The Marauders Begin (I)

The Horcrux

December 17, 1971

It is near midnight, and VOLDEMORT sits at the front armchair by the fire at Grimmauld Place, with BELLATRIX, RODOLPHUS, and RABASTAN standing before him.

VOLDEMORT: (coldly) It has been found?

RODOLPHUS: Yes, my Lord. The children have found it.

VOLDEMORT: Where?

BELLATRIX: In the Dark Room, my Lord. The one we found before we graduated.

VOLDEMORT: The Dark Room? What is this you speak of?

BELLATRIX: The room that appeared to us when we needed a place to practice the Dark Arts, my Lord. The one on the seventh floor, across from the Barnabas tapestry.

VOLDEMORT: (laughing coldly) That is the Come-And-Go Room. It appears differently to each person who seeks it. That is where the cabinet will take you, when you infiltrate the castle.

BELLATRIX: Yes, my Lord.

VOLDEMORT: How long will it take until the passageway is mended completely?

BELLATRIX: We are not sure yet, my Lord. We must speak with Borgin and Burke, and access the one in Diagon Alley before we can know for sure. Hopefully it will not be long.

VOLDEMORT: Good. Be sure to do that over the holidays. The children will return tomorrow, you say?

BELLATRIX: Yes.

VOLDEMORT: Then you must go to Diagon Alley before the children depart for the school.

BELLATRIX: Yes, My Lord. Once the passageway is formed again, we will go as soon as possible-

VOLDEMORT: No. We must wait to break into the school. I am too weak at the present time. I must regain my strength before my return.

BELLATRIX: Are- forgive me, my Lord, but- will you be joining us?

VOLDEMORT: Would that be a problem?

BELLATRIX: No! Certainly not! It would be the highest honor if you accompanied us-

VOLDEMORT: Do not lie to me, Bellatrix. You seek to prove yourself to me. You want to carry out this mission on your own.

BELLATRIX: But- my Lord, I want nothing more than to please you!

VOLDEMORT: Very well. We shall see, in the coming months, whether or not the three of you are capable of doing what I ask.

RODOLPHUS: Thank you, My Lord.

RABASTAN: We will not fail you.

VOLDEMORT walks over to the side cabinet, from which he extracts a small jewelry box.

VOLDEMORT: (handing the jewelry box to BELLATRIX) I have continually emphasized the high importance of this Horcrux to you. I can only hope that you will regard its safety and protection in the castle as your top-most priority.

BELLATRIX: Certainly, my Lord. (She takes the jewelry box and places it within her robes).

VOLDEMORT: However, I reach a particularly difficult complication. For you see, the knowledge of the secret of this object does not remain within the minds of those in this room. No, there is indeed a man at Hogwarts who also knows of this object, and its potential significance.

BELLATRIX: My Lord- say the word, give me the order, and Albus Dumbledore will be dead as soon as possible. I swear it.

VOLDEMORT: (laughing coldly again) No. Albus Dumbledore is indeed a threat to me, but he is an enemy that I myself must face. One day. But, there is another man in Hogwarts, one who knows this particular secret of mine.

BELLATRIX: How has this secret been released, my Lord? We have not told a soul-

VOLDEMORT: I do not doubt your ability to conceal my secrets. No, he knows because this idea was conceived when I myself was a student in the school. I was too intrigued by the creation of Horcruxes, that I foolishly confided in this man. While he knows this secret, he stands as a threat to me as well.

RODOLPHUS: Who is it, my Lord?

VOLDEMORT: Horace Slughorn. He is the one who must be killed when you infiltrate the castle. He is the man who must die.

RABASTAN: (nodding) Yes, my Lord.

BELLATRIX: (bowing her head) Your wish is our command.

VOLDEMORT: (turning away from them) Leave me now. I must rest.

The three Death Eaters silently leave the room, leaving Voldemort by the dying fire.