Tragic Angel

Lord Voldemort, the Dark Lord, sat in his chambers, examining a letter written by Professor Dumbledore to a Ms. Hotaru Tomoe. The letter was suspicious and the receiver had sent it immediately to the Dark Lord to be examined. Voldemort read it as a legitimate invitation to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The only odd thing was that Hotaru received it at the age of sixteen. This matter had to be discussed with the prodigy Death Eater.

In moments time, there was a knock on the door and two people entered. One bowed, announced the other's arrival, and left the two together. Hotaru stepped forward, bowed with respect, and looked at Voldemort. "Have you decided on the letter yet, my Lord?"

Voldemort folded it and handed it back to Hotaru. "Yes. You will go to Hogwarts and become a student. You'll go there as a transfer student from Japan and as my spy. I want you to report everything and anything that goes on in that school. And, I want you to try and get close to Harry Potter. Doing so will get him to trust you enough so that you can lead him to me."

"Anything else?" Hotaru asked without much surprise in her voice. She was the best Death Eater in the whole of Voldemort's Inner Circle, including Lucius Malfoy, and she was only sixteen. She was also Voldemort's most loyal servant. Although, she didn't allow him to call her a servant. They held mutual respect for one another. This was very surprising considering that Hotaru was a half-blood. However, since she wasn't too unlike himself, he had a soft spot for her and didn't treat her as bad as the other Death Eaters. She was, at this point, in his very good graces.

Voldemort seemed to think a moment longer. "Nothing at this moment. I'll contact you if I have any more instructions to send. Or, you will hear them from the son or daughter of a Death Eater as their parents would have been able to contact them." Voldemort noticed that Hotaru didn't even so much as blink an eye when he mentioned someone else having parents. "You're a very able, strong-willed girl, Hotaru. You'll be able to lie about your intentions easily enough. Not to mention that you won't fail me like my other's."

Hotaru smirked. "Failure wasn't in my job description, my Lord. However, I am concerned about the Sorting Hat. Isn't it said to read into your soul and know your every secret? This could cause some problem."

Voldemort nodded and produced a small white-gold ring with three gems on it's surface, two rubies on either side of a black quartz stone. "Wear this and nobody will be able to see past your facade."

Hotaru's eyes widened. "Isn't that--?"

"Yes, it is the Ring of Laverna *. I found it on my journeys in the past and have become quite fond of it. It has served useful in the past and now I give it to you. It will aid you in your deeds." Voldemort handed the ring over to Hotaru, who, with a trembling hand, took it from Voldemort's hand.

Hotaru stared at it with a wide-eyed expression. "I-I don't know what to say. I've heard rumours of this ring, how you treasure it and never let anyone else lay eyes on it... Why--?"

"You need to ask that question?"

Hotaru looked up at him and revealed a rare, small smile. "No, my Lord. And I thank you for helping me. I wasn't sure how to fool the Sorting Hat."

"And perhaps it will ensure your entrance into the Gryffindor house to get Potter. I know that you're a complete Slytherin, not an inch of you is Gryffindor--although you are brave...which is surprising indeed--but I think it will serve the mission better if you are placed in Gryffindor. Though, I wouldn't hate it if you were in Slytherin."

Hotaru nodded. "Well, I'll get into a house, don't you worry about that. Which one, however, is up to the Sorting Hat. I don't know if I have much jurisdiction over that choice."

Voldemort nodded as well. "You leave first thing in the morning. The train from King's Cross station will arrive on schedule and you will be expected to make friends with Potter."

"Yes, my Lord. Good night, my Lord." Hotaru left, shutting the door silently behind her. She took the ring off of her finger and hid in her cloak pocket. It wouldn't be wise to flaunt the priceless ring. Everyone knew she was Voldemort's pet, and she already got harassed on a regular basis. She didn't need anymore of that. She exited the grounds and went to the local wizarding pub.

Hotaru seated herself on a barstool and asked for the usual red currant rum. Nobody cared much about the drinking age in this pub. If you were a Death Eater, you deserved a drink, whether you be six or sixty. She sipped at her rum, thinking about her mission as she leaned her head on her hand. It was a big mission--the biggest mission she had ever been on. She had never been in such a risky place.

