HP - Shadow Monarch!

Chapter 132 - All sides in search of Snape.

[Chapter Size: 1900 Words.]

Third Person POV

London.

...

...

In a part of England, where there was an abandoned castle in the middle of a dense forest, everything seemed ordinary that morning, even though the place appeared eerie, with gargoyles placed all around the structure wearing macabre expressions, and the mist added an air of mystery to the location.

In the sky above, something began to emerge, and soon it could be seen filling with small shadows moving like snakes of smoke swirling through the air, heading toward the ancient structure. More and more of these dark forms approached the castle.

They advanced, entering through various windows at the same time. The shadowy smoke spread through the castle's corridors, traversing different floors and rooms until it reached a specific chamber.

The room was spacious, and the smoke began to gather around a table where a person was standing at that moment, with a snake in front of them, on the table's surface. One by one, the Death Eaters began taking their seats at the table. The central figure remained silent, waiting for everyone to take their positions.

When the group was finally complete, with only one chair left vacant, the atmosphere grew heavy, laden with tension that made it difficult for everyone present to breathe properly. The Dark Lord was furious, his gaze fixed on them.

No one dared to speak, and everyone kept their gazes fixed, but cautious, on the hooded Dark Lord, who still remained silent. The only audible sound was the snake's hiss, which seemed to observe the attendees with a threatening focus.

"You know..." The Dark Lord's voice broke the silence from beneath his robes. "I have received news that men working with their families are falling. And, from what I see, no one knows exactly who did this or why. Yet, I ask all of you, my loyal followers: does anyone know what the hell is happening in England as of last night?" he asked with a tone far from pleased.

His voice grew even darker, carrying the weight of his anger. The snake before him opened its mouth, baring its fangs in an intimidating gesture, while the Death Eaters exchanged uneasy glances.

"We don't know, sir," said one of the Death Eaters who had the courage to say something, cautiously, fearing to anger the Dark Lord. "We only know they were murdered by someone we couldn't identify. No one knows..."

"Yes, no one knows who this killer is," Voldemort repeated the obvious. "But this isn't the first time this has happened. After all, there are strange figures appearing in England. One of them is that killer in Hogsmeade. Could it be the same person who massacred several dark witches last night? Another is the mysterious alchemist who has been in England for almost a year..." He commented, casting a glance at the empty chair that belonged to the late Norton.

"Though Norton wasn't that important, he was a loyal follower. I tend to reward loyal followers. At the very least, I will find out who did this and ensure they pay. But first, we must know: did Norton have any enemies?" He turned his gaze to the Death Eaters, who appeared confused.

"Not that I know of. Norton didn't have enemies who would go to his home and kill him..." replied Abraxas Malfoy.

"Then who could have done this? Did his son have any trouble at school? Because, as far as we know, several students were tortured at Hogwarts," Voldemort suggested, his expression growing even darker. "Perhaps another student had some quarrel with him."

Before anyone could respond, showing thoughtful expressions while some made grimaces, he continued.

"I've also heard that a teenager was abducted in Diagon Alley, and before that, everyone involved was found dead in a cabin in the middle of the forest. I had to learn about this through other means, as the Ministry hasn't even discovered it yet..." he said.