Selenophile // Marauders

|125| Death Eaters

23rd of October, 1978

"Try not to ask many questions," said Dumbledore before sending Riley to the Malfoy Manor. "Don't do anything unless Voldemort orders you to do it."

"Yes," said Riley nervously. "I won't."

"All right," said Dumbledore. "Afterwards, come here to tell me what he talked about. It might be very useful information."

"Okay, sir," said Riley. She wanted him to let her go, she wanted it to be over quickly.

***

She apparated in front of the big fountain that kept running. The dark bushes looked darker than ever, the big iron door stood locked, and Riley paced around.

Lena was still a student at Hogwarts, completing her last year there. Riley didn't like her a lot, but she didn't want to go in there alone with no one to turn to.

She walked towards the manor, going in the same hallway after following the pathway. She took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

It was quickly opened, but there were many people sitting around the long table this time. She froze, not knowing what to say.

"Er — I apologize for interrupting—"

"Isn't that the Spade girl, the mudblood?" asked a man sitting. "The girl the Dark Lord said would come?"

"Yes, Mulciber. Let her sit," said Abraxas Malfoy.

"The Dark Lord told—" Riley said. She didn't know Voldemort had approved of her attending the meetings.

"The Dark Lord has given permission for you to join," said Malfoy. "Sit, now!"

Riley nodded and sat at the only empty seat besides the one at the beginning of the table. She felt her heart beating faster than ever in fear, she couldn't believe what had just happened. She didn't know Voldemort had given permission, she thought it would be another one to one meeting.

Soon, the table went silent as Lord Voldemort sat at the first seat at the table, it was the biggest and fanciest seat at the table.

"Ah," he said. "Let's begin."

She hated the man so much that she wanted to fire him a spell each time he spoke. Riley desperately wanted to leave and not even be included in this tricky game.

"My Lord," said Bellatrix Lestrange. "Is there anything I can do for you? I—"

"Not now, Bellatrix." Voldemort ignored her, not even looking at her. "Thatcher, your daughter was successful, now you shall be rewarded."

Voldemort was looking at a man with a strict face and squinted eyes. He was Lena Thatcher's father, one of the most beloved yet secret death eaters ever.

"My Lord," said Gilbert Thatcher. "I've been focusing on how we could expand, and I thought Ilvermorny may be a good start."

Riley stopped herself from raising an eyebrow.

"Continue," said Voldemort intimidatingly.

"If we could convince people from other countries to attack with us," said Gilbert Thatcher, "we can expand greatly, power-wise. Many people in North America are unaware of the things happening here, and they are clueless. This will make it easier to penetrate their minds."

Voldemort took a short breath, then looked at the man again. "Thatcher, work on that," he said. Thatcher nodded.

"Has anyone gotten news from Black?" Voldemort asked suspiciously. "He is supposed to be manipulating Hogwarts along with Thatcher."

Riley listened carefully. Regulus and Lena were trying to make more students become death eaters, or at least Regulus was.

"No, My Lord," said Lucius Malfoy. "I, personally, think it was a mistake to let them join... They are not helping us in any sort of work. And they don't seem to be very successful in manipulation. Shall I help?"

"No, Malfoy," said Voldemort. "If you must question my actions, then be aware of the consequences." Lucius gulped and looked down with fear in his eyes. Abraxas shook his head in disappointment.

Riley tried to keep up in the duration of the meeting, but nothing made much sense. They were talking about people she had never heard of before, and they didn't seem to be talking about things too openly.

As the meeting came to an end, she quickly left without giving anyone time to ask her anything. She apparated back to the place Dumbledore had told her as she made sure no one was following her.

She entered the room and forgot to knock out of nervousness.

"Professor," she said as she entered.

"Miss Spade," said Dumbledore. "What did Tom say?"

Riley looked in confusion. "Tom?"

"Yes, that's his name. Tom Riddle. So, what did he say?" Dumbledore asked softly. Riley didn't know what to say after learning Voldemort's name being Tom Riddle.

"Sir, he trusts me enough to let me participate in meetings. And I got to attend a meeting today," said Riley anxiously.

"I expected it to take a longer time," said Dumbledore surprisedly. "Go on?"

"They want to manipulate North America to help them win the war," said Riley. "Gilbert Thatcher, it's his idea. He suggested to work on it by starting with Ilvermorny, then expand."

"Interesting," said Dumbledore calmly. "I wouldn't have expected them to go this far."

"And Regulus Black and Lena Thatcher are supposed to be manipulating students to join the death eaters, at least they think Lena's doing that."

"I'm aware of that, yes," said Dumbledore. "There have been rumors going around. And Miss Thatcher told me herself. But about Mr. Black... I'm not sure if he is obeying them."

"He must be," said Riley. "I thought he was a death eater already, why wouldn't he obey them?"

"It's complicated," said Dumbledore. "He didn't seem so — interested. He was forced to join them, the youngest member of the death eaters..."