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Title: Lunching With Voldemort

Contributors: dm_fugitive, eternalriddle

Edited by: Carla Lute

Posted: 2006-01-31 to 2-03

Game Date:  September 12th

Disclaimer: No one at Levicorpus owns Harry Potter, the world or its characters.  We just like to play in J.K. Rowling’s world.

 

 

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Draco had not yet received another summons from Voldemort. While this did not particularly concern him, he decided it might be a good moment to show a little initiative. He pestered the House Elves to fix a lunch set that would be to the Dark Lord's liking and had them add a turkey sandwhich and glass of chocolate milk for himself. He let one of the little creatures take the tray to the door.

Draco took a deep breath, cleared his mind, and knocked.

 

The Dark Lord sat in his room as he waved a hand, the door opening. He closes his eyes, listening to Nagini. She hissed and coiled around the room, chasing Wormtail around as he squealed in panic.

"Draco, I am surprised.  I had suspected you do something like this at least three days ago. You show more patience than those around you give you credit for. Please sit."

Voldemort smiled to himself as he motioned Draco to a chair across from him.

 

Draco wondered at first if he was criticizing, but as the dark lord did not seem upset, he decided to take it as a compliment. He took a seat in the chair and gestured to the house-elf to put the tray down and leave. "I thought I served you better helping Franklin with his wireless, but I have a request now and hoped to present it pleasantly."

 

Voldemort grinned broadly, steepling his fingers and leaning forward, he clapped his hands as food apparated on the table between them, a fine turkey dinner, with all the trimmings.

"Eat and take pleasure in the food, Draco, we have much to discuss. You, my honored guest…" He pointed jovially as well as he could at the younger wizard, his cloak draping like liquid onyx silk over his arm and in the wind. "You can begin our conversation with this request of yours."

Even when he was being pleasant he looked like a predator, eyes fixed on Draco, fingers folded and leaning back in his chair.

 

"Thank you, sir," Draco said, though he really just wanted his sandwich. He took a sip of his milk and got right to business. "I think it's time we brought some other wizards in on Franklin's wireless project. We've been taking shifts between us for the last few days, and well, Neville Longbottom, sir. He's exceedingly boring. I understand that he's strategically placed, but we've been finding it a bit hard to...well, to stay awake. I thought if we had some more people involved to take shifts and such, we'd be a bit less likely to drift off." Draco stopped and took another sip of his milk, watching Voldemort nervously over the top of his glass.

 

Voldemort thought for a second. He eyed Draco curiously, shifting his gaze left to right as he ate, after taking a sip of wine.

"Draco, did you know there is a terrible curse in the Far East, not one used by wizards, but part of the culture and superstition?  It is ‘May you live in interesting times.’ I have given you a position of merely monitoring one boy's speech and actions, and you feel you are not up to this simple task? Well if you feel you are up for a more challenging task I'll see that your father starts the monitoring process, inform him of his new task, and tell him I expect detailed reports daily."

The Dark Lord sat back, staring at Draco, trying to reach into his mind a bit, probing here and there.

"I'm calling the dementors in tonight, you will be their rendezvous contact, I'm sure you can handle a dozen or so of them, much more INTERESTING than listening to a Muggle device, sitting in a chair and enjoying tea, I'm sure. Anything else you'd like to suggest?"

 

Draco managed to keep the disgust off his features. He had never been assigned to work on the wireless project at all. That had been extra effort on his part. And the wireless they were using was not a Muggle device but a modified wizarding wireless. And it was hardly one boy's speech they were monitoring, but anyone who came within a twenty foot range of him...unless Voldemort really was worried about Neville rather than Harry. He believed he came off as mildly hesitant as he drew his calming breath.

"I didn't mean to complain, my lord, only point out that the job would be handled more efficiently by a small group than simply two wizards. My father's assistance would be appreciated, but I believe we need at least six total if we are going to be monitoring Longbottom effectively twenty fours a day for an extended period of time.

