====== Part 58. Voldemort's unexpected luck ==========
Cassius looked grimly at the pale Lucius. He sat at his desk, thoughtfully twirling a dagger, considering his options. Black rose abruptly from his chair and paced around the office:
"Father! I can't kill the redheads right now, Hogwarts magic won't let me! The healer said we have until Bellatrix's eleventh birthday."Anything could happen while we're doing nothing, son," Lucius nervously stabbed the dagger into the desk, trying to drive it in deeper. "Everything is too uncertain.
"We can't wait that long, and the Weasleys will die for sure, Dad," Cassius sighed. "I'll do anything to lift the curse. It's in my best interest, too. The portraits are driving me crazy. They want to know when I'm going to take my first wife.
"Narcissa can't find her place," Lucius complained out of turn.
A silver doe slipped through the wall of the manor and, in Snape's voice, told them about the incident at the school.
"Excellent!" Cassius clenched his fists. "The castle's magic is working on Snape as it should. It's time to rid the castle of the Death Eaters.
"I hope Voldemort doesn't cut his head off for that," Lucius grimaced. "And he'll definitely show up at Hogwarts to punish Severus, and he won't be alone. I think you should go to Hogwarts and prepare the school for defence," Malfoy said, standing up. "I'll join you as soon as I calm Narcissa down. We need to send a Patronus to Nott and the vassals. Enough hiding in Australia, it's time to take back our power.
***
Last night, Draco patrolled the corridors of Hogwarts alone. The head girl, Parkinson, had excused herself on some important business. Passing by an abandoned classroom in his native dungeon, the young man heard voices and decided to check who was lingering there after lights out. The room was crowded, and Draco quickly scanned the dusty office.
"Good evening, Mr. Malfoy," Alecto Carrow said with an unpleasant smile, not putting away her wand.
"Get out of the way," her brother grumbled rudely, sitting on the windowsill.
There were three of Draco's classmates and four younger Slytherin students in the classroom. Two bound students lay on the dusty floor in front of them. Draco even recognised one of them. It was Dennis Crumble, from Gryffindor, the younger brother of the famous photographer and Potter fan, Colin Crumble.
Among the Slytherins, Malfoy noticed Pansy whispering to Bulstrode.
"So, " continued Alecto, her conversation interrupted by Draco's arrival. "Very soon, the Ministry will issue an order to strip Muggle-borns of their wands and reduce their rights. All mudbloods will be relocated to special reservations, where they will pay for their existence through honest labour for the good of magical England. And if a Muggle-born is a powerful wizard, it means they stole their magic from pure-bloods, and they'll be sent straight to Azkaban to the Dementors. And for you, my darlings," Alecto beamed with anticipation. "You're about to see a demonstration of how any true wizard should treat a squib.
She raised her wand and looked at the bound children with a malicious smile:
"You filthy animals, unworthy of being near true wizards, are about to find out what happens next! Crucio!"
Kriwi twitched in his ropes, screaming in agony. Draco immediately barked, "Expelliarmus," and the wand was knocked out of the Devourer's hand.
Amicus Carrow immediately threw a Disarming Charm at him, but Malfoy coolly cast a Protego.
"What are you doing, you bastards? They're children!" Draco stared coldly at Carrow, holding his wand in front of him.
Bulstrode cautiously handed Alecto the Death Eater's flying concentrator, and she stared at Malfoy with hatred.
"Mr. Malfoy, you are still alive only because Lord Voldemort is graciously waiting...
when you finally take your inheritance and swear allegiance to him," Amicus interrupted his sister. "Has your father's fate not taught you obedience, you little brat?"
At that moment, the door behind Draco opened and a pale Snape burst into the room.
"What is going on here?" the potions master hissed viciously, looking at the children lying on the floor. "Alecto, Amicus, you two explain yourselves, or Mordred will have you!
"Just a little lesson in manners, Severus," the Devourer snarled. "I'm showing these young wizards how to treat mudbloods. Mr. Malfoy was rather inconsiderate, though," she said, glancing maliciously at the tense Draco.
"These lunatics are torturing children, sir," Malfoy glanced at Snape, continuing to watch Carrow closely.
