The Fall of Dumbledore: The White King

The Summer Ball

The ancient halls of Malfoy Manor gleamed with an otherworldly splendor as house elves scurried about, preparing for what promised to be the social event of the season. Hades stood before a floor-length mirror in one of the manor's guest suites, adjusting the collar of his emerald dress robes. The silver embroidery along the edges caught like the light, serpentine patterns shifting like living things across the fabric.

"You look perfect," Draco drawled from his position by the window, though his eyes held a warmth that belied his casual tone. "Father says this will be the largest gathering of pureblood families in decades."

Hades met Draco's gaze in the mirror, a slight smirk playing at his lips. "Your father has outdone himself. Though I suspect Tom had quite a bit of influence on the guest list."

The past few years had changed them both. At fifteen, Draco had grown into his aristocratic features, no longer the pointy-faced boy from their first year. And Hades... well, discovering his true parentage had only been the beginning of his transformation. The boy who had once been Harry Potter was gone, replaced by someone far more suited to the role fate had truly intended for him.

A knock at the door preceded Pansy's entrance. She wore flowing robes of midnight blue, her dark hair arranged in an intricate style that spoke of hours of preparation. "The guests are starting to arrive," she announced, her eyes darting between Draco and Hades with barely concealed interest. "Blaise is already downstairs, charming that awful Greengrass girl."

"Jealous, Parkinson?" Draco teased, earning himself a withering glare.

"Hardly," Pansy sniffed, though her cheeks colored slightly. "I just think he could do better than someone who believes everything the Prophet prints about the 'mysterious disappearance' of Harry Potter."

Hades turned from the mirror, his green eyes glittering with amusement. "Let them speculate. It only serves our purpose to have them looking in all the wrong directions." He moved toward the door, pausing briefly beside Draco. "Shall we make our entrance?"

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The grand ballroom of Malfoy Manor was a sight to behold. Enchanted crystals floated near the vaulted ceiling, casting a soft, ethereal glow over the assembled guests. The cream of wizarding society moved through the space in a carefully choreographed dance of political maneuvering and social climbing.

Near the entrance, Severus Snape stood in conversation with Lucious Malfoy, both men wearing expressions of careful neutrality. As Hades approached, his father's dark eyes flickered toward him, softening almost imperceptibly. Their relationship had grown stronger over the years, built on a foundation of shared secrets and mutual understanding.

"Hades," Severus acknowledged with a slight incline of his head. "I trust you're prepared for tonight's... entertainment?"

"Of course, Father." Hades's response was smooth and confident. "I've been looking forward to it."

Lucius raised his glass in a subtle gesture. "The younger Nott and Zabini heirs have expressed particular interest in aligning themselves more... formally with our cause."

"As have the Carrow twins," Draco added, moving to stand slightly closer to Hades than strictly necessary. The proximity didn't go unnoticed by Severus, whose expression tightened marginally.

The evening proceeded according to plan. Between dances and carefully curated conversations, Hades built his network of supporters. Theodore Nott's quiet intelligence and Flora Carrow's fierce dedication would prove useful in the months to come. Even Daphne Greengrass, despite her initial skepticism, seemed to be warming to their cause after a lengthy discussion about the importance of preserving ancient magical traditions.

It was near midnight when the whispers began circulating through the crowd. Hades caught fragments of conversation as he moved through the ballroom: "Order of the Phoenix... meeting tonight... Grimmauld Place..."

"Interesting timing," Blaise murmured, appearing at Hades's elbow with two glasses of champagne. He offered one to Pansy, who accepted it with a small smile. "Almost as if someone wanted us to know."

Hades's lips curved into a knowing smile. "Tom does love his little games." He glanced across the room to where the older, impossibly handsome man was holding court among a group of influential Ministry officials. Tom Riddle had maintained his youthful appearance from the diary, aging naturally but gracefully, a far cry from the serpentine Dark Lord of Dumbledore's propaganda.

"They're planning something," Draco said quietly, his hand brushing against Hades's arm. "Father says Dumbledore's been increasingly desperate since your... disappearance."

"Let him plan," Hades replied, his voice carrying an edge of dark amusement. "The old fool still believes he can salvage his carefully constructed prophecy." He turned to face his inner circle- Draco, Pansy, Blaise- the people he trusted most besides his father and Tom. "Soon enough, he'll learn just how thoroughly his plans have unraveled."

The music swelled, and Draco extended his hand in an elegant gesture. "One last dance before we turn our attention to more pressing matters?"

Hades accepted, ignoring the knowing looks exchanged between Pansy and Blaise. As they moved across the floor, he caught sight of his father watching them with a mixture of concern and resignation. Severus would always be protective, but even he would have to accept that some things were inevitable.

The night was young, and the real work was just beginning. As Hades moved through the steps of the traditional wizarding waltz, he couldn't help but smile at the thought of what was to come. Dumbledore's Order might be meeting tonight, but they were already several moved behind in a game they didn't even know they were playing.

The old ways would return, and with them, the true strength of magical society would be restored. And Hades would be there to see it all unfold, exactly as planned.