| HIDDEN IN SECRETS |

chapter sixty-eight

PLANS AND PROPOSALS

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A long table sat in the center of the dining hall with a dozen chairs surrounding it. Out of the twelve chairs, only five were seated. There was a long moment of silence at the table where only the crackling of the fireplace could be heard.

"Do you see this?" said the voice at the head of the table. "Many of us are gone."

"I am certain they will come soon— "

"I am not talking about them!" he snapped. "I am talking about those imprisoned in Azkaban. I will say I admire their loyalty. It's been fifteen years. I say it is time to break them out. But first, we have more important business to discuss... "

Finally, a group of men came in, all wearing long black cloaks. They bowed their heads in respect and took their seats at the table.

"Never shall you be late again," said their leader. "While I could punish you for wasting my time, I will not because the news I have is urgent."

"What is it, my lord?"

The Dark Lord gave a mischievous smile, and then looked to his right a few chairs down.

"It concerns Silas' daughter, of course," he said. "His efforts have failed to find her."

"We have had callers," Silas said quickly. "People have seen her— "

"Yet, her exact location has not been found," the Dark Lord snapped. "Not to worry, I have found her."

"But how?" Silas asked.

"Our friend Lucius detected an owl's route," he explained, and Silas glanced at his side, feeling betrayed.

"You see, a snowy owl has gone back and forth to this little cottage outside of Yorkshire," the Dark Lord went on. "What was it called, Lucius?"

"Wass," he replied.

"Wass... Yes, I'll be sending you all to retrieve the girl," the Dark Lord said. "She is to be brought back to me alive."

Silas let out a small sigh of relief.

"Do not think she will go unpunished, my friend," the Dark Lord told him, and Silas tensed up.

"I take full responsibility for her foolishness, my lord," Silas said quickly. "I will speak to her, and she will— "

"Your honesty is admirable, Silas, however, it is I who will speak to her," the Dark Lord told him.

After the meeting was finished, Silas shot up in his seat and paced around the room. Lucius shook his head, looking at him with disappointment.

"Do not look at me like that," Silas snarled as the last person left the room. "Why did you not tell me you found my daughter?"

"She is not your daughter anymore, Silas," Lucius said, and Silas shot him a glare. "Would you have me lie to the Dark Lord?"

"You should have told me first!" Silas said loudly, walking toward him. "If it were Draco— "

"It would never be Draco because I raised my son right," Lucius sneered.

"Lucius!"

From the entrance to the dining hall, Narcissa stood at the threshold, overhearing their conversation. She sympathized with Silas because she knew what would become of the girl, and she knew her son knew too.

"If Crouch weren't so arrogant— "

"Crouch is not at fault," Lucius interjected. "You must forget about Verena and focus on your firstborn. You can't lose another child."