Forbidden Forest, Hogwarts, 11/4/1991, 19:39
Harry and Susan followed Professor Peverell through the Forbidden Forest for their detention this evening. He would admit that the dense forest unnerved him a bit and Judging by how tightly Susan was clutching his arm, she felt the same way.
Professor McGonagall had been unable to prove that they had pulled the prank on Halloween but the kitchen elves admitted that they were both in the kitchens which were out of bounds for students.
McGonagall had used this as an excuse to give them detention as she assumed (not incorrectly) that they were the ones behind the farting Professor prank.
"What are we d-doing in here, Professor?" Susan asked, her trembling voice barely above a whisper.
"Collecting bowtruckles for my fifth-year classes, Miss Bones," Professor Peverell answered easily as he led them deeper into the forest.
"Aren't there werewolves in here?" Harry asked, remembering Draco saying something along those lines when Harry
had informed him that they were going into the forest for detention.
"Yes, there is a pack of natural-born werewolves that call this forest home but they will not harm you," Professor Pevetell assured them.
"What are natural werewolves?" Susan asked, her hand gripping Harry's arm even tighter.
"When werewolves mate while transformed, their progeny will be born a werewolf thought it will have a human-like intelligence. Professor Dumbledore has allowed these natural-born wolves to live in the forest," Professor Peverell explained.
"And they're not dangerous?" Harry asked sceptically.
"No. Natural-born wolves are not afflicted with the madness that afflicts turned werewolves on the full moon. The pack will not harm the students of Hogwarts," Professor Peverell assured them.
"Where are they at, Professor?" Susan asked, seeming to relax a bit at his words.
"They usually stay to the far side of the school boundaries so I doubt we will see them tonight. They prefer to avoid people," Professor Peverell said as they entered a stand of Holly trees.
"Have you ever seen them, sir?" Harry asked with interest.
"No, It can be dangerous to go searching XXXX magical creatures out as some can be quite territorial. It's always a good idea to allow magical creatures to approach you," Professor Peverel warned.
"I thought you went around the world searching for magical creatures?" Susan asked in confusion
"I do when I am hired to heal a magical serpent or relocate one. Here at Hogwarts, I leave the inhabitants of the forest be... for the most part," Professor Peverell explained as he studied a smaller holly tree critically.
"And that is how we prefer to interact with humans," a male voice came from the forest to their right, making Susan yelp in surprise.
Harry noticed that their professor turned to look into the forest before smiling when he recognized a very tall shirtless blonde man approaching them. This newcomer had to be almost ten feet tall, though his lower half was obscured by the thick underbrush.
"I hope we're not disturbing your hunt, Firenze," Professor Peverell asked cheerfully as Harry and Susan watched the man move towards them.
"No, I am looking for herbs to interpret the stars with others from my herd. What brings you into the forest this night, Harry?" Firenze asked as he stepped into the clearing, making Susan gasp beside him.
Harry was a bit taken aback himself as he saw Firenze step into the clearing and revealed that he walked on four legs.
It was very clear that Firenze was not a man at all, If Harry was not mistaken, Firenze was a centaur.
Firenze looked completely human from the waist up with long blonde hair and bright blue eyes. He appeared to be in his twenties with the slightest bit of stubble on his chin and jawline. His lower half was a different story altogether, it was that of a horse!
Firenze's waist connected to where a horse's neck would usually attach to its shoulders. His lower half looked to be a palomino horse body with the same blonde-coloured hair on his tail as was on his Firenze's head.
"I was stuck with overseeing their detentions so they will be helping me negotiate with the bowtruckles tonight," Professor Peverell answered, pulling Harry from his observation.
"I saw that Hera and her young are gone," Firenze said questioningly as his tail swung back and forth lazily.
"They were returned to the Greek magical reserves," Professor Peverell said and Harry thought he heard a note of sadness in the older man's voice.
"Do not despair, you will see them again" Firenze consoled.
