Changing of the Guards

Although Remy would have been more comfortable on the outskirts of the room, away from the bright light that hung above the table and the scrutinizing eyes of her fellow death eaters, she wasn’t willing to put her own comfort ahead of listening to a direct order from the new head of their little organization.

“As you wish,” Remy replied smoothly, pulling herself off the wall and taking a seat about halfway down the table, at least one chair away from all other members, but intentionally on the opposite side of the table from Draco. His expressions would be important to gage if she was to be able to talk with him later about this meeting – as he would surely want to do. The man did about as much talking as they did… well, other things. His responses to the new order of things would give Remy something to mimic later on when he was looking for someone to agree with him, and with no feelings of her own, Remy was quick to take on those most advantageous to the situation at hand.

Before Remy was even fully seated, this new leader had started the meeting by stating the obvious – Caelani was gone – and then proceeded to start the meeting with a decree about Malfoy Manor no longer playing host to uninvited guests. To Remy this made absolutely no difference; although she was playing mistress to Draco’s mister, she was never invited to his house and had no reason to be there. Draco always brought his payment and gifts with him, and being under Astoria’s nose would only give her opportunity to find out who her husband was always sneaking away to see.

Elldir continued on, making a point about Felix Barker that Remy found perfectly valid. The young man had some serious potential – he seemed to know just what he wanted and how to get it, admirable traits as far as Remy was concerned – but he had been far too flashy about it, which was how he had gotten caught. Remy was pondering this silently to herself when Sandra, the ex-ex-(this was going to get annoying if it went on much longer)-leader of the Death Eaters entered the room in a flurry and a seemingly sour mood which she made no effort to hide. On his part, Elldir made no effort to hide his displeasure with Sandra’s words, and quickly sent a spell her way that cause Sandra to freeze up and shake in her chair, clearly no longer acting of her own volition.

That’s the problem with emotions… Remy thought to herself as she turned her eyes from Sandra and left them on the table, They only get you into trouble. Sandra continued to quake in her chair, and in the glossy surface of the table Remy could see the reflection of her fellow Death Eaters’ reactions to her pain. Ellis seemed to be enjoying herself immensely, Vincent looked lost in thought, and Elldir smirked in content. Although it would have been simple for Remy to watch Sandra suffer – no feeling also meant no empathy – she knew that doing so was not the socially acceptable response in this situation. The Ellis girl might have no qualms about showing her full self to the room at large, but Remy was far more subtle and less inclined to have the attention on herself. Luckily, Zara’s attention-seeking ways were so great that she soon spoke up stupidly, ensuring that between her, Sandra, and Vincent – who had also spoken to end Sandra’s suffering – no one would be looking at Remy.

Eventually, however, Elldir seemed to decide of his own volition that he was done showing off on his power trip and released Sandra from her magical holds, proceeding with the meeting as though nothing had happened. If nothing else had come from it, Remy at least had learned a valuable piece of information about what she would and wouldn’t be allowed to get away with where this new leader was concerned. Perhaps he wouldn’t be quite the type Remy needed to go after. He was powerful and well off, yes, all things Remy desired, but he was also dangerous and slightly to far in the spotlight to go completely unnoticed if Remy started appearing to close to him. She would have to decide, if the situation ever presented itself, what she would do in that moment, but for right now she wasn’t sure if she held a winning hand where Elldir was concerned.

Whatever her stance with him, Elldir was moving the conversation along without her, which suited Remy fine. She merely allowed her eyes to follow the tennis match of a conversation, first to Zara, who again was spouting torture-happy nonsense and flirting so openly that it made Remy want to roll her eyes, but instead she kept her face one of mild interest. Although she wasn’t particularly good with happiness, sadness, anger, or empathy, Remy was all too familiar with annoyance, and Zara was at the top of that list right now.

