Minds Stirred By Mutiny and Rage- Once A Traitor
This story exists in an AU world where after Ron destroys the locket the trio does not say Voldemort's name and thus does not go to Malfoy Manor where they realise Hufflepuff's cup in the Lestrange vault. As such they remain in hiding and Voldemort eventually gains control of the Ministry by himself. This will all be explained in more detail as the story goes on.
Early on in the fic the focus is on the Death Eaters who are planning a coup against the Dark Lord, which was inspired heavily by Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. But it will not stay like that as the Order will have a big part; generally their involvement will be about half-half. It will also involve mostly cannon pairings (Harry/Ginny, Ron/Hermione, Reamus/Tonks, Narcissa/Lucius, etc) as well as Bellatrix/Voldemort
The slight gloom of the early morning sun shone through the enchanted windows onto the dark wooden floor. A group of elegant black robed figures stalked along the long hallway, their steps echoing off the floorboards as they strode behind their tall and thin master. His face automatically set him apart; a deathly pale complexion, ruby red eyes and a flat nose and thin lips that made him appear alarmingly like a snake. The men and one woman did not seemed phased, or perhaps they had become accustomed to the monstrous appearance, and they continued to follow at a steady pace.
Another figure appeared, seemingly out of the gloom in front of them, her spectacle-covered eyes, which we were magnified to ten times the norm, were glued to the red eyed man. Her bangle covered arms clanged lightly and the sequined shawls floated around her body as she advanced forward.
"My Lord!" The mousy haired women called, and her earthly, wavering tones vibrated against the black tiled walls. The red eyes narrowed into slits, but the man did not halt his advance. Instead, he merely withdrew a yew wand. He did not point it at her, but twirled it lazily between his long, spider-like fingers.
"Beware?" The man known as the Dark Lord questioned, now close enough to smell the faint odour of sherry as it radiated off the woman. A fleck of fear appeared in his eyes for a moment before he waved his hand dismissively and laughed a high, cold laugh. "You are a foolish, deluded woman, Trelawney. Do you think that I have forgotten that your first prophecy came to nothing? That there was no great titanic battle between myself and the one you called the chosen one. Instead he scampered off with his tail between his legs."
He pushed forward past her, his pace returned to a proud march. The group followed as well, with only a few members sparing a glance for Trelawney. The black haired woman examined her the longest, her eyebrows knitted together in thought. As if unable to keep her thoughts to herself she hastened her pace to walk beside her master.
"My Lord, perhaps it could not hurt to..." She trailed off but her black eyes' gaze did not move from her master's deathly pale features.
"Bella," he scolded, as his red eyes examined her worried features. "I would think you, of all people, would not doubt me."
Her tongue darted over her thin lips as she pondered how to phrase her thoughts.
"I would never doubt you My Lord. But if there was even the slightest chance that her words could have some truth to them, it could not hurt to question her further."
"Have no fear Bella. No harm could possibly come to me, or to any of us." Their movement halted as they arrived at the end of the hallway. A set of elaborate dark marble doors greeted them with a pair of red robed figures guarding each side. Their robes ruffled around their feet as they bowed low and with a matching flick of their wands the doors glided open soundlessly.
Peacock blue ceilings with intricate gold symbols greeted the Dark Lord's red eyes which squinted only slightly as a rush of flashes of cameras illuminated the dark hallway. A crowd squashed and roared its delight as the group entered the atrium and moved towards a podium at the centre.
"Look at that crowd they all bow down to me as they should have long ago. No pureblood that is loyal to me has reason to fear any assassins or the like, everything is fine now."
Bellatrix nodded slightly as the Dark lord moved further into the hall and rose onto the podium to address the crowd. Only two figures stayed behind in the dimly lit hallway; a dark, greasy haired man and a man in elegant robes with long blonde hair tied with a single silk ribbon. The dark haired man stood in the shadows, his dark eyes considered his situation as they glazed over the other man.
"Lucius, I thought you would be listening to the Dark Lord's latest speech to the masses." Called the dark haired man to the other who leant on a cane with a silver snake head handle.
"I wrote the thing Severus," Lucius replied with a smirk as they stood together in the now empty hallway. "I am aware of how it sounds. Even when it is accompanied with a thousand screaming fans."
