In a long table, a discussion was going on when Malgino walked into the room with Ethan.
"Am I late?" Malgino asked with his creepy hypnotic smile.
The figure sitting at the head of the table turned to him. Though he was surprised, his inhuman face barely let it show.
"No Kazle," said Voldemort. "I simply was not expecting you."
"I understand," Malgino said as he ca close to the table.
His sudden presence automatically disrupted the sitting arrangents of the Death Eaters as it was very cleverly designed by Voldemort himself. To Voldemort's imdiate left sat Bellatrix Lestrange and to his right, first Severus Snape and then Stormy.
Stormy's first instinct was to get up and offer her seat to her master but she hesitated. She knew that Voldemort wouldn't like if she did so. But then as soon Malgino reached the table Severus Snape got up and offered his seat to Malgino.
"Oh no, Severus," Malgino waved his hand dismissively. "I can't do that, now, could I? Take the seat of the great wizard, who defeated and killed Dumbledore? No."
Malgino stared at Snape to see any sign of remorse but Snape remained impassive.
"Even though, we can not deny you are the dark lord's closest friend, Kazle," Snape said coolly. "I think you deserve to sit close to him."
"That will be all, Severus," said Voldemort, his vertical red eyes fixed on the huge snake sleeping on the table in front of him. "Bellatrix give your seat to Kazle and Severus sit down."
", my lord?" Bellatrix suddenly looked shocked. Her face showed nothing but the sadness of feeling betrayed.
"I will not repeat, Bellatrix," Voldemort said coldly.
The Death Eaters on the table looked very tense as Bellatrix slowly got up glaring at Malgino. Nobody dared to move as Malgino sat down on Voldemort's left, Ethan stood behind him and Snape sat back down on his seat. Then Bellatrix angrily pushed an another Death Eater, who was sitting at the third chair, he quickly got up and gave his chair to Bellatrix, then went to the end of the table and sat down. Bellatrix didn't take off her eyes from Malgino as Voldemort started his conversation again. But now, the mood on the table was more scary than productive.
"So Thicknesse, you were saying about the ministry?" asked Voldemort looking at a long-haired wizard in expensive robes, sitting a little far on the table.
"Oh yes," Thicknesse cleared his throat but still looked very nervous. "We have started to recruit people for our new regulation over the so-called Muggle-borns. That is going well."
Voldemort slowly nodded as the snake slid up to his arm from the table. A few Death Eaters gave nervous smiles at Thicknesse's statent.
"Also," Thicknesse continued looking a little bit confident, "I have passed the statute about young witches and wizards attending Hogwarts, just as you ordered my lord."
"Good," Voldemort turned to Snape. "Well, Severus, do you have anything to add?"
"No, my lord. I am grateful that you gave such a responsibility like this," Snape said, then paused for a mont before speaking again. "I did not want to sound impatient, my lord, but about the request, I made to you. . ."
"Yes," Voldemort stroked the snake's chin fondly, "about Draco Malfoy."
At the ntion of the word "Malfoy", everyone on the table looked startled, so of them sat straighter in their seat. Bellatrix's looks sharpened.
"I think, you are right Severus," said Voldemort. "I will give a chance to the boy. Maybe he will be able to redeem his parents' mistake. You have my permission, he can attend Hogwarts."
"But my lord," Bellatrix couldn't control herself. "They betrayed us and --"
"I know what they did, Bellatrix," said Voldemort slowly looking at her. "But as I said before, I do not like spilling the pure magical blood, especially when it can be used in another way."
Bellatrix fell silent. For a long ti, no one spoke at the table, finally, Malgino broke the silence.
"I was aning to ask you, my friend. Are you planning anyone else to stay in Hogwarts? Under Severus Snape, of course," he added looking at Snape.
"Ah, I was hoping you would like to know it," said Voldemort, his lips quirked upward almost like a smile. "I know, Hogwarts is a sentintal point for you. And to be honest, Hogwarts is also very nostalgic for too. So, who would you suggest?"
"Well, I don't doubt any of your Death Eaters, but teaching is a difficult job," Malgino smiled at the Death Eaters. "Please, do not take my words harshly."
So of the Death Eaters laughed a little anxiously and so of them tried to look cool.
"Also, so of my allies have experience in teaching, like, Louis had taught in Beauxbatons Academy for a few years, Vera had taught in Koldovstoretz in Russia and even Ethan has experience in teaching," Malgino continued smiling. "They are suggestions. But if you want to station any of the Death Eaters, that's your choice. I an, it will be difficult for Severus to run the school without a little help, particularly when most of the teaching staff will be against him."
"Hmm. . . I think Ethan and Vera would be fine," said Voldemort not giving it too much thought. "What do you think, Severus?"
"That'll be logical," said Snape looking at Malgino who gave a big smile.
****
The room was as gorgeous as the throne room. The beds, covers, curtains all were draped in heavy and fluffy material. Even the clothes on the bed were expensive, light and silky fabric. Chris eyed them with a puzzled look.
"I'm still a little bit lost," Chris said.
"What is there not to understand?" said the woman beside her smiling.
This was the sa vampire woman, who had held a dagger near Chris' throat a few hours ago. But as soon as Chris revealed her identity and the Queen welcod her as a guest, the woman changed her attitude completely. Now, she was smiling, giggling, talking sweetly and whatnot. She even introduced herself over-enthusiastically. Her na was Gweneth and she was one of the most trusted vampires of the Queen, Palace Guardians.
"I don't understand why the Queen wants to stay here, even after I warned her about the risks," Chris spoke. "And also, I don't understand why I have to stay here? I don't have ti to bath in this luxury. I have to reach to your south-east hill."
"But you can't go there alone. And you will also need the permission of our Queen. Till then you will stay here," said Gweneth setting Chris' bag on the bed and walked towards the door. "Go on and freshen up. If you need anything just look outside the room and ask anyone for it or ask them to call , as you like it. The Queen will et you in the evening. She is resting now, you know, because of our vampire timings. See you."
"But --" Chris began but Gweneth was gone in a blink.
Chris again stared at the room then looked at herself in the mirror. With her filthy, muddy and worn-out clothes, dishevelled hair, she was looking the only out of place thing in the room, so she decided to freshen up first.
"Well, she said the Queen will et soon," Chris mumbled to herself.
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To be continued. . .
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