The Downfall of Lord Voldemort

The Downfall of Lord Voldemort

By

Satrios/Birrmagnur

Chapter III

"Army"

Harry stood in the center of a circle of Death Eaters. He noticed that a few more, and rather shorter, members of the crowd seemed to be there for the first time. It was obvious to him that they were, for they looked around at the elders, who were placed on the opposite side of Voldemort, closer to him than the newcomers.

Before anyone could address him, Voldemort stepped forward.

"My servants," he hissed, and Harry, with the beginnings of terror in him, could see saliva dripping unappetizingly from the Dark Lord's fangs.

"I would like to introduce to you my newest creations," he paused there, supposedly for dramatic effect.

Voldemort then threw back his head and made a series of noises, which sounded rather like he was choking. And behind them, in the mist of the Dark Forest, something could be seen emerging from the late summer foliage.

At first Harry thought it was a deer. However, with the thrill of horror he realized that its legs were impossibly long, and reversed from the normal direction a deer's legs would have been. It was covered with a black, rubberlike hide and its mouth stretched from ear to ear. It opened it, revealing fangs similar to Voldemort's. Harry also noted that its head was strangely round. One of the smaller figures in the circle made a noise, and Harry realized that it was Draco Malfoy.

Voldemort's attention, though, was not on his Death Eaters, but on the creature emerging from the woods. He made strange clucking noises, and it trotted up to its master.

"Friends," Voldemort addressed the circle, "This is a Blackfang. One of several hundred I have manufactured. It is a Dark creature, from beyond the reaches of Death. Enslaved inside its decaying heart is a human soul. Well, formerly human. Its only desire now is to drink the lifeblood of any wizard without the Dark Mark. They are invisible to the eyes of Muggles."

He paused.

"Each of you must learn to control these creatures, lest they turn upon you. I will have another creature for you, the next time I call."

"That will be all for now."

The Death Eaters Apparated, one by one, beginning with those closest to Voldemort, until they were all gone.

Voldemort bent down to the creature at his side. "Is Harry Potter here?" Voldemort questioned. The creatures hissed and clacked, which seemed to be a chilling affirmative.

"Good," Voldemort whispered. "Find him."

Harry woke with a start.

"Harry?" This is getting to be a routine with you." Sirius had splashed water on his face. "You fainted."

"Sirius," Harry gasped, the cold, nameless fear of the animal still in him. "You saved my life."

"Huh?" Sirius asked.

Harry sat up, and pushed his glasses up past the bridge of his nose. All attention in the room was focused upon him, yet he did not care. Looking up, he said firmly, "Voldemort's got a new weapon, and he's teaching his Death Eaters how to use it."

"Great," Sirius said, standing. "It's time to call the Order."