"Led by Bella no doubt," answered Severus with a slight curl of his lips that did not meet his eyes. As if proving both men's point a loud explosion of applause and cheers erupted from behind the door and echoed down the hallway. Severus resisted the shiver of fear that wanted to slither down his spine; it urged him on, reminding him why he travelled to the ministry and away from his work at Hogwarts. "Sometimes I wonder if that is a little excessive."
"I agree," Lucius replied automatically, but after a moment he closed his grey eyes and drew a breath. "But of course he deserves such praise."
Lucius's movement was subtle and if he had not known him for nearly three decades Snape doubted whether he would have noticed the movement. But he did, he almost sensed the hesitation and the lack of praise for the man who was meant to be their master. In a rare moment of desperation Severus rushed forward and grasped the blonde man's shoulders.
"Do you really believe that? After all that we Death Eaters suffered through, we are tossed away like toys by the Dark Lord. No reward for our sacrifices."
Grey eyes widened in surprise at the uncharacteristic abruptness from his old comrade. He too lowered his voice.
"You speak of treason."
"Yes, but for the greater good, to take back what is rightfully ours and to safeguard what means the most to us in all the world." Whispered Snape, his voice barely audible as he stared into Lucius's grey eyes which stare back wide in surprise. Lucius did not comment but hesitantly he nodded once in understanding.
Another roar from the crowd erupted and footsteps were heard by both men. They stare at each other for a moment before they back away from each other as the double doors re-open. A smaller ensemble of darkly robed figures exit, the Dark Lord and Bellatrix at the forefront of the group again, both of their eyes fixed on Severus and Lucius.
Severus bowed low to the Dark Lord as he passed, a whisper of adulation left his lips. He could almost sense the fury and suspicion which radiated off Bellatrix. She had never trusted him, even when he had killed Dumbledore or when the Dark Lord had finally triumphed over the ministry and the order. Bellatrix had seemed to suspect some sort of conspiracy against her beloved master, and the surprising thing was, that she was correct. If his master had actually taken her concerns seriously before, Severus would be worried. But, instead he considered their forms only briefly as they conversed quietly before they disappeared alone down the corridor.
Another man, this time with brown hair that was streaked with grey, re-entered the hallway. He stood still in front of the marble doors his blue eyes shadowed with disgust as he reluctantly allowed his gaze to fall over his wife and master . Snape watched Rodolphus Lestrange closely and noted the slight slump in his shoulders and how his right hand was fisted tightly in his robes. Like Lucius he tried to hide his emotions. But his anger was clear. He wrenched his gaze from the pair and spied Lucius and Severus, who he considered briefly before he approached.
"I wondered where you disappeared to Lucius," Rodolphus began his voice deep but scratchy as if he had spent decades shrieking in his sleep. "I thought you would enjoy listening to your handiwork."
Lucius turned rapidly on his heel and faced his brother in law, his grey eyes only wide for a moment.
"I decided to stay behind. Severus and I had some catching up to do." Lucius murmured. Using his right hand, he indicated the dark-haired man standing beside him. Rodolphus acknowledged him briefly with a nod.
"Not a bad option, sometimes I wonder whether I should stay behind as well." Rodolphus's voice darkened for a moment as his eyes flicked to the end of the corridor where his wife and master disappeared to. Severus examined him still, yes he was angry, probably because of an affair almost every Death Eater had thought of, but only a few were brave or foolish enough to mention. Lestrange returned his gaze to Lucius and recovered the timbre in his voice. "It was still interesting to gauge the reaction of the crowd though."
"We could hear them from here and were a little surprised. Even daunted."
"Daunted? What are you suggesting?" Snapped Rodolphus as he pulled himself to his full towering height, the effect lessened by the muscle mass that had mostly wasted away since his youth.
"Nothing of course," Severus cut in swiftly, mentally he scolded Lucius for his comments. Rodolphus may be angry but he was not sure whether he was prepared to pursue him to take action, after all his loyalty to the cause was well documented. Rodolphus studied the set of grey and black eyes but Snape knew they were both too talented at deceit to reveal anything. Lestrange's shoulders slumped a little as he nodded his head.
