Riddle House, Little Hangleton
The old Riddle House stood in darkness, its windows staring blankly over the overgrown grounds. Inside, a weak fire burned in the grate, casting long shadows across the room.
Voldemort sat in the high-backed chair near the fire, his shrivelled body barely visible in the dim light. Wormtail stood several feet away, hands nervously clasped together.
"Wormtail," Voldemort said softly, "how is the plan progressing?"
"Very well, Master," Wormtail replied quickly. "Everything is proceeding as you instructed."
Voldemort's red eyes stayed fixed on him. "And the boy?"
Wormtail hesitated. "Potter still knows nothing, Master. He's completely unaware of what we're—"
"Not Potter." Voldemort's voice sharpened. "The Malfoy boy."
Wormtail swallowed. "Victor, Master?"
Voldemort gave a small, impatient nod. "Yes. Victor Malfoy."
"I... haven't heard anything unusual about him, Master. He's still at Hogwarts."
"Of course he is." Voldemort's expression stayed cold. "But the boy has been unusual from the beginning. Even at eleven, his magical ability was far beyond what should have been expected. And now Malfoy Manor has become impossible to locate."
Wormtail shifted nervously. "Perhaps Lucius has simply become more cautious."
"Lucius?" Voldemort's smile was thin and humourless. "Lucius is many things, Wormtail. Clever is not among them."
Wormtail lowered his eyes. "Yes, Master."
"And yet, since the boy entered Hogwarts this year, Lucius has withdrawn from several of his old associates. He has become cautious. Secretive." Voldemort's fingers curled slowly around the arm of his chair.
"Do you truly believe that is his own idea?"
Wormtail shook his head quickly. "No, Master."
"Then perhaps you understand why I am interested."
Wormtail swallowed. "But... Master, what could the boy possibly do?"
Voldemort's gaze hardened. "You ask that after what happened to you?"
Wormtail went rigid.
"The boy was the reason you were exposed," Voldemort continued quietly. "He discovered things he had no business knowing and interfered with your work."
Wormtail's silver hand trembled slightly. "I didn't know he would—"
"Enough."
The single word silenced him.
Voldemort leaned forward slightly. "Do not make the mistake of thinking that because he is young, he is harmless."
Wormtail nodded rapidly. "Yes, Master."
"For now, our plans concerning Potter remain unchanged. But I want information about Malfoy." A pause. "Watch him." His voice dropped to a whisper, the old grudge hardening his expression.
"I want to kill that boy with my own hands."
Wormtail swallowed nervously. "Master..."
Voldemort turned his head toward him, red eyes fixed and unblinking. "Do you think I have forgotten what he did? Do you think I have forgotten how that boy interfered with my plans?"
"N-no, Master."
"Good."
***
In the Slytherin dormitory, Victor suddenly sneezed and rubbed his nose, looking around the room with a slight frown.
Who's thinking about me? he wondered.
The door opened a moment later, and Draco walked in wearing an expression that made it obvious he wasn't particularly happy about whatever he'd come to say.
"Fleur is waiting for you in the Entrance Hall. She asked me to come get you," Draco said, sounding like a messenger who'd delivered this exact kind of message far too many times already.
Victor looked at him for a moment. Draco had somehow become the unwilling carrier pigeon between his brother and the increasingly complicated web of relationships Victor had managed to accumulate.
"Umm, Draco, you should try to stay positive. All this complaining is going to make you look older than you are," Victor said, giving him an amused look.
Draco's expression soured instantly. "Stop using me as a carrier pigeon for all this rubbish. Should I start telling Mum about everything you're doing? What the hell is wrong with you, Victor? First Luna, then Fleur, second Hermione, and now Fleur again!"
Victor stared at him. "You said Fleur twice."
"I know!" Draco snapped. "That's how confused I am!"
Victor couldn't help laughing.
Draco folded his arms, still glaring. "I swear, every time someone wants to talk to you, somehow I'm the one who gets dragged into it."
"You're building character."
"I'm building resentment."
Victor shook his head, grabbed his robes, and headed for the door. "Fine. I'll go see what Fleur wants."
Draco followed him with his eyes, still thoroughly annoyed. "Good. At least I can finally stop being involved in whatever madness you've created."
Victor paused at the doorway and glanced back. "You'll miss it when it's gone."
"I absolutely will not."
Victor found Fleur waiting for him in the Entrance Hall. She turned as he approached, and he gave her a tired look before stopping in front of her.
"Well, can you stop creating misunderstandings with the people around me?" Victor asked.
This girl had somehow managed to cause one misunderstanding after another without even seeming to try. First Hermione, then Ron asking questions, and now Draco dragged into the whole mess as well.
Fleur raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by his complaint. "Misunderstandings? I 'ave not done anyzing."
Victor didn't know whether Fleur was telling the truth or just enjoying it.
*****
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