Milk_Is_My_Drug
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Chapter 105: Bellatrix And Selwyn Reports
🕑 Added 2025-05-09 15:01:16 +0000 UTCBellatrix Lestrange walked swiftly through the halls of Nott Manor, her mind still reeling from the conversation with Dante. The moment she stepped into the dimly lit chamber where the Dark Lord and his followers had gathered, all eyes turned to her. The murmurs died down as Lord Voldemort's crimson gaze locked onto her.
She fell to her knees instantly, bowing her head. "My Lord, forgive me, I have failed you."
Voldemort’s expression remained unreadable. "Explain."
Bellatrix took a steadying breath. "Lucius was not present. Narcissa informed me that he has no intention of joining this war. He refuses to take any side and wishes to keep to himself."
A wave of murmurs spread through the Death Eaters. Some scoffed, while others exchanged knowing glances. Voldemort’s lips curled in displeasure but he said nothing, prompting Bellatrix to continue.
She hesitated for a fraction of a second before speaking. "As for Dante… he believes our cause is a lie. He told me that he made Argus Filch, the squib caretaker, into a wizard and that he can do the same to muggles. Similarly, he claims he can strip a wizard of their magic, turning them into squibs."
The reaction was immediate. The chamber erupted in startled murmurs. The Death Eaters were shocked, some looking at each other in disbelief.
Voldemort scoffed. "Lies. That can be easily confirmed." His eyes flickered toward Severus Snape. "Is there any truth to this, Severus?"
Snape hesitated for a moment before speaking slowly, "My Lord, it is true that Argus Filch became a wizard overnight. No one knows how it happened, only that he now attends lessons and even receives assignments from Dante, as do the other students."
Disbelief flashed across Voldemort’s face before his irritation set in. "And why am I only hearing about this now?"
Snape lowered his head slightly. "I was still investigating, my Lord. What if Filch was not truly a squib but afflicted by some unknown curse or condition? I did not wish to give Dante credit without verifying the truth."
Voldemort's tension eased slightly. "Yes… that is more plausible. A mere child could not have achieved such a thing." His gaze returned to Bellatrix. "Did you tell him that I conquered death?"
Bellatrix felt the weight of the question, but she forced herself to nod. "I did, my Lord."
Voldemort gestured impatiently for her to continue.
Bellatrix swallowed. "He told me that you did not conquer death. That the effects of your Horcruxes are only temporary… and that you did it incorrectly."
Silence fell. The Death Eaters, every single one of them, froze.
Many of them were hearing the term "Horcrux" for the first time. But Voldemort’s mind raced with a different thought—how did Dante know? Only one possibility made sense. Dumbledore.
But Bellatrix was not finished. "He showed me a book, my Lord. One that explains how to create a Horcrux. He said there is a copy in Hogwarts, and that you likely learned of the method there, just as you learned the rest of your magic from the works of other wizards."
Voldemort’s anger flared. His fingers tightened into a fist, but he forced himself to remain composed.
The expressions on his followers’ faces only fueled his fury. They were questioning him. He could see it. Doubt. The most dangerous poison. If the knowledge of Horcruxes was freely available at Hogwarts, then why should they fear him? Why should they follow him when they could simply learn to do the same?
Voldemort scoffed, masking his rage. "It is true that my inspiration came from various texts in Hogwarts. But what I achieved went far beyond what those books contained." His voice was smooth, calculated. "A wizard can only create one Horcrux—an imperfect and flawed version that does not grant true immortality. But I discovered a way to create multiple. I pushed the boundaries of what was possible."
Lies. But necessary ones. He could not afford for his followers to believe he was replaceable. A servant who believed they could become the master was a dangerous thing.
Bellatrix’s confidence wavered for only a moment before she grasped onto his explanation. If a wizard could only create one Horcrux but the Dark Lord had made several, then he must have improved upon existing magic. That meant Dante had not truly understood her master brilliance and thought it was just copying existing things.