"I'm certainly not trying to excuse myself from the task or my fair share of the hours. But you also asked me to monitor the situation at Hogwarts for you, not just with Longbottom but with Moonstone, and explore methods of taking the castle. I've begun re-establishing some contacts, but this also will take time." Not to mention, I still have to buy food and keep up the whole Muggle house charade. "I would merely like to establish a system that gave both projects the appropriate amount of attention."

At the root of it, he was tired. He had been getting an average of three hours sleep for the past several evenings. He felt Voldemort's probing and allowed this weariness to fill his mind. There were things he had pushed deep down and locked up of course, but at the moment he hardly thought he could recall them himself. He was tired.

 

Voldemort began to eat the potatoes on his plate as he nodded.

"Good. I have been most pleased with your progress.  It is why I'm placing your father under YOUR orders. Remember our deal Draco, this way you can monitor his actions better. I'll leave you in charge of who should be part of this monitoring."

Voldemort sat up and rubbed his chin. He sensed the boy’s fatigue and did not want such a promising wizard to be in such a condition in the name of loyalty. Not even of age and handling more than many Death Eaters.

"Draco when you are done, let me know. You see, I understand you are undertaking a lot, and perhaps for one your age and experience this is quite a daunting task. Perhaps it's better if we…streamlined your duties, yes? Severus needs to get out more, so he can be in charge of shopping, if anything a bit of sun will do him good. You will be in charge of the monitoring alongside Franklin, and I do want daily reports. You don't have to monitor if you don’t want to, but you will give me the reports and go over them with those who give you them. As for your work in Hogwarts, I expect status on happenings based on your ‘agents’ and the monitoring. This will be written down, but you will also give me a briefing. Is this understood?"

Voldemort looked sternly at Draco, if he wanted responsibility, and to part of the big game, then maybe a taste of it will make him think twice before questioning a easy job.

 

"Yes, sir," Draco said, wondering where this sudden burst of reason had come from, though he locked that strain of thought up before it fully formed. He winced slightly at the thought of Snape having to play Muggle. He took a bit of food to excuse himself from talking and tried to think what sort of reports he should give and who he should assign to his monitoring team. Pity Fenrir wasn't around. It might have been fun being his boss for a few days, though he was certain Fenrir would be completely incompetent at the task.

"Sir, as to Moonstone," Draco said after a while. "I think he's a danger to our objectives at Hogwarts."

 

Voldemort scoffed, getting up and walking to the window, staring outside a moment and turning to look at Draco.

"If he is a danger, it's because of you and your friends. Gypsies go as the winds take them, and if he feels that the winds go away from you, you may have caused me quite a headache. If I were you, I'd do my damnedest to get on his good side, offend one gypsy and you offend them all. What I do NOT need right now is a full clan with knowledge of you working for me, am I understood. They practice old magic, guarded magic. A valuable resource I do not want to lose if I don't have to."

Voldemort turned and brought his glass to his lips, sipping his wine. He glowered down at Draco, suddenly seeming displeased. He could still do what needed to be done, with or without them, but the concept of having them under his command was enticing.

"You will do your best to make sure the Moonstone clan is pleased with us. They don’t react like other wizards do when provoked. I remember a story when I was in school of a purebred family who saw fit to mistreat a caravan, that night two of their own children were stolen from them, and their next born was a squib. It's unsure if the last part was a curse or not, but they fight as dirty as any Death Eater. Do not trust them, keep them at arm's length, but extend the hand of friendship through yourself, and your agents by any means necessary. Anyways, what makes you think this Moonstone child is a danger?"

Voldemort took up his chair again as Nagini slithered over to Draco, hissing deep and bearing her fangs.

"Oh look, she's smiling at you, come now Draco, do report."

 

"Sir, I have been trying to get on his good side," Draco said, trying not to pay too much or too little attention to Nagini. "He said that Blaise had something of his. I told him I would tell Blaise to return it, use my influence with him, but he would not give me the slightest indication of what Blaise had that he wanted. Every offer I extend to Luca, he becomes vague or rebuffs it.