"I hope so... oh, where are my manners, this is Harry Potter and Susan Bones. They are first-year students from the castle," Professor Peverell said as he gestured to him and Susan.
Harry had managed to compose himself but Susan was still staring at the centaur in awe.
"Well met, students of Hogwarts," Firenze greeted politely as he eyes them critically.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Firenze," Harry said nervously.
"Oh no, the pleasure is mine. The stars have foretold that a great destiny rests on your shoulders, young Harry Potter," Firenze said, his blue eyes boring into Harry's own.
"That will be years to come, I hope," Professor Peverell said, breaking their stare.
"You are the one who will decide that, Harry Peverell," Firenze said meeting the professor's eyes in a similar stare.
"Indeed," Peverell nodded, meeting the centaur's gaze with ease.
"I must be off, I am running behind but do be careful there is a pixie colony not far from here," Firenze said before making his way back into the dense forest without another word.
"That was amazing," Susan gushed.
"Professor, what did he mean, a great destiny rests on my shoulders?" Harry asked as the centaur's words kept repeating in his mind.
"It is not my place to say, Sirius will decide when you are ready to learn tha., Now come along, we still have some bowtruckles to find," Peverell said as he began leading them deeper into the forest.
"Do you ever cover centaurs in your classes, professor?" Susan asked curiously.
"No, they would find it very insulting if I asked them to pose for a sketch as I do with the other creatures that I show to my classes," Peverell answered as he spotted movement in the trees up ahead.
"Why is that, sir?" Harry asked deciding to let the subject go... for now.
"Wizards and centaurs have had a tumultuous relationship over the centuries. They used to roam all over the British Isles until the statute of secrecy came into being. Since then, the ministry has forced them into isolated forests and does not allow them to roam as they once did," Professor Peverell lectured.
"And they don't like to be controlled," Harry said thoughtfully.
"No, though nobody likes to be controlled, Mister Potter," Professor Peverell chuckled.
"I never knew centaurs were so intelligent, Susan said thoughtfully seeming to have finally calmed down after their encounter with Firenze.
"Oh they are, it is speculated that centaurs are far more intelligent than humans but there is no way to find this out for sure. I highly doubt they would consent to take an O.W.L examination," Professor Peverell said, looking highly amused at the thought.
"But they are happy here, sir?" Harry asked curiously as they followed their professor deeper into the copse of holly trees.
"Yes, they are content living in the forest. The headmaster respects their territory and the ministry lets them be," Professor Peverell said, a smile playing on his lips as he stared into the lower branches of a large holly tree.
"What is that?" Harry asked as he saw a flat-faced stick figure that appeared to be made of bark and twigs with long sharp fingers, brown beady eyes, and stood about six inches tall.
The stick man was perched on a branch tittering excitedly at their professor before eyeing him and Susan curiously.
"This is a bowtruckle," Peverell beamed as he removed a tea tin from the pocket of his robes.
"It doesn't look very dangerous," Susan giggled.
"Looks can be deceiving Miss Bones, I would like you both to put on the protective goggles I gave you," Peverell instructed as he open the tin and removed a pinch of something.
"Hold out your hand, Potter," Peverell instructed.
Harry quickly finished placing the goggles over his ears and held out his hand palm facing up. He watched as Professor Peverell places tiny little brown things in his hand.
"What is that?" Harry asked in confusion.
"Woodlice, now offer them to the bowtruckle," Harry instructed.
Harry nodded and raised his palm toward the tree, he was surprised when two of the creatures leapt from the holly tree and landed on his palm.
"Excellent, your turn," Miss Bones," Professor Peverell instructed as he took another pinch of Woodlice out of the tin.
The rest of the detention went in this manner, Peverell would have them each lure a couple of bowtruckles out of the tree before they would carry the bowtruckles back to the grounds keepers hut, he and Susan carrying two bowtruckles at a time while Professor Peverell led them through the forest and held his lit wand so they could see.
