Chapter 5: Nefarious Plots and Slytherin Drama Queens
Pansy Parkinson was known through out Slytherin as the smartest girl and the most likely next Bellatrix Lestrange to the Dark Lord. She had other plans. While she was a dark witch, she did not want to be the sl*t of the Dark Lord. When Draco Malfoy, her best guy friend, showed everyone the new mark and told them about LaFey, she had jumped at the chance, shocking the group.
Now, only four days after the death of Albus Dumbledor and Minerva McGonagall she was heading to meet this new Dark Lord with several other Slytherins, including her finacee, Blaise Zabini, Malcolm Baddock, Millicent Bulstrode, Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle, Graham Pritchard, and about half of Slytherin house. They were sneaking the halls, which was difficult for a group of students that large, but Malfoy wasn't afraid of using a few curses, some illegal, to prevent them from being found out.
Mrs. Norris came around the corner and Draco said, "
Crucio Petrificus Totalus Stupefy!" in quick succession.
It was obvious he was under orders not to kill anyone as he Obliviated everyone they came across, which included Head Girl, Hermione Granger, temporary headmaster Filius Flintwick, and their head of house, temporary Deputy Headmaster, Severus Snape. They reached the seventh floor and Draco opened a door which he seemed to be the only one capable of seeing.
They were led into a cathedral room filled with treasure and junk alike. The room was huge and everyone wondered why they never saw it.
Pansy looked around in amazement as they were led to a high back throne at the end of the room. Already three masked people surrounded it and several unmasked Ravenclaws and Gryffindors. On the seat sat a man her age hidden by shadow.
Draco held up a hand for them to stop, pointed his wand at himself and joined the mask figures that stood around the throne.
The person on the throne looked at the group and said, "I commend you, Cottonmouth, Nightshade, Copperhead, and Blue Moon, for finding so many applicants. Tonight we will weed out the recruits from the others. Tonight is a...trial...that will seperate the Night Stalkers from the
Night Stalkers."
"Did you think that up all by yourself?" Terry Boot shouted from the Ravenclaw group.
"
CRUCIO!" the figure shouted. Boot stood for a moment before falling and rolling over on his back, his legs and arms twitching. After about five seconds he lifted the curse and the two masked figures on the left moved forward.
"
Obliviate Stupefy!" together they carried him out and came back a few minutes later.
Pansy listened passionatly to her new lord. She already liked his ideas and had a feeling he wouldn't use her as a sl*t like Voldemort.
"All those that still think they have what it takes," the figure said after giving a rough outline of what it would mean to become a Night Stalker, "step forward."
Pansy, Blaise, Crabbe, Goyle, and several others were among the few to step forward.
"You show extreme bravery, already you are well on your way," he turned to the group and said, "Nightshade, Copperhead, Blue Moon, go around the left overs. Obliviate and Stupefy the ones who are uncertain, mark those who are."
"Yes, my lord," the three chorased doing as they were told.
The figure waited until everyone who was left was taken care of, minus the ones who stepped forward. Half were obliviated and stupefied.
They sent the left overs on their way, leaving only the ones who stepped forward and the four masked ones. The ones obliviated and stupefied were removed from the room and presumely dumped in various places around the school.
Pansy watched as the masked group reassembled and LaFey stood, "Your group has proven that they may handel the knowledge of who I am," he began. He stepped forward. "Yes, I am Harry Potter."
Pansy and several others gasped and had a fish out of water feature, some cried out in shock, and one was stupid enough to insult him. After a crucio the insulter was obliviated, stupefied, and removed by Copperhead and Nightshade.
"If you find that you can not possibly follow me, raise your hands, I will remember your names and faces and the next time we hold a recruitment I'll let you join the ranks of those who don't know who I am," he said. A few people in Slytherin and one or two of the other groups raised their hands. He beckoned the group forward and they repeated the process again.
"Now, you are the last left," he said. "Not all you will join the ranks of my elite, but you will all have higher postions than the ones who feared stepping forward." He looked around the room and pointed to a little fourth year, "You will be first. Go through that door, when you come out you will either be made an elite or a high Night Stalker."
The fourth year went in, LaFey had a look on his face of etense consentration. A few minutes later and a shaking fourth year returned. He was marked and sent on his way. This was repeated for several until, "Parkinson, it's your turn."
She took a deep breath and walked through the door. At first she thought something was wrong, she walked into a dark room. Then she heard a voice, LaFey's. "Well Parkinson, what do you think so far?"
"It's almost to easy, there has to be a catch," she said.
She could almost hear the smirk, "Indeed, you are smart," he said, his voice fading out with a laugh.
