the job before I was rudely interrupted by a certain someone.' All of the Death Eaters' heads snapped towards the man at the end of the table, who thankfully did not stir. Harry shuffled backward to avoid being seen as Voldemort continued. 'So, no. I did not kill him.'

Chatter filled the room once more, and Harry caught shouts of people questioning their master. Voldemort raised his hand and within seconds the room grew silent, the tension so thick you could cut it with a knife.

'Of course, I did try! But the killing curse did not take effect, unfortunately. Most likely because he was not technically present in that conversation.' Voldemort assured them.

Some people nodded and turned to each other. Harry crouched lower behind the nearest chair and prayed to any gods that would listen that the occupant wouldn't turn around.