The potions master's face paled even more. With a wave of his wand, he freed the bound students.
"Bitty, Jiggy," Severus called to the two house-elves. "Take the children to Madam Pomfrey and tell her about the effects of the Torture Curse. She'll check them over.
Then he looked angrily at the Slytherins:
"Everyone to the common room. Tomorrow your parents will find out how their children entertain themselves instead of studying.
The Slytherins reluctantly left.
"And now, you," Snape glared at Carrow. "Get out of Hogwarts and don't let me see you here again!
"Severus, Severus," Alecto Carrow shook her head with a mocking smile. "The master will be very displeased with you, mortally displeased... Are you ready for that, half-blood potion maker?
"I said get out!" Snape hissed, clenching his jaw so hard that his jaw muscles bulged.
"Ostolen!" Amicus barked from the side, pointing his concentrator at Severus. He immediately deflected the spell, trying to protect Draco. However, the younger Malfoy did not stand still, but immediately cast a medical spell at Alecto, causing the Death Eater, who had not expected an attack, to clutch her stomach with a scream and then collapse forward, losing consciousness.
"Sister!" Amicus cried out and instantly received a "Petrificus Totalus" from Severus, smashing his face against the floor.
It all happened very quickly, and in a moment Snape turned his gaze to Draco.
"What did you do to her, Mr. Malfoy?" Snape looked unkindly at the fallen Death Eater. "Is she alive?"
"The expelliarmus curse, slightly modified by me," Malfoy said, narrowing his eyes maliciously. "That bitch was harassing Hermione, checking her blood purity. They'll cure her at Mungo's, of course, but it won't be cheap.
"All right, I'll send both Carrows away from Hogwarts right now," Snape sighed. "You go to the faculty common room and make sure everyone is asleep. I'm sure they've already sent letters to their parents, despite the curfew.
"Godfather? I'll send an owl to my father too," Draco said sympathetically, looking at Snape. "I think Voldemort will really go mad when he finds out.
"Go to bed, Draco, and thank you for your concern," Severus smiled weakly. "I'll send a Patronus to our allies myself.
Snape levitated the Carrow siblings to Hogsmeade, while he himself thought with horror that the title of headmaster had destroyed his usual caution: "Half an hour ago, I was sitting quietly in my office, and then I suddenly realised that something dangerous to the students' lives was happening in the castle. I rushed out of my office and took only two steps before I found myself near that ill-fated classroom. And my behaviour? The old Severus would never have so brazenly thrown the Death Eaters out of the castle."
A cowardly thought, "Sev, wipe their memories!" haunted him all the way to the village, but Snape was probably just tired of pretending.
Besides, the ease with which the young Lord Black had removed the black mark from him had truly impressed Severus to the core. He had only ever felt such magical power from Dumbledore and the Lord. And judging by the fact that the great light's wand now belonged to Black, the young wizard had already dealt with one enemy.
"Let's hope he deals with the other bastard too," Snape decided as he entered the Hog's Head.
"Aberforth, may I use your fireplace?" he asked the old bartender. The latter merely nodded, and Severus threw some flying powder into the fireplace, gave the address of The Leaky Cauldron, and then tossed both of the Dursleys' unconscious bodies into the fire.
"Getting rid of unwanted students, Snape?" some rowdy patron sneered, but Severus didn't even turn in his direction, simply leaving the pub in silence and staring up at the night sky with a sigh.
***
The next day, immediately after breakfast, all the professors and deans gathered in the headmaster's office. Snape recounted what had happened yesterday and suggested that the Dark Lord would not leave it at that.
"He'll destroy you!" McGonagall exclaimed in horror. The old cat didn't like Snape, but she didn't wish him dead.
"If only Dumbledore were with us," said the half-giant, wiping the corner of his eye. "The one whose name must not be spoken was the only one who feared him, yes."
"Hagrid," Snape looked at him. "I know your friend Aragog is dead. But you still have a lot of influence over the colony of intelligent spiders, don't you?"
Hagrid nodded warily.
"Then I'll ask you to go to them, and then to the centaurs and giants," Severus decided. "Merlin forbid that any of the magical creatures should get involved in a wizard fight.
