Testing the ice, 9 September 1997
Who: Narcissa Malfoy, Lord Voldemort
What: Draco and Malfoy
Where: 13, Great Pulteney Street
When: 11 am, 9th September
Status: Complete
The Dark Lord apparated silently into Bella's house a little before 11, and lowered the anti-apparation enchantments for Narcissa Malfoy. Her sister was lecturing Draco on the utter uselessness of Quidditch in the library- she was apparently upset he'd wasted most of yesterday. It was all very foolish, Voldemort thought irritably- training the boy properly was too slow an affair. All he really needed was experience, and he'd get that in due course. The beginning he'd made was acceptable.
Still, he let Bella waste time on her nephew, mostly because Lucius's release was suspect, as was his continued, stubborn silence. He had shown himself supremely uninterested of late, in vying for the position he had occupied before his incompetence had landed him in prison.
The situation would have been disturbing if Malfoy's name still carried the weight it had even two years ago. As it was, Lord Voldemort was content to wait and watch. Narcissa's request to see him might be a move after all, in attempting to gain favour with him. He'd much rather it had been Lucius, preferably with some valuable offering, but it would have to do.
And then there was the possibility that Mrs Malfoy really was simply concerned for her son. How puerile, the Dark Lord thought wearily, lighting the lamps as he envisioned such a conversation. But he had no real objection to indulging the former youngest Miss Black- she had at least earned an occasional courtesy. For all of Lucius's bungling, Sirius Black's death was not an entirely insignificant fortuity. Potter's grief had been spectacularly delicious.
Lord Voldemort was nearly smiling as the clock over the mantelpiece began to chime.
What: Draco and Malfoy
Where: 13, Great Pulteney Street
When: 11 am, 9th September
Status: Complete
The Dark Lord apparated silently into Bella's house a little before 11, and lowered the anti-apparation enchantments for Narcissa Malfoy. Her sister was lecturing Draco on the utter uselessness of Quidditch in the library- she was apparently upset he'd wasted most of yesterday. It was all very foolish, Voldemort thought irritably- training the boy properly was too slow an affair. All he really needed was experience, and he'd get that in due course. The beginning he'd made was acceptable.
Still, he let Bella waste time on her nephew, mostly because Lucius's release was suspect, as was his continued, stubborn silence. He had shown himself supremely uninterested of late, in vying for the position he had occupied before his incompetence had landed him in prison.
The situation would have been disturbing if Malfoy's name still carried the weight it had even two years ago. As it was, Lord Voldemort was content to wait and watch. Narcissa's request to see him might be a move after all, in attempting to gain favour with him. He'd much rather it had been Lucius, preferably with some valuable offering, but it would have to do.
And then there was the possibility that Mrs Malfoy really was simply concerned for her son. How puerile, the Dark Lord thought wearily, lighting the lamps as he envisioned such a conversation. But he had no real objection to indulging the former youngest Miss Black- she had at least earned an occasional courtesy. For all of Lucius's bungling, Sirius Black's death was not an entirely insignificant fortuity. Potter's grief had been spectacularly delicious.
Lord Voldemort was nearly smiling as the clock over the mantelpiece began to chime.