It took three trips before they had collected a dozen of the little stick men who were now congregated in a small potted holly tree sitting in the centre of the groundskeeper's hut.
"Why did we have to carry them like that, couldn't we just put them in a cage or something, sir?" Susan asked as Professor Peverell led them out of the hut, their job finally complete.
"That would have made them uncooperative in my lesson tomorrow. Carrying them the way we did let them enjoy a leisurely trip through the forest while they enjoyed a nice meal before they get to spend the night in a warm cabin. They will be very relaxed for my fifth years tomorrow," Peverell chuckled.
"They were kind of funny," Harry admitted as he took off his goggles and handed them back to Professor Peverell.
"They are but their fingers can really do some damage if you provoke them," Professor Peverell chuckled as he accepted Susan's goggles.
"That's all for tonight. You two had better get back to the castle, it's nearly dark," Peverell said before he hung the goggles on a rack next to the cabin door.
"Yes sir," Harry and Susan said in unison.
"Good night to you both," Peverell said before he turned to walk towards the gates.
"I am so taking care of magical creatures in my third year," Susan gushed as the two of them began walking back towards the castle.
"Yeah, I think I will too," Harry agreed having kind of enjoyed the detention.
"So do you think we should pull the itching prank?" Susan asked as she crossed the lawn.
"Not for a while and definitely not on McGonagall," Harry said with an involuntary shudder.
"No, she seems to be holding a grudge," Susan agreed.
Harry had learned one thing from their Halloween prank, whatever you do, don't prank Professor McGonagall.
As Harry and Susan entered the castle, neither of them noticed a figure in a purple turban watching them from the edge of the forest.
Peverell Beach House, Cornwall, 11/15/1991, 21:39
Harry stepped through the door into the sitting room to find Bellatrix enchanting straight razors on the coffee table.
He had been stuck overseeing his younger self and Susan's detentions for the past two weeks now. It would seem that Minerva took the prank at Halloween very personally and was intent on making the two first years (and by extension him) as miserable as possible.
"Are you done punishing yourself?" Bella asked, not looking up from the razor she was working on.
"Yes, I made little Harry and Susan clean the potions classroom tonight," Harry sighed as he settled into his favourite chair and watched Bella work.
"Is this for your second order?" Harry asked as she placed the silver razor blade with a finely polished wooden handle into a razor-shaped indention inside a red-velvet-lined flat box and then placed a lid on the box. The box was long and thin and covered in black leather. The packaging looked very expensive and wouldn't look out of place at a high-end jewellery store.
Harry watched as Bella lazily flicked her wand at a roll of purple ribbon, causing a strip of ribbon to detach from the roll and wrapped around the box lengthways and across the middle before tying itself into a perfect bow.
With a final flick of her wand, a white circular logo was stuck to the lid of the box to the right of the bow.
The words Peverell Beauty Accessories, the words were written around the top edge of the circle with a drawing of red puckered lips in the centre.
"Yes, according to Madam Primpernelle, the first order sold out in three days," Bellatrix beamed.
"Excellent, just don't work yourself too hard," Harry said as he noticed the large cardboard box already filled with completed and packaged razors.
"It doesn't take much effort with a wand, that one I made on the island was a different story, I had to use blood to enchant that one," Bellatrix assured him as she started enchanting another razor, this one with a glittery pearl handle.
"How big is this order?" Harry asked when the razor flashed a bright bright colour before the golden light was drawn into the metal.
"Fifteen hundred, I am about halfway there," Bella smiled as she packed the razor into another velvet-lined box, placed a ribbon and a logo on it, and placed it into the larger box.
"That makes seven hundred," Bells said happily as she flicked her wand at the larger box, causing the flaps to seal shut.
Idly, Harry noticed a much larger logo on the side of the box as she hovered it to land on a stack of boxes in front of the bookshelf.