Hopefully, the other Death Eater children would keep their flapping traps shut about the whole business. While she was harassed about being the apple of the Dark Lord's eye, she was still one of the most well-known Death Eaters. She had been one, after all, since she was five years old. She had urged to Voldemort that she was ready and didn't even wince as he gave her the Dark Mark (which wasn't on her forearm, but her upper arm to ensure security). Since then, she has been legend--only spoken in secrecy as being the most vile, wicked, and detached Death Eater of them all, besides Voldemort himself. She was so secret that not even the Order of the Phoenix knew about her. In fact, not many wizards or witches knew about her at all.

"Well, if it isn't Mrs. Dark Lord."

Hotaru frowned noticeably and wished for a swift death. Unfortunately, death never came and Lucius Malfoy sat right next to her, obviously a little less than sober. "What brings you here, Malfoy? They kick you out of the Gentlemen's Club for pimping that leggy blonde around? What's her name again? Sarah...Sandra...something like that? You never keep track though, do you?"

Lucius visibly frowned and Hotaru looked at him, rolling her eyes. He had trouble keeping focus on her for too long. "You know," slurred Lucius. "You'd be so much prettier if you didn't have such a thirst for insult."

Hotaru's eyes widened. "Wow. I'm surprised you were even able to comprehend what I said, let alone manage a full sentence on your own. You know, alcohol can do some pretty nasty things to you. Why don't you quit?" She seemed to think about that for a moment. "Nah, never mind. Drink to your heart's content and then some. You'll get liver disease, die, and do the world a huge favour."

Lucius furrowed his brow, and opened his mouth to speak. But he shut it again, probably because he forgot what he was going to say. He looked down at her drink. "You're one to talk... You aren't even of age and you're already drowning yourself in booze."

Hotaru glanced at her own drink. "I'm different, Malfoy. When I get drunk, I don't hit on people who are young enough to be my daughter."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Like you'll even remember if I told you," Hotaru snapped.

"Well, I don't like your tongue. I'm leaving and when I get home, I'm going to puke my heart out."

Hotaru downed her drink. "Good. Except there is a flaw in your plan. In order to puke your heart out, you actually have to have a heart to begin with. You, my fair liege, have only a black hole."

Lucius got up, stretched, and began walking. Hotaru kept up with him in a steady pace. She had only one drink and wasn't feeling at all tipsy. She had to escort Lucius home, or else he'd end up Apparating half of himself to Sweden and the other half as a birthday present for a poor kid in Ohio. And if he actually were to die and had Hotaru been there to prevent it yet do nothing, Voldemort would be most displeased.

"Once again... You are a hipp...hypo...hypnotisical...wait...hypno...hippo..."

"Hypocrite, Malfoy?"

"Yes, thank you. You are a hypocrite. I have never seen someone kill so many people without killing themselves afterward, myself included. You killed your own brother."

"Uncle."

"Uncle was it? Yes, you killed poor Samuel--."

"It was Sachiro, Malfoy."

"Spachimo? Why the hell do you Chinese people have such hard names? What's wrong with Samuel? Much easier if I do say so myself."

"I'm Japanese. There's a difference." As Hotaru led the drunken man to a carriage, she rolled her eyes. "You know, I much prefer you when you're sober, Malfoy. You make lousy conversation when drunk. Although, you aren't much conversation when sober either. You are a despicable prat, aren't you?"

"Dispicicouple...no. You are discopiable. Never talking to anyone, always high and mighty. Think you're too good for anyone else just because you're the Lord's favourite lap-dog." At this Hotaru shoved Lucius into the carriage, which caused Lucius to accuse her of abusing him. "Anyway...you have no room to talk, little girl."

Hotaru shut herself in the carriage as well. "Malfoy Manor, please!" she called to the thestral. "You know, speaking of hypocrites and having little room to talk, you should maybe turn the insults on yourself!" she shouted at him. Unfortunately, when she went to turn at him, she found him to be snoring quite audibly in his seat.

Hotaru groaned. "Must you snore?" She took out her wand and muttered, "Silencio!" and kept the carriage quiet.

Hotaru didn't hate Lucius. She just greatly disliked him. He was a dishonourable man who cheated on his wife and didn't give a care in the world about his son--who, whether he would admit it or not, needed an excellent amount of attention. Not to mention that he had once kissed Hotaru very deeply one night when dreadfully drunk. It had happened about three weeks prior to this incident and in this very carriage. She still carried him home, however. She felt some sort of loyalty to Lucius, but not on the same scale as the Dark Lord. She didn't know why either. With these thoughts, you're going to end up in Hufflepuff, she frowned.

