Changing Tide

Chapter 3- Before Hermione's Capture

Cobwebs filled each corner of the darkened room, which looked as if it would have been inhabitable under any other circumstances. Strange writings decorated certain spaces on the wall. The only sun rays that dared showed themselves sneaked in through the holes in the moth-eaten curtains on the evenly spaced windows on the walls. Roaches and rats seemed to have made a new home for themselves in the holes scattered in the white areas on the bottom of the wall. Even with these abnormalities, the inhabitants were at peace, as if they would not have taken their sanctuary any other way.

A tall, marble throne stood in the middle of the room, with two long glass snakes slithering out as it's armrests. The throne was by far the best feature out of the cramped capacity. A man, well he wasn't really considered a mere man any longer, with snake-like slitted eyes, a flat triangular nose and a sickly shade of green skin held occupance on the throne while a hooded figure knelt on one knee in front of him and a tightly coiled snake rested feet away from the feet of Lord Voldmort.

"You have shown loyalty beyond that is expected of any common Death Eater that has come under my wing! For that, you will be rewarded beyond your wildest dreams! I have, for you, reserved a spot many of the others would die for! My right-hand man, the one I trust all of my most dire plans, the only man that will ever be mentioned in the same breath as Lord Voldemort!" A high-pitched, soul-shaking laugh escaped the tyrant's dry lips.

"I am deeply flattered and honored, Dark Lord! I will make you never regret trusting in me even when I was with Dumbledore! If you will allow me to say, I only wish you had entrusted me with the deed in the first place!" A deep, deliberate voice escaped through the hooded figure's mask.

"I am proud in your eagerness to fulfill my orders, Severus, but do not second guess my judgement! You know well that punishment had to be dealt to Lucious for his failure in retrieving the Prophecy! Seeing as how he landed himself in Azkaban Prison, I had to find other means of serving that end! And those means happened to fulfil two of my most sought-after goals. Lucious's punishment and the eradication of that pestulance nuisance, Albus Dumbledore!" The Dark Lord stood from his throne. "Although..." The metal door slamming open and another hooded figure clamboring into the room suddenly interrupted Lord Voldemort's speech in it's tracks. "Who dares interrupt me?!"

Snape got up and stood behind the throne as the mystery man crawled toward Voldemort's feet. "Forgive me, Dark Lord, sir! I have come from the Order's dwellings to give you vital information that will most graciously serve you!" the man sobbed out his defense for barging in.

A small twitch is emitted from Snape's direction at the sound of the cowering figure's voice but the slight movement went unnoticed due to the continual whimpering of the uninvited guest.

"From the Order?! Have to come to give me the secret location of their hideout?!" Voldemort demanded. "For you to come in and disrespect me by interrupting me, this sure as hell better be some very beneficial information you're giving out!"

"Dark Lord, sir, it is! It concerns Harry Potter and transforming the task of destroying him into an even more attainable success!" The mystery man seemed fit to burst after these words. Another twitch from Snape's direction went unnoticed.

"Aaahh! Is that so? Either my luck has reached it's highest peak or the Devil has sent me a cruel joke! Spill your secrets!" Voldemort cackled.

"Yes, yes! I am able to tell you of the brains behind the brawn! Take out the brain and you're left with nothing but a revenge-filled heart that will act reckless! If you take out the one intelligent enough to figure out your plans, Dark Lord, Harry Potter will be easy pickings for you!"

"Yes! Give me the name you are so eager to exploit! I promise you will be spared and taken in as one of my own for this!" Lord Voldemort encouraged him.

"A young Mudblood that goes by the name Hermione Granger! She resides in a small Muggle village called Whalings, on Geneon Drive. But be warned, she is carefully watched over by the Order! Not to mention the protective spells that they have surrounding her home...But no need to worry! I have just come from on duty around her house and partially lifted the spell but only around her bedroom window! You will have to do what you have to do with her tonight because another member of the Phoenix will be checking up on the spell's condition in the morning!" The hooded figure finally dared to stand up and lower his hood down to double-chinned neck. His thick moustache was nearly hidden by his malicious grin. The little light that protruded into the room shined off of his completely bald head. His robes barely fit over his over-sized stomach.

"Excellent! You have made the right decision! With Potter's brains of his operations out of the way, he'll be easy to lure into his ultimate demise!" Voldemort could barely hold back the excitement that etched through every crack in his voice.

Snape, meanwhile, had taken a step or two back in complete shock at who now stood before him. But as Voldemort turned toward his direction, he quickly gained back his composure. "Severus, you better watch your back! You have competition in gaining my top spot for best Death Eater! Hahaha! Go and retrieve Bellatrix! I'll trust her with this task!" Voldemort ordered.

Snape gave a quick bow and swiftly walked out of the room. Once outside, he stopped abruptly. I'll get Bellatrix and then I'll have to pay somebody a visit...Curse that man!

And with that, Snape strolled to the end of the damply-lit hallway and entered Bellatrix Lestrange's compartment.