"I think that's it for tonight," Bella smiled and was rewarded as all of her supplies disappeared from around her with a soft 'pop' courtesy of Jangles.
"You could still open your own shop, you seem to have the manufacturing part down," Harry said as his wife got up from her seat and climbed into his lap.
"I think not, if I am just making the products then I don't have to deal with customers," Bella pointed out.
"Well if your operation gets much bigger, I may have to set you up a proper workshop," Harry said thoughtfully.
"I had considered that myself. We could build a warehouse on the front side of the house, the children never play on the lawn anyway," Bella agreed as she snuggled into him.
"Who wants to play on grass when we have our own beach," Harry snorted.
"I'll wait until next year, for all we know the razors might stop selling so well after a while," Bella shrugged.
"You mean when every witch in Britain already has one," Harry smirked.
"Yes, there are only so many customers in Britain," Bella agreed.
"We'll worry about that problem when it arises," Harry shrugged.
"Indeed, so are you ready for your dance lessons tomorrow?" Bella asked.
"I guess, they're not really that bad, to be honest," Harry admitted.
He had been taking Ignotus to Narcissa's every Saturday afternoon to assist her in teaching the upcoming first years ballroom dancing. He had it better than Iggy who was assisting her every afternoon, so Harry couldn't really complain about one day a week.
Harry was actually a bit surprised to learn that Ginny and Luna were both enrolled in the Saturday class.
From what Harry had learned from Narcissa, Arthur Weasley's department had been eliminated during Cassie's time as minister and he was forced to take a post on the obliviation squad.
This was a blessing in disguise as the obliviators paid him double what the misuse of muggle artefacts had paid. Arthur had already been promoted to second in command of the department and was doing quite well for himself.
This meant the Weasleys could afford to send Ginny to these very expensive dance lessons though Narcissa intimated that she had taken Ginny on at a severely reduced rate as a favour for William.
"You just like being pressed up against Bella's little sister," Bella smirked, pulling him back to the present.
"She is a very attractive woman but she doesn't compare to you, dear," Harry assured her.
"Good, Bella will still be checking your bits for boils after you come home though," Bella said, a teasing grin playing on her lips.
"If you must," Harry chuckled.
"I must," Bella agreed.
"So how have the brats been?" Harry asked.
"I think they have finally gotten over me ruining their Christmas," Bella said, sounding almost amused.
"Good, I may just get them tickets to a Holyhead Harpies match as a consolation," Harry said thoughtfully.
"You had better get four tickets, I would like to see them crush Ballycastle," Bella said giving him a pointed look.
"I had planned to, I would like to watch that match myself," Harry assured her.
§There you are, you forgot to give me my rabbit this morning§, came an annoyed serpentine hiss from the doorway leading to the kitchen.
§You have my apologies, Athena, it has been a very hectic week§, Harry said realizing what he had forgotten to do this morning.
"What did she say?" Bella asked curiously
"I forgot to feed her this morning," Harry said causing his wife to sigh as she climbed out of her seat in his lap.
Harry got up and headed towards Athena's room where he had the cage with a plump rabbit waiting to be released.
§How was your day, Athena?§ Harry asked as Athena slithered beside him up the stairs.
§Dull, I stared at the cage my dinner was in but it wouldn't open§, Athena sighed as Harry pushed open the door to her jungle room.
§You could have asked one of the children to open the cage§, Harry pointed out as he knelt down to where the cage was sitting on the floor and flipped the latch on the cage door open.
Harry watched the door swing open before the rabbit sprinted out of the cage and disappeared into the dense vegetation.
§No, I am your familiar, you will feed me§, Athena said matter-of-factly before she slithered into the undergrowth.
Harry just shook his head as he picked up the cage and stepped back into the hallway.
It would seem that his familiar was turning into a bit of a diva but he supposed he had brought that on himself by always spoiling her.
