Voldmemort's Rise

[Honey_B]

Lily Potter flipped closed the Daily Prophet. She had just read the following article:

July 1979 - Hogwart's School of Wizardry and Witchcraft celebrates the 1000th anniversary of its founding. Under the guise of the anniversary, a reunion of past graduates assembles at the venerable school. The guest list, drawn up by Albus Dumbledore himself, is by invitation only. For reasons of his own, Dumbledore has sought to gather the most trusted and skilled wizards and wizards ever to walk the halls of Hogwart's.

The festivities come at an opportune time. For almost a decade, a wizard calling himself Lord Voldemort has been attempting to seize control of the wizarding world. He has already gathered many followers, either by force or by cunning. They call themselves the Death Eaters and make frequent use of the three Unforgivable Curses.

Others have flocked to Voldemort's cause. The race of giants once kept to the mountainous regions of the world, but no longer. They have joined with Voldemort and have been responsible for many of the worst incidents of killing and torturing, especially of Muggles.

"So disturbing...” Lily muttered to herself as she got out of the carriage. It had let her off directly in front of the gates of Hogwarts. Had it really been just a year since she graduated. So much had happened that it felt like a lifetime had gone by.

Not quite nineteen, Lily had never anticipated returning to Hogwart's so soon. She felt a little thrill of excitement at having been invited to return for the anniversary. Her quick mind sensed that everything was not as it seemed, but she simply could not divine what.

Preternaturally early for everything, Lily realized that once again she was nearly the first one to arrive. No one answered her knock at the great double doors. Tentatively, she opened one and tried to walk inside.

Instead ran right into Peeves, the notorious poltergeist of Hogwarts.

In the grating singsong he called a voice, Peeves picked up right
where he had left off. As if a year hadn't passed,

"Lily flower, Lily flower, show Peeves your petals."

Angrily, Lily waved her umbrella at the apparition. He only floated out of her reach. She ground her teeth and vowed to ignore him.

Seeming to appear out of nowhere, a statuesque witch in somber black robes approached. Her eyes flashed at the troublesome ghost.

"Peeves! Leave immediately. Unless, of course, you would like to explain yourself to the Baron. He is meeting me here momentarily."

The poltergeist obviously thought the potential for mischief was far outweighed by the prospect of a confrontation with the
Bloody Baron, Hogwart's most fearsome ghost. He floated through the ceiling and was gone.

"Lily Potter. Punctual as always, I see. Gryffindor Tower awaits you. Your baggage will be brought up immediately. Currently, I believe the password is 'Tan Toenail. A reception begins in four hours."

Lily was not at all surprised by Professor Minerva McGonagall's efficient manor. She knew the brusque outside hid a heart of gold and she smiled.

"Yes, Professor. Thank you,”
Answering just as she had when she was a student.

"Indeed. It is good to see you again, Lily." McGonagall said quietly before turning to leave.

Lily couldn't wait to see her old dormitory.

Not far from the school, a dark menace waits. Through his spies, Lord Voldemort has learned of the celebration. Unable to resist the opportunity to either coerce or destroy the best wizards and witches of the wizardry world, he has taken over the nearby town of Hogsmeade and made it his base of operations for he and his followers, the Death Eaters.

OOC: I have an OOC thread for this story at:

OOC: Harry Potter Prequel

 

[Guest]

Arrival

R.J. Lupin had bags under his eyes when he stepped off the Hogwarts Express. He'd had a long night the previous evening. The full moon and all tended to have that effect on him. Luckily, Dumbledore's timing was as impecable as always. Planning this reunion for the first night of three-quarter moon. RJ was happy that he wouldn't have to worry about his worse half for another four weeks. He looked around carefully and stepped off the platform headed for one of the carriages. He was a little surprised no one was around to meet them.

Lupin stepped up into the carriage and sat back. He was shortly joined by two other wizards and a witch he didn't recognize. The carriage set off for the gates of Hogwarts.

"It'll be good to be back. I wonder if the old house will be the same." said one of the older wizards.

"I'm sure it will be. They don't normally change the houses to much from one year to the next." The only witch in the carriage stated. "It should be intresting to see Dumbledore again."

The other wizard remained quiet. Staring at RJ. Lupin simply pulled his hat down over his eyes and rested as the carriage moved through the gate. The witch and the first wizard continued discussing everything that they thought was wrong at Hogwarts. RJ listened but did not take part.

When the carriage came to a halt the two wizards got out first, helped the witch out and then Lupin rose and stepped out. He tossed his only bag over his shoulder and headed inside. He heard McGonagall greeting the others who had rode up with him. He didn't wait for her to greet him. His invitation had told him the secret password to get past the Fat Lady. He simply headed up the marble staircase headed for his old house. He wondered if anyone else was there.

"Tan toenail" RJ said as he came up to the fat lady.

"Well, I would hope so." The Fat Lady said as the portrait swung open. The common room was empty. He started up the stairs to the boys dorms. He needed some sleep.

