章 168: Chapter 168- the graveyard

A FEW HOURS EARLIER

HARRY'S POV

Having Dobby Pop him to the graveyard, Harry had Voldemort bring Pettigrew, who had been fed the Draught of the Living Death after getting caught by Harry, and then obliviated before getting fake memories of living with baby Voldemort, catching Marcus, and cutting his arm to bring Voldemort back to life.

The only thing Harry hasn't managed to do yet was figuring out how the silver hands Voldemort created in the books was made.

Sure, he can create something similar, with his knowledge of biology, belief and magical power, but to create it without the knowledge was beyond him for now, especially with the special hidden affect of killing Peter if he betrays him.

Harry's way of doing the spell was simple, creating the arm as it is supposed to be built with little magical energy of his own, connect the arm to the body and Peter's magic and let him fuel it himself.

The problem that by doing so, you can't create secret effects as most of the magic used isn't yours, and even the smallest effects would disappear after a month at most.

While not understanding this piece of magic is annoying, Harry didn't really need it as he didn't care for loyalty from Peter, instead, Harry had Voldemort cut Peter's arm before using his imitation for the spell on the rat, creating a Golden arm.

After finishing with it, Harry sat on a chair He conjured, listening to GAI reading him a book.

The second he heard something smash to the ground he had his wand up and stunned Marcus, before obliviating him and putting a memory of the ritual inside his head.

Having Voldemort give Peter the antidote for the Draught while confuding him, Harry made sure he is invisible and going near the place he had Voldemort put the cauldron.

LUCIUS' POV

Feeling the pain of being summoned, Lucius takes a quick look at his dark mark.

'He is back.' Lucius thinks as he looks at his dark mark that seemed to pulse darkness across his arm, with the black snake swimming fast in the skull.

Lucius was prepared for this moment, he felt his excuses couldn't be better, and he was scared as hell.

Putting on his Death Eater robes and mask as quickly as possible, which he had prepared for weeks, Lucius finally released the hold he had on the dark mark magic, teleporting reaching the destination, Lucius saw he was in a graveyard, and that he wasn't the first to come, but luckily, not the last either.

Seeing his chance to start something that I'm important for mercy, Lucius quickly Bended his knees, crawled to the dark lord's feet and kissed his robes, "master" he shouted, feeling disgusted with himself but willing to do everything it takes to survive.

He wasn't sure who was the first fellow Death Eater who copied him and why, though most likely they also understood the need to do so to survive the night, but eventually all the present Death Eaters did the same, finished, and stood in the half circle the dark lord used whenever he had a speech for all his 'friends', leaving in the middle the dark lord, Pettigrew, who not only was alive but, as Lucius now noticed, has a golden arm instead of his regular, and Marcus Potter, who lay on a grave looking either stunned or dead.

Looking around, he saw a few more holes in the circle then he expected, with Severus' spot being one of them.

'Oh, I hope you would have a good explanation for this Severus.' Lucius thought before cleaning his mind from every thought unrelated to his survival.

"Welcome, Death Eaters," said the dark lord quietly, sending shivers in Lucius' body. "Thirteen years. . . thirteen years since last we met. Yet you answer my call as though it were yesterday, we are still united under the Dark Mark, then! Or are we?"

He put back his terrible face and sniffed, his slit-like nostrils widening.

"I smell guilt," he said. "There is a stench or guilt upon the air. I see you all, whole and healthy, with your powers intact - such prompt appearances! and I ask myself . . . why did this band of wizards never come to the aid of their master, to whom they swore eternal loyalty?" Lucius knew better then to answer, every single one of the Death Eaters knew better then to answer.

"And I answer myself," whispered Voldemort, "they must have believed me broken, they thought I was gone. They slipped back among my enemies, and they pleaded innocence, and ignorance, and bewitchment.... And then I ask myself, but how could they have believed I would not rise again? They, who knew the steps I took, long ago, to guard myself against mortal death? They, who had seen proofs of the immensity of my power in the times when I was mightier than any wizard living?