Sandra seemed to have recovered as well, and she gave her own thoughts on the matter of Hogwarts. Remy couldn’t exactly be considered an expert on the matter, and she wasn’t about to put her voice in on the matter while there was still so much uncertainty. The rest of the Death Eaters didn’t even yet know what Elldir had in mind with Hogwarts, and his was too wand-happy for Remy to take any chances. She wasn’t really the brains of the operation, anyway; her role was purely one of information, making the right connections, wooing the right people, and setting people up to fail.

So basically, what she did in her everyday life, just this time, for the benefit of the Death Eaters, which in turn benefited herself. What a happy coincidence.

It was only after he had voiced his opinion that Vincent registered that Thaorson did not expect to be called by first name anymore. Instead, he wanted he probably wanted them to address him as my lord, and etc. Well, old habits die hard. Regardless, Vincent would never call him my lord and such, so he decided not to address him with a name or title at all.

Though Vincent was not a completely immoral person, during his quest for power, Vincent had long since shunned aside many of his more ethical, honest values. He would still, for example, always repay a debt he owed to anyone. But life had given him enough lessons for him to learn that honest and noble acts didn't really get you anywhere. For this reason, he decided that he would not make an objection about whatever Thaorson would decide to do with Hogwarts. Vincent didn't, for one, believe that his opinion would persuade Thaorson to treat the children more kindly, and neither did he think that the students of Hogwarts were his problem.

Of course, Zara's pleasure at the fact that she might be able to use torture at Hogwarts did not come as much as a surprise to him. Vincent had stayed with this lot long enough to know what kind of people they were. Most of them had a serious sadistic streak and would probably have no problem in killing or torturing a child, some of them would probably even enjoy it, he had no doubt. As for Vincent, well, he would first measure what was in it for him before acting, but would never enjoy the act.

But what were they to do with Hogwarts? They had been in control of the school for a while now, chiefly due to his and Sandra's efforts, but had done nothing with it so far. Vincent, during his reign as headmaster there, had put more effort into increasing death eater influence there then anything else. Though as he listened to Sandra's opinion, he frowned. He had played a key part in the occupation of Hogwarts and he didn't want that to be downplayed."I am afraid that you are missing the point Sandra," Vincent said softly. As you often do. " The students are not a threat, but a source... If we were to influence the children with our ideology, then in a few years, the majority of them will join us."

Thaor was quickly losing his patience with Zara. He didn't have any respect for her after she flirted openly with him. Obviously she was power hungry, and Thaor didn't like that. Thaor listened to Sandra with interest, she had many valid points. So the question is, is Hogwarts worth holding, worth the man power, worth the resources. Or could they be put to better use elsewere? Thaor said rhetorically.

Thaor looked towards the table as he entered deep thought. If we hold Hogwarts, we control the students, the immediate gain, well there is none, unless we hold the students hostage to get to the parents, but that was too much of a risk for now. The long term gain, well, more Death Eaters, and more fear in those who decide to take other paths.

Thaor looked back towards the group, We shall continue to hold Hogwarts. Sandra, should you accept, I wish you to lead the efforts within Hogwarts, we will control blood, and wolfsbane potion. The rest, is in your hands. Do as you wish Thaor said with a smile, to Sandra.

While professors should be more strict, and abusive, do NOT take it to such an extent that they all hate us, and wont want to join us once they graduate. I'm sure you are all smart enough to know which ones show the potential to be a death eater, I simply request you not scare these students off. The ones who show no potential at all, are at your mercy. Thaor said to the group at large. Also, in reguards to my name, a simple 'Thaor' will work. I will not respond to 'my lord' or anything of the sort. I am not Lord Voldemort, and therefore should not be referred to any name that he was called. Thaor added.

