The Dark Gryffindor

Sjauthor: She doesn't totally believe it's going to be fun...Valerie is weird and dark like the title says. She's kind of looking forward to it.


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Continuation of….


Chapter Thirty-three: Death Eaters Executions


Snape and Valerie stepped out of the fireplace of a truly splendid room, portraits adorning the walls. They stopped briefly to take out their wands to scourgify their robes from the ash and soot. Valerie looked up to see a gigantic crystal chandelier suspended from the ceiling. Clearly Draco’s family was wealthy, yet she had never wondered what the Malfoys house would be like.

“Come,” Snape said, and he pushed her gently along, still walking together, arm in arm like a typical couple.

“S-Severus, are you sure you know where to go?” she quavered nervously as they traversed past a huge rectangular table.

“Yes. Of course I do. I found out through Lucius,” he said confidently, yet his voice was muffled from the mask he was wearing.

Valerie inwardly wondered who Lucius was. They stepped outside the room to a narrow corridor. Snape was directing to take a right.

A moment later, after going down the remainder of the corridor they came to a door. It led outside, where Valerie and Snape were engulfed with an aroma of sweet smelling flowers.

“This is nice,” she murmured. “Easily can become a romantic spot.”

Snape led her through the gardens, almost immediately they past a magnificent fountain playing on the side of the property. Valerie got a sidelong glance of the rest of the building and realized the Malfoys lived in no house. Their home was more akin to being deigned a palace.

For several minutes they cut easily through the malleable grasses and stepped along the pebbles of the walkways. In the far distance, several hundred yards away, droves of figures hovered over the property. They were a league of dementors placed as protective wards against intruders.

Finally, they came to a cloistered outdoor courtyard, located in the center of the gardens. It was like the square of a town, yet not as big. Nearby was the edge of a lake, shimmering in the night. Once they entered, they could see the lake in the chasms between the walls of the courtyard.

Snape and Valerie could see several people with their backs to them standing at the far end like dark shadows. The couple approached them, feet echoing on jagged cobblestones. The small group turned to see whom it was.

Before Snape could make them out a jovial sounding voice called, “Severus!”

“Ah, Lucius. Good evening. Allow me to introduce my young mistress here, Valerie Powers. Valerie, this is Mr. Lucius Malfoy, Draco’s father.”

Lucius looked from Snape to Valerie. His eyes slanted as he fixed Valerie a keen stare. “I’m sorry, have we met?”

Valerie shook her head. “I am in Draco’s classes.” The two other men, one with a silver hand, both began to laugh, one was wheezing like he was ill. Snape, meanwhile magically removed his mask, as none of the other Death Eaters were wearing theirs.

“Right. So silly of me, but I don’t recall Draco ever mentioning you,” said Lucius quietly. It seemed the prior genial attitude had dissipated. Valerie felt a shiver run through her spine as the man appraised her. There was something so cold about those gray eyes. She noticed a woman in the background looking at her. The woman had a sliver of long blonde hair, and she turned her nose up disapprovingly when she saw Valerie. It was of course, Narcissa Malfoy.

Lucius puffed out his medal-adorned chest imperiously. The Death Eater called coolly, “Draco. Whose the girl from school?”

Draco rushed over at his father’s call, also in the same fancy ceremonial robes, however Draco had substantially less medals. “What father?”

Draco’s eyes lightened with recognition upon seeing Valerie. His father recanted, “I asked you who this girl – er woman is, Draco!”

“She’s Valerie Powers! She is- excuse me, was a chaser for the Gryffindors!…But then she ripped up all the banners!”

Lucius responded immediately to this news sounding sharp. “You what? What did you do girl?”

“It is over and done with,” interrupted Snape firmly. “As headmaster I dealt with it, Lucius. Now what do you have planned for tonight?”

But Lucius ignored the query, not the least bit distracted. He was still curious over Valerie. “Pray tell me, Severus…What is so interesting about this one? Why allow her to warm your bed?

“Ah…On second thought I see what it is…She has red highlights as well even some blonde…You and your taste in those redheads, Snape!” Lucius chuckled good-naturedly and thankfully turned away, muttering, “You always had it for the redheads.”

And now Yaxley was taking the initiative, because for some reason he seemed determined to impress Valerie. He might have been attracted to her, and it was obvious by now that Lucius wasn’t interested anymore.

Yaxley actually extended his hand and Valerie took it, weakly shaking it. “The names Yaxley. I’m head of magical law enforcement at the ministry. Did you know that?”

Valerie had barely shook her head when Yaxley continued, his voice deep and eager, “Have you any ambition to join your man? To be a Death Eater?”

“I-“ In a split second of the hesitation, Valerie cast a sidelong glance at Snape, who was an inch shorter than Yaxley. Snape nodded almost imperceptibly.

So Valerie went ahead in the affirmative. “Yes. I do, sir.”

Yaxley smiled broadly. “Good girl. Since you attend Hogwarts, I take it you're pure or at least almost?…”

She muttered blankly again, “Yes, sir…And I’m seventeen old enough to decide which man I want. Even if he is my headmaster…”

Valerie clasped her hand in Snape’s and stood as close she could to her man, as if to tell Yaxley she had no interest in him. Yaxley guffawed at this statement.

“But where is dear Bellatrix?” said Snape sardonically, a nasty smile playing on his lips, his slightly stained teeth revealed.

Before Yaxley or anyone else could answer, a vociferous gang of witches and wizards entered the other side of the courtyard. The Death Eaters all turned as one to see what it was, and then from above came something even stranger.

A lone figure was over the courtyard in the air, descending upon them. Valerie’s eyes widened in shock. She hadn’t known Voldemort could fly!

“He can fly!” whispered Valerie incredulously, flabbergasted at the sight. Voldemort’s cape was whipping dramatically behind him and his red eyes shined in the dark.

Snape barely had time to respond with an urgent warning, which he whisperered. “Yes. Valerie kneel!”

And at once, all seven Death Eaters present greeted their master, chanting almost mindlessly, “Hail the Dark Lord.” The Death Eaters remained standing, yet the others did not. Valerie kneeled, and so did Narcissa a little way off from Valerie. Narcissa had her face practically touching the floor, too terrified to look at Voldemort, and the Snatchers kneeled together.

Voldemort landed effortlessly and strode over to a small embankment of stone chairs that had been transfigured into existence especially for the occasion. He sat down in the front and center, in a most comfortable, cushioned throne, of course, designated specially as his.


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