Project Mutare

Chapter Four - Deception and Deceit

"You're late," he said. The 'he' in question was a rather singular figure; tall and rather pale, his most striking feature was the pair of startling red eyes that looked out from a shock of black hair. Tom Riddle, also known as Voldemort, was still an unknown personality to the majority of the wizarding world but as he stood before Anchusa and Lucius, his potential could be felt by all around him.

"My apologies, master," Anchusa said quietly, "it was harder than I anticipated to gather the group. All have come though, my lord, and they are ver-"

The Dark Lord held up a hand, cutting her short. "Enough. You have the files?"

"Yes, Milord." There was a small rustling of paper as she passed the files over. He immediately began to read through them while Lucius attempted to peer over at the delicate writing that the files contained, that is, until Anchusa pulled him back with a hissed, "You can look at them later."

"Excellent," said Riddle, snapping the files shut. "And do your... colleagues have everything they need?"

"Dr Shapal commented on how he was most impressed with your hospitality. However, Miss Jahbal, she has one request..."

A brief pause ensued.

"Yes?" Riddle raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

"Genetic material. She said she wished to talk to you personally about it, at your convenience of course milord."

"Indeed," he replied, "You will bring the group here tomorrow, I am quite eager to meet them. I believe I will be able to discuss the matter of material with Miss Jahbal then."

"Of course, milord."

"You may go then." He waved his hand in a dismissive fashion.

Lucius bowed and started to back away but Anchusa did not move. Riddle turned and raised a questioning eyebrow at her. "Yes?"

"May I ask a question, master?"

"You may..."

"What am I to do now? I can hardly go back to the Ministry..."

"Of course you can't, my dear Anchusa," Riddle paused for a brief moment, "I believe you had a son, am I correct?"

"Yes milord, he was a casualty in the last war though," her voice belayed a tone of deep embitterment at this statement.

"Still, you have an advantage over your colleagues. You will be of great use to them when the project is in its latter stages."

"I see. Thank you milord."

Another shuffling of papers occurred as Riddle gave the papers back to Anchusa.

"And take the boy with you, perhaps then he might learn some respect for those who deserve it." Lucius began to splutter, while Riddle just smirked. "Child, am I not allowed to know what goes on in my own property?"

"Of course you are, sir," the youth managed to get out.

Riddle gave a half-smile. "Good. Now leave. I have other business that I must attend to. However, do not forget your appointment here tomorrow, Anchusa."

"Of course not, milord."

Both Lucius and Anchusa bowed this time and slowly backed out of the room.

- - -

Some hours later, five people sat in a small kitchen in the lower part of the castle, around a wooden table set in the middle of the room. Four of them nursed drinks, three teas and one coffee, while the fifth was laid back in his chair asleep. The sleeper looked remarkably similar to the youth that sat next to him, both shared the same white-blond hair and regal features. A small tag was clipped to the sleeper's robes, if one looked closer, one could clearly make out the name 'Damien Malfoy' on it.

Arriving from the Ministry only an hour ago, he'd brought with him the coffee drinker, a young Auror named Teresa Satchinova, who also, oddly enough, happened to be the niece of a certain Russian potions mistress.

The man sat to the right of her was the same man who had opened the castle door for Anchusa, who was currently sat next to him, and Lucius. Algernon Rookwood, another Ministry worker, this time for the department of Mysteries. It was he who now spoke,

"And Moody still has no clue?"

Teresa shook her head, chuckling, "None, he still thinks that our lord is some petty little troublemaker stirring things up in Knockturn Alley."

"They'll never know what hit them. I almost feel sorry for them, you know; taking them down will be like stealing sweets from a muggle..." All those awake turned to face Anchusa expectantly, waiting for her to continue. "But then I remember how they sent my son off to die in that Godforsaken place," and turning sharply to Teresa, she added, "No offence of course." The other woman responded with a friendly shake of her head, implying that none was taken. "Then I know that they deserve much worse than what our lord has planned for them," she sighed, "but revenge can wait. How are you getting on in your department Algernon?"

"As dull as ever, misinformation can get so tedious sometimes; you'd think that the Department of Mysteries would be more interesting... but no."

"I have a question," Lucius suddenly piped up; he'd sat quietly musing for a while having finished reading the files a few minutes ago.

"Yes?" asked Algernon, sneering a little at the younger male.

"Why are we in this castle? If our lord owns the house that Anchusa and I visited earlier, why does he not live there instead of this old ruin?"

"Simple. The house used to be owned by muggles, while this is Moenia Colubri, the castle that first belonged to Slytherin's wife. A truly fitting location for her last remaining heir, don't you think?"

"That can't be right. If he were planning on being the last heir, why would he be so interested in this?" Lucius banged the top of the papers that lay in front of him.

"Now, my dear boy, that is the question..."