So Thaor wanted to talk to him after the meeting? Very well. Draco had not liked him at first, chiefly because he had taken a position Draco had been struggling to get for a long time now. Nevertheless, he appreciated that Malfoy Manor would no longer serve as a free place to stay for any death eater. Surely, Astoria would appreciate that too. One of the reasons their relationship had been strained was because of his inability to stop the death eaters from staying at his house regularly. He would have to remember to thank Thaor after the meeting, and get a word with Remy after that. He hadn't seen her for a long time and really wanted her now, but he only gave one glance her direction when Thaor asked her to join the table. Currently, he had to focus on the meeting.

Draco had never been the most dedicated of death eaters. He believed in their ideology but he hadn't forgotten what they had put him through when he was young. Well You know who had, specifically. But now you know who was dead and the Death Eaters were the best chance Draco had to regain some glory, which was why he served them now. About Hogwarts, Draco decided not to say anything. They could do what they wanted there. Draco really didn't care since Scorpius and Sue wouldn't get the same treatment that everyone else did anyways. On the contrary, a greater Death Eater influence there would no doubt help them, especially Suzannah.

The violence did not frighten Naomi; something in her- whatever goodness there was- had long snapped since she and her Felix had been attacked by Aurors. She had lost all humanity, looking like some fierce jungle cat, some might wolf that pounced, leapt, bit, scratched, clawed, attacked... She had wanted to see pain out of those men. So no, the violence did not make her flinch. She found the dynamic of the Death Eaters strange. It seemed like everything was a tinderbox ready to be set off. They should have found a sick enthusiasm being with people like each other. They shouldn't have been so fragmented.

Once it was all said and done, one woman seemed to be set on attracting attention to herself. Naomi recognized her as a professor and dropped her cold gaze so she was staring at the table. Once things settled, she took her seat, still near Thaor, and stared blankly at the table. Her grey eyes were cold, empty, bottomless. It was something that made her seem less like a seventeen year old girl. In her own way, she seemed old.

They were talking about Hogwarts. She raised her head and said, "The kids that want to be Death Eaters are easily tempted. Let them get away with stuff you don't let the Mudbloods do and you'll have them." She paused. "But there are a few who aren't set to be Death Eaters who are actually sort of useful. Some of Potter's army could be broken. There are a few kids there who aren't Dark Followers who may have some use or connections you could use." She paused. "They also have their little halfbreed club, if you could get them as allies..."

It was the most she had spoken since Felix had been taken from her, and it was doubtful she would talk so much again. Her voice was dull, apathetic, cold, emotionless. She blinked once and stared dully at the table as though she couldn't see it.

Raynus watched as Sandra tried to pull a stunt to the new leader of the death eaters Thaor. To Raynus personally that was a wildly stupid move. He then watched as he brought up the next subject Hogwarts. Is it even important to speak right now, Hogwarts is a rather dull subject. Well it's best that I try Raynus thought. Currently no one was speaking so he decided to."So lemme get this straight. You wish for us to have some members in Hogwarts so that one day we might take children captive ? or maybe for just some other plan." Raynus asked Thaor in a more layed back tone. He would've put his feet on the desk, it's just he didn't want to be like the woman that just ended up on the floor.

Thaor turned to each death eater as they spoke their mind about Hogwarts. You'll be wise to watch what you say and how you say it Raynus. And, we will take Hogwarts, and use it, because yes, we can take students hostage, and also, recruit promising students into the Death Eaters. If we don't have new members coming in, it will be impossible for us to grow, and truly dominate. Thaor said rather impatiently.

Thaor turned to Sandra, Do you accept the task of Hogwarts? he asked looking directly into Sandra's eyes.

Raynus looked at him rather shocked and then went back to his relaxed look.Well that's not a reply I was expecting, I was assuming 'Raynus what's your suggestion' or at least 'why don't you say something important'. But nope, he just an old bastard. Ah who am I kidding we're all bastards Raynus thought. "Sorry Thaor, or am I supposed to call you another name" Raynus asked assuming he would not like being adressed by his first name. When is it idea time, I'm getting F*** bored Raynus thought. He slouched on the chair and watched as their conversations moved back and forth.