AN: YOU ALL KNOW THE DRILL BY NOW. I DON'T OWN THIS, I MAKE NO MONEY OFF OF THIS, ETC.

IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE PREVIOUS FOUR STORIES IN THIS SAGA, YOU'RE GOING TO BE VERY CONFUSED.

IN CASE YOU DIDN'T PAY ATTENTION, BE WARNED. THIS IS A DARK STORY. THIS IS NOT A REDEMPTION TALE. VIOLENCE, TORTURE, MURDER, GORE, MAJOR CHARACTER DEATH. ALL THIS AND MORE LIE AHEAD.

HARRY IS NOT A NICE PERSON. HE'S PRETTY DAMN EVIL, AND MORE THAN SLIGHTLY INSANE. THE DEATH EATERS ARE NOT MISUNDERSTOOD FREEDOM FIGHTERS.

BUT THEY'RE STILL THE PROTAGONISTS. IF YOU CAN'T HANDLE THAT, YOU SHOULD STOP READING NOW.

PLEASE, REVIEW/P. . I TRULY DO WANT TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS

ENJOY!

Prologue

"The lions sing and the hills take flight.

The moon by day, and the sun by night.

Blind woman, deaf man, jackdaw fool.

Let the Lord of Chaos rule".—-Robert Jordan-The Lord of Chaos

"The trust of the innocent is the liar's most useful tool"—Stephen King

"Is there-is there balm in Gilead? Tell me truly, I implore! Quoth the raven: Nevermore"—Edgar Allen Poe-The Raven

Russian Ministry of Magic Bunker, Chernobyl

"Sir! They've breached the outer caverns! We have minutes!"

Nikolai Volnyak, Russian Minister for Magic, kissed the picture of his wife and children before folding it and putting it in his pocket.

'At least you got to safety'

Everything had happened so fast. Since that night, events had spiraled out of control so quickly.

Who could have known, how large a contingent of Death Eaters there were in Russia, simply waiting for the order to attack?

Who could have known, that each European country would be under so much fire they could not lend each other aid?

Who could have known that Russia would be the hardest hit, worse even than Germany, where the Minister was killed. Worse even than Britain, where Voldemort himself attacked.

And so they were here, hiding in the Ministry's last fortress. The remnants of their fighters, stuck in the Ministry safe house, in a place where the muggles feared to tread.

Silently, he cursed the traitors who had led them to this point. Who had given away everything, the locations of their bunkers, the names of their operatives.

He stood up, and all eyes in the gloom turned to him.

"This shall be our last stand. We have been betrayed, we are outnumbered, outmaneuvered, and there are no reinforcements coming"

His words fell like lead. His men nodded. They all knew what the situation was. His heart swelled with pride as he looked at them.

His gaze met that of Pietrekoff. He saw the pearl the man was clutching. Knew what it would mean when it was crushed.

'No one is leaving this cavern alive'

By now, spells were being cast at the heavy metal door. Loud, raucous voices shouted threats from the outside, cajoling them to open.

"They wish to destroy Russia. To rebuild it in their image. I say we make them pay. They will pay in blood for what they have done. For what they plan to do"

The door was standing to bend inwards. The protective spells on it were being worn down.

'Any minute now'

"It has been an honor fighting by your side. May we meet in the next life"

The door burst open.

Immediately, the battle began.

Spellfire lit up the cavern, casting light on the horrific scenes.

He saw Sasha go down, neatly decapitated.

Slowly their numbers were falling. One by one, they were going down.

He tried to keep an eye on Pietrekoff, to make sure he at least knew when his death was coming.

And then he was facing a man he had once loved like a brother.

"Dmitri" he snarled, sending a vicious curse the man's way. "How could you do this? Traitor!"

"You call me a traitor?" Dmitri batted away his curse, sending one of his own. Nikolai managed to dodge it, twisting wildly and almost ending up in the way of a Killing Curse. "I am serving the good of all wizards, not merely those in power"

"That's what he tells you, lies! Look at what you have done! Betrayal and death!"

