Seduced By Darkness

Note : Hi everyone. Sorry it took me a few days to update but I was all about the new GoF Movie, which completely rocked BTW, I’ve seen it twice already. Once again I want to thank everyone who is reviewing, I can’t emphasize enough how much your reviews help me out and energize me. I come bearing two chapters, 17 & 18, so enjoy.

“I pray you learn to trust
Have faith in both of us
And keep room in your hearts for two”
-- “Precious” by Depeche Mode

***

Chapter 17 : Choices


Standing alone in the Forbidden Forest for about twenty minutes, Lucius began to fully appreciate why Severus was always in such a foul mood when he would make him wait in the damnable place. Of course that didn’t stop him from turning around and making Lucius wait as well, “Bloody bastard!” He muttered. “Talking to yourself Lucius? Not a good sign.” Severus dryly amused voice came from behind a tree. Lucius’s turned, thoroughly annoyed that he’d been caught unawares, “Shut up Severus! I understand this desire of yours to pay me back but I had thought us too old for such childish games.” Severus snickered, “I am not upset nor am I holding a grudge, can’t see any reason why you would think so.” Trying to keep his temper in check so that he wouldn’t take the bait that his old friend had just dangled in front of him Lucius said, “I came to tell you that our Lord wants to meet with Dumbledore to discuss how best to kill Lord Voldermort.” Lucius took immense satisfaction in the look of utter stunned bewilderment that had just crossed Severus’s face. He had opened his mouth to say something and then quickly closed it again as if he could think of nothing to say.

“What? Have you suddenly swallowed your tongue? Well, let me take advantage of the happy miracle and fill you in on what’s happened to our Lord over the last few months.” Receiving an exasperated glare from Severus but ignoring it, Lucius told him about the diary. He went into detail about Tom Riddle now being in control and that it was him that married Claudia. Then he explained about Bellatrix and of her stealing the diary and now Voldermort being on the edge of being set free. He paused after that last part, wanting to let Severus take it all in. “Merlin! This is why Potter felt that he was changed and yet the same. It is why he was able to fall ... in love.” He still had trouble wrapping his brain around the love part.

“Yes. Now that you know I will tell you the reason that I came here. He wants to meet Dumbledore because he wants Voldermort dead, and to achieve that then Harry Potter has to kill him. For that to happen then he must offer Dumblefore his assistance.” Lucius paused for a moment as he spotted that Severus was watching him warily. “Tell him everything that I told you. He is one of the few that knows that the Dark Lord was Tom Riddle, so he should have an idea of how his mind, when he was Tom Riddle, worked. If he accepts the meeting, then use this.” He handed Severus a dull looking locket. “It’s a portkey, only our Lord can activate it and it will only transport two. Dumbledore and we hope you, but if he doesn’t trust you and decides to bring another that is fine as well.”

Severus remained quiet for a few moments, apparently deep in thought as he stared at the locket. “Tell me the truth Lucius. Is this a trap to set up Dumbledore?” Severus asked. His eyes narrowed as he raised his eyes to Lucius’s. Lucius looked back at him unblinkingly, “And if it was, would it matter to you, old friend?” They stared at each other for long moments without saying anything. In those moments Lucius realized that he still was not sure if Severus was on his side or Dumbledore’s but that it didn’t matter as he seemed to have some regard for the old wizard either way. “It would matter to me because that would mean that you still do not trust me.” Severus said finally. Smiling, Lucius said, “Wonderful way to avoid the real question. No matter as I do not have time to linger. Take the message to Dumbledore, you know how to contact me if he agrees. Then I will get back to you with a date and time.” Turning around he walked away and disapparated before Severus could say anything more.

After Lucius departed Severus went quickly to Dumbledore’s office and told him about his latest meeting with Lucius and what the eldest Malfoy had told him. “How very interesting Severus. Tom Riddle is alive? Indeed! I must say that if all this is true, which sounds to be, it was brilliantly done by him. To trap Voldermort and then assume his place, and taking the care to keep his memories and powers.” Dumbledore said thoughtfully. Severus made an impatient sound because if he didn’t know better the Headmaster sounded impressed with Riddle’s cunning, “But he’s still the same person that became the Dark Lord, the fact that he tricked him means nothing.”

“You are right, of course, Severus. However, he’s fallen in love with Claudia. In all the years that I watched him grow up in school I never saw such an emotion even cross his face. Of course, had I been more attentive, more forceful, then things might have turned out differently. But Tom was always very guarded about whatever demons he had inside and they just grew until he disappeared. Even so, his charm and wit drew people to him. He was Prefect and Head Boy and was one of the brightest students Hogwarts had ever seen.” He stopped and un-wrapped a candy then popped it in his mouth. “Lemon drop?” He asked Severus who looked like he was having extreme difficulty remaining silent. Severus wanted to ask him how it was possible that he could be eating a damn lemon drop at the moment. “No. Thank you.” He said simply then moved on, “The meeting Albus, are you going to accept? If so then perhaps I should not go in case they are doing this to test my loyalty.”