She gripped her wand in her pocket when a hand brushed her. She soon found herself in a candle-lit bedroom, tied to the bed and naked. Realizing what this was, she forced herself to calm. It was only a test, and there would be no way that Voldemort would be in the school helping LaFey with his recruitment.
She mentally told herself it was only a dream and while mentally gripping her wand she forced herself out of the binds, as soon as she did so she found herself clothed again.
"Well done, Parkinson, or should I say Black Rose?" she smiled in relief. "You have almost passed, there is one more test."
She nodded and waited. Suddenly a ghostly figure appared in the air in front of her and she found herself standing on the dueling platform from the Dueling Club.
The ghostly figure materialized as Blaise, "Hi, Pansy," he said.
"What's going on Blaise?"
"This," he said, whipping out his wand and sending Sectumsempra at her.
Reacting quickly she shouted, "
Protego!"
The spell ricotched into the wall and he tried again with a Crucio.
She dived out of the way and shouted the blood letting curse at him. "This isn't you, Blaise, but I'm sorry anyways.
Avada Kedavra!"
Blaise couldn't dodge it and took the curse head on. As soon as the curse hit Pansy slumped to the ground hitting it as it turned back to the black nothingness.
She heard LaFey's voice again, "Very good, Black Rose, you guessed it wasn't really Blaise and killed him, do yo know why I had you duel your fiancee?"
"So I show know inhabitions if he were to betray you and I had to do that?" she whispered, knowing he would hear her.
"Very good, Black Rose," he said. "You are correct, but I'm a kinder lord than your nightmare. In real life you wouldn't have to kill him, but if he did betray me, you would have to report that to me."
"I understand, my lord," she said, wiping her tears and rearranging her features.
"Step out, Black Rose," she did so and for the first time a masked person stepped out.
Blaise was next and became Cobra followed by Crabbe and Goyle, renamed Scarlet King and Coral respectively, Millicent Bulstrode, Water Moccasin, and Mandy Brocklehurst, Sidewinder.
The rest were sent on. After they all left everyone removed their masks revealing that Ginny Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Draco Malfoy, and Luna Lovegood.
"I say it's a good group," LaFey said.
"Yes," Draco agreed. "I had no doubts on Pansy, she's well known amongst Slytherin as being the smartest girl in our year. She's second only to Granger amonst the whole school."
"Granger..." he said. "She'll need to go, she has most likely already figured out who killed the headmaster and his deputy, but I doubt she's told."
"My lord, may I make a suggestion," Pansy said.
"When it is just the elite you don't have to ask, but yes, you may," LaFey said.
"She's in my potions class, I can arrange for her to have an unfortunate accident tomorrow, it just so happens we are brewing a potion so dangerous tomorrow that Professor Snape said it could result in death if a mistake is made at a certain time. I've done my research and have found that if one adds Porcipine Quills while the potion is on the fire while steering the mashed cockroaches in. If I toss the quills in by accident the explosion should rock the school and since Professor Snape said he'll put protective charms on us so that if one cauldron explodes only the one steering will get killed, I have no doubts I can kill her."
"And you are sure of this," he said.
"As sure as I am that Gnomes are bad for gardens," she said.
"If you succeed I'll reward you, failure will mean punishment, you have my permission for your plan. No objections?" no one said a word. "Go to bed, than," he said. Everyone nodded and left.
The next morning people could tell something had happened last night, but no one knew what.
Ginny, Luna, and Neville took their customary seats at the Slytherin table and began whispering. Draco entered the Great Hall intent to go and sit with his friends when Ronald Weasley stepped in front of him.
"Watch where you're going, ferret," Ron said. "I bet you had fun at your Death Eater meeting. Get cruicioed enough for you masochism desires?"
"I'm shocked you even know what masochism is. And for your information, Weasle, I wasn't at a Death Eater meeting last night. You can ask anyone."
Ron was shocked and glared. He brought up his wand, throwing caution to the wind, unaware that he was in the Great Hall and the teachers were there. He shrieked Mad-Eye Moody's ferret tranfiguration spell, but the spell bounced off Draco's simple shield charm right back on Weasley.
The Great Hall was silent for awhile and then burst out laughing. The transfiguration sub swept forward and said the counter-spell. "MR. WEASLEY!" Two voices said at the same time.
"You are out of line," Flintwick said.
"A hundred points from Gryfindor," Snape said.
"A month's detention with Professor Snape and another month with Filch," Flintwick said. "You could have seriously hurt Mr. Malfoy, and I hope you know why. I'll be writing to your mother," he said.
Ron flushed, "Mr. Malfoy, I believe your friends are waiting," Snape said.
Draco nodded and swept over to his friends, who had continued their whispered conversation.
End Chapter
Next Chapter: Cauldrons, Howlers, and the Woes of Mr. Weasley.