Dark Heritage

Chapter Five -The Orb of Tesalr

It was raining the day Narcissa followed her husband up to the Riddle house.

The house was, of course, the new home of Voldemort.

Looking up at it, Narcissa repressed a shudder. She had to fight off the sudden urge to run away in terror.

Evil seeped from its grey stone walls, and lifeless gargoyles stared down at her from the rooftops.

"Hurry up," Lucius snapped at her -he was already halfway up the hill.

Blocking out the steadily increasing feeling of unease Narcissa hurried after him, the mud squishing under her feet.

After all she didn't want to be late. Only a fool kept the Dark Lord waiting.

As they drew closer, the front door creaked open and Narcissa felt her eyes widen in surprise as the largest snake she had ever seen slithered out.

Hastily she stepped out of its way, stumbling on a loose stone in her haste. It hissed at her warningly, forked tongue flickering dangerously before sliding away.

Relieved, Narcissa let out the breath she didn't know she had been holding, and followed her husband inside.

Once inside they were met by a timid looking house-elf, who escorted them though the dark halls to where Voldemort waited.

He looked exactly as he had fifteen years ago.

The same dark brown hair, and stubborn chin. His face bore an expression of utter indifference -as if he was above them all.

Narcissa felt faint, as though merely looking at him sucked out her soul.

Beside her she saw Lucius bow neatly, and part of her knew that he would be expecting her to do the same. But she couldn't. She stood straight, feet frozen to the ground.

If he was angered by this, the Dark Lord didn't show it. His cold, snake-like eyes swept over her appraisingly and he gave her a chilling smile.

"Narcissa, still as beautiful as ever I see," his voice was smooth, no trace of its earlier gravely tones. Gracefully he reached out and deftly raised her own hand to his mouth. His kiss sent chills of horror down her spine.

"You honour me," she murmured, trying hard to keep the disgust she felt into her voice.

He smiled at her, and she wondered how it was possible for someone so evil to look so handsome.

"Now, if you'll please excuse us, Lucius and I have some important things to discuss."

He waved his arm, and at once another house-elf scurried out from wherever it had been hiding. "Take Narcissa and make her feel at home," he ordered it, and the house-elf turned its large eyes towards her.

"Come my lady" it squeaked, and Narcissa followed it out of the room.

Once outside the door Narcissa walked slowly, hoping to hear a bit of their conversation. The door was shut firmly, but it was made out of thin wood and if she strained her ears she could just about hear what they were saying.

"I found it Master, it was hidden within the school. . .just like you said."

Narcissa's eyes widened in surprise. She recognized that voice. Peter Pettigrew. So he was alive after all.

Concentrating hard, Narcissa tried to listen once again, this time it was Voldemort who was speaking. Sadly she could only hear a few fragments of what he was saying.

"The orb of Tesalr. . .my cure....Draco. . the key . ."

What orb? Who was Tesalr? And most importantly what did her only son have to do with it all? Straining her ears, Narcissa tried desperately to find out, but she couldn't with out looking suspicious.

Instead Narcissa followed the house-elf up the stairs obediently. Doing exactly as she was told. She wished she had the strength to stand up to her husband, and demand to know what he had planned for Draco. She wished she had the power to defeat Voldemort. Narcissa wished for a lot of things, but nothing ever came out of wishing.

Then, as the house-elf led her into the kitchen Narcissa made up her mind. Voldemort's plans for her only son could only be evil, she might not be strong enough to confront her husband, or stop Voldemort -but she knew who could. Tomorrow she would write a letter of warning to Dumbledore.

There must be a way she could save her son.
---***---

For more than a thousand years it had slept, its existence forgotten by the very men who created it. Perhaps they thought it better that way. The power the orb contained was enough to turn any sane man into a power hungry monster.

At last it had awoken.

Faintly the orb could feel an unknown power calling out to it. Someone had found its hiding place, and now they would use it. How could they not?

It would only be a matter of time now. Soon the lightning would come, and it would be able to do what it had been created to do.

Destroy.

The orb glowed softly as faint currents of magic washed over it, radiating power.

The end was near.

A/N: Yes, finally the plot thickens. . .what is the orb, and what does Voldemort want with it? What will happen to Draco, Harry or Ginny? You'll just have to wait and see (of course in the mean time, you might as well review).