Third Person P.O.V.
-- .:|| Avignon, France||:. --
"Crucio!"
A man with paper-white skin and bony fingers criticized the Lord of the noble house of Nott. His white bony fingers were wrapped around an even whiter wand as a cruciatus curse blasted out of its tip, rendering Lord Nott into a convulsing mess as a pain so intense and all-consuming penetrated every muscle on his bones. It was as though white-hot knives were piercing every inch of his skin, and his head was surely going to burst with pain.
The white-skinned man traced his other hand across the top of his head, removing the hood of the black cloak he had worn. His bony fingers were pricked against the newly grown black tresses that had developed on his scalp after decades of being bald. His nostrils has also become more rounded and human-like, than the slits that they were just a couple weeks back. However; his red irises and elongated pupils had remained the same.
"Do forgive my tiny slip of anger, Nott- my dear old friend. Eleven years ago, I trusted you to find Abraxas and his daughter-in-law. Amongst anyone else, I believed that you had the best chances of finding him. Afterall, Abraxas is the student who learned under you. And yet, after eleven years you expect me to believe you still don't know where he is? Tell me Morosus.[2] How am I not to believe you have betrayed me as well?"
Voldemort leaned over and glared at Morosus who was violently quivering on the ground from the lingering effects of the cruciatus curse.
"Ri- *gasp* Riddle- *heave* you know I am your most trustworthy friend. How can you not trust me when I have been by your side since the very beginning?"
Morosus picked himself up from the ground with tenacity, and not a shred of weakness could be seen in his eyes though his knees trembled from agony.
"How do I know to trust you Nott? For seven years you never searched for me. Never bothered to assist in keeping our other comrades from being sentenced to Azkaban. For the past decade even that fool Pettigrew has shown more loyalty than you, and that coward hadn't a drop of loyalty in his blood."
Voldemort scowled at Morosus who was struggling to breath properly.
"Riddle you- *cough cough* you know I have never failed you before, and I will never betray you. I never once believed in those silly articles that spoke of your death, so I focused on completing the task you have given me."
Taking a few steps closer, Voldemort dug the tip of his wand under Morosus' chin and lifted it upwards. Morosus' breath shuddered under Voldemort's intrigued gaze.
"And what have you accomplished?" Voldemort threatened with a frown.
Morosus inhaled a sharp breath of air as he calmed his voice.
"After a month, I discovered that they was hiding here- in France. After a year, I've narrowed it down to Avignon. After three, I discovered that they were receiving help from the Lefrançois and Abraxas is bed-ridden with the Dragonpox. He was quite a laborious find, and even bed-ridden he has never left a trace within these 11 years. Afterall, he has learned from the best. Before you assigned him as my student, he first learned from you."
Voldemort sneered at his old friend who hadn't even attempted to mask his shameless arse-licking. And yet, his shamelessness is also the reason why Morosus had become the little "ambassador" of his group who had formed many connections under Voldemort's instruction.
But without Voldemort's instruction, Morosus would never make use of these 'connections' as Voldemort had made the mistake of training him into 'tool' rather than a 'subordinate'. He supposes this was why Morosus never bothered to interfere with the sentencing of other Death Eaters to Azkaban. Truly a merit and a shame. Twisting his wand, Voldemort bought it down from Morosus' chin as he didn't see the point of punishing an 'object'.
Voldemort tried to train Abraxas an ambassador who can think on it's own without being given instruction, but this time the 'subordinate' had proven to have too much free-will. Such a shame.
"Continue." Voldemort commanded.
"It took me six years to bring the Lefrançois under my will given their deep influence throughout France. Though them I learned that his son, Lucius, was still in Britain; including an unannounced grandson named Draco. Within a year, I've convinced that fool into believing that it was safe to visit his father in France, and two weeks ago he has finally arrived. Yet that dimwit has been staying at inns all over France thinking that he could somehow turn invisible by doing so. But trust me my friend, as soon he steps within the Manor of the Lefrançois – he and his family will all be caught like naïve quarry."
Voldemort recalls his time in Malfoy Manor, where he learned that Lucius had indeed planned to take his son with him to France. Voldemort had only been able to confund and manipulate Lucius' mind and emotions by magnifying his already existing conflicted thoughts; without them, he may not have been able to go through Lucius' mind as he was a masterful Occlumence.
It turns out, his old friend had already unknowingly helped him. As expected, his best Death Eaters had always been his first 6. [3] Voldemort stowed his wand back in his sleeve and placed his hand on Morosus' shoulder.
"Then I shall place my faith in you for one more year."
Thinking of the reason why he decided to visit the aging Lord Nott, Voldemort tightened his hold and dug his fingers into Morosus' shoulder.
"But I will also be collecting interest for your time extention."