Fletwick was deep in thought, and Horace Slughorn, visibly nervous, spoke from the sofa.
"I would like to leave Hogwarts for a while, Severus. I am too old for war," bleated the Slytherin dean, wiping his sweaty forehead with a batiste handkerchief.
Snape nodded dryly:
"You have every right to leave, Professor Slughorn, I understand you, you have always been distinguished by your, um... sound judgement.
The old potions master shrugged awkwardly, jumped up hastily and said a hasty goodbye to the other professors.
"Coward!" McGonagall snapped. "Like most Slytherins... er, muggle-borns," she corrected herself, glancing sheepishly at Snape. It was clear that she had wanted to say something else at first.
Severus grimaced mockingly, then looked sternly at the professors.
"Gentlemen! Our main task is to ensure the safety of the children. We must disperse them to the common rooms as soon as Hogwarts' defences receive word of an attack. The house-elves will help find any strays. Keep me informed of any incidents. Due to the hasty departure of our esteemed Professor Slughorn," Snape smiled. "I will take care of the faculty myself.
"Pomona, Filius, what do you think about all this?" Minerva began nervously as she descended to the staff room. "I think Severus is up to something." Has our new headmaster really decided to take on Voldemort alone? I would understand if Severus, like a true Slytherin, had decided to take the children hostage and blackmail the Death Eaters, but no. He acted in a most noble and reckless manner.Finally, they entered the staff room and began to sit down in their usual places. No one noticed when the Charms professor took out his wand and, when the women were distracted, knocked them both out. Then the little half-goblin revived McGonagall and Sprout one by one, casting the Imperius Curse on each of them.
At that moment, deep beneath Gringotts, the first goblin died quietly. The oath once sworn by the underground people had been broken, and the magic of retribution began to take effect. However, Flitwick was convinced that he would be able to return the sword of Gryffindor to his people before it became fatal.
The half-goblin witches, under the spell, behaved as usual, and Flitwick ordered them to stun Snape when the opportunity arose. But most importantly, when the young Black appeared at Hogwarts, they were to strike him unexpectedly in the back to support the Death Eaters' attack.
***
In Parkinson's office, in front of the desk where Voldemort sat, stood the gloomy Alecto and Amicus Carrow. Both had already been subjected to excruciating torture and were now trembling, drenched in sweat, awaiting their master's decision. The pale master of the estate sat next to the table like a grey mouse, not daring to raise his eyes to the Dark Lord. During this time, he seemed to have lost at least forty pounds and now resembled a sick pug even more.
"You two pathetic parodies of wizards couldn't handle a potions master and a brat?" Voldermort hissed viciously. "And these are my inner circle, you worthless scum!"
The whip lying near the window in the autumn sunshine hissed expectantly, raising its head.
"Don't be the ones who were always loyal to me and chose Azkaban over betrayal," hissed the Dark Lord irritably. "You would have been snake food by now!
The whip dropped disappointedly to the floor, realising that the feast would be delayed.
Parkinson, who had been sitting quietly until now, cleared his throat softly to attract attention.
"My lord," the wizard said quietly, "Longbottom is waiting for you in the living room. As you expected, he came alone.
"All right, go and rest," Voldemort Carrow permitted. "You will soon have an opportunity to redeem yourself. Lead the way, Parkinson." The Dark Lord rose from the table and headed for the exit. The snake lazily turned its head after him and decided to bask in the warmth a little longer.
A few minutes later, in the living room, a portly wizard stood up and bowed to the Dark Lord. Receiving permission to sit down, he hurriedly sank back into his chair.
"Tell me, Elgy," Voldemort hissed insinuatingly. "You've wanted to be the head of the Longbottom family for a long time, haven't you? They say you even tried to kill a little brat by throwing him out of a window under a plausible pretext?"
The tall, chubby-cheeked wizard snorted discontentedly and lowered his eyes gloomily.
"A side branch," the Dark Lord clicked with his forked tongue. "There's no future for someone like you in our society. A lifetime of obeying the head of the family. And what kind of head is a crazy old woman who spends the family fortune on supporting what's left of Frank and Alice?" Voldemort's eyes flashed mockingly. "Perhaps you and your Enid would make much better Lord and Lady Longbottom?"