"Surrender or die. I give you this chance, due to our history. You can save your men. Just bend the knee"

He just growled, sending a Killing Curse at the traitor.

He didn't manage to avoid the next curse sent his way. The purple jet hit him, and with growing horror, he realized he knew what it was.

'The organ rupturer'

There was no time left to wait. Dmitri walked over to him, as he crumpled to the ground.

He felt he was seeing everything happen in slow motion.

'So this is what dying is like'

With a herculean effort, he gathered all his remaining strength to give one last order.

"Pietrekoff! Now!"

He saw the muscles tense, as Pietrekoff's hand tightened on the pearl. He saw the shards begin to fly.

Dmitri must have realized what was happening.

"No!"

And the cavern exploded.

Ministry of Magic, Britain

The door to the boardroom was thrown open, and one of the junior assistants ran in.

Scrimgeour and Robards both looked up immediately, drawing their wands.

"Sir! We've just received word from Russia! Apparently the French and the Greeks got the same message as well!"

"Well?" Scrimgeour barked.

'He looks too nervous. This is terrible news, whatever it is'

"What did they say?" He repeated, a bit more gently. The assistant, Peterson, took a deep breath before reading off of the paper in his hand.

"Whoever now controls Russia, they are not your friend. Show them no mercy. Never surrender. Avenge us"

Scrimgeour let out his breath.

'Of course, I must be thrown into the Ministerial position for this catastrophe. Of course'

"It's signed: Nikolai Volnyak. We've received nothing further from Russia"

"Arrange a meeting for me with the muggle minister, and try to get me one with the American president"

Peterson ran out of the room, pausing to close the doors behind him.

"So, Russia's fallen?"

"That's what it would seem like. Damnit! We need the Americans!"

Robards shrugged. "You know what they'll say"

"They can focus on keeping their borders safe all they want. But if we don't have help, it's only a matter of time until Europe as a whole belongs to You-Know-Who"

Scrimgeour sighed.

'If only Fudge had been competent. Or if they hadn't killed Amelia. Damnit, I wish I didn't have this job'

"You heard from Dumbledore? Or that Shriner guy?"

Robards shook his head. "Not since they removed that message. But if they do manage to get those detectors working, that'll be a huge help"

"If. We're dealing with far too many what if's. We need something concrete. And we need more fighting men"

"Problem is, people don't want to fight him. They're afraid"

"Cowards"

"Maybe. Either way, we need more men"

"We'll see what the Chinese have to say. And then the Australians. They need to see it. You-Know-Who's not going to stop at Europe. He'll want the world"

"You need to make them see that"

"I'm trying. But they're too busy thinking that if they prepare enough, they'll be able to fight him off"

"Idiots. By the time he's ready to attack them, he'll be just as prepared"

"Exactly! But no one wants to fight a war. No matter how much we need them to"

Robards glanced at his watch and cursed.

"Got to go speak to the force. I'll tell you, my job may be stressful and demanding, but I'm still glad I don't have yours"

'If only Fudge had been competent enough for wartime'

Headmaster's office, Hogwarts

"You're certain?"

"Ask me that one more time. If you're so worried, bring your spy in to test it"

Albus peered over his glasses, gazing at the strange metal bar before him. It seemed to twist oddly, curling in on itself while at the same time, clearly being a straight bar.

"Of course I'm going to test it. What will it do when it senses the Mark?"

Gellert shrugged. "Depends. I originally was going to have it let out a loud noise and flash bright lights. Then I was told how many influential members of your society have been pardoned for their baring the Mark"

"So what will it do, Gellert?"

"You really should get used to calling me Augustus. You should think of me as Augustus. That is if you want this disguise to work"

Albus sighed. "Very well, Augustus. What will it do?"

"It will still let off a loud noise and bright lights"

Albus blinked a few times.

"I thought of changing it. I decided, however, that the discomfort of the few who claim to have been coerced, is far outweighed by the safety of the many"

"And the fact that it would engender greater mistrust for those few amongst the public did not upset you" Albus murmured.

"Does it upset you?"