"He printed a story about Blaise and Cho Chang, with the express purpose of trying to get them discredited and thrown from Hogwarts. Those two hold no real power on their own. The only thing they have is a connection to the Death Eaters. He is trying to weaken our hold on the school before we have it.

"He gave explosives to Malcolm Baddock and told him they were a face cream. He is targeting Slytherins, purebloods, and there's no discernable pattern to his actions beyond that. To be honest, I think he's slightly unhinged."

Draco took a deep breath and continued. "He has been trying to get into Harry Potter's circle, but they've been giving him the cold shoulder."

 

Voldemort paused in though, this was something to be concerned with.

"There may not have to be a pattern, the gypsies are a prideful people, those he targeted, did they offend him in some way? It may be simple acts of retribution, but it could be part of a larger plan. If he would be so kind, ask this Blaise to again make a report on EVERYTHING that has happened between him and the Moonstone child. Perhaps in that lies your answer. As for Cho Chang, see if Franklin can talk some sense into her, she teaches there now, yes? Have him inform her in whatever means would be best that we are trying to get these gypsies on our side."

Voldemort held his forehead, closing his eyes and thinking. This was a spanner in the works.

"It's a pity you can't get to any of Potter's friends, Draco. If we COULD get him in there, think of the possibilities." He returned to his seat, pouring himself another goblet of wine, a habit he seemed to be picking up over the last few weeks.

"Enough gypsy talk, tell me more about your friends in the school, what is their situation?"

 

Draco resisted the urge to rub his temples. He knew what Blaise had done to draw Luca's attention. He knew Malcolm well enough to guess. But someone so easily sent to such extreme counter measures was dangerous and not easily... "I've asked them to lay low and keep out of trouble," Draco said. "Blaise has been having the afore mentioned difficulties, but the rest are keeping their noses clean."

Draco took a quick sip. "Sir, if I could get to some of Potter's friends, would you like me to try?"

 

Voldemort arched a brow, now this was interesting...

"Of course I would want you to try, Draco. Bringing them in would make things so much easier for us, wouldn't you agree?"

He steadied his gaze and tried to peer into Draco's mind. He knew little about the young Malfoy's school life, but he had been a nemesis of the Gryffindors, something was amiss if he even felt he COULD get in with them.

 

"Most certainly, my lord. However, turning someone in his inner circle might be a bit beyond my reach unless I was able to get close enough to cast an Imperius," Draco said, his thoughts turning to night in Neville's garden. "But it might be possible to convince them I'm their ally." He paused, slightly embarrassed to bring the topic up. "When Longbottom managed to take me prisoner that night, I told him that I wanted to be caught...I mainly said it so he wouldn't kill me, but it also planted a seed. One that took fruit, the Mudblood even sent me an owl asking if I wanted to switch sides. I didn't feel like dignifying that with a response at the time, but it does go to show that the Gryffindors can be rather gullible."

He paused, took a grape and popped it into his mouth. "I could always send her an owl...play the penitent." He cocked his head to one side and watched to see what Voldemort thought of the plan.

 

Voldemort stopped in mid sip, eyes flaring and putting down his glass.

"You are hiding something, I'm not going to ask what, because I know you'd lie. Let us be honest, wizard to wizard. You getting behind the scenes by acting penitent, tsk tsk.. You couldn’t come up with a better cover? You getting on Potter and his fiend's good side that route would work the same as me telling Cornelius Fudge how sorry I am and if he'd tell the new Minister to go easy on me..."

Voldemort gazed coldly at Draco.

"You are excused.  Do what you can, you have my permission, and meet the dementors."

Voldemort waved a hand dismissing Draco as Nagini slithered around, back to her master.

 

Draco hesitated, not ready to be so abruptly dismissed. "Forgive me if I have offended, sir. It's just all my time with Snape. He was able to make a convincing spy, and I supposed I fancied myself a bit more...charming." He stood and made another bow. "Perhaps that is a bit arrogant of me." He gave the dark lord a somewhat bashful half smile and turned quickly for the chamber door.