The Dark Lord's Daughter- Book One (A Harry Potter Fan Fic)

Chapter Twenty-Four: To War

Leah and Barty remained embraced at her bedroom window, watching the mass of black hoods conjugate at the door. When Leah's left forearm suddenly burned, she jerked in Barty's arm.

"He's just calling us," he soothed her, stroking her hair.

"I know," she muttered. "It just caught me off guard."

"We better go see what he wants." Barty sighed and flicked his wand towards a little bell that was sitting on Leah's bedside table.

"That's new," she said, glaring at the little brass instrument.

Before Barty could respond, a young woman with short blonde hair entered her room. Leah gripped her wand, ready to throw the woman forcibly from her room should she prove a threat. Barty sensed her agitation and gripped her hand. "Relax, she's a nurse here to take care of the kids while we're gone."

"And what if we don't come back?" She tried to keep her voice steady, but the look on Barty's face told her she had failed.

"Don't think like that," he growled at her. Kissing both Seth and Arya on the head, Barty grabbed Leah's hand and led her out of the room and out the front door. On the stone steps just outside the door, stood Voldemort, Bellatrix, Amber and Daphne with Lulu, Daniel, Rebecca and Savannah, all three of the Malfoys and Greyback. Now Barty and Leah joined the group. They were facing the mass of black hooded figures that were shuffling towards the door like they were all trying to get a better look at them.

Voldemort raised his hand and silence fell quicker than if someone had cast a Silencing Charm. No one moved. No one even seemed to breathe. "The time has come," he started. Though his voice was soft, he had no trouble captivating each one of his followers with his silky words. "Harry Potter must be stopped. He will arrive at the school tonight, and we will be there to meet him."

All at once, the crowd roared and screamed in triumph, causing Leah to flinch and clap her hands over her ears. No one but Barty seemed to notice.

"By the end of tonight," Voldemort continued, raising his voice slightly over the cheers, "we will finally have our new order. Harry Potter will be dead, the Order of the Phoenix will be finished, and I, Lord Voldemort, will finally rule all! Now go! To Hogwarts and to war!"

The cheers grew louder, accompanied by the faint pops of disapperation. Leah looked at Barty and couldn't help but notice the excitement in his eyes. Disgust boiled in her stomach. They were really going to attack children.

"Inspiring speech, my Lord," Bellatrix simpered. Voldemort ignored her.

He gathered everyone around him, looking at each of them in turn. "I expect nothing less than undying loyalty from each and every one of you. You have set examples, some good and some bad, for all my Death Eaters, and I expect you to continue to do so. Serve me well, and make me proud." He looked directly at his three daughters. Next, his gaze pierced Leah, directing his next words right at her. "If I learn anyone has betrayed me in any way, they will suffer a fate worse than death."

Leah met her father's gaze steadily, betraying no emotion on her face and emptying her mind. His red eyes narrowed, but he said nothing. They all bowed before him.

"I'm going to say a final goodbye to Seth and Arya," she whispered to Barty. He didn't say a word as she slipped inside and up the stairs.

Her children were sleeping peacefully. The sight of them made Leah want to stay right here in the manor. Remembering what her father said about suffering a fate worse than death, Leah bent down and placed a kiss on each of their foreheads. "Mummy will be back soon," she whispered. Tears pricked her eyes, but she refused to let hem fall. No matter what, she would come home.

The grounds were silent now, since everyone had already left. Thinking her father would be furious if she wasn't there when he started, she gripped her wand. She was securing the door closed behind her when a thin, white hand snaked out and grabbed her throat, forcing her back against the door. Voldemort's snake like face appeared out of the darkness, directly in front of hers.

"I know where your heart truly lies, my daughter," he hissed. Though the hand on her throat felt very real, his face looked like smoke, like he was only an apparition. "If I get even a whiff of betrayal from you, I will torture your children until they are nothing but bloody stumps, incapable of coherent thoughts and make you watch every second of it."

"Father," she gasped. "I swear I-"

"Silence!" he hissed at her and his hand tightened on her throat. "Remember who you are, Leah Riddle."

His face disappeared and the pressure on her throat vanished, leaving Leah gasping for air. She looked around everywhere, but could see no signs of anyone else on the property. Had she imagined that entire encounter? No, impossible, her sore thought told her. Was she going mad? She pinched her arm hard, just to make sure she was indeed awake.

Deciding to put the matter in the back of her mind, she gripped her wand and disapperated, landing neatly outside the gates of Hogwarts with everyone else. She saw the moonlight dance off her sister's bronze hair and Amber ran towards her.

"Where have you been? We've been waiting for you for almost twenty minutes! Father is furious." Amber grabbed her hand and pulled her to the front of the crowd where Voldemort was standing with the same group of people. Had she really been twenty minutes behind? Barty shot her a worried glance.

"Where were you?" Voldemort hissed.

Leah bowed. "I stayed behind to say goodbye to Seth and Arya. The exchange only took a few minutes, but as I was about to leave and join you, I was attacked," she explained, keeping her voice neutral.

Whispered rippled through the crowd as everyone asked themselves who would dare to attack the Dark Lord's daughter. "Who did it?" snapped Voldemort.

"It doesn't matter," Leah said. She straightened up and looked her father straight in the eye, green on red. Her voice was suddenly full of malice. "He won't do so again."

Thinking Leah had killed her attacker, Voldemort smirked. "Good." Never once did he ask her if she was ok.

Turning to face the school, Voldemort spoke.
He didn't use his wand, or any other visible form of magic, yet his voice echoed across the grounds as easily as if he had cast a spell. "I know you are preparing to fight. Your efforts are futile. You cannot fight me. I do not want to kill you." Leah repressed a snort. "I have great respect for the teachers of Hogwarts. I do not want to spill magical blood. Give me Harry Potter and none shall be harmed. Give me Harry Potter and I shall leave the school untouched. Give me Harry Potter and you will be rewarded. You have until midnight."

Leah saw Barty pull out a watch. That only gave them half an hour to evacuate all the children from the school. Leah prayed it would be enough time. This war was not for the young.

A half an hour seemed to last an eternity. Leah had made a habit of pacing back and forth behind her father. Amber's eyes followed her path. Somewhere in the distance, a clock chimed midnight, scaring a flock of birds into flight. The combination of he clock and the birds was an erie sound, chilling Leah's blood.

"Begin," Voldemort said. His voice was barely above a whisper, but no one had any problem hearing his order. Robes swished as people ran past her, towards the school with wands brandished.

Tearing her eyes from the sight of flashing lights that were now appearing everywhere, she looked at Barty. He crashed his lips to hers in a passionate kiss that seemed to last an eternity. When he pulled away, they were both breathless. "I love you," he told her.

"I love you too." She watch him join the fray, trying not to think about how that could've been the last kiss they shared. Soon Barty was lost among the crowd of fighters, but Leah was still rooted to the spot.

The Battle of Hogwarts had begun.