Setting the empty cage next to the door, he began walking down the hallway and was met by Bella who took his hand and led him toward their bedroom.
"I believe it is time for us to go to bed," Bella smirked.
"Good, I am exhausted," Harry grinned as he pushed open their bedroom door and let her step in before he followed behind her.
"Bella didn't say anything about sleeping," Bella cooed as she sat down and unzipped her boots before pulling them off.
Harry couldn't help but grin as he watched her stand back up and unfasten her robes before letting them fall to the floor, revealing her matching bra and knickers made of purple acromantula silk.
Harry hastily shed his own clothes as he watched her crawl under the covers, realizing he still had one more task to complete tonight.
Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire, 11/23/1992, 13:29
Harry and Ignotus stepped out of the green flames into Narcissa's arrival room and were greeted by a much younger Malcolm Harper.
Narcissa had been letting the boy greet new arrivals as it was something common for heirs to do during formal occasions. Harry had Ignotus do this on occasion though he rarely held formal parties so his son hadn't had much experience with formal greetings.
"Lord Peverell, Heir Peverell, please allow me to lead you to the ballroom," Harper said sounding somewhat nervous.
"Lead the way Mister Harper," Harry said kindly.
It wasn't very far between the arrival room and the ballroom as the arrival room was set up for public functions such as balls.
Within a matter of moments, the three of them stepped into the Malfoy ballroom to see thirty or so ten and eleven-year-olds standing in two lines in the centre of the room, a line of girls on the left and boys on the right.
Harry led Ignotus and Harper over to the smaller group of boys before he went over to stand beside Narcissa at her place in front of the line of chattering students.
"You're right on time, Harry," Narcissa said approvingly.
"It was a close thing, we spent all morning converting a spare room into a production room so Bella can enchant her razors," Harry chuckled.
"Oh?" Narcissa asked with interest.
"The orders are getting larger and larger and the sitting room was starting to get a bit... cluttered," Harry elaborated as a bell chimed over the ballroom.
"Time to get started," Narcissa said in a brisk tone.
"Everyone please quiet down, I believe we are ready to begin," Narcissa said, quieting the children's chatter immediately.
"Today we will be going over the waltz again, Lord Peverell and I will give a demonstration and then we will pair you off with a dance partner," Narcissa continued in a well-practised tone.
Taking that as his cue, Harry offered her his hand as a familiar tune began to play over the room.
They moved in perfect sync with one another and Harry easily matched her steps while the children watched on. When the music stopped playing, Harry lifted her hand and placed a kiss on her knuckles before they both bowed their heads to one another.
Several hours later when all of the children minus Ignotus had taken the floo home, Narcissa caught his attention.
"I may have found a lead on Thomas Avery," Narcissa said as they led Ignotus outside to the Aviary.
"Dare I ask what you want for this information?" Harry chuckled as Ignotus entered the aviary, the sound of hundreds of twittering birds filling the air as soon as he opened the door.
"Oh I will give you this for free," Narcissa assured him as they stepped into the aviary, the smell of exotic flowers assaulting their senses.
She had really put some time and effort into the aviary, birds of every colour flew overhead or otherwise perched in the branches of cherry trees planted around the room along with flowers of every shape and colour. A path went through the room leading to a grand fountain in the centre of the aviary, sending jets of water into the air before falling into the pool at its base, filling the room with the sound of falling water that mixed with the musical singing of the birds.
"I would appreciate that, from what I have gathered Avery is his number two," Harry said as he turned to look at his sister-in-law.
"The word is that Thomas has been visiting Durmstrang quite regularly and he has applied for Bulgarian citizenship," Narcissa said as she raised her hand allowing a yellow and black songbird to perch on her index finger.
"That school is unplottable," Harry pointed out as he admired the bird's vibrant yellow and black feathers.
"He has a summer home in Bulgaria. According to my source, that is where he has been staying since the ministry started searching for him," Narcissa said as she stroked the golden oriole's head before it took flight again.
