Secrets of the Musidora

This story is a sequel to "Power of the Musea", which can be found here: http://www.fictionalley.org/authors/alice_rose/POTM00a.html. If you don't want to read the entire first story to know what you need to to understand this one, send me an OWL and I can send you a condensed version of the 22-chapter original.

Prologue

A single figure stood alone in a dark room. He watched a figure move about in the shadows. His heart beat nervously, but he forced himself to breathe slowly and clear his mind.

"I hear that the mission was a success," the figure in the shadows began.

"Yes, Master. He is dead," the other figure replied unemotionally.

"And by your own hand, so I hear," the voice came again from the shadows. "Yet, Severus, I am forced to ask you why you chose to do such a thing when I had assigned it to someone else?"

"Nott was finding himself incapable of finishing the deed, and the Order was on their way up. If I had not acted, we would have lost the opportunity."

"Yes, but what about Malfoy? I assigned two people to this task, surely one of them was able to finish?"

Snape took in a deep breath. "Malfoy was not there."

"Yes, and his treason will be dealt with, but what I want to hear from you, Severus, is why you personally had to step in knowing that it conflicted with my prior orders to you to act as a spy!" The shadowy figure's voice started to rise. "By killing Dumbledore, you have lost any position in the Order and have failed with the task I have left in your hands for so long!"

The voice suddenly calmed. "And you know, my potions master, how I deal with failure. Crucio!"

Snape collapsed in the middle of the room, spasming as he lay there. Eventually, Voldemort lifted his wand and Snape gave one final shudder.

"I am deeply sorry, my master," he replied slowly, having to gather strength for each word.

"Yes, I'm sure you are," Voldemort replied dryly. "But I will limit your punishment because I am so pleased with the result." A pleased look crossed Voldemort's face and Snape pulled himself up to his feet.

"I thank my master for his mercy and forgiveness."

"Forgiveness, ha! My mercy, yes...my mercy for serving me so faithfully these years. But my forgiveness...that will only come if you can repair the damage you have done."

"Of course, Master. The Order is a bunch of trusting fools. It would not be impossible to spin a tale for them 'explaining' my actions."

"I am appreciative of your willingness to fix your own mistakes." Voldemort paused and focused on Snape, and even though Snape could not discern the wizard from the shadows, he knew Voldemort was trying to look into his mind. Voldemort cleared his throat and continued. "And, because of my appreciation I will aid you in your attempts to return to your position as spy.

"You see, Dumbledore's death means that I can move ahead with a plan that will grant me uncontested supremacy over the wizarding world-with a power that no wizard in history has ever been able to control."

Voldemort spun quickly and moved close enough for Snape could see him. "However, for this to work I need the Order to have no clue of what I am doing." He paused. "And you are going to make sure of this."

Snape took several deep breaths. "What false information do you desire me to give them?"

Voldemort laughed. "It is not false information I am arming your with. It is merely incomplete. You will make them think that my mind is focused on one particular goal, which is, in of itself, powerful. But this will preoccupy them and keep them from discovering the rest of my intentions."

Snape nodded. "My master's wish is my will."

"Good. Now, as I'm sure you're aware, the Brienwald family has chosen to reappear in wizarding society." Snape took in a deep breath, but said nothing. "Now, you had young Melanie in class-did you notice any, well, unusual talents?"

There was a long pause before Snape answered. "No, sir. She seemed to me to be just a typical student."

"Well, then, it would be a surprise to you if I told you that she had survived an attack of the killing curse right before she appeared at Hogwarts?"

"Yes, sir," Snape replied plainly.

"Well, then, good. That means that the Order knows less than I realized and this information you bring them will be more impressive. But, yes, she did. And, in the attack on Hogwarts just a few days ago, she demonstrated something I witnessed once seventeen years ago.

"When I sent Death Eaters to get rid of a certain Ministry official-Alicia Winters-they found that she, too, could repel the killing curse-as well as any other curses. She finally died when whatever power she had turned into a blue dome and disappeared. I would have looked into it more at the time, but a few months later was my famous meeting with Harry and I didn't have the chance.

"However," he laughed, "fate is wonderful at giving second chances, and I intend to take this one with Miss Brienwald. So that is what you will take to the Order to win back your place-that Miss Brienwald is in possession of a power that I want for my own. Their search for that should keep them away from my other plans."

"Am I not going to hear of these plans, Master, so that I may steer them wrong should the Order venture too close?"

"No," Voldemort answered darkly. "This will be a surprise even to my most trusted advisors. Besides, there is no chance of the Order figuring it out if they could not discover what was under their own nose!" He laughed. "But go, tell them that I am interested in this newest Brienwald. Win back your place among them and I will see to my plans."