"Of course, now I best be off. Someone has to make sure the elves do their chores, and I doubt it will be Bella."
"Actually, I shall be off as well," Echoed Lucius. He extended his hand to Severus, who shook it briefly. "I hope to converse with you again soon Severus."
"Indeed Lucius," Murmured Snape and both figures turned back to atrium
Snape considered both figures and remembered both sets of eyes as he descended down the corridor, his black robes swept back behind him. Lucius was eager. Eager to make sure their master did not gain too much power. As well, there was no doubt his old friend was imagining himself as Britain's ultimate leader.
Rodolphus was different. In reality he was not scared of their Lord's possible action but he was most likely motivated by anger and a desire to re-take what was rightfully his. Perhaps, Snape thought as he neared the lifts, that would be motivation enough for him to convince Lestrange. After all, his own life should be enough to prove that. As he waited for the lift the images rushed into his head; a red haired and green eyed woman he had always wanted and the messy haired nemesis who had taken her from him. For so long he had wanted to destroy his school boy rival but his eventual death was soured by the death of the woman he had always loved.
But no, Snape thought, as he pushed those disturbing thoughts away, there was no point in thinking about his own dark past. All that mattered was the future, a future which he hoped to secure for the greater good. The Dark Lord thought he was safe, but in reality his biggest danger was almost upon him.
A few days later the bright summer sun had vanished behind turbulent storm clouds that engulfed London, sending icy rained down on muggles and wizards alike. Rodolphus Lestrange's blue eyes are not drawn to the scene outside but to the thick role of parchment that his slightly scarred face is focused on.
His gaze is only lifted when the sound of knuckles on wood reverberates around his office.
"Come in," he called through his scratchy voice as his fingers lightly moved the parchment to a pile next to him on his rosewood desk. The door slid open and revealed the dark haired and pale face of Severus Snape. Rodolphus's blue eyes do not widen but examine his guest who (to be honest with himself) Rodolphus had been expecting. The image of Snape and Malfoy whispering secretly together had been etched into his mind since he had seen them last week, because of a few possibilities that had entered his angry mind. "I wondered when you would visit my office."
"Really," Snape replied, his voice impassive as he moved further into the richly decorated office with books arranged neatly on multiple book cases. His dark eyes only briefly fell over the plush chair in front of the desk but instead he lent on the unlit stone fireplace. "Why would you say that?"
A croaky laugh erupted from Rodolphus with no humour in his tone. He rose from his seat and leant his long frame on his desk.
"Come now Severus, we are all allies here who think the same. Only a few words from you and Lucius and it was as clear as day what you were planning. The Dark Lord will not be pleased."
Rodolphus examined his colleague his blue eyes sunk into Snape's black eyes waiting for a sign. He received none, Snape's pose remained straight, and his face blank and his long pale hands did not dart to his wand in his pocket. Impressive, Rodolphus thought, always the talented liar. But this time he could not fool him. Only a few days ago his younger brother had visited and told him how Snape was planning to assassinate the Dark Lord for what Snape had said was for the good of all purebloods. Rabastan had remained undecided whether he would act but with only a few words from his older brother Rodolphus knew Rabastan would fall in line. With a smirk he continued, his voice brisk and laced with fury which had remained hidden for too long as far as Rodolphus was concerned.
"Luckily I agree with what I can gather your plans are. I may remain loyal to the cause, but I have no hesitation in assassinating that monster."
For the first time a smirk appeared on Snape's face as he received confirmation of an ally to his cause.
"I am glad to hear of it, we will only have one shot at it and I want as many people with us as possible."
"I assume Lucius has already signed up,"
"Not yet, though Yaxley, Avery and Mulciber have already agreed. Only a few more words to Lucius and he shall join as well."
Rodolphus nodded and a ruthless smile materialised on his face. He held Snape's gaze for a moment before he turned his back and returned to his desk.
"Good, I believe we shall continue this conversation on another day."
Another nod and Snape opened the door and left. Rodolphus resumed his reading. The conversation had been short (to minimise any unwanted suspicions) but the confirmation he had gathered from it made triumph leak into his brain. Unlike his wife his demeanour remained composed even if every ounce of his broken heart urged him to find his former master and blast that bastard to pieces.
Soon he thought, soon.