Elgy, without even realising it, nodded in time with Voldemort's words.
"All you have to do, my friend," the Dark Lord's snake-like eyes narrowed slyly, "is give the Devourers access to the estate. Then they won't destroy anything, they'll just take the fugitives and kill old Augusta. And there, I'm sure," Voldemort hissed gleefully, "you'll find a way to get rid of little Neville.
Longbottom's eyes lit up greedily, and he nodded, his mind made up.
"Yes, my lord," the portly wizard replied hoarsely. "The new Longbottom family is with you, sir.
***
The kids were playing "Exploding Snap." Ron was on a winning streak, which put the redhead in a good mood. Ginny and Harry, on the other hand, stared gloomily at their cards.
"Oh, they're playing Quidditch at Hogwarts right now," Ginny frowned even more.
In all this, what the girl disliked most was not being able to fly.
"To hell with school," Harry dismissed. "How we're going to defeat Voldemort is what matters most."
"Let the adult wizards fight him," Ron muttered. "There are plenty of them in England. Someone else can be a hero besides us."
Weasley used to dream of becoming a hero himself and envied Potter. Perhaps his friendship with the bespectacled boy was initially motivated by a desire to become the best friend of the boy who survived. After all, that automatically made the youngest son of the red-haired family an important person. But after the terrifying Death Eater once nearly severed his and his sister's legs and his mother's head with a flick of his hand, Ron changed his attitude towards heroism. Heroes, as it turned out, often die, and Weasley had no desire to die young. So now the boy would rather play chess in his dorm room and eat cake stolen from dinner than sit in a place that was safe but still dangerous, with a target on his back. As Harry's best friend, Ronald had good reason to believe that the Death Eaters would kill him, Ginny, and his mother if they found out where he and Potter were hiding.
Interrupting his thoughts, a transparent fox flew into the room and shouted in Molly's voice:
"The Death Eaters are at the manor, hurry!
Everyone jumped up, dropping their cards. Ginny rushed around the room, throwing everything she could find into a sports bag. Harry and Ron grabbed their wands and rushed to the door. Suddenly there was a loud explosion somewhere in the courtyard, people screamed, and the building shook. Ginny barely avoided a falling sofa, while Harry and Ron grabbed the doorframe.
"That was something!" Potter shouted in surprise, dusting himself off.
Weasley coughed, trying to rub his eyes, and almost hit Harry with his wand.
"Careful, Ron," Potter hissed, dodging out of the way.
Peering into the corridor, he saw black figures in masks checking all the rooms one by one.
"We have to try the window," Harry paled, "the Death Eaters are everywhere!"
Throwing open the window, they began to climb down the ledge, fortunately the second floor of the manor was not very high. Finally, helping each other, they jumped to the ground and, trying not to flash in the windows, rushed to the back of the building. Running out into the courtyard, where Augusta's long greenhouses with various plants began, the children cautiously waved their wands in front of them and moved between the buildings.
Already seeing the edge of the estate in front of them, from which they could surely escape, they saw a crowd of magicians in black:
"Where are you going, suckers?" the Devourers sneered.
Then, from the crowd standing behind the last greenhouse, several beams of disarming and binding spells flew out. Stunned, Potter fell last. The Seeker's reaction helped Harry fend off the first, most unexpected attack, and he might even have managed to escape his enemies, but he couldn't abandon his friends. Ginny had become especially dear to him lately, and if he hadn't rushed to her in an attempt to save her, he might have avoided the "Petrificus Totalus" spell.
After tying up the unconscious teenagers and kicking Potter a few times, breaking his glasses and breaking his nose, the "Devourers" apparated back to their base as a group.
***
Molly knew she was unlikely to get out alive today, but she wasn't going to give up without a fight. She was attacked by several masked Death Eaters at once, and judging by the whistling beams, their spells were far from simple disarming charms. The main thing was to draw the attackers away from her, hoping that the patronus had managed to get the message to the children.