And I answer myself, perhaps they believed a still greater power could exist, one that could vanquish even Lord Voldemort. . . perhaps they now pay allegiance to another . . .

perhaps that champion of commoners, of Mudbloods and Muggles, Albus Dumbledore?" Lucius resisted rubbing his head, it seems that the dark lord didn't changed, and that the same issue that changed the war to physical from political as it started last time stayed the same.

The dark lord is still extremist, and he makes every follower of his the same with his dark mark driving them insane.

"It is a disappointment to me ... I confess myself disappointed. . . ."

One of the men suddenly flung himself forward, breaking the circle. Trembling from head to foot, he collapsed at Voldemort's feet.

"Master!" he shrieked, "Master, forgive me! Forgive us all!" Lucius looked in horror, who was the stupid man thought he was standing before? He should know what happens when you interrupt the dark lord.

"Crucio!" Lucius should feel pity, but instead he feels relive it isn't him.

"Get up, Avery," said Voldemort softly. "Stand up. You ask for forgiveness? I do not forgive. I do not forget. Thirteen long years ... I want thirteen years' repayment before I forgive you." The dark lord then looked to his right, where Lucius stood, where he stood everyone there was a gathering.

"Lucius, my slippery friend," he whispered, halting before him, making Lucius more nervous then possible. "I am told that you have not renounced the old ways, though to the world you present a respectable face. You are still ready to take the lead in a spot of Muggle-torture, I believe? Yet you never tried to find me, Lucius. . . . Your exploits at the Quidditch World Cup were fun, I daresay.... but might not your energies have been better directed toward finding and aiding your master?" The answer was ready on Lucius lips, having perfected and memorized it for weeks.

"My Lord, I was constantly on the alert, had there been any sign from you, any whisper of your whereabouts, I would have been at your side immediately, nothing could have prevented me -"

"And yet you ran from my Mark, when a faithful Death Eater sent it into the sky last summer?" said the dark lord lazily, and Lucius made sure to stopp talking abruptly, making it seem as if he is speechless, when he knew the dark lord would bring it up, excuses are for later, the dark lord showed his power already, now he shows his compassion- thank you Avery.

"Yes, I know all about that, Lucius. . . . You have disappointed me. ... I expect more faithful service in the future."

"Of course, my Lord, of course. . . . You are merciful, thank you...."

The dark lord moved around, talked about the ones who lost themselves to the dark mark as loyal, and gave the ones who didn't he gave a second chance.

"And here we have six missing Death Eaters . . . three dead in my service. One, too cowardly to return ... he will pay. One, who I believe has left me forever ... he will be killed, of course . . . and one, who remains my most faithful servant, and who has already reentered my service.

He is at Hogwarts, that faithful servant, and it was through his efforts that our young friend arrived here tonight..." Lucius didn't know if to hope it to be Severus, which would means he would survive, or hope it isn't, which means he is sane.

"Yes," said the dark lord, a grin curling his lipless mouth as the eyes of the circle flashed in Marcus Potter's direction. "Marcus has kindly joined us for my rebirthing party. One might go so far as to call him my guest of honor."

Looking at the young boy, Lucius felt it is pity he would die tonight, as he was still only a child.

"Oh, I'm not going to kill the boy." The dark lord said, making every single Death Eater look at their lord in shock.

"No, the boy need to suffer before his death, he needs the entire wizarding world to turn on him, to be in despair, and to drag the entire light side with him through the mud, which is why he is about to announce my return as we make the world think he is crazy!" Lucius couldn't help but impressed, even if the dark lord kept with his idiotic notion of telling his evil plans to everyone being a good idea, he still managed to create an actual plan that doesn't involve only killinng and torturing people with crucio, maybe the years walk were good for the dark lord.

"Now, when we finished with this, it is time to return the boy to his school." The boy woken and made to hold a cup that was apparently a portkey, sending him to school.

"Now, I'm going to live at the Malfoy manor!" The dark lord said before appearing, making Lucius internally sigh.

'This is gonna suck'