"Frankly, it doesn't. After all, you've examined the Mark. You must have understood that facet of it"

Gel-Augustus nodded. "It could only possibly have been cast upon a willing recipient"

"Precisely"

Augustus placed a sheath of papers on Albus' desk.

"The schematics. Give them to the Ministry. They should be able to make hundreds each week, with enough manpower"

Albus paged through the papers, his eyes scanning the contents.

"Very interesting. Well done, Augustus"

Albus put them down and focused his stare again.

"Have you had any luck with your examinations of Harry?"

"Not yet. Give me a few more days. But there's something about the boy. Something-off"

"Do you have anything precise? Or only more cryptic warnings?"

Augustus stared at him for a long moment.

"Damn you, Albus. Ignore me. Ignore your lunatic Auror. But I telling you. The boy is not what he seems"

"And I am bearing this in mind"

Augustus shook his head slowly, rising from his chair.

"I find myself hoping that your theory is correct. It would explain my worries. But if it is not. If you are wrong, then that boy will bring nothing but death"

Lord Voldemort's Headquarters

The curse was ended. Snape's writhing stopped. Twitching, he got off of his back and onto his knees.

"My lord, I-"

"Do you know what this has done?"

"I beg forgiveness. My only other option would have been to reveal my allegiance"

"Do your bonds chafe at you, Severus? Have I not been good to you? Have I not given you another chance, when by all rights you deserved death?"

Severus swallowed. "You have, my lord. And I have-"

Voldemort sighed. "You have been useful. And since the Oath allowed you to do so, I must assume that it was the least damaging option. What can you tell me of this Augustus Shriner?"

"He seems to have appeared from nowhere, but Dumbledore knows him well. Dumbledore defers to him in all matters regarding the Dark Arts, and he seems-with the exception of you, of course, he seems to have the most knowledge of the Dark Arts out of anyone I have ever come across"

"Interesting"

"He is a very intelligent man and based on his lessons with Harry, an excellent fighter. He will be taking the Defence position at Hogwarts this coming year"

"Find out more about his past. And send Bellatrix in"

Severus nodded, standing slowly.

"Thank you for your mercy, my lord"

Voldemort just waved him on his way.

'If this Shriner is truly so remarkable. He must be dealt with'

"My lord called for me?"

"Indeed. What can you tell me about the ancestral home of the Black family?"

Bella's eyes took on a faraway look. She bit her lower lip, extremely thoughtful.

"I can barely remember, my lord. It's in a muggle neighborhood in London, and I can remember the layout, but-"

"It is under the Fidelius. It is now the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix"

"How dare they!" She screeched, indignation filling her voice, "how dare they!"

She inhaled sharply and lowered her eyes. "I apologize, my lord"

"Understandable. You will sit down with your sister and map the interior of the house for me"

"Of course, my lord. Please, can we purge-"

"In due time. We will need a way in, first. And Albus Dumbledore is the Secret Keeper, and he is not likely to reveal it to us"

"If-if Narcissa still has it, I or she would be able to get in"

"If Narcissa still has what?"

"When we were children, we were all given emergency Portkeys to our home. But they worked through Blood Magic, not like regular Portkeys. They would only allow one with the blood of Black to use them. Mine was lost"

He raised an eyebrow. "Find out if she still has hers. Do not use it, not without my order. We must wait for the best opportunity to strike"

"Of course, my lord"

"Confer with your sister, and inform me of the results"

Bellatrix ran to do his bidding.

'I must speak to Harry. Tonight. We need as much information on Order activity as possible'

The White Wyvvern

He sat back in his chair, tipping his hat forward until it shaded his face.

They would recognize him.

He'd been told to meet today, here. Told that if he was truly interested in joining, he would have to speak to a few people before meeting the Dark Lord.

So he waited.

He waited, and went over his backstory one more time.

He knew he would be accepted. His fabricated past was perfect, with absolutely nothing there to raise suspicions.

He would be accepted, he would have to undergo their initiation, and he would be in.

A deep cover spy, in the Death Eaters.

'I must meet with Moody. We need to go over the contingency plans'

Someone else sat down at his table.

He lifted his hat and prepared to lie his ass off.

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