"I will definitely look into this," Harry said thoughtfully.
"Excellent, I was most impressed with how you dealt with Selwyn," Narcissa beamed.
"What is that phrase you're so fond of saying? Oh yes, you'll never prove I had anything to do with that," Harry smirked.
"The aurors are driving themselves mad trying to get to the bottom of these mark of the Reaper murders," Narcissa said, sounding almost amused.
"As long as they're looking into the people they find dead, that's fine with me," Harry shrugged.
"Oh trust me, they are. That's why Avery's wanted for questioning, they found all sorts of incriminating evidence in Dolores Umbridge's house," Narcissa answered.
"Excellent, I will loo-
'SPLASH!'
Harry was cut off midsentence as he heard a massive splash followed by twittering birds that almost sounded like... laughter.
Harry turned to the fountain and saw his son climbing out of the water, Ignotus looked like he had fallen face-first into the fountain's pool.
"Going for a swim, son?" Harry asked as Ignotus clambered out of the fountain, his hair and sodden robes dripping onto the earthen floor.
"N-no, I fell in," Iggy admitted, his face bright red.
"He's worse than Draco," Narcissa sighed before waving her wand over her nephew, drying him in seconds.
"This has happened before?" Harry asked in amusement.
"Yes, Draco tried to climb on the edge of the fountain to catch a bird and lost his balance," Narcissa giggled.
"I suppose I had better get him home," Harry said, giving his son an exasperated shake of his head.
"I'm sorry dad, that yellow bird was flying to where I couldn't reach him so I stood on the fountain thing," Iggy said looking very uncomfortable with both adults' eyes on him.
"The birds can be quite mischievous, I think the magical bird seed is affecting them, they have become much... smarter," Narcissa admitted.
"You're not supposed to touch the birds, Ignotus," Harry scolded, having to fight to contain his laughter at the look on his son's face
"But Aunt Cissa did," Iggy protested.
"It's her aviary and she feeds them," Harry sighed as he placed his hand on Iggy's shoulder.
"Oh," Iggy said quietly.
"Well come along, we may as well get home and get you a bath," Harry said.
"I will see you next Saturday," Narcissa said looking very amused.
"I'll be there," Harry assured her.
"I'm sorry, Aunt Cissa," Iggy said after Harry gave him a pointed look.
"You are forgiven but try and be more careful in here, you could upset the birds," Narcissa said kindly.
Harry highly doubted that Iggy had upset the birds, they seemed to be very amused that they had tricked the boy into taking a bath. Harry kept those thoughts to himself as he began leading Ignotus out of the aviary.
The chill of the fall air seemed much cooler after the humid aviary and both Peverells shivered as a chilly breeze blew over the garden.
Harry was stopped before he could enter the manor when Narcissa caught them up.
"I almost forgot, here is Avery's address in Bulgaria," Narcissa said as she passed him a scrap of parchment.
"Thank you," Harry said as he opened the parchment and read the address scribbled on the parchment.
"This is a secret keeper's slip," Harry said in surprise as he pocketed the slip.
"It is," Narcissa agreed, leading them to the arrival room.
"Dare I ask how you acquired this?" Harry chuckled.
"It's best that you don't," Narcissa said as the three of them came to a stop in front of the fireplace.
"Fair enough," Harry agreed as he threw some floo powder into the fireplace and gave Iggy a nod.
"I will see you Monday morning, Ignotus," Narcissa smiled.
"Yes Aunt Cissa, thank you for showing me the birds," Iggy said with a smile.
"You're more than welcome. Now run along, dear," Narcissa said, gesturing to the green flames.
Harry watched Iggy step into the flame and say, "Peverell beach house," before he disappeared in a flash of green flame.
"Good luck with Avery though you may have to wait until the new year to pay him a visit. Word is he is in Britain but I can't get you that location," Narcissa said apologetically.