“I will accept and you will come along with me. Severus I can take care of myself, and I am eager to see Tom, to see if when I look at him I can see it.” He finished as he popped another candy, a cherry toffee, in his mouth. “See what?” Severus asked. “What is different about him, I have an idea that this offer of help will require for me to offer something in return and I have to judge the person he is today before I will agree to anything with him. Are you sure you do not even want a chocolate frog? They are simply delicious Severus.” He said with a wistful sparkle in his eyes. Severus’s lips thinned and he shook his head, “Quite sure. I will contact Lucius and then wait for his reply. Goodnight Headmaster.” He turned and left him to his sweets. He sometimes felt that there was a mischievous teenager trapped inside Dumbledore’s body and it annoyed him to no end when he acted as such.

***

When Tom had returned to his room to finish his conversation with Claudia, she had already been sound asleep. Not wanting to disturb her, he just got into bed with her and went to sleep as well. He decided that they would talk the following evening. He had to wake up early and so he slipped out of the room before she woke up so she spend the better part of the day replaying their half finished conversation and worrying about events to come. When he came into the room later that night, Claudia was sitting on her vanity brushing her golden silk locks. Turning her head to look at him she lightly smiled and said, “And here I was beginning to think that you were avoiding me.” He came up behind her and brushed her hair away from her neck as he bent to kiss her shoulder. “You were asleep Love and I did not want to wake you. Dumbledore has accepted to meet with me.” She dropped her brush as she had not expected him to say that. She sharply turned to face him, confusion crossing her features and a hundred questions racing through her mind.

Tom explained to her that he and Lucius would talk to Dumbledore and if he agreed then Tom would make sure to help them kill Voldermort. “I have certain conditions that will have to be met, however, before I agree to help them.” Claudia thought that they were helping him if they killed that monster but she said nothing about that. “What conditions Thomas?” He eyed her carefully, “He will expect to see you, to know that you are well. I will not let you go, you already know this and we are married. However, if everything goes according to plan then we will live among the wizarding society. You will see your family and friends again who, I am sure, will want you to get this marriage dissolved. You know that they will expect this of you, perhaps might even demand it as they will know who I am.” He noticed how her breathing had become a bit more labored but he continued.

“So, my question to you is this. When they do this what will you do?” She got up, wringing her hands together. “But they can’t, I mean, the vows that we took are unbreakable. Aren’t they?” Tom got up and turned her around to face him. His hands were caressing her arms in a soothing motion. “Yes and no. Unfortunately you were not truly a willing bride. I coerced you into marrying me, there was no other way and I do not regret it, but it is the only way that the Ministry can dissolve the marriage.” She looked up at him and realized that he didn’t have to tell her this. That he could feed information to Dumbledore without revealing who he was and then take her far away, where she would never have hope of seeing her family and friends ever again. He wasn’t choosing to do this and it made her heart swell painfully with love for him. “I love you.” She said, her eyes bright with unshed tears, “And I want to stay with you. That is what I will tell them.”

Tom knew, in that moment, what he would tell Dumbledore when he would ask the question that he knew was coming. What he had told her about not throwing away all his beliefs was true, but he knew that he had to adjust to the new times. Unfortunately the way things were did not lend themselves to a successful rebellion. He had also not counted on her coming into his life. Whether he liked it or not he was responsible for her now, her happiness was connected to his own. Her needs mattered to him because she mattered. As much as her answer pleased him, he had also been prepared to be selfish and unbending had she said anything else. Still, he knew that her family would try to convince her otherwise. He didn’t want to fight them as it would hurt her but if they tried to take her away from him he would show no mercy. He didn’t care who they were, she was his and they better learn to accept it.

Softly kissing her he picked her up and took her to the bed. They didn’t make love that night, just held each other quietly. Each lost in their own thoughts of the immediate future. A few days passed by before Tom called Lucius to him and told him the date and time for the meeting. “My Lord, I sent the message to Severus and everything is ready for tonight.” Lucius looked confident and yet a bit apprehensive. “One thing that I know about Dumbledore, Lucius, is that he can tell when you are lying to him, even if he’s not sure what the lie is. So I am sure that he will be very critical tonight. Let me talk to him, unless he asks you something directly. I will tell him what we expect from him and we will see if he accepts.” Lucius nodded, “If he doesn’t?” Tom’s features were set in a hard line, “He will accept. I will give him no reason to doubt me. He’s always one about giving second chances, look at Severus. I truly do not believe that he’s been on our side for a very long time now Lucius. I am sure that you already suspected as much.” Lucius looked away, clearly trying to show no emotion to this. Tom noticed but decided not to say anything about it, so he just finished with, “The hour grows late, however. Let’s go.”