She had already been gradually pushed back into the house, and now the battle was raging in the manor's living room. She had been lucky so far, dodging a grey spell beam over her head, covering herself with her shield and trying to hide behind the central column. At that moment, she noticed one of the Devourers distracted by something in the window and did not hesitate to take advantage of it.
"Avada Kedavra!" Molly barked instantly, immediately taking cover behind the column.
"Amicus, no!" cried one of the masked men, and Weasley recognised one of the Carrows in the dead wizard.
"Now his crazy sister will rush forward," Molly thought grimly, "and die with her brother."
Alecto began hurling spells at Weasley with furious cries, but the experienced witch successfully dodged them, constantly hiding behind the column, putting up shields and not forgetting to counterattack, waiting for an opportunity to deliver a fatal blow. She would have long since decided to use "Inferno Flamare," but she was afraid of burning the children. If they were still hiding somewhere in the building, this powerful magic would simply kill them all.
The living room was covered in dust, with splinters and pieces of stone flying in all directions. Molly barely managed to deflect something dark and magical from the completely crazed Alecto when one of the Devourers cast Bombard Maxima, aiming it at Molly. Holding her shield at an angle, the woman couldn't stay on her feet and flew towards the far wall. The spell ricocheted upwards, hitting the ceiling and causing a powerful explosion.
The magicians rushed out of the collapsing building, and Alecto, glancing one last time at Molly lying on the ground, managed to notice the redhead's terrified gaze directed at the column slowly falling from above. Finally, sending a cutting spell at the hated Weasley, Alecto jumped out of the main building of the manor, which was collapsing like a house of cards.
Grabbing Amicus's body on both sides, Alecto and another Devourer transgressed back into Parkinson Manor, leaving the others to gather everything of value.
***
The pile of stones shook and, with a nasty rustling sound, part of the rubble began to crumble. A thick marble column moved aside on its own, and a trembling hand appeared from under it. Then it clenched into a fist, and stone splinters flew in all directions.
Molly crawled out from under the rubble and wiped the bloody foam from her lips with her sleeve. Then she cautiously looked around. There was no one around, only the stench of burnt flesh hung in the air.
"I had a lot of fun here, almost dying under the rocks," she said, touching the large bump on her broken head.
Taking a small pea from under her cloak, the woman enlarged it to its normal size. The pea turned into an ancient family artefact, and Molly stared at the remaining bright arrows. Ron and Ginny were alive, although their arrows were in the "Mortal Danger" sector.
"I have to save the children, whatever it takes," the woman thought fiercely, "and I even know who can help me."
A fierce burst of burgundy flame erupted from the ruins, adding to the growing fire, and the former Pruett apparated in an unknown direction. She recognised one of the attackers as Alecto Carrow. Molly knew where the brother and sister lived and now decided she had to visit them to find out where the Devourers had taken the children. First, the former Pruett decided to head for the Burrow. She needed to tidy herself up and prepare for the meeting ahead.
***
Voldemort looked with satisfaction at the Death Eaters standing before him.
"Well done, you have carried out my orders well," Voldemort sneered. "Potter is in the dungeon, and so are those who were with him.
"Weasley's mother killed Amicus," moaned Carrow plaintively. "My Lord! Give me her children, my heart cries out for revenge. I want to destroy them all, I beg you, sir!" Alecto fell to her knees. "Give them to me!"
"I feel sorry for your brother, Alecto," Voldemort hissed in an icy tone. "When I read their memories, you can have your revenge. For now, go home and rest. All of you," he raised his voice, "can celebrate today. For we have captured Harry Potter, the boy who lived, the hope of the world. Ha ha ha..."
The joyful Death Eaters left the office, and Voldemort remained seated at the table, examining the items in front of him with disgusted curiosity. A book, a Snitch, and an invisibility cloak. The red-haired boy had an old Deluminator in his pocket, but there was nothing interesting in it, so it was simply thrown away with the other items.
The Dark Lord sensed the invisibility cloak faintly glowing with the magic of death. Voldemort cautiously began to examine the weightless silver fabric and noticed the familiar symbol of the Deathly Hallows on the back of the artefact.
"So that's how it is! Could this be one of the three great artefacts?" The Dark Lord's eyes lit up, and he carefully set the cloak aside. In the book, which turned out to be a collection of fairy tales by "Bard Beedle," Voldemort found nothing unusual. But the snitch again attracted his attention.