In this new reality, Voldemort had discovered a particular pattern that made sense even in the past (before-rebirth). Anyone related to "Draco" is bound to be a traitor. Draco's father (Lucius). Draco's mother (Narcissa). Draco's aunt (Bellatrix). Draco's godfather (Severus). Draco's Grandfather (Abraxas) Draco's uncle (Sirius) had even been a traitor from the very beginning.
There was one more person related to Draco who swore their "loyalty" to Voldemort and was entrusted with an important horcrux. A man who suddenly disappeared in the middle of Voldemort's first rise to power. Draco's other uncle.
"Within your one year extension, you must also find out where Regulus Black is hiding and bring him to me, dead or alive."
Morosus' eyes shook at the unexpected task and skepticism at being able to fulfill this task in time filled his mind. Voldemort predicted this but was still disappointed. To find someone who disappeared 12 years ago in the midst of a war was like finding a leaf in a forest.
"If I remember correctly, you have a young one in Britain who has just been accepted at Hogwarts…"
Morosus jerked his head to the side to gawp at Voldemort in consternation.
Musing on Pettigrew's fractured memories, Voldemort began to 'recall' the future.
Apart from Dolores Umbridge who had done her job as a Death Eater magnificently without a single fault - to his greatest disappointment - it was quite shameful to admit that the only 'Death Eaters' who had more than a few excellent results were Severus Snape and Draco Malfoy.
(Bartemius Crouch Jr. had actually done a good job at teaching DADA as "Alastor Moody". Crabbe Sr., Lucius Malfoy, Rookwood, Avery Jr., Bellatrix, Rabastan, and Rodolphus Lestrange, Jugson, Mulciber, and Mcnair failed at the Department of Ministries. Rowle and Antonin Dolohov failed at Tottenham Court Road. Yaxley, Greyback, and Alecto Carrow defeated by mere children. Amycus Carrow, Goyle Snr., Pyrites, Selwyn, Travers, and Rosier and his descendants were good, but haven't done much of true significance. Karkarov and Regulus Black were cowards. Gibbon was a terrible duelist. Lee, Mulciber Snr., and Snyde, had gone M.I.A. after the First war. Wikes is dead.)
Hence, Voldemort could no longer look down on children – given that so many 'adults' had failed at the simplest of tasks, whereas the 'children' had continuously given him many surprises.
(Theodore Nott had become quite accomplished once he had been given more important tasks latter-on in his service. And the strongest resistance against his reign had also unexpectedly been the young ones. Draco Malfoy, Granger, the Weasleys, (surprisingly) Longbottom, Lovegood, Abbot, etc.)
Theodore had shown the most promise among the newer Death Eaters once he had demonstrated competency at assigned tasks. Sadly he had been overlooked and his talent not explored until he reached his mid-30s as a consequence of Voldemort becoming more cautious with assigning tasks after Severus' and Draco's betrayals. Most especially Severus'. Yet, now that he knows the future, Voldemort knows which subordinates remained loyal and he was once again confident in assigning tasks.
"If you fail to bring me Abraxas and Narcissa Malfoy, as well as Regulus Black by Halloween. I could only be forced to assume that age has finally caught up with you my dear old friend. Wouldn't you agree that it is about time to train a new 'ambassador'?"
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[2] Morosus is Latin for Cantankerous. Y'know, cause Cantankerous Nott. "He was widely believed to have been the one who penned the Pure-Blood Directory. This book listed the 'twenty-eight truly pure-blood families', with "the aim of helping such families maintain the purity of their bloodlines". The book was also published anonymously in Britain in the early 1930s." And Tom Riddle was born in 1926. And 'Nott', Rosier, Mulciber, Dolohov, was known to be Tom's friends in school, So Cantankerous Nott must have been Mr. Nott's father (Theo's grandfather, since 'Mr.Nott' couldn't possibly have published a book when he was around 4-9 years old. And Mr. Nott had a child late in life (because no other Nott was mentioned) who is Theodore Nott. So I just named him 'Morosus' Nott.
[3] Quoting from potterwiki :
Tom Riddle (leader)
Avery
Lestrange
Rosier (possibly)
Mulciber (possibly)
Nott (possibly)
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A/N:
Y'all, the feedback I get is confusing. Some of you love my story, some like it, and some think its complete trash. All for the exact same story parts.
But y'know what? I'm gonna just listen to those who like it.
For one. I'm truly honored to have shared my story with alot of you.
I'm truly glad that my story has helped some of you. Such as feeling the emotions of the characters despite autism preventing you from recieving the same experience with other stories. Or that my story changed your mind about 1st person narratives, opening the door for thousands of more fanfics for you to try.
When you guys commented these, it really made me tear up and want to continue writing while looking away from the harsh comments that appear ever now and then.
So thank you so much. All of you who support me and my story. I love you all so much!
My surgery's coming up soon and classes are fast aproaching as well! (I don't know when I can continue volunteering in clinic again, but if I don't feel too terrible, it may be my chance to catch up!!! Ahahaha XD). To those of you I love and love me back, wish me a fast recovery (and a clearer schedule)! <3.