Chapter 733 - Interview for Divination Post Ⅷ

Watching the fleeing Death Eater's, Dolohov lets out a mocking snort, "Cowards," before downing the rest of his firewhiskey and carelessly tossing the glass to the side. The glass shatters carelessly against the ground causing Nagini to turn in the direction of the glass shattering. Taking that opportunity Dolohov pulls out his wand and points it fearlessly at the serpent.

With a battle about to commence between wizard and beast, the pal, crimson-eyed figure of Lord Voldemort emerges from the Great Hall. "Nagini," Voldemort chastises causing the serpent to sheepishly uncoil and slither hurriedly towards him. Turning his crimson gaze towards Dolohov, he says, "And just where you about to do, Dolohov, old friend?"

Dolohov flashes a haughty smile, before placing his wand away. "Mm, I was merely testing your companion's reflexes, old friend," Dolohov sardonically retorted. "It would not do for an accident to occur to the Dark Lord's serpent companion during battle, now would it?"

"Nagini has proven that she can take care of herself well in battle," Voldemort retorted. "You would do well to remember that, Dolohov."

"As you say," Dolohov answered without promising anything. "I am simply famished; I wonder what Gibbon's old house elves have prepared for dinner." Without excusing himself, he simply walks away and out of the Front Hall.

"Dolohov is more audacious with each passing day," Voldemort observed with a frown. "It is most unbecoming."

"That has always been Dolohov's character, Dark Lord," Rodolphus interjected.

"Perchance," Voldemort simply replied, before turning his crimson gaze onto Lestrange. "Tell me, Lestrange, why are you here? Did I not send you on a missive?"

"Indeed, you did, Milord," Rodolphus coolly answered. "However, I bring urgent news, a whispered prophecy so to speak."

"And what might the prophecy have to say?" Voldemort aloofly said, before furrowing his brow. "Or does the prophecy relate in some manner to me, Lestrange?"

"That is why I come to discuss the information which was acquired," Rodolphus replied with his eyes cast on the ground keeping the serpent twining around the Dark Lord's feet within his sight at all times. "Our spy was only able to hear a portion of the prophecy, unfortunately, due to the location-."

"I understand! Continue, Lestrange!" Voldemort impatiently snapped with a brief trace of old anger. As if recalling himself, Voldemort forces himself to speak calmly. "It would seem that I am weary if you would continue, Lestrange."

"That which Cassandra has spoken is gone, but that which is spoken can never be truly be taken. And so, it returns, and so I say, 'Two stars have fallen, both equal in might…. Both filled with darkness and despair…."

"That is all our spy managed to overhear, before being cast out of the Hogs Head Inn by the rowdy crowd," Rodolphus carefully lied for that was the only portion of the prophecy that Capricorn had conveyed to him.

"And the rest, who overheard it?" Voldemort snapped as his mind firmly believed that he was one of the fallen stars mentioned in the prophecy.

"Certainly, none fully within the Hogs Head Inn except for Headmaster Albus Dumbledore," Rodolphus truthfully answered.

Voldemort's crimson eyes race for a moment, before becoming hard. "It would seem that we will need to pay a visit to the Hall of Prophecy, after all. Can your spy within the Auror's acquire the prophecy?"

"Not easily," Rodolphus candidly replied. "Ever since the attacks, Minister Jenkins reinforced the security of the Ministry of Magic to the degree that it would be safer to place the Keeper of the Prophecy Hall under the Imperius spell than to acquire that which we seek."

"I see in that instance, I shall entrust this task to you, Lestrange," Voldemort dangerously said. "Do not fail me."

"It shall be done, Dark Lord," Rodolphus answered with a poker face. "Although, it may take some time considering the plans that are at present in motion."

"Naturally, the task shall come in second, but I expect results, Lestrange," Voldemort warned.

"It shall be done according to thine will, Milord," Rodolphus replied, before carefully turning away, but keeping his hand near his wand ready for a surprise attack at any moment.

"Kin," Nagini hissed as she circled his feet.

"Not now, Nagini," Voldemort distractedly muttered as he recalled the uttered words of the prophecy.

"That which Cassandra has spoken is gone, but that which is spoken can never be truly be taken. And so, it returns, and so I say, 'Two stars have fallen, both equal in might…. Both filled with darkness and despair…."

The prophecy suggested that it was merely a repetition of the original prophecy made by Cassandra Trelawney. But who would have had the audacity to destroy a prophecy, and why? Unless the prophecy bore some relevance as it had been repeated once more not yet having come to pass.

'Two stars have fallen, both equal in might…. Both filled with darkness and despair…."

Naturally, he must be one of the stars, but who was the other? Unless it was the other, who had sought to destroy him first. For some reason, they seemed to coincide with the memories that he had found in Empusa Snyde's mind. "A puppet," that is what he had been called. He vehemently denied that was the case, but after the discovery of his seemingly possessive wrath, he took the time to delve into his own past.

Voldemort to his shock discovered that more than just bits and parts of his memories were missing from his youth, but entire sections. At first, he attributed them to the creative process of his Horcruxes, but upon further connecting with the Slytherin Locket Horcrux, he found that his Horcruxes were missing those entire memories as well. His Horcrux should have possessed the entirety of his existence, and any loss should have occurred only his memory, not the Horcrux.

Voldemort frown deeps as he somberly contemplates. No, someone had obliviated him. However, there should be no one powerful in existence to do so beyond that of Albus Dumbledore. And his meddling old Defense Against the Dark Art's Professor did not have it in him to commit such a foul act against any one of his students.

No, it could have only been someone else during his time at Hogwarts. Voldemort wracked his mind but simply could not find anyone of suspicion until his mind froze at the trace of a single memory. It could only be the one who suggested that he work at Borgin and Burke?

Voldemort narrowed his crimson eyes to a dangerous, pensive slit. Why had that person suggested that we work at a mere shop? They were not friends but more acquaintances. Furthermore, why not the Ministry of Magic or elsewhere? Then again, that person was a friend of HIM.

A cold, tendril of fury circles within Voldemort hungrily asking him to unleash his wrath. Forcing the madness away, his pointed talon-like fingernails dig into the palm of his flesh painfully pulling him back. It would seem that his enemy was not a sole operative. Then he would use him to find the trail of his enemy. And then, he would avenge himself.

With that cold consolation, Voldemort hisses, "Nagini, come," and storms away to the Gibbon family library. He had spent far too much time waiting for results at the hands of his followers only to receive failure time and time again. No, if he wanted something done right, then he would do it himself.

As for Nagini, she would ensure his protection for she was the only one he could trust to ensure his continued survival. Only Nagini had ever sought to protect him without wanting anything in return. And only Nagini had he ever cared for in the slightest…...only Nagini.