In no time, the carriage stopped on the front-door-step of Malfoy Manor. She levitated Lucius out of the carriage and rang the doorbell.

Narcissa Malfoy answered the door in her nightdress, not surprised at all. "Did he get drunk again down at the pub?" she asked, already knowing the answer and letting the girl in without a question.

Hotaru levitated Lucius all the way to his den and on his leather sofa. She shut the door and walked back to the foyer and began talking with Narcissa. "Sorry to wake you, Narcissa."

Narcissa waved her hand. "That's all right. I wasn't sleeping anyway. Would you like some tea?"

Hotaru smiled. "That'd be greatly appreciated, thank you. It's a surprisingly crisp night."

Within seconds, Narcissa had the House Elves brewing tea and had led Hotaru to their normal chatting spot--the lounge. "I know you must tire of having to bring Lucius home like this. It's been happening more frequently now. Do you know why?"

Hotaru bit her lip. "I'm not permitted to say anything. It's my line of work's business."

"I understand," Narcissa replied, taking her tea from the House Elf. "Leave us." The House Elf did so without protest. "If you don't feel like it anymore, you don't have to bring him home like this. I can always get a servant to keep tabs on him."

Hotaru smirked. "Why, Mrs. Malfoy, I don't mean to sound rude, but I don't think a servant could keep Lucius preoccupied enough to prevent him from an Apparating disaster."

Narcissa half-smiled. "You're probably right." Narcissa looked up at Hotaru, her eyes deep. "Are you sure you're sixteen? You are so much more mature than any sixteen-year-old that I know. And believe me, I know a lot. Pansy Parkinson for example. She's not nearly half as mature as you are."

Hotaru blushed from the compliment. "Yes, I am sixteen. But you also must realise that while Pansy Parkinson has been schooled with children, I have been schooled by the Dark Lord. I have also been forced to grow up quickly--given my childhood."

"Yours wasn't much of a childhood, was it? I only know what is rumoured."

Hotaru looked away. "I'd like to keep the rumours as they are. The less the public--or anyone for that matter--knows about my childhood, the better."

"That bad?"

"In a manner of speaking, yes, that bad," Hotaru replied. "I'm starting school at Hogwarts tomorrow morning."

Narcissa's eyes widened. "You're not serious?" When she noticed Hotaru grimace, she sighed. "You're serious. That's very dangerous Hotaru. You could..."

"I know the risk. But, others do it as well. Look at your son. He seems to get along without much suspicion."

"Without much suspicion? Draco is suspected first thing by every student and teacher in that school. If something bad happens--like the Chamber of Secrets, Draco is blamed. I know why, Hotaru. You don't have to tell me. The boy flaunts Death Eater parentage as if it weren't against the law. He asks for trouble. But what is a mother who is miles away supposed to do? I can only lecture him and sending him a Howler would only cause matters to get worse."

Hotaru shrugged. "Maybe I'll be able to do something once I'm there."

Narcissa sighed, finally looking very tired with dark circles under her eyes. "I don't want this for Draco. I don't want him to become what Lucius has become. He can support the Dark Lord all he wants. Lord knows I do. But Lucius has a very troubled soul now and too much burden has been placed upon him. He drowns his despair and guilt in alcohol. And I've noticed once or twice, you have too. I want Draco to live like a normal wizard who isn't caught up with the Dark Lord. Because if Draco slips once, which is highly plausible, that's it. He'll be done for."

Hotaru embraced Narcissa with the compassion only a kindred soul could conjure up. "Yes, it is a burden. But look on the bright side. At least Draco will be fighting for something he believes in."

Unfortunately, that fact didn't satisfy either Narcissa or Hotaru.

-

Hotaru got back to her bedroom at the Leaky Cauldron at about two in the morning. She had time to get about three hours of sleep before she had to get up and get ready to go to King's Cross Station. But that sleep didn't come easy for Hotaru. The only way she had ever been able to sleep was with getting severely drunk and passing out. Unfortunately, that would mean she would be sleeping until four in the afternoon. So, she could only lay in bed all night, staring at the moon.

Sleep was Hotaru's enemy. One of her worst. Nightmares came to her in her sleep, as well as a past she left behind. Once or twice, Hotaru would find the fire calling to her with a familiar voice, but she would never answer. She was going in a new direction in her new life. She had relived the same past over and over. And now that everything was secure in that past, she could move onward.

And she was in the biggest hole of her entire life.

TBC...