 

[The GrandMage]

Lord Voldemort

Voldemort was tall and thin, skeletally thin. He was clothed in black robes, made of an amazing and expensive material. His face was whiter than a skull, with a mane of jet black hair in stark contrast. He had wide, livid scarlet eyes and slits for pupils. His nose was as flat as a snake's, with two slits for nostrils. His hands were large, pale spiders with thin, unnaturally long fingers.

He sat, staring at the Death Eater before him. He knew them all, even though they couldn't tell who each other was. "Snape, I want you to find out as much as you can about what they're planning. I have another of ours arriving at the castle shortly, so don't push it. But I want you to get me the names of every person who showed up. I need to compare it to the list of names Dumbledore sent letters to."

He smirked, and watched the man leave. Pettirgrew was a sniveling dog, but it was always best to have two men there. Neither was certain whom the other one was, and it kept them on their toes. He frowned, turning his attention to Dumbledore. It had been years since he'd been this close to the school, and even back then he had felt Albus was hot on his trail. What did he think now, now that what had once been a prefect and head boy at the school he had taught at had become Lord Voldemort?

Still, he was cautious. No others had even suspected back then. But if he could take the school, and get rid of most of those in his way, the path to power would be much eaier. The school would make a great base of operations, especially with what lay in the secret chamber. He smirked. Soon, soon it would all be his.

 

[Star of Penumbra]

Sirius Black

Sirius stumbled out of the fire, coughing hard and barely able to see. "Too much floo powder!" He choked out.

As his eyes cleared, he looked around. He was standing in one of the classrooms. He recognized it; it had been the Defense against the Dark Arts room when he'd been a student at Hogwarts.

After using a quick charm to rid himself of the floo powder still clinging to his clothes, he gathered up his bag and left the room.

"You!" A harsh voice assaulted him as soon as he stepped out the door.

"Professor McGonagall," Sirius said without having to look. "How nice to see you again." He finished as he turned to see the harsh-faced woman advancing towards him.

"Mister Black, still no respect for rules I see?" She said. "All guests were to arrive on Hogwarts express."

"It was a long trip." Sirius protested. "I wouldn't have made it in time if I hadn't used the Floo Network."

"No excuse!" Minerva said. "You may not be a student here anymore Mister Black, but you still must respect the Hogwarts rules!"

"Alright, what's my detention? Cleaning the blackboards the Muggle way? With my hands?" Sirius asked, trying to keep a straight face.

His former teacher was not amused. "I'll let this transgression pass, but any more and I will see to it that there will be repercussions!" She declared. "You may wait for the rest of the guests to arrive in your old dormitory."

She turned and stalked down the hall. She still had the same harsh demeanor that Sirius remembered. She even looked the same, except perhaps for a few more wrinkles.

He picked up his bag again and started down the hall towars his old dormitory, wondering if it had been changed at all since he graduated.

 

[poohlive]

James bent down next to the small stream. His hand came up, wiping away the sweat from his brow, and then moving down to linger at his mouth. He was deep in thought, the water moving past the rocks, and down into the forest.
It wasn't here.
Breathing in a big sigh, he took a small drink from the stream. Water trickled down his chin, and splashed the front of his robes. He didn't notice it though, at this point a little spill wasn't part of his worries.
Someone back at the camp motioned, saying that the carriage had arrived. He nodded, understanding, before turning back to the stream.
Things had gotten so out of hand. In so little of time everything had accelerated so fast. To think just last year he was in class, studying wenchspores and counter spells. Now, he was thrust into the real world.
With real danger to go with it.
Rising, he could feel his knees snap. He had been there just a little too long. His body felt the relief but the strain as well. It wouldn't matter much, he was going to have a nice long carriage ride before arriving back at Hogwarts.
If there was anything more relaxing it was a magical carriage ride.
James walked back to the camp.

 

[The GrandMage]

Lord Voldemort

He watched as the snake moved around his forearm, the head coming up closer to his hand. He smiled to himself before looking up at the towering creature before him. IT wore a subservant but dull expression.

He smiled. Many of the giants had come to their side, the others trying to get off some warning to the wizarding community before fleeing to who-knows-where.

"Well now, what I want you to do is take a handful of the giants, and go on up to Hogwarts. I'll send a Death Eater to accompany you, but she won't be leaving the Dark Forest. She'll get you in undetected. The rest is up to you."

 

[beths-virtue]

Minerva climbed the tower stairs, paising outside the statue long enough to mutter
"Licorice Whips"
The door to Albus Dumbledore's Room opened , admitting her into one of the most fantastic chambers inside the entire scool
"Really Albus, all these guests"
"Yes?, " inquired Albus, rather patiently
"everyone is beginning to arrive, and each of course in thier own manner,Sirius black just came By Floo powder"
"I am sorry ,Minerva, but , you have to keep an eye on everyone , there is noone else i trust" Said Albus, as he crossed around in front of her."
His hands slid up her school robes, revealing a silken clad stockinged leg.
He brought his other hand up, pushing her robe up further to reveal a padlocked chastity belt.
"Albus , you must stop, you know the consequences, she exclaimed breathlessly"