Relief flooded her mind. Yes. The Dark Lord had built upon old knowledge and made it his own. That, too, was an achievement.
Bellatrix lifted her chin. "Of course, my Lord. Your knowledge far surpasses what was written in any book."
Voldemort gave a cold smile, but his thoughts were already elsewhere. Dante. The boy was clearly different from Dumbledore, he was reckless and willing to share knowledge no matter the consequence, this was bad news for him and he might reconsider his priorities now.
Not long after, Silvanus Selwyn strode into the chamber, his steps cautious as he approached the Dark Lord. Voldemort’s crimson eyes fixed on him immediately, narrowing in displeasure.
“You are late, Selwyn,” Voldemort said, his voice a cold whisper.
Selwyn bowed low, hesitating before speaking. “My lord, I apologize. The Ministry is in chaos. Everyone is in shambles.” He hesitated before adding, “Was it your doing, my lord?”
Voldemort raised a brow. “What happened?”
Selwyn straightened, nodding slightly. “Dementors, my lord. They suddenly invaded the Ministry out of nowhere. They are not attacking anyone but instead floating above the Minister and between the walls. The entire Ministry has become cold and oppressive.”
Murmurs spread among the gathered Death Eaters. Even Voldemort’s expression showed surprise.
Selwyn continued, “The Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Aurors, and others are trying to drive them out, but they are proving nearly impossible to deal with. Worse, they have shields protecting them, making them exponentially harder to remove. The Ministry has become a second Azkaban. People are running all over the place in fear.”
Voldemort’s fingers tapped the arm of his throne in contemplation. Why are the dementors doing? and since when do they have shields? What was happening?
Severus Snape, sitting silently to the side, frowned in thought. He recalled Dumbledore mentioning that he had taken Dante Malfoy with him after the hearing earlier today. Something about this situation smelled of Dante’s handiwork. Snape made up his mind to question Dumbledore about it.
___________
Two days later, Selwyn returned with more troubling news.
“My lord,” Selwyn started cautiously, “I have obtained additional information regarding the incident at the Ministry.”
Voldemort gestured impatiently for him to continue.
“During the hearing of Harry Potter, Dante Malfoy was present. He had a direct conflict with the Minister of Magic,” Selwyn reported. “He insulted Fudge, calling him an incompetent coward, and declared that the Dementors would haunt him until he publicly apologized to Harry Potter.”
A tense silence followed. Even Bellatrix, who had recently been shaken by her encounter with Dante, seemed uneasy.
“Those who were present at the hearing firmly believe Dante is behind the Dementors' actions,” Selwyn added grimly. “Especially since the Dementors have followed Fudge to his own home.”
Voldemort’s fingers tightened around the arms of his chair, but Selwyn was not finished.
“My lord… there is another matter.” Selwyn hesitated before pressing on. “Dante also declared that the Dementors would no longer listen to the Ministry… or anyone else including you.”
A sharp intake of breath was heard among the Death Eaters. Voldemort’s eyes glowed with fury.
“To test this claim, I sought out a Dementor,” Selwyn continued. “In the past, when you called them, they would listen, even in silence. But now…” He swallowed hard. “They ignored me completely, it is as if they can’t hear anymore.”
The Death Eaters exchanged uneasy glances. Voldemort’s fury was palpable.
Voldemort stood slowly and said “I shall check this myself” then disapparated. He needed to check for himself.
Some time later he came back, his face filled with controlled rage “They are not responding to anything, no matter what I said or offered, it is as if they can’t hear me anymore”
The chamber fell into absolute silence. The implications were clear. The Dementors could no longer be won on their side.
Voldemort sat back in his chain, his fingers drumming against his armrest, his mind racing. He wanted—no, needed—to know how Dante had accomplished this.
For a moment, his fury whispered an idea to him—he should go to Malfoy Manor himself and rip the knowledge from Dante’s mind.
But then he hesitated. A small flicker of something unfamiliar crawled into his thoughts.
Was it… worry?
