A Dance Through Thyme (Harry Potter)

Terror

A very short update this week, but it is deliberate. I'm giving you fair warning that there will be a few chapters that are ridiculously short, but they need to be, before some other stuff starts happening.

Apologies for not updating sooner, but I've been very sick recently. I'll try to update a couple of times this week to make up for the lack of updates, and this very short chapter.

Chapter 28: Terror

"Brothers' Rowle - how kind of you to join us."

Voldemort's eyes showed only their usual menace as he watched them seat themselves at the opposite end of the marble table.

"Apologies for our tardiness, Master," spoke Thorfinn. "We did not intend to be late, and beg for your forgiveness."

"Nonsense, I already know that it was not intended. In fact, you have arrived at the most opportune moment. We were just discussing who would be trustworthy enough to induct into our brethren. Perhaps your youngest brother, Christoffer would be of use?"

Conrad held onto the sigh of relief he wished to release. He was safe. They were safe.

"I am sure that Christoffer would be honoured, my Lord," replied Conrad, looking directly into the crimson iris' that others feared.

"Very well. In that case, I wish to draw attention to our newest members. We have fellow Slytherin Severus Snape. Beside him is Peter Pettigrew who promises me his loyalty."

Several cackles rose from the middle of the table, most notably from none other than Bellatrix Lestrange.

"Time will tell," she hooted, whilst Peter turned a very visible shade of cherry red.

"Indeed," replied Lord Voldemort, his voice smooth and even-toned. "However, we have more pressing matters to attend to. What news do we have on our current candidates?"

Voldemort attempted to hold his concentration towards Yaxley who was currently speaking, however, found his eyes inexplicably drawn to Severus. He felt that he would have to keep a closer eye on this one.

"What was that?" Voldemort suddenly raised himself from his ruminations. "That name."

"Lily, my Lord. Lily Evans."

Voldemort sat in silence for a few moments, thinking over this name. He rolled it around in his brain, hoping for some connection to be made.

"Evans is not a name of distinction."

He verbalised it as a statement, but yet it was shrouded in doubt to Voldemort.

"You are correct. Evans is indeed a muggleborn, my Lord," said Yaxley. "Newly graduated from Hogwarts."

"Then, if she is newly graduated, you may have heard of her, Severus? Peter?"

Peter only nodded his head, whilst Severus murmured his agreement.

"I can't imagine that either of you would have much to do with her given the fact that she is no more than a mudblood; however, you would have had to endure classes with her. Is she a talented witch?"

Voldemort watched Severus carefully as he spoke, looking for even the slightest change in demeanour.

His keen eye was rewarded by the subtlest of shifts in the raven-haired young man. His shoulders seemed to drop slightly, and his eyes seemed to glaze over for a moment, until he could blink it away. Yes, there was definitely more to this story.

"By other accounts, we must recruit her. Imagine the others that would follow in her footsteps!"

Voldemort's eyes narrowed.

"What is stopping her from joining us?"

"She is too noble and well-protected, by the Potter family. In short, she is too good and pure for us, despite her talent."

"Purity can be destroyed," Voldemort said rather simply, bringing his fingertips together so that he could rest his chin on them. "And so can James Potter."

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