"I reveal myself at the end," read the dark wizard.
After casting a spell to make the ball open, Voldemort achieved nothing. After casting a couple more suitable spells, the wizard was still unable to break the Snitch. Then, enraged, the Dark Lord struck it with "ash," and the ball simply crumbled into dust. It was as if a string had been snapped in the air, sending a piercing echo around the room, then the wings charred, and finally the gilded body turned to ash.
Now, lying in the dust before the wizard, was a black stone, surprisingly simple. Falling into a trance, Voldemort recognised with surprise the stone from the Gaunt family ring, which he had turned into a Horcrux. His phylactery, stolen and destroyed by the accursed Dumbledore.
"You have returned to the last of the Gonts," Voldemort hissed with satisfaction, carefully picking up the stone with two fingers. He examined it closely and noticed the same symbol of the Deathly Hallows in its depths.
"So the Resurrection Stone has been with the Gonts all this time?!" thought Voldemort, stunned. "Then all I have to do is take the Elder Wand from Black."
Dumbledore and his German friend's goal of becoming the Masters of Death, which he had learned from Grindelwald's memories, gradually took hold of him. Especially since he already had two artefacts in his possession and knew exactly where the third one was.
"Aha-ha-ha," Voldemort's chilling laughter echoed through Parkinson Manor, causing even the inconspicuous house-elves to cower fearfully.
***
The owl caught up with Cassius in Hogsmeade, where he had Apparated to see how well Hogwarts was protected. Filius Flitwick had sent a letter suggesting they meet. The goblins were finally ready to discuss options for cooperation, and the little professor had invited him to the castle.
There was a noticeable commotion in the village. The locals had already sensed trouble brewing and were now hurriedly closing their shops and hiding their belongings. An unexpectedly large number of strangers in dark robes appeared on the streets, as if waiting for something. Cassius slowly made his way to the Boar's Head, where he knew there was a passage to the Room of Requirement behind the portrait of Ariana Dumbledore.
Casting a light Confundus charm on the innkeeper, Cassius went up to the second floor and quickly moved along the underground passage. Although his magical senses told him that it was not a passage, but a portal. Upon reaching the eighth floor of Hogwarts, Black immediately headed for the headmaster's office.
Snape was not there; he was busy assigning Slytherins to their rooms, but the gargoyle opened the door for Cassius. As soon as he stepped onto the stairs, it rushed him upstairs, and a second later, the boy was already in the office. Ordering the hat to give him his sword, he quickly made his way through a secret passage to the main altar hall, where he placed the founder's relic in its designated place. Then he cut his hand, and a few drops of blood fell on the altar. The castle hummed as if waking up, and an invisible, transparent dome of protection began to form over its territory.
Alecto entered the small apartment where she and her brother used to sleep. The dwelling, which they had inherited from their modest, pure-blooded parents, was grey and dirty. Rarely visiting, the fanatical Devourers did not keep it clean or tidy. Now, without even taking off her shoes, she flopped down on the bed and tried to forget everything.
Before falling asleep, Alecto's head was filled with bloodthirsty thoughts of how she would torture the hated Weasleys:
"Oh, first I'll put the Imperius Curse on the girl, then I'll order her to torture and eat her own brother. And then I'll give her back her free will so that the red-haired slut understands what she has done. And I won't touch the girl for several days, not letting her commit suicide. Let that vile creature feel all the pain I felt when I saw Amicus dead. It's a pity that their hateful mother died under the rubble at Longbottom's. How would she have felt watching all this from the neighbouring cell! Alecto's thoughts went round and round in her head, and she didn't notice when she fell into a restless sleep.
An hour after Alecto fell asleep, a transparent shadow detached itself from the far wall. With light steps, Molly, dressed in a black jumpsuit, approached the head of the bed and made Carrow's sleep even deeper. Then she searched the "Devourer," taking the wand and anything else that could be considered a weapon or amulet. Leaving her in her nightgown, she tied the limp body to the bed and, pointing the wand at Carrow's forehead, whispered:
"Legilimens!"