"I can be patient, thank you for your help, Cissa," Harry said genuinely.
"Think nothing of it," Narcissa smiled.
Harry threw a pinch of floo powder into the fireplace and gave her a respectful nod before he followed his son back to their home so he could fill Bella in on this news, and perhaps show her the memory of Ignotus taking a dive in the fountain.
Avery Manor , Hampshire, 12/1/1992, 31:39
Voldemort watched as his death eaters took their seats one at a time at the long dining table.
He had just summoned them so they could discuss the coming attack and sort out some of the finer points.
He had received word earlier this evening that the negotiations with the giants had been successful and that Dolohov had already transported them to the west coast of England. Over the next week, they would be moved from Fishguard to the Carrows property in Lampeter where they would wait until it was time to move them northwards.
The aid of the Durmstrang ship had sped things up tremendously as he hadn't had to wait for the giants to trek across Europe.The ship had literally risen out of the lake in the mountain range the giants were living in and transported them to Wales in a matter of a few hours.
According to Antonin, it had been a tight fit to get all twenty of the giants aboard the ship.The trip had required weeks of the Durmstrang seventh years enchanting the inside of the hull with expansion and featherlight charms but they had completed the task in the time specified.
Unfortunately, that is where the good news ended as none of his servants had any luck finding information on this man who was attacking their comrades.
Truthfully he wasn't surprised as he had learned that whoever this man was never left a magical signature behind. The modified dark mark that the Reaper used was designed to leave no traces of the caster. Voldemort had designed the original mark this way so there was no way for the ministry to track it back to one of his servants.
This frustrated him to no end! His own spell was being used against him and he vowed to make the culprits suffer for this insult!
Deciding he had waited long enough, Voldemort rose from his seat, causing the room to fall silent immediately.
"Tonight we will be making preparations for our first major attack since my return. Oaths of silence will be expected before you can leave this room," Voldemort said to the silent room, getting every person's undivided attention.
"This will be a two-sided attack, we shall hit our primary target with tremendous force."
"The carrows will lead the attack on the primary target, while I and a select few will make an appearance in Mould-on-the-Wold," Voldemort explained.
"Severus, I wish for you to pass on information to Dumbledore that there will be an attack on Hogsmeade," Voldemort instructed.
"As you wish, my lord," Severus answered doing an admirable job of hiding his worry at the fact he couldn't warn the order of the imminent attack.
"Albert, I want the floos in Godric Hollow shut down," Voldemort said looking at the tall bearded man at the other end of the table.
"It will be done, master," Runcorn assured him.
"Good, I want that village razed to the ground," Voldemort said as he looked around the table.
"Of course, master," Alecto said eagerly
The village was witness to his fall a little over a decade ago and he did not like leaving witnesses behind. Godric's Hollow was one of the oldest wizard settlements in Wales and would definitely spread fear when there was nothing but rubble where the village had once been.
"Now, onto other matters. How have you progressed at the ministry, Albert?" Voldemort questioned.
"Quite well my lord, I have made a contact in the floo department who could be convinced to help us," Albert answered.
"Excellent now we just have to find a way to get rid of Minister Longbottom," Voldemort said looking pleased.
"I could imperius one of her guards to deal with her, my lord," Runcorn offered.
"As tempting as that may be, I think we should wait until we have a candidate sympathetic to our cause to replace her," Voldemort said after a moment's consideration.
The rest of the meeting was mostly logistics as Voldemort delegated assignments to his senior death eaters.
After he had dismissed them for the evening, Voldemort rose from his seat and swept from the room. He had to ensure that Peverells would not interfere with his plans for the coming attack though it would require a very long flight over the Atlantic.
If this trip was successful, he may just acquire a powerful focus for his wand and get Harry Peverell out of the country at the same time.
Voldemort crossed the Avery Manor wards and turned on the spot, disappearing with a soft 'pop' as he apparated to Ballycastle before he would begin the long flight.